We’re in Las Vegas for the 2017 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). You won’t find new announcements from Apple or Google here, nor Oculus for that matter, but it’ll be a feeding frenzy for thousands of the big TV, wearable, drone, smart home and automotive companies. (Follow #CES2017 on Twitter and you’ll get the picture.) Here’s what to expect. Every day, big reveals will come, along with some bizarre ones. We’re here to filter out the best products that you need to know about.
This is Part I of our coverage of CES 2017. To view our other installments in this coverage in the coming days, visit our tech section or Gear Patrol’s home page.
Motiv Ring
This is the first wearable ring that has an optical heart rate sensor built into it. It tracks your activity, heart rate and sleep. It’s presumably more comfortable to wear to bed than a smart watch or other wrist-bound devices. Another plus is that you don’t have to take it off in the shower — it’s waterproof up to 5 ATM. The only time you’ll have to take it off is to charge the device every five days or so. The Motiv Ring can be pre-ordered now for $199 and is expected to ship in spring 2017.
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
Dell’s XPS 13 was arguably the best lightweight laptop running Windows 10 throughout 2016. Now Dell has announced a newer, lighter, thinner 2-in-1 iteration — and it’s a big deal. It weighs 2.7 pounds, can be configured with a Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and comes with several ports, including two USB-C’s and a microSD slot.
Lenovo Smart Assistant
More competition for Google Home and Amazon Echo is on the horizon. Lenovo, one of the best-known PC manufacturers, just announced its own tubular smart speaker. It’s integrated with Alexa, compliments of a partnership between Lenovo and Amazon, and can basically perform the same tasks as an Echo — like playing music, answering silly questions and ordering things on Amazon. Lenovo also partnered with Harman Kardon for a special-edition speaker with higher-fidelity sound. However, this better speaker will cost $180, while Lenovo’s regular smart-assistant speakers — sans Harman Kardon — only costs $130. They are expected to ship May 2017.
Mohu Airwave
The Mohu Airwave is a wireless antenna that brings the dream of free TV even closer to reality. It allows customers to stream live TV (such as local channels) and also navigate their streaming device — Apple TV, Roku and Chromecast — all in one place. No extra subscription needed. It will cost $150 and should be available spring 2017.
PowerVision PowerRay Fishfinder
Onboard fish-finders are antiquated, according to PowerVision. Their new underwater drone is capable of diving to 100 feet underwater and streaming 4K video back to your mobile device or VR headset. If you don’t want to fish with it, it’ll no doubt enhance your vlog content.
LG Signature OLED TV W
LG’s incredibly thin — 2.6mm thin — OLED TV rests completely flat again your wall. At their CES press conference, LG’s execs said the “W” could stand for a number of things: “wall,” “wallpaper” or simply “wow”. The 65– or 77–inch TVs also boasts 3840 x 2160 (4K) resolution, a new webOS 3.5 operating system, and companion Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbars (because a TV that thin won’t have speakers).
Nikon D5600 DSLR
Announced back in late 2016, the Nikon D5600 is a solid entry-level DSLR. But it was just revealed at CES 2017 that the D5600 will come with Snapbridge, meaning its photos instantly appear on your connected device without having to connect via wi-fi — yes, it’s even simpler to share photos. The D5600 is a solid DSLR to begin with, featuring a 24.2MP sensor and a 3.2–inch touchscreen.
HP Updates the Spectre x360 and Envy Curved All-in-One
HP has updated its lauded Spectre x360 Laptop and Envy All-in-One PC. The Spectre x360 now comes in a 15.6–inch display with 4K resolution. It also comes with a larger battery, a better Nvidia 940MX graphics chip, a smaller bezel and faster charging capabilities. The new curved 34–inch Envy All-in-One builds off of its predecessor with a micro-edge border (i.e. a smaller bezel) and an Ultra WQHD display. Basically it looks slicker and has better image quality.
TCL Mercury Blackberry
Back in December, TCL bought the rights to make BlackBerry phones. At CES 2017, they teased their first Blackberry prototype, Mercury. Expect the phone to have a physical keyboard (naturally), run on the latest Android Nougat operating system and charge via USB-C. Keep your ears open for more information. Head to The Verge to see all that the tech world knows so far spelled out.
Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate GT
This flash drive is a juggernaut. It’s boasts the title of “the world’s highest-capacity USB flash drive” and comes in two sizes: 1TB or 2TB. If you need a lot of storage in a portable package, take notice. PC Mag has more details.
