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Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2016: Deep learning proliferation
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/brians-brain/4440979/CES-2016–Deep-learning-proliferation?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160104&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160104&elq=a5bc84a887dd459fa8d2655dbca76cf6&elqCampaignId=26331&elqaid=30091&elqat=1&elqTrackId=202cd92358234e979902424d51594e68
Neural networks, which have been academic exercises (but little more) for decades, are increasingly becoming mainstream success stories. Heavy (and growing) investment in the technology, which enables the identification of objects in still and video images, words in audio streams, and the like after an initial training phase, comes from the formidable likes of Amazon, Baidu, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and others. So-called “deep learning” has been enabled by the combination of the evolution of traditional neural network techniques, with one latest-incarnation example known as a CNN (convolutional neural network), the steadily increasing processing “muscle” of CPUs (aided by algorithm acceleration via FPGAs, GPUs, and, more recently, dedicated co-processors), and the steadily decreasing cost of system memory and storage. And, while CNNs’ identification skills are increasingly (if not exceedingly) human-like in their speed and accuracy, they’re also human-reminiscent in at least one other respect … they enable computers to “dream” fanciful and fascinating visual conceptions.
Tomi Engdahl says:
NXP Set to Demystify Smart Homes
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328579&
The connected smart home is a popular concept that’s being pitched in practically every vendor’s booth at the International Consumer Electronics Show this week.
The CES pitchmen will make it sound unbelievably easy to turn your home into a smart one with connected appliances. “Unbelievably” is the operative word here.
In reality, it’s inevitable that most consumers will find themselves stymied, as they try to sort through the complexity of setting up their many household devices.
Enter NXP Semiconductors, promising to change the picture.
NXP is rolling out a “Lego-style” smart home development kit.
Included in NXP’s smart home solutions are: production-ready modules and reference designs for smart lighting, smoke detection, motion sensing, home gateways and many other popular smart home applications.
The building blocks include: a variety of connectivity options such as ZigBee, Thread, Bluetooth Low Energy; ARM-based i.MX applications processors for gateways; voice activation algorithms; and NFC to enable “tap and connect” pairing functions.
Inside the kit, NXP is offering its new Bluetooth Low Energy chip, called QN9080.
The chip, based on ARM M4 core, consumes very little power
Security and privacy
The smart home development kit is designed to be modular. Depending on system requirements, developers can pick and choose what they need from the kit, explained Goel.
Security is a key element.
In the IoT industry, it has become paramount to build security and privacy into connected home appliances from the ground up. But IoT developers are also aware that these elements are often easier said than done.
In its smart home development kit, NXP offers system designers “three layers of security,” said Goel. The first layer is to protect the path between the gateway and the cloud, the second is local security, and the third is physical security of the hardware itself.
While encryption and authentication play a key role in protecting the gateway to the cloud, NFC-based proximity technology can be deployed to make the pairing and local security easier, explained Goel. As for physical security, “we offer a secure element inside the hardware,” he noted, much like NXP does for smart cards.
NXP’s goal is to simplify the process of building a smart home for both developers and consumers, Goel noted. In particular, he cited the NFC’s ability to provide “tap and connect” communication between smart devices to the home network, and the availability of voice activation algorithms.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Here’s what to expect at CES 2016 this week
Cars, TVs, and wearables will all be on full display
http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/1/10695954/what-to-expect-ces-2016
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung’s latest smart fridge has cameras and a huge display
See your food without the hassle of opening the refrigerator door.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/04/samsung-family-hub-smart-fridge/
One of the highlights of CES is always the wacky new appliance tech (and associated bickering) from Samsung and LG. This year looks to be no exception thanks to a new “Family Hub” refrigerator from Samsung. The imposing-looking model is equipped with a 21.5-inch, 1080p monitor and cameras inside so that you can watch your mayonnaise go bad in real time. You can even check the contents remotely via a smartphone app to see what’s in there while you’re shopping, in case you forgot whether you need that jar of sweet pickles or not.
The fridge will let you know when you need to buy certain foods, tell you if they’re on sale and even let you order them, at least in Korea. The screen, of course, displays web pages, recipes and more. You can micro-manage your family’s food intake through the smartphone app and leave notes and messages on the screen, while a pair of door-mounted speakers lets you chill (sorry) with your favorite radio station.
Finally, the whole thing functions as a hub to control connected objects from SmartThings and other companies.
Samsung is putting SmartThings hubs in its 2016 HDTVs
The TVs will be able to control connected Samsung and “smart” devices.
http://www.engadget.com/2015/12/29/samsung-smartthings-hub-smart-tvs-ces2016/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Serious backlash brews against Samsung’s insane smart refrigerator
http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/04/technology/samsung-smartphone-fridge/
Samsung became the laughingstock of CES overnight after the company released photos of its newest refrigerator.
There are four doors on the “smart” fridge.
And on the front of the top right door, Samsung has placed a huge touchscreen display that looks like a giant smartphone.
The “Family Hub refrigerator” has a 21.5-inch HD screen, and you can use it to browse the Web, write notes, play music and even shop. The fridge comes equipped with Internet-connected cameras that can let you view what’s inside without opening the doors.
Samsung hasn’t yet said how much the fridge will sell for, but existing refrigerators that look similar in design range in price from $4,000 to $6,000
Refrigerators that can go online have been around for well over a decade. But many people still find the cost of the appliances to be too high to justify the limited use cases.
Among its harshest critics was the Internet of S—, a Twitter account created to parody IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
https://twitter.com/internetofshit/status/683856135883898881
Tomi Engdahl says:
How to dominate CES 2016 (Hint: we’ll help you)
http://www.cnet.com/news/dominate-ces-2016-with-cnet/
CES is huge. It’s wild. It’s exciting, and we’ll be there even if you can’t to show you what’s coming in technology in 2016.
Tomi Engdahl says:
TechCrunch:
Nvidia announces Drive PX 2, a computer for self-driving cars that uses deep neural network called Drivenet capable of recognizing 120M+ objects — Nvidia Announces New Drive PX 2 ‘Supercomputer In A Lunchbox’ For Self-Driving Cars — Following last year’s Drive CX …
Nvidia Announces New Drive PX 2 ‘Supercomputer In A Lunchbox’ For Self-Driving Cars
http://techcrunch.com/2016/01/04/nvidia-announces-new-drive-px-2-supercomputer-in-a-lunchbox-for-self-driving-cars/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ina Fried / Re/code:
Intel buys German drone maker Ascending Technologies — Intel Follows Qualcomm Into Drone Business With German Startup Purchase — Intel said Monday it is buying German drone maker Ascending Technologies for an undisclosed price, following rival chipmaker Qualcomm’s move into the space.
Intel Follows Qualcomm Into Drone Business With German Startup Purchase
http://recode.net/2016/01/04/intel-follows-qualcomm-into-drone-business-with-german-startup-purchase/
Intel said Monday it is buying German drone maker Ascending Technologies for an undisclosed price, following rival chipmaker Qualcomm’s move into the space.
Qualcomm last year said it was getting into the drone business, noting that drones were becoming, essentially, smartphones with wings.
Intel didn’t disclose the price, but said it is making job offers to the company’s 75 employees. It said to expect more details on its plans to come from CEO Brian Krzanich who is giving a keynote Tuesday at CES.
Ascending Technologies was already using Intel’s 3-D depth camera to power its collision avoidance systems.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Steve Dent / Engadget:
WiFi Alliance approves 802.11ah HaLow WiFi standard in 900 MHz band for IoT devices, with double the range of today’s WiFi, lower power consumption
New WiFi standard offers more range for less power
The WiFi Alliance’s 900MHz ‘HaLow’ standard is aimed at connected home devices.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/04/new-wifi-standard-gives-more-range-with-less-power/
The WiFi Alliance has finally approved the eagerly-anticipated 802.11ah WiFi standard and dubbed it “HaLow.” Approved devices will operate in the unlicensed 900MHz band, which has double the range of the current 2.4GHz standard, uses less power and provides better wall penetration. The standard is seen as a key for the internet of things and connected home devices, which haven’t exactly set the world on fire so far. The problem has been that gadgets like door sensors, connected bulbs and cameras need to have enough power to send data long distances to remote hubs or routers. However, the current WiFi standard doesn’t lend itself to long battery life and transmission distances.
The WiFi Alliance said that HaLow will “broadly adopt existing WiFi protocols,” like IP connectivity, meaning devices will have regular WiFi-grade security and interoperability. It added that many new products, like routers, will also operate in the regular 2.4 and 5GHz bands.
Tomi Engdahl says:
AMD to nibble the ankles of Nvidia this summer with 14nm FinFET GPUs
Look at me, we’re still here, we’re still going, still making chips, still relevant
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/01/04/amd_polaris_14nm/
AMD says it will ship graphics chips using its next-generation “Polaris” architecture from mid-2016. Crucially, these processors will use 14nm FinFETs, which means they should have better performance-per-watt figures than today’s 28nm GPUs.
Let’s be clear: today’s announcement is timed to catch the hype building around the CES 2016 conference – the annual tech circle-jerk held in Las Vegas – so don’t expect a whole lot of actual detail right now.
What we do know is that Polaris is AMD’s 4th generation Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture, and it will apparently support HDMI 2.0a, DisplayPort 1.3, and 4K H.265 encoding and decoding at 60 frames per second. We assume AMD is going to use GlobalFoundries as its fab. The tech will appear in Radeon products that PC makers are testing out right now, we’re told.
A goal of the Polaris design is to fit “console caliber” graphics into thin notebooks and displays
Tomi Engdahl says:
Meet the world’s first smart bra
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2016/01/04/ces-2016—meet-worlds-first-smart-bra/78247554/
A San Francisco company hopes women will ditch the Fitbit or Apple Watch and forget about having to use an accessory to measure heart rate and steps.
The OMbra, the worlds’s first “smart” bra, introduced here at the Consumer Electronics Show by OMsignal, aims to measure your biometrics through a piece of clothing already worn daily.
“Women gravitate towards wearables, but they don’t want an item they have to put on or worry about every day,” says OMsignal chief marketing officer Shaz Khang. And “if they’re going to be wearing it all day, they want to get more information.”
The bra is expected to start shipping in spring, for around $150.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Five Big Stories to Watch at CES 2016
http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1328584&
During the past several months, Accenture has done extensive research and engaged with a broad range of clients to identify the big stories to watch at the fast-approaching 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Based on this we expect the major stories to be:
#1 Say Goodbye to Cool, Hello to Security and Safety
#2 Market Slowdown, Innovation Interlude
#3 Internet of Things Hyper Mania Hits Hard Reality–Security
#4 New Spin On Wearables: Services
#5 Cool Cars Take Backseat to Safer Cars
Tomi Engdahl says:
Intel wants to do for drones what it did for PCs
http://www.cnet.com/news/intel-wants-to-do-for-drones-what-it-did-for-pcs/
The chipmaker acquires German drone company Ascending Technologies as it expands to technology beyond the PC.
Intel wants to power more than PCs. It wants to power drones, too.
The Santa Clara, California-based chip giant said Monday it will acquire Ascending Technologies, a German drone maker. The Krailing, Germany-based company builds a handful of drones for professional and research tasks like surveying, industrial inspections or aerial photography.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Whirlpool integrates Amazon’s Dash into its smart appliances
It’s also introducing a Smart Kitchen Suite plus a washer and dryer that lets you donate to charity.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/04/whirlpool-smart-home/
Whirlpool has come out swinging at this year’s CES with a slew of connected kitchen appliances and an app that will be integrated with Amazon’s Dash Replenishment Service. It’s actually one of many appliance brands to have the integration this year, and it’s doing so with its brand new Smart Kitchen Suite. Simply hook up your Amazon account to the Whirlpool app, and you can reorder a new batch of, say, detergent whenever your supply is low.
Speaking of that Smart Kitchen Suite, Whirlpool is also revealing a new set of appliances for 2016, which consists of the Smart Front Control Range, the Smart Dishwasher and the Smart French Door Bottom Mount Refrigerator.
Last but not least, Whirlpool is also announcing a new washer and dryer that’ll let you make a donation to Habitats for Humanity every time you do a load of laundry.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The 3D Printers of CES
http://hackaday.com/2016/01/06/the-3d-printers-of-ces/
3D printing has fallen off the radar of people who worship shiny new gadgets of late, and this is simply a function of 3D printing falling into the trough of disillusionment. The hype train of 3D printing is stuck on a siding, people are bored, but this is the time that will shape what 3D printing will become for the next ten years. What fascinating news from the 3D printing industry comes to us from CES?
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:
Intel Says Its Button-Sized Curie Will Ship In Q1, Costing Under $10
http://techcrunch.com/2016/01/05/intel-says-button-sized-curie-will-ship-in-q1-costing-under-10/
Computing devices are getting smaller by the day, and today at CES in Las Vegas Intel’s CEO Brian Krzanich announced new details about one of its big (little?) efforts in the space. Curie, Intel’s button-sized wearable hardware module that was first unveiled a year ago, will begin shipping this quarter and will cost less than $10, he said.
The collaboration with ESPN will kick off with the X Games in Aspen in 2016, where the low power Intel Curie module will be integrated into the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Men’s Snowboard Big Air competitions, where it will help to provide real-time data on athlete performance on in-air rotations, jump height, jump distance, speed, and force on landing.
The Red Bull partnership meanwhile is a global deal that will cover “multiple genres and platforms,” Intel says.
Intel has in the past announced other Curie collaborations with hardware makers to complement these deals with content companies announced today. They include the Arduino 101.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES: ASIC Enables Location Services
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328594&
The SENtrace application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designed for consumer services from locating lost children to enhancing activity tracking accuracy for fitness enthusiasts was an Innovations Award Honoree (runner-up) at this week’s International Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2016, January 6-9, Las Vegas).
SENtrace enables wearables to track locations within one meter per 100 meters traveled while cutting power by 10-fold, according to Becky Oh, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of PNI Sensor Corp. (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
Global positioning systems (GPS) typically locate wearables within 10 meters (30 feet)—although higher accuracy is possible with military decryption algorithms, or by combining the inputs from multiple GPS satellites. However, by adding the SENtrace ASIC with a three-axis accelerometer, a three-axis gyroscope, a three-axis magnetometer and (optionally) a single-axis altimeter (barometer), its dead-reckoning algorithms enhance the accuracy of wearables. The ASIC combines available beacons and the use of smart-divergence algorithms to sense errors caused by drift and other signals including electro-magnetic interference.
“SENtrace knows when our dead-reckoning algorithms are starting to diverge, which can happen for a variety of reasons,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Faraday Future: Fact or Fantasy?
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328597&
Faraday Future, one of the most hyped tech companies before this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, is still likely to be watched closely even after the show.
Faraday Future (FF) came to Las Vegas to formerly introduce itself. The company’s avowed mission is to design in Los Angeles and manufacture in North Las Vegas “better, cleaner and connected electric cars.”
FF took the wraps off its concept car, the FFZero1, an Internet-connected 1,000-horsepower EV, on Monday (January 4) in Las Vegas.
The FFZero1 looks like a one-seat race car whose design is both futuristic and oddly retro — with shades of Lotus Fords and vintage ‘Vettes.
Since the FFZero1 is a “concept car,” most likely it will never get produced, and it won’t resemble FF’s first commercial product, when the company is ready to roll it out in a few years
Tomi Engdahl says:
Qualcomm Adds Smartphone Power To Auto
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328604&
Chip giant Qualcomm announced a new family of automotive processors and a design win at International CES (Jan. 5). The company aims to shift the pace of development in the smartphone market to the automotive arena with modular designs.
Design cycles for the Internet of Things are speeding up and OEMs are using modules to enable more innovation, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf said during CES press day. To bring advanced connectivity to the auto sector, Qualcomm announced a modular SoC based on its Snapdragon 820 processor—the 820A and 820Am.
“820A use the same blend of technologies as the Snapdragon 820, but is optimized for the form factor and unique requirements of the automobile application,” the CEO continued. “[802A] has a suite of technologies that allow car manufacturers to take advantage of all proximity, connectivity, sensor data, and blends that into unique capabilities.”
The 14nm FinFET Snapdragon 820A SoC node runs a 64-bit Qualcomm Kryo CPU, an Adreno 530 GPU, and Hexagon 680 DSP with Hexagon Vector eXtension. The Snapdragon 820Am SoC adds an integrated 4G LTE modem capable of 600 Mbits/second downlink and 150 Mbits/s uplink for HD video streaming, or for use as a 802.11ac Wi-Fi hotpot for mobile devices inside the car, and vehicle to vehicle/infrastructure/pedestrian communications.
Although Nvidia has previously won over Audi with its high performance graphics, Tirias Principal Analyst Jim McGregor said competition for infotainment systems is fierce. Both Qualcomm and Nvidia have excellent graphics units, but Qualcomm will be able to differentiate itself with an LTE modem.
Still, car makers aren’t loyal to any chip company and favor competition that encourages low prices, McGregor noted. The chip makers that will likely win in this space — though there won’t be a single winner in ADAS or infotainment — will be companies like NXP and Renesas who have been in the automotive world for years but tend not to publicize their design wins.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES2016: Bosch to support the latest IoT technologies
Car electronics manufacturer Bosch is presenting today in Las Vegas for annual consumer electronics fair in new development projects. One of them involves networking cars to the Internet and the development of new IoT solutions cars.
The emphasis is on the development of transport, infrastructure, energy supply and security. A good example is Bosch’s proposals, the automatic street lighting: if the street is empty, the lights are blurred, but the brightening immediately where appropriate, upon the people the area. The principle works as well as escalators, which are triggered only when people come to them.
Las Vegas Bosch presented by IoT Suite software platform aims to connect the devices, users and services on the same platform, the question then electricity distribution, lighting, traffic lights or cars. Bosch, it is also the world of IoT is possible to connect the entire city infrastructure such as public transport and car parks.
Source: http://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2016/01/07/ces2016-bosch-tukemaan-uusinta-iot-tekniikkaa/
Tomi Engdahl says:
MediaTek Delivers Chip Series for Wearables, Smart Home Apps
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328623&
MediaTek unveiled three systems-on-chip at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016. The SoCs are designed for wearable devices, smart home applications and Ultra-HD (4K) Blu-ray players
The MT2523 series, which is dedicated to smart watches and other wearables, is a system-in-package (SiP) that enables GPS, dual-mode Bluetooth Low Energy and a MIPI-supported high-resolution mobile screen, according to the company. It boasts of long battery life, high-quality display technology and small printed circuit board area that is 41 per cent smaller than competitors’ solutions.
The SiP features a microcontroller unit that allows wearables to last up to one week with a single charge. It also has 2D capabilities of true colour, per pixel alpha channel and anti-aliasing fonts, as well as 1bit index colour to save memory and computing power.
MediaTek’s MT2523, powered by ARM Cortex M4 processor, will be available to device makers by the second half of 2016.
The MT7697 SoC, meanwhile, offers low-power integration of such applications as home appliances, home automation, smart gadgets, Internet of Things (IoT) bridges and cloud connectivity. It features DB Wi-Fi, BLE, CM4 and RAM. It also includes a power amplifier with TX Power-up to 10dBm. The SoC’s BLE, when used on iOS devices, supports up to 160B of maximum transmission units.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Intel’s Next Gen Compute Stick Beefs Up Processing With Core M3 and M5 Models
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/16/01/07/2218254/intels-next-gen-compute-stick-beefs-up-processing-with-core-m3-and-m5-models?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot%2Fto+%28%28Title%29Slashdot+%28rdf%29%29
Intel is taking another stab at the PC-in-your-pocket form factor with their next gen Compute Sticks. These over-sized thumbstick devices plug into the HDMI port of any TV or monitor and offer a full-fledged computing experience and Intel has now made them faster and more capable. New for 2016, there are three new base model Compute Sticks to choose from.
Intel’s Next Generation Compute Stick Beefs Up Processing With Core M3, M5 Processors
Read more at http://hothardware.com/news/intels-next-generation-compute-stick-bulks-up-with-core-m3-m5-processors#CIqgwxDm5MQLRpkf.99
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2016: Intel-powered Daqri Smart Helmet and Yuneec drone eyes-on
Chip maker demos capabilities of Curie and RealSense
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/review/2440828/ces-2016-intel-powered-daqri-smart-helmet-and-yuneec-drone-eyes-on
LAS VEGAS: INTEL’S CES PRESS CONFERENCE was one of the more bizarre we witnessed this year. The firm demonstrated the capabilities of RealSense and Curie, the tiny wearables chip unveiled at last year’s CES, as opposed to unveiling new processors or hardware.
This ‘experience’ focused showcase involved everything from an on-stage parkour demonstration, to a fashion show and a drone firework display. Two of the most interesting things, however, were the Daqri Smart Helmet and Yuneec Typhoon H drone, both of which we checked out on the CES floor.
We couldn’t wait to get our hands on the RealSense-equipped Daqri Smart Helmet, which the company claims has the potential to revolutionise the industrial sector with its built-in Intel Core M chip, 4D augmented reality smarts, thermal imaging capabilities and 360-degree array of sensors.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Kingston’s super-secure DataTraveler USB drive will ‘self-destruct’ with incorrect PIN entry
Aluminium cover prevents an accidental trigger when travelling
By Chris Merriman
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2440979/kingstons-super-secure-datatraveler-usb-drive-will-self-destruct-with-incorrect-pin-entry
KINGSTON DIGITAL has taken the covers off its 2016 range at CES in Las Vegas and the most notable device on the list is the ‘self-destructing’ latest DataTraveler 2000 USB hard drive.
What makes it interesting is that it has a built-in keypad that allows it to be PIN protected when inserted into any device and can be set to ‘self-destruct’ after 10 incorrect log-in attempts. Better still, it comes with an aluminium cover to prevent the self-destruct accidentally being triggered in your bag.
Tomi Engdahl says:
LG’s new fridge door lets you see what’s inside and opens automatically
http://interestingengineering.com/lgs-new-fridge-door-lets-you-see-whats-inside-and-opens-automatically/
LG Signature has presented us some pretty cool stuff at CES 2016 in Las Vegas, including a display that can roll up like a newspaper. And now, they’ve introduced us the laziest fridge of all, which they promise will also help us reduce our energy bill. Their new fridge has a huge screen on the door, which when knocked on, will go clear allowing you to see what’s inside without even opening the door.
this fridge door also opens automatically when you step on the ‘open door’ projection on the floor thanks to a smart sensor detector at the foot of the fridge
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google teams up with Lenovo on smartphone with Project Tango’s augmented reality
http://venturebeat.com/2016/01/07/google-teams-up-with-lenovo-on-smartphone-with-project-tangos-augmented-reality/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Looking for CES’s Most Cutting-Edge Tech? It’s in the Fridge
http://www.wired.com/2016/01/smart-fridges-samsung-lg/
Rivalries can be productive. They can push both parties to deliver the very best effort, even when we’re talking about washing machines and refrigerators.
Take LG and Samsung, for example. The two South Korean electronics giants have been playing a heated game of awesome-TV tennis for the past few years, each trying to one-up each other with top-notch picture quality and industrial design. LG has the amazing OLED in its corner, while Samsung has a slick LCD that pumps out 1,000 nits. They’re both beautiful TVs, and there’s no doubt that rivalry between the two companies has stoked the competitive fire.
This year, that tete-a-tete has spilled over to the world of… refrigerators? Sure, refrigerators. LG and Samsung both had innovative iceboxes on display at CES 2016. Now that both companies’ TVs have been outstanding for years—with incremental improvements happening every year—the fridges were actually two of the most interesting things at each company’s booth.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Polaroid Hits CES With a Super-Cheap, Super-Cute Camera
http://www.wired.com/2016/01/polaroid-hits-ces-with-a-super-cheap-super-cute-camera/
Nothing about the Polaroid Snap or Polaroid Snap+ will out-spec a competitor…except that whole printing thing. OK, but everything else about these tiny cameras is incredibly fine. There’s no screen on the back, and all it does is snap a photo (in black and white, sepia, or color, which you can control from a small wheel mechanism on the top of the cam), and when you’re done, it prints it. It uses Zink paper (no ink, just thermoprinting tech here). So it doesn’t do a lot, but hey: It’s only $99.
The Snap+ will be available later this year, but a little more—likely in the $140-150 range, and definitely below $200, Polaroid says.
Basically, Polaroid’s given us an adorable little toy. That’s the company’s new move. Make technologically worse versions of things other companies are making, sell them for near nothing, and hit up the market that wants (semi) digital fun at a fraction of the price.
Tomi Engdahl says:
2016 CES: Highlights of Intel Ceo Brian Krzanich’s Keynote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BslGBBYsi8c
Tomi Engdahl says:
Forget about 4K, 8K will come now
4K picture quality looks very good on the big screen, but not the end of development. Las Vegas CES show will be on display for 4K content in comparison to four times the accuracy of the 8K-capable televisions. Shift bits therein is based on a new SuperMHL technology.
MHL Consortium points out that the 4K technology, especially the rapid expansion of the base to the fact that consumers have access to and to buy in connectivity solutions, with 4K image we can smoothly screens. The same is required for the 8K up to proliferate.
CES MHL consortium JCE and KinnexA present for cables and accessories with 8K image transfer is successful.
SuperMHL MHL Consortium is a fourth generation connection technology that supports 8K resolution, for example, in addition to downloading devices 40 watts of power. The connector can also be physically HDMI or USB-type (C or micro).
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3814:unohda-4k-nyt-tulee-8k&catid=13&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
Salcomp’s USB-C charger based on FPGA circuits
Finnish Salcomp with others moving in it’s chargers to new C-type USB connector. Now the FPGA manufacturer Lattice Semiconductor, says that the new Speedy Salcomp’s charger base of the driver circuit.
Speedy is Salcomp’s 36-watt model, which can be connected to new devices containing C_tyypin the USB connector. The charger accepts various input voltages and input devices 3000 milliamperes battery power.
C-type USB connector is an important step in this development. Fitting the connector on both devices is increasing at a rapid pace, so the chargers need to keep up with the times.
new USB standard allows for devices to download up to 100 watts output
Salcomp’s Speedy Lattice LIF-UC-controller ensures a seamless connection to the AC / DC controller circuit. Because the driver is Lattice FPGA architecture are based, it can be programmed according to the requirements of different products in Salcomp.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3812:salcompin-usb-c-laturi-pohjaa-fpga-piiriin&catid=13&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
See the first videos shot with Nikon’s 360-degree action camera
Company releases first sample footage taken with its KeyMission 360 camera
http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/8/10735400/nikon-keymission-360-sample-video
At CES this week, Nikon announced the KeyMission 360, its first-ever action camera. Now, the company has released the first videos shot with the 360-degree 4K camera, which is the first in what Nikon is calling a “family” of action cameras.
The three videos were shot in appropriately rugged locations, featuring climbers, mountain bikers, and kayakers. You can use your mouse or keyboard to shift perspective on the videos, which were shot and edited entirely with the KeyMission 360.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Hush smart earplugs nearly sent me to sleep at CES
http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/8/10730540/hush-smart-earplugs-hands-on-video-ces-2016
I haven’t slept much this week, as is usually the case at CES, but I almost managed to catch a few winks in the unlikeliest of places yesterday evening: a crowded show floor. That’s because I was testing out Hush, a product described by its creators as the “world’s first smart earplugs.” Hush consists of two wireless plugs that fit snugly into your ears and play masking sounds designed to help you get to sleep.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Darryl K. Taft / eWeek:
IBM announces Watson partnerships with Softbank Robotics, Whirlpool, Under Armour
IBM’s Rometty Takes Watson to CES
http://www.eweek.com/database/ibms-rometty-takes-watson-to-ces.html
IBM CEO and Chairman Ginni Rometty announced several Watson-powered innovations aimed at helping consumers at CES.
During a keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) today, IBM Chairman and CEO Ginni Rometty announced several new advances and partnerships built around the IBM Watson cognitive computing platform.
The news signals the rapid adoption of Watson technology by consumers and that Watson technology is increasingly touching hundreds of millions of individuals around the world.
However, Rometty’s presence at CES does not signal that IBM is becoming “a consumer company,” but the partnerships Big Blue is forging and the cognitive platforms the company is building are bringing digital business and digital intelligence together in new ways.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nick Statt / The Verge:
CES: Increasing number of third-party smart home products integrate with Amazon’s Alexa — Amazon’s stealth takeover of the smart home at CES 2016 — Of all the forecasts made here at CES, the smart home feels like one of the nearest to coming true. Nearly every big-name technology brand …
Amazon’s stealth takeover of the smart home at CES 2016
Alexa everywhere
http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/7/10719202/amazon-alexa-ces-2016-takeover-smart-home
Of all the forecasts made here at CES, the smart home feels like one of the nearest to coming true. Nearly every big-name technology brand, from Google to Samsung to LG, is in the process of trying to own the way we interact with our appliances and our appliances interact with each other. But the most important name in the smart home is the one you’re least likely to find plastered inside the cavernous halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center: Alexa.
The name corresponds to Amazon’s cloud-based voice assistant, which began as the personal assistant inside the online shopping company’s Echo speaker that went on sale to the public in June. Over the course of a few months, however, Alexa has moved beyond Echo and into a host of third-party devices, in part thanks to Amazon’s $100 million Alexa Fund, which helps other companies incorporate the software into their products.
Now those investments are bearing fruit. At CES 2016, Amazon is a stealth attendee. Without a booth or logo in sight, Alexa is weaving its way into third-party products here as varied as home security cameras, lighting systems, and Ford vehicles. By creating a voice interface for asking about the weather, playing music, and the mundane resupplying of paper towels and snacks, Amazon has emerged as the go-to partner for industries in need of powerful natural language processing and fast access to information from the internet. The benefit for Amazon is obvious: voice software tied directly to the Everything Store is a great way to keep people spending money on Amazon. But for an industry bedeviled by interface and compatibility issues, Alexa is an attractive way forward.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:
Razer announces $200 Stargazer webcam with Intel RealSense3D technology, dynamic background removal, face and object 3D scanning
Razer Raises The Bar On VR Gaming With Its New $200 Stargazer Webcam
http://techcrunch.com/2016/01/06/razer-raises-the-bar-on-vr-gaming-with-its-new-200-stargazer-webcam/
Last summer, gaming tech company Razer said that it was working with Intel on a webcam that would take in-game video recording to a higher level. Today, at CES in Las Vegas, the company is taking the wraps off that product.
Stargazer is Razer’s new $200 camera, shipping in Q2, that will let game players record themselves in high definition, with the focus on catchy new features, such as a new way to immerse players directly into games without resorting to green screens; and a new 3D scanning feature that will first make its debut in Minecraft, courtesy of Intel’s RealSense technology.
With virtual reality, immersive 3D and social experiences fast becoming the norm for high-end games and gamers, Razer is quite literally jumping into the frame with both feet. As a webcam, the Stargazer is setting a new bar for what gamers can have to record themselves in the middle of the action.
Video capture comes in at 60 frames per second at 720p (compared to 30 FPS in most of today’s webcams). It also can be used in high-definition mode, recording 1080p video at 30 frames per second. Sound is getting some attention, too, although perhaps not as much as videos: the microphone is noise-cancelling and dual-array.
The Stargazer is based around Intel’s SR300 camera, which is built on its RealSense technology — an HD camera that uses AI to “see” like a human eye to track depth and motion, but also incorporates other features like infrared to detect much more than a human eye can, and features such as gesture recognition to launch different commands on the computer connected to the webcam.
The Stargazer features, Razer says, works with OBS, XSplit and Razer Cortex: Gamecaster broadcasting software. But even if Razer is built “by gamers, for gamers” as its motto says, it also understands that people buying these devices may be using them for more.
The same features to remove backgrounds in gaming streams, Razer says, can also be used in Skype video chats and also with real-time motion capture technology, such as that of FaceRig. Other features include face and object 3D scanning and facial recognition which can be used as a security feature to unlock your computer if you use Windows (via Hello).
Or — in a more fun twist — to scan objects in 3d to upload them into other environments. While the 3D feature will work with development engines like Unity, the first application of the latter of these is a fun one: Intel says its first public integration with the feature will be in Minecraft.
Notably, the Stargazer currently is configured only to work in Windows 10 environments. It will be interesting to see how and if Razer expands that to include Android or other platforms.
Tomi Engdahl says:
BMW made a motorcycle helmet that builds in the best parts of Google Glass
The concept could be reality in a couple years
http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/9/10743012/bmw-concept-augmented-reality-helmet-is-like-google-glass-with-purpose
Nearly four years ago, Google published a video previewing what it might be like to use an augmented reality headset. It showed all kinds of useful information hanging out in the corner of your vision, and then that same information lowering into your view as you needed to know critical details, like how to get from one place to another. That fascinating concept never made it to life — all we got was Google Glass.
But now BMW is taking some of that video’s best ideas and turning them into a much more useful product. It’s making a motorcycle helmet with a Glass-like heads-up-display, allowing information like speed limits, directions, and incoming phone calls to be displayed in your field of view.
It’s immediately clear why this tech is useful
Still, even at this prototype stage, it was immediately clear how BMW’s helmet can improve upon some of the key promises of Glass. For one, this is a motorcycle helmet — not something you’re going to be wearing all day — so the eyepiece can be much bigger, making it easier to read. There’s also an obvious and very helpful use case: motorcycle riders won’t have to look down to see their speed; it also offers pertinent information — road safety updates, maps, and so on — that they otherwise wouldn’t have a way to check.
Tomi Engdahl says:
MediaTek Delivers Chip Series for Wearables, Smart Home Apps
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328623&
MediaTek unveiled three systems-on-chip at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016. The SoCs are designed for wearable devices, smart home applications and Ultra-HD (4K) Blu-ray players.
The MT2523 series, which is dedicated to smart watches and other wearables, is a system-in-package (SiP) that enables GPS, dual-mode Bluetooth Low Energy and a MIPI-supported high-resolution mobile screen, according to the company. It boasts of long battery life, high-quality display technology and small printed circuit board area that is 41 per cent smaller than competitors’ solutions.
Tomi Engdahl says:
ARM Exec’s Straight Car Talk at CES
Q&A with ARM’s Ian Drew
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328628&
Ian Drew, ARM’s executive vice president of marketing and business development, posed five questions that the automotive industry — or the tech industry in general — would rather not hear.
Drew: How do you think carmakers make money?
EE Times: Um, by making cars?
Drew: Let me rephrase. Where do you think their profitability will come from in five to 10 years from now?
EE Times: Not from making cars?
Drew: Their profit will come from their using the car as a platform. They won’t make money by continuing to bend sheet metal. Automakers are facing fundamental changes in their business model.
EE Times: What do you mean by the “car as a platform”?
Drew: Why do you think consumers kept buying satellite-based GPS navigation systems from companies like Garmin on the aftermarket? It’s because car companies put GPS hardware into their vehicles and thought their job was over. They never thought it was necessary to update maps.
Tesla has already shown us a way to use the car as a platform.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES: High-Tech Pix from a No-Tech Photographer
http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=31&doc_id=1328641&
Tomi Engdahl says:
NASA’s Mars Orion program featured at CES 2016
http://www.edn.com/design/consumer/4441161/NASA-s-Mars-Orion-program-at-CES-2016?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_funfriday_20160108&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_funfriday_20160108&elq=e23d16704d6f403a86c67ee9d9a7a0eb&elqCampaignId=26403&elqaid=30181&elqat=1&elqTrackId=b8dd916889464ef797a8f06c7a003630
Tomi Engdahl says:
IoT’s Coolest Connections at CES
Simpler connections for your whole family on display
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328631&
Creating a connected world is possible at CES – especially if you’re willing to pre-order – and there was no dearth of Internet of Things devices on this year’s show floor. We saw plenty of cool items for the home and family, and many superfluous devices that left us wondering why?
While there was no single killer app or use case that dominated the show floor or pre-show press demos, we noticed a number of trends across IoT gadgets:
1. Simplify our increasingly connected world
While companies encourage consumers to buy into the Internet of Things to simplify their lives, the thought of managing all those devices and associated applications can cause anxiety. We saw many remote control gadgets designed to make a multiple devices easier to use and under a single app.
2. Connected devices must be meaningful
We saw this last year too: connecting devices together isn’t enough; there must be meaningful material that comes from these connections. Only suggestions for behaviorial change or insight into an action will make IoT devices sticky.
3. Baby’s on board
IoT is becoming a family affair, with infants getting connected through car seats, thermometers, and activity monitors. Smaller hardware means connected devices can fit on even the tiniest members of your family.
Connected devices must be meaningful
That being said, not everything needs a grand purpose. Improvements in battery life and compute mean intelligence can be built into so much more — so why not add some smarts to an otherwise simple device? Someone will probably buy it.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Through a collaboration between Sony and Nissan, a car has become a video game controller controller. A controller plugs into the ODB II port, reads throttle, brake, and steering wheel positions (and buttons on the dash/steering wheel, I guess), and translates that into controller input for a PlayStation 4. What games do they play with a car? You would think Gran Turismo, Rocket League, or other games with cars in them. Nope. Football.
Source: http://hackaday.com/2016/01/10/hackaday-links-january-10-2016/
More: http://www.nissan.se/SE/sv/experience-nissan/controller.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Edward Snowden speaks at Consumer Electronics Show disguised as a robot
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/07/slug-edward-snowden-ces-future-robot-suitable-technology-beam
The whistleblower made a virtual appearance at Las Vegas tech convention through Suitable’s Beam, a screen-on-wheels robot with subversive potential
There are lots of people pitching fancy gadgets at the Consumer Electronics Show this week here. Add to that list: Edward Snowden.
The former National Security Agency contractor, famous for handing over western government secrets to the Guardian and other publications, made a virtual appearance at the Suitable Technologies booth here. This was possible because Snowden was speaking from Suitable’s Beam, a sort of roaming screen on wheels used for remote commuting and virtual meetings.
But Beam isn’t just another piece of office technology, Snowden said. Rather, it can be used to subvert governments.
“This is the power of Beam, or more broadly the power of technology,” he said in an onstage interview with Peter Diamandis, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur. “The FBI can’t arrest a robot.”
Snowden’s lawyer, Ben Wizner with the American Civil Liberties Union, said in an email that his client wasn’t compensated for the event, which Suitable confirmed. “But he has benefited from the technology,” Wizner said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mobileye, Nvidia (and Others) Spar over Cars
Mobileye’s mapping scheme can ‘lock you in’
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328655
The field of autonomous driving technologies revealed its substantial expansion at this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
In the autonomous driving chip segment alone, aside from incumbents such as Nvidia, Mobileye, NXP and Texas Instruments, a host of new players — Ceva, an IP vendor, Intel and Qualcomm — are now also breaching the market. Car OEMs are welcoming these newcomers, observed Egil Juliussen, director of research, infotainment & ADAS at IHS Automotive, during CES. “The field has suddenly gotten a lot more crowded.”
Fog of war?
By now, the investment and media communities are thoroughly tuned in to the technologies that enable autonomous cars — sensing, cameras, radars and lidars, mapping, algorithms, deep network (or not deep network), artificial intelligence, etc.
But it still remains unclear — to most of them — where all these technologies will eventually end up in autonomous car designs, let alone who will be the winners and losers in this battle.
Microsoft Partnerships Drive Connected Cars: CES 2016
http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1328613&
At CES, Microsoft announces new partnerships with Volvo, Nissan, Harman, and IAV to further connected car strategies.
Microsoft is deepening its foray into connected cars, as indicated by updates on its partnerships with Volvo, Nissan, Harman, and IAV. Announcements came from the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) taking place this week in Las Vegas.
The future of cars is a core trend of this year’s show, along with home automation technology and next-generation health wearables. As connected car tech continues to evolve and driverless cars consistently garner attention, consumers will begin to demand more from their vehicles.
Microsoft isn’t new to the connected car space. The tech giant has also partnered with Toyota, Ford, Qoros, Delphi, and others to integrate its products and services into automobiles.
“In the near future, the car will be connected to the Internet, as well as to other cars, your mobile phone and your home computer,” Microsoft executive vice president for business development Peggy Johnson said in a blog post. “The car becomes a companion and an assistant to your digital life. And so our strategy is to be the ultimate platform for all intelligent cars.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Introducing the BeagleBone Blue
http://hackaday.com/2016/01/11/introducing-the-beaglebone-blue/
The BeagleBone is a board that doesn’t get a lot of attention in a world of $5 Raspberry Pis, $8 single board computers based on router chipsets, and a dizzying array of Kickstarter projects promising Android and Linux on tiny credit card-sized single board computers. That doesn’t mean the BeagleBone still isn’t evolving, as evidenced by the recent announcement of the BeagleBone Blue.
The BeagleBone Blue is the latest board in the BeagleBone family, introduced last week at CES. The Blue is the result of a collaboration between USCD Engineering and TI, and with that comes a BeagleBone built for one specific purpose: robotics and autonomous vehicles. With a suite of sensors very useful for robotics and a supported software stack ideal for robots and drones, the BeagleBone Blue is the perfect board for all kinds of robots.
http://beagleboard.org/blue
Tomi Engdahl says:
7 top trends from CES 2016
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/brians-brain/4441181/7-top-trends-from-CES-2016?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160111&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160111&elq=d3a3e38f611b4ed5b44c4efa29a00f3b&elqCampaignId=26443&elqaid=30231&elqat=1&elqTrackId=894506132962491b946957999ff7fe55
Unsurprisingly, 2015′s explosion of wearable devices, predominantly fitness bands and fuller-featured smart watches, promises to further expand this year. Particular-feature-set products are getting cheaper, thanks in no small part to the burgeoning army of Chinese suppliers (wearables took over a notable percentage of the Sands Expo last week).
What I personally found most interesting about the category, however, were two wearable-related lawsuits also publicized last week. You know a product is successful when the lawyers show up, right?
It seems like just yesterday, but was actually back in 2010, that Parrot launched one of the first (if not the first) consumer drones at CES.
dozens of drone manufacturers inhabiting the lower level of the LVCC South Hall last week. And, as with wearables, the manufacturers are attempting to differentiate themselves via a combination of lower prices and added features.
Battery life is one obvious consumer complaint and (consequent) enhancement opportunity for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). Video capture quality is also important (not to mention the presence-vs-absence of a camera); “4K” resolution images (which I’ll more generally discuss in a bit) are the latest must-have high-end capability. But, as many of you already know from recent FAA registration requirements in combination with news stories about various issues, keeping drones out of airspace where they don’t belong (both to avoid neighbor conflicts and other-drone and other-aircraft collisions) is an increasingly important issue.
Some of these problems can be solved via the combination of GPS and standardized drone-to-drone wireless communications capabilities.
Unsurprisingly (probably), augmented reality and virtual reality were also both big at this year’s CES. For example, I was amazed every time I walked by Oculus’ booth at the LVCC South Hall, to see the huge lines of people waiting for hours for a short demo opportunity. To clarify, the Oculus Rift is a VR (virtual reality) system, audibly, visually and otherwise completely replacing the real world with a synthetic alternative generated within the helmet. An AR (augmented reality) system such as Google Glass or Microsoft’s Hololens conversely augments the real world with additional information presented to the user via a LCD or OLED, through a headset, etc.
The Detroit Auto Show is happening this week, but you’re understandably excused if you thought it already took place. General Motors, for example, took advantage of CEO Mary Barra’s Wednesday keynote to unveil the fully electric Bolt shown above, with a 200 mile estimated between-charges range, the companion to the company’s Spark EV and the successor to the ill-fated EV1 (along with being somewhat confusingly similar in name to GM’s Volt hybrid).
GM also announced an autonomous vehicle partnership with Lyft, one of the two dominant ride sharing service
Previously stealth EV manufacturer Faraday Future unveiled a sleek prototype. Tesla, not at CES, nonetheless announced enhanced autonomous driving features for its Model S, along with a coast-to-coast full autonomy prediction within 2-3 years.
4K and 8K
Last year, “4K” resolution displays began to hit their full stride, and this year they were everywhere, supplemented by next-generation “8K” units. The UHD Alliance has unveiled official specs, covering not only resolution but also color gamut, black level, and other parameters. And companion Ultra HD Blu-ray players are also beginning to appear.
Sorry, manufacturers, I’m still not impressed. A visual quality difference that I can’t discern unless my nose is right up against the display, or with a massive-sized screen purchasable only by multi-millionaires, is of no interest to the masses (therefore to me).
More pleasantly surprising, I must say, is the aggressive (finally) ramp of OLED technology by LG in particular. All the fundamental OLED advantages that I’ve regularly written about over the years remain valid … deep blacks and wide color gamuts, backlight-free thin bezels and flexibility, wide viewing angles, etc. But limited lifetime was always an Achilles Heel
The “smart home” term means a lot of things to a lot of people … intelligent thermostats and smoke detectors, for example, or analytics-capable consumer webcams, or voice- and remote software-controllable lights, or multiple of these. And it’s been long promised, and has long under-delivered on that promise. But slowly but surely I’m seeing signs of maturation and critical mass in this market.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Low power pedestrian navigation IC works where GPS signals are weak or missing
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/electronic-product-reviews/ces/4441133/Low-power-pedestrian-navigation-IC-works-where-GPS-signals-are-weak-or-missing?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_productsandtools_20160111&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_productsandtools_20160111&elq=84a438d5be2844d7a874203ae7d25b79&elqCampaignId=26447&elqaid=30235&elqat=1&elqTrackId=d2b125127f7f4437bd304b71a5a08cd9
PNI Sensor Corp. today announced a CES 2016 Innovations Awards Nominee SENtrace, the industry’s first coprocessor for wearables providing truly accuracy and ultra-low power pedestrian tracking indoors, as well as in urban canyons—this is good news especially near tall buildings and especially in large cities like NY city where I have much personal experience with this phenomenon; so, anywhere that the global positioning systems (GPS) signal goes missing or is inadequate.
SENtrace is a small custom ASIC that uses about 10x lower power than GPS demands. By leveraging PNI Sensor’s proprietary embedded algorithms, it enables existing ultra-low power inertial sensors to track users when there is little or no GPS signal available.
“We foresee a range of applications for SENtrace in wearables,” added Becky Oh, PNI Sensor President and CEO. “They include wrist-worn devices for locating lost children or elders and enhanced activity wristbands and smartwatches for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.”
I like the fact that the PNI solution has constant calibration to keep the system accurate.
The IC physical board footprint is 1.7 x 1.7 x 0.5mm, and it is a 32-bit processor with a custom floating point unit (FPU) embedded with PNI’s sensor fusion tracking algorithms. These algorithms offload the tracking task from a device’s main processor, thereby saving battery power as well as not loading down the main computing power of the system.
SENtrace’s algorithms work with any sensor manufacturer’s sensors
Tomi Engdahl says:
Conexant’s Products Featured on CES
http://www.eeweb.com/news/conexants-products-featured-on-ces
Conexant announced three new products at CES: a high-perfomrance 4 microphon far-filed voice input digital signal processor; a new audio processing solution that is being adopted by LG, and a low-power audio/sensor SoC.
Conexant’s new RoomAware Optimizer processing solution dramatically improves the listening experience from the existing speakers in a TV. Part of the Conexant AudioSmart product family, the new solution has beed adopted by LG Electronics for its 2016 lineup of OLED and UHD TVs. LG will call the feature ‘Magic Sound Tuning’. Through Magic Sound Tuning, LG TVs, with their Magic Remote, can automatically adapt speaker output to the room’s acoustics and the location of the TV in the room – for an optimized end user experience.
The CX20926 low-power audio/sensor SoC brings voice control to battery-powered devices. The chip features always-listening, voice-activated wake-up capabilities that turn battery-operated devices – such as smart voice remote controls, wearables and headsets – into smart applications
4 Microphone Far-FieldVoice Input Processor
Featuring Conexant’s new Smart Source Locator, the CX20924 brings superior, 360-degree voice location capabilities combined with excellent speech recognition hit rates to smart voice applications – even in far-field conditions of up to five mteres away from the target device
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2016: Everything Star Wars From This Year’s Show – IGN
http://www.epanorama.net/newepa/2016/01/12/ces-2016-everything-star-wars-from-this-years-show-ign/
http://m.ign.com/articles/2016/01/10/ces-2016-everything-star-wars-from-this-years-show