 |
|
|
|||||
CES 2026 is still a day away from officially opening, but Sunday, January 4, delivered the first real wave of news. As has become tradition, the pre-show slate set the tone for the week ahead, anchored by Samsungs annual First Look press conference and CES Unveiled, the latter of which where hundreds of companies previewed products before the show floor opens on January 6.Samsung once again dominated the early conversation with its First Look event, using the stage to outline how it sees AI shaping everything from TVs to home appliances in the year ahead. Rather than focusing on individual specs, Samsung framed its 2026 lineup around adaptive experiences, with screens and devices designed to respond more intelligently to their environment and the people using them. TVs remained the centerpiece, with updates like the new 130-inch Micro RGB model aimed at improving picture quality, content discovery and personalization through AI-driven tools.Among the more concrete pieces of tech tied to Samsungs CES run was The Freestyle+, a successor to the companys portable projector that doubles down on AI-powered picture optimization, brighter output and smarter calibration for different surfaces. The unit also supports immersive audio features and syncs with Samsungs soundbars for a more complete entertainment package. The company further bolstered its audio portfolio with the new Music Studio wireless speakers, which offer an eye-catching design.Samsungs broader display strategy was also on show: Samsung Display revealed next-generation QD-OLED panels capable of peak brightness up to 4,500 nits, which are expected to be used in TVs and monitors that debut on the show floor, and introduced new concepts illustrating how OLED tech can blend into future AI-enhanced lifestyles.Software also played a role in Samsungs early messaging. The company confirmed that Google Photos will be coming to Samsung TVs later this year, bringing photo libraries and Memories directly into the living room. Its the kind of addition that doesnt grab headlines in the same way as new hardware, but its exactly the type of update that quietly shapes how people actually use their TVs regularly.Outside of Samsungs event, CES Unveiled the conventions kickoff mini-show offered an early look at what smaller companies and startups are bringing to Las Vegas this year. The show floor was packed with a familiar mix of near-ready consumer products and more experimental ideas, spanning robotics, smart home gear, health tech and personal electronics. Companion-style robots, updated AR glasses and AI-powered household gadgets were common sights, reflecting broader trends that are likely to show up repeatedly across the main halls this week.Unveiled is rarely about big-name launches, but it often reveals where the industrys attention is drifting. This year, that meant a noticeable emphasis on AI-assisted hardware that blends into everyday routines, whether thats home devices designed to act more autonomously or personal tech that prioritizes context and convenience over raw performance.LG also kicked off its pre-show efforts with some notable display news thats certain to shape conversations on the CES floor. The company reintroduced its ultra-thin Wallpaper OLED evo W6 TV, a panel that sits just 9mm deep and can be mounted flush against a wall, boasting improvements in brightness and color accuracy with Hyper Radiant Color Technology and support for FreeSync and G-Sync.LG's 2026 Wallpaper wireless OLED TVDevindra Hardawar for EngadgetLGs display lineup extends into the PC space too, where the division plans to debut a 27-inch OLED gaming panel hitting a 720Hz refresh rate and response times as low as 0.02 ms. On the lifestyle front, the Gallery TV aims to compete more directly with Samsungs art-style screens by combining a specialized anti-glare panel with an expanding Gallery+ service that brings thousands of artworks to the living room.Some CES-related announcements also landed ahead of Sunday, underscoring how stretched the shows news cycle has become. Samsung and LG both shared display and ecosystem updates in the days leading up to January 4, ensuring their products were already part of the CES conversation before pre-show events even began.Sundays announcements served as a clear warm-up for whats coming next. Monday, January 5, marks the start of press day, when major companies will take the stage for individual conferences and a large number of embargoes are expected to lift. Then, on Tuesday, January 6, CES officially opens its doors, shifting the focus from presentations to hands-on demos and real-world impressions.Well be updating this recap as more news breaks, but if Sunday was any indication, CES 2026 is already moving fast and the show hasnt even started yet.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/ces-2026-opening-night-recap-all-the-early-news-you-missed-from-samsung-and-lg-142611832.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
If you want a wireless charger for your iPhone and prefer to stick with Apple, Amazon has a sale that may pique your interest. The retailer is selling the one meter Apple Magsafe charger for $30, saving you $10 off the regular price, while also selling the two meter model for $40 ($10 off). If you have an iPhone 16, iPhone 17 or iPhone Air, this cable can charge your device at 25W as long as it's connected to a 30W power adapter on the other end. While you'll need a more recent iPhone to get the fastest MagSafe charging speeds, the charger can wirelessly top up the battery of any iPhone from the last eight years (iPhone 8 and later). With older iPhones, the charging speed tops out at 15W. The cable works with AirPods wireless charging cases too it's certified for Qi2.2 and Qi charging. The MagSafe charger is one of our favorite iPhone accessories, and would pair quite nicely with your new iPhone if you're picking up one of the latest models. If you're on the fence about that, be sure to check out our reviews of the iPhone 17, iPhone Pro/Pro Max and iPhone Air. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apples-latest-magsafe-charger-is-on-sale-for-only-30-141707602.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
Google is working even more Gemini features into Google TV at CES 2026. The company demoed how the AI assistant would work on its TV platform at last year's show, and this time, it's expanding the AI's features to make it easier to do things like adjust your TV's settings or edit photos.The ability to view photos stored in Google Photos has long been a feature of Google TV, but as part of this new update, Gemini will be able to do a lot more with them, too. Google says Gemini will be able to search your Google Photos library for specific people and moments, and remix those photos into different styles or compile them into a custom slideshow. Using Google's Veo and Nano Banana models, you'll also be able to ask Gemini to create entirely new media from scratch.Gemini can adjust TV settings as part of the new update.GoogleWhen you don't want to spend time digging through menus, Google says Gemini will also be able to adjust picture and sound settings for you based on a natural language request. Rather than asking for your brightness to be set to a specific level, simply telling Gemini that "the screen is too dim" will be enough to prompt the AI to adjust the image. Gemini's ability to display information and answer questions through your TV is also expanding. The AI will now use a TV-friendly, "visually rich framework" to answer questions and explain topics, pulling on high-resolution images and video. When you need even more information, clicking on "Dive deeper" under a Gemini response will prompt the AI to create "narrated, interactive overviews" of whatever you want to learn more about.Google only recently rolled out Gemini to its Google TV Streamer, and it sounds like it could be a bit before these new features are widely available. Google says the new Gemini update will arrive on TCL TVs running Google TV first, before rolling out to "other Google TV devices over the coming months." This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/google-tv-is-getting-gemini-powered-photo-editing-at-ces-140000172.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||