CES 2024: Here are the tech products you should know about so far

With CES about to kick off on Tuesday, January 9, the tech world is already buzzing with exciting announcements. Here are the tech product announcements made today that piqued my interest.

• Apple's Vision Pro Headset Is Coming Next Month
• A Wearable Gaming Glove Unveiled for Stroke Patients
• Samsung's World-First Transparent MicroLED Screen Debuts
• LG Unveils the World's First Wireless Transparent OLED TV
• HP Unveils the World's Lightest 14-inch Gaming Laptop
• Acer Unveils Predator Z57
• Garmin Brings Enhanced Comfort to its Fitness Wearables

Apple's Vision Pro Headset Is Coming Next Month

• Apple Vision Pro, unveiled during Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference in June has finally gotten a release date.
• The highly-anticipated Vision Pro headset will commence shipping on February 2nd in the United States. Meanwhile, pre-orders for the $3,499 headset will open on January 19th at 8 AM ET.
• The headset boasts a 4K display for each eye and supports both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences. It features a dual-chip setup with Apple's M2 chip and the new R1 chip, dedicated to processing data from built-in sensors, cameras, and microphones. Offering seamless navigation through eye, head, and hand tracking, the device runs on Apple's visionOS, allowing access to over 150 3D titles through the Apple TV app.

A Wearable Gaming Glove Unveiled for Stroke Patients

• The Palmplug, a wearable gaming glove showcased at CES Unveiled, integrates hand tracking, haptic feedback, and LED lights. While versatile for VR applications, its standout feature is TheraPlay.
• This health tech game utilizes hand tracking to aid stroke patients in regaining mobility, offering doctors valuable recovery metrics in real time. The Palmplug demonstrates the convergence of gaming technology and healthcare, potentially transforming rehabilitation for stroke patients.

Samsung's World-First Transparent MicroLED Screen Debuts

• Samsung has wowed visitors at the CES 2024 with the world's first transparent MicroLED display. A groundbreaking technology that offers a mesmerizing visual experience featuring three distinct designs that create a hologram-like visual experience.
• The ultra-thin screens, about a centimetre thick, give the illusion of floating content in mid-air. Samsung highlighted the high pixel density for sharp images and superior brightness compared to transparent OLED panels. While details on pricing and retail availability remain undisclosed, this innovative technology showcases a significant leap in display advancements.

LG Unveils World's First Wireless Transparent OLED TV - OLED T

• Meanwhile, LG launched its Signature OLED T  — T for transparent — a new 77-inch 4K TV boasting 4K resolution and LG's advanced wireless transmission tech for audio and video, this innovative TV features a contrast screen that rolls down into a base, allowing users to raise or lower it with a simple press.
• The OLED T is powered by LG's Alpha 11 AI processor, offering 70% greater graphics performance and 30% faster processing speeds compared to its predecessor. Unlike the Samsung transparent MicroLED Screen, LG says its OLED T will be available for consumer sales later this year

HP Unveils the World's Lightest 14-inch Gaming Laptop - Omen Transcend 14

• Claiming the title of the world's lightest 14-inch gaming laptop at just 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg), HP introduced the Omen Transcend 14 at CES 2024.
• This ultraportable device combines a sleek design with powerful features, including a 2.8K OLED display with a variable 120Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and AI capabilities.
• Despite its petite size, the laptop features essential ports, including two USB-A and two USB-C ports (with Thunderbolt 4 support), and a full-size HDMI 2.1 jack. It is equipped with a 14th-gen Intel Core Ultra 7 or Ultra 9 processor, up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and an RTX 4070 GPU, promising an impressive gaming experience.

Acer Unveils Predator Z57, a 57-inch 120Hz Curved Gaming Display with 7680x2160 Resolution

• Gamers are about to get a 57-inch, 120Hz curved display from Acer boasting a resolution of 7680x2160 pixels as an option for their immersive gaming experience.
• Called the Predator Z57, Acer unveiled this standout gaming display lineup ahead of CES 2024. It utilizes MiniLED backlighting for enhanced contrast. Priced at $2,499.99 in the US and €2,399 in Europe, the Z57 features AMD FreeSync Premium, a 90W USB-C PD port, dual HDMI 2.1 ports, and a single DisplayPort 1.3 port. With 2,304 dimming zones, HDR, and a 1,000-nit peak brightness, the Z57 supports multiple video sources simultaneously through picture-in-picture or side-by-side split screen modes.

Garmin Brings Enhanced Comfort to its Fitness Wearables

• Garmin, renowned for its fitness watches is introducing the HRM-Fit, a $149.99 chest strap heart rate monitor designed to alleviate discomfort for users wearing sports bras. Featuring a clip-on design compatible with both medium- and high-support bras, it captures heart rate data for various activities and pairs with Garmin smartwatches.
• It is also launching an enhanced version of its petite Lily smartwatch - the $249.99 Lily 2, prioritizing design and features. With sleep scores, dance fitness activities, and contactless payments, the Lily 2 maintains its women-centric focus. Accompanying these releases is a refreshed Garmin Connect app, offering a more organized and customizable approach for users.