CES begins: Smart fridges, accessibility tech and really big TVs

The biggest news that came out of a day of CES press conferences? LG executives pronounce their new “ThinQ” smart appliance line “thin-cue” instead of “think.” We kid, we kid (sort of). The appliances themselves are noteworthy, in that they talk to each other more proactively than we’ve previously seen on other smart home appliances.

Also of interest this early in the show: all the tech we’ve seen designed to assist the elderly and disabled. And, of course, in addition to all of the above, we’ve also seen our fair share of TVs: big, rollable and all very expensive, we’re sure. As ever, some are more practical than others, and some aren’t at all close to coming to market. Find all that in more in our quickie day-zero recap.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2018.

Turing’s Segway-based patrol robot can give humans a ride

Security robots typically have to operate by themselves, which can be a problem when intruders get pushy. Turing Video has a simple answer to this, however: give human security officers a lift. It just premiered a security robot, Nimbo, whose Segway-based design includes a unique “Ride-On Mode” that lets a passenger hop on and travel at up to 11MPH. The bot is designed to autonomously patrol areas and deliver audiovisual warnings if it catches a trespasser with its computer vision (based on tech like Intel RealSense), but this helps its organic counterparts respond to alerts or supplement the machine’s own coverage.

The Segway underpinnings also help it traverse areas that other robots might not handle. It can cross rough pavement and speed bumps, and its relatively narrow body (25 inches across) can help it squeak into narrow passageways. Also, Nimbo can operate around the clock: it can dock at automatic charging stations and produce non-stop video.

Turing hasn’t said how much Nimbo costs (we’ve asked about it), but that’s likely to depend on specific needs. The automaton can be customized to tie into existing security systems, talk to drones or carry additional sensors, so the base model definitely isn’t the only option. As such, don’t be surprised if you eventually see these machines guarding everything from the local parking complex to your corporate campus.

Source: PR Newswire, Turing Video

LG Expected to Supply Face ID Technology on New iPhone X, iPad Pro, and iPhone X Plus This Year

Apple is planning a significant investment in LG Innotek to secure supply of 3D sensing modules for next-generation iPhone and iPad models expected to launch this year, according to Korean website The Investor.

iPad Pro render by Benjamin Geskin and rough mockup of iPhone X and iPhone X Plus
The upfront payment could be worth as much as around $820.9 million, which LG Innotek would use to build additional facilities for production of 3D sensing and camera modules for mobile devices, the report claims.

The 3D sensing modules assembled by LG Innotek, including the flood illuminator and dot projector, are key components of the iPhone X’s new TrueDepth camera system, enabling features such as Face ID and Animoji.

The investment would make sense given Apple plans to launch a refreshed iPhone X, a larger iPhone X Plus, and a mid-range iPhone each with Face ID later this year, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple will also release at least one iPad Pro model with Face ID this year, according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg News.

The investment could help Apple avoid the temporary supply chain issues it experienced with 3D sensing modules late last year, ensuring availability of the new iPhone X, iPhone X Plus, and iPad Pro is more plentiful.

Related Roundups: iPad Pro, iPhone XTags: LG, Face ID, TrueDepthBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Neutral), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Neutral), iPhone X (Buy Now)
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CES 2018: Fibaro Adds HomeKit Compatibility to ‘The Button’

Fibaro today announced a new version of its popular Z-Wave control device called, “The Button,” which will work with Apple’s HomeKit products.

The Button, which is less than two inches in size, is a new battery-powered multi-touch HomeKit device that is designed to allow users to activate a HomeKit scene.

No bridge, hub, or gateway is required to use The Button, allowing it to integrate with any HomeKit setup. The Button can be programmed with up to three different actions activated with a single click, two clicks, or a long press.

When pressed, The Button has a buzz feature that provides audible feedback and confirmation of which scene was activated via a single buzz, a double buzz, or a long buzz.

Available in red, white, and black, The Button will be available for purchase for $59.99 starting during the first quarter of 2018. Additional colors will be introduced later in the year.

Tags: HomeKit, CES 2018
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CES 2018: Orbit Adding HomeKit to Lawn and Garden Watering Systems

Orbit at CES 2018 this week announced that it is adding HomeKit compatibility to its new B-hyve smart hose faucet timer and a new version of its B-hyve smart sprinkler timer that will be released later this month.

iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users will have the ability to control the lawn and garden watering systems through Apple’s Home app or with Siri.

HomeKit will enable users to control basic watering functions, such as turning on or off sprinklers. In the Home app, users can schedule their sprinklers to run at specific times, and find out when the next watering is.

Orbit’s new HomeKit-enabled B-hyve products will be available to purchase from Amazon, The Home Depot, and Lowe’s in the United States.

HomeKit added support for sprinkler systems and faucets in iOS 11, and the first accessories compatible with Apple’s smart home platform are beginning to roll out, including Kohler’s new Sensate kitchen sink faucet.

Tags: HomeKit, CES 2018, Orbit
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CES 2018: August Announces Expansion of In-Home Delivery Service ‘August Access’

Today at CES, smart lock maker August announced the expansion of its in-home delivery service “August Access,” which will roll out in partnership with delivery company Deliv. Similar to Amazon Key, customers who use August’s service will grant Deliv drivers one-time access into their home so that packages aren’t left outside (via TechCrunch).

August’s service will expand upon its previous August Access platform by opening it up to any interested online retailer, allowing users to order products from these stores and select the August Access in-home delivery option. As long as customers have smart locks from August, Emtek, or Yale, August will then generate a one-time password that the Deliv driver enters, drops off the package inside, and closes the door on their way out (which re-locks automatically).

Once the process is complete users will get a notification on their iPhone or Android smartphone, and the company will also offer “a camera feature” to see the delivery live or watch it later. No information was given on what security cameras will be supported with the service.

“We have been working on this for some time with a variety of retailers and testing it,” said Jason Johnson, the co-founder and CEO of August, in an interview. “It’s now coming along very fast.”

“Through this unique partnership, we are bringing a bit of magic to the shopping experience,” said Daphne Carmeli, CEO of Deliv, in a statement. “Deliv provides the last mile fulfilment solution for a broad retailer network across the country while August Home supplies the technology to take the final step into the home for a totally seamless experience, start to finish.”

Besides August locks, the Emtek and Yale brands are supporting August Access now that each company is under the Assa Abloy umbrella, following its acquisition of August last year. The service was previously tested with Walmart in September, even allowing delivery people to put away groceries in customers’ refrigerators when needed.

Amazon Key works in much the same way as August Access, allowing Prime members in 37 cities across the United States to order “tens of millions of items” on Amazon.com and have them delivered securely inside their home. But August CEO Jason Johnson said August Access provides more “choice and flexibility” since it’s not only available to products on Amazon but will be supported by any retailer who decides to back the platform.

Tags: August Smart Lock, August, CES 2018
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Alcatel’s redesigned low-cost phones get 18:9 TCL screens

Although CES 2018 has almost every electronics company in the world announcing new devices, most phone makers are saving their big reveals for the upcoming Mobile World Congress in February. It’s no surprise, then, that Alcatel didn’t have new devices ready to unveil. But the company did give us a preview of the low-cost handsets it plans to give more details about later this year. The new phones will not only use (parent company) TCL’s screens with 18:9 aspect ratios and feature sleek designs, but also use a simplified naming system. We saw prototypes of the Alcatel 1x, 3v and 5 — which are potential models of the sub-$100, sub-$200 and sub-$300 series respectively.

For a sub-$100 phone, the 1x felt surprisingly luxurious. It has a soft, almost sandpaper-like texture on its curved back that makes it feel like an unfinished pebble. There was also a fingerprint sensor below the rear camera on our preview unit, which is a nice amenity at the price. Beyond those two physical attributes, we don’t know much more about the 1x.

The 3v looked a lot more generic, with a rounded rectangle shape and glossy back. It felt heftier than the 1x, in a good way, and the prototype we saw featured a dual rear camera and a fingerprint sensor. Again, there were no specs beyond the screen brand and aspect ratio, so we can’t tell you how the phone is going to perform.

Finally, the Alcatel 5 is a rectangular phone that’s very reminiscent of the Sharp Aquos phone, except that the Alcatel has a taller bezel up top and doesn’t look quite as sharp. The handset we played with had a nice, subtly ridged texture that helped it feel distinct from the sea of smooth glass and metal handsets in the market.

All three phones we saw were in black, but according to pictures Alcatel provided, the devices could also come in more attractive colors like blue and gold. Although there isn’t much information to glean from our preview so far, it’s nice to know that 18:9 phone screens are poised to become more prevalent, even at lower prices. Alcatel using its parent company’s screens is also interesting as it could mean that TV tech could trickle down to low-cost smartphones sooner. We’ll most likely learn more about whether the new Alcatel 1, 3 and 5 series will be worth your consideration at MWC later this year, but for now this is a promising first look.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2018.

The BlackBerry KEYone is getting a bronze makeover

BlackBerry’s KEYone was a remarkably solid return to form, and it arguably got even better when it received an all-black makeover. Now, BlackBerry Mobile is prepping one more new color variant — the KEYone Bronze Edition — before it gets back to work developing all-new devices to launch later this year.

Bronze might seem like a strange choice for a smartphone color, but it looks much nicer than we expected. It’s subtle and subdued, and under the right light the matte metal looks more like gold. Even so, not everyone is going to love the way the bronze frame looks pressed up against the phone’s many black flourishes. Otherwise, it’s the same KEYone BlackBerry fans have grown to love… save for one notable tweak. Unlike the existing versions, the Bronze Edition drops the spot for a microSD card on the SIM tray to accommodate two SIM cards. It’s a move meant to court frequent international travelers, and while the shift is a little frustrating, users are still left with 64GB of internal storage to play with.

There is one more catch: BlackBerry Mobile only intends to sell the Bronze Edition outside the US, specifically in certain markets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Sure, AT&T started selling the all-black KEYone earlier this year, but the Bronze Edition’s dual SIM capabilities all but ensure fans in the States will have to look abroad for an unlocked model. Too bad we don’t know how much the phone will cost or when exactly it will be released — all BlackBerry can offer now is a vague launch Q1 2018 launch window.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2018.

BlackBerry Mobile commits to “at least” two new phones in 2018

It wasn’t that long ago that the BlackBerry brand seemed stagnant, but devices like the KEYone and the more recent Motion seem to have gotten some people feeling the faith once more. Based on a strong response from long-time fans and users who switched from other smartphones, TCL’s BlackBerry Mobile has promised to release “at least” two new smartphones in 2018. We’re not talking about Bronze Edition-style color variants, either — these will be entirely new devices, and both of the phones BlackBerry Mobile has in mind will pack physical keyboards.

“We’re very confident in our ability to grow the keyboard market,” said Gareth Hurn, BlackBerry Mobile’s Global Head of Device Portfolio, in a conversation with Engadget.

Representatives for the TCL-controlled brand were otherwise tight-lipped regarding specifics, but BlackBerry Mobile strongly believes there’s a place in the market for the kind of productivity and convenience only physical keyboards can offer. It’ll be a little while yet before BlackBerry Mobile fully reveals its plans — in the meantime, we’ve learned a few things that shed some light on BBM’s priorities.

When asked whether BlackBerry Mobile would push to grow its presence by releasing a low-cost device, Hurn said one of the phones planned for this year would cost more than the other without specifying the price gap. He characterized the brand’s approach as a measured one, and it seems clear BlackBerry Mobile isn’t going to rush to build its base of fans.

You probably shouldn’t expect to see a super-fast, premium BlackBerry for a while, either. Hurn didn’t rule out the possibility but noted that the KEYone represented a special blend of build quality, performance and price and indicated that nailing that sweet spot again would take precedence over building a high-end device to rival the iPhones and Galaxys of the world. “You have to earn your right to be in the super-premium space,” he added.

BlackBerry Mobile’s dedication to the features that have brought it some success is admirable, but we’ll have to wait and see how well it plays its long game. Thankfully, it shouldn’t be too long before BlackBerry Mobile unveils the next step in its plan in full.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2018.

Optis’s virtualization tech will make building autonomous cars easier

Developing self driving vehicle technologies is hard — just ask Google, or Uber, or Google that other time, or that one bus from Vegas. That’s why a number of companies have been working to virtualize the development cycle so that untested technologies can crash and burn safely as their bugs are worked out. Among those companies is Optis, which announced on Tuesday that it will be partnering with two other firms to make virtual prototyping more accessible to the industry.

The first company is LeddarTech — they developed a signal processing technology that’s used in solid state LiDAR. LeddarTech and Optis will be working to create a vehicle simulation system so that vehicle manufacturers and OEMs will be able to virtually prototype and test their LiDAR systems. Specifically, Optis “can validate the LiDAR model and simulate the correct response from the LiDAR in real-time through a virtual closed loop simulation with automated driving functions,” according to the company’s release.

Optis is also working with Lucid Motors, an electric autonomous vehicle maker (though they haven’t technically made any cars as of yet and might well be acquired by Ford before too long) to virtually test Lucid’s next generation of smart headlights. The company’s lighting system relies on an array of thousands of individual lenses to generate glare-free brightness. Lucid developed the lens system using Optis’ virtualization program, which recreated realistic traffic conditions replete with oncoming cars, pedestrians and various weather conditions.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2018.