Tech Talk by LA NPDT – SPECIAL: CES 2020, Samsung’s New REALLY thin TV, Suunto’s Smartwatch, Smart Beds

Guess what’s happened this (past) week? Is it the biggest, most important, tech show of the year? Stick with us on the latest version of LA NPDT Tech Talk where we bring you the latest in science and technology and keep you tuned in the newest gadgets and product innovations across the globe.

CES was the big topic this last week. Held in Las Vegas, it is the gathering place for all people who thrive on consumer technology. For 50 years, it has served as a showcase for new technologies, and innovators have continued to bring next-gen technologies to the market.

Just how important is CES?

Well, to start with, there are over 170,000 industry leaders, experts, innovators, and entrepreneurs that attend this show each year. Some of the greatest inventions of our time have been introduced at this show, including the VCR, CD Player, HDTV, Satellite Radio, Microsoft Xbox, Tablets, 3D Printers, and Virtual Reality.

So, what did CES have in store for us this year?

Here are some of the things that popped up at the show this year.

Fingerprint Keyless Entry

Kwikset now has a fingerprint reader for your door. If you’re tired of remembering codes or changing them frequently, this may be perfect for you. Called the Halo Touch, the lock uses a fingerprint sensor on the deadbolt component of your door lock. It also has a Wi-Fi connected device with Bluetooth, so you can still unlock, or lock, your door with your phone.

Suunto’s Smartwatch

Called the 7, it is the first Suunto to run on Google’s Wear OS. The smartwatch has features for both fitness tracking and daily use. Some of its key features are activity logging of over 70 sports and activities, music storage for offline use, compass readings while offline, heart rate monitor, and re durable construction. It’s water-resistant and has a Gorilla Glass over the touchscreen display. The 7’s battery will last about 12 hours in GPS mode, or 2 days in regular mode. The 7 goes on sale at the end of the month.

Samsung’s Really, Really Thin TV

The Q950 QLED has speakers inside, and rear subwoofers, yet is only 15 mm thick. The image quality is exceptional. The TV has software for voice commands and can adjust the sound automatically to outside noises, like your vacuum. The TV does not have a release date yet, but will be available in 65, 75, and 85-inch models.

SmartBeds

That’s right. Sleep Number revealed the Climate360. With two separate zones, this bed is designed to warm or cool the bed, depending on your body temperature as you sleep. It has the same key features of other Sleep Number beds including technology to measure your breathing and heart rate. It can track your movement and circadian rhythms, and it can provide you with recommendations on how to sleep better. The bed will be widely available in 2021.

Foldable Laptops

Foldable gadgets do not seem to be going away in 2020. The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold is the first foldable laptop. It has a foldable screen, a digital keyboard, and Bluetooth keyboard. As with all foldable gadgets, there is still some skepticism as to how well it will work, but Lenovo has been testing this laptop for a few months now with good results. The laptop goes on sale mid-2020 for $2500.

And the last little gadget we’ll mention is the adorable little two-wheel robot that will fetch your toilet paper for you. Charmin’s Rollbot is designed to carry a roll of toilet paper. By simply pressing a button on your phone, which is probably in the restroom with you anyway, restroom nightmares have become a thing of the past.

2020 is already proving to be an interesting year in the gadget world. Stick with us as we move through 2020, and we’ll keep you updated on the newest technologies.

Thank you for listening to Tech Talk.