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CES is underway in Las Vegas, and while it's been overshadowed by Apple's Vision Pro launch date announcement, there are still plenty of interesting new products to look at. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera is at CES to bring us an overview of what's worth checking out.


Day 2 at CES was actually Monday, the day before the show "officially" kicks off and the show floor opens. Vendors were on hand showcasing products in private suites, and the annual Pepcom show took place.

Like Samsung, LG was showing off transparent display technology with the LG Signature OLED T (T for transparent). LG's OLED TV is coming out later this year, and it can transition between transparency and an opaque background for television watching. LG has designed content specifically for the see-through background, and some of it has an almost hologram-like look.

Lockly was showing off a HomeKit-compatible smart lock that uses facial recognition to open the door, while Ember brought its cup warming technology to baby bottles. Aqara showed off an indoor lock with fingerprint detection, and Scosche was on hand to demo the BaseLynx 2.0, its modular charging system for Apple devices.

OtterBox has a new environmentally friendly iPhone case made of cactus leather, Orbi showed off a new Wi-Fi 7 mesh router setup, and GE had an indoor smokeless smoker that uses pellets.

Dan will be wandering the show floor on Tuesday, so make sure to stay tuned to see tomorrow's CES roundup video. We're also covering all kinds of announcements from CES, which you can check out at our CES 2024 hub.

Article Link: CES 2024 Day 2: Transparent TVs From LG, OtterBox's Cactus Leather, Lockly Smart Locks and More
 
I question the transparency. This means, not only must the screen be transparent, but so must the motherboard and all components, all inputs, switches, antenna, power, speaker and other internals. This is a cosmetic effect; wouldn't a few rear cameras accomplish this effect without sacrificing design integrity? Like a transparent phone - what does this benefit you, other than aesthetics?
 
The only use case I see for transparent displays (outside of retail type environments) are for ones that always include an opaque mode. I imagine such a device in the center of a room, used as a TV when opaque, and used as a visual toy/centerpiece when transparent, such as an aquarium or some other sort of visualizer effect. What would be neat is if you could display the "opaque" TV from both sides, as in the black pixels are just solid but visible from both sides such as in transparent mode, although the image will be reversed, so things like text will be strange.

This will primarily be for wealthy people. For it to gain mass market adoption, I see it being a feature that only costs $100, maybe $200 more. I don't think most people will pay that much for it. Given how outstanding image quality is across TVs currently, I see these sort of features being the distinctive selling points getting people to upgrade from a TV that is already really good. And that may work for some people, especially if the price is right. Especially in a market where there are currently diminishing returns on image quality, and many people don't have room to get yet another larger TV—or the need for one.
 
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Can't wait for people to start clamoring for transparent foldable phones. "They solve the problem of me not seeing what's in front of me when I walk down the street staring at my phone!"
 
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Is it possible to make a Shortcut on my Mac to automatically lock my office door when I'm on a Zoom call for work with this internal door lock product? And will they make it in a normal doorknob shape? I'm not going to have one door mismatched in my house. Black lever vs. satin nickel knob. Cool product idea.

That face unlocking front door is a cool idea for my kids, although at this point they have memorized their codes for when they come home from school. But how secure is it? I'd like to replace my Schlage Sense with something more secure that doesn't have a keyway that can be picked and uses the Home Key stuff and Matter/Thread for faster responsiveness. I love how quickly my Matter/Thread switches respond vs. older HomeKit/WiFi/BT methods, it is near instantaneous >99% of the time.
 
I actually really want to try/feel that cactus leather case. It looks pretty nice. I only keep my iPhone for a year before getting a new case, so it wouldn't need to be crazy durable. But it needs to be more durable than FineWoven, which lasts about a day before looking like crap.
Yes, but PETC (People for the Ethnical Treatment of Cacti) are already filing product distribution injunctions. ;)

And the Cacti themselves are pushing for mosses & fungi Corinthian leatherette to be used instead. ;)
I've heard interesting things about fungi-based leather, but I would not piss off the fungi. They have mycelium networks around the world, some of the largest single living organisms known to man, and probably the most realistic thing that could turn us all into zombies. Fungi are not to be truffled with. truffle
 
I question the transparency. This means, not only must the screen be transparent, but so must the motherboard and all components, all inputs, switches, antenna, power, speaker and other internals. This is a cosmetic effect; wouldn't a few rear cameras accomplish this effect without sacrificing design integrity? Like a transparent phone - what does this benefit you, other than aesthetics?
Why limit one’s imagination? This is an initial show of what is possible and in LG’s case a shipping product by the end of the year. Transparent screens can offer much possibilities we have to wait and see where this develops. Imagine shrinking this tech for regular looking glasses for an AppleVision like product as one example. Another is having this in-between two rooms of an open concept where both sides can view a waterfall, fireplace, aquarium, etc. Super cool and futuristic.

For a transparent phone it’s also possible as with both the hardware has to be in a solid non-transparent base or frame. Looking forward to it unlike the boomers who are reminded by their age.
 
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Cactus leather... Nothing says "wrap your hand around me then put me in your pocket" like a cactus does. And I thought leather had a perfectly fine meaning before, why do we need to also give it the opposite meaning?
 
I question the transparency. This means, not only must the screen be transparent, but so must the motherboard and all components, all inputs, switches, antenna, power, speaker and other internals. This is a cosmetic effect; wouldn't a few rear cameras accomplish this effect without sacrificing design integrity? Like a transparent phone - what does this benefit you, other than aesthetics?
The solution is known as a chin
 
I question the transparency. This means, not only must the screen be transparent, but so must the motherboard and all components, all inputs, switches, antenna, power, speaker and other internals. This is a cosmetic effect; wouldn't a few rear cameras accomplish this effect without sacrificing design integrity? Like a transparent phone - what does this benefit you, other than aesthetics?
The gubbins is in the base. Only the screen is transparent. These things have commercial uses.

However what really needs to happen is for Apple to get LG to build a much smaller transparent display for the next gen Vision Pro device so that rather than seeing a 1:1 VR recreation of your surroundings you’re looking at the actual ones.

It would allow them to massively slim the product down and eliminate the external display and the need for external cameras.
 
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I look forward to LPL showing us how to bypass the Lockly far faster than any regular lock in the near future
 
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I question the transparency. This means, not only must the screen be transparent, but so must the motherboard and all components, all inputs, switches, antenna, power, speaker and other internals. This is a cosmetic effect; wouldn't a few rear cameras accomplish this effect without sacrificing design integrity? Like a transparent phone - what does this benefit you, other than aesthetics?

Conference room window?
 
I question the transparency. This means, not only must the screen be transparent, but so must the motherboard and all components, all inputs, switches, antenna, power, speaker and other internals. This is a cosmetic effect; wouldn't a few rear cameras accomplish this effect without sacrificing design integrity? Like a transparent phone - what does this benefit you, other than aesthetics?
Have you considered it could be all *under* or *on the side of* the screen?


pffft
 
I actually really want to try/feel that cactus leather case. It looks pretty nice. I only keep my iPhone for a year before getting a new case, so it wouldn't need to be crazy durable. But it needs to be more durable than FineWoven, which lasts about a day before looking like crap.

I've heard interesting things about fungi-based leather, but I would not piss off the fungi. They have mycelium networks around the world, some of the largest single living organisms known to man, and probably the most realistic thing that could turn us all into zombies. Fungi are not to be truffled with. truffle
My anecdote is that my Finewoven from release day still looks perfect except where the plug goes in the it has a tear from a plug that is too big
 
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Manufacturers, stop calling things leather when they’re not!
Leather is tanned animal skin, full stop.
It CANNOT be Vegan or made from Cactus!
They're trying to put it in direct competition against real leather, something that is somewhat controversial. It could also be cheaper than real leather so they'll want to replace real leather with that.
 
The only use case I see for transparent displays (outside of retail type environments) are for ones that always include an opaque mode. I imagine such a device in the center of a room, used as a TV when opaque, and used as a visual toy/centerpiece when transparent, such as an aquarium or some other sort of visualizer effect. What would be neat is if you could display the "opaque" TV from both sides, as in the black pixels are just solid but visible from both sides such as in transparent mode, although the image will be reversed, so things like text will be strange.

This will primarily be for wealthy people. For it to gain mass market adoption, I see it being a feature that only costs $100, maybe $200 more. I don't think most people will pay that much for it. Given how outstanding image quality is across TVs currently, I see these sort of features being the distinctive selling points getting people to upgrade from a TV that is already really good. And that may work for some people, especially if the price is right. Especially in a market where there are currently diminishing returns on image quality, and many people don't have room to get yet another larger TV—or the need for one.
Smart windows and car huds come to mind as uses
 
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