The world’s largest technology trade show begins when the doors of CES open on Tuesday, where thousands of new devices and technologies will be on display to the public for the first time.
Artificial intelligence, ever larger and crisper display televisions, robots and the smart home are all expected to feature heavily among the latest gadgets showcased by companies from around the world.
Traditionally Apple does not even acknowledge CES let alone attend, but the iPhone maker is surprisingly present at the 2019 show. The firm was the subject of a surprise partnership announcement by Samsung to bring its iTunes movie and TV shows app to Samsung TVs.
Both Samsung and fellow TV giant LG have confirmed their latest televisions will also support AirPlay 2, the Apple wireless tech that enables devices such as iPhones and iPads to connect to smart TVs.
The California firm has even taken the bold step of putting up a large poster close to the Las Vegas Convention Centre taking a swipe at the privacy issues that have affected several of their rivals — including Google, Amazon and Facebook — over the last year while promoting the apparent security of the iPhone.
“What happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone” it reads, a play on the famous “What happens in Vegas...” line.
New robots are not a surprising sight in the halls of CES, but the introduction of a group of assistive bots is a step change for Samsung, having previously only been a common part of LG events.
Samsung’s new devices include the Bot Care, designed to be a healthcare assistant that has a fingerprint sensor built in which can be used to read vital signs. The bot can also track sleep quality, Samsung says.
The Bot Air is designed to sit in the home and track air quality, while the Samsung GEMS is a wearable device designed to aid movement and walking for people with mobility issues.
Among the more unusual announcements so far has been Panasonic revealing it is to provide the projection technology that will power a new Mickey and Minnie Mouse-themed ride at Hollywood Studios in Florida.
The classic cartoon characters have never had a ride devoted solely to them, but that will change when Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway opens in the autumn.
Making a new TV announcement stand out is difficult at CES, but LG has managed it this year with the unveiling of their OLED R, which can roll and unroll as part of its storage and use.
The screen appears from and disappears into a soundbar-carrying base, and can also be used in a so-called Line View where the TV only peeks above its housing. It can be used to show the time or weather information in this mode, or in Zero View, where the screen is completely hidden but the soundbar can still be used as a music device. – PA
