Tomorrow’s world
The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas each year showcases some of the most forwardlooking technologies bound for global markets. This year was no different and included rotating TVs, 5G laptops and 8k-capable drones. Here’s a closer look at some of the most innovative products on display at CES 2020 Hydraloop
Dutch water recycling company Hydraloop won the Best of Innovation in Sustainability, Eco-Design and Smart Energy at CES 2020 with this device. It recycles water from the shower, bath and washing machines, treating up to 95 per cent of your shower water and 50 per cent of the washing machine water.
The low-maintenance self-cleaning unit doesn’t use membranes that need replacing and instead relies on processes like sedimentation, floatation, UV disinfection and an aerobic bioreactor to clean the water which can then be reused in toilets, washing machines, gardens or even swimming pools. A gadget with a conscience.
Canon 1DX Mark III
You’re looking at the world’s most powerful DSLR. This camera boasts a 20.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and is capable of shooting 16 frames per second burst shots using the optical viewfinder, or 20 frames per second burst photos with a live view. Those speeds are supported by a DigicX and Digic 8 image processors that lend it a 3.1x image processing capability compared to its predecessor. It also has an impressive video recording capability and can capture 5.5K RAW and 4k video at 60 frames per second. The DSLR is king when it comes to sports photography – and Canon has cleverly released this camera in time for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Lenovo Yoga 5G
This could be a breakthrough year for 5G, with countries around the world pledging to accelerate their 5G rollout over the next 12 months. The technology allows for 10-100 times faster speeds compared to typical cellular networks. While cars, drones, and cellphones, among other gadgets, have already been designed as 5G-capable devices, the laptop market didn’t keep pace – until now. The Lenovo Yoga 5G swaps an Intel processor for a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx processor and a Qualcomm X55 5g modem, allowing it to support millimetrewave, sub-6GHz 5G networks and LTE too. It also has a NANO sim that supports 5G and will also be compatible with eSIMs.
Sony Vision S
It’s an unveiling that no one could have predicted. When Japanese electronics giant Sony showed up at CES, they did so with the new Vision S concept car. Admittedly, it isn’t Sony signalling that it is entering into the car manufacturing business as it did not indicate that it had any plans to make this car commercially available.
Instead, the car served as a staging ground for Sony to showcase its state-of-the-art technology that it has already developed within its electronics business that can be implemented within the wider auto industry. The Vision S prototype showcased 33 sensors which can serve many functions. For example, it can potentially detect passengers within a vehicle and allow them to control the infotainment system using gestures (the dashboard of the Vision S featured an ultra-wide panoramic infotainment screen). The sensors when teamed up with Sony’s image sensing technology can also scan the road ahead and possibly aid in assisted-driving technology.
Autel Evo II
Autel Robotics brought to CES its new Evo series II range of drones including the Evo II, Evo II Pro and Evo II Dual. The Evo II can take 48-megapixel photographs and shoot 8k video – making it the world’s first foldable drone capable of shooting 8k video. The 7,1000mAh battery allows for an approximate flight time of 40 minutes, around 25 per cent more than several of its peers. The Evo II Pro meanwhile captures 6k footage, but it also boasts a one-inch Sony IMX383 sensor with an adjustable aperture allowing for better quality images even though they are captured at 20 megapixels. The Evo II Dual, on the other hand, has an 8k camera and a thermal camera. All three drones have a range of 9km, 8GB of internal storage, 12 optical sensors and two sonar sensors to avoid obstacles and a controller with a built-in screen. Switch to Autel’s ‘Ludicrous Mode’ and the drone can hit a top speed of 72kph – ludicrous, indeed.
Dell Alienware Concept UFO
You’re not alone if you think that this portable gaming console concept that features detachable controllers resembles the Nintendo Switch. But the differences are stark. While the Nintendo features a 6.2-inch display with a 1280x720 resolution, the Concept UFO has a larger 8-inch screen with a 1900x1200 resolution. The Concept UFO as a Windows 10 PC is also a far more versatile device compared to Nintendo, and can be used for purposes beyond gaming including browsing the web, streaming videos and using Microsoft Office. Part play, part work.
Samsung – The Sero
While TV manufacturers have long battled over ultra-high definition screens, Samsung is shifting the goalpost with this TV that is designed as a device designed to appeal specifically to millennials and their insatiable appetite to stay connected to social media. Instagram stories, Snapchat and TikTok posts are a few examples of where content is captured in portrait mode.
This 4k 43-inch TV can automatically rotate from landscape mode into portrait mode when it begins to stream a video from your smartphone that is shot in that mode. Perhaps a giant extension of your smartphone itself?