You'll only need to remember the name Incention for the brief moment you're reading this post, because you'll likely never have to think about it again. As Variety reports, it's a new platform for building new Hollywood IP using the combined power of AI tools, fan contributions and the blockchain. Incention describes itself as "a new blueprint for building modern franchises, where IP holders, communities, and agents collaborate seamlessly in an endless playground rooted in real IP." Because, of course, the real problem plaguing Hollywood today is the inability to build franchises with user-generated content, unproven AI tools and blockchain hype. Incention's first franchise -- the modern Hollywood term for "story" -- is Emergence, a sci-fi premise from Blade and The Dark Knight writer David S. Goyer.

The smart speaker that got things started is back, and it looks a little different now. Nathan Ingraham reviewed the new spherical Amazon Echo, and the good news is that no matter what you think of its looks, it sounds better than ever. Adding an extra tweeter -- not to mention the built-in Zigbee home hub -- seems to have made all the difference. That odd shape does mean its indicator light is a bit hidden, but when the sound is good enough that buying two to create a stereo setup seems like a reasonable option, maybe we can get over it… maybe. Garmin is offering Twitch broadcasters and other game streamers a way to layer their heart rate and other metrics into their streams, with an Esports Edition of its Instinct GPS smartwatch.

Two chefs get blasted in the face with a mystery entree on Dishmantled. Two chefs get blasted in the face with a mystery entree on Dishmantled. The streaming service Quibi -- short for "quick bites" -- calls itself "the first entertainment platform designed specifically for your phone." Perfect for the busy, distracted, on-the-go consumer! Too bad none of us are on-the-going anywhere, these days.

That's some of what to expect from the tech industry's annual pilgrimage to the desert. CES, the mammoth tech trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), will draw some 170,000 people from around the world to Las Vegas to launch products and services – but also to make deals and schmooze with one another. For the consumer watching from afar (since the show isn't open to the public), the best part of CES often can be the range of what's there, from the weird to the wonderous to the stuff that makes us all ask just "why." Over the years, it has transitioned from just the gadgets and gizmos consumers can't wait to get their hands on, featuring many companies the average consumer might do a double take over. "Every company is becoming a tech company," says Gary Shapiro, CEO of the CTA.

Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman will keynote Variety's Innovate: AI and Data Science in Media summit, presented by PwC, on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles. The duo will discuss launching mobile entertainment platform Quibi. Previously CEO and co-founder of DreamWorks Animation, Katzenberg now invests in new consumer technologies as co-founder and managing partner of WndrCo. He is also founder/chairman of Quibi. Whitman, CEO of Quibi, served the same role at Hewlett Packard Enterprise until February of this year.