Magellan recently launched the Echo Bluetooth fitness watch, which pairs to your smartphone and provides interactive display and controls. I am finishing my review, but (spoiler alert) I totally love it and use it every day. At CES they are launching new capabilities for Echo, and also introducing new colors that will make it more appealing as an everyday watch.
Everyone needs a gear bag of some size, shape or form. Whether traveling or at work, the multitude of mobile and computing devices require a way to drag them around. Ogio has proven to be a leader in quality and design and have continued to expand their offerings at CES. Four new collections of bags should suit most anyone’s style.
Last year Magellan introduced the SMART-GPS system, which integrated smartphone and web apps to provide traditional in-car GPS and the now familiar mobile GPS experience. My personal experience was mixed, but the attempt was well thought out and a bold step. Now they are back as Magellan Announces New RoadMate Auto & RV Product Lines at CES 2014!
Netgear announced a series of new cable modems both with an integrated wireless router. They also released two new wifi range extenders that support the faster 802.11ac standard as well. Wait, there’s more! There’s also 2 new wifi cameras as well as a new HDMI dongle for your TV complete with Android 4.2 onboard for streaming goodness.
Samsung has been pretty smart about their tablet releases so far, correctly predicting the demand for everything from 7-8in tablets to phablets. Now they’re going super-sized with the GalaxyNotePRO and TabPRO, two new Android tablets that will clock in with shockingly large 12.2in screens!
When I first started wearing a Pebble watch it seemed more like geek fun rather than actual function. As the software has matured, my Pebble has become a must wear daily device. Today at CES, the makers of Pebble have announced Pebble Steel. Available in matte black and brushed stainless for $249, the Pebble has become much more attractive and wearable.
Sony has answered the call for a small, high-end Android device with the Xperia Z1 Compact. Eschewing the “Mini” moniker, this new smartphone includes the speedy specifications and waterproofing of the full-size Z1.
At CES nVidia introduced the Tegra K1, bringing high performance Kepler architecture used in PC graphics cards to mobile SOCs (system on a chip). The K1 offers up to 192 cores, with potential to offer desktop graphics on mobile devices. nVidia introduced the technology without release date and showed a NVIDIA Tegra K1 Demo Using the Unreal Engine 4.
New technologies have made monitoring and automating our homes exciting. iSmartAlarm creates products that put a modern spin on traditional security systems and have announced two new products at CES. Both products do not require professional installation and are portable. Homeowners and renters alike can connect, monitor and manage their own home security with the iSmartAlarm Doorfront and Smart Switch.
When you do things live, stuff happens. That is just how it goes – technical problems, mixups and misunderstandings, and so on. They happen. As they say, it isn’t the problem but how you deal with it that says more about you. Well, at the Samsung Press Conference there was a teleprompter problem … and Michael Bay just walked off the stage. As Dan said when he grabbed the video: Michael Bay stepped on stage at the Samsung Press Conference at CES2014 to talk about UHD televisions. His TelePrompt went out of sync… And so did he. Check it out:…
Everyone is speculating that the ‘hot new thing’ at CES this year will be ‘wearable technology’. Wearables include the Pebble watch, Google Glass, Samsung’s Galaxy Gear, Magellan Echo, and fitness monitors such as Fitbit Force, etc. New to the category is Spree ‘Revolutionary’ Fitness Monitor from Hothead Technologies, bringing heart rate and temperature to help you better understand your health!
General Motors is announcing technology news at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Select 2015 Chevrolet models will be rolling out with 4G LTE connectivity speeds via the vehicle’s OnStar system and, taking advantage of this new technology, infotainment personalization is being enhanced with the new Chevrolet AppShop accessible from the vehicle’s MyLink screen.
Withings Aura Active Smart Sleep System combines an under-mattress sleep sensor and a unique bedside device in order to take into account your entire sleeping environment so that it can improve your overall sleeping experience. The color changing bedside device uses light and sound programs to “positively impact your sleeping conditions.” The sleep system sends all the data it collects to a free mobile phone app so that you can visualize your sleep and learn what wakes you up or helps you sleep. With the app, you can adjust your wake pattern as well. The bedside device emits different colors…
Most kids hate needles (and many adults do too!) How do you make it easier to handle your shots? Buzzy is a unique device that incorporates freezing and vibration to take the sting out of getting shots. New at CES is the Buzzy Mini, making it even simpler to apply the Buzzy while injecting a needle.
The Griffin Survivor line is for those times when your phone is recreating the “Worst Case Survival Guide Handbook”. For more mundane adventures, like falling from tables and cars, there’s the Survivor Clear Case for iPhone 5C. As a bonus, the back is clear, so you can show off your choice of 5C color. But is it protective enough to bear the “Survivor” moniker?
We love our Roku 3, it’s a fantastic device. For those who want the Roku experience, but also crave a “smart tv”, Roku and TCL have teamed up for the Roku TV! Details are still forthcoming, but if the experience is as seamless as the Roku box, this could be a big boon for the Roku brand! Prices and availability are still forthcoming, but you can check out the full details at the Roku blog.
Know those “Dirty mouth? Clean it up!” commercials? Well, they ain’t got nuthin’ on Corning. Yup, Corning Gorilla Glass is now strong AND clean thanks to new antimicrobial properties. It is, in fact, the first EPA-registered antimicrobial cover glass. Don’t think it’s a big deal? Just look at your phone’s screen under a high-power microscope and you’ll change your tune.
The teasers were compelling. “Mo-Fi is coming” they said. The video look didn’t reveal much more. And the early release? It got us interested without revealing anything new. One thing became clear- Blue Microphone, a company whose products we love, was getting into the headphone business. That could only be good for those of us who love our music.
Etón may be a company that many of us associate with products we’d want to have on hand during a natural disaster, but they also make gear that can make everyday living safer and more convenient. A perfect example of that is their new Blackout Buddy CO, pictured above.
At CES Unveiled, Judie and I had a chance to spend some time with the TREWgrip Mobile QWERTY Keyboard. In under 20 hours of use, most people are typing as fast as they do on a desktop keyboard! Coming later this year for about $250, it promises to make tablet productivity better than ever. Check out our video look!
I recently reviewed (and was blown away by) the Escort Passport Max. This next-gen radar detector cuts down on false alerts and helps keep me safe while driving. Now Escort has introduced limited edition versions in awesome new colors and designs; Judie has the wood-burl design coming for use with her Denali. For now, click through for a quick look.