LG says OLED TVs will comprise 20 percent of the company's high-end TV portfolio in 2019, with the world's first 8K OLED (model 88Z9) and the 65-inch roll-up 4K OLED (model 65R9) joining its W-, E-, and C-series 4K models. There are 14 new models in the company's LED-backlit LCD series--the Nanocell line--in screen sizes ranging from 49 to 86 inches. New LG TVs will get a mid-year upgrade that will add Amazon Alexa support to the existing support for Google Assistant. Samsung doesn't have an answer to LG's eye-popping roll-up OLED, but it will offer 8K QLED TVs--the Q900 series--in screen sizes ranging from 65 inches to an eye-popping 98 inches. The company's 4K quantum-dot TVs (the Q60, Q70, Q80, and Q90 series) are available in screen sizes ranging from 43 to 82 inches.

Gut reaction: You won't want to hide the HTC U11 in a protective case. HTC's new flagship phone is just too stunning to conceal behind a chintzy polycarb shell. Imbued with HTC's new "liquid" design aesthetic, the U11 has an impossibly glossy finish, evoking the T-1000 Terminator for those old enough to remember that robot assassin. From a basic specs perspective, the U11 is a solid but not remarkable Android 7.1 phone. It includes a state-of-the-silicon-art Snapdragon 835 processor running up to 2.45 GHz, a 3,000 mAh battery, and a 5.5-inch quad HD (2560x1440) display.

Tado debuted a small improvement to its smart A/C control device, offering customers the option to use Amazon's Alexa digital assistant to control Tado-connected air conditioners. To use it, all you'll need do is add the Alexa Tado skill in your Amazon account. The Tado device renders otherwise dumb air-conditioning units programmable, and multiple units can work together to control air conditioners in different rooms of your home. So a simple phrase like "Alexa, set living room to 68 degrees," or "Alexa, increment (or decrement to decrease) living room by two degrees" will change the target temperatures for the A/C units in those rooms accordingly. Tado is using Amazon's smart-home API to make its voice commands sound a little more natural.

When LG launched its SmartThinQ hub at CES this year, you couldn't help but notice that it was a dead ringer for Amazon's Echo but, well, dumber. That's because the device could play music and control LG SmartThinQ appliances, but wouldn't obey your voice commands like an Echo. However, LG has announced that that it will join Amazon rather than fighting it by adding support for the Echo's Alexa voice assistant. Amazon recently opened Alexa up to third-party companies, but the SmartThinQ hub will get a limited set of features to start with, according to CNET. While it will listen to your commands, let you play music and schedule events on a calendar, it won't control lights, thermostats or other smart home devices like the Echo. That's a bit of an odd shortcoming, considering that the SmartThinQ hub is part of LG's SmartThinQ appliance family, so it's specifically designed for smart home devices.

Tado debuted a small improvement to its smart A/C control device, offering customers the option to use Amazon's Alexa digital assistant to control Tado-connected air conditioners. To use it, all you'll need do is add the Alexa Tado skill in your Amazon account.