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Shooting a laser-guided rifle made me feel like a robot
By all accounts, I shouldn't have hit the dummy target 300 yards downrange because everything was working against me. For starters, the Las Vegas desert was windy as hell. Factor in that I was shaking thanks to nerves, cold temperatures and the pressure of a camera rolling while I tried something brand-new and you have a recipe for failure. Or should have. While I can barely pull off a headshot in a video game, I nailed one on my first try with TrackingPoint's high-powered, precision-guided rifle. Once the initial wave of "Holy shit!" wore off, something else replaced my elation: I didn't feel I'd earned that bull's-eye because basically all I had to do was pull the trigger. On my way back into Sin City, I couldn't get over just how cold and emotionless that left me feeling.
Fox's journey into virtual reality begins with 'Wild'
Virtual reality is going to the movies and Hollywood's excited about it. Or, at the very least, the execs at 20th Century Fox's specialty division Fox Searchlight are cautiously and thoughtfully wading into the deep end of this new medium. For its film Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern, the studio has crafted what it's calling a companion VR piece with the help of Montreal-based VR artists/directors Paul Raphaël and Félix Lajeunesse, and it was demoed at CES in Las Vegas this week for select press.
FlapIt is a social media counter for businesses (and the self-obsessed)
If there was one thing we learned from ABC's Selfie (beyond the fact that America doesn't particularly dig Anglo-Asian rom-coms), it's that people can too easily get wrapped up in the validation and endorphin rush that come with getting social media kudos. That simple truth makes FlapIt's eponymous social media counter -- complete with old-school alarm clock-style flaps -- such a potentially potent tool for the terminally self-obsessed. We kid, we kid. Mostly.
4K movies are coming to Blu-ray discs and hard drives
Sure, there are plenty of Ultra HD televisions floating around the Las Vegas Convention Center, but how will you find anything suitably super high-res to play on them? Netflix, Amazon and a few others have started 4K internet delivery, while DirecTV and Comcast also have limited approaches, but sometimes you prefer media you can hold onto. Physical media fans have help on the way in two forms, but the bad news is neither one is ready to launch right now. The Blu-ray Disc Association has confirmed the name of its 4K format (Ultra HD Blu-ray) and many of its capabilities, while the Secure Content Storage Association has its own demo for Ultra HD movies you can download and transfer (almost) at will, with backing from Fox, Warner Bros., Samsung and others.
Neil Young's high-definition Pono Music is coming to cars
In addition to a triangle-shaped player, Neil Young's Pono effort also includes a music store for purchasing high-definition tunes. Here at CES, the man behind the project announced that he's teaming up with Harman to bring the higher-quality tracks to vehicles. Harman is a big name in infotainment and in-car audio, and it's already been working on solutions to make compressed audio sound better. Compared to other high-resolution players, Pono is competitively priced at $400, and if you opt in to the ecosystem, it looks like your next car could have the tech to handle all that music, too. If it has a Harman stereo installed, of course.
And the winner is: Watch the Best of CES awards right here
A week after rounding up what we thought would be worthy of winning the Best of CES awards, we finally announced the winners to the world yesterday. To go along with such an honor, we also held an awards ceremony on our gleaming CES stage where we handed out beautiful crystal trophies to the winners. If you weren't there to watch it live last night, you can relive the magical experience all over again in the video below. Photo: Will Lipman
A lovefest between the LG G Flex 2 and WakaWaka
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-485091{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-485091, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-485091{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-485091").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Even though this year's CES is coming to a close today, the Engadget stage is still going strong. Yesterday, we sat down with LG and WakaWaka, which makes a solar-powered portable charger that drives a buy-one-give-one initiative -- similar to what Toms does with its shoes. LG Mobile's Lee talked about the G Flex 2 and showed us some of the new features on the flagship smartphone, such as its curved screen. For his part, WakaWaka's co-founder and CEO, Camille van Gestel, touched on what his company is trying to do with the WakaWaka Power+, like how it's already helped hundreds of thousands of people across the world who don't have access to electricity.
Sling TV is 2015's Best of CES winner
Sling TV managed to snag two individual awards from the official Best Of CES 2015 plaudits, but it also came out with the coveted Best of the Best award. Why? Because it could well revolutionize TV habits. As Senior Editor Richard Lawler put it, Sling TV is the first non-traditional alternative that looks like it could really work -- and it's coming this month. We talked to Sling TV CEO Roger Lynch right after the win. Photos: Will Lipman
The booth babe is alive and living in Haier's TVs
I can think of hundreds of brands I'd rather write about than Haier. It's a second-tier manufacturer that creates functional, but uninspiring products. But after walking through its booth yesterday on the way to the Engadget stage, I noticed something worth writing about. Booth babes have been a fixture of CES ever since the show started in the '60s, and in recent years they've guided bewildered buyers and journalists through Haier's eclectic mix of HaiPads, TVs and wireless blenders. At CES 2015, there are no alluring women to be seen, but as much as I'd love to be able to praise Haier for halting the practice, I can't. Instead, Haier has found a horrible new way to use attractive women to market its products. Digital booth babes.
Here's what you missed on the third day of CES
It's the fourth and final day of CES 2015. You made it. Sure, major announcements like LG's G Flex 2 and Intel's Compute Stick are dwindling, but that doesn't mean the excitement is over. In fact, we just announced our Best of CES winners, and they're pretty dope. For all the details and more -- including a few eye-popping gadgets we found on the show floor -- head on down to the gallery below.
Kodak and Polaroid square off again, this time with smartphones
Kodak and Polaroid are both still fighting for relevance in a world that's mostly left them behind, and this year they've got a new kind of weapon in their arsenals: the smartphone. Both of these companies have basically lent the power of their brands -- the history, the force of nostalgia -- to third-party players who make devices on their behalf. It's a little too early to make a call on which company's definitively doing it better, but we took a look to see how they stack up at this point.
Make your commute an action sport with an electric longboard
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-400236{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-400236, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-400236{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-400236").style.display="none";}catch(e){} A new breed of personal transportation has been bubbling up from the DIY underground over the last few years and it's called the electric skateboard. That's a bit of an umbrella term, actually, since devices range from your standard four wheels and a deck, a snowboard-focused freeboard and unique offerings like Onewheel's balancing act. We sat down with Sanjay Dastoor, the CEO and co-founder of San Francisco-based Boosted Boards to discuss its own electric longboard cruiser and the roller coaster ride from successful Kickstarter to real-world product. One that, in our estimation, is one of the smoothest and fastest rideables on the around, which is why I chose to showcase it as my editor's choice on the Engadget stage at CES this year. We dig into what makes the Boosted Board tick and chat about pricing, available models and the overall enjoyment potential of this economic and fun commuting alternative.
Indiegogo CEO on crowdfunding's growing importance at CES
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-548779{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-548779, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-548779{width:570px;display:block;} It's no secret that crowdfunding is an increasingly important part of getting a product off the ground. And with the big boys either backing out of CES or saving their big announcements for their own dedicated events, the little guys are getting more attention. Who better to talk about the trend than Slava Rubin, the CEO of Indiegogo. All told, some 80 companies on the CES show floor got their start on Rubin's crowdfunding site. Now, that may seem like a drop in the bucket when you consider the thousands of exhibitors fighting for attention, but it's roughly four times as many as there were in 2014. He was also kind enough to bring along some toys for us to show off. Check out the video above for the full interview, in which Rubin shared some news of his own about the future of Indiegogo.
Razer's Forge TV wins People's Choice Award for Best of CES 2015
The people have spoken, and Razer's Forge TV is the People's Choice winner for Best of CES 2015! It was a close call, however, as it won with only 16.13 percent of the vote -- the AirDog drone came in second at 14.62 percent and the Misfit Bolt clocked in at third with 11.96 percent. Only a few thousand votes separated first, second and third place! Still, Razer's Forge TV won fair and square -- not only did the Android TV microconsole win our Best Gaming Product award, but it also scored your votes too. Congratulations, Razer!
Presenting the Best of CES 2015 winners!
One week in Vegas, several halls filled with tech, but only one official Best of CES Awards. After a few tortuous nights of shouting at each other, debating the merits of each of our finalists, we eventually decided on our winners. Congratulations to all our finalists and winners, and to anyone who's survived this week of tech announcements, Vegas razzle-dazzle and occasionally-dubious celebrity endorsements. Photos: Will Lipman
Toshiba's Virtual Fitting Room doesn't have menswear
Toshiba was demoing its Virtual Fitting Room at CES this year. The premise is simple: Stand in front of a large display while your image is projected on it. Using a Kinect for motion tracking, Toshiba's software is able to superimpose various outfits onto your reflected self. Hold your right hand up to change outfits and your left to snap a selfie, which the software then throws up as a QR code so you can grab your pic. Typical of this type of virtual thing, the clothes tended to wiggle about and were a bit ill-fitting, but they were women's outfits, so we'll give them a break there. We can see practical applications for trying clothing combinations without having to use a dressing room if you're in a hurry, for example. Though, we don't think using it for sizing would be useful at all, which is a large part of a fitting room's job.
Braven's BRV-PRO modular speaker is a camper's delight
A Swiss Army knife and a Leatherman. Both of those items are capable of performing a number of tasks while remaining compact and easily packable. But what if the portable speaker that provides your campsite with tunes could do multiple things? Well, Braven's BRV-PRO can not only recharge your phone or tablet, but also its smattering of add-ons provide light, extend battery life, juice up the gadget with the sun's rays and more. The speaker is still fairly small despite its modular aspirations, so it won't take up much space in your backpack. If you splurge for the full collection of accessories though, the entire setup demands a slightly larger pocket, but they're all flat and should stow easily.
Misfit CEO Sonny Vu on the past, present and future of wearables
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-793988{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-793988, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-793988{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-793988").style.display="none";}catch(e){} There are few people more qualified to talk about the world of wearables than Sonny Vu, the co-founder and CEO of Misfit. Not only does he lead one of the biggest names in activity tracking, but also he's been strapping tech to his body for decades. Ever since he was a wee lad, in fact, and "wearable" meant a vest with embedded speakers and a special pocket where he could plug in his Walkman. He joined us on a journey through time as we looked at the evolution of "wearable" products at CES, from calculator watches, to Bluetooth headsets and even connected onesies. Along the way, he shared his thoughts on the overly masculine design of our gadgets; the importance, but also problem, with building "fashionable" wearables; and how infant monitoring is the next frontier. There's a lot of ground to cover, and it's better to just let the man speak for himself. So check out our chat in the video above.
MakerBot's composite materials will create things you'll want to keep
Enough with the primary-colored plastic trinkets. When can we start printing things we want? Things we'll use? While we're still not quite there, MakerBot's recently announced composite materials might get us closer. We talked to MakerBot's Director of Product Anthony Moschella about a year in 3D printing. He told us about the "chain of pain" that once was getting an idea or a design from brain to reality, how MakerBot's trying to smooth that process, and we sniffed a pseudo-maplewood hammer. For a reason. Watch it unfold below.
Inside Intel's insanely futuristic CES booth
While Intel's biggest news at CES this year wasn't a processor or any of the futuristic products it powers, its booth is still packed with eye-pleasing, Edison-packing gadgets. You could take our word for it, or you could check out the 3D-printed prosthetics, robot spider dresses and digitally rendered sand people in the photo and video tours below. For more from Intel and beyond, check out our 2015 CES Field Guide.
