A Foldable Comeback for the Motorola RAZR?

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The iconic Motorola RAZR flip-phone is to make a comeback, the Wall Street Journal reports-- specifically as a foldable device bearing a $1500 pricetag, with the launch arriving as early as February 2019.

Motorola RAZRThe WSJ says very little on actual specifications of the device, such as screen size, internals or even form factor. The use of the RAZR name suggests Lenovo-owned Motorola will use the original form factor to perhaps create a super-long vertical folding screen, although it might also just copy Samsung and create a more typical folding device. What the WSJ does know is Lenovo plans to make 200000 units of the device, a perhaps optimistic approach for could ultimately prove to be little more than yet another exercise in overpriced nostalgia overpriced nostalgia.

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August Launch for Ikea Sonos Speakers

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A teaser video reveals the launch window for the upcoming speaker collaboration between furniture maker Ikea and wireless audio specialist Sonos-- the SYMFONISK speaker line is set for an August 2019 release.

Sonos IkeaAnnounces way back in December 2017, the SYMFONISK range promises to integrate with both Sonos wireless speakers and Ikea Home Smart devices, such as the Trådfri range of lights, dimmers and switchers. The two companies further detailed the collaboration on June 2018, with the presentation of a prototype unit complete with brackets for mounting beneath an Ikea cabinet or use as a shelf.

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Google Buys Fossil Smartwatch Technology

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Google announces the acquisition of smartwatch technology from Fossil Group, together with "a portion" of the watchmaker's R&D team, in a $40 million deal described as a "shared investment in the wearables industry."

Google watch“Wearables, built for wellness, simplicity, personalisation and helpfulness, have the opportunity to improve lives by bringing users the information and insights they need quickly, at a glance," Google says. "The addition of Fossil Group’s technology and team to Google demonstrates our commitment to the wearables industry by enabling a diverse portfolio of smartwatches and supporting the ever-evolving needs of the vitality-seeking, on-the-go consumer."

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Chinese Tech at CES: An Alternative POV

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This is a Guest Editorial by Shelly Palmer, one of LinkedIn’s Top 10 Voices in Technology and President & CEO of Palmer Advanced Media.

Shelly PalmerMuch has been written about China’s diminished presence at CES 2019. Looking strictly at the numbers, the story seems clear. The CES 2019 Exhibitor directory listed 1,211 Chinese exhibitors, down from 1,551 at the 2018 show (a 20 percent drop). Add in the congressionally approved CFIUS (the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) reforms, which all but dried up Chinese venture money flowing into the United States, then add the on-again/off-again China-vs.-US trade war, and it’s easy to adopt a bearish attitude toward Chinese tech. But there’s more to this story than the numbers and the politics suggest.

CES 2019 Tech East Central Hall

Walking into the Central Hall of CES 2019, you might have been overwhelmed by the three incumbent tech giants. Samsung, LG, and Sony all had exhibits in their customary locations, and they were impressive. The jewels in their respective crowns were 8K smart TVs and, to be fair, the image quality from all three manufacturers was breathtaking.

We can get into whether or not 8K video is ever going to be a thing for consumers, or if broadcasters and production companies will ever be able to afford to upgrade their workflows to deliver 8K (no one will pay more for 8K content than they pay for 4K content). What’s important here is that 8K is what the “Big Three” were using to demonstrate the state of the art in display technology.

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More LG-Meridian Soundbars at CES

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CES 2019 sees LG continue its collaboration with Meridian Audio with the launch of 3 soundbars, all offering Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support-- the SL10YG, SL9YG and SL8YG, featuring the promise to go "far beyond far-tuning or adopting new feature-sets."

LG Meridian soundbarThe soundbars carry a pair of Meridian audio-enhancing technologies, namely Bass & Space (improves the soundstage for "rich, uncompromising sound and strong bass") and Image Elevation (boosts the sense of immersion for the listener) to deliver powerful surround sound. Meanwhile Upmix technology upmixes 2-channel audio to distinct channels without generating distortion while maintaining tonal balance.

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