This week’s Tech Podcast for Technophobes brings you all the Christmas food, music and entertainment apps for kids you could possibly need at this time of year. We’ve also got some info on how you can donate to charities online this Christmas.
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Christian Cawley and Gavin Phillips host the Tech Podcast for Technophobes. You can reach him on Twitter with your suggestions for future themes: @thegadgetmonkey and @gavinspavin.
We’ve got the latest important tech news that matters in this week’s Tech Podcast for Technophobes, plus plenty of tips and tricks you can use to improve your experience with streaming TV.
You can subscribe to really useful podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and Audible, Player FM, or copy the RSS feed into your podcast player.
Christian Cawley and Gavin Phillips host the Tech Podcast for Technophobes. You can reach him on Twitter with your suggestions for future themes: @thegadgetmonkey and @gavinspavin.
CES 2023 recently wrapped up its showcase of the next generation of gizmos, gadgets and people movers in Las Vegas. The 2023 edition saw a huge increase in the number of EV products including new EVs, charging devices, in-car entertainment systems, safety systems and more.
With that in mind, here are the best new EV products from CES 2023.
1. BMW i Vision D connects the physical and virtual worlds
One of the wildest reveals at CES 2023 was BMW’s i Vision D. According to BMW Group, the D stands for “Digital Emotional Experience,” a preview of things to come for BMW’s New Class platform of EVs. The i Vision D is a futuristic mid-size sedan that ditches the automaker’s design language from the past and brings a whole new level of customization to its cars.
BMW seeks to strengthen the relationship between people and their cars. how so? The Eye Vision D features exterior color changing technology made possible by its 240E ink segment which enables a fully variable and individually configurable exterior.
In addition, BMW’s mixed reality slider works with an advanced head-up display (HUD) that lets drivers decide how much digital content they want to see. Options range from analog displays to augmented-reality projections for full entry into the virtual world, which can be projected across the entire width of the windshield.
The Eye Vision D features “phygital” (physical and digital) icons that enable the car to offer personalized greetings, talk to people, and express mood. While BMW is still far from fully realizing iVision D, the automaker will begin adding full-windshield HUDs to its new Class vehicles in 2025.
2. Mercedes to build its own charging network
Mercedes-Benz announced at CES 2023 that it is launching a global high-power charging network. Mercedes says it will start building out its network in North America in 2023. The automaker expects to have at least 400 hubs in the region by 2027 with over 2,500 high-power chargers.
Mercedes is partnering with two EV leaders: MN8 Energy, a solar power and battery storage company, and ChargePoint, a charging network technology company. Depending on the location, each charging hub can have up to 30 high-power chargers with charging power of up to 350 kW.
The German automaker noted that to maximize convenience, its charging hubs will be strategically located near major population centres, close to facilities and roadways. Mercedes-Benz customers will get preferential access to pre-booking functions, among other benefits. Drivers from other brands with compatible technology will also have access to this new network.
The company aims to have 10,000 chargers around the world by the end of this decade and make its network fully sustainable through green electricity by 2039.
3. Sony and Honda unveil brand new EV concept
From the Sony camp at CES 2023, you can only expect PlayStation and entertainment-focused launches. However, the tech conglomerate announced its partnership with Honda to develop a new EV-mobility company, AFEELA. According to Sony-Honda, its mission is to “bring love to people through the pursuit of innovation with diverse inspirations.”
The company unveiled a prototype car for its new brand “AFEELA” in Las Vegas. The prototype sports a sedan-like design equipped with 45 cameras and sensors inside and outside the vehicle. In addition, its electronic control unit is capable of 800 trillion operations per second of maximum computing power to support augmented reality and self-driving capabilities.
AFEELA is expected to start deliveries in 2026, with pre-orders starting in 2025.