2015 is almost over, which means the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is just around the corner. Every year, the trade show is hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada, and in 2016, the event will kick off on January 6 and last until January 9, 2016.

What will CES 2016 have in store for its attendees in the new year? What consumer product will dominate the exhibit floor? Will there be more Internet of Things (IoT) products on display? How about virtual reality goggles? Or will we see more 4K TVs next year? From startups to big name brands, CES is the playground for the future of tech. Let’s take a look at some tech items attendees will get a look at during CES 2016.

LG Signature

LG Electronics, Inc. announced that it will be launching a new line of luxury home appliances at the tradeshow called LG Signature. The line will initially consist of a television, refrigerator, washing machines and air purifier, with more products to be added as the brand expands.

It will be made available first in North America, followed by Europe and then Asia. According to LG, this line of appliances “were stripped of all features that detracted from the brand’s spirit. The result is a family of products of the finest quality that delivers a sense of exclusivity to its owners.” No word yet if this luxury line will have any smart features.

To get a glimpse of LG Signature, check out the teaser website here. Aside from this, the South Korean tech company is also expected to announce a new version of it webOS smart TV software, which will feature Magic Zoom, Magic Mobile Connect and Magic Remote, among other things. LG will hold a press event on January 5.

Toyota’s crowdsourced map

According to reports, Toyota Motor Corp. will be announcing a new map-generating technology that would put other mapping services to shame. The map-generating technology will be crowdsourced, but the difference is that Toyota will be utilizing map generators on the road to crowdsource data. This means data is always up to date, even if drivers don’t pass the road, unlike what other services, like Waze, offers. It’s not quite clear what these map generators would be, if it will be sensors and cameras places on roads, or if Toyota will be launching a fleet of cars with the sole purpose of updating the map. If this is the latter, then I’m assuming these cars would only add to traffic congestion, something motorists would not be delighted with. Toyota is also looking into adding this map-generating feature to driverless vehicles.

It’s not quite clear what these map generators would be, such as sensors and cameras placed on roads or if Toyota will be launching a fleet of cars with the sole purpose of updating the map. If it is the latter, then I’m assuming these cars would only add to traffic congestion, something motorists would not be delighted with. Toyota is also looking into adding this map-generating feature to driverless vehicles.

Wocket smart wallet

NXT-ID, Inc. announced that it will be showcasing new features of Wocket, the company’s smart wallet, at CES 2016. Some of the new features include Near Field Communication (NFC) payment technology and Wireless Magnetic payment technology (WiMag).

The Wocket is a smart wallet that allows you to digitally store all your cards in it, and use it to authorize payments (even without a phone) thanks to a built-in touchscreen. Just select which card you want to use, if you have multiple cards stored in it, to complete a transaction. Essentially, anywhere credit cards are accepted, Wocket is compatible as well.

Samsung in sync with real life

According to reports, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. will be focusing on IoT for its announcement at CES 2016, which is not a surprise as it did a similar move during IFA 2015. At IFA, it announced a new Samsung SmartThings Hub, sensors and mobile app, and at CES we could be seeing more new devices in its smart home connected line. Aside from these connected devices, we can also expect new 4K and 8K televisions, 4K Blu-ray players, new home appliances such as refrigerators, washer & dryer, but unfortunately, it looks like a negative on the Samsung Galaxy 7 as the flagship smartphones is

Aside from these connected devices, we can also expect new 4K and 8K televisions, 4K Blu-ray players and new home appliances, such as refrigerators, washer and dryer. But, unfortunately, it looks like a negative on the Samsung Galaxy 7, as the flagship smartphones is rumored for a March 2016 appearance. But the Samsung Galaxy A9 is expected to be announced at CES. The device is rumored to feature an ARM Qualcomm 1.40 GHz Octacore processor, 3GB of RAM, a 1080p AMOLED 5.5 inch screen display, and 32GB internal storage, which is expandable using a microSD to up to 128GB.

Other features of the device include a 16MP rear-facing camera with HDR and autofocus, 5MP front camera, an Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS, GPS, NFC and Bluetooth 4.0 LE. Other basic features are expected to be available on the device. Samsung will hold a press event on January 7.

Streamz Wi-Fi streaming headphones

A new headphone will debut at CES called Streamz (pdf). What sets this device apart is that it doesn’t need a smartphone to operate, as it is able to stream music from over 150 Google Chromecast online streaming services, such as Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio and many others. Streamz is a Wi-Fi HD music player that allows users to listen to music that is stored on the device or streamed.

The device also features VOXXI, a voice control feature that allows for hands-free control; an auto sync feature that transfers music automatically; and expandable local storage. It also comes in over-the-ear and on-ear styles. This is great news for audiophiles, since listening to their favorite tunes will no longer result in battery-drained smartphones. The device will debut at CES, and its online store will open January 11.

HTC Vive

Photo Credit: HTC Vive, courtesy of Valve Corporation

HTC Corp. was slated to release the HTC Vive, the company’s virtual reality goggles, right around this time, but the company recently announced that the release will be pushed back until April 2016 due to “a very, very big technological breakthrough.” HTC did not reveal what the breakthrough was, but it stated that all will be revealed at CES.

But days away from the tech event, images of the said breakthrough are already popping up. And what is this big technological breakthrough? According to reports, it’s a refined controller and updated headset, and pre-orders of the device will start February 2016.

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