The Engadget team is on the ground in Las Vegas to cover CES 2024, ready to chase down all the technology news fit for print. We’ve already published over 100 articles about the Las Vegas tech show, despite the fact that today is, officially, only the first day of tech’s big show.
There are a couple of big press conferences on the schedule for today. Honda will show off a new EV series at 1:30PM ET, and Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger will be taking to the show’s main stage at 8PM ET to talk about AI. More specifically, Gelsinger will apparently explain « the critical roles that silicon and software play in making AI more accessible, providing powerful compute and enabling modern economies. » Of course.
The main event of the day, however, is the show floor opening. There are over 4,000 exhibitors here at CES, and the Engadget team will be visiting to talk with many of them, evaluating their new products and bringing you their impressions along the way.
We’ve already seen some cutting-edge tech like transparent MicroLED TVs, but we also want to track down some of the weirdest gadgets at the show, like AI-powered cat doors and noise-cancelling masks that let you take calls in public privately. As we did yesterday, we’ll be running a liveblog through most of the day to bring you the biggest news, some commentary and lots of images and videos, along with some links to our more in-depth coverage.
Live76 updates
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The Spacetop is a laptop that really wants to swap your screen for AR glasses
Photos by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Right now there are a bunch of companies trying to figure out new and better ways to work on the go. Lenovo made a laptop with two displays and a detachable keyboard to help give owners additional screen space without too much added bulk. And there are headsets from Meta, Apple and others that offer a way to create a completely virtual workspace without the need for a tethered PC. But with the Spacetop, startup Sightful has come up with an in-between solution that uses the bottom of a laptop, but instead of a traditional display, it’s attached to a pair of AR glasses.
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BMW shows off automated valet parking at CES 2024
Contributor Tim Stevens has just remotely driven a BMW around a parking lot. Why? You’ll need to watch the video below for the full story, but here’s how the company describes the demo:
« The teleoperator uses sophisticated technology and live camera images to guide and move the vehicle so that it can be parked and retrieved again in a carefully controlled manner. Possible future applications for this technology could include parking at events, at airports or in the logistics sector. »
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OrCam Hear hands-on: A surprisingly effective voice isolation platform for those with hearing loss
Photo by Terrence O’Brien / Engadget Imagine being at a crowded convention or noisy bar and trying to have a conversation with someone across from you. It’s tough enough for people with hearing to focus on what the person is saying, not to mention those with hearing loss. Assistive technology company OrCam has rolled into CES 2024 with a host of new products including a set of devices and an iPhone app designed to help those with hearing loss deal with auditory overload. The platform is called OrCam Hear and after a quick hands-on at the show in Las Vegas, Deputy Editor Cherlynn Low came away pleasantly surprised.
OrCam Hear consists of a pair of earbuds and a dongle that plugs into any phone, and you’ll use the app to control who you want to listen to. The system listens to voices for a few seconds (via the dongle) and uses AI to create speaker profiles for each person that then allows you to « selectively isolate specific voices even in noisy environments. » This targets the issue sometimes known as the « cocktail party problem » that’s a challenge for hearing aids.
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Honda debuts two futuristic 0 Series EV concept models at CES 2024
Honda concept EVs (Honda) Today, at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Honda revealed two concept EVs — a sedan dubbed the Saloon and the minivan-esque Space-Hub. Honda said it will develop a model based on the Saloon concept car for North American markets in 2026, before it eventually reaches other buyers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Africa. Additionally, the carmaker debuted a redesigned H logo that will be exclusive to its EV lineup.
The Saloon, which is its flagship concept EV, has an aerodynamic design and rides low to the ground. While the Space-Hub is quite a bit boxier and renders show it with seating that has passengers facing each other. Besides touting a spacious cabin, Honda did not share much about when or if it plans to actually manufacture a car inspired by the Space-Hub concept.
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Samsung’s Ballie robot didn’t do much at CES 2024, but it sure is cute
Engadget Samsung’s Ballie robot is one of the more delightful things we’ve heard about at CES 2024. The spherical robot was a surprise from Samsung yesterday, though the company first showed off a version of it back in 2020. Ballie’s now a lot bigger, growing from a tennis ball to a bowling ball, and it has a built-in projector.
Unfortunately, Samsung isn’t letting us get any one-on-one time with Ballie here in Las Vegas, but the company did show off a demo at its booth. It was obviously tightly scripted and controlled, but at the very least it gave us an idea of how the company envisions Ballie being used.
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LifeSpan’s Ampera charges your phone as you pedal
Senior reporter Daniel Cooper checked out this stationary bike for standing desks that charges your phone as you pedal:
« Unlike some desk bikes, Ampera is designed to capture your energy and use it to charge your phone via its 15W Qi charging plate. And, if you feel your legs have more power in them, you can re-juice your laptop via the 65W USB-C port. »
You can read the full story here, or watch a video of Dan testing it out in person:
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First impressions of MSI’s Intel-powered gaming handheld
We already told you about MSI’s attempt to compete in the gaming handheld space, but now you can see the Claw in action, and get some thoughts from Sam Rutherford on how it’s shaping up so far:
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LG Display’s next-gen OLED panels address the tech’s biggest weakness
Photo by Mat Smith/ This year, LG Display came to CES 2024 with something to prove. It had multiple sizes of transparent OLEDs (the show’s theme appears to be transparent displays) and a gaming monitor capable of 480Hz refresh rates – double what we’re used to seeing. Perhaps the most interesting things at its showroom were LG Display’s most advanced OLED panels yet, featuring its META technology 2.0. While it sounds like promotional fluff (and there’s some of that here), the company is trying to address arguably OLED’s biggest weakness.
While the company revealed its META technology last year, version 2.0 features advanced microlens arrays (now called MLA+). These are micrometer-sized lenses with a Dragonfly eye design that improves the viewing angle of OLED displays up to 160 degrees. These lenses (and there are 42.4 billion of them in LG Display’s 83-inch 4K prototype), combined with new algorithms result in an OLED far more brighter than its predecessors – 42 percent brighter than conventional OLEDs, according to the company.
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Grilly Steele on… The Weber Summit and Searwood
Guess it’s video hour over here. Join our resident cooking tech expert Billy Steele for a first look at Weber’s latest smart grills:
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First impressions of BMW’s AI-infused personal assistant
We brought you the news of BMW’s new AI push earlier, but since then Tim Stevens has taken a closer look. You can see the system in action, and get his first impressions, right here:
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SAG-AFTRA strikes deal for AI voice acting in video games at CES 2024
PATRICK T. FALLON via Getty Images SAG-AFTRA, the union representing thousands of performers, has struck a deal with an AI voice acting platform aimed at making it easier for actors to license their voice for use in video games. Under the deal, which was announced during a press event at CES 2024, SAG-AFTRA members will be able to work with Replica Studios to license their voice to game studios.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s top negotiator, said that the agreement “paves the way for professional voiceover artists to safely explore new employment opportunities for their digital voice replicas.” The agreement comes as Hollywood is still grappling with the use of AI. Last year, SAG-AFTRA reached a deal with Hollywood studios that included AI protections following a months-long strike. As a result, studios are now required to pay actors (and obtain their consent) before using an AI-generated version of their likeness.
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The EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra is a home battery that can harvest power from 42 solar panels
Ecoflow EcoFlow has arrived at CES 2024 in Las Vegas to show off its largest and most useful home battery backup solution, the Delta Pro Ultra. It’s calling the hardware a “smart hybrid whole house battery generator and backup” that will draw power from a wide variety of sources. You’ll be able to charge it from either high or low-output solar panels, from the grid, or even juice it up from a gas powered generator. (But also, don’t do that unless lives are on the line, please, the planet can’t handle it.) The Delta Pro Ultra also vastly increases how much power you can keep on hand at any one time. The existing Delta Pro can scale — with additional batteries — up to 25kWh but, if your wallet is thick enough, you can equip the Ultra with 90kWh of batteries, which the company says should be enough to keep your home’s essentials running for up to a month.
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Amazon and BMW are replacing the driver’s manual with AI
Amazon Vehicle-based voice assistants are the next great frontier, incorporating artificial intelligence into the driving experience. At CES 2024, Amazon and BMW announced a partnership to significantly improve the pre-existing experience, marrying a large language model (LLM) with Alexa and the actual driver’s manual. The end result? You can ask the Alexa-powered chatbot anything about your car and receive accurate real-time information. That’s right. That thick and unwieldy manual can stay in the glovebox, for good.
Amazon says this tool offers a “more natural way of getting to know your new car.” You can ask how various features work, like the parking assistance system, and get conversational answers. Both companies suggest that this voice technology will “strip away complexity and minimize distractions in the car.”
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The ASUS Zenbook Duo is a stunning dual-screen laptop with seemingly no compromises
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Between the Zenbook 17 Fold, Project Precog and previous Zenbook Duo machines, it feels like ASUS has been working towards building a true dual-screen laptop for ages. And now at CES 2024, that time has come with the arrival of the simply named Zenbook Duo.
Similar to Lenovo’s Yoga Book 9i, the Zenbook Duo features two separate screens and a detachable Bluetooth keyboard that can be stashed inside the system for traveling. The difference is that ASUS’ OLED panels look even better, as they are slightly larger at 14 inches, while also offering a 3K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and stylus support. Plus, with a starting price of $1,500, it costs $500 less than the Yoga Book and not that much more than your average high-end ultraportable.
Read the full story here, or watch our video preview:
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Google apps are coming to select Ford, Nissan and Lincoln vehicles in 2024
Google Google has teamed up with more automakers to offer vehicles that come pre-installed with Google apps, the company revealed today at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. Nissan, Ford and Lincoln are rolling out select models with built-in Google Maps, Assistant and Play Store — among other applications — this year, while Porsche is expected to follow suit in 2025. They’re the upcoming addition to the growing list of auto brands embracing tighter Google integration, which includes Honda, Volvo, Polestar, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Renault.
The company has also announced new features for cars with built-in Google apps. One of those features rolling out today is the ability to send trips users have planned on their Android or iOS Google Maps app to their cars.
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Watch Honda unveil a new EV live at CES 2024
Honda has the first big press event of the day, where it promises to showcase an all-new EV. Watch along from 1:30PM ET.
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Android Auto will soon let Google Maps see EV battery levels and tell you where to charge your vehicle
Google Much of the auto news out of CES 2024 has focused on EVs, and Google is no exception. The company has announced that Android Auto will share real-time battery updates with Google Maps. The update should initially roll out to the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning in the coming months before expanding to other Android Auto-compatible EVs in the future.
With this new feature, Google Maps will give you suggestions of charging stations along the route without you having to pull over and search. It should also update you on the car’s battery level once you arrive at a destination (something your EV should already do) and provide an estimate of how long it will take to charge. The latter is more novel and could help when you’re in a rush.
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The Intel-powered MSI Claw is challenging AMD’s handheld gaming monopoly
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Between the ASUS ROG Ally, the Lenovo Legion Go and the Steam Deck, AMD has a virtual monopoly over the chips powering high-end gaming handhelds. But for the Claw, MSI is partnering up with Intel to bring a little more balance to the portable PC performance wars.
The Claw is powered by either an Intel Core Ultra 7 or Core Ultra 5 chip. And some people are probably wondering if Intel’s first foray into high-end gaming handhelds can keep up. Especially since, in addition to a new chip, developers will be relying on Intel’s integrated Arc graphics and a library of drivers that simply aren’t as deep or as well tested as AMD’s. It’s also unclear how much the NPU inside Intel’s latest chip will help with things like XeSS super sampling, which is sure to play a big part in the Claw’s capabilities.
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Amazon will adopt Matter Casting instead of Chromecast or AirPlay
Amazon Amazon is the first big company to add support for the Matter open casting standard, it announced at CES 2024. Matter Casting is an open protocol that lets you send videos and related content from an app to a hardware device, just like Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast. The feature just launched for the Prime Video app and will allow casting to various Amazon hardware devices.
For now, you can only cast to the Echo Show 15 smart display, but the company says it’ll soon offer support for Fire TVs, including Panasonic models with Fire TV built in. As for content streaming partners, it’s just Prime Video for now, but the company promises more options later this year, including Plex, Pluto, Sling TV, Starz and many more.
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Audio Technica ATH-TWX7: Great audio from a compact design
Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget Billy Steele has been testing a bunch of headphones here at CES, and this new set from Audio Technica seems like a winner:
« At CES 2024, the company is launching its latest entry, the AT-TWX7, which offers active noise cancellation (ANC) in an all-new AirPods-like stickbud design. Audio-Technica combines 5.8mm high-resolution drivers capable of 24-bit/96 kHz LDAC audio with a compact design and a number of conveniences for $199.
…In terms of sound quality, those 5.8mm drivers offer the clear, warm audio I’ve coming to expect from the company. It’s quite pleasant to listen to across genres, and the great clarity means you’ll pick up on finer details — like string noise in Charles Wesley Goodwin’s country tunes and the texture of the upright bass laying down the rhythm. »
We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.
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