| Cult of Mac

CES 2020 trends: AirPower alternatives, rise of 5G, tasty TVs

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CES-2020-trends
It's shaping up to be an exciting year for tech.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

CES 2020The post-holiday tech fest that is CES shutters its doors today for another year. This week’s event has been as weird and as wonderful as any other, giving us a glimpse of all kinds of innovative gadgets on the way in 2020.

Better AirPods alternatives. Wireless chargers that achieve what Apple couldn’t. iPhone cases you can throw on the compost heap when they’re no longer needed. Here are the biggest trends from CES 2020.

Wemo WiFi Smart Plug with HomeKit is Belkin’s smallest yet

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The Wemo WiFi Smart Plug both support HomeKit
The Wemo WiFi Smart Plug and Wemo Stage were both unveiled at CES 2020.
Photo: Belkin

CES 2020Belkin’s latest version of its Wemo smart plug with HomeKit support is significantly smaller than its predecessor, making it less obtrusive on wall sockets.

The company also unveiled at CES 2020 the Wemo Stage, a remote than can be used to launch HomeKit scenes with the punch of a button.

iPhone photographers get more than a button with ShutterGrip2

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ShutterGrip2 for smartphone photography
Get a better grip on your iPhone photography.
Photo: Just Mobile

CES 2020The iPhone is the best camera because it is already with you – that is until it slips out of your hands while taking a picture and it is damaged on impact.

Just Mobile solved this ergonomic shortcoming last year with a Bluetooth grip topped with a proper shutter button right where the index finger naturally rests on a camera.

But Just Mobile decided to attack additional mobile photography challenges with ShutterGrip2, which is currently being demoed at CES 2020 in Las Vegas.

Samsung secures latest pocket-sized SSD with built-in fingerprint scanner

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Samsung T7 Touch holds up to 2TB
The Samsung T7 Touch comes in black or silver, and holds up to 2TB. Biometric security sets it apart from the pack.
Photo: Samsung

CES 2020The Samsung T7 Touch goes the extra mile in security. This portable Solid State Drive (SSD) is available in sizes up to 2TB, but its signature feature is an integrated fingerprint scanner, so it can be unlocked with the press of a finger.

It was unveiled this morning at CES 2020.

Linedock 2TB multi-port hub grows to match larger MacBook Pros

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13-inch Linedock has plenty of ports
The original 13-inch Linedock will soon be joined by 15- and 16-inch versions.
Photo: Linedock

CES 2020Larger versions of the Linedock multi-port USB-C adapter are in development. This hub that boasts up to 2TB of storage sits under a MacBook, so increasing the size for the 15- and 16-inch MacBook Pro makes sense — and makes room for additional features.

Power up all your gear at once with these multi-device chargers

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Satechi Trio Wireless Charging Pad
Satechi’s Trio Wireless Charging Pad is one of the multi-device chargers unveiled at CES 2020.
Photo: Satechi

CES 2020The number of Apple products with wireless charging support keeps growing. Accessory makers responded by unveiling multi-device chargers at CES 2020 that can send power to iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch and other accessories all at once, with no wires needed.

Both Satechi and Pitaka unveiled wireless multi-device chargers at this trade show, going on now in Las Vegas.

Apple exec takes the stage at CES to talk about the importance of privacy

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Apple exec turned up at CES to talk about the importance of privacy
Apple is big into privacy.
Photo: Apple

CES-2020-bug-2Apple has made its return to CES for the first time in 28 years, as a representative of the world’s biggest tech company appeared on-stage at the world’s biggest tech conference.

Apple wasn’t showing off new products, however. Instead, Jane Horvath, Apple’s senior director of global privacy, participated in a panel Tuesday titled “Chief Privacy Officer Roundtable: What Do Consumers Want?” The panel also included representatives from Facebook, Procter & Gamble, and the FTC.

Keep your PopGrip on with this wireless charger

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PopPower
PopPower Home Charger in Cosmic Cloud
Photo: PopSockets

CES 2020PopSockets was a wildly successful brand that was in danger of losing its grip.

Wireless charging is becoming a standard feature in smartphones and the stick-on PopGrip it created for reducing drops suddenly looked like an unintended battery barrier.

But the company finally figured out a way forward in the emerging wireless world with a round wireless charging pad with a hole in the middle.