2018 - Consumer Electronics Show (CES) - Events

Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

2018

CES is the world's gathering place for all those who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for 50 years - the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), it attracts the world's business leaders and pioneering thinkers.


Show Episodes

F5 Live: Refreshing Technology

CES 2018 Pre-Show - Episode 490

2018-01-07

This week, we're in Las Vegas. Ahead of the official start of CES 2018, we discuss our past CES experiences, our expectations for this year and introduce the team members to the event.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Outstanding Innovation in Neurological Therapy Devices

2018-01-09

NEOFECT USA offers therapeutic devices that are designed for patients with neurological conditions. These items not only assist with their rehabilitation in really unique ways, but they make it a lot more fun while also providing a great way to track their progress. Their innovation creates a new and really exciting way to approach occupational therapy. The company currently offers Smart Boards, Smart Gloves and Smart Pegboards.

The Smart Board is for stroke patients. It assists with short movement rehab by improving muscle memory. It's all about neuroplasticity, with repetitive motion that allows the brain to get through the process of relearning specific skills. It uses games, like Treasure Hunt, to help with fine motor skills in the hands. Through repetitive actions provided in the tools in the games, the patients not only get better but are also provided with feedback that is specific to their levels of progression.

The Smart Glove is a real time biofeedback device that is also designed with stroke victims in mind. It allows patients to play games, as well as perform functions while going through virtual processes like pouring wine or squeezing an orange. The glove also keeps track of their specific progress and shows whether you are improving, stagnating or regressing.

All of their products can be ordered without the need for a doctor's prescription by visiting their website. Price points are in the $1000 range.

Coming soon: NeoMono, which will hit the market later this year. It's a wearable robot, worn on three fingers, that helps restore hand function. Check out their entire line at neofect.com.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Ever Wanted to Chat with Your AC? Now You Can with NETATMO!

2018-01-09

In the smart home security space, one of the leaders is NETATMO, which offers a full line of both security and home automation products. The devices have been controllable by the company's mobile apps, as well as several of the popular voice assistants. This year, however, the company has given users a whole new way to interact with their NETATMO devices.

Welcome the Netatmo Smart Home Bot, a Facebook Messenger bot that allows you to use Messenger to control your IoT devices from anywhere, on any device. Whether you're sitting at your desk, on your phone or tablet, you can simply type to the bot something like, "What's the temperature in the living room?" or "Show me my cameras." and the bot will perform the requested actions.

The chat bot is available now worldwide, but currently only supports English. The company does plan to release additional languages in the near future. The best part of the bot? It's completely free to use, so if you've got a NETATMO device, get to experimenting!

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Realmax Qian is Soaring to Amazing New Reality

2018-01-15

ShowStoppers is always a hit with our team while at CES and it was a delight to speak with Nigel from Realmax this year at CES 2018. Although we are not strangers to Augmented Reality here at PLuGHiTz Live, we were curious to see what was different and exciting about the Realmax Qian. And they did not disappoint.

Realmax has been around since 2003 and is a company that is highly involved in educational technology. With the addition of AR, they have the ability to not only bring learning to life but to also reach a much broader audience. For example, this technology can be adapted to smaller engineering and robotics programs where the schools cannot afford full labs. With Qian, the students can still get real experience on a full set of instruments and machines in this AR realm. The technology could also assist doctors with training medical students in a much more efficient and cost effective manner. The potential applications are limitless, which opens up usage in so many more fields than education, such as banking and other corporate settings.

Realmax has also set themselves apart from their competitors in some exciting ways. Their headsets are completely mobile with an Android CPU built inside. They have also increased their AR Field of View to an outstanding 100 degrees. The goggles have much better tracking to allow users to stay anchored in the real world to walk around the digital content. They are also working to offer all of this at a more affordable price point than their competitors in the consumer market.

Although currently in the prototype stage, Realmax expects to have the technology in the hands of software developers within Q2 of 2018, and begin consumer production in Q3. This is a product that we at PLuGHiTz Live will be keeping an eye on in the coming months as it launches with possibly even a full product review, so stay tuned for more information regarding pricing and where to purchase.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

DiabiLive Will Help Remove the Greatest Challenge from Diabetes

2018-01-15

If you have ever had a family member with Diabetes, you know the extreme toll it takes on everyone involved, but especially the patient. This was the experience that Benoît Mirambeau, co-founder of DiabiLive, was trying to eliminate for his mother. She was experiencing dozens of incidents per month, and had lost her ability to simply live her life.

That is where DiabiLive comes in. It's an app platform designed to help a Diabetes patient manage their disease through tracking food consumption and exercise, and, more importantly, informing them how best to respond. Taking all of this information into account, patients are able to get a customized, calculated dosage for their insulin. By taking a dosage personalized to your daily activities, you are able to recapture that which is lost: your autonomy. In the case of the founder's mother, she went from 2 dozen incidents per month to about 3 per month, a decrease that even her doctor cannot believe.

In the US, the app is currently undergoing the preparation steps for FDA certification. Since this is a first-of-its-kind product, it will require a clinical trial before applying to the FDA, and the company hopes to have full certification before the end of 2018.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Omron is A New Breed of Smartwatch, With a Medical Focus

2018-01-15

A new breed of smartwatch, elevating the playing field of consumer expectations from current industry norms to include accurate heart readings. This is how CEO Ranndy Kellogg introduced Omron's latest offering to the smartwatch market. Smartwatches have steadily been gaining more and more popularity with consumers in today's market. The digital display, along with the number of very convenient and popular options, have been important factors in their rise in popularity. Also, users can download compatible apps for their smartphones which allows them to track and monitor their progress has also been an important factor as well.

This is the current staple of the market, and nothing particularly novel, which is exactly what Omron hopes to change with their new addition to the field. Omron a leader in cardiovascular monitoring equipment is now introducing their FDA-approved heart monitoring equipment into their latest offering in smartwatch world. This cutting edge watch includes the same inflatable band that is in the classic blood pressure cuff found in doctor's offices all over the world, but takes the same technology and minimizes it to fit into the band of the watch itself. Omron's new gadget is able to take Accurate and Systolic and Diastolic readings, as well as actual EKG readings.

Now, that may not seem like much of a big deal to a non fitness watch enthusiast, but this is an evolutionary step in gaining access to accurate biometric readings instantly and on the go. This paves the way for more accurate, readily-available readings straight from our bodies, given as feedback in response to whatever physical activities we decide to participate in. Fitness watches now, when calibrated properly, will do little more than give you best guess numbers regarding: steps taken, calories burned and total distance walked. Many consumers are big fans of what the average fitness watch can do now, but this new tech hitting the market gives those with existing heart problems, adrenaline-junkies or anyone out there who also is interested in biometric feedback data a lot to be excited for. Oh, don't forget, you can browse the net, make or take calls, text, review calendar events, and I'm pretty sure it tells the time too.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Get Ready for the Most Awesome Electric Scooter

2018-01-17

Ride comfortably with the new stylish and efficient Ujet. The Ujet is a fantastic city and urban vehicle that is incredibly lightweight. This electric scooter has the ability to travel 90 miles on a single charge.

But this is in no way your typical electric scooter. For example, the seat serves as a detachable battery pack that conveniently rolls around like a piece of standup luggage. This technology makes it very easy to take the seat/power supply inside to charge. This is also a fantastic security solution as it is impossible to ride the scooter away when the seat is detached.

The Ujet also has the fabulous ability to fold up to a very compact size making it easy to store in small spaces, such as the corner of a garage or hidden under the stairwell of an apartment building.

Pricing for Ujet starts at $8900 USD, making it an affordable and cost effective alternative vehicle. There is also a version with the larger battery that costs $9990 USD.

Interview by Jacob Cannon of FIRST Looks.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Fantastic Way You Convert Your Bicycle to Electric

2018-01-17

Travel smarter with the Electron Wheel. It will turn your trusty bicycle into a powerful hybrid e-bike that's ready to take you into the future of personal travel. The Electron wheel is an attachable motor you can connect to your front wheel that will give you a powerful boost while riding. This device can be fully installed in 30 seconds, without tools, to your front wheel and pedal. The wheel has a range of 50 miles and can reach speeds of up to 20 mph. A helpful aspect of this wheel is active hill assist, in real time it will automatically give you a boost when riding up a hill without having you interacting with it. As part of the e-bike community the Electron Wheel has a fully functional app that lets you control various functions of the wheel, such as power, assistance levels and battery life.

An exciting announcement made here at CES 2018 is their new partnership with Google to integrate google assistance voice control. This will allow people when riding to change assistance levels or check battery life with just voice commands, such as being able to say "Hey google, check Electron Wheel battery life".

Moreover, Electron is having a publicity stunt where they sent a cyclist with the new Electron Wheel to bike all the way from New York to Las Vegas over the course of 10 days. To appear at the steps of the convention hall of CES 2018 on January 10th to celebrate the launch of the next generation Electron Wheel. Our team was lucky enough to be there in the lobby when he arrived.

To learn more information about Electron Wheel go to electronwheel.com.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Enjoy the Future Now with the Most Adorable Kuri Robot

2018-01-17

The world of robotics has been growing by leaps and bounds over the last few years. As a society, we are now use to seeing the large manufacturing robots that assist with building any number of products, and the warehousing robots that assist with pallets of merchandise for packing and shipping. We're even beginning to accept the notion of self-driving cars and drones delivering our packages and carryout. So, it's only natural that our robotic dreams take us back into cartoon history, when we all wanted our very own helpful robot at home.

Well, those dreams can now be a reality. Introducing Kuri, from Mayfield Robotics.

Kuri is an adorable and real live robot that has been designed to make your home smarter and your life a little easier. Not only is Kuri cute with emotive eyes, but he is equipped with sensors to map out and adjust to your home. He has bluetooth speakers on both sides that allow you to listen to music, podcasts and audiobooks. He'll even tell bedtime stories to the kids. There is an integrated camera that captures your life's special moments by taking videos in 5 second intervals. The videos are sent to the mobile app where you can like your favorites, which helps Kuri learn the kind of content you like the best. Also through the app, you will have remote access into your home while you're away, so you can check in on things and make sure that Fido isn't on the couch. And if he is, you can talk to him and tell him to get down, right through the robot.

Kuri is a great way to keep connected to your home and life at home. Check out their website where Kuri can be preordered now with a spring delivery for the discounted price of $799. The price will go up to $899 on March 1, 2018.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

LG: Innovation for a Better Life

2018-01-18

CES 2018 Media Day kicked off with tech giant LG. The day began with I.P. Park, the President and Chief Technology Officer for the company. Mr. Park began by introducing the company's focus for the next, which all seems to focus around seamless integration of all products, but also integration of LG products alongside other companies offerings, as well.

Another big focus was LG's Thinq campaign, which focuses on providing a better form of AI for users, with a specific focus on tailoring the AI to that particular user, with an emphasis on pattern recognition. The pattern recognition algorithm provides a better AI specific to each individual user. With time, Thinq can understand that on Tuesday mornings you go to the gym, and can prepare the bottom section of your washing machine for a small load of athletic apparel the night before. It can also control other devices, outside of the LG ecosystem, though the open nature of the platform, meaning that if you own devices that are not LG, you might still have the ability to include the device in your smarthome.

Along with the tailored AI, LG really is focusing on compatibility of all of its hardware and software to provide the greatest user experience for all consumers who decide to go with LG products. Just like their tagline says, Innovation for a better life. If LG holds to their principle focus for this year, that may just be the reality for all users of their products. We shall see.

Video by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Perfect Stop for All of Your Exciting 3D Printing

2018-01-18

XYZprinting has experienced quick growth over the last few years and has now become the largest 3D printer manufacturer in the world. Their reach covers more than a fifth of the global market for 3D printers. How did they grow so rapidly? By focusing on developing high quality, easy to use consumer and business printers at affordable prices. Their aim to become a one stop shop for all things 3D printed has definitely paid off.

This year at CES 2018, XYZprinting showcased their new Da Vinci Color. This four color 3D printer comes complete with a four color scanner built right inside. At a price point of $4,000, this model is designed for small to medium businesses, as well as consumers who are professional makers/crafters. It prints with a color quality similar to your home ink jet printer and offers 16 million different color shades by using their new Color Inkjet PLA Filament. It comes with a gallery of files to get you printing right away, as well as with free entry-level 3D printing software that is designed to assist you with designing your own unique 3D prints. This new version of the da Vinci will be available in the second quarter of 2018 at their website and Amazon.

XYZprinting offers a full line of personal 3D printers, as well, with prices starting at $229. Check out some of the options currently available, some of which with reduced prices, at the links below.

da Vinci 1.0 Pro Wireless 3D Printer
da Vinci miniMaker
da Vinci jr.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Declare war on crappy earbuds and treat yourself to a better headphone experience with new Monster headphones.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

You Are Going to Love What Monster is Taking Over This Year

2018-01-18

Monster Products has a lot in store for 2018 and it includes what they're calling a Monster Takeover. This Takeover has one goal in mind and that is to tackle new technology that Monster has not yet attempted. This includes but is not limited to music based voice activation, truly wireless technology, and new car sound systems.

Voice activation is coming to the music industry in the form of MonsterTalk. MonsterTalk is an all new take on requesting your music at a press of a button and a verbal statement using the AI music assistant, Melody by Speak Music. Monster brought this technology to life by debuting the use of a new 4- button ControlTalk sole purpose of activating MonsterTalk. This voice activation gives you the ability to have a truly hands free listening experience with no internet required.

The AirLinks are also new to the Monster 2018 lineup being Monster Product's first truly wireless earbuds with a focus in sportswear iSport and the fashionable Elements. The AirLinks are equip with a strong Bluetooth performance for communication between the units and come packaged in a charging compact with the ability to recharge your headphones up to three times. The AirLinks iSport wil be available for $199.95; the AirLinks Elements will be available for $249.95.

Monster has one more major surprise up their sleeves and that is the product of a collaboration with Volkswagen in a new concept car that was unveiled on the first day of CES 2018. Monster created their first car audio system entertainment that has been implemented in the Volkswagen Concept R. At the CES Press Conference, Head Monster Noel Lee exclaimed, "Looks badass… and sounds better."

Find the right sound for you at Monster's website.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

Smart and Sleek Watch with Fantastic Emergency Features

2018-01-19

We weren't exactly sure what to expect when we were invited to take a look at MobileHelp's new smartwatch. After all, what's new with smartwatches? Not much, right? Well... wrong! It was a pleasant surprise to see the life saving technology that they and Samsung have built right into this exciting new wearable.

We are all familiar with the buttons that seniors use in their homes that provide an alert when they need emergency assistance. MobileHelp is the premier Medical Alert System that provides this kind of emergency coverage. While attending CES 2017 last January, they took a meeting with Samsung to discuss how to expand upon their life saving services while also making it more accessible and fashionable for everyone. In only one year, they were able to incorporate their technology into a sleek and stylish new smartwatch.

Not only does this new watch help their user base to become mobile outside of the home, rather than being stuck where their current devices are located, but it also brings these same features to so many more people. Safety is not just a concern for the elderly, yet most able bodied people do not want the stigma of carrying around a medical alert device with them everywhere they go. But when it happens to be an added feature on the watch that they are already wearing, that stigma goes away entirely.

The watch works like a regular time piece and also has a button that calls for emergency services if needed. When pressed, the button signals their central station that you are in potential distress and receives your GPS location. They then give you a call through the phone that is built into the watch to verify your need and coordinate the medical attention to your location. So whether you are a senior who wants more independence, or even an athlete or college student who wants the peace of mind of knowing that medical attention is just a button push away, this watch is for you. As a matter of fact, even the CEO of the company, who is fit and jogs regularly, found himself in a situation where he was dehydrated during a run on a hot Florida day and could have benefitted greatly from this watch.

The only thing better than having peace of mind is getting help when you most need it. Their tagline says it all... Stay Safe Out There. To get more information, click here.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

DropMix Can Show You How to Make Game Night a Party

2018-01-19

Mix up your game night this year with the newest, coolest game in stores called DropMix. DropMix is a music mixing game created by a partnership between Hasbro and Harmonix. The game comes with 60 music cards and the DropMix board that can Bluetooth connect to your device with the DropMix app. Each card has a large name artist and song that you have probably heard on the radio, but it may only be a portion of the song such as just the vocals, base line, drum line or strings. You can play the game by placing one of these cards on the DropMix board and the music is instantly playing through your connected device. Add other music cards to create a unique mix where the game automatically sets the tempo and the key that makes the songs work cohesively.

There are 3 game modes incorporated through the application. The Freestyle game mode allows players to create the sounds they want by navigating through their cards to find the mix that makes them want to dance. Players then have the ability to save their mixes and share them with their friends. The second game mode is Clash. This mode is a strategic game that can be one-on-one or two-on-two with a race to 21 points. Then there is Party mode, the fast-paced game that has everyone working together against the computer. The app will throw out quick challenges that require the players to be able to work together in a small amount of time to get the most points they can.

Get DropMix today for $99.99 and check out some of their latest expansion packs. The 16 card expansion is $14.99 and the 5 card Discover Pack is $4.99.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

The Unsurpassed Superior Sound From Monster SuperStars

2018-01-19

It's hard not to love Monster Products. From their earbuds to their headphones and Blasters, our team at PLuGHiTz Live could not be more impressed. Or so we thought.

Introducing four wonderful additions to the Monster SuperStars: The S100, S200, S300 and S400. This new wireless series adds everything we love about Monster into a versatile set that provides amazing sound on their own, and superior sound when paired together. All four in the series include Pure Monster Sound, are fully water, weather, and splash-proof (Rated IPX7), and include a superior speakerphone with echo cancellation. They also include Monster's own voice command system, MonsterTalk, which has the ability to access multiple music platforms, such as iTunes, Spotify and iHeartRadio.

Starting with the S100, which is a sleek little stand alone speaker that delivers your music with a powerful punch that offers 6+ hours of continuous playtime. Next up is the S200, and don't let its size deceive you. It delivers incredible sound that is simply heroic with crazy deep bass at max volume levels without distortion. The S200 delivers 15+ hours of playtime in its three speaker configuration along with USB Direct for full digital audio performance, and has quick convenient pairing with NFC compatibility.

Moving up to the S300 and S400's. Their larger size include features such as a 4 speaker configuration that delivers sensational Monster V-Sound™, a full-range driver (x2) and passive bass radiators (x2). They can also recharge your phone with the built-in power bank that offer enough juice to charge up to 2 devices simultaneously. And to make this series even better, the S200's and higher can wirelessly pair together as a two piece stereo set that is so bold, you will swear there's a third channel.

With pricing that starts at $59, you can get more information and purchase a set of your own by visiting the Monster Products website.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Declare war on crappy earbuds and treat yourself to a better headphone experience with new Monster headphones.

PLUGHITZ Live Presents

This Monster Super Star Reeled in the Fun

2018-01-20

The party never stops while at the Monster Products booth at CES. On top of being front and center to witness the Monster Takeover, this year we had the pleasure of meeting Peter Miller and finding out which of the Monster products are his personal favorites.

Getting to know Peter was so much fun!! Sure, he's a producer, spokesperson, philanthropist, professional angler, three time World Sailfish Champion and host of Bass 2 Billfish with Peter Miller, but he's also such a blast to hang out with. We share his love of listening to good music on great speakers. Music makes such a difference in life, even when fishing. Not only to keep everybody inside the boat happy, but the fish also seem to respond better when there's a kickass bass boost in the mix (as in thump, not a new fish breed).

Just like us, he loves his Elements Headphones and Monster Blaster, but when asked to choose a favorite Monster product it was hands down the new S100-S400 SuperStar Series wireless speakers. There's a size and sound for every occasion. From attaching the S100 onto a backpack for they day's outing to getting the full dynamic sound from the S300s and S400s that will kick up any party, this line does not disappoint. And for somebody like Peter, the fact that they are wireless, fully waterproof, floating speakers with long life batteries that will keep up will all of his boating adventures, there's nothing better.

Take a look at the full line of Monster Products here and let us know below in the comments section which ones are your favorite.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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PLUGHITZ Live Presents

New Speakers get Boost to Mainstream with Alexa

2018-01-20

Altec Lansing has introduced a new line of Amazon Speakers this year at CES 2018 called VersA. The line consists of three speakers that are cute, lightweight and very functional.

First up is the VersA 2 Go, which is compact and great for our busy lifestyles these days. It is Amazon Alexa enabled using a button to activate. Features include multi-room pairing, 100-foot wireless range, up to 8 hours of play time and a waterproof rating of IP67. It offers immersive sound with its 1.75" woofer and 2" passive radiator. MSRP is $79.99, and it will be available Q2/Q3 of 2018.

Next up is the VersA Portable Speaker which has a larger footprint than its little 2 Go brother, but still compact, lightweight and versatile. It is Amazon Alexa enabled via voice command and has multi-room pairing with a 100-foot wireless range. It also offers playtime up to 8 hours and is IP67 waterproof rated. It's available now at an MSRP of $129.99 at Best Buy and Target. So grab them unused gift cards that you got for the holidays and buy yours today.

Lastly, and our favorite, is the VersA at Home. This speaker is a clock/radio for your bedside. It's Amazon Alexa Enabled via voice command, but also offers QI Wireless charging, so you can easily charge your smart phone right on top. It boasts a 30-foot wireless range, omni-directional sound, and a sleek design with digital display. It has an MSRP of $149.99, and will be available Q2/Q3 of 2018.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Excellent Choice for Lightweight and Colorful Headphones

2018-01-20

It's time to bring some fun into headphone experience, and Altec Lansing has done just that with the new Rumble Headphones. You may ask, why the usual name... and so did we. The answer left us wanting a full demonstration. The Rumble Headphones actually vibrate along with the bass that adds an extra dimension to your listening experience. When we first heard this feature, we thought well that's interesting. Then we tried them out for ourselves and were quite impressed. The bass is also variable and can be turned up or down, depending upon your preference within each song. These headphones come both wired and bluetooth, with a batter life of 20 hours. The fit is customizable to your comfort and let's not forget the variety of colors available so you can match your own style and personality.

Also being introduced this year are their own set of wirefree ear buds. They have a charge that offers 4 hours of battery life and come with a carrying case that also holds a 4 hour charge. The case also has the ability for Qi Wireless charging, which comes in handy with their newly introduced VersA Home Clock/Radio Speaker that offers Qi Charging on top. These air buds are extremely lightweight and comfortable in the ear and as with many of the other Altec Lansing lines, they come in a variety of cool colors.

Keep an eye out on their website for these new wearables as availability and pricing will be coming soon. I know that we will be.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Qi Charging Gets Even More Practical and Absolutely Easy

2018-01-21

This year, Vivitar is expanding their charging products in some really cool ways. Their new line, Tap Charge, is a group of wireless Qi chargers that include sweet new features. We especially like the one that is tilted up so you can see the screen while charging, instead of laying your smart phone down. This enables you to easily view and use the phone while its charging. It also has USB ports on the front to allow you additional charging solutions while charging your phone on the main pad.

There is a Bluetooth speaker with alarm clock that offers Qi charging on top. Perfect for your bedside to easily charge wirelessly without adding more devices to your night stand. And the Tap Charge Auto is the perfect accessory with Qi charging for the car. No more need to search for cords while driving, just leave the mounted charger plugged in at all times and drop you phone in whenever you need a to charge, and it's perfect for looking at your GPS on the go.

The line of fabric-covered Qi chargers is really unique and a nice change from traditional black plastic chargers. You can get a single pad or a hub that charges three devices at a time. So whether more than one family member needs to charge at the same time, or if you want to charge your air pods, smart watch and phone all at the same time, you are covered.

They are also coming out with a line called Snap Charge. For on the go charging, they have the best design for a portable power bank. It has a wall plug that is built in and folds away perfectly in a compact design. You can charge by a standard cord, or you can Qi charge on the top surface of the bank that uses micro suction to adhere to phone. We find this a better alternative to adding a phone case with battery charger because you can keep the case that you love and only use the add on when needed. We loved the design so much that we hope they integrate this sleek design into their charging line for other products, such as camera batteries.

Although we were really excited about all of these new charging options, the most unique product they were showing off, by far, is a line of clutch purses that include power banks inside. They have multiple styles to choose from and can not only charge with a standard cord but they also offer Qi wireless charging. Ladies can simply lay the clutch down on the table in front of them and place their phone right on top to charge, making the phone accessible to them at all times.

Prices will vary and will be between $10 and $80 USD.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Quanergy Engages Future with Unparalleled Technology

2018-01-21

One of the things that CES does best is encourage new and better developments out of existing tech. This year, Quanergy is showing off their precision technology in Fisker's new car model (also unveiled at CES 2018), the EMotion. This autonomous vehicle is the first to have LiDAR Sensors built into the vehicle. Up until now, LiDAR Sensors have always been added on to existing vehicles, after the fact, to give them a certain level of autonomy.

Quanergy is the leading provider of solid state LiDAR sensors and smart sensing solutions. They lead the industry in all six key commercialization areas of price, performance, reliability, size, weight, and power efficiency, while meeting the mass deployment requirements of durability and dependability. The intricate design of their components are not only smaller to better fit into any design, but also more accurate than their larger counterparts.

The Fisker EMotion on display consists of five sensors staged throughout and provide it with an autonomous rating of Level 4. To find out more about Quanergy's software, technology and product line, check out their website.

Interview by Jacob Cannon of FIRST Looks.

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Perfect 3D Printing in a Great Design

2018-01-21

The MoonRay Desktop 3D Printer from SprintRay is an all in one, high resolution system with a compact design that can fit into any workspace. It allows you to make a variety of different things from engineering to character design and everything in between. It's also wireless with incredible accuracy, solid durability, and great print speed at an affordable price. It also includes advanced hardware, software, and materials.

Both of their printers offer 20, 50, or 100 Microns of Z Resolution, up to 1 vertical inch per hour Print Speed and use Standard, Castable, Dental Materials.

With MoonRay D, you are able to print features as small as 75 microns in size. It's perfect for applications that demand the best in detail, precision, and accuracy. It's perfect for dental labs producing crowns and bridges, and for jewelers who print pieces for casting.

The MoonRay S has a minimum feature size of 100 microns, combined with a generous build area. It's ideal for creators and makers who need a larger build area, but still want great detail, accuracy, and surface finish. It is great for character designers, dentists, and engineers.

Interview by Jacob Cannon of FIRST Looks.

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Exciting New Technology for Safer Driving

2018-01-22

All of us have gotten behind the wheel of our cars knowing that we were drowsy. Thanks to Hundai MOBIS, that problem is probably going to be a thing of the past. It is called Departed Driver Rescue and Exit Maneuver or DDREM. This is an intervention system that safely transitions the vehicle from any kind of accident or veering off the road when it detects that the driver is falling asleep.

Since there are over 7000 fatalities from falling asleep at the wheel, this innovation is a wonderful piece of technology to have available for our safety. It places sensors and an infrared camera into the car along with control inputs to help detect that the driver is no longer in control of the car. It then takes over and transitions the vehicle to get back on track and safely pull off the road and come to a safe stop. It will then send an emergency alert to whoever the OEM or the driver has chosen. Hopefully this technology will be available in cars by 2022.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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Need to Be More Stable in Your Recording? Use the Steadicam VOLT.

2018-01-22

Have you ever recorded a video and it came out shaky, either because of wind or just holding the phone too long? Now there is a handheld device that enables you to record on your phone without worrying about being steady and balanced. It's called the Steadicam VOLT. It can be used on any smartphone including smaller phones like the Moto E or larger phones like iPhone 8 Plus or the Note S8.

The VOLT comes with an engine for stabilizing even the shakiest hand. The counterweights allow for non-powered balance during your recording. You can move about and never worry about your picture being distorted or off-balance. It uses a lithium-ion battery with an 8-hour life and the battery charges fairly quickly.

They are available now at Best Buy, Amazon and wherever Tiffen products are sold. The suggested retail price is $79.95. For more information go to steadicam.com.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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A Breakthrough Way to Make Freshly Brewed Coffee On the Go!

2018-01-22

If you've ever been on-the-road and wished there was a way to brew your own coffee, then Cauldryn is for you. This seemingly standard insulated mug hides within it superpowers. Using a series of modular attachments, you can boil water, brew coffee and even sterilize water.

On the LED screen, you can set your target temperate and see how hot the water has gotten. Once it is to your desired temperature, you can make food, brew coffee or tea or even rehydrate dehydrated food. The portable battery pack can also charge your phone in an emergency. On a full charge you can boil water twice and brew coffee 7-8 times. The Cauldryn is a perfect accessory for camping or hiking.

In the control module they have added Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to use with Google Assistant, so when you're at home, you can simply say, "Hey Google, brew some coffee" and Cauldryn will do all of the work for you. The price point for this is $129.00 for the coffee module and $139.00 for the fixed module. For more information go to cauldryn.com.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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What Happens When You Open Young Minds to an Innovative Idea

2018-01-23

Now very young children can learn the basic programming logic with Primo. It is a tactile programming language meant to introduce children from 3+ the basic skills meant to do programming in a manner that they can understand and get excited about without a screen. This is done through the eyes of Cubetto, a little wooden robot whose movements are determined by placement of colorful plastic pieces on a wooden track.

Each color represents a different command: green for go, red for right and yellow for left. The company tried hard to incorporate alliteration into the command colors so that young children will associate with it easily.

The price point for this learning experience is $225.00 for the basic pack including the robot, the command pieces and track and a map. There are additional sets available for $29.00 each and a Color Pack for $45.00. Availability is through Amazon, Barnes and Noble or smaller toy stores around the country or through educational catalogues.

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Fantastic and Perfect Little Sound System for Your Kids

2018-01-23

Music is one of the best things in life. We all have times when we want to kick back and listen to our favorite playlists. And kids are no exception. Any of us with kids, siblings or nieces/nephews most likely have a playlist or two dedicated just to them. But if they are listening to their music from your device, that means that you are not. And most of us don't necessarily want to devote a phone or mp3 to our little ones and risk the device breaking.

Well, Jooki has the perfect solution. Jooki is a durable, colorful and portable Wi-Fi speaker for kids 3+ that comes with little toy characters. It is designed to allow kids to listen to their music and stories without the need for any kind of screened device. Each character is linked to a separate playlist (song, story, album or internet radio station), so when the child places one on top of the speaker, the music starts automatically.

A great additional feature is the app for parents. With this app, you are able to control the type of content the kids are exposed to, and also giving total control to things like the volume and play times . The app is also used to upload the content, create playlists and link the playlists to characters.

The player and five characters are priced at $199 and are currently shipping to the US. You can get yours here.

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The Lighter, the Better with Fascinating Nanoleaf

2018-01-23

We are no strangers to lighting effects, light boards and light walls here at PLuGHiTz Live. As a matter of fact, we are always in search of better lighting features and design. So when we came across Nanoleaf at ShowStoppers at CES 2018, to say we were excited would be an understatement.

Nanoleaf is not just a light, it's an experience. It is comprised of lightweight triangular panels that actually enable you to illuminate your life in your own way, and change it up anytime you would like. The panels click together in any configuration you can dream of. Make a unique tower, or wall design and mix it up whenever you feel like it. Program various color schemes. You can awaken in the morning to sunlight and unwind at night with a colorful and soothing display. There's also an add-on rhythm module that will transform your music and allow you to immerse yourself in a symphony of light. We truly can't say enough about this incredible design.

Whether for a bedroom, home theater or multimedia studio, Nanoleaf is a green solution for amazing LED lighting design. They offer a 9 piece starter kit for $199, and 3 piece expansion packs for $49 on their website.

Also check out the kits and bundles available at Amazon:
9-piece Aurora Smarter Kit
9-piece Rhythm Smarter Kit
3-piece Aurora Expansion Pack

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High Tech Workflow Solutions with OWC

2018-01-24

Oh what fun it is to see what's new at OWC, especially for us here at PLuGHiTz Live.

This year they are showcasing the new version of their Thunderbolt 3 Dock, which was previously mainly for Mac. They have now added the Windows platform and lowered the price. The ports included on this new model: (2) Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C ports (downstream port can support USB 3.1 Gen 2 devices), (1) Mini DisplayPort, (4) USB 3.1 Gen 1 Standard-A ports (rear) - 1 compliant with Battery Charging 1.2 spec, (1) USB 3.1 Gen 1 Standard-A port (front) - compliant with Battery Charging 1.2 spec, (1) Gigabit Ethernet port, (1) S/PDIF digital audio port (output only), (1) SD 3.0 media card reader (front), (1) Hybrid 3.5 mm headphone/mic jack. This new model will be available in February/March of 2018 at a price of $279.

OWC has always been a storage company that is focused on any kind of media production. As more and more content is created, we not only need extended storage but also better transfer speeds. This next upgraded device will make life for us media professionals so much better. The Thunderblade V4 is a solid state RAID array (PCIE, MVME), passively cooled untie with no light in a flat black finish that is portable and fast. How fast? It has an almost 3 gig/second read with 2.5 sustained writes. When time is money and performance can't be beat... this new unit is as good as gold in our book. All this and it is durably designed to be out on the road where the content is being created. It is available immediately post CES 2018. From 1TB to 8 TB with pricing between $1,600 and $4,999, it will honestly pay for itself in production time very quickly.

Take a look at all of OWC's products, available at Amazon.com.

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Amazing and Budget-Friendly Gadgets for your Peace of Mind

2018-01-24

When the smallest, most affordable gadgets can make such a big impact on daily life, we take notice. And we definitely noticed Roost when we came across them at ShowStoppers at CES 2018.

On display this year is their 9 Volt Smart Battery. This is a Lithium battery that will last 3-5 years, with an imbedded WiFi chip. This Smart Battery will actually change your existing smoke detectors in your home and instantly turn them into smart smoke detectors. How ingenious! By simply replacing your batteries with these smart batteries and connecting to your home WiFi via the mobile app, you will be alerted immediately if your smoke detector goes off. So no matter where you are, you will know, and can react, right way, if there is a fire in your home. The Smart Battery starts at $34.99. You can also order the next generation battery at Amazon.com.

Also currently available is the Smart Leak and Freeze Detector. For only $49, you will never have to worry about leaks or freezing pipes again. Simply place this detector anyplace in which you are worried about leaks to get a notice to your smartphone if one occurs. It also has a temperature and humidity sensor inside so you can set your own parameters to be alerted in time to ensure there isn't a disaster in the home. It's great for placement beneath toilets, under the kitchen sink, near the hot water heater, etc.

And a new addition to their lineup this year is the Smart Garage Door Sensor. Talk about a good idea!! We have all had that sinking feeling after driving away from the house where we wonder, "Oh no, did I close the garage door?". Well, don't worry about driving back to verify. This wonderful little device that clips onto the top of the garage door is Wi-Fi enabled with a built in accelerometer. It sends notifications to your smartphone to let you know the state of your garage door; open or closed. Place this sensor on the garage door, connect it to the Roost cloud through the free mobile app and become more engaged. Not only can you check on the door's status at any time, but you can also set up notifications to let you know when there is any activity. The Garage Door Sensor will be available in the second quarter of 2018 at a price of $39.

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Vibes Audio is Going Modular in a Really Great Way

2018-01-24

Vibes Audio presents ROXON... an all new smartphone case system with modular accessories. This innovative system starts with a BASEROX smartphone case ($24.99), which is the shell of the phone case. It comes in either black or white and currently supports Apple iPhone models 6, 6s, 6 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy models S7 Edge, S8, and S8 Plus, with Apple iPhone X coming soon.

To elevate your sound, add the VIBROX Sound Engine ($114.99). This lightweight and powerful little Bluetooth speaker, with a built-in microphone, also lets you set up 2-way calling with ease. Other features include a waterproof IPX7 rating, 10-12 hours of playtime, pause/play and song tracking features.

To back up that power, get the VOLTROX Power Bank (49.99) to provide up to 150% more battery life. Snap it on when you need a quick charge, then snap it off to add a different accessory when you're done. Specs include a stylish thin form factor, 3000 mAH detachable battery pack, spring loaded button for easy removal, battery ON/OFF switch, removable power cord to plug into phone, LED battery level indicator lights and Micro USB charging port.

There's also a Sticky Mount Adapter for adventures on the go. Mount your Vibes Modular products practically anywhere. Slap it on the side of your cooler, or in the garage, shower, on your tool box, your tacklebox, kayak, paddleboard, surfboard (it's waterproof). Anywhere you go, it can go with you.

What we love about ROXON is not just the great accessories, but the fact that they, unlike other brands, will remain with you even if you change phones. If you get a different sized phone, all you have to do is update your BASEROX. The speaker, charger, and future snap on accessories, will still fit perfectly. Making this a green solution that grows with you. Finally, sustainable, swappable accessories for smartphones so you can Vibe Anywhere.

And keep your eye out for future add-ons like Qi Wireless charging and Recharging accessories.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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Take Your Notes With You to The Future

2018-01-25

Hey students... Let's face it, buying normal notebooks over and over again for classes can take a toll on your wallet, as well as the environment after the life of the notebook has ended. Good thing Rocketbook has a solution to just that with their newest notebook on the market, the Everlast. The Everlast Notebook has so much to offer with a very small price and endless reusability so you never have to buy another notebook again.

All you need is the Everlast Notebook, any pen from the Pilot Friction line, and the Rocketbook App for iOS and Android. You can then take notes on any page, use the app to scan the notes digitally and now they can go anywhere you want them through email, iMessage, or even store them on a cloud service. When you're done with a day's notes and you have synced them to the app, you can then take a moist towel and start all over with countless notes taken on the same notebook.

This book has another special feature. The front of the notebook has seven symbols that you can pair with specific locations in any cloud storage. This mean you can write out a page of Calculus notes, physically check the specified symbol on the note page, i.e. Google, and when you scan the page in the app, the file will automatically be saved to your Google drive in the "Math" folder. What? That's right. It's the perfect solution for taking and storing any kind of notes, artwork, doodles or even your little black book... the possibilities are endless. And you don't have to worry about dropping your notebook in a puddle on the walk home, or the dog eating your notes.

We simply can't say enough about this ingenious product. Spend less, carry less, save all of your information and stay environmentally friendly to boot! Get your Everlast Notebook today on Amazon for $34.00.

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Increase Your Energy, Stay Fresh and at the Top with BrainTap

2018-01-25

The world is getting busier and crazier by the minute. We all get caught up in work, kids, school and life in general. All of the pressures that we encounter can really put us in a tail spin. We could certainly benefit from a simple, safe and easy to use solution. That's why we were so intrigued when came across the BrainTap display and met Dr. Patrick Porter. So many of us want to overcome our major stressors and activate our brain's peak performance. BrainTap has created a headset with seven different technologies built inside to aide with all that we have going on. Whether you want to simply instill a positive attitude and get refreshed, want to stop a bad habit, or you need help getting to sleep at night, BrainTap is for you!

It's a brain meditation and training tool that can help you get more energy, focus, concentration and more out of life in general. You'll be able to "reboot" your brain in an all natural way. Although Dr. Porter began developing this technology years ago, but it was quite a bit more cumbersome to administer. He now has it down to a user friendly and comfortable head set that anybody can use.

Relax your way to better energy and brain health. You can purchase your headset on their website here. There are also a lot of episodes available to help with a wide assortment of ailments. There are also episodes available on Amazon.

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Quartz: Great-Tasting Water Instantly, Smart and Easily Portable

2018-01-25

Quartz has an exciting development in the water bottle market. A self cleaning water bottle that will keep your water cold, but also ensures that you are drinking pure and clean tasting water every time. We caught up with Justin Wang one of the co-founders of this new product at CES this year, who explained the technology and process which makes this product such a great option.

This product is all made possible by their new UV light technology inside the bottle which cleans and sanitizes your water bottle, but also purifies the drinking water within. This is an exciting feature to anyone trying to reduce their impact on the environment, but also provides an effective solution to keeping your water chalice clean and fresh smelling. The new more condensed version of this UV light technology cleans the water bottle every 4 hours, or with the quick push of a button. The LED light is rechargeable and will last 2 to 3 months on a single charge, making the process very easy and efficient.

Now, with Quartz's new product, it will make drinking clean great tasting water a lot less expensive, and the cleaning process a whole lot easier without having to use the dishwasher or sink again. Take it to the gym, camping or on the road. With the easy-to-use USB adapter for charging, it truly can go anywhere you need it to go with you. This product will be available on Amazon in April for $99.00, the last money you should ever have to spend on a water bottle forever.

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You'll Love the Sound Personalization of These Headphones

2018-01-26

New this year for beyerdynamic are the Aventho Wireless Headphones, which can be personalized to each individual via the MIY App. Thanks to Tesla technology, these mobile Bluetooth headphones offer optimum sound by acoustically adapting to the user's hearing. This is accomplished with integrated sound personalization that delivers perfect sound from any music source. Individual sound profiles are created in the app, where you can easily adjust the sensitivity. Battery life is 30+ hours and there is intuitive handling using the touchpad that is integrated in the right ear cup. There is also a high-quality hands-free microphone built in for phone calls. The app is available for both Android and Apple and the price of the headphones is $449. Get yours here.

Also revealed at CES 2018 is their Tesla, in-ear headset called XELENTO REMOTE. They use highly efficient miniaturized Tesla technology drivers and high-resolution sound for an audiophile lifestyle on the go. With its Universal 3-button remote and mic for most Apple and Android devices, it is also has Ergonomically shaped casings that are coupled with perfectly molded ear tips which are available in 10 sizes. Exclusive materials are used in the design, like silver-plated detachable cable and high-gloss housing. They sit in the ear for maximum comfort to allow for longer play times. Pricing starts at $999 and they can be ordered on Amazon.

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Absolutely Brilliant Lighting and Smart Home Solutions

2018-01-26

We all love the technical/mobile revolution that has been transpiring over the last few years, and we're happy that it is moving forward at full speed. And even though it is great to have apps on our mobile devices to assist with our smart home products, it would also be really nice to have a control built into wall mountable controls inside the home. For this very reason, Brilliant has developed the Brilliant Control. This smart light switch replaces an existing switch in the home and gives you and your family touch and voice access to lighting and your other smart products in the house. It connects with Sonos, Nest and more without the need for a mobile app. Amazon Alexa is built in, as is video capability that allows you to video conference between one or more controls that are installed in the house.

And don't worry about not being super handy around the house. Installation is a breeze and only takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Once installed, you will instantly have voice and motion control. All of which can end up saving you between an estimated 5-18% on your overall lighting costs. There's also a convenient touch screen that allows you to swipe up/down to turn lights on and off, as well as adjust dimming.

They also worked hard to make the design simple and elegant, to compliment your home décor. It's available in multiple colors and switch configurations and they even include seasonal art that is automatically updated. The single switch starts at $199. There are also 2, 3 and 4 switch designs that increase in price by increments of $50 respectively. Their preorder sale exceeded their expectations and they are working hard to have them available in February.

Take a look at the available options and purchase yours here

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Powerful and Stylish Headphones for Outstanding Performance

2018-01-26

Klipsch has been in the audio business for 71 years and their name is well known amongst audiophiles for full bodied sound in their high end sound systems. New this year are the Heritage HP3 Headphones and the Heritage Headphone Amplifier.

The Heritage HP3 Headphones have a sophisticated design, made from the most functional and premium materials available. They feature die-cast steel, milled wood, premium leathers, and machined aluminum components. Boasting a 52mm KG-520 biodynamic driver housed in a back-vented design, the HP3 headphones deliver unsurpassed acoustic performance. Like their other products, these headphones are made to last with single piece, interchangeable parts. So whether you need to replace a piece or you want to switch up the look with additional ear pads or cables, it can be done at any time. You can order a pair from their website for $1,199.

The Heritage Headphone Amp is the perfect accompaniment to the HP3's. They deliver a premium, audiophile-grade performance to maximize your headphone capabilities for true-to-life acoustic reproduction. Also exquisitely designed, from being encased in formed aluminum to the genuine walnut veneer, the Heritage Headphone Amplifier exudes quality even before being plugging in your headphones. They feature a high quality digital to analog converter, dual amplifiers for balanced output, and more. And the feel is unsurpassed. It brings you back in time with a retro design, but with all of the current tech that makes this a powerhouse of an amplifier. Get yours here for $499.

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Play The Best Games During Your Down Time

2018-01-27

GameStream offers video game streaming services to businesses in the hospitality industry. This allows their clients the luxury of playing video games while they are waiting for their services to be complete. They are offering a highly qualitative Cloud Gaming solution that allows them to stream a catalog composed of the latest AAA games and a selection of the best independent games in HD (1080p/60fps). The White-Label solution serves Hotels, Cruise ships and hospitals by enabling them to bypass the limited internet connections inside their premises. This "Next-Gen console experience" is easy to integrate where no console needs to be installed.

The founders know that others have tried and failed in this space. They feel that their extensive background in gaming, as well as game design and production give them a distinct advantage. They are not just tech people adapting their ideas and technology to gaming, as others have been. They feel that just as people have options for various music streaming services and are able to find what works best for them, that the same will be the case in game streaming if gamers are given good options.

Currently available overseas, the company is looking to expand into the U.S. They are also looking to increase their exposure in hospitals. They found that not only does it give the patients something fun to do, but it also aids in their recovery because people do better overall when their spirits are lifted.

They are also looking to offer streaming services directly to consumers in the future, when 5G wireless is available. For more information, check out their website.

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Capture The Most Breathtaking Video On Your Next Fishing Adventure

2018-01-27

Take your fishing activities to the next level with the GoFish Cam! This is no ordinary underwater camera, it's a versatile 1080pHD camera that goes where your fishing goes unlike any other fishing camera. The GoFish Cam simply attaches to any fishing line and captures the underwater experience that you need to see. The camera is made with a strong metal leader line that helps you catch large game fish.

But wait, there's more. The GoFish Cam has a built-in hotspot that can connect to your phone through the GoFish Cam app. This application has so many possibilities for the sport of fishing that start with a creation of a profile and the activation of your new GoFish Cam. From the app, you can adjust the camera settings and the video quality, view the battery life, and refer back to previous fishing trips that were recorded. From there, you have the ability to edit and share out your footage to your friends!

Pick up your GoFish Cam today for $239.99 by going to the GoFish Cam website.

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Make Your Car Better Without Any Special Tools

2018-01-27

Have an older vehicle that doesn't have sensors to assist with obstacle avoidance? FenSens is a license plate holder that is a smart wireless parking sensor. It sends the data directly to your smartphone. With installation time of just 5 minutes with no wires, It's an affordable UPGRADE for any car. There are platforms for both Android/iOS and the hands free app launches instantly to provide convenient audio, visual, and vibration alerts when objects are dedicated in the path of the sensors. There's no complex setup or installation fees. FenSens is perfect for all consumer and commercial fleet vehicles not exceeding 30 feet in length. You can use one both on the back and front of your car, to provide maximum protection.

There will soon be a magnetic version that can be attached to other places on the car, or even on your boat. And the company is also working on other add-on tech for vehicles. You can get yours here.

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Sproutel is a Wonderful Amazing Companion to Soothe Children with Cancer

2018-01-28

Sproutel is a company that works with industry leaders to bring awareness to health but also help patients in a therapeutic way. This year at CES 2018, Sproutel is highlighting a partnership collaboration with Aflac and the outcome is the cutest little robot called My Special Aflac Duck. This small duck is adorable and cuddly, and can interact with child cancer patients to help them cope through their cancer treatment. My Special Aflac Duck has three major motor controls: he waddles, bobs his head and quacks. There's even a soothing heartbeat for a wonderful calming affect.

To the kids, it feels like a stuffed animal, but it is also a robot with built-in sensors that can react to their touch. There's a built-in microphone and also a light sensor to understand the environment around it, which allows it to actually change behavior depending upon the mood and surroundings.

Also, the kids can communicate their feelings by tapping a "feelings chip" to the duck's chest. They can also have their cuddly buddy get chemo therapy right along with them. The companion app included augmented reality where you can feed and bathe your duck and also explore the world together.

My Special Aflac Duck will be available in the winter of 2019 and will be donated at no cost to children with cancer. We look forward to future developments from Sproutel. For more information, please visit their website.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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See What Happens When You Increase Productivity with Mindset

2018-01-28

The world and our daily lives are filled with distractions. It's getting more and more difficult to stay focused on the task at hand. The team at Mindset have seen the transformative power of EEG and, with the overall goal in mind of bringing it to everybody, they have developed the Mindset Headphones.

These over-ear headphones have EEG sensors embedded to measure the electrical activity in the brain and parse it out to measure how focused you are while working, studying, completing tasks, etc. This technology is used to improve concentration. While wearing the headphones, when you get distracted, they will send you a signal to make you aware. Over time, this trains your subconscious to better recognize those things that distract you so you can tune them out.

It comes with a customizable app that allows you to choose how you receive the cues. You also use the app to track your progress. It's like a fitness tracker for your brain. You can track how often your are distracted, your best hours for concentration, and figure out which habits are affecting your focus throughout the day.

The headphones themselves are made by Onkyo and deliver great sound. They were designed to give an experience that was built for work with Bluetooth and active noise cancelling. They can be worn comfortably all day with a battery life of 8-10 hours.

The price point for these headphones will be $350 when they launch. You can preorder your pair here with a 25% discount. Preorders will ship in April 2018.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Seize the Day and Pesky Mosquitoes The Safe Way

2018-01-28

We all hate mosquitoes. They not only ruin our outdoor activities but also pose significant health risks. Qista is a French company that has created a safe and effective mosquito control system called Evo 2+. It is lightweight and mobile and fits in easily with your outdoor décor. It simulates human respiration with CO2 and olfactory lures. It's also safe for other living creatures as they are patented and ecological to provide an alternative to current ineffective and even toxic solution for mosquito control.

The units are perfect for home use as well as commercial and municipalities. They connect to electricity or municipal power, are 100% natural with 0% toxicity, programmable for optimum use and are effective up to a 60 meter radius in an open area.

Qista is making their debut in the U.S. in some Southern Florida cities and have hopes to expand even further in the state. Prices start at about $1000 for the unit and there are a few different options for gas & lure. You can get more pricing and availability information here.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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The Gift of the Universe Right on Your Smartphone

2018-01-29

Vaonis introduces Stellina - a completely new kind of telescope. It is easy to use, portable and delivers the images directly to your smartphone. Their goal is to make astronomy more accessible for everybody. The thought of having to set up a standard telescope properly, looking through a small hole and still not really being able to see what you are looking for is not very appealing. But Stellina changes all of that. Via the connected app, it knows your GPS location when you set it up and it searches out the stars for you. You can also request specific sightings and Stellina will find them for you. For example, a certain nebula or galaxy, or even the International Space Station when it is in your area. Imagine having this kind of telescope during an eclipse. It will find and track the best viewing vantage and you can watch the whole thing right on your phone.

Stellina is compact and lightweight enough to be carried in a backpack and boasts 5 - 10 hours of battery life, depending upon usage. The app is easy to use and, once installed, is easily accessed via the push of a button on the telescope. It not only provides you with amazing images that are easy to save and share on social media, but it will also provide information about what it is that you are viewing.

Whether you are wanting an easy and fun way to keep up with your astronomy hobby, or you are looking to become more active in the astronomical community, Stellina is for you. It will be available in Q3 2018 for $2,999 but you can preorder yours now with a CES special for $2,499 from their website.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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Enjoy New and Simple Connectivity to Your Car with Raven

2018-01-29

Raven is a connected car product with a new type of technology integration that combines four different technologies into one. They have taken a traditional dashcam, displays, connection to tel-harmonics in the car as well as a built-in security system.

It sits right on top of your dashboard, always in view. You can customize the display from a list of driving information readouts. This ensures that you have the best possible information to help you drive safely. There are an array of sensors and you will be alerted if your car is bumped, broken into or stolen. Raven can alert family/friends if there is a critical event. Simply add them to your Trusted Circle and they will receive vital information to help you in the event of an incident or emergency.

The Alerts are customizable. Raven keeps aware of the driving behaviors of each driver, with alerts such as speeding, curfew, boundary and dangerous driving activities. It also keeps all videos that you can check at any time and also share with one click on social media. You can create driving reports which help with specific travel data for expense reports or insurance purposes. The app also gives you access to live views and vehicle information at any time. You will have the peace of mind of always knowing what is going on with your car, and its drivers.

Pricing begins at $299. You can preorder now and receive a $30 discount. Shipping begins in March 2018. Upon activation, you will be prompted to choose one of their monthly service plans. There is a 30 day risk free test drive available. Learn more by visiting their website.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Beauty and Technology Meet in the VOLO Cordless Dryer

2018-01-29

In the beauty industry, there are a lot of gadgets. Whether you're curling your hair or your eye lashes, there's a device for everything. A lot of these devices, however, have remained unchanged for a long time. Take, for example, the blow dryer. The heating element used requires so much power that a special adapter is required to use one out of the country, and the cords are usually just long enough that you're tethered to the wall while in use.

Ryan Goldman of VOLO Beauty has set out to change all of that. Their new cordless blow dryer is one of the first of its kind, but distinguishes itself in other ways, as well. Ryan didn't just want to bring the same old dryer to market without a cord; instead, he wanted to make sure that the dryer was more energy efficient, so that it would last its longest on a charge. So, rather than a traditional heating coil, VOLO has designed an infrared heating bulb system, which uses 600 watts rather than the more traditional 1800 watts. As an added bonus, the infrared system dries the hair faster, and more evenly, making the product more healthy for the hair.

The product will be launching on Kickstarter this Spring, and will be available afterward on Indiegogo On Demand. The retail price will be $388, with discounts for preorders. You can also sign up for their waitlist so you can find out when the campaign launches.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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The Bliss of Full Musical Freedom in Working Out with Vinci

2018-01-30

Having interviewed Max Wu with Vinci a couple of times already for their 1st generation headphones, we knew it was a must to stop-in and say hello when we saw him in Eureka Park this year at CES 2018. We loved their headphones that debuted last year, which were the first in the world to incorporate standalone voice command. They allow users to take them on the go and pull up their favorite music without having to reach for a cell phone. So we were really excited to see what's new.

They did not disappoint. This year they are even more geared towards sports and working out with Vinci 2.0 Earbuds. They have added all of the functionality of the headphones into a much smaller form. These earbuds only weigh 80 grams, fit comfortably on the neck and in-ear and offer all of your music without the need to even have your phone on you. So you will be able to go out jogging and be able to listen to your tunes as well as take phone calls without having to lug around that bulky phone, which is great since lots of workout gear don't have pockets.

Setup is simple and also the only time that you need to use your phone along with them. The app will take you through adding (or changing) your favorite music streaming services and libraries. From there, these 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth earbuds will automatically synch with your phone when they are together, to keep all of your information up-to-date. And don't worry, it doesn't only synch up your music, but it also gathers your health stats and adds them to the health centers in you Apple and Android phones.

Classic to Vinci, there is still a screen, but it is much smaller and designed to blend in to the aesthetic. It is definitely a more passive system for power preservation, but you can still customize it to your preferences. The screen makes it easy to check the on/off status, battery life and signal strength. The battery will last for up to 14 hours of continuous play and it comes with a USB docking station that will give a full charge in about 2.5 hours.

The Kickstarter for Vinci 2.0 recently ended and they should start shipping in Feb 2018. Pricing starts at $89 for 8GB and goes up to $249 for the 32GB. Check out all four colors and choose a pair of your own on their website. You can also pick up a pair of the full size headphones on Amazon.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Marvel at The World's Most Powerful Communication Tool

2018-01-30

In today's world, it is more important than ever to keep connected. It can be a challenge to get everybody together for collaboration in the workplace, in study groups and even for event planning. Solaborate has come up with the perfect solution with their line called HELLO. This is not just video conferencing; their products put everything you need to effectively communicate, collaborate and create right at your fingertips. It truly could not be easier.

HELLO first debuted last year as a convenient cross-platform application that allows you to push voice calls, video calls, text messages, live broadcasts, or any other compatible streaming content to your TV by just a swipe on your phone or tablet. And in just one year, they are coming out with a suite of improvements and products to make that communication even better.

With Amazon Alexa and Google Home technology built right in, the 2nd generation, HELLO 2 has also added speakers, touch and auto tilt and hack proof privacy controls. Also added is an array of form beaming microphones for better sound quality, as well as whiteboard and additional screen sharing capabilities.

Coming soon is Hello Touch, the smartest and most affordable 4K Touch TV Powered by HELLO 2 that facilitates real-time collaboration, whiteboarding, video conferencing and wireless sharing. Also coming are Gadget Extensions that include a Controller to aid in gaming and a Hello Button, which is a re-programmable smart button that allows you to control things around you with one simple click.

As part of the open platform, they are also introducing HELLO 2 Creator Edition, which is designed specifically for the developer community. Because the more open collaboration, the better, to bring as many working uses to this amazing and flexible platform as possible.

The first generation of HELLO is currently available on their website and on Amazon for $299. All off the second generation products will be offered on KickStarter in just a few weeks. Keep an eye out for them and let us know what you think.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Energize Your Tunes with Sound That You Will Treasure

2018-01-30

Already a name in the gaming world, Nahimic has now produced software to take the sound from your computer/laptop to incredible heights. This processing and software is aimed at sound correction. They want to make the sound from your games, music and videos better and to also make it 3D.

All speakers and headphones, no matter how expensive, contain some degree of default, especially when connected to a computer. Nahimic's software will measure and automatically correct for these defaults, no matter how big or small. They accomplish this via a full database of every device built in. The software is installed onto your computer, and once the listening device is detected, it makes the digital corrections instantly. This technology, which is now available for macOS and directly to consumers, improves the sound of the internal speakers or any speaker or headphones that you use. It can increase the volume over 100% and give a full dynamic 3D sound as if you were in a home theater, rather than on a regular pair of headphones.

This software is due to launch in Q2 2018 and will have an annual subscription fee of $34.99.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Captivated by the Invasion with the Head Monster

2018-01-31

This year's Monster Takeover was nothing short of a Sound Invasion and we were so excited to be front and center for all of the fun at CES 2018! It kicked off with the press conference that showcased the new and exciting products for this year. Then, during the show itself, getting to see everything in action at the Monster Booth in Central Hall, including the Pure Monster Sound that has been integrated into the Volkswagen R. Also at the booth, we were lucky enough to chat with Peter Miller and then see Iggy Azalea when she stopped by to say Hi to the press and take a brief tour of the booth.

But the definite highlight of the show for us was getting to speak with the Head Monster himself, Noel Lee, before the Monster Concert featuring Joe Perry and Friends. After Noel took a few minutes to address the crowd at the pre-show cocktail party and give a first-hand look at the whole lineup, including the Expanded Blaster Family, he took a few minutes to sit down with us to discuss the new Monster SuperStar Series. With the S200 speaker in hand, Noel discussed the features that makes this line of speakers outstanding. For example, V Sound, which plays from both sides of the speaker to provide an all encompassing sound at any angle, and Monster Talk which allows you to request any song (or genre) from any of the streaming services, or from your own playlist, instantaneously. And we love the aesthetics of the line. They fit in with the Blaster Series just like family, which is exactly how Noel and the entire crew at Monster make us feel.

If you'd like to be a part of the family as well, pick out which SuperStar(s) would best fit into your lifestyle, starting at just $59. Take it from us, you will love the way they sound!!

SuperStar S100
SuperStar S200
SuperStar S300

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Have a Dream to Fly? It's About to Come True!

2018-01-31

Volocopter is building the first Verticle Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft in the world that is unmanned and electric. They aim to make our dream of flying come true while, at the same time, helping to ease the mobility problems that modern cities face. It is more than just a design concept. As a matter of fact, it has already been introduced in other parts of the world and made its North American debut here at CES 2018.

Volocopter is not just for pilots, it is actually the first of its kind being referred to as an AAT (Autonomous Air Taxi). They are looking for it to become the Uber or taxi service of the airways. It is a helicopter that has been built with Super-Drone Technology. This 18 blade head assembly vehicle is 100% electric and has a 30 minute runtime. It is actually being crafted for the masses to be very affordable and not just for private use. It will pick you up and deliver you to your destination just like a taxi would do. The makers of Volocopter have already had their maiden autonomous flight in Dubai. They also had their first passenger/autonomous flight here in Vegas. It was conducted during the Keynote Speech with Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, right inside the theatre.

Volocopter's ultimate goal is to have between 50 to 100 copters flying the airways in any city or urban environment in the world within 2 to 3 years. This is one that we are definitely going to keep an eye on for future developments and updates.

Interview by Chase Lowery of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Perfect and Simple Way to Direct Your Smart Home

2018-01-31

The progression of the smart home went from manually adjusting your lights and thermostat, to being able to make changes on a mobile device, to using voice commands to control these and many other items in your house. How can it get any better than that? Well, if crea.vision has anything to do with it, it can get a lot better.

crea.vision is developing a product that will enhance your intelligent home without the need for a screen controller or even voice command. It will work quietly in the background, yet still be available when you need something. It uses a computer vision sensor that is capable of knowing the identity and location of the people in the home, works with long distances and combines all of this data to automate all of your connected devices.

This new hub will intelligently manage your lighting, climate and entertainment, by learning every user's preferences and then personalizing each service. So, wherever you walk into the house, the system will make adjustments to your smart devices automatically for you. For example, if your phone is charging and a call comes in, the system will notify you wherever you are in the home and allow you to take it hands free. It will seamlessly follow you as you walk around the house, as will your music or TV shows. So when you are busily getting ready for work, you won't miss a minute of your media as you move about the house. All connected devices that can be safely connected to the system will be able to autonomously adapt to each individual user.

Creators are designing it around all platforms. It is being built with the user in mind, to be as easy as possible, by integrating in many of the existing third party devices. Current development for consumer use will track as many as 10-15 people within the home. And based upon feedback, they are looking to expand into enterprise solutions as well as enterprise security solutions.

This whole new way of interacting with technology is still in the prototype phase. It should be on the market in about 6 to 8 months. Pricing is still pending, but they will be updating their website throughout the development process. Stay tuned to www.crea.vision for more information.

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Your Special Herbal Blends to Help You Relax and Enjoy Life More

2018-02-01

So many of us are trying to live a more pure and healthy lifestyle. Homeopathic cures and remedies can play a big part in this. And although it is very appealing to cure what ails us with an all natural approach, it's not always easy to find the right blend of ingredients to fit our own individual needs. Oblend allows you to make a variety of health products, right at home, using plant-based materials, such as botanical extracts and essential oils.

Botanical extracts and essential oils have long been touted as being able to help with everything from headaches to sleeplessness to inflammation and everything in between. But everybody is different and getting the right blend for maximum benefits can be quite difficult and expensive. This is where Oblend comes in. With the help of their mobile app, you are able to identify your specific need and get recipe combinations. And you can choose the best way to deliver the results. You can create vapes, tinctures, culinary oils, massage oils, lotions, drinks, aromatherapies and supplements from legal herbal extracts and essential oils. And that's just the beginning.

Still in the prototype stage, Oblend will go on resale in March and is expected to begin shipping in July. Pricing is expected to be at about $949. They are currently offering a CES special of 50% off of the March preorders when you sign up for their email list on their website.

Interview by Chase Lowery of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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STEM is for Everybody: Brilliant is Absolutely Beautiful!

2018-02-01

Beauty and the Bolt is an online education platform with the goal of lowering the barrier of entry for girls and women that are interested in engineering and technologies. It's a village where anyone can learn physics, math, engineering, making and more. Their goal is to share engineering and the maker movement in a cool new way and, in turn, increase interest for those who wouldn't normally be exposed to these topics. There shouldn't be a set demographic for recruiting engineers. The less we stereotype, the more creativity we will gain. So what better way to show that anybody can create than by framing the movement around the princess Belle and subliminally informing the world that femininity and engineering are not mutually exclusive!

It is commonly known that women and minorities are vastly underrepresented in the STEM workforce. Beauty and the Bolt aims to make learning engineering easy, cheap and accessible for anyone - especially teens and young adults - while also encouraging creativity and individuality.

Having realized that current manuals and tutorials were putting off as many people as they were attracting, the founders set out to make a change. They began producing video tutorials that would be entertaining and engaging for a much wider viewer base. The videos take away the intimidation factor by simply showing a girl complete the tasks. The projects are geared to inspire everyone to learn and create. Their goal is to bring as many resources as possible to encourage and inspire whole new groups of people to be interested in STEM by making the topics as approachable, fun, interesting and affordable as possible.

The YouTube videos that they make are free to makerspaces, as they want to get them into the hands of as many people as possible. They also sell kits in bulk to the makerspaces. Each set has a goal in mind, for example a hand drill kit to get users accustom to using the hand drill and make it easier and less intimidating.

Check them out on YouTube Channel as well as on their website.

Interview by Jacob Cannon of FIRST Looks.

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Latest Tech Delivers Important New Brain Test for Athletes

2018-02-01

Concussion awareness in athletics has become an important topic of discussion in schools and professional sports teams in recent years. Reflexion Edge is an interactive diagnostic tool that is designed to detect and track the onset of these types of brain injuries as part of an athlete's normal training.

When used as part of daily/weekly performance training, it offers concussion screening and vestibular rehabilitation. Athletes can also use the system to train their cognitive performance on a weekly basis as part of their practice routines. Reflexion Edge searches for concussions that may occur from smaller hits and also the results of mild impacts over time from repeated tackles and checks that would normally go undiagnosed. It is also to be used after each game when the majority of the hits and tackles occur. Unchecked, these injuries could lead to more serious brain injuries later in life.

This tool also increases the athlete's performance through neurocognitive training over time. They can then look at the leader boards to see how they stack up to their friends and others in their leagues.

Reflexion is currently partnered with two Pennsylvania high schools while ramping up for a launch in May of this year. For more information, please visit their website.

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The Hologram School of the Future is Here!

2018-02-02

Case Western Reserve University has been working with Microsoft HoloLens and the Cleveland Clinic to create the first software for HoloLens to be used in the medical field. The school has been developing this software to be used in their new facility that will house the medical, dental and nursing schools.

The software is called HoloAnatomy and helps teach students without the need to use cadavers and plain 2D textbooks. This application teaches in a 3D hologram style of environment. You will actually be able to walk around the image and even be able to stick your head and hands into the holographic body. Sister software is also being used to view artwork and museums of the world. You can try out this groundbreaking software for free for the HoloLens in the Microsoft Store.

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The Most Amazing Chess Board... EVER!!

2018-02-02

So, you see a nice wooden chess board while walking around a large tech show. You glance at it, give a little smile and almost walk right by to the thing that has all of the bells and whistles down the row, because it's just a chess board, right? Luckily our team didn't just keep walking when they came up to this one. I have to say that with all of the technology out there and after years of coming to CES, it is pretty rare for us to see a new product demo and have our jaws actually drop. But that's what happened when we saw the sorcery at the Square Off booth in Eureka Park this year at CES 2018.

Square Off is an automated chess board that allows you to play against the built-in artificial intelligence. So, big deal, right? Electronic chess has been around forever. Well this isn't your grandpa's electronic chess. This game is played on an actual, physical chess board with real pieces. And after you take your turn, the built in intelligence not only calculates its next move, but it actually moves its piece on the board. It accomplishes this via built in pressure sensors, magnets and an electronic arm built inside. You have to see it to believe it. It even moves around other pieces and removes your captured pieces from the board itself.

There are 20 different levels of difficulty for playing against the computer, and you can also connect with it online and play with anybody across the world. They have connected with Chess.com so you will be able to challenge any of their 16 million users to a game, at any time, whether or not they have the board as well. The accompanying mobile app connects to the board via Bluetooth. The app is where you set the difficulty levels and search for friends. You can also analyze your games, record and share them and check the leader boards, among other features.

Don't know how to play chess? No problem! There is a training mode that will not only teach you to play but also how to up-skill your game. Go take a look at the two different models they offer on their website. Pricing for the Kingdom Board will be $330, and the Grand Kingdom Board will be $400.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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At Last there is Smart Home Tech for All of Us

2018-02-02

Not the most techie person on the planet but still want awesome smart home features? Don't worry, Oomi has got you covered. Their new additions make IoT easy for all of us, and without sacrificing features or safety.

They also wanted to build in entertainment control to the system. In the past, this hasn't been so easy in a touch screen environment because you're looking up at the TV when the controls you need to view are down in your hands. So they developed tactile controls that can be programmed to your specifications to control all of your entertainment. Because let's face it... we all need buttons sometimes.

The best part about this new in-home, whole-home controller is how easy it is to set up. It has a small orange button on the back of it. And each companion product also has a small orange dot. To pair everything together, you simply connect the dots and voila, setup is complete. They use NFC in the pairing process to make it extremely simple and user friendly. The touch screen has also been designed to be easy to use. You just name the rooms and the devices and you're ready to go. The system is also able to accept some third party smart home devices, such as Amazon Alexa.

All of the new items are available now except the touch switch module which will be coming soon. It's the only one that will need installation as it is also a scene controller in an elegant design that looks like a traditional wall switch.

To easily get started, kits are available, which come with the Oomi Touch controller, Oomi Cube hub and a set of sensors. The Lighting Kit retails for $499 and comes with 2 Oomi Bulbs and an Oomi Plug. The Automation Kit retails for $499 and comes with an Oomi Bulb, an Oomi Plug and an Oomi Door/Window Sensor. The Security Kit retails for $400 and comes with an Oomi Door/Window Sensor, an Oomi Multisensor and 4 Quick Tags. Other accessories are also available to expand your smarthome.

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BenjiLock Experiences A Year of Triumph and Dreams Coming True

2018-02-03

One of the best things about being part of the tech press and conducting these interviews is the friendships that we build along the way. Last January, at CES 2017, we came across Robbie Cabral in the startup section called Eureka Park with his new padlock, BenjiLock, that can be opened both by fingerprint and keys. We loved this idea and made sure to learn more about it.

Obviously we were not the only ones who thought this lock was a great idea with a lot of potential. Later in the year, BenjiLock was featured on the hit show, Shark Tank, and picked up by investor Kevin O'Leary. And it's been a complete whirlwind since then. O'Leary, also known as Mr. Wonderful, has been doing what he does best: marketing royalty deals. Hampton Products International, a hardware and security company out of California, has since purchased the rights to the product in North America.

We were happy to run into Robbie at CES Unveiled this year as he was on his way to meet somebody. He said a quick hello and invited us to come by his booth, which has been upgraded from the startup section to the Smart Home section of the Sands Convention Center. When we visited the booth, we were lucky to get to spend some time with CEO of Hampton Products, Kim Kelley, not long after presenting Robbie with a check for $100,000 live on CNBC. Both gentlemen emphasized the importance of hard work and remaining humble as you pursue your dreams.

BenjiLock is currently working on production of the 1st generation lock, as well as announcing that BenjiLock Mini is also in the works. We will continue to keep an eye out for future innovations and rooting Robbie on as he follows his dreams. Check out their website and click on Preorder to sign up to be notified when BenjiLock becomes available.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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Introducing Smart Tech for Your Smart Yard

2018-02-03

Watering your lawn and yard can be a frustrating chore. Not only do unexpected weather conditions play a factor, there is a matter of timing to turn it on or off. Now there is b•hyve, a line of smart timers for your lawn. These timers can be connected to the internet so you truly can "set it and forget it."

b•hyve knows the weather up to 14 days in the future and, with that knowledge, will save you up to 50% water use. It is also aware of certain restrictions in your area, such as during a drought or flooding. It can check after a rainfall to see how much it has rained so it can adjust accordingly for the next cycle, preventing overwatering. The outside and inside timers are compatible with any brand of irrigation systems, not just with Orbit systems.

Another option is a spigot timer for your outside faucet. Many people water this way, and it's not unusual to turn on the water and leave home, forgetting it is still on. It features a flow meter inside to let you know how much water you have used, as well as to limit the amount of water used. This is very helpful when you want to fill the swimming pool for your children or even fill a large aquarium.

These products are currently available at Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart or Amazon. Pricepoint for this system depends on how large of a system you need or want. Outside mount with 6 stations in a weather-proof box is $100. An indoor mount for a shed or a garage is $60 for 4 stations or $80 for 8 stations. There is also a hose tap timer to be use from the end of your hose available for $40 and if you need the hub to make it Wi-Fi, it's $70 for the pair. For more information check out their website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Cor Makes Your Environment Smart and Safe

2018-02-03

Home security is one of the most important things you can spend your money on. Now, one of the oldest and most trusted names in the business of home products, Carrier, has produced a line of smarthome and security products called Côr. This is a line of professionally installed systems that will alert you as a homeowner of any breach in security such as break-ins or fire. You can use up to 16 cameras and you have total remote access.

But Côr is more than just security; it also provides a wide range of smarthome products as well. From lights to garage doors, Côr can control a lot of the devices in your home. In an example at the booth, they used a wireless button to simulate arriving at home, where the garage door opened, the living room lights came on, and as the person moved through their home, the lights would come on in the new rooms and turn off where they had left. All of this provides a nice convenience for your home, to compliment the security and safety features of the system.

This product is best served as professionally installed because of the technology involved. The starter kit is priced at under $1000 plus installation. However, when you purchase this, you own it and there is no monthly fee because it is self-monitored. In addition to the existing products, Carrier will soon be releasing a doorbell camera. For more information check out their website.

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ARRAY Finds a Smart Way to be Secure in Your Home

2018-02-04

The world of home protection has been enhanced by a new product line from Brinks Home Security called ARRAY, designed and manufactured by Hampton Products. The line features many creative products to keep you and your family safe and protected.

The first product is the Brinks Push/Pull/Rotate Handleset. The doorknob offers the ability to open by pulling the handle, as well as the traditional turn, while the handle can be opened by a simple press. The handlesets are available now in a variety of styles, including knob, lever and handle, as well as different finishes.

To compliment the handleset is the ARRAY Wi-Fi Smart Deadbolt. The deadbolt is made from military grade steel and contains a solar panel to keep the electronics powered. It also has a hands-free feature making it very useful for entering your home when your hands are full. The deadbolt can be paired to your smartphone and senses when your phone is approaching your door and unlocks it. When combined with the handleset, it makes coming home with your arms full easy. The deadbolt is available for preorder in a variety of styles and finishes.

One of the most interesting features of the ARRAY locks is the check lock ability. This feature uses the ARRAY app to check your security at bedtime without having to go back to the doors to be certain that they are closed and locked securely. Using the feature, you can eliminate your nightly "lockdown process" of verifying the state of all of your doors. You can check this from anywhere in the world and, as long as the door is closed, you can even lock or unlock the door remotely.

Next up is a set of ARRAY Smart Light fixtures. Both styles feature a 1080p camera with night vision, 270 degree motion detection, a solar panel a microphone and speaker. We've all had a motion sensor light go off any time a cat runs through the yard, or a neighbor who has it pointed towards the street and anyone who drives by turns on the light. The ARRAY light has built-in AI and can recognize humans for activation, meaning that animals or cars will not set it off.

The first design is a coach-style fixture, which is easy to open and change the bulb, and looks like a traditional light fixture. In addition, if two lights are needed, for example to go on either side of a garage door, there is the availability of a slave light, which has no camera but it reacts to the master's commands. Whenever the master light turns on, so does the slave.

The second design is an LED security light. It features two LED panels with power up to 2000 lumens and can be programmed by your phone to control the brightness, in the event 2000 lumens is too bright. This fixture can also be programmed to be used as a floodlight to enjoy your outdoor area in the evening. Both of these lights will be available in the near future.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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Gibson Crafts Outstanding Instruments That Look Like Masterpieces

2018-02-04

This year at CES 2018, Gibson Brands is focusing their attention on modern finishes that stand out apart from the traditionalist look. These instruments have gorgeous colors that pop and make a statement. One of our favorite interviewees at CES, Aljon Go showed us some of his favorite pieces of the new year as well as announce the newest ambassador, Slash. He also showed off the 2 Million Dollar Guitar, a guitar from the Gibson Custom Shop.

Rock icon and world-famous guitarist Slash now represents Gibson Global Brands with his own line of his favorite guitars refinished to match his style and edge. These limited-edition guitars were aged to resemble their vintage counter parts that were Slash's personal favorites. Gibson is proud to have him on the team representing his relationship with Gibson along with his story.

The company meets their 2018 goals with two modern beautiful pieces: the ES-335 Semi-Hollow Guitar in Aquamarine and the High Performance Les Paul Guitar in Hot Pink. These two different styles both show off a flashy color that highlights the wooden undertones. Each one has a unique design to give any modern player the look and feel that they need along with the comfortable playing style for which Gibson has always been known.

Aljon takes us over to the Gibson Custom Shop section to then show us the most expensive guitar we've ever seen: a $2 Million, hand-crafted, hand-painted, work of art that took years to finish. This guitar is one of a kind and has been kept hidden from the world for far too long. The design showcases the most iconic pop culture figures from the 1900s to the year 2000 including influential presidents, TV shows, historical figures and moments in exquisite detail.

The company guarantees a guitar that you will adore specified to your style and preferred music genres. Experts like Aljon can work with you to create your dream guitar. You can find all these pieces and more by going to the Gibson website.

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Flexible and Healthy with Increased Mobility in the Home

2018-02-04

Ever since computers became mainstream in offices and in homes, there has been an increase in a multitude of health problems in this country. Everything from neck and back ailments to problems with circulation, weight and mobility. At Loctek, they are passionate about creating an active environment out of conventional work spaces to better support wellness and productivity. To accomplish this, they have designed a line of workstations that promote movement and flexibility. It's no wonder they were CES Innovation Award Honorees for 2018. Their commitment to wellness at work is obvious in the design of every sit-stand workstation, height adjustable desk, exercise bike and ergonomic monitor mount that they manufacture.

In this interview, we learn that it's not just important to stay mobile while at the office, but also while we are at home. Lehong Xiang is the CEO and head of design for Loctek. He is very excited to bring his product line, and awareness of their benefits, to as many people as possible. We spend a lot of time, everyday, on our PCs, laptops, tablets and even writing and reading. Whether at a desk, at a counter or on the couch, we tend to sit while performing all of these tasks. The more we sit, the more problems we develop. But let's be honest, most of us aren't going to trade in these activities to get some exercise. Well, now you can do both with the FlexiSpot Bike.

This stationary bike, turned into a workstation, is very accommodating to fit into your home and lifestyle. It can be adjusted in many configurations. You can pull the tabletop forward to have a stand up work station. And of course it is also an exercise bike, that you can set to your specific height requirements. The desktop can also be adjusted to your comfort level. They make it as easy as possible for you to get your work done, or read the newspaper comfortably, while keeping your blood flowing as you pedal.

The model presented here, the Deskcise Pro V9, is available for $499. You can get more information, as well as see the other cycles in the line on their website. Also, take a look at the following innovative Loctek products that are available on Amazon.

Loctek Upright Foldable Desk Bike
Loctek Monitor Arm Dual Monitor Mounts
Loctek D7DP Swivel Dual LCD Arm Desk Laptop Mount Monitor Stand

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Flexible and Healthy with Increased Mobility in the Office

2018-02-05

After getting more information and a working demo of the FlexiSpot Deskcise Pro V9, we ventured further into their booth to see more of their products. Lehong Xiang was very excited to show us how their entire line works together to provide a comprehensive package for your office space.

At Loctek, they take great pride in designing, and bringing to life ergonomic solutions that help people lead a healthier and more productive life. Their innovative Research & Development team is comprised of forward-thinking engineers who combine their ideas with the latest technology and create viable products that make productivity healthier in the all work settings.

Featured here is the arrow shaped adjustable desk. It's smart features allow users to program in specific height settings, as well as adjust the height at any time. Adjustments are made easily with the touch pad located on the left front of the desk. Add on a dual monitor mounting system for optimum screen views at any height. You can use an ergonomic desk chair and/or one of their stand alone desk bikes, as well. This configuration allows the perfect combination of sitting, standing and pedaling for optimum health benefits.

The arrow shaped smart adjustable desk will be available soon on their website, where you can also find multiple monitor mounting systems and desk bikes. All items are prices separately to allow you to purchase all or any portion thereof. You can also add on to your system at any time.

Also, take a look at the following innovative Loctek products that are available on Amazon.

Loctek Upright Foldable Desk Bike
Loctek Monitor Arm Dual Monitor Mounts
Loctek D7DP Swivel Dual LCD Arm Desk Laptop Mount Monitor Stand

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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OtterBox Show How to Keep it Cool

2018-02-05

For the person who likes to spend a lot of time outdoors, OtterBox has come up with an innovative approach to keeping things cold while you are outside: The Venture Coolers. The coolers come in three sizes and three colors: Hudson (white and blue) Ridgeline (desert sand and green) and Back Trail (desert sand and orange with an outdoor prints accents).

The company started making dry boxes in the 90s and merged into cellphone cases in the 2000s. Now the idea has been put into a cooler for people who like to be outdoors. The concept of a modular design makes the cooler so versatile. The inside of the cooler has movable partitions that can create the desired space needed for your food. The separate smaller tray at the top is perfect for food or items that you don't want in or near the ice because they need to be dry. There is even a partition that also doubles as a cutting board.

Other available modules include elevation tumblers and cup holders. Another unique feature is a lock that is bear-resistant for the real nature lover. One of the best features of this product is the fact that ice has been kept in the cooler as ice for up to 15 days. For more information go to their website.

Interview by Jacob Cannon of FIRST Looks.

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Shuttercase Knows How To Make Photos Astoundingly Easy

2018-02-05

These days people are using their smartphones for taking pictures even more often than a regular camera. Vantas has developed a case for your phone to help you to be more creative in your photography by freeing up one hand. This product is called Shuttercase, and it is essentially case with a gripper that enables you to let go of your phone with one hand and press the shutter with the other hand.

The feature that sets this case apart from other photo cases and selfie sticks is that there are no electronics involved. Rather than using Bluetooth to trigger the camera, Shuttercase uses mechanics to press the volume button on your phone. This means there is no setup or pairing and you never have to worry about interference or battery issues. Shuttercase is a combination of a case, a mechanical shutter, a stand to set the phone down while shooting and a power bank, which has a rechargeable battery. It comes in six colors and you can also purchase additional batteries.

The basic price point starts at $60.00 and will be available in approximately 60 days. For more information go to their website.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Don't be Satisfied to Just Hover, Get There

2018-02-06

When it comes to hover boards, you don't want to leave too much to chance. If you are in the market, you want to go with a company that is tried and true when it comes to safety aspects and testing. You should also take a look at the spec list to make sure that you aren't just purchasing a toy. Make sure it can actually get you where you are going... and in style.

Hover-1 prides themselves on being the solution to alternative transportation. They innovate their products to make traveling not only easy, but exciting. Their technological enhancements have stepped them into the transportation market to reach the next level in mobility. And in doing so, they also do their part to take care of the environment. Their eco-friendly products are powered by electric motors, producing zero CO emissions.

The Hover-1 H1 Electric Scooter features 3 skill level riding modes and is app controlled. There is also a built-in Bluetooth speaker, is IPX4 water resistance with customizable LED headlights. It has a max distance of 12 miles with max speed of 10 MPH. The built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery takes up to 2.5 hours to charge and has included safety features of overcharge and discharge protection.

Our favorite parts of their product line are the available attachments. The only thing more fun than having a hover board is being able to turn it into a go cart in a snap. The go cart attachment is compatible with most electric scooters with 6.5" wheels. Hand-operation gives you full control of your riding experience with independent rear wheel drive allows for quick turns and reverse driving.

The Hover-1 H1 board is available now in both black and blue for around $299, and the go cart attachment runs only $69.99.

Interview by Jacob Cannon of FIRST Looks.

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Keeping Your Data The Most Secure

2018-02-06

Secure Data is having the world premier of their Secure Drive product line. These drives are designed to be the most secure external drives available. The line includes secure USB flash drives, as well as secure external hard driver, ranging in size from 1TB to 5TB of storage.

The hardware encrypted device is completely OS independent, so, all the encryption and decryption processes are done inside the device. This means that there's absolutely no user input that can be sniffed out on the operating system. This is the worlds first patent pending Bluetooth authentication method. Users download the mobile app (Apple App Store or Google Play Store), then create a 7-15 digit key. Once the device is paired up and the key has been added, the drive is then opened and you can transport data to and from the device. This encryption is designed to pass the FIPS 140-2 level 3 physical hardware encryption. Once they have acquired that certification, the drive is the most secure drive that is on the market.

Remote management options will be available on the Bluetooth series of devices. This means you can manage the device remotely. You will be able to reset, unlock or control the geofencing of the device. Therefore it won't use the IP address to verify the location, but the mobile device's properties only, and is precise up to 5 feet. You will be able to lock it to a specific location or set it to a specific dates. Also, if you lose control of the device or the data for whatever reason, it can be instantly erased using the crypto-erase command.

Prices start at $229.00 for the 1 TB device to $499.00 for the 5TB devices. Take a look at all of the products and services they offer by visiting their website.

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Crazy Cool New Sport, You Can Go Big or Huge

2018-02-06

Everybody loves robots. And what's better than a robot? An absolutely humongous robot. But make no mistake, this large, robot-looking mega machine is not a robot. It's a Mech.

Along with their other product lines here at CES 2018, Furrion is highlighting their Exo-Bionics Division while presenting Prosthesis. This is the world's first, purposely built, off road racing Mech. Standing 15 feet tall, it is a human piloted machine that is intended for competitive sport. With its four (huge) legs, it was designed with the experience of the pilot in mind. None of the controls are automated. There are no gyros. It is completely dependent upon the skill of the pilot.

With this flagship project, they are looking to form a full fledged league, called The X1 Mech Racing League. At this stage, they are perfecting the Mech, and figuring out the format of the competitions, as there are many directions that they can go with the sport. As they learn more and figure out all of the capabilities of the machine, they will be able to fine tune the actual sport.

The next stage is to start seeking investment partners and sponsors, as well as professional athletes to get in there and actually start bringing up the performance level of the machine from an engineering and pilot skill perspective. And as they continue to develop the technology, they can move forward towards improvement of mobile electric power sources.

For more information, please check out their website.

Interview by Jacob Cannon of FIRST Looks.

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Brydge Has The Most Amazing Keyboard for Your Tablet

2018-02-07

Brydge makes a unique range of keyboards and accessories for Apple's iPad and the Microsoft Surface Pro. They pride themselves on being the ultimate tablet companion. All of their keyboards are designed to change the way you use your tablet. Both the iPad and the Surface are high quality, high capability tablets. Sure, you can run simple apps and play games on them like their cheaper competitors, but they are designed to do so much more. There's no need to lug around a heavy laptop when you can do all of your mobile computing, and then some, right on your tablet. And let's be honest, when you spend good money on a nice quality device, you really don't want a cheap, plastic keyboard paired with it.

Brydge Keyboards are designed from scratch to basically be the other half of your tablet. They are made of 100% aluminum with 160° to 190° viewing angles, they are versatile with a patent pending hinge that allows the tablet to stand upright without a kickstand. They are lightweight, Bluetooth-enabled and have battery lives from 3 to 12 months, depending upon the model and usage.

The Brydge 12.9 for the iPad Pro and Brydge 10.5 for the iPad Pro truly brings a MacBook-like experience to the user, making it the perfect balance between tablet and laptop. A full keyboard, with 3-level backlit keys, and the top row of dedicated iOS special function keys, features that comes in very handy when you need them the most. The typing experience is unparalleled with real tactile typing for the feel, sound and response you expect. Truly a laptop experience, with the versatility of an iPad.

The Brydge 12.3 for the Microsoft Surface Pro also delivers an unmatched laptop-like experience. The integrated glass touchpad allows maximum accuracy with minimal effort. Multiple finger inputs and multitouch gestures are simply a breeze. Everything you do on it feels natural and intuitive. It is also available with an integrated High-Speed SSD card (up to 600mb/s). The Brydge 12.3 Pro 128 and Pro 256 models offer the power user that little bit extra. If you have immediate storage needs or just want extra capacity at a later time, the Pro modes offer the flexibility of an external hard drive without the inconvenience. And if you don't foresee storage issues, the standard Brydge 12.3 is a perfect option.

Most importantly, you don't have to worry about breaking the bank. Prices start at an affordable $129. You can get more information about these keyboards, as well as their entire line of portable batteries and accessories by visiting their website. You can also buy the products now on Amazon.

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Best Way to Make the Most Out of Your Presentations

2018-02-07

All those boring meetings in the conference room got you down? Are you tired of your staff missing half of what's said because you don't have a multi-presenter platform? Want your meetings to be more interactive and productive?

If you are looking for a simple and innovative way to make that leap from regular meetings to a more collaborative setting, then you have to check out the Screen Wave Technology that J5create has built into their all new JWR 2100 Router. This router-based system allows you to cast up to 9 individual devices up to a single conference room screen, thus allowing multiple contributors to all present from their own source. It is able to integrate all connected users into one screen simultaneously, for things like work collaboration and brainstorming. It is also versatile enough to allow any of the users to take over the entire screen when needed for a specific presentation, and then send it back again to all users when they are finished.

This system will turn your boring meeting room into a conference environment. It utilizes what they refer to as a puck interface that allows you to have a laptop system connected. This button is used to connect into the router and then communicate by emitting content onto the screen. The router is also Wi-Fi enabled, which means that tablets, or even cell phones, are able to interface with it via their mobile app.

Pricing to start building your system is expected to start at an MSRP of $350 and expected release is April/May of 2018.

Interview by Jacob Cannon of FIRST Looks.

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More Great Things Are in the Works at Intel

2018-02-07

There is always so much to see inside the Intel booth at CES: the innovation, the creativity, the collaboration. It's basically a universe all unto itself and it's so much fun to dive in and explore. While there, we came across this really cool translucent, known as The Inside Autonomous Experience. It is basically demonstrating and representing what people can expect in 2021 in terms of the types of hardware that will be used for the sensors in autonomous vehicles. This display vehicle has a total of 23 sensors on it. There are 11 cameras, 7 radar sensors, 3 LiDAR sensors, and 2 ultrasonic sensors. Intel and partners can use the sensors as part of the autonomous experience, and can also collect the data and information on the vehicle to improve performance.

To make it even more awesome, Intel has recently acquired Mobileye, a market leader in advanced driver assistance systems. They are combining forces to make the next level in autonomous driving a reality. Through this partnership, they can leverage Mobileye's hardware and cameras as the eyes of the vehicle and Intel as the brains. This not only frees up both entities to give their attention and expertise to their own portion of the project but also when they come together, they can make autonomous driving safer and more affordable. These are two very important factors for moving forward in this industry.

Another great thing that Mobileye has brought to the table is Road Experience Management (REM), which does crowd source mapping among the vehicles on the road that already include Mobileye. There are currently already 20 million vehicles that have this technology already built in. This technology also allows for high definition maps and will allow the vehicles to localize themselves.

When can we expect to see more than an acrylic representation of this wonderful technology? Well, Intel is doing what they do best: using their technical and computing expertise to creatively innovate next level products and then analyze the data to produce a final product that far exceeds our expectations. We can't wait to see how this project evolves between now and 2021.

To get the latest Intel news and information, please visit their website.

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Light It Up and Enjoy Great Sound at the Same Time

2018-02-08

At ION Audio, their catchphrase says it all.. Sound Experiences. ION is known for their unique lighting and sound products that enhance any space. Whether you have a peaceful, elegant outdoor setting or a complete party palace, you are sure to find inspiration when browsing their product line. We particularly liked two of their new additions for 2018.

When spending time in your outdoor space, lighting is key. Tiki torches are always a fun addition to the backyard but we're not always in the mood for that bamboo look, and filling them up with oil all the time can really be a pain. A nice set of elegant electric torches would be great, but who wants to spend a fortune and then hassle with the installation process. That's where ION has come to the rescue with Tiki Sounds. They use a warm-white LED bulb with realistic flicker effect. And don't worry about installation. Not only are they solar, requiring no wiring at all, but they are also designed to fit into your space in multiple ways. They can be staked into ground, placed on a table, or hung on a tree. Also built in is a 10W full-range 360° Bluetooth speaker with Multi-Link. This enables you to pair unlimited Multi-Link enabled speakers together for an all encompassing sound experience that completely fills your entertaining space.

Another great Multi-Link product coming out soon is the Solar Stone Multi, and upgrade to their current Solar Stone series. These 6.5-inch, 20 watt speakers offer dynamic power and since they look like a stone, they add a great aesthetic to your yard as they are designed to fit right into the landscape. They are also Bluetooth enabled and can easily pair with the Tiki Sounds, as well as any other Multi-Link enabled speaker. Like the torches, they are IPX4 water-resistant and they recharge by embedded solar panel or with the included AC cord.

The Tiki Sound will be available later in Q1 2018 and will be priced at $69.99 for one or $119 for a pair. The Solar Stone Multi will go on sale in Q2 2018 and be priced at $129 each.

In the meantime, take a look at some of their other amazing products on Amazon:
ION Tape Express Plus / Cassette Player and Tape-to-Digital Converter
ION Holiday Party / Multicolor Projected Lights
ION Audio Party Starter MK II / Pocket-Sized Bluetooth Speaker with Built-In Beat-Sync Light Show

Interview by Chase Lowery of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Klipsch Sets The Standards For High Performance Speakers

2018-02-08

Klipsch is redesigning one of their highest performance sound systems: the Reference Premiere Line. This system has been on the market for several years now with a high satisfaction rate, so Klipsch decided to step it up by making the speakers look as great as they sound though the new generation called the Reference Theater Pack 5.1 surround sound system. These speakers are aesthetically pleasing with copper accents in a walnut wood veneer with a cast aluminum base and a vent-in tweeter to give you a more dynamic sound than the previous line.

Klipsch is also displaying their newest line of compact and high-performance subwoofers with The C Series. Klipsch really focused on performance in a smaller body therefore, the C Series comes in two sizes that are smaller than your average subwoofer: the square 10 inch and the 8 inch. Each subwoofer can be connected to the Klipsch mobile application to give you the ability to adjust the sound the way you like it straight from your phone! This application allows you to adjust five bands of parametric EQ, all the parameters and inputs, and even offers a room correction option.

You can learn more about these product as well as purchase them for yourself by checking out the Klipsch website or see the whole lineup on Amazon.

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From Cool to Sophisticated, Philips Has Headphones for You

2018-02-08

It's no secret that the Gibson Brands tent is one of our most favorite stops while attending CES. Being able to get a first-hand look at the new line of Philips Headphones is definitely one of the reasons. This year we got to spend a few minutes with their product manager for headphones to learn what's new.

First up is the UpBeat Range, and they are exactly that. This range has been specifically targeted to an audience that is young and fun. They are cool and exciting with a unique, two-toned gradient coloring that comes in red, blue, grey and purple. You can choose between standard earbuds and in ear models that block out external noise. Both come in either corded or Bluetooth versions. You can also get Bluetooth neck bands that rest right on your neck and make it really convenient between usage. It was important to Philips for them to make this line fun and affordable, but also have the great sound that they are known for. This line has the best sound in this class on the market today. Prices will range from $20 to $60.

Next up is the Bass+ Range. For this line, they wanted to offer a more stylish and sophisticated headphone that still has great bass. They come in earbuds, all the way through to full-cup headphones. The dark, deep colors are classic and suitable for both men and women. The Bluetooth version comes in white and black with a three button remote. They are comfortable and were designed with a fin that ensures they securely stay in your ears. Also in this line are over ear headbands that sit around the ear. They are compact and have a fold system for easy storage and transport. Both corded and Bluetooth versions are available. And of course, there is also an on ear selection that comes in in blue and maroon.

And, of course, we were also really excited to see the True Wireless Earbuds in the Bass+ Range. These have a tiny design and play time is an impressive 6 hours. This is more than just about every other brand out there. They come with a nice pouch that is also rechargeable and gives an extra 6 hours, so you'll have true all day playtime. Prices on the Bass+ Range begin at $20 for the corded earbuds and go up to $130 for the True Wireless.

Check out all that Philips has to offer by visiting their website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Gourmia Adds High Tech Smarts and Improved Convenience to the Kitchen

2018-02-09

Over the last few years, Gourmia has gone from being a kitchen appliance manufacturer to being a leader in kitchen automation technology. Whether the appliance be in the form of a multi-use device, Google Assistant enabled or even remote monitoring, Gourmia has put a lot of thought into their new line of products. At CES 2018, the company showed us the latest enhancements they have made to their product offerings.

First up is a Google Assistant powered coffee maker, an upgrade to the current line. Initially you might wonder, "What might voice activation do for a coffee maker?" Once you see it in action it all becomes clear. Being able to be in your bedroom and be able to tell your coffee maker in the kitchen to start up is a great feature. Being able to say, "Good morning Google" and have the coffee start, the lights turn on and wakeup music start to play is even better.

In addition to coffee, they have added Google Assistant support to their other devices, such as a sous vide immersion pod, also an upgrade to the current line. You can control or check the temperature of the water and start and stop the cooking process, all without being in the room. Or, you could put together a recipe and automate a large portion of the process.

But Google Assistant is for more than just speaking to your kitchen. In upcoming versions of their multiuse oven and air fryer, the company is adding cameras. The camera will allow you to get a live video feed of what's cooking, so you no longer have to open the oven to see how your pizza is doing, or open the air fryer to check on your chicken. You can do it all from the palm of your hand, or from any Google Assistant enabled device.

The products shown, with their upgraded features, will be launching starting in Quarter 2 and continuing throughout 2018, so stay tuned to their website for updates.

Interview by Chase Lowery of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Clean and Plentiful: Complete Water Independence is Now Here

2018-02-09

While walking through the courtyard at the Las Vegas Convention Center this year during CES 2018, we came across an array of solar panels. We walked past them at least a few times without really thinking about it. After all, just about everything is going solar. Then the name of the business caught our eye: Zero Mass Water. And as we pondered the name, we were offered a glass of water. That also was not all that unusual, many of the companies offer you a bottle of water while you are at their booth. Before we could ask about their business, they started to ask us if we enjoyed the taste of the water and explaining how their water source could help us to eliminate the need for buying bottled water, etc. Sounded great, but where are they getting the water and what are they powering with the solar panels?

Introducing SOURCE: a Hydropanel that makes drinking water directly from sunlight and air. This is a truly renewal water source that doesn't need infrastructure or electrical input. And you can generate up to a case of bottled water per day from just a pair of panels.

Tapped into the unlimited supply of water vapor in the air, SOURCE uses sunlight to power a renewable supply of drinking water. No more waste from bottled or filtered water. It produces pure drinking water and adds exactly the right minerals to optimize health and taste. These electrolytes make SOURCE drinking water delicious. Each SOURCE array is connected to their global network, which enables monitoring of your water production and performance in real time. You'll also be able to see what sunshine and humidity are expected in the coming days. There's even an active green light signal to let you know that SOURCE is keeping your water safe. And as a Water for Life member, you'll get even more data and control over your array.

Most homes can replace all of their drinking water with a 2-panel array. The water flows into a 30 liter reservoir where it is mineralized for optimal taste, storing up to 120 standard bottles per 2-panel array. The price for the two panels and installation is approx $4,500.

This is not only an amazing product for those who want to be environmentally conscience, but imagine how sustainable, clean water will be able to help people drought stricken areas and undeveloped countries. The possibilities are truly exciting.

To get more information, please visit their website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Exciting Ways to Free You Up with WPC

2018-02-09

For the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), the last 12 months have been big. Not only has Apple joined the consortium, but they have launched their first devices featuring Qi. Having seen the potential with the last big player going all-in, everyone wants a piece of the pie. In the last 17 weeks, their membership has increased by almost 70%. After Apple announced that their devices were to be Qi-certified, it solidified the standard that everyone fell in line with.

Having said this, as it goes, with great power comes great responsibility. There is now a focus on certification and education to the public as to why certification is important. For the consumer, it's all about safety. For the retailer, it means selling a quality product and for the manufacturer it is about legitimacy. In the three weeks leading up to CES, over 100 new products had been sent for certification.

In addition to Qi, the WPC has been working on two additional standards. The first standard supports up to 200 watts and is designed to power laptops, drones, televisions and other larger devices. The second and larger standard is 2400 watts and can be used in the kitchen for cooking purposes, whether it be blenders or frying pans, all without producing the heat of a stove. These standards are really designed to make the working surfaces in your home and office multi-purposed by freeing up the limited use of conventional spaces.

Having these opportunities at your disposal is an exciting look into the future of what you can expect to make your life easier and less congested. For more information check out their website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Bringing a Great New Dimension to the Autonomous World with FLIR

2018-02-10

FLIR has always made important tasks safer and easier with the thermal technology that they adapt into their cameras. From being able to see people and objects that couldn't otherwise be seen, to detecting dangerous leaks to handling repairs hands-free, FLIR has touched all of our lives in ways that we aren't even aware. While we all know that traditional infrared cameras allow sight in total darkness, bad weather and through such things as smoke and haze, FLIR allows for sight behind walls and in ceilings. And lucky for us, they continually find ways to refine and introduce this technology into new products.

One of their latest projects is venturing into the ever growing world of autonomous vehicles. On display this year is their new Automotive Development Kit (ADK). This sensor kit is targeted towards automotive software developers that are looking to add a different kind of sensor to their projects. Adding temperature sensing to the existing array of sensors already on autonomous vehicles will significantly increase the overall detection capabilities. These sensors are not meant to replace any of the sensors that are currently in use, but to be used in addition to them for an extra level of safety as thermal imaging does not have the same constraints as regular video cameras and sonar detection. Allowing developers to jump right in and discover the possibilities is a perfect way to get things started.

On display at the booth was a demonstration using the ADK hardware. In the demo, you could watch a live video of the path next to the booth, and the sensor and software together were able to identify and track humans as they passed by. This is an essential technology to allow autonomous vehicles to be able to progress from level 4 to level 5, the difference between having a steering wheel and not.

The sensors come in a few different sizes and lengths, with more improvements in the works. If you are a developer and would like more information on how to get a kit, visit their website at flir.com/adk.

Also, check out these cool consumer products that are available on Amazon:
FLIR TG130 Spot Thermal Camera and Protective Case
FLIR ONE Thermal Imaging Camera for Android USB-C (Gen 3)
FLIR Systems FXV101-W Outdoor Wireless HD Video Camera

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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The FLIR Partners Brings More Great Things to Life

2018-02-10

Just as FLIR is reaching out to developers with their new sensors, they have also developed the Thermal by FLIR Partner Program. With this program they are working with manufacturers and developers to help them get their products produced with FLIR's thermal technology built-in. They had a few examples of final products and prototypes to show off at their booth at CES 2018.

We got to take a close look at Arzens ThermoGlass. These safety glasses have a thermal camera onboard to allow workers obtain thermal images at a glance and completely hands-free in an augmented reality, heads-up display format. They allow workers to focused during inspections, while still having the use of their hands for other important tasks, such as taking notes or operating machinery and tools.

Also on display was a Panasonic Tough Book that is outfitted to include a FLIR Camera. It is the first tablet that has been ruggedized to carry a thermal sensor. And along the same rugged theme, also on display was a CAT S60 Android smartphone with an included electron sensor. It can also be purchased from Amazon: CAT PHONES S60 Rugged Waterproof Smartphone with integrated FLIR camera.

And one of our most favorite finds at the booth was their partnership with Tinkerforge. This Maker Kit includes a Lepton component, the same sensor in the popular FLIR ONE device, so that makers can learn about, play with and incorporate thermal technology into their innovations.

You can get more information about their programs initiative at their partner site.

Also, check out these cool consumer products that are available on Amazon:
FLIR TG130 Spot Thermal Camera and Protective Case
FLIR ONE Thermal Imaging Camera for Android USB-C (Gen 3)
FLIR Systems FXV101-W Outdoor Wireless HD Video Camera

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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The Wall is the Most Fabulous Television and Gaming Experience You Can Have

2018-02-10

The Samsung Electronics booth at CES is always quite impressive. It's a large booth with impressive visual displays. This year they outdid themselves as they introduced The Wall. The Wall is the world's first consumer, modular, self-emitting MicroLED 146-inch TV. This is brand new technology with pixels that are self illuminating, based upon existing Large Format Outdoor Digital Display technology. This has allowed an unbelievable 4k television for the home. The features are amazing. It can go to infinite black, has High Dynamic Range and brightness levels and contract that are unmatched. All of this with no image retention and no off angle viewing.

The name, The Wall, is no stretch. At 146 inches, it was probably the most impressive visual in Central Hall this year, with the largest crowds in the building. But don't let the size intimidate you. After all, it is modular. It's comprised of a series of smaller screens, or tiles, that mesh together with no seam. Not only does this open up the possibility of multiple configurations in the future to fit any home/lifestyle, but it also makes delivery and setup much easier. If you live in a building with a small elevator or staircase, or would have trouble getting such a large box into the right room in your home through hall and doorways, there's no concern with that here. Each piece is brought in separately and assembled in place, thus opening up this wonderful technology to more consumers.

This large and impressive screen array has an incredible picture and would be a gamer's dream. Although it would most likely take some getting used to, we're sure that all the gamers we know would love to take a crack at it. This is concept that is not lost on Samsung, who is already partnering with Xbox.

The Wall is expected to ship later in 2018 with exact pricing still to be determined.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Samsung Gets More and More Impressive Each Year

2018-02-11

We love being immersed in the Samsung Electronics booth at CES. If The Wall was the main attraction for 2018, it definitely had some competition in the booth. Also featured is the first 8K QLED TV in the world. And as if that's not impressive enough, it also features AI technology. It's this AI technology that elevates the standard definition content to an awe inspiring 8K resolution. Basically, the picture quality is transformed via a proprietary algorithm to transform any regular content to a high-resolution 8K.

But Samsung did not stop here with this beauty of a TV. They also added several new really cool features, including detail enhancement, which not only upgrades the standard definition content but also adds noise reduction and has an edge restoration function to more clearly outlines objects on the screen. There is also automatic sound adjustment that differentiates between various content, like sporting events and music concerts. Also, your viewing experience will only get better over time with firmware updates that will upgrade the set with the latest improvements. So, the longer you own it, the better it's going to get.

One of our absolute favorite features is that they have made the initial setup as easy as possible. This TV is an extension of their expanded Smart Things platform and includes Bixby, which is their own voice command system. When you first plug in, the Bluetooth will automatically connect with your smartphone, which enables it to link into the Smart Things app and update your new TV with not only your network Wi-Fi password, but also bring in all of your existing streaming platforms, complete with those passwords as well. It will also automatically configure the remote control with the other remotes in the home, even the cable remote, so you will have easy access to everything from one remote. It's the same with your gaming devices. You will now have full control of all of your entertainment, gaming and other Samsung Smart Things appliances right from your TV remote control. Imagine sitting on the couch and asking Bixby what's in the fridge and also having the oven start preheating. Talk about living the dream!

Samsung is looking forward to launch the 85" QLED 8K TV during the second half of 2018.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Exciting New Technology from Casio that Will Blow Your Mind

2018-02-11

Imagine having only to buy one watch for all your needs! That is what Casio is offering with their newest watch, the Casio PRO TREK. This is a smartwatch that is the ultimate in technology. This watch does practically everything. It has so many functions, only a few of which are a GPS satellite system which gives you great detail, and Mapbox, an open source mapping system which can be used online or off, and even works when you don't have cell service. Having a PRO TREK is a wonderful way to be able to know where you are and for others to be able to locate you in the event that you get lost or stranded.

There are apps for your watch to assist in your golf game, with features such as finding local courses to play, distance between yourself and the green, par for the current hole and how other golfers have played that particular hole. Other available apps offer assistance for fishing and even for the equestrian. There is also an app for the surfer, which can be used for locating the best places to find good waves. This watch is water-resistant for up to 50 meters and shock-resistant up to 4 meters. It is built with a gap in the construction that makes it very durable and impact safe.

The watch has 13 available faces that can be personalized with different colors. There is a world-times feature and a microphone with voice control. One of the best things is an ability to "find your phone," a problem we all have had. It also has the traditional fitness features to help track sleep and steps. This new model is available now for $500. For more information check out their website.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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Listen... Razer's New Project Linda is Absolutely Amazing

2018-02-11

Another CES booth where we are never disappointed is Razer's. Not only do we love their products in general, but their prototype projects are always kick ass! This year was no exception. We got an up close look at Project Linda. This concept is an ultraportable laptop design powered by the Android-based Razer Phone. When the phone is docked it serves as an intelligent touchpad right in front. This bridges the gap between having handheld entertainment and a laptop together. The best parts of the Razer Phone (performance, display, and dual front-firing speakers) are seamlessly combined with the larger screen and keyboard of Project Linda's, as well as the battery. This provides the ultimate mobile hybrid setup for gaming, creativity and productivity.

Specs include a 13.3" Quad HD touchscreen that extends the 120Hz experience available on the Razer Phone to the larger screen and provides fluid motion and vibrant visuals. The 13.3" touch display of the laptop is ideal for gaming, entertainment and creativity, or for multiple apps to run side by side. The 5.7" touchscreen of the Razer Phone is multifunction as both a touchpad, or as an interactive second touch display that allows for custom interfaces or additional apps. The built-in keyboard is backlit and powered by Razer Chroma which is perfect for both short texts and lengthy assignments. It is also equipped with custom Android keys for easy navigation, app selection, searching and more. There is also a Sentio Desktop interface that adds to the laptop experience and provides a familiar layout and the keyboard shortcuts that you are accustom to.

And talk about gaming; this setup will blow you away. You will enjoy your Android games in all new ways with Project Linda. This honey of a system lets you connect a mouse for precise control and also trigger actions quickly on the keyboard. The second display offers easy access to take advantage of things like menus, maps, and a lot more while still within a game. Plus, the built-in power bank allows you to quickly charges the Razer Phone while it's docked. And there is 200GB of internal storage, so you can house your local apps, games, media, and offline phone backups all right there.

We look forward to watching the development of this exciting prototype. While Project Linda is a work-in-progress, you can get the Razer Phone from Razer or Amazon now.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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You Want the Best in 360 Video and Insta360 Delivers

2018-02-12

There are many things that we see at CES that, as a group, we love, but we definitely have an affinity for unique cameras. Insta360 totally fits that description, as they are different than the other 360° cameras out there because from their point of view, it's the software that comes first. That makes all of the difference in the world, because it also allows a lot more expertise and fun on the back-end due to their emphasis on programming. When you purchase one of their cameras, that's not where the transaction ends. You can count on firmware updates going out on a regular basis. They even design their line with full knowledge that improvements are coming, and these updates include some really cool features. All throughout the process, they stay true to their mission to create a product that's friendly, easy to use, powerful and price efficient all at the same time.

The best part of their "software first" approach is that with everything they produce, they develop and then redevelop and then listen to customer feedback and continue to improve based upon actual user experiences and wishlists. The company is 60% Research & Development engineers who are used to turning thing around quickly.

We took a look at the Insta360 ONE: the world's most powerful action sports 360 camera. It is compatible with a variety of accessories including a stick that pops out for a longer range. Within the software, you are able to do some cool things like magic erases and it enhances their overall content. It's like having a drone follow you everywhere you go and is perfect for skaters, bikers, runners, joggers and more. Since it's a 360 degree camera, you can also change the perspective after the video is shot. There's a normal mode and a planet mode, which is a spherical look. The camera is capable of taking 24 megapixel stills and 4K UDH video. You can also livestream directly to your social media platforms or you can edit within the app and then share those edits directly to social media as well as save to your albums. It is capable of Bluetooth control or it can be connected directly to a cell phone. They are available on Amazon and you can get yours by clicking here.

Next up is the Insta360 Nano S, the little marvel that has been winning every 350 camera award at CES. This camera has redefined what software means for a 360 camera. It plugs into your phone and the social interactivity is what makes it extra special. The Multiview feature is like having an entire camera crew in your pocket. You are also able to use a split screen or a bubble inside of a larger screen to get multiple camera angle views all at the same time, using different pieces of footage. You can even livestream in Multiview. It really lets you experience full immersion without having to lug a ton of heavy and expensive equipment everywhere you go. You can pick yours up on Amazon by clicking here.

Insta360 has also recently ventured out into the world of professional videography equipment. The new 6 camera configuration shoots in 12K for stills and 8K for videos, and it will livestream in that same quality without the need for additional accessories. It's a one stop shop for filming your favorite music festival or sporting event.

And let's not forget the big daddy: the Titan Series, that will be available later in the next year. It features their first pro world camera. It's larger with more cameras and a long range wireless transmission device and has a resolution of 12K for stills and upgrades the video transmission to 10K for video. And yes, it will livestream in that same quality without the need for additional accessories.

For more information, you can visit their website at Insta360.com.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Valencell is the Technology Behind our Favorite Fitness Gear

2018-02-12

With all of the really cool gadgets and gizmos that we are surrounded by each year at CES, it's nice to sometimes take a step back and get a good feel for the technology behind the products. We had the pleasure of taking a few minutes to speak with a company that provides that technology to many industry leaders.

Valencell is very instrumental to the fitness and health industries. They make the biometric sensor technology that goes into all kinds of different wearables on the market. These wearables include smartwatches, fitness bands and even earbuds. Their sensors can measure important vitals such as heart rate, heart rate variability and respiration rate. They also count steps, count calories, measure stride cadence, distance and a lot more.

The tech and sensors are constantly improving; it's these changes, as well as consumer usage over time, that drives them to keep their sensors versatile enough to go into a wide variety of products. They provide their technology to a wide variety of different companies like Bose, LG and Sony to name just a few.

Their Biometrics Lab puts their customers' products through a series of rigorous tests. These tests include using the sensors on a variety of different people to insure that a wide range of skin tones, body types, and age ranges report accurate information. This validates real-world accuracy for their clients and for consumers.

You can get more information about Valencell, find out how they are engaged by interested companies and see a complete list of the companies that currently use their technology by checking out valencell.com.

Interview by Chase Lowery of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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The Sunflower is The First Autonomous Shade in The World

2018-02-13

ShadeCraft Robotics is a start up company in California that has made it their mission to improve human interaction outdoors through connected devices and robotic technology. One of their greatest examples of working toward that mission is called the Sunflower. The Sunflower is the world's first autonomous shade that keeps your space completely shaded for the largest part of the day by automating its movements along with the sun's movement. It also generates and stores renewable energy using solar panels to bring the mechanism to life.

The Sunflower has speakers for any type of music from your own device and a microphone for AI commands through your smarthome system through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi built-in capabilities. But it doesn't end there! This shade goes above and beyond for any outdoor space with an HD camera and controlled lighting. You can easily use the Sunflower as the center piece from a party to a relaxing day to yourself.

Preorders are available now on the ShadeCraft website for $6900 until the end of March when the retail price increases to $8700.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Kohler Has Super Technology For You and Your Home

2018-02-13

Super technology in the home is not a thing of the future, but what is happening now. Kohler has been providing your home with everyday necessities for over 100 years, and now they are updating those products with their line called Kohler Konnect. This line of products is about moments made better, with control exactly how you want it. You can control these products manually, through the app or with your voice.

The Verdera Lighted Mirror is activated with built-in Amazon Alexa voice control. With the voice control in the bathroom, you can direct your wishes to start your shower with the proper temperature and desired spray choice or a combination of sprays. The morning shower person might want a quick awakening-type of shower and the bedtime shower person might want a more massage-type, relaxing kind of shower. Verdera is equipped with integrated lighting, 2 microphones and 2 hermetically-sealed speakers, so that you don't have any extra clutter on your counter.

In the kitchen there is a touchless faucet that is perfect for people who just want to wave their hand to turn on the water and not touch the faucet. You can also use the voice control to tell your faucet to fill your coffeepot with a pre-set amount of water. Except for Verdera, all of these products are platform-agnostic, making it very compatible with Amazon, Alexa or Google Assistant.

These products are available now except for the voice command mirror which is coming out in March. For more information go to kohler.com.

Interview by Chase Lowery of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Grow Your Own with Opcom Indoor Hydroponics

2018-02-19

When I hear "hydroponics" I always think of sci-fi and long missions to deep space. Fortunately, hydroponics is much more rooted in reality than the genre suggests, and this brings us neatly to Opcom Farm and their indoor hydroponics systems. Todd digs with Ray from Opcom and discovers how to garden in your garage.

Opcom offers everything needed to setup a home hydroponics garden except the space. Even then, the GrowPod can create space within another area, such as a garage, for the racks and shelving needed for a hydroponic garden. These days all the lights are LED, so energy costs are kept low, and there's a range of units from the simple O2-Light to a full GrowWall. It all depends on the budget - a GrowPod starts at $2000.

There's plenty of information on Opcom Farm's website and some products are available from Amazon.com. Others are on pre-order for delivery in 2018.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Get in the Spirits with PicoBrew's PicoStill

2018-02-19

At CES 2017, PicoBrew showed off their personal beer brewing machine and this year, they're back with a little something to take home alcohol production to the next level. Todd finds out more from George.

For existing PicoBrewers, the PicoStill brings an opportunity to "up their game" and start distilling small batches of spirits safely and more precisely. 500 ml takes about 4 hours to produce, and up to 180 proof is possible with will multilevel distilling. Alternatively, the PicoStill can capture the essence of hops and other oils to give unique flavors and aromas to food and drinks.

The PicoStill is on pre-order for $249 ($349 SRP) but it's an accessory for other brewing appliances (Pico S/Pro/C) so check compatibility before ordering.

Also on show is the Pico C, a smaller and cheaper beer brewing machine for $549.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Wander the World with the Fonebud W

2018-02-19

Mobile data charges abroad can be prohibitively expensive and tethering for Wi-Fi burns through the phone's battery. The new Fonebud W wireless hotspot solves this problem for over 80 countries worldwide. Don chats with Dixon about the features of this new device.

Using your home SIM while in a foreign land typically ends with a large bill when you get back, though seasoned travelers will have a pocketful of SIMs for local telcos. Mind you, it's still a pain making sure that your smartphone is unlocked and forwarding your calls to your new number (unless you have a dual SIM phone). A much better solution would be the upcoming Fonebud W personal Wi-Fi hotspot which works in over 80 countries, particularly in Asia and China. The 10,000 mAh battery will run the Fonebud W for well over a day and can be used to wirelessly charge a smartphone. Yes, it has a wireless charger built-in, though you can still charge with a cable. The small LED screen shows details of connectivity and battery life.

The Fonebud W will be available in Q2 2018 and will cost $129-$169 including 24 GB data which is valid for a year.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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You Can Feel It with Ultrahaptics

2018-02-24

Playing games using bare hands for controllers goes back as far as the Eye Toy for the Sony PlayStation 2, but it was really Microsoft's Kinect that brought gesture recognition mainstream. As fantastic as these cameras were, players only received visual feedback, e.g. the in-game character moved in the desired direction. But what if there is no TV screen to show feedback? How could the user know that they've pressed the right button? That's where Ultrahaptics come in with their ultrasonic speakers. Todd gets a feeling for the tech with Heather.

Simplistically, Ultrahaptics uses ultrasound to project sensations onto a hand. Small highly controllable speakers can focus sound waves to make a hand feel on object that's not there. It's pretty clever technology but what it means is that a hand action can receive feedback directly, without needing a screen.

Heather splits the use cases into two, controls and experiences. Want to turn on a light switch? Feel the imaginary switch and flick it up. For experiences, a two-dimensional object could be given three-dimensional properties. Think of a film poster that responds to a hand approach it. The force awakens!

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Clap for Kano's Camera Kit

2018-02-24

Kano's mission is to encourage people, particularly children, to see computers not as unchangeable appliances but as tools to be made, shaped, coded and shared. Their kits plug together bits, boards, buttons and cables to make individual and personalized computers. Bruno gives Todd a hand to develop a selfie camera from their new Camera Kit.

Kano's approach is to challenge each young developer into programming simple apps that achieve technical goals. Using Kano's development tools it's really easy to build programs as the tools come with code building blocks for things like taking a picture or responding to noise via a microphone. Consequently, even Todd can code an app to take a picture when someone claps.

The Camera Kit's not expected until next year but you can sign up to hear the latest news. Expect the price to be around $99.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Kano Codes for Kids

2018-02-24

Kano's mission is to encourage people, particularly children, to see computers not as unchangeable appliances but as tools to be made, shaped, coded and shared. Their kits plug together bits, boards, buttons and cables to make individual and personalised computers. Joanna gets to the heart of the matter with Todd and the Pixel Kit.

Kano's approach is to challenge each young developer into programming simple apps that achieve technical goals. Using Kano's development tools, Kano Code, it's really easy to build programs as the tools come with code building blocks for things like displaying an emoji or responding to noise via a microphone. It's very easy to quickly produce something that's fun and keeps children interested.

The Pixel Kit is available now for just under $80 from both online shops and major retail stores.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Lizn and Hear the Conversation

2018-02-25

True wireless earphones have been around for about eighteen months and products are beginning to innovate away from making the earphones technically better and physically smaller. As an example, Lizn's "hearpieces" are wireless earphones but also have some properties of a hearing aid. Todd listens to Michael to find out more.

The clue to Lizn's USP is in the name itself - it's a play on "listen." C'mon, keep up. As well as being discreet Bluetooth wireless earphones, the earphones have directional amplification to help the wearer hear conversation in difficult circumstances. The dual microphones use advanced sound processing to enhance the consonants in speech which helps understanding in noisy environments.

The earphones come in three different colors: ruby red, caffe latte and anthracite grey. They're on pre-order for $149 with an expected retail price of $199, and should be available in April.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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BIO-Key Uses The Power of Touch

2018-02-25

Fingerprint readers are well established in all but the lowest cost smartphones - look at the Moto G-series for phones priced around $200 - and it's a trusted solution. So it's not surprising that fingerprint readers are now appearing in other devices such as padlocks and bike locks. BIO-key are fingerprint specialists and have a range of locks and readers that do away with keys and passwords. Todd unlocks the potential of his finger with Scott.

BIO-key's locks can be opened by a range of technologies depending on the model. Most use fingerprints, but others also have Bluetooth capabilities and some use PIN codes. There are some real benefits in using a fingerprint for unlocking - no key to lose, no combination to remember.

Prices start at $39.99 for the TouchLock Designer, and a TSA approved lock is $54.95.

BIO-key produce fingerprint readers for PCs too, so if you don't want to type in your password, check out these USB devices.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Petrics Helps Owners Shed Pet Pounds

2018-02-25

Just as in humans, obesity in cats and dogs brings health issues like diabetes and heart disease. Over half of the pets in American households are overweight and this reduces their life expectancy by several years. Petrics want to help owners spend less time managing their pets and more time loving them with a couple of new products aimed at reducing obesity. No treats for Todd from Edward.

Winners of two CES Innovation awards, Petrics are coming at the problem from two fronts. First Petrics have a Health & Nutrition application which records the animal's food and exercise, but also guides the owner towards appropriate meal choices for their pet. Second, Petrics are launching a smart pet bed which works with an activity tracker to measure pet exercise and weight. This will pass information to the Health & Nutrition app, giving the owner current and historical information about their animal's condition to see if new regimes are having the right impact.

The app and bed will be coming to the market early in 2018, priced at $100-$300 depending on the size of the bed.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Keep Porch Pirates at Bay with BoxLock

2018-02-26

From a consumer's point of view, internet shopping is great: huge choice and prices to fit every pocket. Sure it takes a day or two to come but that only increases the rush while you wait for the delivery.....only that's the snag. Many of us are in work when the delivery comes to our empty homes and either the delivery service takes it back to their depot or you parcel lies at risk of theft until you get home. BoxLock have an ingenious solution and Todd unlocks its potential with Brad.

BoxLock is an internet-connected smart padlock with a built-in barcode scanner. To use BoxLock, you first get a secure container or bin which can be locked using a traditional padlock - it's usually called a hasp - and put it out front. The BoxLock then goes on the bin instead of the padlock. When the delivery driver arrives, he (or she) simply grabs the BoxLock and presses the button on the top to scan the tracking number on the package. The BoxLock checks online via wifi and only packages addressed to you and that are actually out for delivery that day will unlock the BoxLock. The driver opens the container, places your package safely inside and then closes it all up.

Your BoxLock smartphone app then notifies you which package was scanned and that your BoxLock is safely locked with your packages inside. Several of the big delivery companies are on board including FedEx, UPS, USPS and Amazon, so it's perfect for keeping those porch pirates and packet thieves at bay. BoxLock is current InDemand on Indiegogo for pre-ordering at $109 (the video says $129 retail) with deliveries expected in June 2018.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Kolibree's Magik Toothbrush Brings AR to Brushing

2018-02-26

Tooth decay is the most prevalent chronic disease in children and it can easily be prevented by regular and effective brushing. Getting children to brush is another matter entirely but French firm Kolibree are looking to gamification and augmented reality to get children excited about brushing. Todd finds out what is like to interview Arthur with a toothbrush in his mouth.

Kolibree's Magik toothbrush plays an augmented reality game where the children defeat evil cavity monsters by attacking them with their toothbrush. Using a smartphone or tablet, the child sees themselves in a "magic mirror" and fight boss monsters to win superpower masks. At the end of a brushing session, the app shows the child and parent how well they've brushed and any areas missed. The Magik brush is expected in Q3 2018 and Kolibree is looking to price it at under $30. Sign up at Kolibree to hear when it's ready to buy.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Need a Housesitter? Ask Kevin.

2018-02-26

It's a sad statistic that around half of us in the Europe and US will experience a break-in or burglary during our lifetime and unfortunately, I'm one of those. Most burglaries are over in less than five minutes and by the time the police turn up, the criminals are long gone. Smart homes and security alarms only go so far and what you really want is to deter the burglars from breaking in at all. You need a housesitter and Mitipi have one called Kevin. Todd thought Kevin was a minion...

Kevin is the first IoT device to simulate the presence of people in a room by emitting light, shadow effects, and sound, meaning burglars will think someone's home, and won't want to break in for fear of being confronted or even caught. Kevin is extremely easy to use. Place the device in a main room with a window, say, the living room. Once set up, Kevin can be controlled via the buttons on the box, or through the companion app. To pretend someone is home, Kevin uses a smart logic that considers multiple factors such as location, language, weather and home type to produce a realistic simulation with light, sound and shadows.

Kevin is currently on Kickstarter and the best pledge is SFr249, which is around GB?190 or $270. Delivery is expected in December 2018.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Code Your Crab and Train Your Tortoise with BinaryBots

2018-02-27

Self-assembly robots and smart toys are great for introducing and teaching children the basics of coding. It's a hot area at the moment, especially with Nintendo Labo coming soon, but here we have British outfit BinaryBots and their animal-themed programmable robots. Todd and Chris play with the smart pets.

The team at BinaryBots have a range of robotic toys starting with straightforward cardboard-based models through to more complex creations using the Totem construction kits. There are crabs, spiders and tortoises, each will unique actions. The robots can be connected up to a BBC micro:bit computer for coding and programming. Children can code their robot and to see how it responds to light and other stimuli.

The cardboard-based robots are available now with the new Totem-based ones arriving in April. They're priced at GB?40 / $55 for the cardboard models and GB?60 / $80 for the Totem, though you'll need to buy your own micro:bit for the latter.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Just a Drop of Blood with Apollo Medical Devices

2018-02-27

With the advances in medical sciences and technology, there's often no longer the need to "Send it to the lab, stat!" to get up-to-date info on blood chemistry. Soon, readings will be given at point of care in a few minutes, if not seconds. Todd consults with Brian on their latest blood diagnostic device.

Apollo Medical Devices has been working with Case Western Reserve University in Ohio to develop a point of care blood diagnostic unit that uses a drop of blood to give information in seconds on eight key indicators such as sodium, potassium, pH and blood oxygen. The new devices should be in production with 12-18 months and cost will be in line with industry norms for the test.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Flic Gets Smarter with Flic Hub

2018-02-27

Flic's smart Bluetooth buttons will be familiar to GNC readers as I reviewed them back in 2017. To be honest, the buttons aren't that smart but it's the clever smartphone software that does all the cool stuff. Consequently, if the Flic button is out of range of the owner's smartphone, it's somewhat useless. Fortunately Flic recognised this and announced an Indiegogo campaign for a Flic Hub that would take away the reliance on a nearby smartphone. Todd clicks with Elin to find out what's new at Flic.

The new Flic Hub removes the need for a nearby smartphone in a home or office environment and lets Flic smart buttons integrate more closely with other automation and process management systems. Flic is looking to grow in the enterprise with customers focusing in the safety and hospitality industries.

The Hub can communicate with more Flic buttons so in theory, there could be hundreds of buttons in a location, and the integrity of the overall system is improved without dependence on the smartphone vendors. This creates a more reliable and dependable platform that enterprise customers are looking for, taking Flic beyond smart buttons. The Flic Hub is expected to go on-sale shortly.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Raven Makes Any Car a Smart Car

2018-02-28

You parked your car and went on with your day. Later, you might have an unsettling moment as you worry about whether or not your car is ok. Checking on it usually requires a person to stop what they are doing and go back to the parking lot. Raven makes any car a smart car, and enables you to quickly check on your car from wherever you are.

Todd stopped by the Raven booth to talk with Russell. Raven is an all-in-one connected car solution. It has built-in cellular LTE, cameras, sensors, displays and a high performance six core processor that gives you and your vehicle new capabilities. Features include a rear facing camera, a front facing camera, real time displays, LTE module that is always connected to the internet, and a security system. Raven transfers video of your trip onto your phone so you don't have to transfer those files yourself.

Raven will start shipping in March of 2018 and is priced at $299 US. There is streaming subscription fee of $8 a month.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Lumzag Introduced the World's Most Secure Backpack

2018-02-28

One of the problems people face when they travel is the security of their bags or backpacks. There is potential that a thief will open your backpack and steal your items while you are sleeping on the plane. Or, a thief might steal your entire backpack. Lumzag has a solution that can prevent both of these problems. Lumzag introduced the world's most secure backpack at CES 2018.

Todd stopped by the Lumzag booth to speak with Natalie. She pointed out the many wonderful features of the Lumzag backpack.

It has mobile tracking so you will always know where your backpack is. A remote anti-theft alarm will be activated if your backpack is stolen. The Lumzag backpack has embedded cameras that can take a photo of the person who opens your backpack without your permission. The backpack has its own power bank that is charged with solar power. The Lumzag backpack also functions as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The price of the Lumzag backpack has not yet been determined. They are going to launch a crowdfunding effort. Those who want to be the first to know when the Lumzag backpack is ready can sign up on the Lumzag website and be put on a waitlist.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Flo Can Detect A Leak as Small as a Single Drop of Water

2018-02-28

The leaky faucet in your home could be costing you money! Water is expensive, and 13% of the water that goes into a home is lost due to leaks. A drop of water every two seconds works out to a thousand gallons of water in a year. Flo has a solution that not only will detect water leaks, but also can help you save money on your water bill.

Todd stopped by the Flo booth at CES 2018 and spoke with Gabe. Flo is trying to prevent loss, one drip at a time. They proactively monitor the integrity of your home's entire water system from a pressure, flow, and temperature standpoint. This enables Flo to detect vulnerabilities before you even get a leak. It also allows Flo to alert homeowners when a leak has been detected.

The Flo app has a dashboard that shows you how much water you've used every day, and what times of the day you are using water. It has a control panel where you can see in real time what the pressure is in the water system, what the flow is, and what the temperature is. Push a button on the app to remotely turn on and turn off the water.

The Flo device has a useful life of between five and ten years. You do need professional installation to install the Flo device on your plumbing. You only need one device for the house. Flo has a list price of $499.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Go Cordless with the VOLO Go

2018-03-01

For relatively small devices, handheld hairdryers use large amounts of power for anything up to ten minutes at a time. As a result, it's one of the last things you'd think to be successfully battery-powered. Nevertheless, the team at VOLO Beauty have taken on the challenge to develop the world's first cordless hairdryer, the VOLO Go. Todd discusses the problem with Ryan and Jonathan.

Their approach for the VOLO Go has been to re-engineer the hair dryer, changing from heating the air to heating the hair via infrared. This reduces the power demand to only 600 W - that's about a third of a traditional hairdryer - without increasing drying time. At this level, battery-power is feasible, and the VOLO Go lasts 14 minutes on a charge. As the average drying time for a woman's hair is 7.5 minutes, this is ample. Extra batteries will be available for extended use.

The VOLO Go will launch in summer 2018 priced at $388, with a Kickstarter campaign in the spring.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Watch Lassie Come Home by Wagz

2018-03-01

The smart home is where-it's-at, and while there are all kinds of automated lights, plugs and switches for people, there's a growing market for the "internet of pets" - activity trackers, smart beds, smartphone apps. Jenna throws Todd a bone and shows him the latest kit for the connected canine.

The Wagz team have range of products which work round a connected collar. As expected, the collar tracks steps and activity, building up data on the pooch's fitness and lifestyle. There's LED lighting to avoid road accidents and the smart dog collar has an OLED display for name and owner info. Amazingly the collar has built-in GPS with 3G/LTE mobile connectivity, meaning it'll phone home tell you where your mutt is when it gets lost. There's even an option for a camera to get a dog's eye view of the world that streams in real-time. Now you can watch Lassie come home as it happens. Here girl!

Mind you, this isn't cheap - the basic collar will cost $295 - and for the camera version, it'll set you back a cool $495. Pre-orders are open for expected deliveries in Q2 2018. The Wagz collar will also be available in stores as it was recently picked up by Black and Decker. Integrating with the collar are a pet feeder ($250) and a pet door ($250) which will be available later in the year too.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Get Cooking with a Cauldryn

2018-03-01

Stainless steel insulated water bottles are commonplace today and have largely taken over from the glass vacuum flasks - the latter are just too delicate, especially for camping and hillwalking. And while the steel bottles are good are keeping stuff warm, the liquid has to be hot in the first place....or does it? Cauldryn Fyre bottles have a built-in heating element which not only keeps liquids warm, it can actually boil water. Colten and Joe have a quick Americano.

The Cauldryn Fyre water bottles feature a modular design, offering a 16-ounce, stainless steel, vacuum insulated bottle with the revolutionary Fyre heating element. The standard Cauldryn Fire is powered from AC but the Fyre Mobile features a rechargeable battery to heat the liquid and keep it hot all day. The mobile base has a couple of USB charging sockets too. There's a DC base available for heating from 12V / 24V.

The Cauldryn Fire system is modular. Want a smoothie? There's a blender attachment. Need a light? Snap in the rechargeable battery. It's even got integration with Google Assistant. Seriously, I want one of these. The Cauldryn Fire is shipping now. The standard Fyre is $69.99, Fyre Mobile is $129.99 and additional battery units are $69.99. DC base $9.99.

Interview by Colten Clymer of Geek News Central.

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Smelly Garbage or Old Dumpster? NeOse Pro Knows the Difference

2018-03-03

Smell is one of the last human senses to be conquered by machines, with human noses still assessing and testing a wide range of products such as tea, perfume and body odour. French firm Aryballe Technologies are smell specialists with their new NeOse Pro, which aims to bring consistency to the market. Todd sees the end for Q Graders....

Aryballe's NeOse Pro brings objective analysis to the identification and measurement of odours and smells. The NeOse Pro isn't designed to suggest what's a good smell or a bad one, but rather that a standard for a smell has been met. This could be for quality control purposes in a fragrance or to detect fruit ripeness. There's a wide range of opportunities in food, beauty, medical and manufacturing. New car smell anyone?

The NeOse Pro is intended for commercial uses so the hand-held unit won't be on the shelves of stores anytime soon. Businesses will need around $10,000 to get their hands on the device.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Cycle Safely with the Smart Light by Cosmo

2018-03-03

After the success of their smart helmet light for motorcyclists, Cosmo Connected are back at CES with a new version for bicyclists. For once the smart moniker is well deserved and it really could save lives. Todd goes for a ride with Emily.

Winning three CES awards in 2018, the Cosmo team's smart helmet for cyclists builds on bike version. With investment from Michelin, the new helmet light not only shows when the cyclist is braking but also when they're going to turn. For braking, the light uses accelerometers to detect deceleration but for turns, it's more sophisticated. The smart light is pre-programmed with the cyclist's expected route and then uses GPS to anticipate upcoming turns, indicate either to the left or the right as appropriate. This is particularly useful for cyclists who have regular routes such as commutes.

In the unfortunate event of an accident, the Cosmo smart light can automatically call for help via the rider's smartphone (Android / iOS) using Bluetooth.

The new cycle light will be available in the summer for $59 - that's amazing value and I'll be getting one. As promised, here's last year's CES video for the motorbike light.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Instant Wine Aeration with Aveine

2018-03-03

As serious wine connoisseurs know, you have to let red (and some white) wines breathe after opening, allowing them to aerate for the best aroma and taste. As a generalization, the younger the wine, the longer it needs to rest before drinking. Very young wines might need a few hours, but half-an-hour is the minimum. And simply taking the cork out doesn't count: the wine needs to be decanted (or double-decanted back into the bottle) for proper aeration. If this sounds like too much effort, then take a look at Aveine, a connected aerator and winner of a CES Innovation Award.

Thanks to the connected aerator Aveine, you can immediately taste any wine in ideal conditions without having to wait 30 minutes or more. Place the aerator on the bottle, scan the label with your smartphone and serve. The smartphone checks for the wine in its database, connects to the Aveine and adjusts the aeration so that the aerator breathes the right amount of air as the wine is poured allowing it to breathe in an instant. Any red wine will benefit and there's no waiting around or pouring into decanters.

The Aveine aerator is launching on Indiegogo in March - signup for notifications at Aveine. Retail pricing is expected to be $200 with deals on Indiegogo. Delivery in June.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Beautiful Tracking Shots with Wiral

2018-03-04

Tracking shots have traditionally been the preserve of the professional filmmaker or broadcaster, first with cameras on dollies and tracks, then with Steadicam and now there are cable or wire systems (SkyCam) that can move in three dimensions to get some really amazing shots. While these are all still expensive, the amateur filmmaker can achieve a similar effect with Wiral Lite at a fraction of the cost. Todd hangs tight with Emilie.

The Wiral Lite system consists of a steel cable plus a motorized camera mount - the cable cam - that hangs from the cable and it's a little like a miniature cable car. The cable is strung between two strong points, say, a couple of trees or street lights, and the cable cam is hung on the wire under tension. It needs the tension so that the rubber wheels can grip on the cable and move about. Cameras up to 1.5 kg / 3.3 lb. can be carried by the cable cam so it can easily hold a GoPro. The remote control moves the cable cam back and forth on the cable with adjustable speed.

The Wiral was successfully funded on Kickstarter in the autumn raising over $1,000,000 and is now also crowdfunding on Indiegogo. There are currently perks at $239 with delivery expected in August.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Lexip Introduces Revolutionary Gaming Mouse

2018-03-04

Lexip is the world's first gaming mouse designed to be an all-in-one solution for your gaming needs across all types of games. It is a high-performance gaming mouse which is intuitive, precise, and fast in all your favorite games.

Todd spoke with Hugo at the Lexip booth at CES 2018. Hugo pointed out that the Lexip Gaming Mouse has won three innovation awards. The mouse has two fully mechanical joysticks. One is on the side of the mouse and can be moved with your thumb. The other is in the core of the mouse itself, which you move by tilting the shell of the mouse. Everything on the Lexip mouse is fully programmable.

Lexip has a Kickstarter for the mouse. You can get the Lexip Gaming Mouse via Kickstarter for $109 USD. Retail marketing for the Lexip Gaming Mouse starts in July of 2018 at $149 USD.

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R-PUR Debuted a Fashionable Anti-Pollution Mask

2018-03-04

Riding a bicycle or motorcycle can be fun, but it isn't always ideal if you are in an area with lots of pollution. R-PUR found a fun and effective solution to this problem. They created the R-PUR anti-pollution mask that can filter out the harmful particles that are in the air.

Todd visited the R-PUR booth at CES 2018 and spoke with Matthieu. R-PUR has created an anti-pollution mask for people who ride motorcycles or bicycles. The mask is efficient, comfortable, and fashionable. The R-PUR mask is the result of a year and a half of research and development. It is the only one that can filter out nano sized particles.

You will, at times, have to change the filter in the R-PUR anti-pollution mask. The filters last between four and six weeks. R-PUR created an app that takes into consideration your location, the weather, and the amount of pollution, and lets you know when you need to change the filter. R-PUR launched their first collection of winter filter covers for the mask at CES 2018. They want to release new collections every six months. Doing so will keep their filter covers fun, fashionable, and something that people want to wear.

The R-PUR anti-pollution mask will be on the market in the United States in June of 2018 at $150 USD.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Pebby Smart Ball Entertains Your Pet

2018-03-12

Your pet would love for you to stay home and play with it all day. Unfortunately, you have to go work. Pebby is a smart ball that entertains your pet while you are away. Best of all, the Pebby app allows you to remotely interact and play with your pet from anywhere.

Todd visited the Pebby booth at CES 2018 and spoke with Thinesh. The Pebby ball has many ways to entertain your pet. It allows pet owners to talk to their pets, record videos, and snap photos. The Pebby ball has a camera in it that connects to the Pebby app. Pet owners can maneuver the Pebby ball via the app by using the joystick icon.

The Pebby ball can make sounds. Press the cat icon on the app and the Pebby ball makes a "meow" noise. Press the dog icon and the ball makes a "woof" sound. Talk into the app, and your pet will be able to hear you through the Pebby ball. The Pebby ball has a laser on it that pet owners can use to entertain their cats. Put a Pebby collar on your pet, and it unlocks the auto-play function. The Pebby ball will follow your pet and encourage your pet to play.

To recharge Pebby, roll it into the Pebby wireless charging dock. Four hours of charging time gives you two hours of optimal non-stop playing and 12 hours on standby.

You can preorder Pebby for $189 USD. Pebby is expecting to deliver in Quarter 2 at $249 USD for the Pebby ball, Pebby dock, and Pebby smart collar.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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HELPER Rescue Drone was Introduced

2018-03-12

HELPER is a drone that was designed with lifesaving in mind. It allows lifeguards to drop a self inflating buoy in close proximity to a victim that is in danger. Helper Drone is useful for lifesaving at sea.

Todd visited HELPER at CES 2018 and spoke with Anthony. HELPER is a piece of technology that offers reliable and secure navigation. It is ultra stable, and helps save lives, even in winds of up to 50 km/h. With speeds of up to 55 km/hr, and its precision to the meter, it enables speedy and controlled recovery. HELPER can climb to an altitude of 10 m/s and weighs 3.9 kilograms.

When a lifeguard sees a person in the water who needs help, the lifeguard can use an app to deploy HELPER. The drone will automatically launch and go to the location the lifeguard selected. The camera on HELPER will show what is happening at the scene. The lifeguard can view the video. When the lifeguard clicks on the victim, the HELPER drone will drop a lifejacket in close proximity of the victim. The lifejacket inflates once it hits the water.

HELPER has been used in France, but has not come to the United States yet. In France, a municipality pays $700 USD per year per drone for the HELPER service.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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NUVIZ Presented First All-In-One Motorcycle Head-Up Display

2018-03-12

Nuviz has created the first all-in-one motorcycle head-up display with integrated navigation, communication, action camera, and music in a single device. It enables those who ride motorcycles to be less distracted and more able to pay attention to the road ahead.

Todd visited the NUVIZ booth and spoke with Peter at CES 2018. NUVIZ has made the only all-in-one head-up display for motorcycle riders. It attaches to a motorcycle helmet. The device syncs to your phone through an app. It has a small remote control that can be mounted to the handlebar of your motorcycle. The remote control was designed to be used by a person wearing a heavy motorcycle glove.

The device allows for integrated navigation with GPS. It lets you communicate via Bluetooth intercom, so you can easily find out who is calling you, make a call, or reject a call. It has a camera that enables motorcyclists to record while they ride. In addition, the device can be used as a media player. The NUVIZ head-up display has a replaceable and rechargeable battery. The battery life is eight hours for light use. It lasts for three and a half-hours if you are doing heavy video recording. The NUVIZ all-in-one head-up display retails for $699.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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CloviTek Brought CloviFi Wireless Audio Transmitter to CES 2018

2018-03-14

CloviTek is the creator of CloviFi - the world's smartest wireless audio transmitter. It is ideal for consumers, seniors, people who struggle with hearing loss, and businesses in public places.

Todd visited the CloviTek booth at CES 2018 and spoke with Vitaly. He discussed the CloviFi audio distribution device. It is a Wi-Fi transmitter that can transmit audio from your TV to your mobile phone. The device has a Bluetooth transmitter. CloviFi is a great solution for households where someone wants to watch TV while other people are sleeping or studying.

Connect CloviFi to one of the audio inputs on your TV. Power the TV on, then connect CloviFi to your Wi-Fi home network. Launch the mobile app to start transmitting audio. CloviTek estimates that the retail price range will be from $100 to $150. They estimate that it will take about three months before they can start shipping.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Massage Your Body and Mind with Aurasens

2018-03-14

According to their website, the Aurasens Lounger is "your trans-sensory vessel to audio-haptic pleasure." That's some claim for a massage chair with headphones. Todd relaxes with Olivier, CEO, to see if the Aurasens Lounger lives up to its promises.

Calling the Aurasens a massage chair is a little like calling the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport a convertible. Technically it's correct, but the Aurasens lounger uses luxury materials and specially augmented pieces that co-ordinates the massage effect with the music. Think of a glissando complemented by waves of motion along the arms, all in sync with the music. Aurasens has a selection of sensations, from pop pieces to new music and ambient sounds.

Currently the Aurasens is being marketed at hotels, airline lounges, events and high-net worth individuals. Usually rented by the day or month, it's EUR10,000 to buy.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Mira Fertility Helps Start a Family

2018-03-15

Kicking off a range of smart hormone health care products, Mira Fertility helps couples maximize their chances of conceiving by measuring daily hormone levels. Four times dad Todd learns about the product and future plans from Yazan of Miracare.

The Mira Fertility analyzer measures the levels of hormones in urine to provide insights into fertility levels to help couples conceive. Like a pregnancy test, the woman pees on a "fertility wand" which is then placed in the Mira for analysis. The information is transmitted via Bluetooth to the Mira app on a smartphone, which uses machine learning to analyze the data and predict the best opportunities for conception. The app shows graphs and other data that can be useful for a couple wanting to have a baby.

The Mira Fertility Analyzer is expected in Q2 2018, priced under $200.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Skylink Brings the Garage into the Smart Home

2018-03-15

Remote controlled garage doors haven't been particularly secure in the past and many people have disabled the feature because of the risk of break-ins to their homes through the garage. Todd and Frank discuss the problem and look at Skylink Nova, a retrofit Wi-Fi door opener.

The Skylink Nova is wired into an existing garage door opener using the standard connections used for the interior open/close button. Once connected up, the Nova can be remotely controlled with the Skylink smartphone app (iOS and Android). Nova is also compatible with If This Then That (IFTTT) platform and Alexa so the garage door can be opened (or closed) by talking to an Echo.

The Nova itself looks like an LED light fixture and works as a smart home hub too, communicating with up to 100 smart devices. In addition, it can detect sirens from smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the house. When one of those is heard, Nova will automatically open your garage door to aid in ventilation in the case of an emergency. (I can see how this might help with CO poisoning but surely opening the door during a fire could make things worse?)

Skylink's Nova will be on sale in the spring for under $100.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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ShapeScale 3D Body Scanning Scale

2018-03-15

One of the most popular New Year's Resolutions is to lose weight. People start out with good intentions, but many quit after about four weeks because they cannot see any changes happening. ShapeScale is a 3D body scanning scale that can point out the small changes that you cannot see simply by looking at yourself in a mirror.

Todd visited the ShapeScale booth at CES 2018 and spoke with Martin, who explained how ShapeScale works. Get on the scale, and it will take a full 3D scan of your body in less than 40 seconds. It creates a photo realistic 3D avatar of you. The avatar syncs to your iPhone or Android smartphone via the ShapeScale app. Look at your 3D avatar to see the small changes to your body that have been happening over time.

ShapeScale uses color coding to convey information. It colors portions of your 3D avatar blue to show where body fat loss has taken place. It colors part of your avatar red to show where muscle gain has happened. The app can show you other health and fitness measurements including circumference measurements, body weight, height, body fat, and lean mass.

ShapeScale is set to start shipping later this year. It will retail at $499. However, if you head to their website now, you can preorder your very own ShapeScale for $349.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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iHome Focuses on Wellness and Daily Rituals

2018-03-16

Many Americans have difficulty falling asleep. The iHome Zenergy line of products can help you take control of your sleep and get some rest. In addition, iHome also created the Reflect Pro, a top of the line vanity mirror that has a Bluetooth speaker.

Don spoke with Jennifer from iHome. She pointed out the important functions of iHome's products that focus on wellness and daily rituals. The Zenergy Candle is a multi-sensory device that can help you sleep. This flameless candle has built-in light therapy and sound therapy. It also has a built-in breathing coach that can guide you through controlling your breathing patterns so you can calm your mind and body and be ready for sleep. The price point for the Zenergy Candle is $69.99.

In addition, iHome has a Zenergy Aromatherapy device that can be used with the Zenergy Candle. The aromatherapy device is unique because it has a tray in the back where you can place some essential oil. You can mix scents if you want to. The Zenergy Aromatherapy device is priced at $99.99, and it comes with a bottle of Lavender oil.

A new product called the Reflect Pro provides crystal clear reflection with no distortion. It is a top of the line lit vanity mirror that has a Bluetooth speaker. It lets you listen to music, or take calls, while you are getting ready. The perimeter of the mirror has LED lighting. It comes with a 10x magnifying puck that attaches to the mirror with a simple stick. The Reflect Pro is priced at $199.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Develop Mental Focus with BrainCo

2018-03-16

Being "in the zone" reflects that total mental focus and clarity that comes to people concentrating hard. For athletes and professionals, it can take years of practice and hard work. For us mere mortals, BrainCo offers a way to learn how to focus. How? Professor Don gets all brainy with Max.

The idea behind BrainCo is to use their Focus One headband with gamification to improve mental concentration. The BrainCo band reads small electrical impulses in the wearer's brain and picks up on changes in the frequency and amplitude of the impulses (EEG). As everyone's brains are different the band establishes a personal baseline and works on changes from that baseline to understand when the person is relaxed, focused or distracted.

While wearing the Focus One headband, the owner plays a smartphone game which takes information from the headband and responds as the wearer mentally focusses. Simply, the person has to focus to do well in the game. Overtime, the person learns how to focus their mind.

The BrainCo Focus One reinforces good mental behavior and this can be especially useful for children who have learning difficulties such as ADHD, but it also has application in ensuring that teachers are engaging with their students. The FocusOne isn't yet available to buy but if you are interested, you can register on the BrianCo website for an early bird discount.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Smarten up the Garage Door with Skylink

2018-03-16

Converting a house into a smart home shouldn't mean replacing every electrical device for a new smart model. A cheaper and greener way is to add smart features in with wireless accessories. A good example here is Skylink Nova which adds smart capabilities to automatic garage doors at relatively low cost. Don and Frank take a closer look at Skylink Nova and its accompanying ecosystem.

The Skylink Nova is wired into an existing garage door opener using the standard connections used for the interior open/close button. Once connected up, the Nova can be remotely controlled with the Skylink smartphone app (iOS and Android). Nova is also compatible with If This Then That (IFTTT) platform and Alexa so the garage door can be opened (or closed) by talking to an Echo.

The Nova itself looks like an LED light fixture and works as a smart home hub too, communicating with up to 100 smart devices. In addition, it can detect sirens from smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the house. When one of those is heard, Nova will automatically open your garage door to aid in ventilation in the case of an emergency. Skylink's Nova will be on sale in the spring for under $100.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Can You Hear the Thunder with OWC?

2018-03-17

OWC is one of the stalwarts of the Mac world, bringing enhancements and accessories to Apple devices year after year. Let's be honest, this is the team that gives you back the ports that Apple takes away. This time round, OWC is expanding its range of Thunderbolt 3 products. Don finds out what's new with AJ from OWC.

Incredibly, OWC is celebrating its 30th anniversary: the company started when Apple launched the iMac - remember the ones with the fruitcoloured cases? Today, OWC offer products for both Windows and Mac, and in particular, there's a new Thunderbolt 3 dock out with support for both OSes. The new dock "offers 12 ports including dual Thunderbolt 3, five USB 3.1, Gigabit Ethernet, S/PDIF, combo audio, Mini DisplayPort, SD Card Slot, and supports laptop charging". Sadly, there's no Firewire but if you need that, check out the older version. Available in Q1 2018, it's priced at either $279 or $299. Video says one, press release says the other.

Also of interest to speed freaks is the ThunderBlade v4, which is the fastest external drive on the market today, shifting an astonishing 2800 MB/s read and 2450 MB/s write. It's pricey with MSRP from $1,199 (1 TB) to $4,999 (8TB), but you get what you pay for and I'm sure it'll be in demand from video producers. Again, there's a difference in price between video and press release.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Gamevice Turns Your Smartphone Into a Console Device

2018-03-17

Mobile gaming is fun, but there are limitations. While some video games are specifically designed to be played on a smartphone or tablet, most are not. This leaves gamers with the frustrating problem of trying to play a game that doesn't function very well with touchscreens. Gamevice solves this problem by turning your smartphone into a console device.

Todd spoke with Rob from Gamevice at CES 2018. Gamevice is the name of the both the company and the product.

Gamevice is a controller that hooks onto the lightning port on your smartphone. It gives immediate feedback on any game you are playing. It turns games that are really poor on a touchscreen into games that actually have a chance to be played on a mobile device. Gamevice lets you easily play Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto, MOBA's like Lineage, Street Fighter, and more video games on a mobile device. They have about 1,000 games in their catalog.

Gamevice can be tightened up in the back. It fits anything for a iPhone 6 to an iPhone X, is compatible with Android phones, and can be used on iPads and iPad minis. You can purchase Gamevice for $79.99.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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E-Vone Smart Shoe With Falling Alert System

2018-03-17

Our shoes protect our feet from the environment. E-Vone has created a smart shoe that can provide a different kind of protection. These shoes send an alert when the wearer has fallen down and enables a rescue team to find that person.

Don spoke with Anne from E-Vone. They have created a smart shoe with technology that can detect when the wearer has fallen. The shoe instantly sends an alarm through the secure cloud to a rescue team. After that, the smart shoe vibrates to let the wearer know that a rescue team is coming to help them.

The shoe was designed for more than one population. There is a version designed for workers who work in isolated situations. This shoe is durable and has a steel toe. Another version of the shoe was designed for older people who want to stay in their own homes instead of in an assisted living situation. E-Vone makes comfortable smart shoes in styles for women and styles for men.

To make this work, E-Vone is selling a service. It requires a service fee (of 30 Euros a month). The person pays for the service and leases the shoes. They receive a new pair of smart shoes each year. E-Vone will start selling this service in France and Europe in September of 2018. They intend to release the service in the United States and Japan in two years.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Monkey Bidouille Showcased Beautiful PC Cases

2018-03-19

When it comes to PC computers, there are basically two styles to choose from: a plastic box, or a flashy case with LED lights for gamers. What if neither of those two options fits your personal style? Monkey Bidouille has an aesthetically pleasing solution for you.

Don spoke with Antoine from Monkey Bidouille at CES 2018. The company is made of just two people. They have created a PC case that is made of wood and aluminum. It uses noble materials, and is handmade in France. Their PC case is designed to sit horizontally. You can put whatever components you want to inside the case.

Monkey Bidouille brought a prototype of their PC case to CES 2018. They launched a Kickstarter shortly before CES 2018, with a limit of 50 units. Their plan is to eventually make it possible for people to customize the design of the PC case when they place their order on the website. The wood can be screen printed, in a similar way to how the designs are placed on skateboards.

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Get the Whole Screen for Multiplayer Gaming with MirraViz

2018-03-19

Having friends round to your house for multiplayer games is always fun, but the more there are, the smaller each player's screen becomes as they share part of the TV. Split even a big screen into quarters and the immersive effect is lost. But what if all the players had the same large screen? MirraViz have got it covered. The MirraViz projection screens are highly reflective but brightly reflect the light back in a tight cone, rather than scattering the light widely as a nomal white screen would do. When used with a video projector, this means that only someone sitting close to the projector sees the image. Think of the screen like a reflective street sign in the distance lit up by headlights: only the driver and passengers see the bright reflection from the sign.

As light beams don't interfere with each other, the screen can reflect light back from multiple sources without distortion, so several projectors can be used with one screen. As a result, each player sees only their gameplay, but on the full sized screen. Whoa! It's kind of hard to imagine, but think of walking around in front of the screen. Only one gaming screen is seen at a time but as you walk round the screen changes between players. Don't worry, it takes Don a little time to get his head round it too. It's similar in concept to the old PlayStation TVs, except you don't need glasses to make it work. The screens are entirely passive - there's no electronics - and the video projectors don't have to be massively powerful because the reflectivity is so good. Personal or pico projects with less than a thousand lumens are fine.

MirraViz sells combinations of hardware and screens for home entertainment or gaming setups, and they sell the screens on their own too. A 52" screen costs $699, 75" is $899 and 94" is $1299. They also offer full experience setups.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Manage Diabetes with DiabiLive App

2018-03-19

Diabetes is a disease that affects increasing numbers of people in developed countries where obesity, lack of exercise and genetics are causing epidemic levels of the condition. Simplistically, the pancreas becomes unable to manage blood sugar levels as it (usually) can't to produce the right amount of insulin. Don and Nicholas discuss the problems facing diabetics and how DiabiLive's new app can help manage the disease.

Winner of a CES Innovation Award, DiabiLive have a developed a smartphone app which calculates the correct amount of insulin to inject based on three parameters (physical activity, diet, sugar level). In addition, the app plans ahead based on past history to warn of possible low sugar levels. The app's algorithms are based on medical science and protocols: the app is awaiting FDA approval, hopefully within 2018.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Pisoftware Brought Pilot Era Panoramic Camera to CES 2018

2018-03-21

Panoramic cameras are interesting because they can record in ways that other cameras cannot. The Pilot Era is a professional level panoramic camera from Pisoftware. They estimate it will be priced at approximately $3,000 after it becomes available.

Don spoke with Adler and William from Pisoftware. They discussed the Pilot Era panoramic camera. The device they brought to CES 2018 was a prototype. Those who are interested can request a trial of Pilot Era. There is potential you will be selected to test the Pilot Era panoramic camera.

The Pilot Era can provide 8K panoramic video and image, at a quality that works quite well with VR goggles. It is an all-in-one machine. You don't need a PC to do the post-staging of your video. Instead, you can interact directly with the camera through the screen. Your video finishes inside the camera.

There are four cameras on the device, one on each side. The lenses are slightly tilted up so they can see what is above them, allowing the lenses to stay in focus. The Pilot Era does real time live streaming with 4K or 6K stitching.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Ovie Smart Food Storage

2018-03-21

Are you sure those leftovers are still safe to eat? You may have forgotten how long the food has been in the refrigerator. This causes us to throw away food - that might still be good - because we are afraid of getting sick from it. Ovie solves this problem with their smart food storage products.

Todd spoke with Stacie from Ovie at CES 2018. Ovie created Smarterware: smart food storage that is designed to help you track, remember and use the food that is in your fridge before it goes bad. It is a system of smart tags, containers, clips and bands.

Put the tag on your food container and push a button. Tell your favorite digital assistant (Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri) to tell Ovie what is in the container. This will trigger Ovie to track the food for you for four days. A green light on the tag indicates that the food is still safe to eat. A yellow light indicates the food should be eaten soon. When that happens, you will get a notification on your phone reminding you to eat that food before it goes bad. In addition, you will get a recipe recommendation that uses that food and that is based on the foods that you already have at home. Ovie makes any fridge into a smart fridge.

The Smarterware tags will retail for $59 for a set of three, and $89 for a set of three tagged containers. A Kickstarter campaign is planned to launch soon, and you can signup to be notified when the campaign is ready on their website. The planned delivery date for the product is Fall 2018.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Z-Wave Powers the Internet of Things

2018-03-21

The products that are a part of your smart home ecosystem can connect to each other and work together. How does that happen? The simple answer to that question is Z-Wave.

Todd spoke with Mitch from Z-Wave Alliance at CES 2018. Mitch gives an easy to understand explanation of what Z-Wave is and what it does. The internet of Things (IoT) is powered in part by Z-Wave. Consumers can look for products that have a little Z-Wave logo on them, which means that the product is going to work with all your other IoT stuff.

In addition to explaining what Z-Wave is, Mitch and Todd discuss some of the ways it is currently being used. They also talk about how Z-Wave might influence products in the future.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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B.One Hub Simplifies Your Daily Living

2018-03-22

Smarthomes can make your life a little easier because they allow you to do things through an app instead of manually. But problems happen when the devices in your IoT ecosystem are not all part of the same system. This could result in multiple hubs in your home, with a separate app for each of them. B.One Hub simplifies your daily living with one hub that can control all IoT products.

Todd spoke with Sridhar from Blaze Automation at CES 2018. The B.One Hub is a multi-protocol gateway, which combines Z-Wave, Zigby, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and more, which means that B.One Hub can replace all your other hubs. The B.One Hub also has IFTTT (If This Then That) protocol, which means you are less dependent on the internet. If your internet goes out, you can still control your devices through the B.One Hub.

With the B.One Hub, you can control different devices, with different protocols, with one action. B.One Hub is currently on the market in Australia and Japan. It will be coming to the U.S. market by March of 2018 and will be priced at $199 USD.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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IoT M2M Council Proves the Business Case for the Internet of Things

2018-03-22

When people say IoT, they are often thinking about the devices that they use in their smarthome ecosystem. People tend to overlook the other aspects of IoT, including the businesses that are involved in it.

Todd spoke with Keith from the IoT M2M Council. They are a non-commercial trade association that is based in London. The association has 25,000 rank and file members in 24 markets, with 300 new members joining every week. Their mission is to prove the business case for IoT by bringing buyers and sellers together in creative ways. IoT stands for Internet of Things. M2M stands for Machine for Machine. The IoT M2M Council uses those terms interchangeably.

Keith pointed out the industrial side of IoT, which has the potential to really change people's lives in regard to IoT devices. He sees system-level changes happening over time with important things that have a big impact on a person's day to day life. These changes could involve water supply, power grids, the health care sector and more.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Oblend is World's First Home Dispensary

2018-03-22

Today, many people use essential oils as part of their management of a variety of health conditions. Every person is different, and that means what works well for one person might not be the best choice for someone else. Oblend gives people the power to make their own, customized, blend of essential oils. Todd spoke with Nicole from Altoba, where she pointed out all the things that the Oblend device can do. Oblend gives people the power to create a variety of healthy products that include essential oils and botanical oils. Oblend can create vapes, tinctures, culinary oils, massage oils, lotions, drinks, aromatherapies and supplements.

Use the Oblend app to find a recipe that you want to try. You can search the app for specific medical conditions or issues. Select a recipe, and Oblend can blend it for you. The unique thing about Oblend is that you can customize and make your own individual recipes, then save the recipe on the app so you can use it again. If you like, you can share your recipe with the Oblend community.

The Oblend device comes with 24 pre-filled essential oil cartridges that consumers can use to make hundreds of essential oil blends. People who have a specific health related issues may want to purchase additional cartridges of the essential oils they find to be helpful for them.

The list price for Oblend is $949 (which includes the 24 cartridges), though the company does offer discounts and promotions. Those who are interested can enter their first and last name and their email address on the Oblend website to be notified when the Oblend pre-sale begins.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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GoBe2 is the Only Complete Smart-Life Band

2018-03-25

Many people find it difficult to lose weight. Counting calories is tedious and you might make mistakes with your math. The amount of calories you consume does play a part in weight gain, but there are other pieces to the puzzle that you may be unaware of. Healbe solves these problems with its GoBe2 - the only complete smart-life band.

Todd spoke with Artem from Healbe at CES 2018. The GoBe2 smart band can automatically measure the calories that you consume, but it also keeps track of your hydration, your activity level and how much sleep you had. Together, all of those factors play a role in weight loss or weight gain. The GoBe2 has an accuracy rate of 85%.

The GoBe2 app can show you your data; at a glance, you can see how many calories you consumed and compare that with how many calories you burned. The goal is to have a negative number at the end of the day. The GoBe2 makes it easier for you to reach your weight loss goals. The GoBe2 is available on Amazon and is priced at $199.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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OrCam MyEye 2.0 Discretely Reads Text

2018-03-25

OrCam has a mission to help blind and visually impaired people achieve increased independence. The OrCam MyeEye 2.0 can discretely read text to a person who is wearing the device. Todd spoke with Rafi from Orcam Technologies at CES 2018. Rafi gave a demonstration that shows the range of useful things that the Orcam MyEye 2.0 can do. OrCam 2.0 is the world's most advanced artificial vision device designed to help people who are blind, partially sighted, or who have reading difficulties.

The device attaches to the arm on the frame of a pair of glasses. The front of the device has a camera and a light and the back has a small speaker. OrCam takes a photo of text from any device or surface, converts it to audio, and discretely relays that information to the wearer of the device. OrCam 2.0 can also recognize people's faces, identify products by their bar codes, identify colors and discern denominations of money notes. It can also tell the user the time and date.

OrCam 2.0 is available now from the OrCam website for $4,500. You can request a free trial of OrCam by filling out a form on the OrCam website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Marvel-lous Massage Chairs

2018-03-25

There are massage chairs and then there are BodyFriend massage chairs. With these chairs, it's not so much getting a gentle pummeling from a recliner as putting on Iron Man's exoskeleton with Jarvis as your masseur. Todd gets a sensational experience with Roy.

The premium BodyFriend chairs provide full body massage including shoulders, arms, waist, legs and feet, with more than a dozen massage modes (depending on model) including brain concentration and digestive massage. The brain massage uses sound waves to soothe the grey matter. There's built-in heating, stereo speakers and Bluetooth.

Most recently, BodyFriend has partnered with Lamborghini for a new chair which is expected to ship in spring 2018. Other BodyFriend chairs are on sale now in the US with prices from $5,000 to $9,000.

BodyFriend have partnered with Marvel for themed hugchairs including Spider-Man and Captain America. Priced at $1,580, these are aimed at children and grown-up kids while providing a massage experience in a smaller, friendlier chair.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Clazio Spark Shows Off

2018-03-26

The Amazon Echo Show might be getting all the headlines, but it's not the only show in town. Here we have the Clazio Spark, the most powerful smart speaker on the market - it's a mini-media center with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Todd and Dake discuss getting the right color for the rear of the device.

Previously known as Clarity, the Clazio Spark is an all-in-one smart speaker that combines a 7" Android Nougat tablet with a professionally developed speaker and both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice services. The HD screen (1920 x 1200) is set into a retro-modern design and, when combined with a 4K HDMI out, creates a lovely media center that can play music, show films and make video calls. If you can do it with an Android tablet, you can do it on the Spark, with the additional benefit of Alexa.

The Spark isn't tied to a power cable, as the 4,800 mAh battery gives around 5 hours of music and about half that for video. There's a 5 MP front facing camera for video calls and a microSD card slot for more storage. Is there anything the Spark can't do?

After successfully crowdfunding on Indiegogo in early 2017, the Spark is preparing to go into retail with an expected price of $269. You can still contribute to the Indiegogo campaign with "pre-orders" to get some good deals but the usual caveats regarding crowdfunding apply.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Azur Drones Spy in the Sky

2018-03-26

Up to now, drones have been little more than toys and camera platforms, promising much but delivering little. Working with Directorate General for Civil Aviation, Azure Drones' Skeyetech provides "100% autonomous and 24/7 operational drones" as a "security drone solution." Antoine and Todd talk about the new security guard.

A market leader in France, Azur Drones has developed an airborne surveillance system for the remote monitoring of industrial properties. The system, called Skeyetech, is composed of a smart drone equipped with HD and thermal cameras, and a smart (weather) station which recharges the drones, monitors the weather and provides protection for the craft. Skeyetech drones can be programmed and undertake automated flights, before accurately landing on their docking stations to be recharged.

The docking stations aren't just power outlets, but relay instructions and information from the drones. Consequently, the drones can be controlled remotely making them capable of operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without any human intervention. It comes at a fraction of the cost of traditional video surveillance. Technically, the drones can fly for 35 minutes before needing recharged for 30 minutes. Top speed is 50 mph and they're waterproof to IP56. The drones can be configured to patrol premises on a regular basis, or respond to alerts generated by motion sensors.

This isn't the kind of drone found on the shelves of Best Buy or Fry's. Interested parties will need upwards of $100,000.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Lululab Brought LUMINI AI Skincare Assistant to CES 2018

2018-03-26

Skincare is very personalized. We all have different skin problems, and each requires an individualized solution. Lululabs created LUMINI, an AI skincare assistant, that can scan your skin and identify your skincare needs. Don spoke with Yougjoon from Lululab, a spinoff from Samsung Electronics, at CES 2018. The signature product of Lululab is the LUMINI AI skincare system. It is composed of two things: hardware, and software. There is a three step process: scanning, analyzing and recommendations.

The hardware can scan a person's entire face in five seconds. After the scanning, it will analyze up to the inner skin. It examines a person's skin and focuses on pores, wrinkles, acne, sebum, melasma, and redness. Based on the analysis, it will recommend the best possible skin solution for each user. All of this information, including detailed images of a person's skin problems, can be viewed on an app. Lululab licenses its LUMINI AI skincare assistant to businesses (such as cosmetic companies and dermatologists) at a monthly fee of $150.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Ozobot Teaches Kids to Code

2018-03-30

Ozobot is on a mission to prepare kids for the future with the ability to collaborate with and control robots. They believe that, in the future,robots will be a huge part of almost every profession. Ozobot has created a fun way to teach kids how to write code that will make a pocket-sized robot do something. Creativity is encouraged. Don spoke with Joby from Ozobot at CES 2018. Joby demonstrated some of the things that the Evo robot can do.

Each Evo has optical sensors and, right out of the box, without being app-connected, a child can start playing with Evo. First, a child draws a line on a regular piece of paper with a marker and Evo will follow it, no matter the line that is drawn. Kids can learn some simple programming skills by creating a line that includes colored dot sequences that tell Evo how to move. In addition, Evo can be used to make music or to play games. The little robot can follow your finger around, and can even play an "Escape" game where it tries to avoid your hands.

In addition to the robot, Ozobot gives kids the codes for all of Evos tricks and encourages them to hack it. They can earn points by making Evo do different things and the points can be used to buy avatars.

Evo is available now from Amazon and the Ozobot website. It costs around $90 and comes in Crystal White or Titanium Black, or in special edition Iron Man or Captain America pack. Evo comes with instruction cards, markers, a free iOS/Android app, and access to OzoBlockly Programming.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Panasonic HomeHawk Smart Home Monitoring Camera

2018-03-30

Cameras offer a level of home protection that many people find comforting. Outdoor cameras can show you who is at your door, who has been in your yard and if your package has arrived. Panasonic offers a line of smarthome connected security cameras called HomeHawk, that provide safety and peace of mind.

Don spoke with Etsuko from Panasonic at CES 2018, where they discussed Panasonic's HomeHawk line of outdoor cameras. One model is a dedicated front door camera with a very wide view. Another is a small outdoor camera which you can place wherever you need it. The cameras are powered by batteries that last an average of three to four months (assuming you record two minutes per day).

These HD cameras are weather resistant and have LED lighting. They offer a super wide view in full color during the day and in color night vision when it is dark outside. The front door camera allows for 2-way talk, which means you can speak with delivery person - or dissuade a thief from stealing your package.

A starter kit, which offers the recorder, a front door camera and an accessory camera is currently available for $399, with other configurations available as well, and additional peripheral cameras run $179.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Kingston Encrypted USB Drives

2018-03-30

What's on your USB drive? You might have a mixture of work related information, personal photos and other things that you wouldn't want to get into the wrong hands. USB drives are small, and that makes them easy to lose. Kingston Technologies offers encrypted USB drives that can help keep your data secure.

Don spoke with Ruben from Kingston Technologies at CES 2018. Ruben brought several encrypted USB drives that showcase Kingston's latest technology. Some are designed for individuals to use, while others provide the enhanced security that is needed by the government, corporations and financial institutions.

Kingston's encrypted USB drives require the user to put in a password before they can access the data that is on the drive. The DataTraveler 200 has buttons on the USB drive that you use to enter your password. Put the DataTraveler Vault Privacy 3.0 encrypted USB drive into a computer, and it will immediately put up a window and ask for the password.

All of Kingston's USB drives have hardware based encryption. The board is dipped in epoxy before it is put in the case. The higher end USB drives also have the case filled with epoxy. All of Kingston's products have brute force protection. If you enter the password more than 10 times incorrectly, it is going to wipe the drive clean.

The retail price of encrypted USB drives range between $40 and up to $600.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Nomadeec Brings Mobile Telemedicine Platform to CES 2018

2018-03-31

When a person becomes injured, or gets very sick, they need to see a doctor. This might involve an expensive ride in an ambulance and a big bill to pay. A person who lives in a rural area might not have a local doctor. Telemedicine is a way for a remote patient to be assessed by a physician. Nomadeec has created a solution that is the future of telemedicine.

Don spoke with John from Nomadeec at CES 2018. Nomadeec is the first integrated, connected and mobile solution for clinical examination for all field practitioners. They are based in France, where their system is already being used. Nomadeec will arrive in the United States in the beginning of 2019.

John explained how the Nomadic solution works. A person requires medical attention. An EMT is sent out. The EMT is wearing a specialized headset that has holographic functionalities and video conferencing. The headset is hands free, which allows the EMT to keep their eyes on the patient. Everything that the EMT sees is sent to a physician - who is not at the scene. The patient receives an expert opinion on their medical situation.

Nomadeec works in a business to business capacity. Their entire platform is $15,000.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Otodo Simplifies Your Home IoT

2018-03-31

The IoT devices you have in your home are designed to make your life easier, but connecting them all together can be very complex. Products from one company might not work well with products from another. Otodo simplifies your IoT with their smarthome solution.

Don spoke with Eric from Otodo at CES 2018. The Otodo smarthome solution uses two products: the Otodo One and the Ugo. The Otodo One is a hub that allows you to manage many commercial connected objects, and also older remote controlled devices (such as lamps and thermostats) from different brands. It functions as the bridge between your internet provider and all your home IoT objects.

The Ugo is an aesthetically pleasing smart pebble remote that helps you to interact with all your connected devices at home. The Ugo stays in your house (you may want to put near your door). Use the app to pre-program a specific location and associate it with one IoT device (for example, a light). Pick up the Ugo pebble and tap it twice on that location and the light will come on.

The Ugo pebble can only be used by the people in your family, but the Ugo will not function if an unidentified person picks it up. It is very specific, so you won't have to worry about accidentally turning off your neighbor's lights.

Otodo is expecting to have these products in the United States later this year. Otodo One will be priced at approximately $30 to $40. Ugo will be priced at $69.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Romy Paris Formulator Keeps Your Skin Healthy

2018-03-31

People who want to have a healthy lifestyle might change their diet or increase the amount of time they spend exercising. Romy Paris helps you extend your health awareness to your skin with a cosmetic formulator called Figure.

Don spoke with Ann from Romy Paris at CES 2018. The Romy Paris Figure is a personal cosmetics lab that creates your own healthy, fresh and personalized skin care. You can place it in your bathroom and it connects to the Romy App, which analyzes data relating to your environment and recommends the care that best meets your skins needs in real time. The Romy App can be downloaded for free.

The Romy App identifies the best Romy Paris capsules to add to your formulator for a fresh, tailor-made, healthy skincare product in just a few seconds. The Figure formulator can be used by women or men.

Figure is priced at €890. It comes with primary face care, washing solution, and each of the ten active ingredients. Each package of capsules costs between €12 and €15 and includes ten capsules.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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InvizBox Simplifies Online Privacy and Security

2018-04-01

People want to protect their privacy online, but some are not certain about how to do that. Others might know how to do it, but the process can be tedious and time consuming. InvizBox makes a variety of products to help people keep their privacy online.

Don spoke with Paul from InvizBox at CES 2018. InvizBox makes products that are easy to use for cyber security and privacy protection. Connect your phone, laptop or other device to any InvizBox product over Wi-Fi and all your internet traffic is encrypted before it is sent across the internet. InvizBox will take care of the rest.

InvizBox Go can be used at home, abroad or on public Wi-Fi anywhere in the world. In addition to functioning as a VPN, an ad blocker and a Wi-Fi hotspot extender, it also functions as a power bank so you can charge your phone. The InvizBox 2 and InvizBox Pro connect to your home router. Simply connect your laptop, phone, smart TV and other devices over Wi-Fi or a wired connection and all of your internet traffic will be encrypted.

InvizBox Go is available now. The price ranges from $199 to $279 depending on how many months of VPN you want to purchase. InvizBox 2 is priced at $149, and InvizBox 2 Pro is priced art $219. Each comes with 12 months of VPN. It is estimated that those products will start shipping in April of 2018.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Get Smappee for Energy Efficiency

2018-04-01

The efficient use of electricity is a win-win: it both saves money and saves the planet. At home, energy-efficient LED lightbulbs have all but replaced incandescent bulbs, which means the quick wins are gone. The next step is to identify the big energy consumers in the home and that's where Smappee comes in. Stefan and Don save the world.

Smappee is an energy monitoring system that identifies the energy usage and behaviour of major appliances in the home. Each fridge, AC unit, cooker, TV has a unique electrical "fingerprint" and over time the Smappee monitor works out which appliance is starting and stopping, sometimes with a little help from the homeowner. With this information, Smappee shows the running cost of each one in the complementary Smappee app. Anything that consumes more than 20W can be identified but really the wins are with devices that use kilowatts of power.

Smappee doesn't require an electrician to install Smappee as it uses a sensor clamped round the live cable coming from the meter. Nothing needs to be cut or permanently installed.

Smappee Home is available now for $250 and the Smappee Solar is available for $350.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Feel the Heat with Vortx from Whirlwind FX

2018-04-01

The gaming experience has steadily improved since Pong. Each generation of console and processor brings more detailed graphics, faster framerates, improved sound, force feedback vibration, virtual reality, augmented reality and more. They're all designed to make games more immersive and realistic without actually injuring the player. The latest addition to the gaming word is Vortx from Whirlwind FX: Todd takes the heat with Timothy, Founder and CEO.

The Vortx brings greater realism to the player by blowing hot and cold air in response to on-screen action. Imagine a demon throwing fireballs: as the player dodges a fireball, the Vortx blasts hot breath at the player as the ball slips past. Or imagine an adventure game, climbing through frozen mountains: the Vortx chills the air as the player climbs higher. It's impressive.

About the size of a desktop speaker (9" tall), the Vortx connects to a PC via USB and works with the Whirlwind FX engine. It uses object recognition and analysis to automatically trigger heat or cold, so Vortx can be used with any PC game without modification.

The Vortx is available for pre-order now at $119, with shipping expected soon.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Track Time with TimeFlip

2018-04-03

The nature of work today is often one of multi-tasking. An hour on this project, a teleconference with some clients, a few hours on a proposal and by the time it gets to the end of the day, it's tricky to get the billable time down. TimeFlip have a simple and effective answer to this in the shape of a large gaming dice. Todd and Ilya spend some time understanding the solution.

The TimeFlip is a dodecahedron (12 sided object) about the size of a coffee mug. The shape is hollow and has a Bluetooth-enabled circuit board inside which is designed to determine which side is facing up. On the sides of the dice are symbols or words representing work activities. To accurately record time spent on a project, it's simply a case of making sure that the particular activity is uppermost. At the end of the day, sync via Bluetooth to the TimeFlip app for a complete record of work activities and durations.

Aiming at both B2C and B2B, the TimeFlip can come in a couple of different polyhedrons, and there are versions available for download and 3D printing. The TimeFlip CRAFT is available from TimeFlip for $49 and the TimeFlip MAGNET is available from TimeFlip or Amazon for $59.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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WooHoo Next Generation of Smart AI Assistants

2018-04-03

There are a variety of hubs on the market for people who have smarthomes. Those hubs are specialized to coordinate with the products that make up your IoT. You need another device if you want to make use of a digital assistant, a smartphone for calls and a computer for games and music. SmartBeings puts all this together - and more - in WooHoo.

Don spoke with Joe from SmartBeings at CES 2018. WooHoo is the first truly artificial intelligence smarthome hub; it is the next generation of AI assistants. The device can identify users by facial recognitions through its HD cameras, and through voice authentication based on voice print. This allows WooHoo to differentiate between users.

The camera has motion sensors that will allow it to turn 360° to face a user that is behind it. It also has an infrared camera inside it for low light situations. The devices knows who you are based on information stored within the device.

WooHoo also has a smart hub inside it what has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigby and Z-Wave, as well as 4G LTE. You can hook up your HDMI TV to WooHoo. It is also possible to surf the internet on Woohoo. You can communicate with WooHoo verbally (like you would with other digital assistants), through its dashboard or with a gesture.

WooHoo will be on the market in April of 2018. You will be able to purchase it through most phone companies.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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The Turtles are Back with Root Robotics

2018-04-03

If you're from England, or a fan of old BBC series, the Root Robotics turtle might transport you to the early 80s, remembering the BBC Micro 'B', Logo and Turtle. While the user interface is definitely better, the patterns on the paper look just the same! To be fair to Raphael and Root Robotics, their turtle does do a bit more - it has over 50 sensors and actuators.

Root's approach is to use the robot as a fun way to introduce coding to children and young adults. The coding environment has three modes, with simplest using big colourful blocks, through to the most complex which uses Swift, Python and JavaScript. The robot itself retains the pen for drawing patterns but today's turtles are magnetic for sticking to white boards and have a dry eraser to wipe off pen trails. The robot has over 50 sensors and actuators so it can move and draw, but it can also sense touch, measure light levels and feel edges and walls. It'll play music, respond to button presses and flash lights. Very impressive.

The Root robot will be shipping in June 2018 for $199. Pre-orders are open.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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U-Finder Professional Smart Home System

2018-04-04

There are plenty of smarthome devices on the market to choose from. The difficult part is getting everything to work together in your smart home. U-Finder provides a solution to this problem. They have a professional smarthome system.

Todd spoke with Mark from U-Finder at CES 2018. U-Finder Technology Limited focuses on smarthome automation. Their smarthome product is called the U-Finder System. It can be used by hotels, offices, nursing homes and in the homes of individuals and families. U-Finder helps you create a smart new life.

The U-Finder smarthome solution is completely modular and easy to set up. It is ready for plug-and-play not only in new environments but also in existing buildings. In addition to the professional smarthome system, U-Finder has over 200 products that can become part of that system.

U-Finder's newest smarthome solution makes use of 3D and VR technology. Use their app to turn on your lights by touching the light in the app. You can also turn products off or on by voice command.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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One61 Studio Superhero Smartwatches

2018-04-04

Smartwatches have become popular. There are several brands and styles that you can purchase, based on your personal style and preferences. One61 Studio makes superhero smartwatches that geeks will find appealing. Todd spoke with Anand from Know Things at CES 2018. Know Things builds development tools that accelerate IoT and connected devices development. They partnered with One61 Studio to help them solve problems that developers face while creating a smart product.

One61 Studio has created a superhero smartwatch line. They started with the Batman smartwatch, which is based on the Batman played by Adam West in the '60s. The Batman smartwatch can be used to take calls, get text messages and everything else you expect from a smartwatch. Know Things managed the Bluetooth layer to extend battery life, so you get 18 to 24 hours of battery even while actually using it. In addition, they added some gamification. They call the Step Counter "Crime Fighting". Take a certain number of steps, and the first villain Batman catches is The Joker.

The Batman smartwatch is available now for $125, and a smartwatch based on The Flash is also available now at $125. The Wonder Woman smartwatch will become available in April for $150, which will be a round smartwatch that includes heartbeat detection (which is not a feature of the square smartwatches.)

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Hopen Family Bridges Generations and Distance

2018-04-04

Today, families stay connected to each other through smartphones and the internet. We post family photos and videos on social media websites, and our family members who live far away can see it. Grandparents who don't use the internet or a smartphone miss these moments. Hopen Family has a solution that will bring grandparents back into the center of the family.

Todd spoke with Nelly from Hopen Family at CES 2018. They created a smart device that bridges generations and distance. Plug the Hopen Family smart key into your grandparent's TV and you can send photos, videos and short messages to their TV.

Your grandparent can view and watch those photos and videos right from their TV. The content will scroll for them, or the grandparent can control the device with a TV remote - which they already know how to use. This makes it extremely easy for older family members, who are not internet savvy, to stay connected to the rest of their family.

The Hopen Family smart key can connect through Wi-Fi (or 3G in some countries). In the United States, it is priced at $79. Hopen Family offers three service plans: Discovery, Family, and Tribe. Visit their website for more details about each plan.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Wiidii is the First Hybrid Personal Assistant

2018-04-05

Personal digital assistants are useful, but they have their limits. For example, some have difficulty understanding a person who has an accent. There are tasks that personal assistants are simply not ready to do yet. This can lead to frustration. Wiidii solves this problem with the first hybrid personal assistant.

Todd spoke with Anissa from Wiidii at CES 2018. Wiidii (pronounced "weedy") is a personal hybrid assistant. It is an application on your phone that combines an artificial intelligence with human personal assistance. Wiidii has a machine that is able to understand human language in a way that most other assistants cannot. No matter how you ask a question, the way you talk or the accent you have, Wiidii is going to understand what you are asking. The machine personal assistant knows its limitations and is able to turn your request over to a human personal assistant who can complete tasks such as making a dinner reservation at a restaurant for you.

Wiidii currently understands French, English, Chinese Mandarin, German and Spanish. Wiidii sells their service to partner companies who either use it internally or sell it as a service to their customers or providers. The service is not directly available to individual consumers.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Barclays Contactless Payment Possibilities

2018-04-05

In the United States, many people make purchases with their credit card, though contactless payment is growing in popularity, in the US and abroad. Barclays has a mantra - to give its customers a choice about ways to pay. The choices include contactless payment via a chip that is located inside a common object.

Todd spoke with Adam from Barclays at CES 2018. Barclays Bank has always been at the pioneering end of innovation. They are integrating contactless payments into normal form factors. Barclays has the smallest contactless payment card on the market. They use it to make non-smart devices smart.

The Barclays contactless payment card is small enough to be integrated into items you already use, such as fitness bands, watches, vehicle key fobs or jewelry. Companies who make those items partner with Barclays, and the result is that people can make small contactless payments with these items without having to enter a PIN.

Barclays contactless payment option is currently available in the United Kingdom. It is not yet available in the United States.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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This episode was originally published on Geek News Central.

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KODAK PIXPRO Showcases Next Generation Cameras

2018-04-05

When you think of cameras, KODAK is likely one of the first brands that comes to mind. They have a long history of providing innovative cameras for professionals and hobbyists. KODAK PIXPRO showcased several of their next generation cameras at CES 2018. Todd spoke with Tracy from KODAK PIXPRO about their digital cameras. The cameras they showcased offer a lot of technology for a great value.

KODAK PIXPRO Orbit360 4K VR camera has a single body with two lenses on it. It is compact, freeze proof, dust proof, shock proof and can be dropped six feet and still be ok. In addition to being a 360 camera, it is also a 4K 197 degrees of view camera that can be used as an action cam. You can upload 360° videos and photos to Facebook and YouTube. Camera packs are offered with a variety of included accessories, and are available starting at $499.

In addition, Tracy pointed out the features of several other KODAK PIXPRO cameras. This includes an inexpensive point-and-shoot camera, the newest Astro Zoom bridge model with a 102x zoom, and a professional action cam.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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This episode was originally published on Geek News Central.

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Aveine: Breath of the Wine

2018-04-06

As serious wine connoisseurs know, you have to let red (and some white) wines breathe after opening, allowing them to aerate for the best aroma and taste. As a generalization, the younger the wine, the longer it needs to rest before drinking. Very young wines might need a few hours, but half-an-hour is the minimum. Simply taking the cork out doesn't count: the wine needs to be decanted (or double-decanted back into the bottle) for proper aeration. If this sounds like too much effort, then take a look at Aveine, a connected aerator and winner of a CES Innovation Award. Don and Matthieu get every wine tasting its best.

Thanks to the connected aerator Aveine, you can immediately taste any wine in ideal conditions without having to wait 30 minutes or more. Place the aerator on the bottle, scan the label with your smartphone and serve. The smartphone checks for the wine in its database, connects to the Aveine and adjusts the aeration so that the aerator breathes the right amount of air as the wine is poured allowing it to breathe in an instant. Any red wine will benefit and there's no waiting around or pouring into decanters.

The Aveine aerator is launching on Indiegogo in March - signup for notifications at Aveine. Retail pricing is expected to be $200 with deals on Indiegogo. Delivery in June.

P.S. This is possibly the funniest CES video - a few things are lost in translation.

Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.

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Mia Helps Make You a Better Parent

2018-04-06

New parents have a lot of stress and it can be difficult to know if you are doing the best thing for your baby. How much should you feed your baby? Are you overfeeding? Has your baby's caregiver fed him or her while you are working? BlueSmart can provide the answer to these questions with a product that is easy for everyone to use. BlueSmart Mia helps make you a better parent.

The Mia is a sleeve, made from the material used for pacifiers making it easily washable, that can fit over any bottle. Using technology, hidden at the bottom of the product, the Mia can help keep track of when your baby has been fed and how much.

Mia connects to a phone app through Wi-Fi, meaning the phone does not need to be close to sync the data. It keeps track of when the baby was fed and how many ounces the baby drank. The app can be used to keep track of your baby's milestones, height, weight, diaper changes and much more. Share the information in the app with caregivers, family members and your pediatrician.

Mia is on the market now and is priced at $149.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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LIVALL Helps Keep Your Hands on Your Bike and Your Eyes on the Road

2018-04-06

People who ride their bikes on the street must share the road with cars and follow the rules of the road. This means signaling for turns, just like a car, but without the convenience of turn signals. LIVALL has created a product, the Helmetphone, which protects your head and keeps your hands on your bicycle. This helmet has turn signals built into the sides and back, making your intentions known to drivers around you, with controls on your handlebars, leaving you in control of the vehicle.

In addition to the convenience and safety of turn indicators, the product also has a myriad of other convenience and safety features. For example, it includes a hands-free phone system, including speakers and a microphone, to allow the rider to make and receive phone calls without the need to interact with their phone. Once again, this keep your hands on the bicycle and eyes on the road.

If you are in near proximity to the recipient, you can also use the built-in 2-way radio to communicate with another party, using the same speakers and microphone. You can also use the speakers to listen to music right in the helmet. All of these features take advantage of the handlebar controller to interact with the helmet.

There's a lot to like about the Helmetphone, but possibly the best feature is the built-in SOS capability. If the helmet detects a fall, it can automatically send a message to a contact chosen as your emergency contact, letting them know that something might be wrong. The contact can then decide how to proceed.

The Helmetphone and other LIVALL smart helmets are available now, starting at $129.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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Easily Summon Alexa or Siri From the Shower or On-the-Go

2018-04-08

In the last few years, the rise of digital assistants has changed the face of technology. Rather than always having to hold your device, you can simply speak towards it and receive some of the information you desire. You can check the weather, the traffic or have your text messages read to you. Of course, you're not always in a great environment to summon your assistant of choice.

Whether you're out for a run or in your car, Jinni is the portable solution for accessing your assistant. The device can be clipped onto your clothes, attached to your keys or placed somewhere more permanent, like in the car. Simply touch a button and call your assistant. If you receive a text message, it will be read aloud. You can easily control your phone, your home or your information consumption all with this simple device.

In addition to being a summoning button for your assistant, Jinni can also be used as a Bluetooth speaker. The device is waterproof, so you can even bring it into the shower to listen to music, and still keep all of the additional features of the device.

PH Technical Labs is hoping to release Jinni in the second quarter of 2018.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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REM-Fit's ZEEQ is the Perfect Pillow for a Better Sleep

2018-04-08

The importance of good sleep cannot be overstated. Without enough rest, the mind gets distracted, and you can be completely unproductive. With a continued lack of sleep, permanent damage can be done to your body and your mind. REM-Fit recognizes the importance of sleep and has created the ZEEQ Smart Pillow to help make your sleep better.

For starters, the ZEEQ has a pillow speaker embedded into it, so you can listen to music, nature sounds or even white noise to help you fall asleep faster. Once you're asleep, the ZEEQ will analyze your sleep patterns and grade your sleep. Using either Apple's HealthKit or Google Fit, you can view your pattern and score to see if you are getting the amount of sleep you think.

ZEEQ can also help your partner to sleep better. The ZEEQ has a microphone built-in that is specifically tuned to hear if you begin to snore. If you do, the pillow will gently vibrate, which should encourage you to shift positions, hopefully ending the snoring. Your partner will appreciate this feature almost as much as you appreciate the statistics.

The ZEEQ Smart pillow is available now from various sources.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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Eco-Popper Provides a Breathtaking View of the Deep Blue

2018-04-08

Over 30 million Americans go fishing on a regular basis. Many anglers prefer to use artificial lures to live bait, including those who participate in fishing competitions where live bait is often prohibited. While the quality of artificial lures has increased over the years, it has not really added a lot of assistance to the angler. Econet has set out to change that with the Eco-Popper.

Unlike traditional lures, the Eco-Popper has a computer built-in, allowing it to send information back to the angler. Combined with the integrated camera, the device has the ability to send images and video back to the surface, allowing the user to see exactly what is happening underwater. While in range, the device can even send live video for faster decision-making.

Other sensors allow for the analysis of the water itself. You can tell the temperature and salinity of the water, so you can know if the fish you are looking for would be currently avoiding the area for those reasons. After the battle, you can even share the information you collected through the platform, or share the photos and videos online.

Various models of the Eco-Popper are available for pre-order.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Improve Your Sleep with the RestOn and Nox Smart Devices

2018-04-09

The importance of good sleep cannot be overstated. Without enough rest, the mind gets distracted, and you can be completely unproductive. With a continued lack of sleep, permanent damage can be done to your body and your mind. Sleepace has a solution to continued poor sleep: The Dream Life system.

The first product in the Dream Life system is the RestOn smart sleep monitor. Unlike most sleep trackers, this one is not worn on your wrist but instead runs the width of your bed under the sheets. This method makes it far more convenient, as you'll never have to charge it, since it can stay plugged in. RestOn is not the first of its kind, but it does offer a very nice unique feature: smart start. You don't need to launch the app and let it know you're going to bed; instead, it recognizes the behavior and starts on its own.

Another interesting product is the Nox Smart Sleep Light. This light can be set to specific colors for night and morning, can be paired with other sensors to make decisions or can mimic the natural light outdoors. The outdoor syncing means that as the sun sets, the room can go from bright to orange to red; as the sun rises, it reverses this pattern. Using Nox as part of an "alarm clock" system, you can wake up more calmly in a natural manner.

Another entry in the family is the Nox Aroma device. This product combines all of the great features of the Nox Smart Sleep Light with additional aromatherapy capabilities. This means that you can fall asleep to light and scent that is relaxing, or use light and scent to wake up, rather than a loud alarm.

The RestOn Z200 smart sleep monitor is available now for $149 and the Nox Smart Sleep Light is available for $149. The Nox Aroma will be available soon, as well as an upgrade to the RestOn, the Z400T.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Fibaro Gives You Access to The Button at Home

2018-04-09

There are a lot of contenders in the smarthome space, but one of the more established brands is Fibaro. The brand is a member of the Z-Wave Alliance, which means that their devices can work with other Z-Wave technologies. This year, the company is showing off upgraded models of their modules, which now support Apple HomeKit.

Fibaro is far from the first to support HomeKit, but the company takes a slightly different approach to smarthome, though, with product designs that are a bit more whimsical that your standard white boxes. Take, for example, the Wall Plug. It features the traditional remote switch with the addition of energy monitoring and a USB port. The design differentiator, though, is that the device comes with a glowing ring around the outside. This ring, while making the product look very different, it also gives you an idea as to how much power the plug is using.

Another example of the whimsical design is The Button. It does what you would expect - gives you the ability to create a panic scenario or a scene changer. In fact, there are 6 modes to the button: single through 5 press, as well as long-press. Again, the differentiator here is the very unique design. This small device comes in a variety of colors, some being very primary and bright. They are definitely not designed to blend into the room they are in.

The Wall Plug is available for $59, The Button is available for around $49, depending on the color, and additional Fibaro smarthome products are available for varying prices.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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HabitAware is Keen on Improving Your Mental Health

2018-04-09

All of us have some habit that is annoying, either to ourselves or to others. Some bite their nails, others crack their knuckles. Usually this is just a sign of stress or boredom, but for some with a mental health issue, it can be an indication of a problem. Unfortunately, most of us are completely unaware of when we are performing the action, as it happens outside of our consciousness.

HabitAware has created a product, the HabitAware Keen, to keep track of these habits and ticks to help identify when a mental health issue becomes a problem. Worn on the wrist, like a traditional fitness band, the Keen uses some of the same sensors to watch behavior.

Initially, you must train the device to know what behaviors to watch for, and how the wearer performs them. If your tick happens to be cracking your wrist, you would need to show the device the difference between that and writing with a pen. Once trained, Keen will vibrate when the action is detected again, alerting the wearer to the behavior. In the immediate future, the wearer will be reminded about the behavior, while in the long run, it will retrain the wearer not to perform the action at all.

The Keen bracelet is available now priced from $149.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Enjoy the Luxury of Music Your Way with Audioburst

2018-04-18

If you have ever used a music streaming service you know that the suggestions are less than perfect. Spotify and similar services use the trends of all of their subscribers to recommend music. Obviously this isn't working.

Audioburst has a better way to offer you exactly what you want to listen to and play less of the kind of music you do not want to hear. In partnering with your streaming service, Audioburst is able to create a personal profile of your likes and dislikes. By combining your profile with Audioburst's searchable index of audio content, your favorite streaming service or smart speaker can provide you with custom playlists that are based on your interests.

Audioburst doesn't intend this to apply to just music. The technology can be applied to any type of audio, such as podcasts. Using the same personal profile, podcasts services might recommend other shows that you would like (and for once get it right).

This product is designed to be integrated into audio platforms and not to be seen by the consumer. The company is currently working to be included in as many platforms as possible.

Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.

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Be In the Know of Radiation Around You With the Amazing Rium

2018-04-18

Geiger counters are great for detecting and measuring ionizing radiation but their biggest flaw is that they can't discriminate between the different types of radiation; alpha, beta or gamma. Icohup's Rium detector addresses this with a compact and stylishly wooden unit. Allante and Billy discuss the benefits of radiation detectors without mentioning a single nuclear disaster.

Winner of a CES Innovation award, Icohup's Rium uses scintillation spectrometry technology to not only detect levels of ionizing radiation but also the type. This means that the Rium can determine if the radioactivity is natural or industrial, or if it's a Cobalt, Uranium or Cesium source. The Rium unit is about the size of a packet of biscuits and is tastefully made of wood. Not sure if there's a scientific reason for this, though it looks good anyway, and the small size means that it can be carried by a drone to record radioactivity in potentially hazardous areas.

Data is collected and displayed by a nearby smartphone and with geotagging of the radiation information, maps can be built easily to show radiation hotspots. The data can be transferred either by Bluetooth or by USB. The Rium will be available shortly from Icohup for EUR399 (about $500).

The company is also currently in development of other detectors, such as carbon monoxide and radon gas, for future production.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Brilliant New Sunglasses That Double as Headphones

2018-04-18

We all enjoy listening to music when we're on the go, but headphones an get so cumbersome and even earbuds can be uncomfortable - and both block out the world around you. Echo Music solves this problem with their MusicLens sunglasses that give you a stylish option to listen to your tunes.

MusicLens sunglasses let you listen to music through bone conduction technology. You don't have to wear headphones, and no one else will be able to hear that you are listening to music. Bone conduction technology is the conduction of sound to the inner ear through the bones of the skull, which can protect your eardrums while you listen to high quality music. MusicLens sunglasses use this technology to reduce the sound leak you would get from headphones.

MusicLens connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, but unlike traditional Bluetooth headphones, the music can be stored right in the glasses. Download music from your phone, or from the Echo Music app, to the MusicLens sunglasses., and use the buttons to turn it on or off, to adjust the volume, or to have the Echo Music app autoplay. In addition, MusicLens will automatically take your phone call within five seconds.

There are several styles and colors of MusicLens to choose from. Pricing for MusicLens with prescription lenses is $88. Classic Ladies or Classic Mens styles are priced at $99. MusicLens Fashion style without storage is $120, or $199 with storage.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Get the Perfect Pint with HOPii Personal Micro-Brewery

2018-04-19

Microbrews and local brews have become a staple of restaurants and bars across the country. Wanting to get in on the action, many people have taken to trying their own craft beers at home. It is not, however, a hands-off process, meaning that the need for assistance is usually high, which is where homebrew technologies come in.

Enter the HOPii Personal Micro-Brewery, a device designed to help make sure your home brewing experience is the best it can be. If you are a novice beer brewer, you can use HOPii's self-guided option to receive the recipe, while the device does all of the work of brewing, monitoring and letting you know when the beer is perfect to drink.

If you're more experienced, you can use the "Brewer's Mode," which is designed to allow you to be in charge. You can pick your ingredients, design your recipe and then ferment your wort, dry hops, etc., to determine the exact taste you want. Once the beer is ready, HOPii can even bring the beer to the ideal temperature of your choosing.

The company is coming off of a $382,000 Kickstarter last year, and is currently taking pre-orders through Indiegogo InDemand. For $399, you'll receive a HOPii for 33% off (the retail price will be $600), with an estimated delivery of June 2018.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Superior Tracking of The Most Important Environmental Conditions with Yes It Is

2018-04-19

Tracking environmental conditions is important for many industries. This is particularly the case with food & drink and pharmaceutical companies. Often products have to be kept below a certain temperature and any deviation above this means that the product is not longer deemed safe for consumption. French firm Yes It Is is working hard to provide a continuous unbroken record of the environment surrounding these types of goods.

Traditionally the recording of environmental conditions is done by equipment installed in the building or the refrigerator. To match the data to a particular product means that the time in and out needs to be recorded so that relevant periods can be checked. Wouldn't it be better if the sensor was small enough and battery powered so that it could be packaged in with the product? There would then be a complete and unbroken record of the environmental conditions from production to use.

The folks at Yes It Is are working hard on this problem and are developing tags that have a year's worth of battery life, record the environmental data and can be scanned by a smartphone to retrieve the data. The plan is to have the tag small enough to fit in a label within a year!

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Deep Force is Motivated to Protect Your Privacy

2018-04-19

Your privacy is important. Posting your photo, or other personal data, online can be an uncomfortable experience. How will that company use your likeness and information? Deep Force uses artificial intelligence to keep your personal information private.

Deep Force powers artificial intelligence on our most favorite devices, our smartphones. They do this by leveraging deep learning, which is the most advanced AI available. Their face recognition accuracy is over 99.9 percent. Deep Force takes that model and uses it for heterogeneous computing. This process helps all the different parts inside a smartphone to work together more efficiently, which creates more computational powers within the device.

Instead of requiring users to send their photos, videos, and audio over the internet, Deep Force enables smartphones to process all the information on the device itself. It works even if you are in a place that does not have Wi-Fi. Deep Force makes an app that their partners can use in their products. The app is not sold directly to individual consumers.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Keep Your Phone Clean and Germ-Free with PhoneSoap

2018-04-21

Think about all the things you touch in a day. You might use a grocery cart, push an elevator button, open a door knob, or shake hands with a co-worker. All of these things can put bacteria onto your hands. Next, you touch your smartphone and transfer bacteria onto it. PhoneSoap can sanitize your smartphone, tablet, and more.

PhoneSoap is a UV sanitizer for devices like phones and tablets. It uses UV light, similar to what hospitals use to sanitize devices. Put your smartphone into the device. Once you close the device, the light comes on. The UV light will stay on for about ten minutes. At that point, your smartphone is sanitized. The UV light will sanitize up to 99.9%.

PhoneSoap also works as a charger, so you can charge your phone while it is being sanitized. It is priced at $59.95. There is also a PhoneSoap Wireless that is priced at $99.95. PhoneSoap XL is priced at $119.95. It can sanitize tablets and other objects that will fit inside it.

Check out these models that are available at Amazon:
PhoneSoap 3: https://amzn.to/2HMiEHf
PhoneSoap 2: https://amzn.to/2qLNK9L

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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Remarkably Superior Encryption on Drives by SecureDrive

2018-04-21

Encrypted external hard drives and USB memory sticks have been around for at least a decade, but most of the time it's either locked or unlocked: if you have the password, you're in. SecureDrive has a solution that changes this binary reality, and makes the security better and more nuanced. Nuanced security means that, even if you have the password, you may not be able to access the device.

SecureDrive specialize in hardware encrypted data storage. They've three product ranges with varying capacity (1 - 5 TB) to address different security and storage requirements.

  • SecureDrive BT, which uses Bluetooth and an app for authentication
  • SecureDrive KP, which uses keypad authentication
  • BackupDrive, which backs up files and encrypts them with built-in anti-malware

For the rapid transfer of large files, all the devices use USB 3.0, and for security, it's pending FIPS 140-2 level 3. That's pretty secure.

The unique part of the SecureDrive solution focuses on the BT model, which uses Bluetooth and an authentication app. Instead of the drive only being locked or unlocked, the solution allows additional controls for geofencing and time schedules. For example, the SecureDrive BT can be set to only unlock between 9-5 M-F or only if the unit is physically within company premises. In addition, there's remote management so authorizations can be revoked and the drive remotely wiped.

The drives are assembled in Ohio, USA, and they're available for purchase priced at $299-$499. The remote management feature is a subscription service.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.
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