Below are the most impressive announcements and products on the second day of CES 2024 as selected by Zdnet.
New features for Android devices
One of the most important features announced by Google at the event is the Android sharing solution – Quick Share. Accordingly, Android devices including both smartphones and laptops will be able to quickly share content peer-to-peer.
Other new features and updates include expanding Fast Pair support, with the ability to transmit to more apps and devices (including TikTok) and integrating Android Auto into new car models like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the new F-150 Lightning.
Smart lighting system
Smart lighting company Nanoleaf has released Orchestrator software that integrates sound effects. The software connects directly to the computer’s audio source and separates the feedback with the device, thereby creating light corresponding to each layer of sound.
Next is the Nanoleaf Skylight product, consisting of square light panels that can be installed on the ceiling with a brightness of 1400 lumens per square tile, along with outdoor string lights that support the Matter protocol.
Mobile power station
The EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra generator won the CES 2024 Innovation Award with impressive specs, including a 6kWh load capacity (entire house), 7200W power output, and 5.6kW solar input.
The system is also compatible with expansion packs, increasing the power capacity to the enormous 90kWh figure, which can provide power to essential home devices for a whole month.
ZDNET writer Maria Diaz tested this powerful generator at her home, comparing the system to “a Swiss Army knife,” while also saying the device is “very quiet, you can’t even hear it under 2000W”.
Controlling Android watches with gestures
The Wow Mouse app is built for Android smartwatches to function as an extension, allowing users to control surrounding technology via Bluetooth with hand gestures.
This feature is similar to Apple Watch’s Double-Tap, but instead of controlling everything on the watch, Wow Mouse can also turn smart lights on or off or lower the volume of a nearby speaker.
Portable power bank charging station
Swappery provides a tech solution to keep smartphones running for an additional 8-10 hours with a wireless portable battery. When the phone runs out of battery, the user needs to place the device in the Swappery station, wait 7 seconds, then pull it out with a battery pack attached to the back to continue using without any cables, converters or plug-ins.
Hybrid two-mode laptop, one device
Lenovo unveiled the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid with two highlights: First, it’s a 2-in-1 device that can be either a notebook with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor or a touchscreen tablet with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ processor. Second, it seamlessly switches between Windows and Android, depending on which “mode” (tablet or laptop) is selected.
Each component of this hybrid device even has its own battery. Customers have to shell out $1,999 for what are essentially two products: a standalone tablet and an all-in-one laptop.
Using apps without opening your phone
The Rabbit R1 device aims to basically replace the need to use a smartphone to access apps. This small gadget fits in the palm of your hand, integrates AI to see and understand how users interact with their common smartphone apps and web experiences, then recreates those profiles (on voice command) on a custom cloud platform.
The device is truly meant for those looking to curb smartphone addiction. Rabbit says some popular apps you can use on the R1 include Spotify, Apple Music, DoorDash, Uber, Amazon,…
New way to cast video between devices
Amazon introduced a new way to cast video directly from phones and tablets to supported devices. With Matter Casting, users can now cast Prime Video content to the Echo Show 15, as well as Fire TV devices and Fire TV edition televisions.
The company also said it will add Matter Casting to services like Plex, Pluto TV, Sling TV, STARZ later this year.
