CES 2012: The Smart TV Race

CES, the world's largest consumer technology conference and tradeshow, is in full swing, and tech companies from across the globe are vying for the chance to showcase their latest and greatest gadgets for business and personal use. You can bet there's a whole host of devices, software and toys that are hoping to stand out this year, and so far, many are following the trend of getting 'smart,' as reported by Wired and Financial Times.

 Samsung, the popular manufacturer, just announced a number of new devices, among them a line of smart TVs that boast built-in voice and hand gesture controls, personalization based on facial recognition, and cloud-based sharing among other Samsung devices. Sony and LG are also pushing new TV models with similar features during CES. Imagine the possibilities these smart TVs will bring to a living room near you: a simple hand gesture lets you flip through channels, or a quick scan of your face tunes the TV to your favorite channel or show. 

The Wall Street Journal reports that Samsung, as well as several other TV manufacturers, will also be incorporating Google TV's web connected services in the next year, making this a larger race for platform dominance between, as usual, Google and Apple, with its Apple TV.

See below for a demo of Samsung's smart TV.

On the Horizon: iPads and iPhones That Personalize Via Facial Recognition

Apple wants to build a world in which the iPad and iPhone are for the whole family. Literally.

The company applied for a patent last week that would enable its devices to recognize a user through its camera and then personalize its desktop, applications, contacts, favorites and more. Personalization facial recognition software isn't just a simple security device. This type of "visual log-on" would enable multiple people to share a single device, while still enjoying a personalized user experience.

The patent filing describes a "low-computation solution for reasonably effective (low threshold) face recognition that can be implemented on camera-equipped consumer portable appliances." That means that the facial recognition software will focus on each user's "high information portions," including eyes, mouth and nose. Since the software won't require a lot of time or battery power to identify these easily distinguishable features, battery life should be a non-issue.

So all you'd have to do is pick up your iPad and look into the camera. Even if another user was just logged in, the new software should automatically call up your settings. Maybe this feature won't be popular for iPhones, but I see a lot of people getting into this for the iPad. After all, who wants someone else's apps cluttering up their device?

Apple and Google Both Working on Wearable Augmented Reality Smartphones

Sure, pretty much anything Apple and Google do right now will create buzz. But link those two companies with the words “wearable augmented reality smartphone,” and people are bound to really take notice.

In an effort to (eventually) integrate your smartphone into your life even more, the companies are exploring augmented reality phones that serve as more of a “window on to your world”—not just a screen that you interact with.

At Google, researchers in the super-secret Google X labs have been working on developing devices that interact directly with Android smartphones, helping you to digitally immerse yourself into the world around you. According to 9To5Google, one project involves augmented reality glasses that would plug a user in to real-time search results that correspond to what he or she is viewing.

To me, this sounds like a natural step for the whole idea (and name) behind Google Goggles. In fact, Google may be hinting at this new wearable product with a recent blog announcement about a Google Goggles upgrade.

9To5Google claims the AR glasses would be unobtrusive, styled much like a pair of normal, thicker-rimmed glasses. They would include just a few buttons on the side that help the wearer “communicate with the cloud,” presumably through an Android device.

This blogger is skeptical about AR glasses ever being “unobtrusive.” I envision a jumble of Google search suggestions popping up every time I turn my head. I wonder how Google plans on giving the user enough control so he or she doesn’t get overwhelmed.  

In the meantime, the New York Times Bits blog, reveals that Apple has been secretly working on a wearable computer that wound use Siri and fit on your write like an iPod Nano. It seems there are several different prototypes in the works; one of them was intriguingly described as a wrist-worn “curved-glass iPod.”

AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile Use Carrier IQ Too

Yes, it's true: Three of the largest cell phone carriers in the U.S. use Carrier IQ's controversial key-logging software, but, they insist, do not use it to monitor subscribers' activities.

A statement from Sprint explained that the software can only "analyze ... network performance and identify where we should be improving service," but "cannot look at the contents of messages, photos, videos, etc. The information collected is not sold and we don't provide a direct feed of this data to anyone outside of Sprint."

Meanwhile, Verizon has maintained that it does not put Carrier IQ or similar software on its phones.

Despite their assurances to the contrary, many privacy advocates are concerned that Carrier IQ is violating the law -- including federal wiretapping laws. While this mess gets sorted out, members of the Senate have asked Carrier IQ to clarify to the subcommitte on Privacy, Technology and Law exactly what its software can -- and can't -- do.

Zapparel: The World's First Augmented-Reality Clothing Line

Technology company Zappar has teamed up with Hybrid Apparel to launch a range of T-shirts that feature augmented-reality technology.

The tees, which go on sale in December, coincide with an app that brings the graphics to life when viewed on an Apple or Android smartphone or tablet device. As you can see in the video, a viewer can even play a video game on a friend's T-shirt, through their tablet.

Tough to wrap your head around? Check out the video, which actually makes the whole concept appear pretty cool. I wonder: Will people actually get on board with augmented-reality clothing? Who knows; it could be the next big thing in fashion.