CES 2014: what to expect from the biggest tech show of the year

CES 2014: what to expect from the biggest tech show of the year

Another year, another giant CES to look foward to

Thanksgiving, Christmas, CES 2014. That's how we're splitting up the next three months as we prepare for a whirlwind of feasting, wrapping paper and the hottest tech on the planet.

With an eye on those crazy days in January, we're readying ourselves for a typhoon of phones, tablets, laptops, gaming tech, TVs, wearables, refrigerators and whatever other home appliances companies can stick a computer into.

From January 7 to January 10, CES 2014 will invade the Las Vegas Convention Center per usual, and we're gearing up to see everything from "must have" to "please, get that away from me." There are the usual Day One keynotes and press events on January 6, plus several pre-show going-ons on January 5 that we'll be covering too.

Below you'll find the latest inklings of what we expect from the upcoming show. We'll regularly refresh this page, so check back during the coming months for all the latest about the most high-profile tech show of the year.

Samsung to show new Galaxy phones?

Samsung hardly misses the chance to shine a spotlight on itself, and its presence at CES 2013 was no different. We saw Youm, its flexible display tech prototype, more TVs than need be listed here and former President Bill Clinton. So yes, Samsung left an impression.

For 2014, we're zeroing in on two bits of consumer tech in particular: the Galaxy Round and Galaxy S5.

Galaxy Round
You spin me right round baby, right round

Reports suggest that with slowing sales of the Galaxy S4, Samsung has decided to push the Galaxy S5's release date up to a possible launch during CES 2014. With a potential 64-bit chip, 16MP camera and all-metal body, consumers may forgive the oddly-timed release and clamor for the new Android machine anyway.

As for the Galaxy Round, even though it's reportedly a prototype at this point, Samsung should have plenty to say on its ability to create bendy devices. Whether we see another curved phone, hear about a full Round roll out or see something else entirely isn't yet known, but with LG nipping at its heals with its own curved phone, Samsung's turn at CES should show us more on the flexible display front.

As for the rest of the tech, Sammy will likely unveil its latest and greatest television sets (Vegas turns into TV town during every CES), cameras, home appliances and laptops, but reports aren't yet firm for these categories just yet.

Microsoft's bigger presence, but not triumphant return

"Microsoft is back at CES!" or so was the flavor of many headlines in early October. Turns out the company isn't making the spectacular CES splash it was made out to be, as it quickly downplayed its plans for the 2014 show to The Verge.

That's not to say Microsoft won't be out in force in LV, as the company confirmed it will have "a substantial set of rooms for meetings with our partners." It's in these rooms we expect OEMs and press alike to learn more about the adoption of Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 RT, sales of Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, what's the score with Nokia and much more.

Surface
Some sit-down time with the Surface 3, perhaps?

During CES 2013, Microsoft showed off a pre-production Surface Pro, and we'd be hard pressed to think it won't have a new piece of tablet, smartphone or phablet to generate some pre-release buzz.

Let's not rule out Microsoft hosting a press event or two, even though it's staying off the main keynote circuit.

Sony speaks to next-gen gadgets

Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai is slated to deliver a keynote address as part of the Tech Titans keynote series, "where CEOs from the most powerful companies in technology present their vision for revolutions in products, services and networks."

Sony will be coming off a holiday season where it saw the release of the PS4, and with a few high-powered phones rumored for release in November, look for Hirai to drop sales figures and talk about Sony's role in pushing hardware innovation forward.

Sony
No, there won't be RoboCop

More to that point, the company is reportedly working on a virtual reality headset modeled in the vein of the Oculus Rift. According to Eurogamer, Sony's targeting a 2014 release for its VR dream.

A keynote where he's supposed to talk about his "vision for revolutions in products, services and networks?" Sounds like CES 2014 is a plausible place for next-gen PS4 accessory to rear its head.

Steam Machines may become more than vapor

After much teasing throughout the years, Steam finally unveiled its concept for the console, called Steam Machines. However, despite giving us previews of the Steam controller and Steam OS, we still have yet to see a Steam Machine.

Steam controller
It does tend to get steamy in Las Vegas...

Valve is slowing getting into the game, and plans to give 300 lucky Steam users a beta version of its own Steam Box to test out, though further details haven't been released yet (we did say slowly).

While we should get a good look at the Steam Box before CES, we expect that with the attention Valve garnerned at last year's show, the company won't leave its Steam Machine at home, especially since there will be a Steam developer's conference the week after in Seattle.

Wearables and fitness tech ahoy

If the thought of computers and exercise seems like an oxymoron, you couldn't be more wrong. In fact, fitness tech will see a much bigger presence during CES, with the Digital Fitness Area being expanded by 30% to include more space for new tech.

Though fitness bands like the Fitbit Force and Nike Fuelband are already familiar faces, we'll probably see more bands and other types of wearable tech battle it out for our attention.

Fitbit Force
Don't come to the pool without one

Speaking of wearable tech, the Pebble made a splash at CES 2013 where its release was finally announced - cut to fall 2013 and a wave of others like the Sony Smartwatch 2, Samsung Galaxy Gear and Qualcomm Toq have joined the fancy watch scene. With rumors of the Google watch and Apple's iWatch hot on their heels, we definitely expect to see more smartwatches pop up during the show.

Beyond the wrist, high fashion - or just fashion in the form wearable tech - will also make waves. Karen Chupka, senior vice president of CES, said to look out for "... jackets that adjust based on outside temperatures to solar-charging handbags and more, innovations in wearable technology are shaping the [tech] industry" at the 2014 show.

Perhaps we'll see and try out functional and fashionable tech that we won't be too embarrassed to wear (looking at you, Google Glass).

The 3D printing explosion

It's not a tech expo without a 3D printing demo going on somewhere (see: IDF 2013), but CES 2014 is taking it to a whole new level with a larger-than-ever area dedicated to the machines that let you print your own bowls.

3D Doodler
3D doodling on the Strip? It could happen

According to CNET, Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Electronic Association, said on October 1 that the 3D printing tech zone is sold out for exhibitors. The area is meant to complement others dedicated to motion tech, robotics and more.

Will we see the tech expand printing do-dads, guns and heart valves? We hope to find out in Vegas.

Did we mention there will be TVs?

If there's one thing you can always count on seeing at CES, it's the beastly TVs that get bigger - and better - every year.

Ultra HD 4K TVs will be back on hand to look at (or look up at) during CES 2014. A quick refresher: Ultra HD aims to deliver four times the resolution of today's full High-Definition TVs, with more than eight million pixels of resolution.

We expect the bigwigs - Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Toshiba, Sharp - plus smaller guys like Hisense to return in full form to show off bigger, better and brighter Ultra HD TVs.

We've already received an invitation to one TV maker's press conference on January 6, though we're sure Hisense will also discuss its foray into new devices, namely tablets.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Japan Display tops 4K announcement with denser, smaller screen

Japan Display tops 4K announcement with denser, smaller screen

Japan Display's newest screens display high-density images

What's more important: overall pixel count, or the density of those pixels? It's a relevant question, as today Japan Display Inc. unveiled a 5.4-inch 1440x2560 display with a pixel density of 543 pixels per inch.

This announcement came just one day after JDI, a conflagration of Japanese tech companies, revealed what may be the world's smallest 4K screen, a 12.1-inch display with a pixel density of 365ppi.

The 4K screen has a higher resolution but lower PPI, while the opposite is true for the smaller display. Both announcements came out of Japan's FPD International 2013 expo this week.

Both displays are undoubtedly impressive, but the high density smartphone-sized screen announced today probably has a better chance of actually making it onto devices any time soon.

Pixel perfect

JDI actually unveiled two displays today: a 5.4-inch 1440x2560 TFT LCD panel with a density of 543ppi, and a 6.2-inch version with the same resolution.

Japan Display high pixel density screenHowever, the 6.2-inch display naturally has a lower, but still impressive, pixel density of 473ppi thanks it its larger size.

JDI called the 5.4-inch version the highest-density smartphone-sized display in the world, and we can't argue with them.

Like the 4K display unveiled yesterday, the two screens announced today use JDI's low temperature poly silicon (LTPS) technology to keep power consumption low and thus reduce size requirements.

So the new displays could potentially be used in slim smartphones with impressively small bezels.

Don't be surprised if these high-ppi displays start showing up in Sony phones at some point, since Sony is one of the partners in Japan Display Inc.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Moga Ace Power gaming pad for iPhone pictured, bringing own battery power

Moga Ace Power gaming pad for iPhone pictured, bringing own battery power

Moga's first iPhone accessory?

Help appears to be on the way for ardent iPhone gamers keen to ditch the touchscreen and preserve battery life for other activities, according to snaps and information leaked online on Friday.

The first pictures of the anticipated Apple-certified game pad from accessory manufacturer Moga have emerged courtesy of @evleaks, along with a name - the Moga Ace Pro.

The notorious Twitter leak artist also revealed a few details, the most pertinent being the presence of an 1800mAh battery, which will allow gamers to play at leisure without draining their iPhone's lifeforce.

Judging by the photos, the Moga Ace Pro will be extended out to accommodate the iPhone, with the Apple handset handily docking into the Lightning connector

Look out, Nintendo and Sony

Moga has developed a host of similar peripherals for Android smartphones, such Bluetooth-powered Pro and Hero Pro controllers but this will be the company's first iOS-friendly gadget.

The docking accessory has been on the cards since Apple's WWDC event this summer when it first revealed third-party controllers would be supported.

Earlier this month we saw purported pictures of Logitech's planned solution (also courtesy of @evleaks), the other manufacturer on board with Apple's certification program.

No news yet on when either peripheral may be released, but the likes of Sony and Nintendo will probably be hoping it won't be until after Christmas.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Nexus 4 may get LTE boost days before alleged Nexus 5 launch

Nexus 4 may get LTE boost days before alleged Nexus 5 launch

LTE looking likely on the Nexus 4

Just days before the Nexus 5 drops in, there's now word that its popular predecessor the Nexus 4 is getting a long awaited LTE upgrade.

According to Engadget, a filing at Bluetooth SIG suggests that the Nexus 4 is now certified for LTE support.

The popular Android-heavy device has been in the wild for a year already but has lacked that extra boost many other phones already have - so for those anxious for their Nexus 4 to join the speedsters, an upgrade should just be around the corner.

Sticking around

With LTE enabled on the Nexus 4, the phone will probably stick around remaining in the Google Play Store right next to the Nexus 5, unlike the iPhone 5 which got the boot with the iPhone 5S and 5C release.

An official Nexus 4 LTE announcement is still up in the air, but with the filing listed so recently and the Nexus 5 possibly launching on October 30 or 31, we can bet they'll arrive on the scene around the same time.

To further assure you, the Google smartwatch and Android 4.4 KitKat are also rumored to make an appearance at the end of October.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Android 4.3 with Sense 5.5 is making its way to your HTC One

Android 4.3 with Sense 5.5 is making its way to your HTC One

Sense-ational

The Android 4.3 update is currently on its way to HTC One handsets around the world, bringing Sense 5.5 and an extra slice of Google Drive storage space with it.

While most HTC One owners in Asia, the US and Canada have been enjoying the update for a few weeks already, users in the UK and other areas of Europe have been less lucky.

But the good news is that some users in Europe have begun to see the update trickling out - we're in touch with HTC to see if we can get some more exact information out of it.

Bean and gone

As well as Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) and Sense 5.5 (quirky food-based names need not apply), the update seems to be bringing an extra 25GB of Drive storage to users.

Add that to the 15GB the handset comes with in the first place and you're looking at a sweet 40GB of space for your digital bits and pieces.

You won't get the storage upgrade if you're using the HTC One Developer Edition thanks to the unlocked bootloader though, and you can only activate the offer once per Google account.

Not that you were planning to try anything other than that though, right?


Source : techradar[dot]com

Samsung Galaxy S5 might be back on track to get 64-bit chip

Samsung Galaxy S5 might be back on track to get 64-bit chip

64-bit is back in the game

Will it? Won't it? The latest word says that the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be matching Apple's A7 chip found in the iPhone 5S.

First we heard that Samsung was working on a new 64-bit Exynos CPU for its next handset – most likely the Samsung Galaxy S5.

Then we were told that it was too squeezed for time and wouldn't have the chip ready in time for the new phone.

But apparently that's now changed. According to GforGames, Samsung has almost finished work on its 64-bit chip, which will most likely feature eight cores and is "almost ready for its release".

Five alive

The site adds that there are still some small technical and logistical tweaks that need to happen, but Samsung is past the difficult stage.

But with so much back and forth on this one, we you're better off putting money on Kanye West being his own best man than on the S5 definitely coming with the 64-bit Exynos chipset.

The Galaxy S5 is rumoured to be appearing as early as January, earlier than the March release we initially anticipated.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Phonebloks concept lets your build your own phone

Phonebloks concept lets your build your own phone

Time to change it up

Lego is fun. People love smartphones. So the Phonebloks concept sounds like a winner - a smartphone which allows you to really easily replace broken parts or upgrade to newer technology with simple blocks.

Fancy a faster processor? No problem, just pop out the old one and stick in a faster block. Broken the camera? Just buy a new one and replace. Easy, right?

If only someone knew how to make it. For now, it's just a good idea and nothing more. But if you have the answer, get in touch!

More blips

While we try and figure out how to piece together this blocky smartphone, why not check out some more of our bit size blips.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Twitter on your Windows Phone might be racking up data usage

Twitter on your Windows Phone might be racking up data usage

Windows Phone hits a data usage snag - and it's not even its fault.

Microsoft has confirmed that the Twitter client on its People hub might be causing some Windows Phones to re-download contact profile images over and over again, leading to a data drain.

The Verge, who reported the issue to Microsoft, is suggesting that the problem may be caused on Twitter's back-end.

Twitter is currently moving all profile pictures on to another server, and changes being made by the social media giant may have triggered the issue.

The drain is dependent on how many contacts you have on the Twitter client within the hub, with users reporting data usage amounts attributed to the hub to be about 530MB, while others have said 412MB over 30 days.

Temp fix

It is not known how long this issue has been occurring for, nor why it is only effecting some users and not others – or exactly which Windows Phone devices.

Luckily, Microsoft does have a fix, though it is temporary as company works on a permanent fix. This may take longer as it is being caused by a change made by Twitter change, which Microsoft will need to work around.

Microsoft's temp fix is to only have the hub sync to Twitter only once a day to reduce the data impact on users.

You can also just unlink your Twitter account from the People hub until Twitter has finished its server migration or Microsoft rolls out a better fix.


Source : techradar[dot]com

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