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In September 2018, the European Parliament approved new copyright legislation that could change the way the internet works forever. One aspect of the new directive would force websites to pay for snippets they use from an external source, and Google is wisely already testing a stripped-down version of its news search results in anticipation of the law change.
Ever since Marty McFly put on those self-lacing trainers in Back to the Future Part II, we've been waiting for them to become a reality. Nike's first attempt at such a sneaker in 2016 was the HyperAdapt 1.0, which laced automatically when you put your feet in. The 2019 Nike Adapt BB is the next generation.
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- Well look at that, the Pie beta registration is also open for the Galaxy S8 and S8+. The firmware version numbers are G950FXXU4ZSA5 and G955FXXU4ZSA5, respectively.
Samsung's long-awaited Android 9 Pie update finally started coming to phones late last year, complete with a rather sweeping interface overhaul in One UI (maybe we'll have to stop calling it TouchWiz now). The roadmap for bringing Pie to other phones tells us that the Galaxy Note8 will be getting it in February, and sure enough, the beta is now available to try.
If you're a developer of Android apps, there's a good chance you use Google's purpose-built Android Studio environment. The last update to version 3.2 came with one headline feature — App Bundles — plus a few incremental improvements, and now 3.3 has arrived.
Until now, pressing the back navigation button has been the only way to get out of an image in the Google Play Store on Android, but it seems a new method is rolling out. A gesture to swipe down on an image to exit has been implemented, which is certainly more intuitive.
Coming off the back of a dark year for smartphone design, the View20 is a reason to be optimistic. Notched phones have never been aesthetically pleasing nor functionally ideal, but thankfully that design trend is on its way out. We’ve seen a number of novel attempts to produce bezel-free phones, including sliders and motorized pop-ups, but a few of the big players have decided there's another way.
A key feature of Smart Displays such as the Google Home Hub is that they can be used to help you prepare dinner by presenting hands-free, step-by-step recipes for you to follow. This is open to developers if they want to add their own actions, just like BuzzFeed's Tasty did recently. Now, Innit is getting in on the act.
Ever wish you had a folio case for your Pixel 3 XL with a keyboard built into it? No, me neither, but such a thing exists now. Case maker Tech21 has announced the EvoType accessory, promising a more efficient mobile typing experience.
Xiaomi leads the smart TV sector in India and hopes to strengthen its position with two new Mi TV Pro models. The 55" Mi LED TV 4X Pro and 43" Mi LED TV 4A Pro are its latest entries to what is an increasingly crowded market. Additionally, the Chinese company also announced it's very first attempt at a soundbar.
Traditional security services firm ADT entered the connected home space with its Pulse app and has also partnered with Samsung SmartThings in the past, but at CES 2019 it's showing off a whole new own-branded platform. The Command and Control security system consists of a tablet-esque hub and new app for your phone.
Owners of HMD Global's Nokia 8 Sirocco understandably thought that buying the flagship Android One model would guarantee them fast updates, but they've since had to sit back and watch plenty of other phones get Pie ahead of them. Thankfully, the wait is over and the rollout starts today.
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The newest OnePlus 6T update pushed out by T-Mobile appeared to be pretty bland, with only support for an "additional domestic roaming partner" in the changelog. However, according to a number of disgruntled users on Reddit, the update is breaking Google Play certification on the device.
Chinese AI firm Mobvoi has been a shining light in the generally underwhelming Android Wear/Wear OS space, and today it's announcing two new products. The TicWatch E2 and S2 (standing for Express and Sport) are follow-ups to the company's most affordable smartwatches, with updated designs, bigger batteries, and Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chips (but not the new 3100).
Toy robot maker Sphero hasn't had the best time of late, with slow sales forcing job cuts this time last year and, more recently, an end to production of some of its licensed products. There must be high hopes for its latest product, then, which is a new type of musical instrument for that responds to different colors.
Ring launched its Z-wave security system last summer for $199, and now the company is releasing more sensors that can be used with it. At the same time, Ring has partnered with several lock makers to sell compatible products on the Ring site while also adding Alexa voice control features.
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Clockwise from left: Citation One, 100, and 300.
I wasn't expecting to see that we've covered Kohler before since it's known for making pricey kitchen and bathroom products, but to my surprise we have. The Wisconsin company went to its first CES last year to announce Kohler Konnect and a range of smart home gadgets. This year, many of those will finally go on sale alongside an updated Numi 2.0 intelligent toilet and a new arty collection.
Popular custom ROM maker Paranoid Android came back from the dead in 2017 and has just announced its long-awaited first Android 9 Pie beta builds, with initial availability for a handful of Xiaomi devices. PA is also changing the way it develops its ROM to include Generic System Images (GSI) which should allow support for a greater number of devices.
Exactly one year ago today, Nvidia announced a pretty niche but impressive product at CES 2018. BFGDs (Big Format Gaming Displays) are 65" 4K HDR gaming monitors with a 120Hz refresh rate, and the first is about to go on pre-order for the princely sum of $4,999.
As well as offering simple light bulbs and accessories for your home, Philips has been pushing its Hue lights for entertainment purposes more and more. The Zigbee-toting Hue lights can now be used as accent lighting for music, film, and even gaming, which may seem gimmicky or cool, depending on your outlook. I would say it’s a bit of both, or at least that’s how I view the latest addition to the lineup, the Hue Play.