Due to the pandemic and for many reasons, CES felt lower-key this week than in years past, however here’s a quick roundup with announcements and trends we’re most looking forward to.
Moen Smart Faucet with Motion Control
In CES 2022, the kitchen seems to have been a key focus for smart-home technology. Moen’s Smart Faucet promises to be one of the more interesting applications. Aside from the conventional manual control, you may use one of three methods to operate and manage the faucet: Alexa or Google Assistant voice help, the Moen app, or a touchless motion sensor. Because of the touchless technology, you can also control the temperature and water flow using hand gestures. In the app, you may also select a preset water temperature and a gesture scheme that best meets your needs.
Whirlpool’s Smart Oven and Air Fryer
Whirlpool has released a new software update for its smart ovens that provides not just a new function but also a new appliance. Air fryers may now be used in the company’s Smart Slide-in Gas and Electric Ranges, as well as the Smart Single, Double, and Combination Wall Ovens. All you’ll need is an air fry basket, which should be available in early 2022.
PlayStation VR2 Virtual Reality Headset
The PlayStation VR2 and Sense controllers announced by Sony bode well for virtual reality. The headgear will link to PlayStation 5 consoles, allowing gamers to play higher-powered VR games without having to purchase a specialist gaming PC. Sony is also bringing back once-experimental and high-end capabilities like eye-tracking to its headsets.
Sony’s Quantum Dot OLED TV
The first consumer Quantum Dot OLED TV was launched by Sony, beating both LG and Samsung. Putting the jargon aside, this technology, which by Samsung Electronics, combines the finest of OLED and quantum dot technology to provide image quality that is unmatched, with perfect blacks and higher brightness. They’ll be available in 65-inch and 55-inch models, both with 4K resolution and top-of-the-line technology.
Samsung Freestyle Portable Projector
The new Samsung Freestyle projector is capable of much more than just projecting movies. It costs $900 and comes with an LED swiveling display that can display graphics in sizes ranging from 30 to 100 inches. Furthermore, the translucent lens cover may transform your space into a light display or create mood lighting to fit whatever music you’re listening to.
The Freestyle will use Samsung’s Tizen smart-TV platform, as well as Alexa voice control, Bluetooth connection, and a 360-degree speaker design that lets you use the projector as a portable speaker.
Eco-friendlier laptops
We’ve seen a slew of announcements from laptop makers touting new models and projects that promise to be more environmentally friendly at CES 2022 and in the months leading up to the event.
Many laptop manufacturers have released new models using environmentally friendly components including recycled plastics, recycled aluminum, and recycled vegan leather, while some designs employ a higher percentage of recycled materials than others. Companies are changing their packaging to use less plastic and to be more recyclable and biodegradable across a wider range of products.
Chipolo Card Spot
The Chipolo Card Spot, which leverages the same Apple monitoring network and Find My app as Apple’s AirTags but in a different format, is the most intriguing announcement, at least for iPhone owners.
The 2.4-millimeter-thick, card-shaped tracker from Chipolo is meant to fit in your wallet and boasts a two-year battery life as well as IPX5 water resistance. Because it harnesses Apple’s tracking network, any iPhone, iPad, or Mac with a Bluetooth connection will be able to locate a misplaced Chipolo Card Spot—and the wallet it’s in.
Modern speaker with a retro twist – Victrola ME2
Victrola’s first Bluetooth speakers have the same retro aesthetic as its turntables, but one of them has a startling modern feature: a built-in Qi charging pad that can recharge your smartphone while it’s streaming to the speaker. The Qi-enabled ME2 ($200) comes in three colors and is for desktop usage. However, because it has a rechargeable battery, it should be easy to transport to different rooms or outside. The smaller ME1 ($100) has a similar appearance but is for portable usage; it comes in five colors. Both versions are IP67-rated for water and dust protection and come with a form-fitting leather case.
Eufy Garage-Control Cam
Eufy’s smart garage door opener has a camera and a door sensor in addition to the usual features. Moreover, the Garage-Control Cam’s built-in camera and AI allow you to see who is coming and exiting. This allows you to more confidently utilize the garage to allow visitor entry remotely. It also has a sensor that detects the condition of the door and alerts you if you fail to close it. In addition, you can use voice commands (through Alexa or Google Assistant), the Eufy app, or geofencing detection to operate the door.
Fossil gets into gamer mode with Razer-branded watches
The Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch will be available in a limited-edition Razer version. Except for the three additional Razer-themed watch faces, it’s nearly identical to the normal model. The premium Skagen Falster receives an upgrade as well, with features including the Snapdragon 4100+ processor and six new hues.
BMW’s innovative color-changing paint tech
The CES concept version of the BMW iX has a one-of-a-kind trick: it can change its paint job at the press of a button. The car’s surface is with E-ink — the same technology that powers your Kindle’s display — allowing it to rapidly flip between three colors: white, black, and grey.
Senled’s Smart Health Monitoring Light Bulbs
Sengled’s new smart light bulb is much more than it appears to be. Thanks to innovative new radar technology, it can measure numerous significant signs of everyone within range, including sleep quality data, heart rate, and body temperature. It can also identify whether someone has fallen within a room and call for help right away.
