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Lenovo adds to smart home family with Smart Clock

Andrew Allen
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Lenovo has helped Google lead the way with Smart Displays. They were an original partner with the new generation of visual smart home products. Now, Lenovo is back with a smaller version we’ve all been waiting for: The Lenovo Smart Clock.

Honestly, since Smart Displays were announced, I was disappointed that there wasn’t an Echo Spot version to use as an alarm clock. Lenovo has essentially solved this issue with Smart Clock. The new addition to the smart home is a smaller companion screen to fill the gap between phones and full-fledged Smart Displays.

The 4-inch bedside gadget has a limited use case that equates to a slimmed down version of its larger sibling. You can set alarms, check calendar appointments and weather, as well as control audio playback. The full array of Google Assistant voice commands are on board too.

One thing that is hampered a bit is Chromecast, but in a way that makes sense. You can Cast audio but not a video to the Smart Clock. Lenovo says this was a conscious decision due to the smaller form factor and we’d tend to agree it’s the right move.

The design of the Smart Clock is very appealing and fits well with other Google endorsed Home devices. The display is wrapped in woven fabric that immediately reminds you of the Google Home Mini and Home Hub.

Up top, you have volume rockers with a touch-enabled strip in between. This is used for pausing audio and dismissing alarms. The rear of the device has an AC power port, mic mute switch, and USB-type A for charging your phone without the need of another outlet.

Lenovo has set the price of the Smart Clock at $79.99 with availability vaguely up in the air as “late spring 2019.” Personally, I think it should bump this timetable forward as much as possible. The Smart Clock is a device that just may be a big hit for the company.

Funai shows off Philips 24-inch Kitchen Android TV with Google Assistant

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Funai Corporation this week showed off the Philips 24-inch Kitchen Android TV with built-in Google Assistant.

Built with kitchens in mind, the Google Assistant software gives users the same experience they might find with a Home Hub or other smart display. Android 8.0 Oreo software powers the unit, providing the full Android TV experience, making it a more robust device.

The 24-inch LCD screen is wrapped by a thin white bezel and a woven gray mesh cloth covers a pair of 8iwatt speakers. Minimalistic and stylish, it matches pretty much any decor. Also included are two HDMI ports and a far-field microphone which catches all of your voice commands.

Unlike other smart kitchen displays or tablets available, or on the horizon, the Philips 24-inch Kitchen Android TV can function as a stand-alone device. One can download additional apps via Google Play store, for example, or work with other devices through the HDMI ports.

We’re big fans of the way Google Assistant works with a display and found the Google Home Hub to be one of our favorite devices of 2018. Similarly, we’re in love with our NVIDIA Shield TV and the Android TV experience. Pairing the two experiences, in the kitchen, seems like a match made in heaven.

It’s not clear how much the Kitchen Android TV will run or when it will be made available. For now it appears that it’s simply a proof of concept or a tease of things to come.

The device falls somewhere in the space between smart displays and full-size Android TV experience. To that end, we could be looking anywhere from, say $200-$300 for the Philips Kitchen Android TV.

Philips debuts 4K Android TVs with Google Assistant with pricing as low as $350

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Funai this week showed off the first Philips 4K UHD Android TV models with integrated Google Assistant for the US market. The two lines (5704 and 5904 series) are offered in five display sizes, ranging from 43-inches up to 75-inches.

The Philips 4K UHD Android TV models are powered Android 8.0 and provide easy access to streaming services and personalized recommendations from the likes of Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV, and more. Additionally, the televisions include access to Google Play.

Both lines of the Philips 4K UHD Android TV come with a Bluetooth near-field mic remote for voice control with the Google Assistant. This lets users ask the TVs questions, control smart devices, and anything else you’d get from a Google Home device.

Chromecast is also built into the products meaning you can mirror your phone, case photos and apps, and more.

The Philips 4K UHD Android TV series features HDR 10 and are equipped with Bright Pro, a setting that boosts the backlight and brightens the image. According to Philips this is about twice as bright as standard LED displays and it also provides for high contrast.

Availability

The 5704 line is already available at select retailer and warehouse clubs around the country; the 5904 series arrives in the second half of the year. What’s the difference in the two? The forthcoming models will feature integrated far-field microphones which let users/watchers say “Hey Google” to activate the Google Assistant.

Connectivity includes HDMI, antenna RF, Wireless 802.11ac dual-band MIMO, Ethernet, and USB multimedia. As for audio, look for digital optical, and Bluetooth 4.2 for optional headphone, keyboard or other accessory connectivity.

Philips 4K UHD Android TV series are available in 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch displays sizes with prices that start at $350.

About Funai

Funai Corporation, Inc., located at Rutherford, NJ, is a subsidiary of Funai Electric Co., Ltd. and is the exclusive licensee for Philips and Magnavox consumer televisions and home video products, with marketing and distribution rights in North America.

Sonos One, Sonos Beam to finally get Google Assistant support… soon

Jason England
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Sonos is one of the most synonymous names in high quality connected audio but has been a little late in adding support for digital assistants. While Alexa support has already been added, fans of Google Assistant have been left waiting. The good news is the wait is almost over as Sonos has finally confirmed Assistant support is almost completed.

There is no official date for the launch as of yet but we do know Sonos has been privately beta testing the service and it is close to being ready. The Sonos One and Sonos Beam are the two speakers expected to gain direct support for Google Assistant. Offering full control through voice commands using the built-in microphones.

However, their other connected models without microphones are also expected to gain indirect support. For example, you will have the ability to start a song on a Play:1 or Play:5 speaker with no microphone by asking your Google Home Mini. Much like you would when you cast content to a display or speaker.

For fans of the Sonos sound who are already invested in their system and prefer Google Assistant this news is welcomed and a long time coming. Sonos says the wait was to ensure that the launch didn’t have any of the issues they encountered with the Alexa launch. Hopefully, after all this time, and their close work with Google, when it finally launches it will be music to our ears.

NUU Mobile G4 debuts as budget-friendly flagship with Android 9

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Buying a powerful flagship smartphone with the most recent version of Android is not always affordable. In fact, the last few years have seen the average price of tier-one hardware creep up to, and over, $1,000.

NUU Mobile, a brand who has offered unlocked smartphones for the last few years, is doing its level best to take price in the opposite other direction. The handset maker this week introduces its latest experience, the G4, at the annual CES trade event.

Powered by Android 9 Pie, the Nuu Mobile G4 ticks many boxes which are important to consumers, with cost being perhaps the most important one. Upon its launch in March the G4 will retail for as low as $250.

The unlocked phone will be compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, and other GSM carriers. Screen size is 6.2-inches with a 2246 x 1080 pixel resolution.

“The G4 is the newest member of our suite of phones and connectivity products for the whole family… We believe everyone should have access to the amount of power, style and technology they need at a price they can afford.”

In terms of hardware, the Nuu Mobile G4 houses a 2.0GHz octa-core processor with 6GB RAM and 64GB of storage. Should one need more room for media, the microSD expansion card slot allows for up to 256GB of files. Alternatively, a 128GB model will be available for $280.

As for cameras, the G4 packs a 16-megapixel and 8-megapixel rear setup with a 16-megapixel shooter around front. Battery is a generous 3,750mAh with fast 18W charging and 10W wireless charging.

The 6GB/64GB will run $250 and the 6GB/128GB will retail for $280 when it goes on sale in March 2019.

Garmin’s first LTE smartwatch is the Vivoactive 3 Music

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Garmin has officially joined the LTE smartwatch fray, this week introducing the vivoactive 3 Music – Connected by Verizon. Yeah, that’s technically its full name.

For all practical purposes, the watch is essentially the same as the existing Vivoactive 3 Music, but with a few new features baked into it. Chief among them, of course, is the LTE connectivity — powered by Verizon.

The connectivity means wearers can receive texts and download music from Spotify and Deezer without relying on a phone. Perhaps more interesting, and certainly more helpful, Garmin is tapping into the cellular network for safety features.

As many Garmin wearers can attest, the GPS capabilities are very accurate. With both assistance and incident detection, the Garmin provides peace of mind to runners. The assistance feature can send an alert to predetermined emergency contacts and provide real-time location. To trigger this feature one simply needs press and hold a button for five seconds.

Incident detection is similar as it can understand if there’s an impact (read as: fall). Should it detect one, it will automatically alert the emergency contacts with location. The LiveTrack option lets wearers share location with friends and family in an on-demand manner.

The Vivoactive 3 Music comes with a five day battery in smartwatch mode or up to four hours of LTE when “connected to GPS, playing music, and using LiveTrack”. It’s not clear what sort of life comes from just using one of those connected features.

Rounding out the features, the watch has Garmin Pay, the contactless payment solution that lets runners keep their credit cards and wallets at home. Also present is Elevate, a wrist-based heart rate sensor and 15 built-in sports apps.

Pricing and availability aren’t available yet, but Garmin says it will share more information later this quarter.

Philips Hue adds to its outdoor range of smart lights

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At CES 2019 this week Philips Hue expanded its popular collection of lighting, particularly in the outdoor line. Giving consumers even more functionality and versatility, the lights can extend the personal experience outside of the house.

The new models include a number of wall-mounted outdoor fixtures and path lighting, as well as a battery-operated sensor.

Experience the comfort of your lights turning on automatically when you arrive in the dark.

The new weather-resistant Hue Outdoor sensor is wireless and battery-powered and can, among other things, automatically turn on when you arrive in the dark. With a detection range of 12 meters (~39 feet), it can also trigger whenever someone passes by.

Using the Philips Hue app, users can choose which lights turn on when someone passes by the sensor. Indeed, both indoor and outdoor lights can be configured, making it appears as if someone is always at home.

The sensor will be available for purchase for about $50 in Europe and North America starting in February.

Philips Hue has a handful of flood lights and other lighting coming next month, including some which are exclusive to Europe. A few are white lights while some offer colors. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s on deck.

Available in North America and Europe in February 2019

  • Philips Hue Welcome Flood Light (RRP: EUR 129.99 / USD 109.99), a wall-mounted fixture in one shade of bright white light
  • Philips Hue Discover Flood Light (RRP: EUR 149.99 / USD 139.99), a wall-mounted fixture with White and Color Ambiance light
  • Philips Hue Econic family of wall lights (RRP: EUR 139.99 / USD 129.99 and EUR 139.99 / USD 129.99)

Available in Europe only, in February 2019

  • Philips Hue Econic pedestal and post (RRP: EUR 129.99 and 159.99)
  • Philips Hue Fuzo family (RRP: from EUR 79.99), which includes a pedestal, a post and three wall lights, with white light.
  • Philips Hue Calla large bollard (RRP: EUR 149.99, extension available for EUR 119.99), which is a bigger version of the already available Calla path light and has White and Color Ambiance light

Rough and tumble Cat S48c phone comes to Verizon

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Verizon on Thursday announced that is offering the Cat S48c smartphone as part of its Android-powered lineup. Built with military-grade toughness, the phone is designed to handle shock, moisture, drops, dust, altitude, and extreme temperatures.

In the rugged phones such as this weren’t powered by the most current hardware. That’s not the case with the S48c as it packs a decent set of specifications, especially for the money.

What’s the difference in Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors?

Powered by a 2.2GHz octa-core (Snapdragon 630) processor, the device has 4GB RAM with 32GB of internal storage. Should you need more room for media, the microSD expansion card slot allows for another 128GB worth of space.

 

The main camera is a 13-megapixel sensor with an LED flash while the front-facing one has a 5-megapixel lens. What makes these particularly special, though, is that they’ll work just fine under water.

The Cat S48c is designed with durability at its core. It can be submerged in up to four feet of water for 35 minutes, and its 13 MP camera can take underwater pictures whether on site, in the great outdoors or on vacation.

In terms of screen size, the S48c packs a 5-inch full HD display with Gorilla Glass 5 protection. Moreover, there’s wet finger tracking and glove mode, so it’s not only strong and sturdy, but responds to touch in any condition.

Rounding things out, there’s a 4,000mAh battery to deliver upwards of two days of usage per charge. And, while it ships with Android 8 Oreo, Cat has committed to an Android 9 Pie update.

Availability

The Cat S48c, also offered through Sprint, is now available to all Verizon Business and Enterprise customers for $250 with a two-year contract, or $600 outright. Verizon customers can purchase the Cat S48c directly from Cat at the end of January.

Goal Zero bulks up power storage solutions with new products

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Goal Zero, a key player in the mobile and home power storage space, this week introduced a number of new products at the annual CES trade show. Included in the announcements are additions to existing lines as well as unique, first-of-its-kind technology.

Yeti Link

First up is the Yeti Link which include a “proprietary technology” that allows users to chain different battery chemistry (ex: lead acid and lithium) together. The Yeti Link is an add-on module that lets those who own a Yeti Lithium 1000 Power Station (or larger) chain batteries together.

The Link plugs directly into the power station’s expansion port, providing a level functionality that previously wasn’t offered at the consumer level. Pricing will be $400 upon availability in May.

Yeti Tank

The Yeti Tank combines the reliability, durability and convenience with the storage capacity found in home backup power. Built using the more cost-effective lead-acid, Yeti Tank integrates with existing Yeti Power Stations to charge via solar panels or a wall plug, delivering long-lasting, expandable backup energy storage for any home.

Flip

The Flip Power Banks get a refresh for 2019 with increased battery capacities. They maintain the same sleek and flashy design Goal Zero also showed off its updated line of Flip Power Banks at CES 2019 as well. The new versions retain the sleek design and maintain the light weight and durable build.

The Flip 12 offers 12 watt-hours (3350 mAh) of capacity; the Flip 24 packs 24Wh (6700mAh); the Flip 36 houses 36 Wh (10,050 mAh). The battery packs ship in May and will cost $25, $35, and $45, respectively.

Nomad

The Nomad 5 joins the Goal Zero line of portable solar panels, bringing about a small but powerful energy source. With five watts (5W) of charging power, it has a built-in kickstand and USB port, and provides pass-through charging.

The Nomad 5 is an ideal companion to the Flip 12, Flip 24, or the Guide 10 Plus. The Nomad 5 will run $60 when it goes on sale in May.

Samsung Unpacked: Galaxy S10 to debut on February 20

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We might be in the midst of CES but that doesn’t mean we can’t look ahead a few weeks. In fact, Samsung has done just that, today confirming it plans to announce the Galaxy S10 in February.

An email is making its rounds this morning, advising that February 20, 2019 will be the data of its next Unpacked event. One look at the invitation tells us it’s related to the Galaxy S10.

There’s very little in the email — we received one — as it essentially provides the time, date, and location. Of course, this is all one really needs to book a reservation and RSVP, right?

The graphic that accompanies the invitation is an interesting one as it shows a “10” on its side and split horizontally. Could this indicate edge-to-edge displays and multiple colors? Sure. It could also suggest two different versions of the phone, something we’ve come to expect. For a few generations now we’ve had the standard Galaxy S and a larger Galaxy S Plus.

Another interesting idea comes in the ongoing reports that Samsung is readying a foldable phone. Rumors have been ramping up over the last few months around a so-called Galaxy X model which purports to have a display that can fold over on itself.

It’s probably not a coincidence that “X” is 10 is Roman numerals. The launch of an X model on the tenth anniversary of the Galaxy S makes sense.

Would Samsung opt to introduce its Galaxy S10 and a Galaxy X phone at the same time? That’s one heck of a gamble as one obviously overshadows the other. The Galaxy S10, for all its practical features and advances, would play second fiddle to the company’s first foldable phone.

We’ve already seen a glimpse of the Galaxy X; Samsung briefly, showed it off from a distance, back in the fall. Perhaps they’ll have it on hand on February 20 and continue to tease it out.

With around six weeks to go until the February Unpacked event we suspect we’ll get more rumors and speculation in short order.

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