If the many thinly-veiled threats directed at myself through email, phone calls, and the flaming bags of poo at my doorstep are any indication, this article has been a long time coming.
Archive for the ‘CES’ Category
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Saturday, January 21st, 2012CES 2012 – G-Shock GB-6900
Friday, January 13th, 2012
Casio’s latest offering in the G-Shock line of watches is the GB-6900. It’s the first in the line to use Bluetooth Low Energy Wireless Technology, which is really Newspeak for this thing will be studying your daily habits to better plan the eventual machine takeover. All joking aside, it’s a pretty useful bit of hardware.
It connects to most smartphones to automatically adjust and correct its own display time and includes an alert signal that notifies the user of incoming calls and messages. Any ring alerts and vibration can be stopped by tapping a button on the watch. Similarly, phone alarm and vibration functions can be activated with a button press if the phone is misplaced. The Bluetooth signal features a data transfer rate is abound 1 Mbps with a signal range of 2m and a 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard.
As a watch, the GB-6900 isn’t too shabby either. It has five independent daily alarms, a stopwatch, countdown timer, and display options for 35 time zones in 100 cities, including Coordinated Universal Time and the option to enable Daylight Savings Time. Like other G-Shock models, it has a shock-resistant body and is rated for immersion up to 200 meters of water. A battery life of approx. 2 years is provided by a single CR2032 disk battery, assuming the communication function is used for only 12 hours per day. It’ll be available in Japan in March. The USA, and presumably everyone else, will get it by the end of the year.
CES 2012 – Mimoco
Friday, January 13th, 2012
I’m not gonna lie. At first, my interest was purely in the property rights this company was carrying. A Boba Fett Return of the Jedi edition MIMOBOT USB drive? Hell, yeah! But, Mimoco has come up with a useful tool in their MIMOMICRO card reader/USB drive.
MIMOMICROs allow for easy transfer of data stored on microSD cards. You know, the really small ones that almost always require an adapter since barely any computers on the market accept them as is? My camera takes them, and in case you couldn’t tell, I’m not a big fan. You simply insert the microSD card into the device, then flip out the USB plug. Simple and fast usage of the normally pain-in-the-ass microSD. Plus, Batman and Darth Vader make everything cooler. The MIMOMICRO line will be available March of this year.
CES 2012 – Sound Egg
Friday, January 13th, 2012
The Acousticom Sound Egg is a total immersion entertainment chair lined with ‘Acoustic Isolation Foam’ that keeps out external noise while five full-range speakers and a 10-inch sub woofer deliver 5.1 HD Surround Sound to the user. Each Sound Egg is highly customizable, with options for an attachable arm with a tv/monitor, tablet/laptop, or mouse & keyboard mount, colored leather or vinyl padded covered seats, cup holder, and 11 foam colors. Standard shell colors are black, red, blue, tan/beige, green, gray, LCD chocolate, dark green, and yellow, although a color matching option is available if requested. Available direct from the manufacturer or from Amazon.com.
http://www.soundegg.com/
http://www.acousticom.com/
CES 2012 – CTA Digital Inc. – U.S. Army Licensed Products
Friday, January 13th, 2012
CTA Digital Inc. has released a line of officially licensed U.S. Army video game peripherals. Seen above is the Elite Force Assault Rifle (US-EFR). Modeled after an M4 Carbine with an EOTech holographic sight (“modeled after actual military equipment”), the Elite Force controller has every button featured on a standard DualShock 3, including the rumble effect, and connects to the PS3 using Bluetooth. The ‘barrel’ can also be removed from the Elite Force and replaced with a Move controller, turning it into a navigation controller. The controller is powered by two (2) AA batteries. Available in digital camouflage and in Olive Drab with green-grey furniture as the ‘Commando Assault Rifle’ (not pictured).
Also available is the U.S. Army Universal Gaming Headset With 3D Effect (US-UGH). The Universal Gaming Headset connects to a monitor or sound system via RCA stereo jacks (red and white cables) and directly to your console or PC via USB. This allows you to independently adjust in-game and chat volume using the in-line controller. A ‘3D Sound’ button takes advantage of the triple drivers in each ear cup to deliver realistic sound based on volume and location in-game. Other features include a 14ft cable, removable microphone, and padded ear cups.
CES 2012 – XShot
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
XShot is a company that deals in tripods and other camera mounts. The product shown in the picture above is the XShot 2.0 Camera Extender. It features a universal tripod mount and extends the reach of the camera by 37″, making it perfect for group photos and self-portraits, along with any other situations where an extended camera reach would be useful and/or appropriate. The Pocket XShot Camera Extender, a similar product, features a reach of 30.5″ and can fit into a pocket or purse when retracted. XShot also offers iPhone cases with a detachable tripod adapter and a swivel that allow the user to quickly switch from portrait or landscape views, along with the XShot Kayak Mount, perfect for Kayakers and Kayak fishermen.
CES 2012 – Lifeproof iPod Cases
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
Lifeproof is a company that makes highly durable iPod cases that are designed to be water, dirt, snow, and shock proof. The cases feature a polycarbonate frame, scratch-resistant waterproof screen protector, shock absorbing elastometer, shock absorbing rear Polypropylene cover, and shock absorbing perimeter O-ring. They are built to MIL-STD-810F-516.5, meaning they have been dropped on all surfaces and edges onto concrete from a height of 2 meters without any decrease in performance from the device. Additionally, Lifeproof-clad devices are rated for immersion up to 2 meters of water and are low profile, with a main body depth of 10.8mm, only 1.3mm thicker that the phone itself. The case currently available is only compatible with iPhone 4 and 4S, although, according to the show rep, an iPad case will be available roughly six months out.
CES 2012 – SkunkJuice
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
SkunkJuice earbuds and over ear headphones use magnets in lieu of an entirely cord-based connection. The headphones are separated into two parts, the phones and the jack, that also allow the use of up to three additional connector pieces. These allow other users to bridge into the connection, allowing a small group to effectively share a single music player. This particular connection method also helps to limit any damage that could occur with yanking or pulling away with a standard cable. Pretty useful if you’re rough with your earphones, or just happen to walk away from your electronics with your earbuds still in.
