Samsung has developed a television that’s devoid of wires. A true wireless TV, if you will. There isn’t even a power cord. But it decided against taking it to CES 2020, which is now in full swing.
Why? The answer is twofold: 1) Because it would have to take a hammer to the walls and make some adjustments for the hardware to function at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and 2) the remote power-transfer feature span two meters, and it isn’t strong enough to penetrate walls and other structures found in a common home. So we have no choice but to take its word on it for now.
“We have developed one,” said Han Jong-hee, president of visual display at Samsung, at a showcase in Las Vegas ahead of CES 2020. “But to show that product here, we also have to do some construction work on the walls, he added.” We know what you’re thinking: Couldn’t it have purchased a portable building and decked it out with the required hardware? It has the budget, after all. Han doesn’t think so, noting that “wireless power transfer currently shows poor power efficiency to turn on the TV,” concluding that consumers would have to solve this issue themselves if they launch it now.
Han’s comments hint that Samsung is experimenting with a form of power transmission known as magnetic resonance. This allows compatible electronic to draw power without having to make contact with a charging pad — it’s sent wirelessly from a transmitter, which is drawn to the television by a magnetic force within. Of course, the main issues with this are range and strength. The system needs to function in such a way that walls and other devices in the vicinity do not interfere with the transfer. If it does, it could result in outages (i.e., the screen turning off in the middle of a show).
Sadly, there’s no word on when Samsung will introduce us to its wireless TV, but at least we know it’s in development. Until then, we’ll just have to gawk at the shiny new motorized 4K TV, which features a motor that rotates the screen to match the orientation of the material on a connected smartphone, be it vertical or horizontal, (as we explained in our in-depth coverage, watching a video on Instagram will send it into an upright position, while Netflix will keep it level — no human interaction needed) and bezel-less 8K TV it showcased at its press conference on January 5.
Follow our live blog for more CES news and announcements.
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
Audio-Technica, a brand well known for making some of the best studio and professional headphones on the market, has just come out with the ATH-AWX7000, which the company itself claims to be its "finest headphones ever." The new flagship closed-back headphone has debuted at an eye-watering price of $3,799. It combines hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.
The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Each housing is finished by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer, which brings out the grain and is expected to darken over time. The frame and sliders are finished in a deep navy kachi-iro shade traditionally associated with samurai.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.