Wireless charging nears unification as Powermat cedes to Qi

Consumers have been living with multiple wireless charging standards for six years, but those annoying times are nearly over. Powermat, the only contender to the dominant format Qi, has joined the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) and now backs its rival. “Qi has become the dominant wireless charging standard on the market and the recently launched Apple iPhone lineup is evidence of this success,” Powermat said in a statement. “[We] will share technology innovation to further unlock wireless charging potential, and will expedite the growth of the wireless charging infrastructure.”

Powermat was barely hanging on as a standard, but as it mentioned, Apple’s support of Qi for its upcoming chargers pretty much sealed its fate. The company was forced to upgrade its chargers to support Qi at Starbucks locations, for instance, so that Apple’s Qi-supported iPhone X- and 8-owning clients could juice up.

Until a few years ago, there were essentially three standards, the Alliance for Wireless Power, the Power Matters Alliance (no joking), and Qi, which was already the dominant player. The first two merged to form the Airfuel alliance in 2015, of which Powermat was the main player.

Powermat says it will to work on developing future tech that allows for “higher power and expanded special freedom,” while maintaining backwards compatibility with the Qi ecosystem. That will greatly simplify the market, making it infinitely easier for consumers — especially uninformed ones — to get products that work with their devices.

“By joining WPC, it further unifies the wireless charging ecosystem behind the Qi global standard, which will accelerate wireless charging adoption and make it more convenient for consumers to use wireless charging wherever they go,” Powermat wrote.

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

Source: Powermat

Aurasens’ lounger is a haven of haptic chill inside tradeshow chaos

Tradeshows can grind you down. Yes, CES 2018 hasn’t even started, but I can always do with a little moment of chill, however fleeting. Aurasens’ “visceral, trans-sensory journey” beckoned me with its offer of a little lie-down, free eye-mask (sell-out, I hear you cry) and rhythmic vibrations.

I donned said mask, put on some noise-canceling headphones and let 32 different vibro-haptic points massage, shock and tingle my body from head to toe, if only for three minutes. Combining a stirring symphonic track with some staccato electro, it worked as a showcase for all the different feelings possible, tightly synchronized with musical crescendoes and flourishes.

For a brief moment, I wasn’t in the crush of CES — until a bumbling but beloved colleague smacked into my foot and wrenched me out of it. I was pleasantly surprised how refined the experience was — I’d certainly try to test it out again.

The eye-mask does its best to avoid any visual distraction, but can also be substituted for a VR headset. The team behind the high-tech lounger explained that there’s a second experience to be found when the CES showfloor opens in earnest later this week, and it sounds like a logical extension of these fancy chairs. 20,000 euros ($24,055) certainly puts it out of the range of Joe Consumer, but puts in within the remit of splashy tech companies with relaxation rooms, plush airport lounges and glitzy event launches — all of which were mentioned briefly by co-founder and CEO Olivier Zeller.

The company is already working with movie companies and other content makers to attach the Aurasens experience to forthcoming releases. The aural experience at this early stage might have been a little generic, but once it finds the perfect showcase, high-tech chill could get even better.

Source: Aurasens

CES 2018: ‘U by Moen’ Smart Shower System Adding Support for Apple HomeKit and Siri Voice Controls

One year after being announced during CES 2017, faucet brand Moen is back at CES this year with a new announcement for its “U by Moen” cloud-based, Wi-Fi enabled shower system (via CNET). The company this week revealed that the smart shower will add support for Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa AI assistants in the first half of 2018, letting you control water temperature and more with voice commands on connected smartphones and speakers.

For the HomeKit integration, you’ll be able to speak to your iOS devices and begin your shower ahead of time, like saying, “Hey Siri, start my shower.” If you have saved water temperature presets within the Moen app, the shower will then begin to reach your desired temperature and notify you when it’s ready. Siri will only work with Moen’s next-generation smart shower controllers, so anyone who purchased last year’s device will have to buy the new system if they want Siri controls.

This is because the new U by Moen includes a specific MFi chip for HomeKit compatibility, despite Apple last summer updating its HomeKit specifications so that compatible smart products no longer have to include a hardware authentication chip. A Moen representative told CNET: “We are launching with the Apple Authentication Coprocessor (MFI chip) in the controller to meet the current Apple HomeKit protocol that still requires the chip.”

Besides Siri voice control, U by Moen’s new system is visually similar to the first and connects to an iPhone app so you can set up to 12 customized settings for a shower. The in-shower “digital valve” includes a five-inch LCD screen and various buttons for manual temperature control, and still requires professional installation.

There are two different versions of the next-generation U by Moen shower system, including a two-outlet model for $1,160 and a four-outlet model for $2,200.

Tags: Moen, CES 2018
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CES 2018: First Alert’s New HomeKit-Enabled Smoke Detector Doubles as AirPlay 2 Speaker and Assistant

First Alert at CES 2018 has introduced the Onelink Safe & Sound, its latest smoke and carbon monoxide detector for smart homes.

iPhone and iPad users can control the Safe & Sound with Siri or Apple’s Home app thanks to HomeKit compatibility. The two-in-one detector can also be controlled with First Alert’s own Onelink Home companion app.

What makes the Safe & Sound interesting is that it doubles as a ceiling-mounted virtual assistant, with built-in speakers and noice-canceling microphones and support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

First Alert said the speakers will support Apple’s upcoming AirPlay 2 protocol when available, enabling multi-room audio and Siri control for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users, all through Apple’s Home app.

AirPlay 2 support means that a homeowner could install a few Safe & Sound smoke detectors around the house and eventually use Siri to play or pause Apple Music or other audio on a room-by-room basis.

First Alert did not reveal pricing and availability information in its press release, but AppleInsider says the Safe & Sound is expected to ship in April for a suggested retail price of $249 in the United States.

Tags: HomeKit, First Alert, CES 2018
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CES 2018: Bose Wireless Headphones Getting ‘Find My AirPods’ Type Feature Through Tile Integration

Tile today announced a few new partnerships with companies that will integrate its Bluetooth item-tracking technology into consumer products, including Bose’s existing line of SoundSport Wireless and QuietControl 30 headphones. In addition to Bose, partnerships for the new “Tile Platform” also include Samsonite luggage, Boosted Boards, and Propeller Health’s inhalers.

The Bose partnership will begin in late spring 2018, when the SoundSport Wireless and QuietControl 30 will be sold with Tile’s technology embedded inside. Users who already own these devices will be able to add Tile support through a firmware update so purchasing an entirely new pair of headphones won’t be required (via TechCrunch).

“With the Tile Platform, we’re extending the finding power of Tile and its global community to leading brands spanning audio, travel, transportation and even digital health management,” said Mike Farley, CEO and Co-Founder of Tile. “Whether it’s a pair of wireless headphones, a suitcase filled with precious memories, or a life-saving connected inhaler, we want to make sure consumers can find their items no matter where they are, whether under the couch or halfway around the world.”

The headphone tracking feature will work just like Tile’s previous Bluetooth trackers, so if you ever misplace the small wireless headphones you can “ring” them if they’re nearby through Tile’s iOS app. If they become truly lost, Tile’s community of trackers will anonymously crowdsource location data of other Tile users to pinpoint the location of the last time the headphones were seen, and show the location on a map within the app. The update brings Bose’s headphones in line with the similar “Find my AirPods” feature by Apple.

The same idea will go for Samsonite’s luggage, Propeller Health’s connected inhalers, Boosted Boards, and Hershel’s wallets, all of which confirmed Tile integration this week. Tile also announced an expansion to its technology ecosystem with access point partnerships that “increases the likelihood of finding lost items while reducing the time required to do so.” Partners include Comcast, Ruckus Networks, and San Jose International Airport.

Besides Bose, Samsonite will be the other launch partner to integrate with Tile beginning this spring, and others will launch later in the year.

Tags: Tile, CES 2018
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CES 2018: Apple Watch Users Can Control Select Whirlpool Washers, Dryers, and Ovens in Early 2018

Whirlpool today at CES 2018 announced that some of its washers, dryers, and ovens will be controllable with an Apple Watch in the near future.

The home appliance maker said it will be releasing a watchOS app in early 2018 that will enable Apple Watch users to remotely control select functions on more than 20 of its latest Wi-Fi-connected washers, dryers, and ovens.

Here are a few examples:

• Washer: Alongside status updates, users can control the wash options of an active cycle. Whether it be a normal wash, delicates, or brights, consumers can adjust an active cycle on the fly via their Apple Watch.
• Dryer: Consumers can control and detect if a cycle has started, understanding how much time remains before the cycle is complete.
• Oven: Consumers will be able to see the current oven status and control commands during an active cycle.

Whirlpool said the collaboration marks the first time a major home appliance maker has connected its products with the Apple Watch.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Tags: CES 2018, WhirlpoolBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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The Streety app pools neighbors’ cameras to keep an eye on the whole block

Being the only smart home on the block doesn’t amount to much when it comes to security. After all, while you may be able to keep an eye on your loved ones when they’re inside or in your driveway, having such a narrow field vision isn’t always the most helpful. But now, there’s a new solution from Vivint Smart Home. Meet Streety, a new app promising to extend smart home security to the entire neighborhood.

Making its debut at CES 2018, Streety is a free app that allows neighbors to monitor activity up and down their street through a network of shared residential cameras. This allows folks to keep an eye on their kids, cars, and property via live video feeds and recorded footage.

“Our goal with Streety is to make it that easy [to share camera footage],” Clint Gordon-Carroll, vice president and general manager of cameras at Vivint Smart Home, told Digital Trends. “We’re really focused on making stronger neighborhoods, and we can do that by sharing.”

Here’s how it works: Customers who join Streety can join up with other neighbors within a 300-yard radius of their house, or about two blocks. All identities are hidden with just an avatar until there’s a mutual connection between both parties, similar to social media platforms. From there, you can decide if you want to give your neighbors access to one or all of your cameras all of the time, some of the time, or not at all. You can also request footage from a certain time period.

Streety will be available in March to just about anyone in the United States or Canada, regardless of whether or not they are Vivint customers or own a security camera. Those who have different camera brands also have the option of turning cameras on or off and uploading and sharing video clips within their Streety network.

“We want to be agnostic,” Gordon-Carroll said. “If you have a different camera, those cameras can contribute to stronger and safer neighborhoods.”

Vivint has been testing out the app in a few neighborhoods in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Tampa, Florida, with success: A car burglar in Las Vegas was identified after video footage was collected via the app.

For those concerned about privacy issues, Vivint says it put a pretty secure system in place: People must verify where they live to be able to join a neighborhood, everyone is anonymous until they virtually handshake with each other, video camera owners pick and choose what they share with the neighbors, and cameras can be hidden from the network completely.

For example, Gordon-Carroll said that he gave his neighbors 24/7 access to footage from his home video camera facing the cul-de-sac in his neighborhood so that his neighbors can check on their kids playing hockey or skateboarding, but he keeps the camera facing his backyard unavailable to his neighbors.

Vivint is also reaching out to local police departments to see how Streety might be able to help in deterring crime. Still, the company stresses that the app is designed first and foremost for the neighborhood. It hopes the app will help build connections with neighbors as well as make them safer.

“Streety allows neighborhoods to manage neighborhoods,” Jeff Lyman, senior vice president of product experience, told Digital Trends. “It’s not a governmental camera program, it’s done by the people for the people, and we’re super excited about it.”

Editors’ Recommendations

• August Smart Lock Third Generation Review
• The DoorCam can protect any part of your home thanks to its wireless design
• Keep an eye on your home’s interior with the mobile Hive View
• The Nomad is a portable security solution you can take anywhere
• Protect your home with Securifi’s mesh Wi-Fi and smart home combo

This projector screen lets you watch two (or more) movies at the same time

As it happens, one of the wildest — and most divisive — things I’ve seen at CES so far doesn’t have wires or draw power or even turn on. MirraViz is a company out of Fremont, California that specializes in producing a very specific kind of projector screen that lets multiple people watch different videos at the same time. We’re not talking about picture-in-picture, either: what you get to see depends entirely on where you’re sitting.

In theory, MirraViz’s screen is similar to one of those lenticular cards you probably played with as a kid. The difference is, the millions of optical elements embedded into the panel mean there’s no actual limit to the number of videos you could display on it simultaneously. It ultimately just boils down to how many projectors you can squeeze around the panel. The company had two set up here in the heart of Mandalay Bay’s South Ballroom, and there was nothing particularly special about them — even so, I could watch Toy Story 3 and b-roll of some beautiful, sizzling bacon on the same screen just by shuffling left and right a few feet.

The effect, while not always perfect, was still enough to keep me glued in place for longer than I care to admit. Moreover, the MirraViz panels do a surprisingly great job reflecting light, so images were noticeably brighter than they would be on a traditional television. And of course, they work for more than just watching movies — the company is also making a big push to endear itself to gamers.

MirraViz founder David Jiang says only a few companies in the world are technically sophisticated enough to produce these panels, but since they’re not in any way electronic, they’re considerably cheaper than a standard television. There are, of course, some shortcomings. For one, you basically have to be right behind the projector to get the best possible view of a video. That also means MirraViz screens are almost impossible to photograph, though that’s really more my problem than yours. Oh, and duh: it’s only really novel if you already have — or are willing to buy — multiple projectors. For those who already own a suite of projectors, MirraViz panels start at 55 inches for $499. For those with money to burn and novelty in their hearts, the company also offers packages with projectors pre-mounted on gaming chairs just because.

The Morning After: Monday, January 8th 2017

It begins. We’ve parachuted the Engadget team into Vegas ready to tackle CES 2018, and while the press events officially start tomorrow, we’re already reporting on cars, chips and a bunch of crazier things, as illustrated above.

Coming up later today, we’ve got all the major press conferences from the likes of Intel, Samsung, Sony and more. We suggest you point your browser here for everything worth hearing about from CES.

It’s a consumer version of its cinema screen for theaters.Samsung is ready to build a 146-inch TV wall in your house

Last year, Samsung announced a 34-foot 4K LED TV that could challenge movie theater screens, and now it’s ready to sell a version for home use. The Wall by Samsung uses similar MicroLED tech that is “self emitting” (read: Each pixel works without a backlight) and can be assembled in extremely large sizes thanks to its modular design. We don’t have much information to go on yet, but the 146-inch 4K screen we saw promises “outstanding brightness, contrast, and close-to-perfect viewing from any angle.”

For $790, Helite’s belt will protect your hip in a fall.They make airbags for people now

French company Helite has been selling wearable airbags in some shape or form for many years. Typically, it’s targeted bikers, horse riders, light-aircraft pilots and other people with dangerous hobbies. This year at CES, it’s pitching the Hip’Air, a 2.2-pound belt that detects when an elderly person is falling and deploys an airbag. A typical fall, a Helite spokesperson explained, takes 400 milliseconds. Using gyroscopes and accelerometers, the Hip’Air can detect a fall within 200 milliseconds of it beginning. The belt will then begin to deploy its built-in airbag, which takes a further 80 milliseconds.

Unfortunately, it costs $999.Coravin’s smart wine opener doesn’t remove the cork

If you’re not familiar with Coravin, the company makes wine openers that allow you to pour a glass without removing the cork. The devices pierce the cork with a thin needle that doesn’t remove any material, so you can have some and then continue to cellar the bottle.

Coravin Capsules (similar to CO2 cartridges) filled with Argon gas push the wine out of the bottle and into your glass. At CES 2018, though, the company took its wares to a whole other level with the Model 11. There’s an app that’ll offer wine suggestions depending on the situation… and what’s on the menu.

Intel claims it’s the smallest VR-capable computer ever.Intel’s new NUC will show off AMD’s Vega GPU

We’ve called Intel’s NUC the future of tiny desktops. That’s truer than ever with the newest version of the device, which is powered by the company’s new eighth-generation CPU with AMD RX Vega M graphics. In fact, it sports the fastest version of that chip, making it an even better desktop replacement. Intel claims it’s so powerful, the 1.3-liter NUC is the smallest VR-ready system so far.

A special magnesium alloy helps keep this 2-in-1’s weight down.Samsung’s Notebook 9 Pen is a super-light Galaxy Note/laptop mashup

Samsung announced a handful of laptops before CES even started, but only one of them was really new: the Notebook 9 Pen. It isn’t Samsung’s first attempt at blending a laptop and a Galaxy Note, but after a little hands-on time, it’s shaping up to be one of the most pleasant.

But wait, there’s more…

• DJI built a one-handed stabilizer for your SLR or mirrorless camera
• Byton unveils its first EV with a focus on in-car experience
• Thieves swipe a portion of China’s solar road

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China reportedly wants to curtail wasteful bitcoin mining

China is reportedly seeking an “orderly exit” from bitcoin mining, according to a leaked document seen by Quartz. The nation’s internet finance regulator is asking local governments to strongly encourage firms to quit the business by jacking up power prices and and issuing stronger environmental rules. The government is reportedly concerned about pollution and the havoc that could be triggered by investors who lose money investing in mining and cryptocurrency.

“Currently, there are some so-called ‘mining’ enterprises that produce ‘virtual currencies,’” the January 2nd document reads. “They have consumed huge amounts of resources and stoked speculation of ‘virtual currencies.”

Two-thirds of the world’s power consumed from bitcoin mining comes from China, Quartz notes, and unfortunately a lot of that electricity is dirty. Mining operations have set up shop near coal-fired power plants, which produce cheap electricity but also choking pollution. Separately, China is also implementing a plan to jack electricity prices up for miners.

China, like other nations, likely has other reasons for shutting down bitcoin, too. On top of the potential for economic chaos, cryptocurrencies are a lot harder to track than fiat currencies, and are often used by criminal and tax-avoiding companies. China, which exerts notoriously strong control over the internet and private businesses, has already moved to ban initial coin offerings and crytpocurrency exchanges.

Regulators in China are trying to move crypto-mining out gradually in order to avoid economic issues, but kicking everyone out won’t be easy. Many mining operations are small, and local regions gain a lot of taxes and other revenue from miners. What’s more, even private hydroelectric and other power operators are reportedly running their own mining operations.

Source: Quartz