Samsung Family Hub 2.0 American style fridge could steal the CES crown again

Samsung introduced the first generation of “smart” fridges at CES 2016 and this year its back with an even bigger lineup as part of its Family Hub 2.0 series. The number of fridges in the range has risen from four to 10 and comprise 3-door, 4-door and 4-door Flex models.

• CES 2017: All the announcements, TVs, laptops and more to expect from the show

As with the previous generation, all new Family Hub 2.0 refrigerators can show you what’s inside by way of internal cameras so you don’t even have the open the door to see what you need to buy on your weekly shop.

The Family Hub 2.0 fridges give you access to the Groceries by MasterCard app to order food through, as well as AllRecipes to find cooking inspiration and show a recipe on the built-in 21.5-inch display.

But a brand new feature for the new models is a redesigned user interface and the ability for each family member to create their very own personal profile with an avatar. Each profile has its own digital bulletin board where you can share photos, calendars and memos by connecting through the Family Hub app for smartphones.

• Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator comes with giant 21.5-inch screen and camera to spy on your food

Samsung has also added support for more apps including Spotify, iHeartRadio, Grubhub, Glympse and Ring and can understand voice commands to deliver news updates, weather and add products to a shopping list.

What is 4K Photo? Panasonic’s camera tech explained

Panasonic has feature on its cameras called 4K Photo, something that it invests a lot of time into promoting – even offering a dedicated button for 4K Photo on some of its cameras. 

However, there’s plenty of scope for confusion around what it actually is. So, to clear things up, we’re diving into 4K Photo to quickly explain exactly what it is and what it isn’t.

4K is about video, right?

If you’ve heard about 4K before it’s likely in terms of video. There’s 4K gaming, 4K Blu-ray and 4K televisions and yes, that’s all about displaying video. 

But in the case of Panasonic’s 4K Photo function, it’s not a video that you end up with, it’s a 4K resolution photograph, which is about 8-megapixels.

Normally, on your TV, that 4K resolution would be 3840 x 2160 pixels because of the 16:9 aspect, although in some cases you can capture 4K Photos in a different aspect, like 4:3 or 3:2, which are more common to photography.

So is a 4K Photo actually a video? Yes, a 4K video is captured, but the end result is a photograph that is 4K resolution.

How does 4K Photo work?

4K Photo is really a form of burst shooting. This differs from the “continuous” or “high speed” capture offered by Lumix cameras which is often around 12fps – because that function is using the full resolution of the sensor, for example, 16 megapixels. 

What 4K Photo offers is faster capture at 30 frames a second, which is much more impressive and able to freeze fast moving action in a way that 12fps can’t. Take for example people jumping – 4K Photo is a better option, because you’re much more likely to freeze the action in that scene.

That’s because it’s using 4K video capture to work this magic and then presenting you the option to save the perfect image as a photo.

The options you get differ from camera to camera because you’re governed to some extent by the power on offer, but ultimately, 4K Photo works the same way across all models, using 30fps for capture and presenting an 8-megapixel image to save at the end.

Why use 4K Photo?

High speed shooting is good fun and produces some great results and it’s what you’ll pick if you want to capture something in action, like freeze a moment in motorsports or just your dog shaking water out of its fur. While you could take a single shot with a fast shutter speed, you’ll probably miss the moment.

In these instances faster is better, so 4K Photo’s 30fps capability is a real advantage to get the photo you want. 

The downside, of course, is that you’re only getting an 8-megapixel photo at the end and that has some limitations if you want to zoom and crop. For that reason, 4K Photo is best suited to very deliberate scenes where everything fits well into the frame, for example, your dog, child, that classic exam results jumping in the air shot. 

So is 4K Photo really just a clever marketing term?

Shhhh, don’t be so negative. Well ok, yes it is. 

Everything related to “4K” immediately brings to mind the latest tech and 4K Photo is no exception – it sounds advanced in a way that “8-megapixel Photo” wouldn’t. After all, your smartphone camera probably has greater than 8-megapixel resolution on the back, so the message would get lost.

The real message is that 4K Photo is about grabbing the perfect moment in fast moving action giving you a great sharp shot, perfect for sharing.

• Panasonic Lumix G80 review: Affordable foray into 4K
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• Panasonic Lumix GX8 review: Viewfinder victory for 20MP compact system camera

Samsung Galaxy A5 vs A3 vs S7: What’s the difference?

Samsung has announced the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 smartphones at CES 2017, adding two mid-tier devices to its portfolio.

The A5 and A3 will be available towards the end of January, plugging the gap in the wait for the Galaxy S8 flagship, which is expected to appear later this year. Here is how the two new devices compare to each other and 2016’s Galaxy S7.

• Samsung Galaxy S7 review

Samsung Galaxy A5 vs A3 vs S7: Design

• All 7.9mm slim
• All have IP68 waterproofing
• All have front-mounted fingerprint sensors

The Samsung Galaxy A5 is the largest of the three devices being compared here, measuring 146.1 x 71.4mm, while the A3 is the smallest at 135.4 x 86.2mm. The S7 therefore sits in the middle with its 142 x 69.6mm body, but the A5, A3 and S7 all have the same 7.9mm thickness.

All three smartphones are IP68 water and dust resistant, and all three feature metal frames, glass rears and a fingerprint sensor built into the button on the front.

Samsung Galaxy A5 vs A3 vs S7: Display

• Galaxy A5 largest display
• Galaxy S7 crispest display
• All Super AMOLED and always-on functionality

The Galaxy A5 has the largest display at 5.2-inches, while the S7 has a 5.1-inch screen and the A3 has a 4.7-inch display.

All three devices feature an always-on display, allowing users to see certain notifications without having to turn the main display on. They also all opt for Super AMOLED technology, meaning rich and vibrant colours.

The S7 has the highest resolution at 2560 x 1440 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 577ppi, compared to the A5’s Full HD screen that delivers a 424ppi and the A3’s HD display that offers a 312ppi.

Samsung Galaxy A5 vs A3 vs S7: Camera

• Galaxy A5 offers highest resolution front and rear cameras
• Galaxy S7 has more advanced functionality
• Galaxy S7 slightly wider aperture

The Galaxy A5 has a 16-megapixel rear camera and a 16-megapixel front camera, both of which have a f/1.9 aperture. The A3 has a slightly lower resolution on both with a 13-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera.

The S7 has a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera, but both have a slightly wider aperture than the A5 and the A3 at f/1.7. The rear camera also has phase detection autofocus and OIS, while the front-facing camera features Auto HDR.

Samsung Galaxy A5 vs A3 vs S7: Hardware

• Galaxy S7 has more RAM and higher storage capacities
• Galaxy S7 and A5 both have 3000mAh batteries
• Galaxy A5 and A3 have USB Type-C

The Galaxy A5 and A3 both have octa-core Exynos processors under their hoods, with 3GB and 2GB of RAM, respectively. The A5 has 32GB internal storage, while the A3 has 16GB, but both have microSD support for further storage expansion.

Depending on the region, the S7 has either a Qualcomm quad-core processor under its hood, or an octa-core Exynos chip. Both models have 4GB of RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of internal memory with microSD.

The A5 and S7 both have a 3000mAh battery, while the A3 has a slightly smaller capacity at 2350mAh. All three devices support fast charging, but the A5 and A3 do this through USB Type-C, while the S7 opts for Micro-USB.

Samsung Galaxy A5 vs A3 vs S7: Software

• All run on Android Marshmallow, for now

The Galaxy A5 and A3 will both launch on Android Marshmallow, which is what the S7 currently runs on.

An update to Android Nougat for the S7 should appear soon, and no doubt the A5 and A3 will also receive it too, so the user experience across all three devices will be very similar.

• When is Android Nougat 7.1.1 coming to my phone?

Samsung Galaxy A5 vs A3 vs S7: Price

• Price of Galaxy A5 and A3 likely to be quite a bit lower than S7
• Galaxy S7 retails at £599

Samsung has yet to reveal a price for the Galaxy A5 and A3, but it will be lower than the S7.

The Galaxy S7 costs £599 from Samsung, while the 2016 model of the A5 cost £350 when it launched.

Samsung Galaxy A5 vs A3 vs S7: Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy S7 features more advanced camera functionality, a higher resolution display and more RAM but the Galaxy A5 and A3 have some great attributes of their own.

Their glass-reared designs sound promising, along with their IP68 waterproofing and an octa-core processor should mean they will both be more than capable.

The A3’s HD screen lets it down a little on the spec sheet, but both the A5 and A3 have decent resolution front and back cameras, as well as good battery capacities. The S7 might be the current flagship, but depending on what price Samsung attaches to the A5, it could be well worth considering as an alternative.

Tesla delays UK price hike until mid-January

Tesla has put its UK price increase on hold until January 15th, giving potential customers another couple of weeks to order an EV before the hike goes into effect. The company said late last year the prices of custom orders (read: showroom and pre-owned vehicles excluded) would go up by 5 percent on January 1st. It said this was a reaction to unfavourable “currency fluctuations,” likely referring to the recent volatility of the pound following the Brexit vote. That’s a significant increase considering the cheapest Tesla Model S currently goes for £58,900. But the EV maker appears to have had a change of heart — for two weeks at least.

The extension happens to coincide with the end of free Supercharger access for new vehicles, also coming into effect on January 15th. Any orders placed after that date will not include unlimited refueling on Tesla’s charging network. Instead, drivers will receive only 400 kWh of free juice each year, and will be charged an as-yet unknown amount to dock at Supercharger stations thereafter.

Via: Autoblog

Samsung goes big on smart fridges with ten new models

Samsung must have done alright with its crazy WiFi-connected smart fridges last year, because it’s launching six more in 2017, for a total of ten. That includes both three-door, four-door and four-door “flex” models with dual freezers (shown above). It’s also updated the fridge’s OS to Family Hub 2.0 with a new interface that lets everyone have a profile, complete with avatar. From there, you can share photos, calendars and handwritten memos on the giant 21.5-inch LED touchscreen.

As before, the Tizen-powered fridges can take a picture of their contents each time you open the door, and let you replenish stocks using “Groceries by MasterCard.” Taking a page from Amazon’s Alexa, they can also read out recipes via the AllRecipes-powered app, and run apps like Spotify, GrubHub and Glympse. Using voice control, you can run apps, get the weather and update grocery lists, for instance.

Samsung didn’t say exactly which models are coming, how much they cost or even what regular refrigerator-type features they have. However, last year’s Family Hub 1.0 model, when it finally came out in May, cost $6,000, so we assume it can do pretty much everything you’d want. Hopefully with ten models in total, some will be more affordable — naturally, we’ll try to get a look during the show and ask Samsung for ourselves.

Source: Samsung

CES 2017: Qardio Launches iPhone-Compatible Chest Strap to Wirelessly Monitor Your Heart Health

Qardio has announced that QardioCore, a wearable electrocardiogram monitor, is now available for pre-order on its website for $449.

QardioCore was first introduced at CES 2015 as the world’s first wearable ECG/EKG monitor, enabling users to proactively look after their cardiovascular health without the need to wear wires or patches. Instead, the QardioCore is worn as an adjustable chest strap fitting chests between 27.5″ and 43″ in size.

The FDA-approved, medical-grade wearable uses sensors to record clinically accurate continuous ECG, heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin temperature, and activity data, which can be shared with medical professionals or synced to the free Qardio app or Apple’s Health app on iPhone or iPad using Bluetooth 4.0.

ECG monitors sense the tiny electrical charges on the skin arising from the heart muscle’s electrophysiological activity. Most ECG monitors are bulky and burdensome, require a complicated fitting in the doctor’s office or provide limited information on the user’s heart performance. QardioCore, by contrast, is wearable and designed for continuous monitoring anytime and anywhere.

QardioCore’s built-in battery, rechargeable via USB-A, delivers a full day of continual use on a single charge. The monitor will be on display at CES this week alongside Qardio’s existing products, including the QardioArm smart blood pressure monitor, QardioBase wireless scale and body analyzer, and QardioMD medical dashboard.

QardioCore has an expected shipping date of April 2017 for pre-orders placed now. It comes in white and is IP65-rated splash-resistant. Those interested in learning more can read the QardioCore FAQ for additional information.

Tags: Qardio, CES 2017
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CES 2017: Kanex Launches Thunderbolt 3 to eSATA 3 Adapter, Travel Dock, and Cables

Kanex has announced it will be introducing a new lineup of Thunderbolt 3 products for the latest MacBook Pro at CES 2017 this week, including a Thunderbolt 3 Travel Dock, Thunderbolt 3 to eSATA 3 and USB 3.0 Adapter, and 1.6-foot and 6.6-foot Thunderbolt 3 cables that share the USB-C connector design.

The compact Travel Dock includes two HDMI ports, a USB-A port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a USB-C port for pass-through charging. The dock supports dual 4K video output simultaneously and each at 60 FPS from both HDMI ports. It has a suggested retail price of $149.95 and will be available in April 2017.

The Thunderbolt 3 to eSATA adapter enables users to connect the new MacBook Pro to an eSATA storage device. The plug-and-play adapter also includes a USB 3.0 port. Both ports are backwards compatible with older USB and eSATA peripherals. The adapter will be available on Kanex’s website soon for $129.95.

Kanex’s new Thunderbolt 3 cables provide up to 40Gbps throughput, which is enough bandwidth to connect a new MacBook Pro to a single 5K display at 60Hz or dual 4K displays at 60Hz. The cable can be used with up to 6 daisy-chained Thunderbolt 3 devices, and provides up to 100W of charging to notebooks.

The cables are compatible with the new MacBook Pro and most other Thunderbolt 3 devices. It is backward compatible with USB-C devices such as the 12-inch MacBook and Google Pixel. Kanex will be selling the 1.6-foot cable for $29.95 on its website, while the 6.6-foot cable will be available for $69.95.

Tags: Thunderbolt 3, Kanex, CES 2017
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Belkin expands Wemo Switch lineup with Mini and Dimmer models

Belkin has taken to the CES showfloor to unveil two new additions to its Wemo Smart Switch range of app controlled switches. The new models include the Wemo Mini Smart Plug and Wemo Dimmer Light Switch.

• CES 2017: All the announcements, TVs, laptops and more to expect from the show

The Wemo Mini Smart Plug takes everything that was good about the Wemo Switch but packs it into a much smaller body. The Mini is so small, you can plug two of them into one wall outlet, stacked one on top of the other. You can then plug whatever device you want to control with the companion app or your voice into the Mini. Like other Wemo products, the Mini can be controlled whether you’re at home or away as it works over Wi-Fi and mobile internet. You can of course set timers to devices to turn on and off and can also cooperate with Amazon Echo, Google Home and the Nest Learning Thermostat.

The Wemo Dimmer meanwhile can be used with any bulb type whether it be incandescent, LED or CFL and a new Night Mode lets you set a specific brightness level for a set period of time. The Wemo Dimmer has a touch sensitive control panel and a light bar to indicate what function it’s performing. Wemo rules appear green, third party rules from the likes of Amazon Alexa and Google Home are aqua, a radar animation shows the switch is looking for a Wi-Fi signal and a sending animation lets you know the switch is communicating with other devices.

Belkin has also introduced a new Long Press feature for the Dimmer and Wemo Light Switch that lets you press and hold a button on either for more than two seconds to trigger a ‘recipe’ with other Wemo devices. One example Belkin gives is to press and hold on the Light Switch to turn off all other Wemo switches in your home.

The Wemo Mini is available to pre-order today for $34.99 and should be in stores later this month while pricing and availability of the Wemo Dimmer has yet to be announced. We’ll also update this story as and when we hear of UK pricing and availability.

Polar gives a new meaning to wearables with Team Pro Shirt

Fitness tracking expert Polar has used CES 2017 to unveil a new kind of wearable in the Team Pro Shirt. The Team Pro Shirt is, as the name suggests, a piece of clothing but has a heart rate monitor embedded into the fabric by way of two thin heart rate capture points and a GPS tracking sensor in the collar.

Polar’s reasoning for designing the Team Pro Shirt is to eliminate the need for a bulky chest strap and heart rate monitor module, although you will still need an iPad nearby to track data in real time. 

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Polar has designed the Team Pro Shirt, which is a sleeveless base layer, to be used by professional athletes and in team sports. It can send metric data to Polar’s Team Pro system for iPad, so coaches can view individual heart rates to see which team members are putting more or less effort it, or if anyone is struggling with a training routine.

A separate sensor can be found in the collar and this can provide further information such as speed, distance travelled and acceleration. Coaches can combine data from the Shirt as well as other Polar connected wearables such as the V800, M600, M400 and M200 watches to track sleeping habits and recovery times and view all the data in the Team Pro System. 

The Polar Team Pro Shirt will be available from May in light grey and in sizes from small – extra large.

Altec Lansing’s SmartStream speakers are another Sonos alternative

While Sonos remains the go-to option for multi-room audio, a number of companies have debuted similar devices over the last couple of years. 2016 saw the likes of Sony, Vizio and others introduce WiFi-connected speakers that allow you to control music all over your house with a mobile app. At CES, Altec Lansing is pulling the wraps of a trio of speakers that offer the same functionality starting at $99.

The SmartStream line starts with a small namesake speaker and includes X and XL models that get bigger, more powerful and pricier as you go up. At $200 and $300, the mid-size and large options here still won’t hit your wallet too much. Yes, those are three different speakers, but they all carry a very similar look. All three feature both Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, which means Google Cast and Spotify Connect are in play here. It also means you can expect better sound quality over your home internet connection and Cast is available in a truckload of audio apps.

All three are waterproof-rated and the smallest option is also IP67 “everything proof.” To be more specific, that includes shock, water and dust. The trio is also equipped with 16-hour batteries should you need to take the speakers to a spot where an outlet just isn’t available. If all of that sounds too good to pass up, Altec Lansing’s SmartStream line is expected to go on sale in Q2 or Q3 2017.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.