Polaroid has unveiled its portable Zip device, a 6.6-ounce photo printer, less than one-inch thick, that creates 2×3-inch prints using the company’s ZINK zero-ink technology and adhesive-backed ZINK paper. The pocket-sized device enables users to print photos from Bluetooth-enabled smartphones and tablets. The Zip includes a free mobile app available for iOS and Android, and an array of editing options such as adding filters, frames, stamps and stickers. Users can even make business cards. The Zip is expected to ship this spring for about $130. Continue reading CES: Polaroid Demos New Pocket-Sized Mobile Photo Printer

GoPro’s anticipated drone may be a no-show at CES, but the company did announce some compelling new features for its Hero4 Black and Silver action cams. CNET reports that an upcoming firmware update will include “a time-lapse video mode that will snap photos continuously and then turn them into a video in camera,” two new video capture settings — “720p resolution at 240 frames per second for HD-quality super-slow-motion video and 2.7K resolution at 60 fps,” a new “HiLight Tag feature that lets you mark the video you’re shooting” (helpful for editing), and for photos — “a slower burst mode of 30 frames in 6 seconds.” Also, a new app for the GoPro Channel will be available on LG Smart TVs this year.

Microsoft began offering a preview of its Office apps for Android tablets this week. Beta versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps are now available (no invitation required) via the Google Play store. According to Microsoft’s 365 Team, users need ARM-based Android tablets with KitKat or Lollipop (and 7- to 10-inch screens) to install and run the preview apps. “As expected, the apps are freemium versions, meaning you can create documents and perform basic editing. But you’ll need that Office 365 subscription to do more,” reports CNET. “The finished version of Office for Android tablets will be available in the first half of 2015.”

The Internet of Things is only meaningful when it really encompasses everything. This was the key refrain throughout the CES keynote panel “Fast Innovation: Disrupt or be Disrupted” featuring John Chambers, Cisco chairman and CEO, Neil Smit, president and CEO of Comcast Cable and Werner Struth, member, board of management, Robert Bosch GmbH. David Kirkpatrick, founder, host and CEO of Techonomy moderated the discussion on the evolution of the connections between people, data, business and innovation. Continue reading CES Panel: The Internet of Everything and Full Participation

Mozilla is planning to take on industry leaders Apple and Google by developing a version of its Firefox operating system specifically for wearables. Firefox OS, which is starting to appear in smartphones and select TVs, will be adapted for use in smart glasses, smartwatches, and other wearable devices as an alternative to Google’s Android Wear or Apple’s iOS. Mozilla’s ultimate goal is to provide Firefox OS as a system to easily connect appliances, mobile devices, television sets and wearables, regardless of their OS. Continue reading Firefox OS for Wearables as Alternative to Android and iOS

A group of movers and shakers in the MEMS/sensors industry gathered during a day-long conference at the 2015 CES in Las Vegas yesterday to discuss how their technologies need to evolve in order to enable a smart Internet of Things. Panelists addressed the need for improved sensing technologies, smaller form factors and better integration. Companies represented during the early afternoon session included SunEdison Semiconductor, IBM, Evernote, ARM and virtual reality startup Virtuix. Continue reading Tech Session: Developing MEMS and Sensors for a Smart IoT

Developers of health and fitness wearables — currently the industry’s biggest segment — are challenged with providing accurate and reliable biometric information. If the consumer cannot be convinced that calories burned, steps taken, and blood pressure numbers do not reflect reality, then health and fitness wearables will never gain the traction they need to become mass market. Enter Valencell, a core technology provider for biometric information to silicon providers and OEMs. Continue reading Sensors/MEMS Session: Biometric Information for Wearables

During a CES session on “The Wearable Revolution,” panelists agreed that it is still early for the wearables category, but a revolution is right around the corner. Moderator Joanna Stern, personal technology columnist for The Wall Street Journal, pinpointed her main gripe: ugly, clunky watches and fitness trackers. “Will we look back at this generation and be reminded of the 25-pound laptop?” she asked. Panelists suggested the technologies that will make wearables more attractive and more effective are now being released. Continue reading CES Panelists Agree the Wearable Revolution is (Almost) Here

During her CES keynote address, Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez suggested that the growing crop of interconnected devices that make up the Internet of Things could potentially put individuals’ privacy and security at risk. “Ramirez outlined several concerns including ubiquitous data collection, or the ability of sensors to collect sensitive personal information about consumers all the time and in real time; unexpected uses of consumer data, such using individual energy use patterns to set their homeowners’ insurance rates; and cybersecurity threats,” reports The Wall Street Journal. She recommended that companies minimize the data they collect, consider encrypting sensitive information, and be more transparent about how they use personal data.

During a CES press event in Las Vegas, Panasonic showed a prototype Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Player (the Blu-ray Disc Association is finalizing the new Ultra HD Blu-ray format standard). While a formal release date for the player was not announced, the first film titles are reportedly slated for release before the end of 2015. According to HDTVtest, the new standard will use the H.265 HEVC codec and will support 3,840 x 2,160 video at up to 60 frames per second, the BT.2020 wide color gamut, and 10-bit video encoding. One of the more interesting features will be support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) video, which significantly expands the brightness peak.

Samsung Electronics plans to extend its Tizen operating system beyond mobile phones to its new smart TVs beginning next month. At CES, Samsung CEO BK Yoon announced that Tizen TVs would initially launch in the U.S. and Korea, followed by a rollout to additional international markets later in the year. Samsung, which has spent years developing Tizen as an alternative to Google’s Android mobile operating system, is looking to better compete in software and services with OS leaders Google and Apple. Continue reading Samsung Targets Google and Apple with Plans for Tizen TVs

The Internet of Things will comprise 200 billion devices by 2020, according to Steve Holmes of Intel’s New Devices Group. He spoke about “Challenging Developers to Make It Wearable” during a day-long Sensors and MEMS Technology Conference at this week’s CES in Las Vegas. “I want to talk to you about why I think people are under-estimating the impact of wearables, what Intel is doing and to share some of the things we’ve learned about bringing products to market,” he said. Continue reading CES Session: Challenging Developers to Make It Wearable

3D Sound Labs, a French company exhibiting in the Eureka Park startup area at the 2015 International CES, demonstrated new headphones that combine head tracking and software to dynamically tune sound that creates what the company describes as “the most immersive, wearable sound experience.” According to CEO and co-founder Xavier Bonjour, a former Technicolor executive, the Neoh headphones produce an experience that does for sound what virtual reality technology is producing visually. Continue reading Startup Demos Virtual Reality Audio with Neoh Headphones

Charter Communications announced a cloud-based cable TV service called Worldbox to be backed by Cisco technology. Charter CEO Tom Rutledge unveiled the initiative at CES with Cisco CEO John Chambers. The system will allow Charter to update its services regardless of which set-top boxes are being used by its subscribers. Cisco plans to supply data center and networking equipment. “By using cloud-computing technology to deliver software updates, Charter will be able to add features and content quickly, instead of sending technicians to install new machines in homes and businesses,” reports Bloomberg.

Speaking at the Citi 2015 Global Internet, Media & Telecommunications Conference in Las Vegas, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam announced that his company plans to launch an Internet pay TV service during the second half of this year. The “mobile-first” OTT service, separate from Verizon’s current FiOS TV, is expected to initially roll out with 20-30 channels, and target younger consumers who are not interested in paying for cable (similar to Dish Network’s planned Sling TV service announced at CES). According to Variety, McAdam also denied a recent report that his company is considering an AOL acquisition, although he suggested there is a potential to partner.