Nvidia unveils Rubin, Crazy CES Phones, Big ol' TVs + more!

Duration: 09:32

Timestamps:

0:00 CES 2026 - hold on to your butts

0:14 Nvidia CES 2026 Keynote

2:01 Wild phones, tablets at CES 2026

3:38 Massive TVs at CES 2026

5:28 QUICK BITS INTRO

5:38 WD Black is now SanDisk Optimus

6:05 RAM crisis driving price increases

7:06 Alexa Plus and other AI at CES 2026

7:47 France, Malaysia, India investigate Grok

8:41 Microsoft kills Windows phone activation

NEWS SOURCES:

MAINS

CHIP OFF THE OL’ BLOCK

Nvidia reveals 6 new AI supercomputer chips called Vera Rubin

https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/rubin-platform-ai-supercomputer

Nvidia reveals new physical AI models (Issac)

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/01/05/3213249/0/en/NVIDIA-Releases-New-Physical-AI-Models-as-Global-Partners-Unveil-Next-Generation-Robots.html

Reasoning AI for self driving cars from Nvidia (Alpamayo)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-05/nvidia-announces-first-reasoning-ai-for-autonomous-vehicles?embedded-checkout=true

Not paywalled alphamayo thing: https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/alpamayo-autonomous-vehicle-development

All the new press stuff is here:

https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news

general:

https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2026-ces-special-presentation/

Robots:

https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-releases-new-physical-ai-models-as-global-partners-unveil-next-generation-robots

Rubin:

https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/dgx-superpod-rubin/

Video Clips (with time stamps):

Robots: https://www.youtube.com/live/0NBILspM4c4?si=T5_ItUenA9FRJJi_&t=8268

Self Driving Cars: https://www.youtube.com/live/0NBILspM4c4?si=uHpw_BxkH813jUuh&t=8472

Jensen wants to own the world: https://www.youtube.com/live/0NBILspM4c4?si=QVX_0T0lFQbH-T98&t=7057

Jensen wants to own the world (better): https://www.youtube.com/live/0NBILspM4c4?si=kQabJN9euu-giPyP&t=11670

Jensen talking to Star Wars Droids: https://www.youtube.com/live/0NBILspM4c4?si=_I8DYGtq23AzkFPc&t=9067

Jensen in his leather jacket: https://www.youtube.com/live/0NBILspM4c4?si=zJs5B2cP2OXZF9Aj&t=7721

HONOR AMONG THIEVES

Honor's Audacious Robot Phone Is Real and I Just Got a First Glimpse (This thing is insane, it has a flip out camera gimbal. Like a DJI Osmo built into the phone)

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/honor-shows-off-robot-phone-at-ces-2026/

https://www.pcmag.com/news/honor-unveils-its-alpha-plan-at-mwc-2025-including-10-billion-ai-investment

‘Max Ink Mode’ is back on TCL’s NXTPaper 70 Pro

https://www.theverge.com/tech/854132/tcl-nxtpaper-70-pro-max-ink-mode-note-a1-tablet

Haining Toall Technology insanely thin tablet

https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/android-tablets/i-just-held-the-worlds-thinnest-tablet-at-ces-2026-and-it-makes-the-ipad-pro-look-bloated

Minimal phone pioneer Punkt is back with a new privacy-focused model at CES

https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/minimal-phone-pioneer-punkt-is-back-with-a-new-privacy-focused-model-at-ces-110000705.html

Solver Reveals Customizable Haptic Buttons (Magnetic haptics for your phone?)

https://www.findarticles.com/ces-2026-solver-reveals-customizable-haptic-buttons/

The Clicks Communicator is a BlackBerry for your phone

https://www.theverge.com/tech/851298/clicks-communicator-phone-blackberry-keyboard

THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED

Literally the biggest news is that Samsung unveiled the world’s first 130-inch micro RGB TV (JUST A DEMO)

https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-unveils-worlds-first-130-inch-micro-rgb-tv-featuring-next-generation-color-and-bold-new-design

https://www.forbes.com/sites/prakharkhanna/2026/01/05/samsung-brought-a-massive-130-inch-micro-rgb-tv-to-ces-2026and-its-stunning/

Pricing and availability unannounced

https://interestingengineering.com/ces-2026/samsung-worlds-first-130-inch-micro-rgb-tv#:~:text=pricing%20and%20availability%20for%20the%20R95H%20have%20not%20been%20disclosed%20yet.

Linus home cinema (lugging it in @ 00:42)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEOXrmsa7Y0

Samsung Unveils World’s Brightest QD-OLED TV, Reaching 4500 Nits Of Peak Brightness

https://wccftech.com/samsung-unveils-worlds-brightest-qd-oled-tv-reaching-4500-nits-of-peak-brightness/

https://www.sammobile.com/news/samsung-qd-oled-world-brightest-tv-panel-ces-2026/

Naturally, there was AI stuff in the mix too, including Samsung AI Sound Controller Pro, which allows crowd and voice individual volume control

https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-presents-your-companion-to-ai-living-at-the-first-look-during-ces-2026

Quote: https://news.samsung.com/ca/samsung-presents-your-companion-to-ai-living-at-the-first-look-during-ces-2026#:~:text=AI%20Sound%20Controller%20Pro%20lets%20you%20raise%20or%20lower%20the%20volume%20of%20the%20crowd%2C%20commentary%2C%20or%20background%20music%2C%20providing%20a%20personalized%20listening%20experience%20for%20TV%20shows%20and%20movies

Meanwhile, LG unveiled 2026 OLED TVs: Both G6 and C6 get upgraded Tandem panels

https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1767589748

https://www.notebookcheck.net/LG-OLED-G6-reduces-reflections-and-is-20-brighter-LG-OLED-C6-receives-tandem-OLED-panel-for-the-first-time.1196612.0.html

LG Rolls Out Its W6 Wallpaper OLED TV With Ultra-High Brightness

https://www.pcmag.com/news/lg-w6-oled-wallpaper-tv-is-flat-wireless-stunning-ces-2026

https://hometheaterreview.com/lgs-wallpaper-tv-is-back-and-its-thinner-smarter-and-finally-wireless/

https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/lg-rolls-out-its-w6-wallpaper-oled-tv-with-ultra-high-brightness/

Not to be outdone, Amazon shows off Arline TVs

Artline

https://www.tomsguide.com/tvs/qled-tvs/amazons-new-ember-artline-tv-is-a-samsung-the-frame-rival-thats-usd200-cheaper

https://www.theverge.com/tech/853508/amazon-ember-artline-tv-ces-2026

And they’re revamping Fire TV OS

Amazon revamps Fire TV, launches its own ‘Artline’ televisions with frames at CES

https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/05/amazon-revamps-fire-tv-launches-its-own-artline-televisions-with-frames/

Amazon Fire TV OS gets a much-needed revamp

https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/new-fire-tv-upgrades-features-2026

https://www.theverge.com/tech/853550/amazon-fire-tv-os-revamp-ces-2026

QUICK BITS

A PRIME TIME TO REBRAND

Sandisk retires WD_BLACK and WD Blue branding, launches Optimus SSD tiers for 2026

https://www.pcmag.com/news/sandisk-kicks-off-ces-2026-by-rebranding-wds-blue-and-black-ssds-as-optimus

https://videocardz.com/newz/sandisk-retires-wd_black-and-wd-blue-branding-launches-optimus-ssd-tiers-for-2026

https://hothardware.com/news/sandisk-optimus-ssds-replace-wd-black-blue

A PRICE HIKE DOWN MEMORY LANE

Samsung Co-CEO talked about it

https://wccftech.com/no-one-can-escape-memory-shortages-says-samsungs-co-ceo/

https://www.thestreet.com/technology/samsung-co-ceo-warns-that-unprecedented-memory-shortage-could-impact-smartphone-costs

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/samsung-double-mobile-devices-powered-by-googles-gemini-800-mln-units-this-year-2026-01-05/

Quote “He did not rule out raising product prices, saying some impact was ‘inevitable’”: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/samsung-double-mobile-devices-powered-by-googles-gemini-800-mln-units-this-year-2026-01-05/#:~:text=%22As%20this%20situation,impact%20was%20%22inevitable%22

Bad memory news in general:

ASUS’s Reported 15-20% Price Hike Triggers Domino Effect as Retailers Raise Rivals’ Prices Jan. 5

https://www.trendforce.com/news/2026/01/05/news-asuss-reported-15-20-price-hike-triggers-domino-effect-as-taiwan-retailers-raise-rivals-prices-jan-5/

https://www.cna.com.tw/news/afe/202601020077.aspx

https://www.pcguide.com/news/gaming-laptop-prices-are-expected-to-rise-by-up-to-20-this-year-with-ram-costs-to-blame/

Good quote, “ASUS is not acting alone. Shortly after the announcement, retailers at Guanghua Digital Plaza in Taiwan raised prices on laptops from Acer, HP, Dell, MSI, and Gigabyte”: https://www.pcguide.com/news/gaming-laptop-prices-are-expected-to-rise-by-up-to-20-this-year-with-ram-costs-to-blame/#:~:text=ASUS%20is%20not%20acting%20alone.%20Shortly%20after%20the%20announcement%2C%20retailers%20at%20Guanghua%20Digital%20Plaza%20in%20Taiwan%20raised%20prices%20on%20laptops%20from%20Acer%2C%20HP%2C%20Dell%2C%20MSI%2C%20and%20Gigabyte.

Corsair is reportedly canceling DDR5 RAM orders due to "pricing mistake," offering expired coupon codes as an apology

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Corsair-is-reportedly-canceling-DDR5-RAM-orders-due-to-pricing-mistake-offering-expired-coupon-codes-as-an-apology.1195239.0.html

https://wccftech.com/corsair-cancels-january-1-orders-of-dominator-titanium-48-gb-ddr5/

Expired code:

https://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/Notebooks/News/_nc5/Email-corsair.jpg

SURPR-AI-SE!

The Alexa Plus website is now available to everyone in early access (Amazon's new AI Chatbot)

https://www.theverge.com/tech/853535/alexa-plus-website-now-available

This kicked off a bunch of dumb stuff we didn’t need

Bosch’s fancy coffee machine is getting Alexa Plus

https://www.theverge.com/tech/853818/bosch-smart-coffee-machine-alexa-plus-upgrade

Samsung teases AI OLED Cassette and Turntable

https://www.tomshardware.com/monitors/samsung-teases-ai-oled-cassette-and-turntable-display-division-stretches-the-feasible-use-cases-for-its-latest-tech-at-ces-2026

GE just released its smartest fridge yet, with a built-in barcode scanner for seamless grocery shopping (I know it is a fridge, but this is hilarious)

https://www.tomsguide.com/home/home-appliances/ge-just-released-its-smartest-fridge-yet-with-a-built-in-barcode-scanner-for-seamless-grocery-shopping

It’s in a friggin ice cube machine

https://techcrunch.com/storyline/ces-2026-follow-live-as-nvidia-lego-amd-amazon-and-more-make-their-big-reveals/#surely-they-didnt-put-ai-in-an-i

AND an AI-powered VTuber is now the most subscribed Twitch streamer in the world (Not CES but still something to joke about)

https://www.dexerto.com/twitch/an-ai-powered-vtuber-is-now-the-most-popular-twitch-streamer-in-the-world-3300052/

GROK BOTTOM

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/01/no-grok-cant-really-apologize-for-posting-non-consensual-sexual-images/

Related: a bunch of countries are pissed about it

https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/02/india-orders-musks-x-to-fix-grok-over-obscene-ai-content/

https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/04/french-and-malaysian-authorities-are-investigating-grok-for-generating-sexualized-deepfakes/

Tesla sales down 9% in 2025 - second consecutive down year:

https://www.toledoblade.com/business/automotive/2026/01/02/tesla-loses-title-as-world-s-biggest-electric-vehicle-maker-as-sales-fall/stories/2026010207

MICROSOFT REFUSES TO PHONE IT IN

https://www.neowin.net/news/report-microsoft-quietly-kills-official-way-to-activate-windows-1110-without-internet/

https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/microsoft-silently-kills-windows-and-office-phone-activation-and-forces-online-activation-with-a-microsoft-account-windows-users-are-now-herded-into-an-online-only-portal-for-activation

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5627707/how-to-active-by-phone-on-windows-11

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/product-activation-for-windows-online-support-telephone-numbers-35f6a805-1259-88b4-f5e9-b52cccef91a0