1 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Fear and Greed summer series. I'm Michael Thompson. Today. 2 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: What gadgets should we be watching out for this year 3 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty six. Stephen Fennick is the editor of 4 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: tech Guide dot com dot au and if there is 5 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: a gadget coming out anywhere in the world, he will 6 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:21,120 Speaker 1: know about it. Steven, Welcome back to Fear and Greed. Hi, Michael, 7 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: I're going I'm going well, though this is a busy 8 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: time of year for you. You are about to head off 9 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: to one of the big tech shows in the world. 10 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:30,159 Speaker 1: Out of all of the shows that you go to, 11 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: where you go and kind of check out everything that's 12 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: coming up, is there a particular favorite and does it 13 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: happen to be in Vegas in the next week or so? 14 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 2: You're exactly right. Yeah. The Consumer Electronics Show is the 15 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 2: super Bowl of tech shows. It's massive, it is the 16 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 2: It is where all the companies launch their products for 17 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 2: this year, and beyond a real showcase, the whole the 18 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 2: whole tech world is their media, companies, buyers is what 19 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 2: a lot of the deals are done with this show 20 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 2: where companies decide, you know, the retailers or so, what 21 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 2: they're going to stop what they're going to have in 22 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 2: their stores as well, So it really does shape the 23 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 2: whole tech world. 24 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 1: And is it actually consumer gadgets or are these kind 25 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: of like you know, when you see like a car show, 26 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: for instance, is often a concept car that will never 27 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: actually be made into a vehicle that you can go 28 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: and buy at a showroom. Is everything that you're seeing at 29 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: these tech shows actually things that will likely be released 30 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: in the next twelve months. 31 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, they are mostly most of them. There are 32 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: still some concept devices and other things that are sort 33 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 2: of here, look what we can do kind of products. 34 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 2: But for the main part, yeah, I'd say ninety percent 35 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 2: of what we see on the show floor will end 36 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:38,120 Speaker 2: up in a store before the end of the year. 37 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: All right, what are you expecting to see this year? 38 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: Is it all going to be about AI or is 39 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 1: it something else, something more I was about to say 40 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: something more practical, but AI is very practical if you 41 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: can get it to work in a consumer way, right. 42 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: Well, AI and practical very good words to describe what 43 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 2: I think is going to be the huge product. And 44 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 2: they are smart glasses. We've already seen Meta come through 45 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 2: with their glasses. We've already seen, of course, Apple's Vision Pro. 46 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 2: Samsung late last year announced their answer to the Vision Pro, 47 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 2: the Samsung x R. Google's created the XR platform and 48 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:19,399 Speaker 2: has already formed partnership with glasses manufacturers to create more 49 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 2: affordable smart glasses. We saw also late last year Meta 50 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,399 Speaker 2: with their latest version of their glasses having actually an 51 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 2: in screen display in that you could actually see while 52 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 2: you're wearing the glasses. So I think between all of 53 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 2: these different companies, and the other rumor from Apple is 54 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 2: that they're going to also have a more affordable take 55 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 2: sort of the vision Pro technology, Shrink it down, make 56 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 2: it more affordable and accessible. Because the Vision Pro let's 57 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 2: face it, it's not something you'd wear in public or 58 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 2: not I would in anyway. It's a great product, but 59 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 2: you wouldn't be wearing it outside. So I think what 60 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 2: we're going to see is that with AI and with 61 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 2: the technology they're developing, I think you're going to see 62 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 2: this is going to be the new hot item in 63 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 2: twenty twenty six smart glasses. 64 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: Okay, because we have seen really it started with the 65 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: Google Lens, wasn't it. That was years ago? 66 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 2: Google Glass, Yeah, that was more than that was in 67 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 2: twenty twelve and talk about being ahead of your time, 68 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 2: and they looked a bit dorky. They weren't really not 69 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 2: something that people were used to seeing. Wearables weren't really 70 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 2: a thing back then. But Google has created its own 71 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 2: platform in conjunction with Samsung, So the Google XR platform, 72 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 2: Android XR platform is where it's all going to happen, 73 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 2: and they're already talking deals. Samsung released the XR which 74 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 2: is half the price of the Vision Pro, so that's 75 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 2: a definite shot across the bow for Apple. So we're 76 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 2: going to see a lot of competition in this space. 77 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: There are a few concerns, I suppose about this in 78 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: terms of privacy and people not necessarily consenting to being filmed. 79 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: Because if someone is wearing these glasses that have potentially 80 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: got a camera in there that is used for kind 81 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: of augmented reality or kind of detecting things and helping 82 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: you process things using AI, then we almost need to 83 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: understand that we will potentially be filmed at all times. 84 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: How on earth are these companies going to help navigate that? 85 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree, I think they're the device and I 86 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 2: own Theta the Meta ray bands. They do have a 87 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 2: small light that you can easily see it. That indicates 88 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 2: when the cameras are operating. So I think what they 89 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 2: need is to have a really visible light, an LED 90 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 2: or something to say, okay, I'm recording. That means I'm recording, 91 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 2: So that's important. But the cameras will yes, they'll be 92 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 2: used to film and for photos and videos, but they'll 93 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 2: also be filmed to see a lot of the AI, 94 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 2: especially Gemini, relies on what it sees through that lens, 95 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 2: So that's you can ask the meta today what am 96 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 2: I looking at? And it'll see what you're seeing through 97 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 2: the glasses and say, oh, yeah, you're looking at a 98 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,359 Speaker 2: beach and there's people there and there's cars, and it'll 99 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 2: give you it'll tell you what it's seeing. So you 100 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 2: might be able to in the near future be able 101 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 2: to recognize landmarks. It'll say, well, what am I looking at? Here? 102 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 2: That's the Sydney Opera House. It opened in nineteen seventy three, 103 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 2: and this is it was designed by yurn Utzen, whoever 104 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 2: he was. So it's that sort of information that we're 105 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 2: going to have at our fingertips without having to pull 106 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 2: a phone out of our pocket, and with a little 107 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 2: display in the glasses. I think that's the next step 108 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 2: where the information we get from our phones will be there, 109 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 2: but we don't actually have to look at a phone 110 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 2: to find it out. 111 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: What is the barrier to this becoming big? Because that 112 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: what's going to stop it going from concept to a 113 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: mass device. Because we've seen the watch has become embraced 114 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:52,600 Speaker 1: enormously by everyone. And I suppose maybe fifteen years ago 115 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: you would have laughed at the idea of people having 116 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: watches that have so much information about us and being 117 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,279 Speaker 1: able to kind of send messages and things on it. 118 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: It's too small, it can't possibly do it. How on 119 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 1: Earth is the glasses going to catch on? Is it 120 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 1: having it at a low enough price point, is it 121 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: being able to prove its functionality. Is it about kind 122 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: of just hitting a point at which it becomes almost inevitable. 123 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,119 Speaker 2: I think all of the above. You're right, it does. 124 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 2: New tech is never cheap, like the Vision pro for example, 125 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 2: that's what the technology is going to be based off. 126 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 2: That's still a six thousand dollars product here in Australia. 127 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 2: So I think if there was one company who could 128 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 2: make something more accessible and more wanted by customers, make 129 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 2: it more mainstream it to be Apple, but they've priced 130 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 2: this well out of everyone's rich now in their development, 131 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 2: and I like the fact they've started with the Vision 132 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 2: pro so they've gone to the top first so they 133 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 2: can work backwards and have cheaper products. So I think 134 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 2: that will play a big part the actual the pricing, 135 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 2: the affordability, but also the practicality. I think that if 136 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 2: people can can work these into their daily lives, in 137 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 2: their workflow, even then they find some benefit. Any people 138 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 2: who can maybe spend less time looking at their phone 139 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 2: or reaching for their phone and having that information right 140 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 2: there where they need it, then I think that that's 141 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 2: going to appeal to a wide range of customers. 142 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's all pretty exciting. Stephen enjoy Vegas. 143 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 2: I'll do my best. 144 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 1: That was Stephen Fennick, editor of tech Guide dot com 145 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: dot AU. Don't forget to follow on the podcast. New 146 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: episodes every day during our summer series and regular shows 147 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: back from January twelve. I'm Michael Thompson, and this is 148 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: fair and great