CES 2021 kicks off soon. Here's a taste of what's coming! |
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Welcome to Decrypted, Digital Trends' daily newsletter guiding you through the latest news in the world of tech, with insights from our senior writers. |
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Paper-thin TVs that roll up like a newspaper. Robots that can destroy you in ping pong. Eight-thousand-pound mech suits. CES has never disappointed on spectacle, but the biggest blockbusters have always had one thing in common: You need to see them to believe them.
That will be a little bit tougher now that CES 2021 is going online-only, but if there's any industry you can trust to adapt to going digital, it's … you know, the industry that invented digital. And with the holidays squarely in the rearview mirror and a new year here, the all-new virtual CES 2021 is almost upon us.
Sure, we won't be flying to Vegas, camping out in conference rooms, or guzzling stale coffee this year, but you can bet Digital Trends will cover the virtual show as completely and thoroughly as that new mesh network you found under the tree. If the whispers we're hearing from manufacturers are any bellwether, there should be plenty to delight. Here's what we're expecting from every corner of the industry. |
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Ahead of CES 2021, JLab is launching the JBuds Frames — a set of wireless mini speakers that attach to the arms of any style of eyeglasses or sunglasses. JLab expects they will cost $50 when they go on sale early this spring.
Audio eyewear is still a relatively new category in personal audio, but it already suffers from one fairly big problem: The speakers are always integrated into the glasses frames, making it impossible to mix and match speakers and glasses. The JLab JBuds Frames provide a solution, although they don't look quite as sleek as models from Bose and other manufacturers.
"You can put the JLab JBuds Frames on any glasses you own," said JLab CEO Win Cramer, "without fear of commitment or wearing the same eyewear as the person you're next to." |
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Case maker Catalyst has announced the Total Protection series of cases for the Apple iPhone 12 range. What makes them a little bit different, and totally on point for the world we currently live in, is they cover the whole phone in a protective, washable shell. What's more, these tough cases are still compatible with Apple's new MagSafe charging technology, despite the additional layers.
What exactly do we mean by washable? The Total Protection cases completely seal your iPhone away from the outside world, covering the back, the screen, and all the ports and buttons. The result is a water-resistant case tested to a depth of 10 meters, which is not only able to be washed in soap and water, but also in disinfectants made up of 70% isopropyl alcohol or 70% ethanol. That should give owners some peace of mind their phone is not a germ-harboring cesspit. |
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If you're looking for a historically accurate portrayal of the rise of Russian monarch Catherine the Great, then this Hulu series won't be your bowl of borscht. But if the show's full title, The Great* An Occasionally True Story, piques your interest, you're in for a real treat.
Nailing the comedic drama series' aggressively satirical tone requires a balancing act of epic proportions (it could have easily devolved into a trainwreck in the wrong hands), and show creator Tony McNamara and his cast and crew pull it off deftly. Though set in the 18th century, The Great gleefully winks and nods at contemporary issues in its telling of history (there's even a Chernobyl joke).
Characters drop F-bombs like they're in a period piece version of Goodfellas, and their raucous behavior is more appropriate for a frat house than for a royal palace. Meanwhile, Catherine's sensibilities are several centuries ahead of their time.
Key to the success of such a risky gambit is a cast that's all-in on the aristocratic antics. Leading the way is Elle Fanning as Catherine. At just 22, Fanning has already had a long and successful career, but she really comes into her own as an actress in The Great. Her English accent is spot-on, never feeling false or put-on, as she effortlessly goes from naive outsider to potential usurper of the throne without losing any of the charm that endears viewers to her in the first place.
Equally good is Nicholas Hoult, another former child actor, as Peter, Catherine's husband and the ruler of Russia. A manchild who'd rather hang with his bros than take his duties seriously, Peter could easily have been a one-note villain, but Hoult makes you like him despite his entitlement and petulance.
The Great doesn't stick the landing in the season one finale, but it nonetheless leaves viewers eager for the second season to arrive. |
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