CES, the world's biggest technology exhibition, is in full swing and, once again, it has failed to disappoint.
The Las Vegas showpiece has a number of big companies and up-and-coming ones showcasing their latest products aimed at shaping the future.
The event, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, has become a platform for major announcements, innovations and, at times, the unveiling of some of the tech industry's weird and wonderful stuff.
We take a look at some of the highlights so far from CES 2024, and we are sure there is something that will pique your interest.
LG's transparent TV
South Korea's LG Electronics, one of the world's biggest appliance manufacturers, unveiled what it called the world's first transparent OLED television, the LG Signature OLED T.
How does it work? The TV's Zero Connect Box wirelessly transmits 4K images and sound to the OLED T. The TV also doubles as a piece of furniture that blends in with its environment thanks to its transparency, or as some sort of digital aquarium.
This isn't the first time LG has introduced a unique TV. In 2021, it rolled out – pun definitely intended – the Signature OLED R, which has a rollable display and is priced at a whopping $100,000. LG has yet to announce the Signature OLED T's availability and price – which we're quite sure is also “up” there.
Samsung brings back Ballie
Samsung is further leaning into the artificial intelligence game with a revamped version of its Ballie robot. The rolling machine, which resembles a tennis ball and was first introduced at CES 2020, can now act as a projector while following you around.
Aside from communicating with it and issuing commands, Ballie can interact with other smart home devices and, apparently, check on your pet and even “feed” it.
On the hardware side, Samsung announced new visual display products and digital appliances, the Galaxy Book4 laptop and the new Spatial AI service to boost interaction between users and its devices – all underpinned by, you guessed it, AI.
Samsung, the world's biggest mobile phone manufacturer, is scheduled to introduce its next flagship smartphone line-up on January 17 in San Francisco, expected to be the Galaxy S24 series, with more AI on the tab.
In addition, the Seoul-based company gave a sneak peek of new concept displays that are bigger, rollable and more foldable, describing the last one as In&Out Flip, because it “can be folded inward and outward”.
Samsung is expected to unveil these new-generation displays on Tuesday at CES.
Sony to give 'birth certificates' to images
Japan's Sony capped off the first day of CES by committing to fight off misinformation – by giving “birth certificates” to images shot on their cameras.
The Tokyo-based company said it has developed in-camera digital technology that would verify the authenticity of an image, which very much resembles the concept of non-fungible tokens.
The initiative, in collaboration with the Associated Press and “other industry leaders to create a digital birth certificate for images shot on our cameras, … will validate the origin of their content and help safeguard facts and combat misinformation”, Neal Manowitz, president and chief operating officer of Sony Electronics, said at CES.
Other highlights of Sony's presentation include boosting the creator community by introducing new services, from creating digital scenes ahead of principal photography to supporting the growth of virtual production, and a new fan engagement experience in collaboration with English football team Manchester City.
The company is also taking aim at Meta Platforms and Apple in the high-tech headset game with the introduction of a new mixed-reality headset in co-operation with Germany's Siemens.
The device, expected to be available later this year, allows for spatial content creation and can be controlled with ring and stylus-like accessories – which have not been developed by even the Facebook parent company or iPhone maker.
And, just for fun, Sony drove the latest version of the Afeela electric car, made by the Sony Honda Mobility joint venture, on stage – using a PlayStation controller.
Volkswagen and ChatGPT ride together
Volkswagen, Europe's biggest car maker, has joined the generative AI race by integrating a ChatGPT-powered bot into a number of its vehicles.
The chatbot will be integrated into its IDA digital assistant, and “offers a multitude of new capabilities that go far beyond the previous voice control”, the Wolfsburg-based company said.
That includes controlling the infotainment system, navigation and air conditioning, or answering general knowledge questions.
“In the future, AI will provide additional information in response to questions that go beyond this as part of its continuously expanding capabilities,” it added.
However, as noted by TechCrunch, the chatbot “could still be tricked in some cases”. It will initially be introduced in Europe, with a US launch “being considered”.
The chatbot will be available on the ID.703, ID.4, ID.5 and ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 and ID.703 electric car models, and the new versions of the Golf04, Passat and Tiguan.
Kia's modular vehicles let you swap parts
Need more space in your vehicle? Kia will let you do just that but instead of swapping the actual vehicle, you can instead swap out its parts.
The Korean car maker announced new modular vehicles that let users customise them according to their needs.
This is part of Kia's Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) future mobility strategy, which includes five modular vehicles that are set to enter mass production in 2025.
“Behind a fixed cab, or ‘driver zone’, a variety of interchangeable upper bodies, or ‘life modules’, can be connected to the base vehicle via a hybrid electromagnetic and mechanical coupling technology, turning the PBV into a taxi during the day, a delivery van at night and a personal recreational vehicle on weekends,” it said.
Android in 'pairs'
Google announced a number of new updates for its Android mobile operating system, centred on seamless connection between devices.
The Alphabet-owned company introduced Quick Share, which, as its name implies, will allow users to connect and share to other Android and Chromebook devices – drawing parallels to Apple's AirDrop.
Quick Share is actually a Samsung concept. However, the two companies collaborated to merge it into a “singular cross-Android solution”.
Google also said Android Auto would be integrated into more cars, particularly electric vehicles, in the coming months, with Ford's Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning going first.
It also introduced Fast Pair, which allows you to connect Bluetooth devices such as headphones to Android devices much quicker, as well as updates to casting, including directly sending TikTok content to Chromecast.
Casting on Amazon
Speaking of casting, Amazon announced Matter Casting, which lets users cast content to its Fire TV and Echo Show 15 devices directly from supported streaming apps on Android and Apple's iOS.
The world's biggest e-commerce company said it has been “a long-time supporter of using open technology standards to give customers more choice over the devices and services they use in their homes”.
Aside from that, Amazon said that its Alexa digital voice assistant would be getting new generative AI-powered tools from developers.
Meanwhile, Amazon's mobility unit Zoox showed off the latest generation of its purpose-built vehicle.
The California-based company, which Amazon acquired in 2020 for a reported $1.2 billion, also gave CES attendees an exclusive opportunity to join its wait-list and be among the first to sign up for its self-driving, ride-hailing service.
Wow, what a gesture
Apple made watch gestures popular, letting you control your digital timepiece with your fingers and wrist. Now, there is a new challenger on the block.
Doublepoint Technologies, a touch interface company based in Helsinki, unveiled its Wow Mouse app, which allows users to perform gestures to control Android-powered smartwatches.
You can perform gestures such as double-tapping, pinching and holding – as you would do with a mouse, trackpad or on your device's screen – to perform the actions you wish.
The app is now available on Google Play and can control almost anything with Bluetooth, from smartphones to computers and headsets to smart lights.
TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Directed by: Michael Fimognari
Starring: Lana Condor and Noah Centineo
Two stars
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
Rashid & Rajab
Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib
Stars: Shadi Alfons, Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab
Two stars out of five
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Overall head-to-head
Federer 6-1 Cilic
Head-to-head at Wimbledon
Federer 1-0 Cilic
Grand Slams titles
Federer 18-1 Cilic
Best Wimbledon performance
Federer: Winner (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012)
Cilic: Final (2017*)
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
Correspondents
By Tim Murphy
(Grove Press)
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
Breast cancer in men: the facts
1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.
3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.
4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.
5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
1971: The Year The Music Changed Everything
Director: Asif Kapadia
4/5
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
Roger Federer - back
Stan Wawrinka - knee
Kei Nishikori - wrist
Marin Cilic - adductor
