World’s most popular tech event, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is that one global forum where brands across segments make their biggest announcements of the year. Its latest edition, CES 2019, was hosted, like every year, in Las Vegas, United States. The four-day event, which began on 8 January, witnessed a series of product unveilings and launches. Here are some of the show-stealers.
ROG Mothership GZ700
By Asus
Gaming is one segment that witnesses a great deal of innovation. But with the ROG Mothership GZ700, Asus has transcended every existing benchmark for innovation in this field. This laptop, which was unveiled at CES 2019, has a 17.3-inch FHD display and is equipped with a detachable backlit keyboard that can be bent at different angles as per the user’s comfort. The machine is powered by an Intel Corei9-8950HK processor, the best in business. And it runs on 64GB DDR4 RAM. At the heart of every gaming device is its cooling system, and the ROG Mothership’s cooling unit is highly effective. According to an Asus statement, “[The laptop’s] fan speeds are governed by expertly tuned system profiles that let you quickly adapt to different scenarios using a handy keyboard shortcut. Turbo mode uses the highest frequencies and fan speeds to reach maximum performance, while ‘Balanced mode’ optimises performance and cooling to drop noise levels for gaming. Silent mode goes even further to reduce acoustics for lighter workloads and less demanding games. You can also create a custom profile with tweaked fan speeds and frequencies of your own.”
OLED Rollable TV
By LG
At CES 2019, one product that caught everyone’s eye was LG’s “rollable” LED TV. The television segment has had its share of innovations—from voice activated commands to ultra slim displays—but the South Korean brand has pushed the envelope of TV engineering by creating what it calls the flexible screen technology. Rollable TV means exactly what it sounds like: users can simply roll up or unroll the TV as to their liking, all with the touch of a button. Officially named LG Signature OLED TV R, this 65-inch television is sure to be a game-changer for the industry. It offers three viewing options—full view, line view and zero view. Full view stands for the large-screen function; line view allows for a partially rolled screen, which can be used for displaying photo albums; and zero view is for audio playback, with the screen neatly tucked into a roll (you can play music on the same device). The TV will be supported by Amazon’s Alexa, as well as by Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit.
Vive Cosmos
By HTC Vive
Newly launched at CES 2019, the Vive Cosmos, by the VR gadget brand Vive, is a headset that mixes performance with ergonomics. It is comfortable to wear, takes up little space and needs no external base unlike other VR headsets. In terms of the hardware, the Cosmos packs enough computing power to run a traditional gaming PC. “We found that over 85% of VR intenders believe that ease of use and setup is the most important factor to consider while purchasing a headset,” said Daniel O’Brien, GM, Americas, HTC Vive. “We believe Cosmos will make VR more easily accessible to those who may not have invested in VR before and also be a superior experience for VR enthusiasts.”
Bot Lineup
By Samsung
The South Korean brand Samsung previewed a line of three robots at CES 2019. Called the Bot Lineup, these robots include, Bot Care, Bot Retail and Bot Air. Bot Care is a healthcare specialist robot, which can measure blood pressure, heart rate, sleeping state and can even remind users about their medication schedule. Bot Retail specialises in commerce; it basically helps you streamline and manage your orders and payments. The third one, Bot Air, uses sensors to detect the precise source of pollutants and purifies the air. Other than this series, one more mobility-focused machine, the Gait Enhancing and Motivating System (GEMS), was unveiled here. It assists users with walking, and can help them strengthen their muscles and improve their mobility and balance.