LAS VEGAS – Elliptic Labs has developed software that uses a smartphone’s speakers and microphones to do motion sensing – and a lot more – without adding any hardware to the phone. I happened to meet CEO Laila Danielsen on a bus where she showed us just one demo application of their tech.
The Mac Observer's CES 2020 coverage sponsored by:
CES – OWC Mercury Elite Pro Thunderbolt 3 Dock adds RAID, Ports, and Power
OWC Founder and CEO, Larry O’Connor, takes us through the details of their Mercury Elite Pro Dock. This is a Thunderbolt 3 Dock and Dual-Drive RAID all-in-one. RAID 0 or 1 is done in hardware, or you can configure it as a JBOD and manage it yourself. With seven ports, including Ethernet, two USB 3.1 Gen 1, DisplayPort 1.2, SD Card, and Gigabit Ethernet, this US$299.99 device might be exactly what you need to complete your setup.
14 Years Ago Steve Jobs Introduced the First MacBook Pro
14 years ago today Steve Jobs unveiled the first MacBook Pro at Macworld 2006. Most of the keynote is focused on other products, like Aperture, iLife, iMove, iWeb, iWork, and more. The MacBook Pro’s introduction came as a “one last thing” announcement. In this segment, he discusses the performance per watt of various Apple microprocessors like the PowerPC G4 and PowerPC G5. But Intel’s Core Duo processor was better at energy efficiency, and that’s what the MacBook Pro used.
New App ‘Rainway’ Brings Cloud Gaming to iOS
A new app called Rainway lets you play PC games on iOS devices. It supports controllers like the PlayStation DualShock, Xbox One Controller, MFI controllers, and robust touch controls. To get started you’ll need an iPhone or iPad running iOS 8 or higher, and a Windows 10 PC running Rainway. For the best performance use a physical Ethernet connection on a 5GHz router.
Our mission is to enable PC gamers around the world to have the gaming experience they desire on any screen. Rainway for iOS is the first of many new products and features we have planned in the pursuit of our mission.
App Store: Free
CES 2020: Turn Your iPad Into a Drawing Board With Sketchboard Pro
With the arrival of the Apple Pencil, more and more artists and designers are using their iPad to draw. Braintreehouse, a studio of artists who have worked on shows such as Adventure Time and The Simpsons, created Sketchboard Pro. The stand fits your iPad perfectly and has a slot for the Pencil. It essentially turns your iPad into a classic drawing board. The product launched on Kickstarter and hit its target. The makers brought it to CES this last week. Sketchboard Pro is expected to ship in March 2020. You can pre-order one now at Indigogo for $50.
CES – Brydge Pro+ Adds a Trackpad and Keyboard to iPad Pro
LAS VEGAS – At CES this week, Brydge was showing off their new Brydge Pro+ Keyboard with Trackpad for iPad Pro. Leveraging iPadOS’s AssistiveTouch to add a cursor-like dot to the screen, using the trackpad feels smooth and natural throughout. Available for pre-order now, Brydge Pro+ is $229.99 for the 12.9” iPad Pro, and $199.99 for the 11” model.
CES – LifeProof FLiP iPhone Case Tucks the Wallet Inside
LAS VEGAS – LifeProof’s FLiP wallet case puts your cards and cash inside so that, when closed, the back of the iPhone remains flush. The FLiP case can even open up and act as a stand and, when open, Qi charging is possible, too. Available now from LifeProof for US$60.99.
Using Apple Pay Express Transit on The London Underground
CES – Chamberlain/LiftMaster Adds Camera to HomeKit-compatible Garage Door Openers
LAS VEGAS – At Pepcom at CES on Monday LiftMaster (and, their home brand, Chamberlain) were showing off their latest garage door opener that now incorporate a camera so you can remotely see what’s going on in your garage. These units also contain Wi-Fi and MyQ, meaning they’re HomeKit-compatible out of the box. Available now for $299 for the Chamberlain B4545 base unit, and $399 for Chamberlain B6765, which includes a battery backup and LED lighting.
CES – Speck's Presidio2 Cases Use Air Capsules to Suspend and Protect your iPhone
LAS VEGAS – At Pepcom here at CES on Monday, Speck was showing off their latest Presidio2 line of cases that use Presidio2 Armor Cloud technology. Like an air bag for your iPhone, Presidio2 incorporates air capsules around edge to resist damage upon impact, cushioning your iPhone when it falls and keeping things safe. Expect to see these available in the spring.
CES – Aukey's Omnia 100W PD Charger is 66% Smaller Than Apple's
LAS VEGAS – Aukey, a leader in charging products, was showing off their Omnia line of chargers at Pepcom Digital Experience on Monday. These are all built with Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology allowing them to be cooler and smaller than those made with silicon. The highlight of the line is their 100W USB-C PD charger that’s a full 66% smaller than Apple’s comparable model. These are all due out in Q2 of this year.
CES 2020: Delta and Sarcos Demonstrate Full Body Exoskeleton
Delta Airlines and Sarcos demonstrated a full-body exoskeleton at CES. The Guardian XO Full-Body, Force-Multiplying Industrial Exoskeleton Robot is designed to help staff carrying heavy payloads. The exoskeleton bears the weight so the worker doesn’t have to. Consequently, the firms say it may enable someone to repeatedly lift up to 200 pounds for up eight hours at a time without strain or fatigue. They said that this could also help broaden roles to a more diverse group of people.
CES 2020: Plugable Launch New Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C dual DisplayPort dock
Plugable unveiled at new Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C dual DisplayPort dock at CES on Tuesday. It offers 100W of host charging too. It means you can easily add two additional 4k displays to your Mac without any further external adaptors. It also has an integrated 1Gbps network adapter that supports connection to wired gigabit Ethernet networks. It is fully compatible with late 2016/Mid 2017/2018/2019 MacBook Pros, 2018 MacBook Air, 2018 Mac Mini, and mid 2017/2018/2019 iMacs. Plugable currently lists the device as “coming soon.”
CES – SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe With Both USB-C and USB-A ports
LAS VEGAS – As USB speeds and capabilities increase, so expands the concept of the thumb drive. At CES Monday, SanDisk was showing off their new Dual Drive Luxe USB-C, a thumb drive supporting USB 3 speeds over both USB-C and USB-A. Capable of delivering up to 150MB/s, the 1TB model will be $249.99 and 500GB will be $89.99, both due to be released in Q1 this year.
20 Years Ago Steve Jobs Unveiled Mac OS X Aqua
At Macworld January 5, 2000 Steve Jobs revealed a new user interface for Mac OS X called Aqua. Aqua introduced the Dock, it redesigned the Finder, and it introduced a new design language that made certain UI elements look 3D, like radio buttons, checkboxes, scroll bars, and new kinds of animations. Mr. Jobs introduced it by saying:
When you design a new user interface, you have to start off humbly. You have to start off saying “What are the simplest elements in it? What does a button look like? And you spend months working on a button.
You can watch the video below, and read the original press release here.
Shot on iPhone 11 Pro - Fire And Ice
Apple released another stunning video shot on an iPhone 11 Pro on Saturday. The clip is of fire and ice in various forms. The detail that the device can capture is quite incredible. Apple also posted a longer “Behind the Scenes” video. It showed how the experiment was conducted.
CES – Igloohome Shows Remotely-Programmable Locks that Don't Require Wi-Fi at CES Unveiled 2020
LAS VEGAS – Igloohome’s smart locks shown here at CES Unveiled 2020 have a special feature: they don’t use Wi-Fi and yet they’re remotely programmable. This is accomplished by first pairing your phone with the lock, a process that also creates a rotating token like you might use with your bank. When you want to create a new code, everything is already set and the code is already active because of the pre-negotiated token, all happening behind the scenes. The deadbolt is US$299, the keybox is $189, and the padlock is $109. The other two dual locks will be available later this year.
CES – Sengled Shows HomeKit-Compatible LED Bulbs at CES Unveiled 2020
LAS VEGAS – Sengled has added a HomeKit compatible hub and was showing off their new LED Filament bulbs and more at CES Unveiled 2020 on Sunday, January 5, 2020. Priced to move, Sengled’s new HomeKit-compatible hub is just US$30, their full-color candle bulbs are just $24.99, and the amazing Edison “filament” LED bulb is just
Apple Previews ‘Visible: Out on Television’ on YouTube
On February 14 a show called Visible: Out on Television will premiere on Apple TV+. It’s a five-part documentary series that will examine how the LGBT movement has impacted television.
The docuseries features never-before-seen interviews with Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey, Anderson Cooper, Billy Porter, Rachel Maddow, Don Lemon, Sara Ramirez, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and dozens more. Visible: Out on Television is directed and executive produced by Ryan White (Ask Dr. Ruth, The Case Against 8, The Keepers). Jessica Hargrave, Wilson Cruz and Wanda Sykes also serve as executive producers.
ZENS Apple Watch Charging USB-Stick
ZENS has a nifty look Apple Watch charger. It is a USB-A stick, so it can be plugged into your laptop or any other device with a USB-A port. It is compatible with all Apple Watch models and costs $39.99.
