AP – Samsung's new smartphone illustrates the limits of innovation at a time when hardware advances have slowed. The new phone, the Galaxy Note 9, will be faster and will last longer without a recharge. But while earth-shattering new features are in short supply, it will carry an earth-shattering price tag: $1,000. The minor improvements reflect a smartphone industry that has largely pushed the limits on hardware. Major changes tend to come every few years rather than annually, and this isn't the year for anything revolutionary in the Note.

If you're considering buying a video doorbell, the Wisenet SmartCam D1 should be on your shortlist. The image is sharp, clear, and comparable to the Nest Hello,TechHive's current top doorbell pick. It's relatively good at ignoring passing cars and other spurious movement, but I found one of its key detection features--facial recognition--had a difficult time catching visitors. Like its competitors, the doorbell will send an alert to a linked Android of Apple phone when someone presses the bell. You can talk to whoever is at the door using your phone anywhere you have an internet connection. The sharp video from the SmartCam D1, coupled with a bunch of controls, is one of the features to love about this product.

Samsung has officially unveiled its successor to last year's Galaxy S8 flagship, and it appears the Galaxy S9 has a bit of a disappointing aspect. Apparently, its Intelligent Scan feature isn't as good as Apple iPhone X's Face ID even though the South Korean giant already combined facial recognition with its iris scan technology. Two years ago, Samsung unveiled the now defunct Galaxy Note 7 that came with the company's first commercial implementation of iris scanning technology. The company's 2016 phablet may have received a lot of negative press, but the iris scanning technology was definitely a stunning feat at the time. When Samsung introduced the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 last year, it did not miss the chance to bring back the iris scanner.

If you've been waiting to hear more on Samsung's next Galaxy flagship, we've got you covered. As well as everything else that happened over the weekend, naturally. Intelligent Scan would work day or night. Samsung has hinted that the Galaxy S9 might include more advanced face recognition, but we're now getting clues of what's involved. Deep inside the Galaxy Note 8's Oreo beta software, there's a hidden Intelligent Scan feature that uses both camera-based face detection and the iris scanner for "better accuracy and security" and improved results in "low or very bright" lighting.

Samsung has hinted that the Galaxy S9 might include more advanced face recognition, but we're now getting clues as to what's involved. SamCentral's sleuthing in the settings APK for the Galaxy Note 8's Oreo beta has discovered a hidden Intelligent Scan feature that uses both camera-based face detection and the iris scanner in tandem for "better accuracy and security" and improved results in "low or very bright" lighting. Given that the iris scanning on the S8 and Note 8 can be finnicky, this could deliver a much more consistent experience when you're unlocking your phone or accessing secure info. Just how it works isn't immediately apparent. A video included with the feature suggests that both the iris scanner and camera are active at the same time regardless of the conditions, but it's not certain whether this means combining their data or using one as a backup for the other.

Samsung's first folding phone is being shown at CES in Las Vegas - but only in secret. The much anticipated phone is'almost finished' according to The Korea Herald. It says the firm is showing off two versions of the handset, which has a 7.3inch screen, one folding in, and one folding out. Patents for the device show a book-like handset that can be opened to transform into a tablet. The Korea Herald says the firm is showing off two versions of the handset behind closed doors in Las Vegas.

Samsung's first folding phone is set to enter production this year and go on sale in 2019, it has been claimed. The radical gadget, expected to be called the Galaxy X, will have a 7.3-inch flexible OLED screen which folds inwards like a book. When folded, it will work as a phone, and can be unfolded to operate as a tablet. According to Korean site ETNews, Samsung will develop the foldable displays by March, manufacture panels in September and start manufacturing the phone itself in November. This would mean the handset could go on sale in early 2019.

Samsung has unveiled details about its upcoming Exynos 9 Series 9810 processor bound for the Galaxy S9, and it could give the iPhone X with its A11 Bionic chip some stiff competition. In addition to massive speed boots, improved networking, and image processing enhancements, the new chip unlocks 3D face detection, a feature that sounds a whole lot like Face ID. In a press release ahead of its public debut at CES, Samsung outlines numerous improvements for the second-generation 10nm Exynos 9810. The chip has a new 8-core architecture, with four of the cores reaching speeds of up to 2.9GHz (versus 2.3GHz on the 8895). Samsung says that will bring a 40 percent performance boost. Why this matters: While the Exynos chips will likely still be relegated to overseas models of Galaxy phones, Samsung's chips could have wider implications this year.

USA TODAY's Jefferson Graham gives his list of what he thinks are the coolest tech innovations of 2017. LOS ANGELES -- When you can get a drone to respond to your commands by waving your hands, it's hard to top that as one of the most fascinating tech innovations of the year. You don't have to know much about operating the DJI Spark Drone. Want to go up or to the side? This is fun stuff that takes a lot of the learning curve out of flying a drone.

Samsung has long been rumoured to be developing a radical folding phone - and it could soon see the light of day, it has been claimed. A support page for the handset has been spotted online weeks after if was certified by Korean authorities. It is believed the handset could be unveiled at the CES show in Las Vegas in January. A previous Samsung patent revealed what the handset is expected to look like, with a hinge allowing it to be folded rather like a wallet. The handset has the model number SM-G888N0 - with the NO signifying it will only go on sale in South Korea.