Helia bulbs cut blue light to help you sleep at night

Soraa doesn’t generally make lighting solutions for us plebeians. Its lightbulbs grace the likes of the Palace of Versaille, not the One Bedroom of Terrence. But the company is ready to dabble in the consumer market with Helia. These smart bulbs jump not just on the bandwagon of IoT, but also embrace the growing hostility towards blue light.

See, all of this time staring at screens has taught us that blue wavelengths of light are not very good for our sleep patterns. And now slowly, but surely app makers and device builders are starting to add features that filter out blue light at night to help preserve your circadian rhythms. But, now we’re often surrounded LED lights in our kitchens and bedrooms, which also have an annoying tendency to pump out lots of blue light. Helia tackles this by pairing a high-tech lamp with an advanced filter. Pair the bulbs with the app via Bluetooth, it pinpoints your locations and syncs your bulbs with sunrise and sunset. As the day wears on, Helia slowly filters out more and more of the blue wavelengths until none are left.

It’s a pretty neat trick, but Helia actually has a few more up its sleeve. See, the bulbs all communicate over your powerlines, creating room-based groups. If you tack on the Presence Smart SNAPs, you can get all the lights in your kitchen to turn on in the morning as you enter the room. Pick up the Cloud Connect and you can control the lights via Alexa and IFTTT.

Obviously the floor at CES is not the best place to get a lighting demo, but the difference between the Helia bulbs (on the left in the top photo) and the generic competition LED ones they brought with them was readily apparent. While Soraa filters out all of the blue light, it’s still able to maintain a more natural and neutral seeming hue by carefully controlling the rest of the light spectrum.

All of this doesn’t come cheap however. When they finally go on sale in spring of 2017, the bulbs alone will cost $50 apiece. The Presence Smart SNAPs will set you back $30 and the Cloud Connect another $50.

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

Comcast’s new ‘Gateway’ will centrally manage your smart home

Comcast already dominates many people’s living rooms, and now it’s looking to expand its reach to the rest of your house. Today at CES, the company announced that it will release a series of Gateway smart home hubs throughout the next year. In particular, as you might expect, these hubs will allow Comcast’s Xfinity customers to manage the menagerie of Internet of Things devices that inhabit the modern home.

Xfinity users already have access to the Xfinity Wireless Gateway, which acts as a unified modem-router for their home internet. In early 2017, Comcast will debut its Advanced Gateway, which allows for 9 Gbps WiFi and is what users will need to connect to the company’s forthcoming gigabit service. This new hardware will be accompanied by a slew of new cloud-based software and UI features.

For example, setting up the gateway itself is simply a matter of downloading an onboarding app onto your phone, scanning the QR code on the bottom of the device and making up a network ID/password. The system automatically searches out and connects with every WiFi device in your house. The new Gateways will also integrate with your existing Xfinity X1 systems, granting full control of every IoT device in the house through your TV. It even works with the X1 remote’s voice control feature.

Once those IoT devices are integrated into the system, they can be assigned to users or rooms. You’ll be able to track internet usage for each device and run diagnostics when something goes screwy. You can also control the device’s internet access. Comcast bills this as a way for parents to monitor their kids’ internet usage and make rules for when the children can and can’t be online.

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

Nikon’s D5600 mid-range DSLR hits the US this month for $800

Nikon revealed its D5600 camera back in November, but at the time it didn’t share any pricing or availability details. Today, however, it announced that the mid-range DSLR will arrive in the US later this month for $800, which includes an 18-55mm AF-P DX Nikkor lens. Compared to the D500, Nikon focused on connectivity improvements with the new model, adding support for Bluetooth and NFC. Additionally, the 3.2-inch touchscreen now features functions like cropping and a frame-advance bar.

Other than that, you get a 24.2-megapixel sensor (DX-format), an Expeed 4 image processor, 5 frames-per-second continuous shooting and a max ISO of 25,600. All told, that should be more than enough to get some Nikon fans excited about the D5600.

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

BMW looks to the future of sitting in cars

While automotive startups strive to compete with luxury brands, BMW sits exactly where those upstarts would like to be in the market. That means is has the opportunity to introduce smart and EV features inside its established vehicles, the automaker can also drop impressive concept cars and ideas willy nilly. “Act like a a startup, deliver like a grown up,” said Klaus Frolich member of the board of management for BMW.

At the crack of dawn at CES, the German automaker took the wraps off its far-future view of the interior of its vehicles. The BMW i Inside Future concept car clearly isn’t for experiencing an engine or handling. Instead it’s the company’s look at what the inside of a car can not just look like, but what it can mean for the next generation of customers. “It’s not just about being being driven, but it’s about what you experience,” Frolich said.

“Here life in the car may not differ from life in the home,” Frolich said. The sculpture has integrated wood and plastic and the automaker says it will have an interactive free-floating touchscreen with ultrasonic haptic feedback next to the steering wheel for control. It also employs the company’s HoloActive Touch gesture system. The rear passengers would have a widescreen display that folds down and shows off their favorite movies or TV shows.

Oddly the the concept has a bookcase which we’re pretty sure would empty itself when the car hits its first turn. But it is a concept car, so I guess we shouldn’t be too worried about M3s with armoires hitting showrooms.

Live from LG’s CES 2017 press conference!

CES 2017 has just begun, and LG leads off today with the first press conference. As usual, we’re expecting a preview of the full slate of TVs, appliances and other electronics it will deliver over the next year. That’s all going to be unveiled starting at 11AM ET, so keep an eye right here on our liveblog to find out all the details as they’re revealed.

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

Warner, Universal and Lionsgate promise Dolby Vision 4K Blu-ray discs

Ultra HD Blu-ray already features high dynamic range (HDR) video for better colors and contrast, but now a few more studios are promising to support the expanded Dolby Vision standard on their disc releases. Warner Bros., Universal and Lionsgate are on the list, although there’s no mention of which specific movies will be released that way this year.

Until now, the only way to get video using Dolby’s HDR tech has been via streaming like Netflix and Vudu, and the only Ultra HD Blu-ray player with support (so far) is the one from Oppo. Hopefully, that list will grow this week during CES.

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

Source: Dolby

LaCie’s Thunderbolt drives are built for your MacBook Pro

If you bought a new MacBook Pro (or really, any Thunderbolt 3-equipped PC), there’s a good chance that you’re looking for high-capacity external storage that takes advantage of your system’s newer, speedier ports. Well, you’re in luck: As is its custom, LaCie is launching a pair of external drives that promise a load of extra space using newer interfaces. The centerpiece is the d2 Thunderbolt 3. While the hard disk itself is only slightly faster than before (240MB/s) and won’t come close to saturating USB-C or Thunderbolt 3, the choice of connector makes it easy to daisy-chain other devices without sacrificing performance. You can hook up a 5K display, two 4K displays or five additional Thunderbolt 3 drives, so you may only have to plug one cable into your computer to power your entire setup.

The new d2 isn’t cheap, but it packs a lot of storage. Prices start at $430 for a 6TB version, and you can scale up to 10TB if you’re really hurting for space. LaCie will ship it sometime in the first quarter of the year.

And if you’re less interested in daisy-chaining and more in a drive that can survive real-world abuse, you’re covered. LaCie is introducing a Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C drive that packs both an integrated legacy Thunderbolt cable and a USB-C port to deliver its full potential on a relatively wide range of systems. You can get conventional hard disk storage between 2TB and 5TB if capacity is paramount, but there are also 500GB and 1TB solid-state models for times when speed matters most; at 510MB/s, the 1TB model is about 30 percent faster than LaCie’s earlier models. The line begins at $250 for the 2TB drive, and you should see the whole Rugged series arrive alongside the d2 in the first quarter.

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

Source: LaCie

CES 2017: Netatmo Debuts HomeKit-Enabled Smart Smoke Alarm

French company Netatmo has unveiled two new consumer-facing smart home products at CES 2017 this week, namely the HomeKit-compatible Smart Smoke Alarm and non-HomeKit Indoor Security Siren.

In addition to activating a loud 85-decibel chime when it detects smoke, the connected Smart Smoke Alarm uses a home’s Wi-Fi network to send real-time smoke alert notifications to paired smartphones so that homeowners can alert emergency services or carry out other actions necessary when away from home.

The smoke alarm is equipped with a 10-year battery, and an alert will be sent when it approaches the end of this lifetime and needs to be replaced. For peace of mind, the alarm automatically performs constant battery and overall performance tests, generating self-check reports that are sent directly to paired smartphones.

If the smoke alarm is activated by burnt toast or another false trigger, a Bluetooth LE hush feature enables it to be easily silenced with a paired smartphone using the free Netatmo Security app. An integrated LED strip on the front of the alarm enables users to view its current status at a glance.

HomeKit compatibility allows users to create smart home scenarios involving the Smart Smoke Alarm. For example, it can be configured to switch on all your smart lights when smoke is detected to make sure the whole house is alerted.

Meanwhile, Netatmo’s new Indoor Security Siren activates a piercing 110-decibel chime when a home intrusion is detected by Netatmo’s existing Welcome camera or Tags, with a goal of scaring away intruders. The siren is highly customizable and can be adjusted so that it is only triggered in specific situations.

For instance, homeowners can choose to only sound the siren when an unknown face is seen while the house is unoccupied. They can also choose to activate the siren when the Tags detect that a specific door or window has been opened.

The siren includes a handful of pre-installed voice messages such as “the police are on their way” which homeowners can choose to activate in order to hopefully deter intruders. The siren also detects vibration and movement, so it can tell if someone tries to tamper with it and notify the homeowner immediately.

The Indoor Security Siren can be controlled with the free Netatmo Security app, including for on-demand alarm activation, and it is also programmable with IFTTT. However, unlike the Smart Smoke Alarm, the siren does not support HomeKit.

Netatmo said both products will be available in the second half of 2017, but it has not disclosed pricing at this time. For reference, the Smart Smoke Alarm’s main competitors include the non-HomeKit Nest Protect for $99 and HomeKit-enabled First Alert Onelink for $119.95, each of which also have carbon monoxide alarms.

Tags: HomeKit, Netatmo, CES 2017
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CES 2017: LaCie Rugged and d2 Drives Updated With More Speed, Higher Storage, and USB-C or Thunderbolt 3

At CES today LaCie announced “significant” updates for its LaCie Rugged and d2 computer storage solutions, beefing up each product with more speed, increased storage capacity, and better compatibility with modern computers, including Thunderbolt 3 on the LaCie d2.

The updated LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C solution has support for USB 3.0-compatible computers, as well as models with USB-C and Thunderbolt 3, and includes an integrated Thunderbolt cable that works with both first-generation Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2. Capacity options are available up to 5TB, with included Seagate BarraCuda drives for speedy transfers. The top-of-the-line version includes a 1TB SSD and can deliver speeds of up to 510MB/s, which LaCie said is a 30 percent increase from the previous models.

The company also gave details on the new LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 3 storage solution, which it called “a great companion to limited-capacity SSD-based laptops and all-in-one computers.” Specifically, LaCie mentioned that the accessory “performs great” on the new MacBook Pro line, and includes capacities up to 10TB with speeds up to 240MB/s, representing a 10 percent jump from the previous generation.

Featuring speeds of up to 240MB/s, a ten percent improvement over the previous generation, photographers can spend less time moving files from camera cards into Adobe Lightroom. Dual Thunderbolt 3 ports mean the user can daisy chain dual 4K displays, a single 5K display or up to six total LaCie d2 drives—all through a single cable connected to their computer.

It’s even possible to power a compatible laptop such the latest MacBook Pro® through a USB-C port. That’s one less cable cluttering up the desktop. The LaCie d2 is also backed by a five-year limited warranty, the most generous in the industry.

Beginning sometime in the first quarter of 2017, both the LaCie Rugged and LaCie d2 devices will be available for users to purchase worldwide. Starting at $249.99, the LaCie Rugged drive will come in 2TB, 4TB and 5TB HDD and 500GB and 1TB SSD capacities. The higher-tier LaCie d2 drive will start at $429.99 and will come in 6TB, 8TB and 10TB capacities.

Tags: LaCie, CES 2017
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CES 2017: Chamberlain Reveals HomeKit-Compatible Smart Garage Door Openers

Chamberlain, a connected smart home company that specializes in garage door openers, today announced that it will be introducing Apple HomeKit compatibility to a range of its connected smart home devices. For users already using the company’s products in the “MyQ” ecosystem, they will be able to gain HomeKit support through the addition of a new MyQ Home Bridge.

For new users, Chamberlain will launch the all-new Smart Garage Hub, a device that can add smartphone controls to “virtually any brand of garage door opener” that users already own.

Thanks to HomeKit compatibility, users will be able to control their garage door — and any MyQ connected lighting accessories — through their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple Watch, and even use Siri.

“The value of MyQ technology extends far beyond the garage, but into the daily fabric of families and their lifestyles in the home,” said Cory Sorice, Vice President of Marketing for Connected Products and eCommerce at Chamberlain. “Through our growing product line, new features that add convenience and control, and expanding partnerships with tech leaders, Chamberlain has established itself as the industry’s preeminent smart home innovator.”

Additionally, Chamberlain announced new Smart Light Switches and lamp controls, as well as new features within the MyQ mobile app, including guest accounts and scheduling abilities. On iOS, users will be able to add Touch ID onto the app’s startup to ensure an additional layer of security is protecting access to their garage door and lighting controls.

The company said that the MyQ Home Bridge should arrive by April 2017, and the Smart Garage Hub will launch around July 2017. The MyQ Home Bridge will run at a special introductory price of $49.99 (regular $69.99), but there was no mention of how much the Smart Garage Hub will cost.

Tags: CES 2017, Chamberlain
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