Agricultural hardware giant and scourge of right-to-repair advocates everywhere John Deere is ready to show off its finished, fully-autonomous tractor. Here at CES, the company is saying that this unit is going to be put into large-scale production, and will be made available to farmers later this year. When in use, a farmer can set the hardware to work and then leave it running, allowing them to tend to vital work elsewhere. The idea, so the company says, is to help make farming more efficient and more robust in the face of ever-increasing demand and dwindling resources.

A progress video from John Deere's autonomous team from the start of 2020.

John Deere’s ambitions in this space have been running for some time, and the company was showing off an autonomous tractor at this show in 2019. Back then, it said that its technology — which combine land-based sensors and GPS — was accurate to around 2.5 cm, or 0.9 inches. This new model has six pairs of stereo cameras around the vehicle to help with object detection, which is then processed by a local neural network. This, combined with the aforementioned GPS technology, enables it to maintain its position within a geofence around an individual field.

John Deere

The model that Deere is showing off combines a Deere 8R Tractor, a TruSet-enabled chisel plow and the secret sauce contained within its navigation technology. It says that all a farmer needs to do is drive it to the start of a field, configure it for autonomous operation and then “swipe from left to right to start the machine.” Its progress can then be monitored from a mobile device, which can receive live video, data and metrics, allowing a farmer to adjust speed and drill depth from their phone.

We don't yet know how much the hardware is going to cost, but we can imagine that there will be plenty of interest from major farming companies both in the US and abroad as they look to cut costs on labor and search for efficiencies any way that they can. 

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Acer’s flagship line of Swift X notebooks is going to be one of the first to tote around Intel’s new Arc graphics. The 16-inch model, at least, will be Acer’s first with Intel’s attempt at toppling NVIDIA’s leadership position in the mobile graphics space. That comes with a handful of other quality-of-life improvements, including a 400-nit (up from 300 nits last year), 100 percent sRGB, 16:10 display. You can choose either a WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) or WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) resolution screen to cram inside, too.

Build-to-order options include a new 12th-generation Intel Core processor paired with the new Arc graphics. That will be paired with up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 2TB SSD storage, as well as WiFi 6e. In person, it’s a little lighter than its immediate predecessor although if you were walking past it in a hurry you’d barely know the difference. The webcam is now FHD, too.

I wasn’t able to take any benchmarks on the pre-release hardware I was able to see in the flesh, but Acer is feeling bullish about the performance here. It says that its new dual fan design, bigger air vents (and they are beefy) and bigger inlets on the keyboard should expel up to 10 percent more heat than previous versions. You’ll also be able to switch to silent running should the need arise, albeit at the cost of much of your performance.

Acer also made it clear that the existing Swift X, which is currently shipping with the option of an RTX 3050 / 3050 Ti, will remain on shelves for the foreseeable. That way, should you find Intel’s new silicon not to your taste, you can still get the upgrade you crave.

The 14-inch model, meanwhile, gets all of the other hardware bumps, including the better display options, the 12th generation Intel Chip, up to 16GB RAM and Windows 11. But graphics-wise, you’re left with the RTX 3050 / 3050 Ti, which is probably enough for most users who aren’t yet ready to jump feet-first into Intel’s new ocean.

We don’t have US pricing or availability for the Swifts just yet, but in the UK we’re expecting them to arrive by the end of February or the start of March for around £1,000 (around $1,350).

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Often, the laptops that are announced at CES aren’t as exciting as the silicon that’ll be nestled inside them. Acer’s Nitro 5 is one such example, where less attention will be paid to the more refined design, since everyone will be talking about its new brains. Like the fact that it’ll be able to use both AMD’s Ryzen 6000 and Intel’s 12th-generation Core processors. That will be paired with anything up to NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, 32GB DDR4 3200 RAM and, depending on chip options, either a FHD 144Hz or QHD 165Hz panel.

Naturally, Acer has made a big effort to refine the chassis, despite it being a tiny bit thicker than its immediate predecessor. Rather than lots of chunky accents, the system goes for a more refined striped design, dialing down the more aggressive elements of its design. In addition, several ports are now sat on the back of the chassis since Acer knows that lots of people will use the Nitro 5 as a desktop replacement.

Sadly, I wasn’t able to do much beyond touch the new Nitro 5 and certainly there’s nothing too dramatic about the exterior changes. Acer was in no mood to allow me to run benchmarks, so all we can say for now is that we’re hopeful that it’ll do what AMD's other 6000 systems have been doing for a while.

In terms of when you can expect to be able to get your hands on one of these things, Acer says that the Intel edition will drop at some point in March, with the base model priced at $1,050. The AMD-toting version, meanwhile, will drop in April, with prices running from $1,099 up to whatever your budget and heart will allow.

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It’s CES, which means that HP is busting out a whole host of new laptops with upgraded internals to suit the new silicon coming from Intel. That includes a bunch of Elite-branded machines, including the Elite x360 1040 G9, EliteBook 1040 G9, EliteBook 800 G9 and EliteBook 600 series. All of them are getting 12th-generation Intel Core processors, a redesigned chassis, 16:10 display and optional 5G. Not to mention that HP is pledging that there is at least 30 percent post-consumer recycled plastic in the machine’s body. All of those machines are expected to arrive in March, with pricing to be announced closer to release.

HP

At the same time, the company is also updating the ZBook range with the new ZBook Firefly G9, available in both 14-and-16-inch versions. Both, HP says, will offer “professional level performance,” and a number of high-spec options including the new 12th-generation Intel Core processors. You can pair whatever silicon you choose with NVDIA’s T550 GPU and up to 64GB RAM, and it’s unmistakably a good-looking machine. This, too, will be available to buy in March, and HP is similarly remaining tight-lipped as to how much cash you’ll need to fork over in order to get one.

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Formlabs, one of the few companies to turn 3D printing into a useful, real-world tool, is here at CES to show off two new printers. The Form 3+ and 3B+ are updates to the models it launched in 2019, with these units described as its “fastest 3D printers to date.”

New for 2022 include higher-intensity lasers, new material settings and faster, more durable hardware, with a promise of 40 percent faster prints. It also comes with the Build Platform 2, an updated deck for manufacturing that makes it easier to remove prints when they’re done.

Formlabs

At the same time, the company is showing off ESD Resin, enabling you to build components that dissipate electrostatic discharges. This should, Formlabs hopes, open up new opportunities for prints that can be used inside the electronics industry and other high-tech operations.

There’s no word yet on how much the hardware will cost but you’ll be able to buy it at some point today and shipping starts immediately.

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Chipolo has bobbed around for a while as one of those companies orbiting inside Tile’s universe of Bluetooth-enabled object trackers. But, last year, the company’s One Spot tracker was able to access Apple’s Find My network, giving it the same superpowers as an AirTag. Now, half a year later, the company is launching a credit card-shaped tracker designed to give your wallet a similar level of protection.

The Chipolo Card Spot (sorry, we’re not going to call it the CARD Spot) can be paired to the Find My network with your iOS device. You’ll be able to track it should you leave it behind, and also get the option of notifications if you’ve left it behind when you’re out and about. Chipolo adds that the integral speaker will chirrip at 105dB to ensure that you’ll be able to hear it when you lose it. And that it’ll also withstand water, should you have a mishap during a fishing trip.

If there’s one downside, it’s that the battery isn’t replaceable, so once the two-year claimed lifespan is up, you’ll need to buy a new one. Chipolo does, however, say that you’ll get a 50 percent discount on the replacement and get a pre-paid envelope to return the expired unit. Oh, and you’ll be able to set it into Lost Mode, so when someone in the Find My network passes by, it’ll hopefully ensure your stuff gets returned to you.

Chipolo

Certainly, a credit card-shaped tracker is going to be invaluable for those folks who want to leverage Apple’s most recent innovation. There are a number of aftermarket AirTag holders that will enable it to slide (slightly awkwardly, mind) into a credit card slot, and now we’re seeing more wallets with space for an AirTag hanging off the side. But all of those are designed to accommodate the slightly impractical nature of that round design.

Chipolo says that pre-orders for the Card Spot will open from today, with shipping expected to begin next month. For a single unit, it'll be $35, while a pair will be priced at $60, and if you'd rather get a single Card Spot and a pair of One Spot trackers, it'll be $77. 

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With one eye on sustainability and the other on AMD’s high-performance chips, Lenovo is launching a new range of ThinkPads. The ThinkPad Z13 and Z16 (representing their screen sizes) is the result of an exclusive collaboration between Lenovo and AMD. The Z13, especially, can be specced with a custom AMD Ryzen 7 Pro chip that has been designed to maximize battery life and performance when you’re trapped inside an endless Zoom, or Microsoft Teams, call.

Sleeker-looking than your average X1 ThinkPad, the Z-series comes with 16:10 displays and ultra-narrow bezels paired with an FHD webcam. The camera itself sits in a lozenge-shaped mount that doubles as the lip you use to open up the machine, setting it apart from your standard ultraportable. Both machines ship with a 120mm haptic ForcePad and, of course, the red TrackPoint, which can now be double-clicked to open up a shortcut menu to control your webcam and microphone settings.

Naturally, much of the detail is in the options you can select for these machines, with a 2.8K OLED display on the 13.3-inch model and a 4K OLED on its bigger sibling. The base model Z13 comes with the Ryzen Pro U-Series, or the aforementioned custom Ryzen Pro, while the Z16 ships with a Ryzen Pro H series. Like all of AMD’s new 6000 series mobile chips, both of these machines come with Microsoft’s Pluton security processor to make Windows 11 machines more secure. The larger model, too, gets the ability to come with either integrated or discrete Radeon graphics, depending on your need and budget.

Both of these models will be available in May 2022, with the Z13’s base model priced at $1,549, while the bigger model will set you back no less than $2,099.

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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.

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For every friend who turns up to a party without a bottle in hand, there’s one that turns up with 10, and that’s the friend you should always cherish. JBL is a bit like that, except not at all, but what we’re trying to say is that it has, as usual, rocked up to a trade show with armfuls of new tech. A number of its portable speaker lines are getting an update, including redesigned bodies and internals, as well as a pretty tasty exclusive model just for Sam’s Club members.

First on the line is the JBL Boombox 3 (pictured) which gets a new three-way speaker system, including a racetrack-shaped subwoofer, two mid-range drivers and two tweeters. JBL promises that you'll get deeper bass, more intense clarity and even more powerful sound than before, as well as 24 hours of playtime on a single charge. It’s IP67 water-and-dust-proof, and can be used as a portable battery for other devices. It’ll arrive this summer, and will set you back $500.

JBL

Meanwhile, the JBL Pulse 5 is getting a refreshed design with a larger passive radiator and acoustic volume for deeper bass, as well as a refined woofer for better mid-low frequency sound. It’ll run for up to 12 hours of play on a single charge, and is IP67 water-and-dust-proof making it useful for trips to the beach and pool. Plus, with the vibrant LED light show and ability to pair any number of companion speakers through JBL PartyBoost, you could easily use this to run your own music and light show during a balmy evening. It’ll arrive this summer, priced at $250.

JBL

The JBL PartyBox is getting two different variations, the PartyBox Encore (pictured, right), as well as the PartyBox Encore Essential (left). The former, which is exclusive to Sam’s Club, packs a 100W speaker and a built-in lightshow that syncs to the music you’re playing. As you can see from the image, it’s also equipped with two wireless microphones, enabling that friend who’s really into karaoke to do their thing all night long. Naturally, it’s got IPX4 splashproof design, Bluetooth v5.1 and playback from USB and aux-in, ensuring you’ll have a great night whatever you’re doing. You’ll be able to pick one up from Sam’s Club in the summer for $400.

The Essential version, meanwhile, offers the same basic 100W speaker and lightshow, but in a smaller, more portable body. The battery will run to six hours, and you can connect Bluetooth, USB or aux-in to get the sound out, plus there’s a single wired microphone input for that karaoke friend you like a little less. This model will be available in March for $300.

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Oral-B’s iO has marked itself out as the smartest and fanciest of all the fancy smart electric toothbrushes on the market. With a pressure sensor, OLED display and smartphone coaching, the iO Series 9 is, or was, the most luxurious way to clean your teeth. Today, however, the company has decided to broaden out the range of iO toothbrushes with both an even higher-end flagship above, and some more affordable models below.

The new flagship is the iO10 with iOSense, which the company is calling the “ultimate oral health coach,” which eliminates one of the biggest problems with the iO9. With the existing model, the pressure warning light — which tells you if you’re pressing too hard on your teeth — and countdown timer is on the brush itself. That makes it very hard to tell when you’re done unless you’re staring intently at yourself in a mirror.

The iO10, meanwhile, duplicates that information on its new beefier charging base, with a digital countdown timer, pressure warnings and even a ring of lights that correspond to the six areas of our mouths. That means you don’t have to open your phone every single time you brush in order to check all of your teeth are getting an equal amount of attention. Of course, it does mean that you’ll need to have your charger plugged in your bathroom at all times, which might be an issue for some.

There’s no price for the iO10 as it stands, just an invitation to sign up for the waitlist for whenever this particular product is available for sale.

At the same time, the company is launching the iO4 and iO5, which are scaled-down versions of the iO model for various budget buyers. Both come with the smart pressure sensor and the same high-end rotating head as the flagship. But the iO4 only has four brushing modes, and no digital display, while the iO5 has a fifth mode and the benefit of on-board AI and access to live coaching via the app. Those models will be priced at under $100, and will be made available nationwide at some point in 2022.

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