Apple is gearing up to make a big play for the smart home market, according to reports that put it on a trajectory to challenge Google and Amazon. This week, the company released a new HomePod smart speaker with superior audio, enhanced Siri capabilities, and better security. But a report surfaced of Apple preparing a dedicated smart home control device to rival the displays for Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub. Although the iPad currently offers some smart home features, standalone devices are growing in popularity, kickstanding on countertops or mounted on walls. Continue reading New Apple HomePod Signals Big Push in Smart Home Space

Displace is a new wireless TV that promises to take the pain out of mounting a flat screen. Powered by a proprietary hot-swappable battery system, the 55-inch 4K flat screens are under 20 pounds and can be affixed “to any surface” using an active-loop vacuum technology. Transportable and configurable, multiple Displace TVs can be used in combination “to form any sized TV,” according to the startup, which debuted the system at CES 2023. Each Displace TV comes with four rechargeable batteries, each averaging about a month of life for an average usage of six hours per day. Continue reading CES: Displace Demos First Totally Wireless OLED Flat Screen

Philips launched a new 43-inch, 16:9 computer monitor in the U.S. this week that features a 4K Ultra HD LCD display touting 3840 x 2160 resolution, 178-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles, and a 5ms response time. Model BDM4350UC touts 10-bit color support (with color reproduction rated at 1.07 billion colors) and a dynamic contrast ratio of 50,000,000:1. The IPS monitor — which also features MultiView functionality, built-in 7-watt speakers, and a four-port USB 3.0 hub — is currently available on Amazon for $800. Continue reading Philips Releases 43-Inch, 4K Ultra HD LCD Computer Monitor