CES 2017

Wireless Bluetooth speakers and headsets have traditionally been seen as a compromise between portability and quality, but recent market and product trends have been trying to push against that connotation. Take for example Sony’s EXTRA BASS lines that adds much needed depth to these portable audio equipment. At CES 2017, the company is introducing four new members of that family that not only puts a spotlight to the music’s thump, it literally puts light into your music that also dances to the beat.

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Android TV, just like Android Wear, isn’t dead yet. At least not if you judge it based on the devices and announcements made at CES 2017. First there was DISH’s AirTV box, powered by Android TV. Then there’s the fresh new NVIDIA SHIELD, also powered by Android TV. Sony is also joining that fray with two new series from its BRAVIA line, the X and the A TVs. Both boast of handling 4K HDR with precision, accuracy,and beauty. Both also offer an augmented TV viewing experience made possible by Android TV.

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When Google first revealed its new take on the smart, personal, virtual assistant, we were skeptical about the Google Assistant’s immediate chances, given how limited its availability and reach were. Those fears, however, may have been unfounded, as Google moved quickly to fill in the gaps. Its latest venture? To put Google Assistant on your personal big screen. Yes, Google Assistant is coming to TVs, but only if you have a recent Android TV box or TV. Good thing, then, that there are lots of those to go around at CES 2017.

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August has introduced its new August Smart Lock Mortise Kit, the first product in North America that converts a mortise style lock into a smart lock. This mortise kit works with the August Smart Lock, and brings the same functionality we’ve previously detailed. Though the name is likely unfamiliar, most people have used these lock styles before -- they're commonly found in commercial office buildings, schools, and similar places.

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The first Snapdragon 835 device isn't a phone, and it isn't a tablet: it's a set of augmented reality glasses. Two sets of glasses, to be precise, the handiwork of ODG - or Osterhout Design Group - flush with a recent $58m cash injection from 21st Century Fox who have been pushing augmented reality and smart glasses for a decade now. While you might associate Snapdragon with phones, there are plenty of good reasons you might want the new 835 in a computer for your face.

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NVIDIA has just revealed its next-generation SHIELD TV at CES 2017, and it arrives offering a number of improvements over its predecessor. Not only has the aesthetic design been overhauled, but the new SHIELD is capable of streaming content in HDR at 4K resolution. Users will be able to stream 4K video from a variety of services, including YouTube, Amazon Video, Netflix, and Google Play.

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Some have declared the Walkman dead in the advent of iPods and then smartphones, but Sony refuses to give up on such an iconic brand. It has revived the name, given it a digital focus, and reshaped it with sometimes odd designs. The new Walkman NW-A35 that it just revealed at CES 2017 is such an example. You wouldn’t be blamed if you mistook it for one of Sony’s smartphones because it pretty much looks like a smaller but thicker version of the its Xperia XZ flagship. Without Android inside as well.

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Sony has unveiled a pair of compact soundbars, the HT-MT300 and the HT-MT500. Both models feature a modern design to, says Sony, match current living room design trends. The HT-MT500 also features high-resolution audio for enhancing and upscaling existing audio, while both feature a wireless and slim subwoofer. Both models include both NFC and Bluetooth.

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HTC has a new accessory item for its Vive VR headset that can turn just about anything into a VR controller. One example HTC gave is a baseball bat — with the Vive Tracker embedded, the baseball bat becomes a controller that can open the door for realistic baseball gameplay or zombie head smashing. The same goes for gloves, imitation rifles for shooting games, and even, HTC says, a fire hose that may pair well with a simulator.

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While Samsung may have been one of the earliest adopters of Google’s Chromebook vision, it has languished in recent times compared to other more enthusiastic Chromebook makers. At CES 2017, however, it has returned with a vengeance. Chromebooks that can fold into tablets are nothing new. But one that also has a stylus to boot? Practically unheard of. And that is exactly what Samsung is bringing to the table. And even better, it is coming with Android apps as well, before other existing Chromebooks can get their hands on them (officially, that is).

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Intel CEO Brian Krzanich confirmed this week that the company will be releasing their newest architecture "Cannon Lake" within the next year. This isn't exactly the most specific launch window, but it does place the next generation of i-series notebooks inside the next 12 months. Better battery life, less power consumption, less heat, and better performance are on the way with Cannon Lake, Intel's first 10nm architecture.

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If Faraday Future's 2016 CES was shaky, with a last-minute prototype wheeled out instead of the electric car the company had intended to show, then CES 2017 has proved far more dramatic. The freshly-unveiled FF 91 has everything you need from an EV aiming to show up the gas-powered mainstream: sky-high power figures, big range claims, and the sort of technology that you'd expect from Silicon Valley players turned automakers. Here are five big things you need to know.

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