“Little Miracles” in the “Big Apple” (Part I)

Whenever I return from the Las Vegas International CES conference, I always write about the amazing products or technologies that were launched and displayed at the exhibits.  I call them “little miracles”, magic, or mind-boggling technologies in the Sin City.

For those that I have sampled and tested, I wrote product reviews.  Some may or may not qualify as miracles but they definitely possessed useful and awesome features.

I just returned from the New York City CES Mid-Year Conference, which was also called the CE (Consumer Electronics) Week.  As in Las Vegas, I went to NYC  looking for “little miracles”.  I was interested in new products and /or technologies that should never bore me to sleep especially in the “City that never sleeps”.  There were quite a number – some little but some also big.  Let me focus on the former.

CYNAPS CONNECT V2

In hot summer weather or when it rains intermittently, it is quite convenient to have a hat with you.  It could either protect your head from the rays of the sun or from the rain showers.

However, this is not the reason why I like the CYNAPS Connect although the convenience is there.  What impresses is that it is the world’s first Bluetooth bone conduction headset in a hat.   Having paired and connected it with my iPhone and wearing it, I can answer calls and listen to music from my phone without earphones.

Using a special blend of polyester, the hat is a custom made and lightweight sport cap that keeps you dry all day.  This is because the cap instantly draws sweat away from the head allowing it to evaporate quickly and keep you cool.

The CYNAPS Connect V2 has a new feature that works with voice commands for iPhones.  I understand that it also works with Android phones but I have not tried it.  Just press the bill and say the command!

Its manufacturer, Max Virtual LLC also offers other products that are in line for distribution.  One is a hearing enhancement feature that is also installed in the hat.  I hope to receive a sample product for review as soon as it becomes available.

LIFEPROOF iPHONE CASE

What makes the LIFEPROOF Case amazing and a “little miracle”?  When the case is used for my iPhone 4S, it becomes waterproof, snow proof, dirt proof, and shock proof!

I have yet to test the snow proof feature because it is summer in Virginia, but I have every reason to believe that it is also true as advertised and as I observed with the other features.

As tested also by other users, there are several reasons why they prefer LIFEPROOF Case.  One, while fully protected by the case, all the phone features remain.  Two, you can swim and take to 6.6 ft underwater without harming the device.  Three, there is always protection against daily hazards.  Four, the degree of protection from shock and impact is quite high.  Five, it is fully sealed from dust particles.  Six, they like its ultra-slim design.

Nowadays, our smartphones are always with us, or least near us.  Whether we are in the kitchen, in the bathtub, in the pool, in the gym, office, in bed, in the shower – anywhere.  We do not want to miss any call, any message, texts, tweets or updates.  We want music, videos, news or our eBooks available to us all the time.  

The fear that we drop it in any place with water or in any place that could damage our phones was always a concern.

LIFEPROOF Case somehow eradicates that fear!  I will get one for my wife and encourage our readers to buy it too.

Looking for Little Miracles in NYC

(June 24, 2013)   I am now getting ready to go to New York City to attend the CES Mid-Year Conference.  It is also called the CE Week.  Mr. Steve J. Leon who represents the Showstoppers invited me as a member of the PRESS to attend the Showstoppers VIP Preview.

This will kick-off CE Week Line Shows and Exhibits at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday June 26 with a press conference by Sharp followed by a breakfast reception with full-access to the show floor’s 150+ exhibits.

I am publishing a part of their news release for the benefit of our readers.

Technology innovators on display at the CE Week Line Shows and Exhibits include Dish, Epson, General Motors, Kenwood, Monster, Pioneer, Toshiba, and many more.  iLounge will feature fourteen companies showcasing some of the best upcoming Apple-related products, while more than 50 start-ups will  introduce their products to media and the CE industry. Some of the new products that will be on display include:

·       Arkami – The patent-pending myIDkey is the first fingerprint, voice-search, and secure Bluetooth/USB drive that displays passwords and ID on the go.

·       AudioXperts – EVA BLU is a compact, eco-friendly, high performance portable speaker system offering wireless music streaming via Bluetooth.

·       Basis – Basis is a wrist-based health tracker and online personal dashboard that combines industrial design, artistic vision and technology in new ways.I am

·       BuQu Tech – The Magnetize case combines reliable protection and award-winning charging technology in one sleek, lightweight case.

·       Epson – The PowerLite^® Pro Cinema 6020UB delivers outstanding 3D and 2D image quality and performance for home entertainment AV elitists.

·       Gefen – The GefenTV USB to Audio Decoder provides a simple and affordable way to output high quality sound from any computer using the USB port.

·       HD Communications Corp – The Security/Communication/Lighting Platformwill change the way communities, municipalities, theme parks, educational facilities and shopping malls communicate and protect people.

·       Id America – The Wall Street Genuine Leather Wallet Case for iPhone5 is an elegant sleeve style case with a slot for id and credit cards.

·       Libratone – The “Zipp” is a wireless sound system combining beautiful Scandinavian design with the performance and convenience of AirPlay.

·       LOKSAK – The SHIELDSAK is a patented RF Shield pouch used for passports, credit cards and mobile phones to eliminate hacking.

·       Monitor Audio – The Airstream S300 is a 150W speaker system providing access to music streamed from the Internet, computer or mobile device.

·       Myth Labs – Genesis are lightweight speakers with incredible tonal reproduction Combine with a Mythband™ to create personalized headphones.

·       NextGen – Bluetooth to IR Extender gives any Android-based smart phone or tablet the ability to control A/V components through doors, walls and glass.

·       Sakar – The XO Learning Tablet is a child-centric Android device featuring the proprietary ‘Dreams’ interface and preloaded content from respected experts.

·       UniKey – Kwikset Kevo employs UniKey’s touch-to-open™ technology which makes your smartphone an electronic key. Touch the lock to (un)lock the door.

·       WHOOSH! – Screen Shine proprietary formula keeps screens and consumer electronics clean, shining like new and resistant to smudges and fingerprints.

I plan to check out all these new technologies and products as well as others that are not mentioned but whose invitations I confirmed.  My goal is to find out what products or technologies would qualify as “Little Miracles in the City that Never Sleeps”.

CES Mid-Year Conference in NYC

I am planning to attend CE Week being held in New York City next week, June 24-28, 2013.  It is the consumer electronics and technology industry’s annual mid-year event.  It is organized in association with the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^®, along with Martin Porter Associates and Consumer Technology Publishing Group/NAPCO, publisher of Dealerscope, Technology Integrator and Tell Magazines.

I see the need to attend it this year for the same reason that other 6,000 members of the media and industry analysts are going.

This is the industry’s fastest growing mid-year exhibition with thousands of new products on display.  Twenty of New York City’s most promising tech startups will debut.  An opening night reception will be hosted in the all-new General Motors tech pavilion.

At the Showstoppers, a VIP and Media Breakfast will be hosted to preview the most amazing new products of the year.  At the iLounge NYC, new iPhone/iPad accessory products will be showcased.

There will also be New York’s first wearable tech fashion show.  Summits or conferences on Ultra HD, Digital Health and Connected Car will also be held.  

A very interesting feature is a Keynote involving a one-on-one discussion between CEA President and CEO, Gary Shapiro and Aereo Founder, Chet Kanojia.

We are also expected to enjoy a taste of New York City with the street food tasting stations.

There are also Super Sessions on Video Gaming; Bringing 3D Printing to Consumers; Mobile Apps Showdown; FashionWare; The Battle over Smartphone Screen Size; Who’s Fastest? Wireless Speed Tests; and Crowdfunding the Hardware Revolution.

The CEA Research Summit Conferences attract me.  According to the scheduled sessions as published online, they include the following:

“State of the CE Industry – NEW! CEA Research
Gain a 30,000-foot view on the health of the Consumer Electronics industry. See which categories are driving grow for the industry, where potential headwinds lie, and what to expect for the second half of 2013.

State of the TV Industry – NEW! CEA Research
In the last decade, the TV market has undergone phenomenal changes. What has developed over the last 6 months and what will the rest of the year bring? A look at the state of TV hardware and TV consumerism, this session aims to decipher trends in TV ownership and viewership, new TV categories like UltraHD, pressing demographic waves, and more.

The Next Big Thing in TV
A Super Session incorporating all links in the value chain, including reactions to CEA’s research findings and illuminating debate over what may truly be the next significant development in TV.

Tablets vs. PC Update – NEW! CEA Research
An examination of how the tablet’s success is affecting the PC market. Topics to include the drop in PC ownership, business computing vs. consumer computing, tablet
shipments vs. PC shipments, operating systems in the crosshairs, relevant demographic trends, and more.

Can the PC Market Survive?
Another Super Session incorporating all links in the value chain, discussion of CEA’s research findings, and debate over what the PC market will look like in 36 months.

State of CE Retailing – NEW! CEA Research
Consumers are embracing more retail channels when shopping for CE products. From brick and mortar perusal to purchasing online or on a mobile device, retailers should know how to maximize consumers’ experiences shopping for CE across all channels. This session explains how consumers use a retailer’s various channels on the path to purchase, their expectations for retail channels and how those align with their experiences, areas of improvement for CE shopping between channels, and “best practices” for multi-channel alignment for retailers.

The Next Business Models of Retailing
The retail business is changing rapidly, with massive amounts of experimentation taking place. Retailers are still seeking ways to address showrooming in a variety of ways: unlikely entities like Google are now testing a same day delivery service, while others are attempting to ride the trend to success. More store-within-a-store concepts are appearing, while competing OEMs go directly to consumers. How will all of this shake out, which retail strategies will remain, and who will benefit the most?”

Press Conferences featuring some major players in the electronics industry will also be held.  Among them include:

1. Sharp Electronics – President John Herrington and VP Jim Sanduski;
2. Pioneer EVP Russ Johnston;
3. Monster Head Noel Lee, Swizz Beatz;
4. Kenwood;
5. Toshiba on 4K Ultra HD by VP Scott Ramirez

I look forward to hearing what they all have to say and announce to the press.  

Most importantly, I am excited for what “Little Miracles”  the Consumer Electronics industry is launching, offering and promoting .

I do not expect the new products and technology to bore us to sleep especially in the “city that never sleeps”.