Welcome to your Monday morning! CES is a wrap. While we planned to send a small team of Engadget staff to Las Vegas to cover the show in person, Omicron appeared on the horizon, and, well, our plans changed. 

Engadget

We also decided, under those circumstances, to do our own thing for our annual CES Awards. Our favorites run the gamut from familiar categories like mobile, TV and wearables through to sustainability innovations, wildcards and transport tech. Did we miss anything?

— Mat Smith

Apple may unveil a new iPhone SE this spring

Just don’t expect a radical redesign.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims Apple is expected to introduce a third-generation iPhone SE this spring through a virtual presentation "likely" happening in March or April. As we’ve already heard rumored before, Gurman says the new SE would still cling to the iPhone 8-era design but add 5G and a new processor, bringing it closer in parity to existing iPhones. We last saw the iPhone SE in 2020, running on the A13 Bionic.

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Sponsored by Verizon

5G Ultra Wideband. Now in more and more places.

Bad coding has some Honda cars stuck in the year 2002

It's not the first time a Y2K-style bug has sent Honda and Acura vehicles to the past.

Since the start of the year, Honda’s forums have been flooded with reports of people complaining the clocks and calendars in their vehicles are stuck in 2002. It’s affecting Honda and Acura models with GPS navigation systems manufactured between 2004 and 2012, with reports of people encountering the problem in the US, UK and Canada. What’s more, there doesn’t appear to be a fix at the moment. Each time someone starts their car, the clock resets — even if they manually set it beforehand.

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IKEA and Sonos refresh their Symfonisk bookshelf speakers

Faster processors, updated button layout and longer power cables.

IKEA

IKEA and Sonos have released a second-generation version of their Symfonisk bookshelf speaker. No Earth-shattering changes here, but the update features a faster processor and more memory and draws less power when it’s on standby. It also comes with a longer power cable.

However, looking at the new model next to its first-generation counterpart, the most visible change is an updated button layout that brings the volume controls next to one another. Prices appear similar to the original in the Netherlands, but we’re still waiting to hear if or when the update will make it to the US.

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PayPal confirms it's exploring the launch of its own cryptocurrency

It will reportedly be backed by the US dollar.

PayPal’s VP of crypto and digital currencies has confirmed to Bloomberg that the online payment provider is "exploring a stablecoin." Jose Fernandez da Ponte added the company will work closely with relevant regulators if the project goes forward.

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Ford tries to fight F-150 Lightning scalpers by banning resales

The company is using a strategy sometimes reserved for supercars.

Ford

Ford is giving dealerships the option to ban customers from reselling the Lightning for up to a year after purchase. As the (since-pulled) document on the F-150 Gen 14 forums revealed, the dealer could "seek injunctive relief" to block ownership transfer or even demand payment for "all value" generated from the sale.

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The biggest news stories you might have missed

UK watchdog to grill Meta over child safety in VR

NASA finishes deploying the James Webb Space Telescope

Apple said to have ruled out a metaverse for its mixed reality headset

Breakthrough could help you 3D print OLED screens at home

Mars Perseverance halts rock sample storage due to debris

As CES wraps up, we’re still pulling together our favorite picks of the show. That includes finger-nibbling robots, smart beds and all kinds of TVs, laptops and gadgets. Yes, we’ve been able to see some of the products while not attending the show, but it has meant a lot of spec-sheet perusing and a fair dose of skepticism without getting a lot of the announcements in the flesh.

For things like TVs, that’s usually months later, but for tablets, phones and wearables, you can expect Engadget to be reviewing and stress-testing many of them sooner rather than later. We’re already trying out the Galaxy S21 FE.

Have a great weekend and see you back here Monday.

— Mat Smith

Nikola Motors drops its $2 billion lawsuit against Tesla

All claims and counterclaims have been dropped.

Nikola Corp. is reportedly dropping its $2 billion patent infringement lawsuit against Tesla Inc. as Nikola company founder, Trevor Milton, faces a criminal indictment on fraud charges. Both companies have agreed to withdraw all claims and counterclaims against each other. Nikola accused Tesla of copying several patented designs for a windshield, fuselage and side door. Tesla denied this and countersued.

Nikola unveiled the hydrogen-powered Nikola One semi-truck in 2016. However, it was accused by the SEC of deceiving investors, in one instance via a video that appeared to show the truck moving under power when it was simply rolling down a hill.

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Sponsored by Verizon

5G Ultra Wideband. Now in more and more places.

David Bowie's later albums have been remixed in 360 Reality Audio

They’ll be available to stream on January 21st.

Timed to coincide with what would have been David Bowie’s 75th birthday, all of his post-2000 studio albums (Heathen, Reality, The Next Day and Blackstar) and a live album (A Reality Tour) have been remixed in Sony's 360 Reality Audio for release on Amazon Music Unlimited, Deezer and Tidal on January 21st. 

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Nike sues Lululemon over its Mirror home gym product and apps

The company is accusing Lululemon of patent infringement.

Back in June 2020, Lululemon bought home fitness startup Mirror for $500 million. Now, Nike has filed a lawsuit against the company over Mirror, accusing it of patent infringement. Nike's lawsuit alleges that Mirror uses technologies that it invented.

Nike sent Lululemon a list of patents it allegedly infringed back on November 3rd. As you'd expect, the company more known for making yoga pants and other types of gym clothes disagreed with Nike's assessment. A spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal in a statement that the patents "in question are overly broad and invalid." They also said Lululemon is confident in its position and "look forward to defending it in court."

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Snap sues US Patent Office to claim a trademark for ‘Spectacles’

The agency says the term is too generic to trademark.

Snap has sued the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for rejecting an application the company had filed to trademark the word “spectacles” in relation to its wearable of the same name. The USPTO said Snap’s use of Spectacles had failed to acquire the “distinctiveness” necessary for a trademark. 

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Sleep Number’s latest smart bed will adapt to your needs as you get older

The bed may eventually alert you to potential health conditions.

Sleep Number

Sleep Number’s newest bed adapts to your changing needs. You can raise or lower it if you are pregnant, have an injury or simply need a hand getting in and out of bed as you get older. This comes on top of existing features like temperature controls and snoring detection. The company also announced some smart furniture designed to complement the bed. Features include mobility aids, individual noise reduction tech, ambient lighting and a built-in charging and storage pocket. The company will start shipping the new bed and furniture next year.

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E3 will be online-only again this year

The ESA cited concerns over COVID-19.

For the third straight year, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted E3. The event will once again be an online-only affair amid the Omicron surge.

“Due to the ongoing health risks surrounding COVID-19 and its potential impact on the safety of exhibitors and attendees, E3 will not be held in person in 2022,” the Entertainment Software Association told GamesBeat. The ESA canceled the 2020 edition of E3 shortly after the pandemic took hold in the US, and last year a virtual version of the event took place.

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The biggest news stories you might have missed

Illegal movie streaming service Popcorn Time shuts down

The first edition of the Chevy Silverado EV sold out in 12 minutes

'Prodigy' is becoming a headache for Star Trek's chronology

Apple's iPad Air is back on sale for $539

VW will reveal its production ID.Buzz microbus EV on March 9th

Apple's pink AirPods Max are just $400 at Woot for Amazon Prime members

Dual-screens, foldable OLED tablets, curved vertical screens and more. This year’s CES might be a quieter, more divisive affair, but pretty much everyone had some weird displays to show off.

Samsung’s epic 55-inch Odyssey gaming monitor is curved for a more immersive play experience. However, it can also rotate 90 degrees for more… spreadsheets and Slack channels? It can pivot and tilt via the height adjustable stand, so you can set it to the optimal angle — surprisingly important when you have a very tall, curved screen.

ASUS

Then there’s ASUS’ ZenBook 17 Fold, an OLED tablet that can disguise itself like a 12.5-inch laptop thanks to a keyboard on top of the lower half of the screen. If you want to use the entire 17-inch display, you can stand the tablet up and use the keyboard separately. The images look like heady concept products from a few years ago – ASUS demoed this form-factor as Project Precog back in 2018 — but this is a genuine device headed to stores. Hopefully, ASUS learned lessons from Lenovo and Microsoft’s attempts at foldables.

— Mat Smith

BMW's color-changing car concept tech works just like an e-reader

The wrap is embedded with millions of microcapsules.

BMW

BMW unveiled an e-ink vehicle exterior that can change color depending on weather and traffic conditions or just your mood. Alas no, this futuristic feature is nowhere near production-ready despite appearing at the show on a live demonstration vehicle. The current iteration can only swap between a pair of colors, thus the monochromatic e-readerish appearance you see here. However, the palette could eventually expand to display a rainbow of shades.

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Sponsored by Verizon

5G Ultra Wideband. Now in more and more places.

GM officially reveals its Chevrolet Silverado electric truck

The company is aiming for a 400-mile range on both editions.

GM

Finally, during its CES 2022 keynote address on Wednesday, GM officially unveiled its new 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV, GM's second fully electric model built on the Ultium battery platform.

The fully electric full-size pickup will be available in two versions when it arrives late next year: the RST First Edition and a WT model designed for fleet usage. Both will have an estimated 400-mile range.

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Razer's $150 Zephyr Pro smart mask adds voice amplification

Needs a vocoder.

Razer

Razer’s first smart face mask, the Zephyr, went on sale in October for $100 and promptly sold out. Two years since it first revealed its debut mask, the company now plans to release a Pro version of the mask in 2022. It will have all the features of the standard model, including the dual-fan active filtration system with N95 filters and RGB lighting, but add voice amplification in the mix.

It will amplify your voice by 60 decibels up to one meter away. A button on the side will allow you to toggle the feature on and off. Sadly, funny voices are not included.

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Razer made a smartwatch, too

Only 1,337 units will be available. Sigh.

In addition to new laptops, masks and concepts galore, Razer also teamed up with Fossil to launch a special edition smartwatch. The Razer x Fossil Gen 6 smartwatch at CES 2022 is basically what you might expect: a pretty standard Wear OS device with straps and faces that are unequivocally lime green and Razery.

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The biggest news stories you might have missed

Lenovo's ultrawide 17-inch laptop has an 8-inch screen next to the keyboard

Apple's 24-inch iMac M1 is cheaper than ever on Amazon right now

Watch Sony's CES 2022 press conference in under nine minutes

KeyMander Nexus Gaming KVM connects your PC to Xbox, Switch and PS4

Ring's new Glass Break sensor does exactly what you think

Watch NVIDIA's CES 2022 conference in under 10 minutes

ASUS' ZenBook 14 OLED models get a big redesign and the latest chips

Of course, the year when many media outlets and companies decide to skip on attending CES in person, Sony decides this is the year to make some news at its press conference. While we got more news on its EV plans, and next-gen TVs, Tom Holland was also drafted into the showcase to promote the forthcoming Uncharted feature film.

Then it hit us with a barrage of specs for the highly anticipated next-gen PlayStation VR headset. It will, of course, be compatible with the PS5 and the VR2 Sense controllers we’ve already seen. It will have a display resolution of 2,000 x 2,040 pixel per eye, a 110-degree field of view, and be capable of 90 to 120Hz frame rates, all while supporting 4K HDR.

The world of consumer VR has rocketed forward since the original PSVR, so Sony is playing catchup with features like inside-out tracking, which uses multiple embedded cameras to track the movements of your head and controllers. There will also be “headset feedback” which sounds like the headset will shake and vibrate like a DualShock/DualSense controller. We’re still waiting to see what it’ll look like, how much it’ll cost and when we’ll get to buy one, but the company did announce one of the first games arriving on the platform: Horizon Call of the Mountain, which will be a VR experience set in the Horizon universe.

-Mat Smith

Samsung's portable Freestyle projector focuses and levels automatically

The floodlight-style device weighs just 1.83 lbs.

Samsung

Samsung's new portable projector uses autofocus and auto-leveling features that'll help align whatever you're watching, meaning you'll have a lot of options for where to place it.

You'll be able to project content at a display size ranging from 30 to 100 inches with a 1080p resolution. It has a 180-degree cradle stand, so you can point it toward a ceiling and watch things while you're lying down. Alternatively, using a base accessory, the Freestyle can even connect to a standard E26 light bulb socket.

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TP-Link’s new WiFi 6E router has motorized antennas that follow your devices

Less excuses for poor connections.

TP-Link

How do you make a router cute?

Look at it wiggle!

ASUS' ROG Flow Z13 is a gaming tablet with NVIDIA's RTX 3050 Ti

Think of it like a Super Surface.

The ROG Flow Z13 packs in Intel's new 12th-gen processors and up to NVIDIA's RTX 3050 Ti all in a sleek slate. Weighing in at 2.43 pounds, it's clearly not meant to replace smaller tablets like the iPad. Instead, ASUS sees it as a way to bring your PC games everywhere — say a cramped airplane tray table — without the bulk of a laptop. It can even connect to external GPUs.

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​​The RTX 3090 Ti is NVIDIA’s new-new flagship GPU

There’s also an “RTX 3050” at the low end.

NVIDIA just teased a new flagship GPU: the RTX 3090 Ti. More details will arrive soon, but the company did reveal a few specs to keep high-end GPU fans intrigued. The RTX 3090 Ti will become NVIDIA’s ultra high-end GPU, outside of its creator line, supplanting the RTX 3090.

Like the 3090, the 3090 Ti will have 24GB of GDDR6X memory, but running at 21Gbit/s, as opposed to the 19.5Gbit/s of the 3090’s memory. NVIDIA also says the GPU is capable of calculating 40 shader teraflops, 78 RT teraflops and 320 tensor (AI) teraflops. More vital statistics – but no price – after the fold.

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Dell's XPS 13 Plus is a beautiful ultraportable with no headphone jack

What good is a sleek design if we can't plug in our headphones?

The company's flagship ultraportable that sparked the slim bezel trend and has remained one of our favorite notebooks for years is evolving. The XPS 13 Plus, a more powerful and ambitiously designed notebook with a lattice-less keyboard (read: no space between the keys) and a glass haptic touchpad. It also, gasp, lacks a headphone jack.

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Sony reveals its follow-up Vision-S 02 EV prototype

It’s an SUV.

Sony

Sony has unveiled a follow-up to the electric car it revealed at the same event two years ago. The new prototype is an SUV called the Vision-S 02, which features a large interior that can seat seven.

The electric SUV has sensors all over its body, including CMOS image and LiDAR sensors for its driver assistance system. Sony says it's already conducting tests in Europe as part of its efforts to release Level 2+ driver assistance technology on public roads. Inside, there are ime-of-flight sensors for driver authentication, as well as support for intuitive gesture and voice commands. Sony now has ambitions to become a player in the electric vehicle industry and sell its cars to the public. It will establish an operating company named "Sony Mobility Inc." this spring and will explore entry into the EV market.

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The biggest news stories you might have missed

​​Sony's 2022 Quantum Dot OLED TVs can tweak quality settings using a camera

HyperX boasts 300 hours of battery life for its latest gaming headset

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has successfully deployed its 70-foot sunshield

Watch LG's CES 2022 event in under five minutes

Eargo's latest smart hearing aid adapts to your environment

Let's watch two minutes of the upcoming 'Uncharted' movie

John Deere says its self-driving tractor is ready for production

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!

After a months-long trial, and a jury that was eventually deadlocked on several of 11 total charges, Elizabeth Homes, the former CEO and founder of Theranos, has been found guilty on four charges.

Holmes, who testified during the trial, said she hadn’t intended to mislead the public or investors, and had been advised to protect the company’s “trade secrets.” The founder, who will likely appeal the charges, could face up to 20 years in prison, though it's not yet clear when she will be sentenced.

The tale of Elizabeth Holmes captured the fascination of many Silicon Valley watchers, leading to a best-selling book, several podcast series and an HBO documentary. That was just the start: Hulu is preparing a miniseries about the saga, with Amanda Seyfried starring as Holmes, set to arrive in March, while Apple recently nabbed the Jennifer Lawrence-led film adaptation of Bad Blood, a book on the Theranos saga.

-Mat Smith

This is the OnePlus 10 Pro

Followed swiftly by Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE, and the…

OnePlus

The smartphone train never stops. By the end of January 3rd, we had two new phones on the block. OnePlus is eking out the launch of its new flagship, happening during CES despite no in-person presence there. For now, we know it’ll come in two colors, have three cameras, and look a little sleeker than its predecessors. But expect to hear more very soon.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s “Fan Edition” of the S21 finally broke cover. It’s $100 cheaper, has a larger battery (and screen), than the OG S21, making for a rather intriguing device, ahead of our full verdict.

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Targus’ new backpack has a built-in Find My tracker

The company also unveiled a docking station with a fingerprint reader

Targus

Targus’ Cypress Hero Backpack has a built-in location tracker that could help its rightful owner find it through the Find My network if it goes missing. Conversely, if you misplace your iPhone, you can press a button on the backpack to ping your phone, as long as you've set things up in the dedicated app. For better or worse, it looks like a totally Targus backpack, and will cost $150.

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L’Oréal reveals its first at-home hair color gadget

The company says Colorsonic mixes the product via a mess-free process.

L'Oreal

L’Oréal is showing off its first hair color device at CES, promising the ability to mix and apply coloring products evenly, according to the company. If it works as promised, Colorsonic should help users get consistent hair color results without having to go to the salon.

L’Oréal? At CES? Yep, the company has been pushing the boundaries of cosmetics and tech for a few years now, including a smart skincare dispenser and even lipsticks you could make at home.

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LG's C2 OLED TV line will include brighter 'evo' panels

The company is adding more sizes to its OLED family, too.

Much like last year, the company is touting improved brightness as one of the main reasons to buy its 2022 sets. That's because this year LG's more affordable C2 lineup will also include the "evo" panel technology the company debuted in 2021. Additionally, LG claims its new Alpha 9 Gen 5 AI processors will help further increase luminance through smarter algorithms.

LG has yet to share pricing, but what we do know is that the new G2 series will consist of 55-, 65- 75-inch models, as well as two new 83- and 97-inch sets. The more affordable C2 series will consist of six models total, including a new smaller 42-inch size LG says is a great fit for console and PC gaming.

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Kohler's fog-emitting smart 'Stillness Bath' is yours for $8,000

There’s a hands-free faucet and home energy storage system in the works, too.

Kohler

Kohler has revealed its Stillness Bath, which it unveiled at CES last year, will finally launch later this year in Q3. The bath takes inspiration from Japanese forest bathing, and aims to replicate a spa experience with the help of light, fog and aromas. Spooky. Even scarier? The Soak Freestanding Bath model will cost around $8,000.

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The biggest news stories you might have missed

Netgear expands WiFi 6E router lineup with two new options for 2022

Withings' Body Scan scale can measure the composition of different parts of your body

Acer's new Chromebook Spin 513 channels the Pixelbook's tall screen

Apple's rumored new monitor could be a lot more affordable than the Pro Display XDR

Mercedes-Benz boasts 620-mile range for its latest EV concept

Y-Brush shows off a concept for its second-generation, uh, Y-shaped toothbrush

Engadget Deals: Apple's AirTag is the cheapest it's ever been at Amazon

First out of the gates in 2022, OnePlus has a new flagship for anyone already looking for a smartphone refresh. The company is holding back from revealing absolutely everything (well, most things), but that hasn't stopped leaks and rumors of a 6.7-inch display with high refresh rates, and the very latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. 

We're intrigued to hear more about the camera array, which will combine three camera sensors. Also, written on the fourth element of the camera unit, what does P2D 50T mean? 

The big challenge could be balancing price, specs and features so that it offers enough go up against the high-end phones of Apple and Samsung. At the same time, it has to offer tangibly more than its cheaper Nord phone series.

The OnePlus 10 Pro will launch first in China on Tuesday January 11th. With that timescale in mind, expect to hear all the other details very soon.

OnePlus

Follow all of the latest news from CES 2022 right here!

Welcome to the new year. How are those resolutions coming along? (Don't worry, we can help.)

Contrary to my expectations, CES 2022 is still happening. However, the organizers have announced that the tech show will be cut short by a day, as COVID-19 cases continue to surge. It’s also kind of started early, with some big announcements from Samsung already, including putting NFTs into its TVs, and an upgraded eco TV remote that sips on your WiFi waves for energy.

Expect a week of hardware announcements, even if chances to play with and assess these new devices are a little limited without attendance in person.

-Mat Smith

Alienware's Concept Nyx is like a Plex server for your PC games

But will it appeal to anyone beyond PC gaming fanatics?

Alienware’s newest concept can be boiled down to a gaming server that runs on your home network. You could conceivably run two games at once on your television, as Engadget saw during a recent demo in NYC. Since all of the rendering and network processing is happening in your home, Nyx would also be a lower latency experience than traditional cloud gaming.

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This is a shiatsu hand massager for gamers

A hand warmer setting may help you get good.

Bauhutte

To help soothe their weary mitts, Japanese company Bauhutte has created a hand massager for gamers. The device works on either hand and has a 15-layer airbag for each finger and a shiatsu plate for the palm. There are two main options: a Shiatsu mode for the entire hand, and one that focuses on stretching fingers.

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The next AirPods Pro might support lossless audio

You might have an easier time finding your case, too.

Now that the third-generation AirPods offer some of the same features as the AirPods Pro, how will Apple’s higher-end wireless earbuds stand out? Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims Apple is launching its second-generation Pro earbuds in the fall with support for Apple Lossless (ALAC) audio. Kuo expects the updated headphones will offer a "new form factor design" and that the new buds will supposedly include a charging case that can make sounds, much like AirTags, to help find it behind your couch cushions.

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Samsung’s latest remote turns router radio waves into energy

The 2022 Eco Remote has a white option to match Samsung's lifestyle TVs.

Samsung

Samsung has revamped the solar-charging remote it debuted at last year’s CES. Along with using light to top up the battery, Samsung says the latest Eco Remote can convert routers' radio waves into energy to stay fully charged. There's still a solar panel on the rear of the remote, which is also made with recycled materials. 

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Twitter bans Marjorie Taylor Greene's personal account

Due to repeatedly spreading COVID-19 misinformation.

Twitter has banned Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's personal account after a fifth "strike" for spreading COVID-19 misinformation. A fifth strike means it’s a permanent ban.

In the past year, she claimed in July that COVID-19 wasn't dangerous unless you were over 65 or obese, and in August said vaccines were "failing" against the new coronavirus' Delta variant. Both statements were untrue. The posts respectively led to 12-hour and one-week suspensions. Her official account is still active as of this writing because it hasn't run afoul of Twitter's rules. Beyond that, she may have to wait around for TRUTH Social to finally launch.

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The biggest news stories you might have missed

The tech industry's accessibility report card for 2021

Netflix will be required to stream 20 state TV channels in Russia

Samsung's 2022 QLED TVs include the first 144Hz 4K and 8K sets

Tech that can help you stick to your New Year's resolutions

And the biggest losers in tech in 2021 are..

Samsung is putting NFTs in its smart TVs

Square Enix is investing in decentralized blockchain games

Happy almost new year! We’re wrapping up 2021 with some of the big winners of the last twelve months, whether that was NFTs (ugh), the metaverse (double ugh), Apple’s change of direction on device repair or the boom in home workout tech.

We also mention Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 3, which makes the most compelling case for foldables so far. Samsung has noticed the same. It said the Flip 3 motivated more people to switch than its flagships, leading to four times more foldable devices sold in 2021 compared to 2020. The argument for buying your first folding smartphone strengthens year by year.

-Mat Smith

BlackBerry OS devices are pretty much dead after January 4th

Data, phone calls, and texting will no longer work.

BlackBerry has announced that from January 4th, devices running BlackBerry OS 7.1 or earlier, as well as OS 10, will lose key services. And by key, we mean it. It’ll include losing the ability to make phone calls, texting, data and even emergency 911 access. You can also expect to have issues with WiFi and apps like BlackBerry World and Desktop manager.

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Yukai Engineering's cute stuffed animal robot will nibble on your finger

The face of robotics I want to see

Yukai Engineering

Yukai Engineering, the maker of the Qoobo robotic cat tail pillow, has revealed a soft robot that nibbles on a user’s fingertip. Amagami Ham Ham has an algorithm called a “Hamgorithm” that selects one of two dozen nibbling patterns, designed to replicate the feeling of a baby or pet nibbling on one’s finger. Pricing hasn't been determined, but there are plans to run a crowdfunding campaign in the spring.

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Sega left one of its European servers wide open

A malicious attacker could have accessed 250,000 users' personal data.

According to a report by security firm VPN Overview, a major breach in one of Sega's servers appears to have been closed. The misconfigured Amazon Web Services S3 bucket contained sensitive information which allowed researchers to arbitrarily upload files to a huge swath of Sega-owned domains, as well credentials to abuse a 250,000-user email list.

The domains impacted included the official landing pages for major franchises, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Bayonetta and Total War, as well as the Sega.com site itself.

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The best apps to download on your new smartphone

A few apps we think every iPhone or Android user should try.

Did you just pick up a new phone? Did you stick with iOS and Android or make the transition to the rival? Are you in need of some new productivity apps or time killers? We’ve got you covered.

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Samsung says the Galaxy Flip 3 motivated more people to switch than its flagships

The company sold four times more foldable devices in 2021.

Samsung says it shipped four times more foldables in 2021 than it did in 2020. Further, it took only one month after they were released for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 to exceed the total accumulative sales of their predecessors last year. The company also said that it saw a "massive increase" in consumers who jumped brands specifically for its foldable phones — in fact, more people switched to Samsung for the Flip 3 than for its flagship Galaxy S devices.

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The 'Tomb Raider' reboot trilogy is free on the Epic Games Store

You can't beat that price.

Free game promos are easy to find, but Epic is going one step further by offering an entire game trilogy for no charge. The Epic Games Store is offering all three Tomb Raider reboot titles (Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider) for free between now and January 6th at 11AM.

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The biggest news stories you might have missed

JLab's latest $20 earbuds are designed to complement your skin tone

Tesla recalls nearly half a million cars over camera and trunk defects

New York City orders 184 Mustang Mach-E cars for police and government use

Apple's 2021 iPad is back to $299 at Amazon

Unfinished 'Halo Infinite' cutscene hints at a future storyline

Tumblr blocks tags for 'sensitive content' in order to stay on the App Store

Telegram adds iMessage-style reactions and hidden text for spoilers

While I didn’t get it in time for our best buys of 2021, I am now the proud owner of an LG C1 OLED TV. It is beautiful, does 4K, HDR, variable refresh rates and more. Everything looks amazing on it.

As I bought it, I thought about how I’ve never been at the vanguard of TV tech, and how it would only last a couple of weeks until LG ruins it all with even newer TV models.

And like clockwork, here it comes. LG Display’s next generation of OLED tech, called "OLED EX," that's supposed to "enhance brightness up to 30 percent compared to conventional OLED displays," The company also upgraded the TV’s designs too, reducing the thickness by 30 percent and bezel size from 6 to 4mm on 65-inch OLED displays.

In defense of my new 55-inch OLED, this is LG Display, not LG, the part of the multinational company that brings this new TV tech to stores, so that doesn’t mean it’s landing in a new TV immediately. It’s just, sigh, already on the horizon.

-Mat Smith

‘Fortnite’ went briefly offline yesterday

It’s back now.

If you had tried to play Fortnite yesterday, you may have had issues. Many players were unable to log in to their accounts and play games. At 1:13PM ET, Epic Games said it was investigating "an issue," and roughly six hours later, the battle royale hit was back online.

Epic Games said that it would have “more details next week on what we’re doing to help you make up for lost time."

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China says its space station dodged Starlink satellites twice this year

SpaceX's constellation might pose a safety risk.

Getty Images

China has filed a complaint with the United Nations over two reported near-collisions between the in-progress Tiangong space station and Starlink vehicles. According to Chinese officials, the station had to perform evasive maneuvers on July 1st and October 21st this year to minimize the chance of a collision. In its complaint, the country asked the UN Secretary-General to remind countries (read: the US) that parties in the Outer Space Treaty are responsible for incidents beyond Earth, even if they involve private companies.

The accusations line up with astronomer Jonathan McDowell's conjunction observations for both days. China further argued that SpaceX's satellites weren't always predictable. During the October incident, the Starlink craft was "continuously" maneuvering in a way that made it difficult to predict the orbital path.

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Rivian’s R1T electric truck brings adventure to the EV crowd

Not just an impressive EV, but an impressive truck.

Announcing a vehicle is one thing, actually following through and building that vehicle at a factory and then selling it, that’s an almost impossible feat for a new company. But like Tesla before it, Rivian has pulled it off and in doing so has built one of the best trucks on the road today, EV or otherwise. Roberto Baldwin gives it a test drive.

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Jabra's Elite 4 Active earbuds add ANC and better sweat resistance

They're only available in some countries right now.

Jabra only just launched its Elite 3 wireless earbuds, but here’s their sequel. The Elite 4 Active is a step-up model that adds active noise cancellation and improved IP57 water resistance (up from IP55).

Expect to get a claimed seven hours of battery life from the buds themselves and 28 hours when you include the charging case. The Elite 4 Active is available now in the UK for £120 (about $161), but they haven't been announced for the US just yet.

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Roku expands its TV Ready program

More audio devices will be able to automatically pair with Roku TVs.

Roku TVs will be able to pair quickly with even more audio products in the future. The company has expanded its TV Ready Certification Program, adding Element, JVC, Pheanoo and Philips this year, with Polk Audio and Westinghouse joining the list in 2022. Roku also opened the program internationally, and partners like Bose are expected to launch TV Ready devices in the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico soon.

The TV Ready initiative makes it easy to connect soundbars and speakers to Roku TVs — so long as the audio device supports the feature, it will automatically be detected as soon as you plug it in.

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