Jan 04
India Walton, Former Buffalo Mayoral Candidate, To Join New York Progressive Group
Posted in: Today's ChiliThe New York Working Families Party is enlisting Walton as a spokesperson and organizer.
Jan 04
<img width="1200" height="800" src="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-ford-f-150-lightning-1-1200×800.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" style="margin: auto;margin-bottom: 5px;max-width: 100%" data-attachment-id="705274" data-permalink="https://www.slashgear.com/ford-f-150-lightning-production-surges-when-the-ev-truck-orders-open-04705273/2022-ford-f-150-lightning-1/" data-orig-file="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-ford-f-150-lightning-1.jpg" data-orig-size="1440,960" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2022-ford-f-150-lightning-1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="
Source: Ford
” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-ford-f-150-lightning-1-1080×720.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-ford-f-150-lightning-1-1200×800.jpg” />Ford will throw open the order books to the 2022 F-150 Lightning later this week, announcing plans to almost double annual production of the all-electric pickup as it races to convert reservations into sales. Demand for the EV truck surged beyond even what ambitious estimates envisaged, with nearly 200,000 now having placed a refundable deposit to stake a place in … Continue reading
Jan 04
TCL has been banging on the Personal Cinema door for quite some time, first with a series ofconcept devices and, last year, with its first commercially-available model. The Nxtwear G, which I reviewed in the summer, was the best personal cinema I’ve ever tested, but it still had some major flaws. The biggest was comfort, both for eye-strain and the problem of resting a 130 gram (4.5oz) piece of hardware on your nose. Thankfully, it looks as if TCL has sought to address that issue with its second model, the TCL Nxtwear Air.
Essentially, the TCL Nxtwear Air takes many of the same components from the first one, but has managed to shave off around a third of the weight. The glasses now weigh 75 grams, and look to be a lot more stylish than the first model, including interchangeable fascias to customize the glasses to your style. As much as I’d loathe adding more weight to my face, I do quite like the look of the faux-Wayfarer panel.
Far as I can tell, the displays remain the same: Two 1080p Micro OLED panels designed to replicate the feel of a 140-inch screen. The press release does, however, say that color reproduction has been improved, since the pictures on the first model were occasionally washed out. You’ll also get spatial audio, and given the speakers are sited in the arms, that sounds like a smart improvement for movie watching.
Naturally, TCL isn’t talking about when we can get our hands on one, or how much it’ll cost when we actually do. But if it’s less than the frankly outrageous prices you had to fork out for the first model, it’ll be a good start.
Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!
Jan 04
Seoul Robotics' autonomous 'Control Tower' remotely manages self-driving vehicle fleets
Posted in: Today's ChiliDespite Tesla’s ambitious claims of its vehicles’ Full Self-Driving capabilities, today’s autonomous navigation technology generally tops out at Level 2. More advanced self-driving systems are in development but likely still years away from being safe and cost-effective enough for everyday use. Seoul Robotics, however, has developed a mesh network that reportedly imparts Level 5 autonomy to vehicle fleets, if only for the “last mile.”
The company’s Level 5 Control Tower system sidesteps some technical challenges of self-driving technology by embedding sensors in the surrounding infrastructure — traffic lights, nearby buildings, freeway overpasses, etc — rather than on the vehicles themselves. Instead of each vehicle looking out for itself and responding autonomously to surrounding traffic, the Level 5 Control Tower uses its meshed sensor network to collect data on the overall traffic situation and automate vehicles in the area accordingly, using V2X communications and 4/5G radios.
Seoul Robotics
“Ultimately, these systems will be deployed in additional public and business settings, powering aspects of our everyday lives, such as autonomously navigated parking and public transit,” HanBin Lee, CEO of Seoul Robotics, said in a prepared statement Tuesday. Eventually the technology could find its way to a number of commercial applications from vehicle distribution centers to car rental lots.
BMW is currently trialling the system to manage fleet logistics at its manufacturing facility in Munich. That system utilizes Seoul Robotics’ SENSR software and a network of hundreds of LiDAR sensors embedded around the facility to autonomously move newly-constructed vehicles across the factory floor. Because the system has vantage points from virtually every angle, rather than the half dozen or so sensors on the vehicle itself, Control Tower can easily guide individual vehicles around blind spots and through cross traffic — even while simultaneously “driving” hundreds of other automotive drones.
Jan 04
TCL continues its tradition of launching a barrage of devices at CES, and it’s a similar story to last year, with two new 30 series smartphones headed to the US later this year.
Let’s start with the TCL 30 XE 5G. It has a 6.52-inch display at 1,600 x 720 resolution and up to 90Hz refresh rate. With a 4,500mAh battery, it runs on one of Mediatek’s Dimensity chips, the Dimensity 700, which have been designed to work better with AI tasks like image processing.
Talking of images, there’s a triple camera system, but no need to get too excited. There’s a depth sensor and a 2-megapixel camera, meaning that most of the work will be done by the single 13-megapixel main camera sensor. It’ll be able to record video up to 1080p – another reminder that these are affordable phones first, impressive specs are less of a priority. Much less.
TCL
The TCL 30 V has a bigger 6.67-inch display, running at 1,080 x 2,400 resolution. That’s more pixels than the 30 XE, but lacks the 90Hz refresh rate. Compromises! It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 chip — again different to the XE – with a more substantial 50-megapixel primary camera working alongside a 5MP super-wide shooter and a 2MP macro lens. Unlike the notched front-facing camera of the 30 XE, the bigger 30 V has a pinhole in the screen for its 16MP selfie cam. It also has a 4,500mAh battery which should ensure it lasts the day, given the lightweight specs of the device. Both devices are coming exclusively to the US, but on different carriers. The TCL 30 XE 5G launches on T Mobile – date TBC – while the 30 V is landing on Verizon.
Adoption from two US carriers will make TCL’s phones a more realistic option than in previous years. However, we’re missing one big piece of the puzzle: how affordable they actually are. Expect to hear pricing in the coming weeks. If you’re looking for bigger specs (and prices, possibly), TCL is teasing more 30 series news at MWC in Barcelona later this year.
Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!
Jan 04
When Sony debuted its premium home theater gear for 2021, the company’s pricey HT-A9 speaker set had a key feature that its soundbars didn’t. It’s called 360 Spatial Sound Mapping and it creates “phantom speakers” to help the actual speakers produce room-filling sound. Today at CES, Sony announced that it will offer an upgrade to both the HT-A7000 (7.1.2) and HT-A5000 (5.1.2) soundbars that adds the 360-degree audio mapping later this spring.
360 Spatial Sound Mapping first uses a combination of Sound Field Optimization tech and built-in microphones to measure the height and position of both a soundbar and rear speakers. Once that’s done, the setup creates virtual speakers by positioning sound waves based on the collected location information. Sony says the result is a “wide spatial sound field” capable of filling a room and it promises that everyone will get “the same sound experience” no matter where they’re sitting. The company also reminded us that an Acoustic Center Sync feature on Bravia XR TVs will work with the sound mapping to become a center speaker that enhances dialogue. Both the A7000 and A5000 already support Sony’s 360 Reality Audio for more immersive music listening.
Sony
To help you make the most out of the soundbars’ new ability, Sony is debuting a new set of wireless rear speakers. Unlike most rear satellites that connect wirelessly but rely on a cord for power, the new SA-RS5 speakers are totally wireless and can be charged out of sight. The company says you can expect up to 10 hours of use when they’re fully charged and 10 minutes will give you 90 minutes of play time if you forget to replenish the batteries. They also feature up-firing speakers, wide directional woofers, dome tweeters and dual passive radiators for a more robust soundstage and better clarity. The SA-RS5 can run Sony’s Sound Field Optimization with the press of a button so they’re easily calibrated with your soundbar each time you reposition them. Lastly, the cylindrical speakers have a flat back side so they’ll sit nicely against a wall.
You’ll need a set of rear speakers to employ the forthcoming 360 Spatial Sound Mapping upgrade on the aforementioned soundbars — hence the new model. If you can live without all the bells and whistles of the SA-RS5, the SA-RS3S is also compatible. They’re a plain ol’ set of two-way rear satellite speakers in comparison, but they’ll save you some money over the upcoming model at $350. And based on my experience, they should get the job done just fine.
The new SA-RS5 wireless rear speakers will be available this spring for $600. That’s $250 more than the SA-RS3S that debuted alongside the HT-A7000 last year.
Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!
Jan 04
Sony thinks it knows how to counter the latest OLED and mini-LED TVs from its rivals: add a dash of intelligence. Its 2022 A-series 4K OLED TVs, plus its Z- (8K) and X-series (4K) mini-LED and basic LCD models, can use a new Bravia Cam (the ‘bump’ shown at top) for video chat, gesture control and even optimizing the picture and sound quality. They can tweak the brightness, voice emphasis and sound balance based on your viewing distance and direction. You can also have the picture dim when you leave the room, or display a warning when your kids get too close to the screen.
The camera is bundled with the flagship A95K and Z9K models, and is optional for Sony’s other 2022 sets. You’ll need a firmware update to unlock more than video chat, but the company hasn’t said when that might arrive. And yes, Sony is aware of privacy concerns. There’s a hardware switch to disable the camera, and neither the camera nor the TV will store private data. You can delete any positional data through the TV menu.
Sony
The new TVs improve image and sound quality whether or not the camera is present. The A95K uses a new Quantum Dot OLED panel to reproduce a larger color range at wider viewing angles, while the Z9K and X95K have smarter backlighting that reduces mini-LED’s characteristic light blooming without lowering brightness. A Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode adjusts output based on ambient light, while Bravia Core Calibrated Mode alters quality to match a director’s “original vision.” And yes, there’s tight integration with other Sony products — they can harmonize with higher-end soundbars and speakers (the built-in speakers are also richer), while PlayStation 5 owners can take advantage of both automatic picture mode switching as well as auto HDR tone mapping.
Other improvements include a switch to the unified, media-centric Google TV interface and smaller, simpler remotes that add backlighting and a find-my-remote feature. A95K uses also have a stand that can sit at the front or back to suit your viewing environment.
Sony won’t provide pricing and ship dates until the spring, but it’s using a familiar size strategy. The Z9K is unsurprisingly limited to 8K-friendly 75- and 85-inch sizes, while the A95K sits in the sweet spot with 55- and 65-inch variants. The A90K is built for gamers’ desks and dorm rooms with 42- and 48-inch sizes (and an optional high position stand), while the ‘entry’ A80K courts the mainstream with 55-, 65- and 77-inch panels. The X95K comes in 65-, 75- and 85-inch flavors, while the full array LED-lit X90K comes in 55-, 65-, 75- and 85-inch versions. The X80K and X85K have ‘just’ direct LED backlighting, but are available in a wide range of sizes from 43 inches through to 85 inches.
Jan 04
TP-Link’s new WiFi 6E router has motorized antennas that follow your devices
Posted in: Today's ChiliOptimizing a router for your space can be a pain, but TP-Link is looking to take some of the sting out of that with a wild new router. The Archer AXE200 Omni is a WiFi 6E model with four mechanical antennas that rotate automatically. The idea is that, to optimize the signal, the router will adjust the antenna placement based on the location and usage of WiFi devices.
The Archer AXE200 Omni can deliver total speeds of over 10 Gbps, according to TP-Link. It has a tri-band setup that includes a 6Ghz band. If it works as promised, the router could improve iffy connections throughout your home or maintain a solid WiFi link as you move around while streaming video on your phone.
TP-Link
Elsewhere, TP-Link has made its first quad-band router, the Archer AXE300. It says the device can provide WiFi speeds of up to 16Gbps. Having more bands could reduce network congestion. You can set up a dedicated band, which should be useful for things like online gaming if your console or PC is too far away from the router to connect it via Ethernet.
In addition, the company’s latest flagship mesh system is the Deco XE200. With the help of WiFi 6E, TP-Link claims it can deliver speeds of up to 11Gbps. A two-pack should cover up to 6,500 square feet and connect more than 200 devices.
All three of these router systems will come with TP-Link HomeShield to provide owners with full control of their network as well as a degree of security. The company announced several other WiFi 6E products at CES, including the Deco Voice X50, which has a built-in smart speaker, and a unit designed to extend a mesh network outdoors. All of these routers should be available in 2022.
Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!
Jan 04
Although many companies offer wireless headphones specifically designed for gamers, Bluetooth is still a problem. It’s not a perfect way to stream audio to begin with, but adds even more issues while gaming because it introduces a subtle delay between what’s happening on screen and what’s being heard. JBL’s new…
Jan 04
An ongoing pandemic is making real-life trips to movie theaters a dicey proposition for many of us. But for those who still want a big-screen experience without leaving the house, TCL at CES 2022 is introducing its second-gen wearable display, the NXTWear Air.
Who's in charge here?
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.