Nearly 3,600 exhibitors—from major tech companies to mom-and-pop shops—headed to Las Vegas recently, jamming the convention center to showcase the latest technologies they will unveil this year. It was my kind of nerd paradise! Here are some of my favorite finds from the show floor. Note, a number of these products haven’t been priced and aren’t even online yet, so consider this a sneak peak of what’s to come!
Stellé Audio Earbud Locket at Stellé Audio
Sound quality meets fashion design in the Earbud Locket by Stellé Audio. This gadget looks like a modernist necklace, until you open the locket to find two cleverly hidden Bluetooth earbuds, which you can use to listen to music or make phone calls. It’s expected to hit the market in February and retail for $200.
BioLite is at it again. Known for its CampStove, which converts heat to electricity that you can use to power your devices, the company is now making a lighting/power system called NanoGrid. Hang the dangling SiteLights around your campsite and use the USB power bank to charge your devices. Just because you’re in the woods doesn’t mean you have to be in the dark! NanoGrid will launch in February.
fre Power Waterproof Battery Case at LifeProof
Typically, water and technology don’t mix. Unless you’re dealing with LifeProof, which will actually allow you to charge your phone underwater when fre Power is released in April. I’m super excited about this product, since it’s made by one of my favorite brands, one with a reputation for creating dust-proof, scratch-proof, drop-proof and waterproof (up to 6.6 feet) products. In addition to protecting your phone from all of the above, the new case carries 2,600 mAh of battery power, which means it can double the charge of your iPhone 6. With smart charging capabilities, the charger shuts itself off when the battery is full. No prices revealed on this one, yet.
Pacif-i Smart Pacifier ($40, available for pre-order) at BlueMaestro.com
Imagine a pacifier that doesn’t just calm your child down, it calms you down by delivering important information, such as temperature readings and even location. Now, meet Pacif-i, the first-ever Bluetooth-enabled smart pacifier. The pacifier transmits data to mom and dad’s cell phone via an app, so they can keep track of the temperature, note when they gave the child medicine and even watch the impact the medicine had on the child’s fever.
Axxess CE Air2 Wireless Levitating Speaker ($199) at Amazon.com
This speaker doubles as a conversation starter, as it levitates before your very eyes, thanks to magnets. It might take some practice getting the speaker to float, but when you do, your coolness factor will go up immediately. Solid audio and great design make this a gadget to watch in 2015. It’s no wonder that it won all kinds of awards at the show!
mamaRoo 3.0 App-Controlled Infant Seat ($269.99) at Shop4Moms.com
4Moms understands that moms have their hands full. With the latest mamaRoo, no hands are needed for rocking, thanks to the first-ever app-controlled infant rocking seat, which handles that for you! Using your iOS or Android device, you can set the motion, speed and sound of the seat, and multitask as needed.
SUHD TV Lineup from Samsung at Samsung.com
Across Sin City, billboards advertised “The most seductive TV of all time. Period.” Wait, haven’t we seen this hype before at CES with 4K, 3D and UHD? What’s the deal here? Here’s the deal: Samsung introduced its new line of SUHD TVs. The TVs run off of a new operating system called Tizen, but if you know nothing about TVs maybe its just worth noting that its image clarity is said to be 64 times better, and the company has updated the smart TV and gaming functionality. Screen sizes will range from 48 to 88 inches. Stay tuned for prices, as they haven’t released that info yet.
Cuff Wearable Tech Jewelry (starting at $29) at Cuff.io
Wearable tech is getting more fashionable, and Cuff is the latest proof. The tiny device fits into an array of stylish jewelry pieces, which include different bracelets and necklaces. Cuff is connected to your smartphone and buzzes to alert you when an important call comes in; it monitors your activity levels and even notifies you if you’ve left your phone behind. It also comes with an emergency feature that allows you to reach out to friends and family if you need help, informing them of your location. You can charge it via cord or purchase a charging jewelry case, which stores and powers it at the same time. Available now for pre-order.
Belty the Smart Belt at Emiota.com
I’ve seen a lot of fitness trackers and watches, but I can say without a doubt that this is the first smart belt I’ve come across. Winner of the CES “Best Offbeat Product” award, Belty is a self-tightening intelligent belt that expands and contracts to your waistline, loosening as you sit and tightening when you stand. The motorized belt vibrates when you’ve eaten too much and when you have been sedentary too long, in an effort to get you to shape up, and you can view your steps and changing waist movement through an accompanying app. No price set yet for its release in 2015 from French startup Emoita.
Parrot H20 and Flower Power (starting at $59) at Parrot.com
Gardening is easier than ever with these two products. Both take the mystery out of caring for plants by keeping track of the moisture, temperature, soil quality, sunlight and more, and alerting you via your phone to anything your greens might need. With the H20, you can even water plants while you’re away. Just top the sensor with a bottle (up to two liters) and it keeps plants hydrated, as needed. The Flower Power lists at $59, but a price for the H20 hasn’t yet been announced.
3Doodler 2.0 3D printing pen ($99) at Kickstarter.com
The 2.0 version of the world’s first 3D printing pen was a huge hit on the show floor, and on Kickstarter, where it raised more than $400,000 in a matter of days. The 3Doodler allows you to literally draw in the air. It works by heating plastic filament, which you control and shape as it comes out of the pen, cooling and hardening as you go. Make key chains, headbands, figurines and other plastic creations. Each strand of filament prints out 11 feet, and two buttons allow you to draw in slow or fast mode. (Ages 14 and up.)
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