CES is a big show, but it still surprises me to see the huge range of different announcements that come out of it. As a case in point, Sony and Honda showed off a whole-ass electric car prototype during Sony’s CES presentation. They weren’t the only companies to show off a concept car during the show thanks to this E Ink-slathered vehicle from BMW.
But enough about cars, what about chips? Thankfully AMD has you covered, with a massive new lineup of processors for laptops and desktops alike. It’s wild to remember that just a few short years ago, 16-core CPUs were the domain of AMD’s expensive Threadripper lineup, and soon they’ll be available in laptops. Amazing.
Amidst all this CES gadget news, Apple has quietly launched a new AI audiobook narrator that it hopes will allow smaller publishers and authors to get in on the audiobook market at a much lower cost.
And now, here’s a silly tweet to start your day:
Stay tuned, as we continue to update this list with the most important news of today: Friday, January 5th, 2023.
Jan 7, 2023, 8:19 PM UTCJennifer Pattison Tuohy
The first smart deadbolt capable of wireless charging is coming this year
The Alfred DB2S is a standard deadbolt smart lock that can recharge via infrared beams, but the Wi-Charge wireless charging kit won’t be available through retail channels at launch.
Jan 5, 2023, 9:02 PM UTCMitchell Clark
The FTC wants to ban the noncompete clauses ensnaring some tech workers
The regulator says they hurt workers and innovation for little benefit.
- RLook at Lenovo’s actually good dual-screen laptop.
They might be onto something with this Yoga Book 9i.
With two 13.3-inch OLED touch panels and a surprisingly adaptable keyboard add-on, it makes a solid case for dual-screen devices.
Jan 5, 2023, 6:06 PM UTCCameron Faulkner
Razer’s Edge 5G handheld is coming to Verizon this month for $359.99
The Switch-like Android handheld will be available through the carrier when you add a new tablet line. Or you can get the Wi-Fi-only model that costs $399.99.
Jan 5, 2023, 6:00 PM UTCRichard Lawler
Google’s new split-screen look for Android Auto is rolling out to everyone
Now Android Auto lets you easily see the map and your music at the same time, and even messages or other alerts as they pop up.
Jan 5, 2023, 6:00 PM UTCCameron Faulkner
Razer says its Kiyo Pro Ultra webcam can capture uncompressed 4K footage
The $300 webcam delivers uncompressed 4K 24fps footage, which competitors like Elgato’s Facecam Pro cannot do.
Jan 5, 2023, 6:00 PM UTCAdi Robertson
HTC’s new VR / AR headset is the $1,099 Vive XR Elite
Not a Vive Flow, not a Vive Focus, but a no longer secret third thing (that’s shipping next month).
Jan 5, 2023, 6:00 PM UTCAndrew J. Hawkins
Google’s new high-definition maps are arriving first on Volvo and Polestar electric vehicles
Granular details, like lane markers, signs, and road barriers, will also help power automotive partners’ advanced driver features. The Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 will be the first to have the built-in navigation feature.
Jan 5, 2023, 5:45 PM UTCAndrew J. Hawkins
Mercedes-Benz and ChargePoint are going to install thousands of EV fast chargers in the US
Mercedes-Benz and MN8 will spend ‘roughly’ $1 billion on the installation of 400 hubs, each with approximately six plugs, in key cities and along major highways in North America.
Jan 5, 2023, 5:00 PM UTCSheena Vasani
Victrola announces the Victrola Stream Onyx, a cheaper version of its Stream Carbon turntable
The new turntable also wirelessly transmits audio to Sonos systems for $200 less.
- MYou can now tag movies and TV shows in your TikToks.
The short form video app is partnering with IMDb and adding landing pages for films and shows. The pages have details about the title, as well as other related TikTok videos — so you can watch all of the extremely wrong fan theories about Tár in one place.
- NThat was fast.
A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed the Keychron Q10, a five-pound, $200 Alice-layout mechanical keyboard.
And today, Keychron launched the V10: same neat layout, most of the same features, but with a plastic case instead of aluminum. It starts at $84 barebones, or $104 with caps and switches. I’m into it.
Jan 5, 2023, 4:00 PM UTCEmma Roth
Lenovo’s new ThinkBook has modular accessories that add LTE, a webcam light, and more
The 16-inch laptop comes with a magnetic pin connector at the top of the display, allowing you to connect accessories without cables.
Jan 5, 2023, 4:00 PM UTCAntonio G. Di Benedetto
Lenovo’s new Yoga Book 9i laptop has a second screen above its screen
The first laptop with dual 13.3-inch OLED touch panels can be used like a double stack of monitors or side by side like a book. This is the kind of stuff CES is made for, folks.
Jan 5, 2023, 4:00 PM UTCJon Porter
WhatsApp adds official proxy support to help users circumvent internet blocks
‘We’re putting the power into people’s hands to maintain access to WhatsApp if their connection is blocked or disrupted.’
Jan 5, 2023, 4:00 PM UTCAllison Johnson
The Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola is a collaboration nine years in the making
Motorola’s first phone designed with parent company Lenovo’s branding is chock-full of security and productivity features.
- RSilvergate Capital survived a post-FTX run on deposits, but now the crypto-focused bank’s stock is tanking.
Exactly one month ago, Silvergate’s CEO insisted things were ok, despite the problems with FTX, a major customer.
Today its Q4 filing reveals deposits from crypto customers shrank from $11.9 billion to $3.9 billion in three months, $150 million of the bank's deposits are held by customers who’ve filed bankruptcy, and it’s laying off 200 employees.
The company’s stock price is down 46 percent.
Jan 5, 2023, 3:30 PM UTCDane McMillan
The Verge Launches “Command Line,” a Newsletter About the Tech Industry’s Inside Conversation, by Alex Heath
Every Thursday, The Verge’s deputy editor will peel back the curtain on the tech industry’s most influential players for paid subscribers
- AWhat if Dracula’s creepy bug-eating assistant looked like Nicholas Hoult?
In Renfield, the titular character is struggling with his co-dependent relationship with Dracula and slowly realizing that maybe gathering victims for an immortal serial killer is, perhaps, wrong. But also Dracula is played by Nicholas Cage and Renfield is played by Nicholas Hoult, and Awkwafina is the woman he’s got a big crush on, and there are big fight scenes instead of atmospheric horror ones. It’s got hyper commercial What We Do In Shadows vibes.
Jan 5, 2023, 3:18 PM UTCJon Porter
Audio-Technica straps a microphone onto its popular M50X headphones
The new headset is available with either analog connections or USB.
- RGreen light.
Today our CES 2023 attention turns to the show floor, but let’s not be so hasty that we ignore Sony’s event last night.
That included not only a peek at the Gran Turismo movie (based on a real story) and the launch of “Afeela” as the brand name for its vehicle collaboration with Honda. Check out this video, we can run down the entire thing in under seven minutes.
Jan 5, 2023, 3:06 PM UTCAlex Heath
Introducing Command Line, a newsletter about the tech industry’s inside conversation by Alex Heath
Every week, I’ll bring you scoops, interviews, and analysis you won’t find anywhere else.
Jan 5, 2023, 2:30 PM UTCChris Person
My new favorite game is finding out where stuff is made
ImportYeti lets you see the shipping manifests of any American company, and I have lost countless hours to it.
Jan 5, 2023, 2:13 PM UTCPatrick George
Check out BMW’s color-changing concept car in action
The automaker says the dazzling E ink-powered tech could be closer to production than you think.
Jan 5, 2023, 2:00 PM UTCJennifer Pattison Tuohy
You can finally buy the Ring Car Cam
But there’s still no sign of the flying camera...
