As the Consumer Tech team prepares to head to Las Vegas for CES 2024 next week, we cannot stop thinking about LG’s adorable 4K projector while also wondering what an Xbox-inspired BLT would taste like. Oh, and we also rounded up the top product stories of the week.
LG Just Announced the Cutest Little 4K Projector
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LG recently announced a new 4K projector, the CineBeam Qube, and I’m pretty smitten with it. It supports 4K and can project up to 120 inches, but its “eye-catching minimal aesthetic” is what the company seems most proud of. The CineBeam Qube is pretty cute. – Dua Rashid Read More
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Meta Quest 2 Won’t Easily Stream to TVs Anymore, But at Least It’s Half the Price Now
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Trying to draw attention back to its Metaverse ambitions, Meta dropped the price of its 128 GB to $250. That’s exactly half of what the company’s latest Quest 3 costs. An extra $50 will net you the 256 GB Quest 2, but if you’re looking to get one even cheaper, the company is advertising refurbished headsets starting at $230 and $270, respectively.
No matter what, Meta is still in charge, and if the company giveth, it may also taketh away. Over the past week, Meta silently removed the option to let users stream to Chromecast. Android Central first reported during the holidays that users no longer find the option to cast to Chromecast, though they can still cast to a phone or computer. – Kyle Barr Read More
Vizio Agrees to Pay Out $3 Million and Stop Advertising Bogus ‘Effective’ Framerates
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TV maker Vizio is being taken to task for making big claims of excessive refresh rates on its TVs when, in reality, an “effective frame rate” is based on software meant to give the impression of smoother viewing. While folks who bought a Vizio TV shouldn’t expect any big payout, it’s a strong reminder not to take big framerate claims on your next television or monitor at face value. – Kyle Barr Read More
Microsoft’s ‘AI Browser’ Edge Is a Precursor to the ‘AI’-ification of Everything
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Microsoft is trying to rebrand its Edge internet browser. No longer should its name remind you that its icon shortcut sits alone and forgotten at the edge of your Windows desktop. Now Microsoft is trying to claim Edge is on the cutting edge of AI. The Redmond tech giant has started calling its native internet explorer “Microsoft Edge: AI Browser.” If you think that’s already a little on the nose, expect more companies to do so in the coming year. – Kyle Barr Read More
The Xbox Already Looks Like a Toaster, Now It Is One
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