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According to its Feature Availability page, Apple today introduced a number of new features for Apple Maps. Several new Flyover locations have been added, and available maps for indoor malls have expanded.

In some of these locations, the updates may have actually rolled out a few months ago, but Apple's updated list lets us know exactly where Maps feature are available. In other areas, the Flyover updates appear to be new and aren't showing up just yet.

cannesflyover

New Flyover Locations

  • Aix-en-Provence, France
  • Aizuwakamatsu, Japan
  • Albuquerque, NM
  • Cannes, France
  • Charleston, SC
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Collioure, France
  • Foxboro, MA
  • Freeport, Bahamas
  • Granada, Spain
  • Gifu, Japan
  • Greensboro, NC
  • Hikone, Japan
  • Himeji, Japan
  • Infantes, Spain
  • Izumo, Japan
  • Izushi, Japan
  • Joshua Tree National Park
  • Kahului, HI
  • Kanazawa, Japan
  • Kapaa, HI
  • Key West, FL
  • Kitakyushu, Japan
  • Kōya, Japan
  • Lahaina, HI
  • Lake Tahoe, CA
  • Lens, France
  • Lihue, HI
  • Matsumoto, Japan
  • Monaco
  • Nara, Japan
  • Naha, Japan
  • Odawara, Japan
  • Padua, Italy
  • Preston, England
  • Queenstown, New Zealand
  • Reggio Di Calabria, Italy
  • Remoulins, France
  • Sakai, Japan
  • Siracusa, Italy
  • Takahashi, Japan
  • Takamatsu, Japan
  • Tōjinbō, Japan
  • Toledo, OH
  • Treviso, Italy
  • Tsu, Japan
  • Twelve Apostles
  • Valladolid, Spain
  • Wailua, HI
  • Yokkaichi, Japan
  • Zaragoza, Spain

Indoor Maps

Apple Maps indoor mapping feature has expanded to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, and dozens of malls across the United States and other countries. We're not going to list them just because of the sheer number of new additions to the list, but mall maps have expanded in a major way since first being introduced in iOS 11.

You can see a full list of malls (and airports) that have indoor maps available in Apple Maps on Apple's Feature Availability page.

Speed Limits

In Canada, Apple has confirmed official support for speed limits within Apple Maps, a feature that Canadian users first began noticing a few months ago. Prior to the addition of Canada, speed limit information, a new iOS 12 feature, was only available in the UK and the United States.

Transit

Transit directions now also appear to be available across the states of Louisiana and Minnesota, with Apple updating previous listings that specified just Minneapolis and New Orleans.

The 2019 Consumer Electronics Show officially kicked off today, with thousands of vendors showing off everything from smart toilets to new battery packs for the iPhone.

At CES, there are several major media events that are less overwhelming than the show floor, like Unveiled, Pepcom, and ShowStoppers. Pepcom took place last night, and MacRumors was on hand to check out some of the most interesting products and accessories that were being demoed.


Mophie is showing off its new Juice Pack battery cases for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR at CES, and was on hand at Pepcom for a quick hands-on. The new cases charge the iPhone using Qi wireless charging, leaving the Lightning port free in case you want to plug in real quick or use Lightning based headphones. The cases themselves charge via Qi wireless charging or over USB-C, and Mophie plans to launch them in the first quarter of 2019 for $119.95.

Tons of other accessories were available at Pepcom, like Otterbox's new Otter + Pop iPhone cases, which it created in partnership with PopSocket. There's a collapsible, interchangeable PopGrip on the back of the new Otter + Pop case, which PopSocket lovers are sure to like.

There were no shortage of HomeKit devices at Pepcom, with many manufacturers introducing new HomeKit-compatible accessories at CES. We got to see Brilliant's smart light switch in action, a product that will soon support HomeKit. The Brilliant Control replaces any existing light switch and adds physical controls along with a touch display that can be used to control other smart devices in the home.

Parents might be interested in the $149 Coolpad Dyno Smartwatch, which, while not iOS-based, is useful for children. It's an Android smart watch that has built-in LTE connectivity and a simple UI that's easy for kids to use. It can be used to send a call or a text to a parent, with a built-in SOS safety feature that calls 911 in an emergency if parents can't be reached. It is water resistant, durable, and has GPS tracking so parents can keep an eye on their kids' location.

The Cemtrex Smartdesk caught our eye because it's a massive desk with a PC built right in. It comes equipped with three integrated touch displays that all work together, gesture support, a wireless charging pad, and sit/stand adjustability. There are plenty of other bells and whistles, which is unsurprising because this desk costs $4,499 to $5,699. Cemtrex doesn't have a Mac option right now, but says one could launch in the future.

Telepresence devices have been around for awhile, but the latest is Temi, the personal robot. Priced at $1,500, Temi is a home robot that can navigate around the house, let you communicate with friends and family, help you cook, follow you, and tons more.

For those who like the outdoors, Furrion was on-hand with weatherproof electronics like a 4K TV, a waterproof solar battery, and a massive battery powered cooler that makes camping a whole lot nicer.

Finally, we got to see Aibo, Sony's robotic dog. Priced at $3,000, Aibo is an adorable, endearing little robot that offers the companionship of a pet without the downsides like fur and cleanup. Aibo features a unique personality, lifelike movements, and an innate curiosity about its environment. Aibo learns its environment, develops relationships with people, and becomes smarter over time.

Want to see more cool tech being shown off at CES? Make sure to check out our CES Unveiled video from yesterday and our full CES 2019 hub. Stay tuned to MacRumors, because we'll also have more videos coming later this week.

Apple LogoApple's annual shareholders meeting is set to take place at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on March 1, 2019, the company said today in a filing with the SEC.

Apple has been holding its shareholder meetings at Steve Jobs Theater since last year, and because space is limited, the company asks that shareholders pre-register for the event.

Shareholders can register to attend the meeting at Proxyvote.com starting at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time on February 6. Apple says that registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The record date for the meeting is January 2, 2019, and only shareholders as of the record date who have registered in advance and have a valid registration confirmation will be allowed to enter the meeting.

Last year's shareholders meeting was rather tame, focusing primarily on discussing shareholder proposals, many of which were routine proposals for re-electing the board of directors, compensating executives, and more. Apple did make a few comments about topics that include acquisitions, customer satisfaction, and wearables, so similar information could be shared this year.

Pad & Quill, known for its line of Apple accessories made from high-quality leather, is expanding its TechFolio series that's designed to house cords, cables, power adapters, Apple Watch bands, the Apple Pencil, and more in one convenient place.

To go along with the existing Classic TechFolio Cord Organizer, Pad & Quill is adding the new TechFolio Mini ($59.95) and the new TechFolio Pro ($119.95).

originaltechfolio

Original TechFolio

The original TechFolio has nine compartments for cords and accessories along with an Apple Pencil holder, while the Mini version, designed for the iPad Pro, is smaller.

It has a cord organizer pocket for cables along with a strap to secure them, plus an Apple Pencil slot, an SD card holder, and a slot where you can keep power adapters, battery packs, and other accessories.

techfoliomini

TechFolio Mini

There are also two additional pockets for cords, dongles, and anything else you might need to store, and the whole thing folds up into a little bundle that can then be tucked into a bag or backpack.

techfoliomini2

TechFolio Mini

The TechFolio Pro is the opposite of the Mini, adding even more storage space to the original TechFolio design. The TechFolio Pro is the ultimate travel companion and accessory organizer with a total of 15 pockets.

Like the other TechFolio products, the TechFolio Pro is made from full-grain leather with a canvas interior and leather accents. There are five cord organizing pockets for your cables, complete with rivet closures, along with an Apple Pencil slot.

techfoliopro1

TechFolio Pro

Two large zipper pockets offer up storage space for power adapters, battery packs, and hard drives, and there are two slots where you can store small things like SD cards or house keys.

Larger cords fit into two additional pockets, and a flap-covered medium-sized pocket is ideal for any dongles and adapters you might have. A slip pocket can hold things like credit cards and your passport, and there's another smaller slip pocket for anything else you might need to store.

techfoliopro2

TechFolio Pro

Once packed with accessories, the TechFolio Pro folds up neatly into thirds so you can tuck it away in your pack.

Pad & Quill's new TechFolios can be purchased from the Pad & Quill website. The original TechFolio is available for $$89.95 and ships immediately. The TechFolio Mini, priced at $59.95 and the TechFolio Pro, priced at $119.95, can be pre-ordered and will ship out in early February.

MacRumors readers interested in purchasing a TechFolio from Pad & Quill can use the promo code MR15 to get a $15 discount.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner Pad & Quill. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

LifeProof today announced the launch of a $99 Lifeactiv Power Pack 20, a 20,000 mAh battery pack that features a USB-C port and built-in water resistance.

The Lifeactiv Power Pack 20 includes two 10,000mAh batteries inside, and with the USB-C port, it can charge Apple's USB-C MacBooks, iPad Pro models, and iPhones with a USB-C to Lightning cable.

lifeproofbatterypack
According to LifeProof, the Power Pack is waterproof in up to 6.6 feet of water for a period of one hour, drop proof up to 6.6 feet, and sealed from dirt and snow, making it an ideal battery pack for outdoor usage.

To survive a water drop and to keep it safe from liquids, the charging port door on the Lifeactiv needs to be closed before it's exposed to moisture.

The 20,000mAh Lifeactiv Power Pack 20 from LifeProof is available for purchase today for $99 from the LifeProof website.

OtterBox today announced that it's teaming up with Corning for a new line of Amplify screen protectors for smartphones.

For those unfamiliar with Corning, Corning is the company that creates the super strong Gorilla Glass that's used in Apple's iOS devices and other electronics.

corningotterbox
OtterBox and Corning plan to create a "full portfolio" of "innovative glass solutions" to provide additional protection to smartphones and tablets while also improving the user experience.

The Amplify screen protectors will use proprietary engineering and manufacturing techniques for longer-lasting protection and durability.

"We understand that your phone screen is the window into your world and a gateway to your most important memories," said OtterBox CEO Jim Parke. "Corning is the leading glass innovation company in the world, and we look forward to this partnership improving smartphone screen protection for our customers."

According to OtterBox, the Amplify line of screen protectors will be launching soon for the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

googlemapsGoogle is adding its Google Assistant feature to the Google Maps apps for iOS and Android, Google announced today.

The feature will be available on iPhones starting this afternoon, with Google planning to enable Assistant for Google Maps via an update that's rolling out "shortly."

On iOS and Android devices, Google Assistant will allow Google Maps users to control their navigation, reply to texts, and control music. On Android, it is also able to send messages through various messaging apps, a feature not available on iOS.

It can also do things like calculate your ETA so you can let friends and family know when you're set to arrive.

Google Assistant is already available on iOS devices through the dedicated Google Assistant app, but adding it into Maps makes it more readily accessible for the millions of people who already use the Google Maps app.

Apple CEO Tim Cook will appear on CNBC's "Mad Money" show this evening, where he will speak with host Jim Cramer, and ahead of the interview, CNBC has shared some of what was discussed.

The topic was, of course, Apple's recent guidance downgrade, where Cook said that factors like poor sales in China, a strong U.S. dollar, and cheap battery replacements impacted Q1 2019 earnings.

timcookmadmoney2019
According to Cook, Apple's ecosystem of devices and services is "probably underappreciated" by naysayers, which is something that he's heard over and over again over the years.

"I'm not defensive on it. This is America and you can say what you want," Cook continued. "But ... my honest opinion is that there is a culture of innovation in Apple and that culture of innovation combined with these incredible, loyal customers, happy customers, this ecosystem, this virtuous ecosystem, is something that is probably underappreciated."

Cook went on to say that he wasn't surprised at the drop in Apple stock following the news, because the market is "quite emotional in the short term." Cook says that Apple "looks through all of that" and focuses more on the longer term.


Apple's long-term health has "never been better," the product pipeline has "never been better" and the "ecosystem has never been stronger," especially when it comes to services, according to Cook.


Cook's full interview on "Mad Money" with further commentary on Apple's upcoming earnings is set to air tonight at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Tags: CNBC, Tim Cook

Yubico, a company that makes physical security keys for physical two-factor authentication, today announced the upcoming launch of a Lightning-based YubiKey device that will work with Apple's iPhones and iPads.

Yubico has long offered USB-A, USB-C, and NFC-based YubiKey options for PCs, Macs, and mobile devices, but there has never been a Lightning-based option before.

yubikeyforlightning
YubiKey for Lightning, which has been approved by Apple, has been designed to be used with both Lightning devices and Apple's latest Macs thanks to a Lightning connector on one end and a USB-C connector on the other end.

The new accessory will offer up seamless authentication across Apple's desktop and mobile devices. Yubico is launching a YubiKey for Lightning program, which will let developers and services adopt support for the YubiKey.

YubiKey for Lightning is in a private preview and available only for participants in the YubiKey for Lightning program, with more information on general availability to come at a later date.


Yubico is today also announcing an a new version of its Security Key NFC for tap-and-go authentication on supported devices like Android smartphones and Windows 10 computers.

Nanoleaf, the company that makes lighting panels designed for walls and ceilings, is showing off an upcoming product at CES -- hexagon-shaped light panels.

Nanoleaf currently offers triangle-shaped light panels and square-shaped Canvas panels, a new product introduced in December. The six-sided Hexagon tiles are similar to the Canvas, but come in a unique hexagon design.

nanoleafhexagons1
Like the square Canvas tiles, the Hexagons are touch enabled, so you can use taps, swipes, and other gestures to do things like swap scenes, turn the tiles on and off, adjust brightness, and more. Up to 500 Hexagons can be connected together and controlled with a single Control Hexagon, though additional power supplies are required for each group of 25.

The Hexagons are in the early stages of development and are set to be released in the fourth quarter of 2019. Pricing is not available for the Hexagon setup, but the Nanoleaf Canvas, which has similar capabilities, is priced at $250.

nanoleafhexagons2
Nanoleaf is also showcasing its Mounting Grid solution for the Nanoleaf Canvas, which is designed for commercial installations and lets users snap the light squares into place for a secure setup. The Nanoleaf Canvas Mounting Grid will be available in the third quarter of 2019.

nanoleafmountinggrid
For those attending the show, Nanoleaf has an Infinity Lights Room on display, which it calls an "explorative journey through sight, sound, and touch." Nanoleaf Canvas games like Whack-A-Mole, "Canvas" Crush, and Pacman will also be shown off.

Following in the footsteps of Alpine and Pioneer, Kenwood today at CES 2019 introduced its first in-car multimedia receivers with wireless CarPlay.

kenwood carplay
Kenwood is offering seven new receivers with wireless CarPlay support, many of which are part of its eXcelon series. The model numbers include NX996XR, DDX9906XR, DDX8906S, DMX906S, DNR876S, DDX8706S, and DMX9706S.

Wireless CarPlay enables drivers to connect an iPhone to the receiver via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, whereas most factory-installed CarPlay receivers still require connecting an iPhone with a Lightning to USB cable to access CarPlay functionality. BMW does offer wireless CarPlay and Mercedes-Benz said it plans to as well.

The new Kenwood receivers also feature wireless Android Auto and Google Assistant, according to the car entertainment company.

CarPlay is Apple's in-car software that enables iPhone users to access a range of apps from a vehicle's dashboard display, such as Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Radio, Pandora, WhatsApp, Downcast, Slacker Radio, Stitcher, and as of iOS 12, Google Maps and Waze.

Pricing and availability were not disclosed.

Update: JVC, part of the same company as Kenwood, has also introduced two wireless CarPlay receivers for $600 to $700 in the United States.

Related Roundup: CarPlay

Photos of an unreleased iPad mini with hardware different than that of any previous generation of the tablet were shared on Twitter today by a person using the pseudonym Mr. White. The same user has shared many photos of what appear to be early prototypes of Apple products along with components in recent months.

ipad mini 5 possible
The photos, spotted by 9to5Mac, depict a rose gold iPad mini with an antenna band that forms the shape of a rounded rectangle. The current iPad mini 4 has a similar antenna design, but the rounded rectangle is filled in with plastic to ensure proper transmission of signals from the wireless chip inside.

Apple later improved its antenna design and only required a narrow band for cellular connectivity on 2017 iPad Pro models. This suggests the iPad mini in the photos could be a new model in development.

Beyond that, the iPad mini in the photos looks identical to the iPad mini 4, with a headphone jack, side volume controls, Lightning connector, two speakers along the bottom, and so forth. The tablet also lacks a LED flash next to the rear camera, consistent with every previous iPad mini generation.

ipad mini 5 possible 2
Last month, an alleged case for the so-called iPad mini 5 surfaced with a vertical cutout for the rear camera, suggesting the new model might have a rear camera, LED flash, and center microphone cutout. The case also had cutouts for four speakers, however, a feature that feels too premium for the lower-priced iPad mini. In other words, the case might not necessarily be for a future iPad mini.

Back in October, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple plans to launch a new iPad mini, and the China Times reported that the tablet will launch in the first half of 2019. If true, the new model will likely be a modest upgrade to the iPad mini 4, perhaps with a faster processor and a few other minor improvements.

The iPad mini 4 was released in September 2015 and remains available for purchase for $399 and up in the United States.

The anonymous Mr. White shared photos of an alleged iPad mini 5 logic board a few months ago along with a diagnostics report indicating that the tablet will have a TSMC-manufactured Apple A9 chip used in iPhone 6s models. The iPad mini 4 is powered by the Apple A8 chip found in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.


All this said, the iPad mini shown in photos today could be an older prototype that may or may not ever be released. Apple prototypes all sorts of different devices and configurations internally that don't always see the light of day.

If a new iPad mini is on the horizon, though, March has been a common release month for iPads in recent years.

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Satechi today at CES 2019 announced it has released two new power adapters, including a dual-port wall charger and a four-port travel charger.

satechi usb c chargers
The wall charger features one 18W USB-C Power Delivery port and one 12W USB-A port, while the travel charger features a pair of 60W and 18W USB-C Power Delivery ports and two USB-A ports with a total max output of 12W.

The 18W USB-C port on the wall charger is ideal for charging a 2018 iPad Pro or fast charging the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, or iPhone XR with a USB-C to Lightning cable. Fast charging an iPhone provides up to 50 percent battery life in just 30 minutes, according to Apple.

The four-port travel charger is ideal for not only the latest iPhone and iPad models, but larger devices such as the newest MacBook Air and Nintendo Switch.

satechi travel charger
The dual-port wall charger is available for pre-order for $29.99 in space gray on Satechi's website in the United States, with orders estimated to begin shipping on January 31. The four-port travel charger is available now for $69.99 on Amazon and Satechi's website and ships in an estimated one to two days.

Satechi does not include charging cables with either power adapter.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and Satechi. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission, which helps us keep the site running.

Sony today at CES 2019 introduced its latest aftermarket CarPlay receiver with improved sound quality and a dedicated voice button.

sony carplay xav ax7000
The new XAV-AX7000 has the same 6.95-inch capacitive touchscreen as the current XAV-AX5000, but features a higher-power 100W class-D amplifier for more impactful sound and a higher-power 5V pre-out for clearer sound with less distortion when the receiver is connected to an external amplifier, according to Sony.

By comparison, the XAV-AX5000 has a 55W class-D amplifier and a 2V pre-out.

Beyond the dedicated voice button, the design of the XAV-AX7000 is identical to the XAV-AX5000, including slim bezels with physical buttons for volume and playback controls, settings, and returning to the home screen. Both receivers have dual USB-A ports for wired CarPlay. Android Auto is also supported.

The rear chassis of the XAV-AX7000 is designed with space-saving single-DIN dimensions, according to Sony.

Like the XAV-AX5000, the XAV-AX7000 can be connected to a vehicle's rear-view camera with adjustable parking guidelines. Both receivers also have Bluetooth, SiriusXM compatibility, and boot approximately 2.5 times faster than Sony's lesser-end XAV-AX100 receiver after the vehicle is turned on.

Sony says the XAV-AX7000 will be available in North America starting in summer 2019, with pricing to be announced at a later date. The XAV-AX5000 retails for a suggested price of $399.99 in the United States.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Tags: CES 2019, Sony

A few days ago, Apple announced that AirPlay 2–enabled smart TVs are coming soon from leading manufacturers, and we've since seen a series of announcements from Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio at CES 2019.

samsung tv itunes app
Apple has now shared a list of AirPlay 2–enabled TVs announced to date:

  • LG OLED (2019)

  • LG NanoCell SM9X series (2019)

  • LG NanoCell SM8X series (2019)

  • LG UHD UM7X series (2019)

  • Samsung QLED Series (2019 and 2018)

  • Samsung 8 Series (2019 and 2018)

  • Samsung 7 Series (2019 and 2018)

  • Samsung 6 Series (2019 and 2018)

  • Samsung 5 Series (2019 and 2018)

  • Samsung 4 Series (2019 and 2018)

  • Sony Z9G Series (2019)

  • Sony A9G Series (2019)

  • Sony X950G Series (2019)

  • Sony X850G Series (2019 85", 75", 65" and 55" models)

  • Vizio P-Series Quantum (2019 and 2018)

  • Vizio P-Series (2019, 2018 and 2017)

  • Vizio M-Series (2019, 2018 and 2017)

  • Vizio E-Series (2019, 2018 and 2017)

  • Vizio D-series (2019, 2018 and 2017)

We've yet to see any AirPlay 2 announcements from smaller brands such as TCL, Hisense, Panasonic, or Toshiba.

AirPlay 2 support will allow users to stream video, audio, photos, and more directly from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to supported smart TVs. HomeKit support is also coming to many of these TVs, enabling users to control volume, playback, and more using Siri or the Home app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Samsung announced that its latest smart TVs are also getting an exclusive iTunes TV and movie app for accessing the storefront.

Apple is widely expected to launch a Netflix-esque streaming video service later this year, and AirPlay 2 support on leading smart TVs would make it easier for users to stream Apple's original content on the big screen without an Apple TV. Rumors suggest Apple could introduce the service within the first half of 2019.

Signify today announced that its Philips Hue lighting lineup is gaining new outdoor lighting and sensor options in 2019.

New to the Hue Outdoor line is the Philips Hue Outdoor Sensor, which, like the indoor sensor, is designed to detect motion. The Outdoor Sensor is able to tell when a person is nearby, turning on outdoor Hue lights automatically.

huemotionsensor
The Hue Outdoor Sensor is wireless and operates on battery power, so it can be placed anywhere that's convenient. It has a 12-meter detection range and an integrated dusk-to-dawn sensor, making sure the lights only come on when it's dark outside.

Priced at $49.95, the Hue Outdoor Sensor will be available in February 2019.

Along with the sensor, Signify is introducing several new Philips Hue wall-mounted outdoor lighting fixtures, including the Philips Hue Welcome Flood Light ($109.99), the Philips Hue Discover Flood Light ($139.99), and the Philips Hue Econic family, priced at $129.99.

huewelcomeanddiscover

Hue Discover and Welcome Lights

The Welcome light is limited to one shade of bright white light, but the Discover light is a white and color ambiance light, which means it can be set to various shades of white or one of 16 million colors.

The new Philips Hue Outdoor lights will work like all other Hue lights, allowing for Siri-based voice controls via HomeKit as well as app control options through the Hue app or the Home app.

hueeconic

Hue Econic lights

The lights will also work with scenes and automations, allowing them to be integrated with other HomeKit products and set to come on automatically at designated times if desired. Signify plans to release the lights in February 2019.

More info on the new Hue Outdoor lights can be found on the Meethue website.

Anker has announced a new line of portable speakers under its Soundcore home audio brand. Dubbed the Rave series, the high-watt speakers are aimed at providing the soundtrack to your next outdoor summer party.

anker soundcore rave series
The standard Rave speaker costs $200, is splash resistant, and comes with dual two-inch tweeters and two 5.25-inch woofers that combine to deliver 160 watts of sound.

Next in the line-up is the $150 Rave Mini, an IPX7-rated waterproof speaker that packs a two-inch tweeter and identical woofers, and offers 80W output for up to 18 hours on a single charge.

anker soundcore rave mini
While both of those models aren't set to launch in the U.S. until the summer, Anker does plan to bring two additional Rave speakers to market as early as this spring.

Called the Icon and Icon Mini, these two smaller models are both dust-resistant and waterproof, and are light enough to float in water.

The standard Icon features a 12-hour battery and will cost $50, while the Icon Mini offers eight hours' battery life and will cost $30.

anker soundcore alarm clock
In addition to the Rave series of speakers, this spring Anker is also launching the $100 Soundcore Wakey, an alarm clock that doubles as a wireless charger.

In a bid to compete with the likes of Amazon Prime and Roku, Plex is reportedly planning to offer users ad-supported movies and premium content subscriptions through its platform.

plexwebshows2

Plex Web Shows

According to TechCrunch, the personal media management service is already in discussions with rights holders and networks to bring ad-supported content to the Plex platform, in a manner similar to the way in which The Roku Channel got up and running.

It's also said to be in talks with premium networks and content providers about offering their programming and subscriptions through Plex.

The idea apparently emerged out of Plex's agreement to bundle Tidal's music streaming service, as this meant it had to build transactional capabilities into its platform that were previously non-existent.

"Now we have the ability to sell other services and bundles," noted Plex co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Scott Olechowski, in a discussion this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. "We're bundling a Plex Pass with TIDAL. That took a little bit of backend work," he continued. "You can imagine a bunch of different premium [content] that comes together in a single or multiple bundles, potentially."

The premium content would be presented to users through the existing Plex interface, which is organized by media type (music, movies, TV, etc.), and would allow them to easily see what sort of content they have access to based on their subscription.

Meanwhile, ad-supported movies would be delivered using Plex's existing ad tech platform, which serves ads in its existing streaming news and web show series.

Before it can offer the new content, Plex reportedly needs to further develop its digital rights management system and one-off purchase transactions backend. It also has to work out how the premium content would be bundled and offered to both paid and non-paying users.

However, all being well, Plex hopes the new content will make its way onto the platform before the end of 2019.

Tags: CES 2019, Plex