1/16/2024: Six things I learned at CES
What I learned at CES
Plus: Google Assistant’s downgrade, AT&T price hikes, and speedier media consumption
Like I mentioned last week, I’m less jaded about covering CES than some of my colleagues.
While the annual tech trade show can be an ordeal to navigate—exhibits span two entire convention centers, and there’s a slew of offsite meetings—it’s a rare chance to get up-close with a staggering number of gadgets. Sometimes you can even talk to the people who helped make them without the usual layers of PR interference. I always leave feeling smarter about the state of consumer technology than when I arrived.
In years past, I’ve used the week after CES to prognosticate about the year ahead. This time, I’m going to try something different and focus on those things I learned from being at the show.
Need to know
AT&T price hikes: AT&T is raising the price of its unlimited data plans by a dollar per month, per line, though it’s also adding more hotspot data across the board. An overview of the new plans (which also now have longer names, for some reason) for one line:
- Unlimited Starter SL: $66 per month, subject to speed throttling, SD video, 5 GB hotspot data.
- Unlimited Extra EL: $76 per month, may be throttled after 75 GB, SD video, 30 GB hotspot data.
- Unlimited Premium PL: $86 per month, no throttling, 4K video, 60 GB hotspot data.
For Advisorator’s paid subscribers, I’ve updated my unlimited data plan comparison chart accordingly. It includes detailed pricing and benefits for every major carrier, sortable by number of lines. Check it out.
Google Assistant’s downgrade: Google is stripping 17 features from its voice assistant, including the ability to send emails, play audiobooks, reschedule calendar events, and check personal travel itineraries. And on Android, Google’s tweaking the home screen microphone icon to search the web instead of loading Google Assistant. The company has also laid off hundreds of people on the Assistant team (among many others).
Gloomy as this is, a bunch of Assistant’s axed features (such as checking email or handling calendars) feel like a better fit for generative AI, which excels at summarizing info and interpreting natural language queries. Google announced plans to rebuild Assistant around its Bard AI last year, and the existing voice assistant has been in a holding pattern ever since.
Authy’s ditching desktops: I’ve been a big fan of the two-factor authentication app Authy in large part because of its desktop app, which lets me look up authentication codes without unlocking my phone. So I’m profoundly bummed to hear that Authy will discontinue the desktop app in August, citing a need to focus its resources elsewhere.
I still like Authy because of its sync service, which lets me access codes across multiple phones and tablets, but the lack of a desktop app seriously hinders its appeal for me. I’ll be looking into alternatives for locking down my online accounts and welcome any suggestions.
Tip of the moment
Speed up your media: Lately I’ve been watching the Hulu show Welcome to Wrexham at 1.25X speed, and it’s been a revelation. Obviously it saves time, but it also just feels like it’s cutting to the chase faster, especially for documentaries, podcasts, or reality content where pacing isn’t super important. I should have been doing this sooner.
Your ability to speed up media playback depends on which app you’re using, but here are some notable examples:
- YouTube: Click the gear icon, then hit “Playback speed” and select a multiple.
- Netflix (mobile or web): Hit the odometer icon and select a speed.
- Apple Podcasts: Swipe up to the Now Playing menu, hit the 1X button, and select a new speed.
- Pocket Casts: Swipe up for the playback menu, then tap the dial icon to find speed controls.
- Spotify (podcasts): Bring up the playback menu, tap the 1X button, and adjust the speed dial.
- Audible: Open the playback menu and tap the “Speed” icon.
- Channels DVR: Tap the “…” icon, select Options, then hit “Playback Speed.”
- Other web video sources: Use the Video Speed Controller extension for Chrome or Firefox. I also have an extension-free version in my big list of browser bookmarklets.
See also: Katie Notopoulos’ impassioned case for 1.2X podcast speed.
Now try this
Slicker to-do lists: Clear is a beautiful to-do list app for iOS that’s been around for ages, but just got a ground-up rewrite. I like how you can swipe down to add new items and pinch out to view your lists. It’s a free download, with extra themes unlocked via in-app purchase.
The big Jeopardy! database: J-Archive.com is a brilliant website that catalogs nearly every Jeopardy! contest dating back to the 1983 pilot episodes. Just hover over (or tap) any answer’s dollar amount to see the corresponding question and the contestants’ responses. It’s an impressive effort and great way to brush up on trivia. (Via Dave Mark on Mastodon.)
Further reading
- Did Apple just put $92 in your bank account? It’s the iPhone throttling lawsuit settlement.
- Artifact, a news reader app that I liked a lot, is shutting down.
- Ernie Smith dives into custom keyboard layout tools for Windows.
- The Rabbit R1 is a weird new AI gadget announced at CES.
- ChatGPT paid subscribers can now use custom chatbots from other users. (The store’s already flooded with virtual girlfriends.)
- And Microsoft launches a $20 per month version of its Copilot AI.
- By me: Lenovo’s ingenious idea for ducking out of video calls.
Spend wisely
The accessory maker Baseus has a couple of nice deals going that you can combine for additional savings:
- 7-in-1 USB-C hub, on sale for $16. Plug it into your computer (or any phone with a USB-C port), and it’ll give you three USB-A ports, SD and MicroSD card slots, HDMI output, and USB-C passthrough charging up to 100W.
- 5,000 mAh magnetic iPhone battery, on sale for $28 when you clip the on-page coupon. Snap it to the back of an iPhone for an additional charge. It also has a built-in kickstand.
Once you’ve added both items to your cart, use the promo code E35ERNR8 to get an extra 10% off, bringing the total price to $40 for both accessories.
Thanks for reading!
One last photo from CES before I go:
Yes, in our modern age even slot machines are susceptible to the Blue Screen of Death. Incidentally, this picture reflects how I felt after five days of being in Vegas.
Got questions for me? Just reply to this email to get in touch.
Until next week,
Jared
Until next week,
Jared