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Coravin's smart wine opener doesn't remove the cork
If you're not familiar with Coravin, the company makes wine openers that allow you to pour a glass without removing the cork. The devices pierce the cork with a thin needle that doesn't remove any material, so you can have some and then continue to cellar the bottle. So-called Coravin Capsules (similar to CO2 cartridges) filled with Argon gas push the wine out of the bottle and into your glass. At CES 2018, though, the company took its wares to a whole other level with the Model 11.
The Sgnl wristband is almost ready to turn your hand into a phone
We've seen Innomdle Lab's Sgnl wearable at CES a few times before, but it's worth revisiting because a) it's an absolutely crazy idea that works; and b) it's very nearly ready for the masses. In case you missed it the first time around, the Sgnl is a sleek, understated wearable that lets you have full-blown private phone conversations by simply touching your finger to your ear.
Lussya is a $300 baby lotion dispenser disguised as modern art
Massage is good for adults and great for babies, who use the stimulation to bond with their parents, calm down and work out their gas. It's why French startup Caressa is building My Lussya One, a massage oil heater and automatic dispenser that's designed to ensure that rubbing sessions are always a pleasure.
Cosmo's bike helmet light will alert others when you fall
Cycling can be dangerous, especially if you ride at night or in busy metropolitan areas. To help, a startup called Cosmo Connected is working on a smart light that clips onto the back of your helmet. Eight LEDs -- four red, four yellow -- are positioned in an oval shape. By default, they're set to an "always-on" position so that you're clearly visible in the dark. An accelerometer inside will know when you're braking, however, and warn fellow cyclists, drivers and pedestrians with a more intense light.
Sniffy Market will let you smell products as you shop
If you've ever wanted your retail shopping experience to include more smells, well... get excited about Sniffy. It's a prototype product meant for stores that want to let their customers smell their products as well as see or touch them. The obvious examples are food and drink retailers, where customers might want to get a whiff of spices or coffee. Perfume is another obvious example, but I'm struggling to come up with other situations in which this makes sense.
Jabra's Elite 65t are affordable wireless earbuds with great sound
Jabra may have just announced its latest totally wireless earbuds at CES, but I got a hold of a pair early and have been using them as primary headphones for about a week. While the $170 Elite 65t that I've been wearing isn't a final model, they still gave me an idea of what to expect when the final version ships next month. Mostly, Jabra proves that you don't need to spend $250 (or more) to get a pair of earbuds that won't get tangled and still sound really good.
The Enhancia ring turns your gestures into musical effects
Enhancia consists of a rubber ring that you wear while playing the keyboard, connected to a larger hub. Its purpose is to augment whatever tune you're playing with effects that are common in modern music -- often added later in the production stage -- with natural gestures and in real time. "We wanted to create the shortest path between musical intention and musical creation" said Damien Le Boulaire, CEO and one of Enhancia's four co-founders from Grenoble, France.
Moen makes Alexa and Siri your shower concierge
Our bathrooms are about to get a lot smarter, if the latest technology being unveiled here at CES 2018 is any indication. Moen, which released its U by Moen smart shower system last year, is adding Alexa and Siri voice control capability to the series this year. With the new skills, you can tell Alexa to turn on your shower at a desired temperature or to a customized setting. Siri compatibility is coming later this year.
These smart shoes alert you if your grandma falls
We've seen our fair share of smart shoes at CES in the past, including a pair you can "lace up" using your smartphone. And today, at CES, we came across some more interesting footwear. What you see above are the "smart shoes with falling alert," created by a French startup called E-Vone. As the name suggests, the kicks feature a system that will notify friends, family or medical services if the person wearing them happens to take a fall. The company says they're designed for older adults (like your grandma or grandpa), as well as construction workers, hikers or anyone who feels like they may require assistance if they're alone indoors or outdoors.
Intel unveils its first chips with AMD's Vega graphics
The fruits of Intel and AMD's unprecedented partnership are finally here. Intel just unveiled its 8th generation Core CPUs with AMD's RX Vega M, bringing together its fastest mobile processors with graphics capabilities that used to required a dedicated GPU. Together, they'll lead to thinner and lighter laptops with decent gaming chops. While we got an overview of the chips back in November, we finally have more details at CES. And, simply put, gamers should be pleased.
Intel's new NUC will show off AMD's Vega GPU
We've called Intel's NUC "the future of tiny desktops." That's truer than ever with the newest version of the device, which is powered by the company's new eighth-generation CPU with AMD RX Vega M graphics. In fact, it features the fastest version of that chip, making it an even better desktop replacement. Intel claims it's so powerful, the 1.3 liter NUC is the smallest VR-ready system so far. And based on its specifications, we're inclined to believe them.
Jabra's newest wireless earbuds promise better sound and voice control
Apple's AirPods aren't the only truly wireless earbuds out there. In fact, Jabra is releasing the third generation of its own take on the technology: the Elite 65t and Elite Active 65t wireless earbuds. In addition to these two new models, Jabra is showing off a wired pair of Bluetooth earbuds, the Elite 45e, at CES this week.
Samsung's 8K TV uses AI that 'learns' to upscale low-res video
In 2013 Samsung introduced a $40,000 85-inch 4K TV with an easel-like design, before showing off an 8K demo unit in 2014. Now at CES 2018 Samsung is showing off this 8K-resolution Q9S that continues the same design strategy, just with more pixels and AI inside. Pit that against LG's 88-inch 8K OLED, and it looks like 2016's LG-versus-Samsung battle is ready to resume. We don't have details like a price or release date for the Q9S, but the 85-inch monster features a "proprietary algorithm" to upscale lower-res video for its Super Hi-Vision screen. The artificial intelligence comes in with its ability to "learn from itself" to improve over time -- which could be interesting if it works well, and could also lead to some incredible self-created artifacts if something goes wrong.
Samsung's 2018 4K TVs add Bixby AI
Even if you can't spring for an 85-inch 8K TV or a screen large enough to be called The Wall, Samsung still has something new for your next TV. Its 2018 Smart TV platform is getting an upgrade with the addition of its Bixby AI voice control platform, as well as integrated with its SmartThings smart home platform. That home automation hub support will "offer easier sharing, connectivity, and an overall simplified way to control the television and sync with other devices," according to the company. As Samsung explained during its launch event on Sunday at CES, it's replacing all of the current mobile apps with one SmartThings app, that will help you login to services, set up WiFi on your new TV, and more. Finally, a new universal guide will keep up with the likes of Apple, Roku and TiVo by searching for content within apps and suggesting new things you to watch.
Samsung is ready to build a 146-inch TV wall in your house
Last year Samsung announced a 34-foot 4K LED TV that could challenge movie theater screens, and now it's ready to sell a version for home use. The Wall by Samsung uses similar MicroLED tech that is "self emitting" (read: each pixel works without a backlight) and can be assembled in extremely large sizes thanks to its modular design. We don't have much information to go on yet, but the 146-inch 4K screen we saw promises "outstanding brightness, contrast, and close-to- perfect viewing from any angle." Just something to think about, if an 85-inch 8K TV is too small and projector screens aren't bright enough.
Whill's new electric wheelchair is light, portable and fast
Whill's electric wheelchair picked up the award for Best Accessibility Tech in last year's Best of CES, and now it's back with a newer, lighter and more portable version of that vehicle. The Model Ci uses a lithium-ion battery and can travel 10 miles on one charge, with a top speed of five miles per hour. (We took the Model Ci for a brief spin and we're happy to confirm 5 MPH is plenty fast for everyday navigation; it's a light jogging speed). That battery makes it lightweight, too; the entire thing weighs 115 pounds. The Model Ci is available today for $4,000.
Samsung's Notebook 9 Pen is a super-light Galaxy Note/laptop mashup
Samsung announced a handful of laptops before CES even started, but only one of the was really new: the Notebook 9 Pen. It isn't Samsung's first attempt at blending a laptop and a Galaxy Note, but after a little hands-on time, we can say it's shaping up to be one of the most polished.
Nuheara's wireless earbuds can also help you hear better
Now that the truly-wireless earbuds craze is here, companies are looking to find ways to stand out from the crowd. Thanks to the Over-the Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017, the US government freed up access to certain assisted hearing devices in a move that should also make them more affordable. At CES 2018, a number of companies are showing the tiny audio devices that can help people hear better, announcing products or plans for gadgets that will offer assistive listening. One of those is Nuheara.
Samsung adds Bixby voice control to its Family Hub smart fridge
Samsung is fulfilling its promise of spreading Bixby beyond mobile devices -- it just unveiled a Family Hub 3.0 refrigerator whose star attraction is (you guessed it) Bixby voice control. The company hasn't said exactly what its in-house voice assistant allows, but it will personalize responses to individual voices: you can ask what's new and get your personal calendar and news updates.
Xenoma builds smart clothing for dementia patients
Smart fabric company Xenoma is looking for ways to integrate its technology into our lives, specifically in medical scenarios. The Japanese firm is showing off a set of smart pajamas that can be worn by patients in a hospital, with a specific focus on dementia patients. The idea is that, rather than confining people to rooms or keeping them under observation, the clothing can do the job automatically.
