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Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Romotive's Keller Rinaudo (update: video embedded)
Romotive was on-hand this week showing off the latest version of its Romo iPhone robot. Clearly we haven't spent enough time with the adorable little guy. The company's CEO and co-founder Keller Rinaudo will be joining us on stage to discuss it -- and the company's plans for the future. January 11, 2013 2:30 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
Fibaro home automation system comes to the US, company releases smart power strip (video)
If you've heard of Fibaro already, you'll just have to forgive us this post: although the home automation system is already available in 43 countries, it's just arriving in the US, with the main box about to go on sale for $699. In a nutshell, the system works not over WiFi, but using the Z-wave protocol. The base station itself can connect to as many as 240 lights and switches, with support for all sorts of devices: heat and cooling systems, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, doorbells, dehumidifiers and motion sensors. For each of these, you can program any number of macros -- e.g., "close the shades when the temperature reaches 68 degrees". Like Nest (a North America-only product) it eventually learns your usage habits, and offers up tips on how to conserve energy. In particular, though, the system uses geolocation to track members of the household, so you an also do things like set the heat to come on when you're a mile away from home. Separately, the company is also releasing a smart power strip, which logs your energy use for various gadgets, and then sends that data to an iOS app. (An Android version is in development.) No word on how much it'll cost in the US, though in Europe it'll cost 64 euro, tax included.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Indiegogo's Slava Rubin (update: video embedded)
Crowdfunded projects have been one of the surprise success stories of this year's CES. Thankfully, we've got one of the most knowledgeable people on the topic around, Indiegogo CEO Slava Rubin. January 11, 2013 2:00 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: President of StickNFind, Jimmy Buchheim, will be joining us as well!
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Formlabs' Maxim Lobovsky (update: video embedded)
We've already had a handful of 3D printing companies swing by our stage this year, but what sets Formlabs apart from the increasing competition is a focus on bringing professional level printing to the consumer. We'll be speaking with one of the company's founders, Maxim Lobovsky about Formlabs' vision. January 11, 2013 1:30 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
QNX outfits a Bentley Continental GT with Car Platform 2.0, we go hands-on (video)
Just a few short days ago, QNX announced its Car Platform 2.0 and plans for outfitting developers during the course of the year. Of course, the co-star of that announcement was the Bentley Continental GT concept vehicle that would show off the company's wares. And that it most certainly did. We moseyed over to the booth and grabbed a few minutes in the driver's seat to see just what the system could do. First, the visual part of the infotainment arsenal consists of a 17-inch center display and two (7- and 10-inch) MasterImage high pixel density (comparable to Retina) panels in the driver's side dash. The high-res quality of said surface was immediately apparent and is one of the best in-car units we've seen. But, that's not all. Head on past the break for some observations and a video walkthrough.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Oculus's Palmer Luckey and Nate Mitchell (update: speaker change)
Is 2013 the year of the wearable here at CES? It's certainly shaping up to be one of the bigger trends of the show, thanks in no small part to the folks at Oculus. We've already spent some time with the company's Rift prototype this week, and now we'll be joined by Palmer Luckey and Brendan Iribe, the company's co-founder and CEO. Update: In lieu of Brendan Iribe, we'll be speaking to Palmer Luckey and VP Nate Mitchell. January 11, 2013 1:00 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here!
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with WiTricity's Eric Giler (update: video embedded)
Here's an exciting one for all of you wireless charging nerds. We've got the Eric Giler, the CEO of WiTricity on-stage to discuss the future of over-the-air electricity. January 11, 2013 12:30 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Razer's Heath Hatcher (update: video embedded)
Sure plenty of companies are waiting for devoted conferences like E3 to launch their peripherals, but this year's CES has afforded an interesting opportunity for smaller organizations to steal the spot light. We'll be meeting with Razer's Heath Hatcher to discuss the Edge, and what it's like launching gaming hardware in a company ruled by a few huge company. January 10, 2013 12:00 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
Come join us tonight in Las Vegas for a special Engadget CES Partycast!
The show is winding down, but we're not done yet. Tonight at 6:00pm PT (9:00pm ET) we'll be having our final live Engadget Podcast from our stage on the International CES 2013 show floor. And, since our stage is in the Grand Lobby (between North and Central halls) you can join us in-person without a CES badge! Be there as we recount some of our favorite gadgets and moments of this year's CES. We'll have our T-shirt vending machine humming and plenty of other give-aways, plus your chance to meet the entire Engadget CES team. Who knows, there might even be a little champagne. If you're in town, come on by the Grand Lobby at LVCC. If you're not, join in the live-stream of the fun right here.
Apple wins Emmy for technology, engineering
Apple was a prominent part of CES even though it didn't have a physical presence at the trade show. Not only were there a large number of iOS and OS X vendors on the show floor, Apple was also awarded a Technology & Engineering Emmy for its iCloud service. As reported by The Loop, the Emmy recognizes "an individual, company or to a scientific or technical organization for developments and/or standardization involved in engineering technologies which either represent an extensive improvement on existing methods or are so innovative in nature that they materially have affected the transmission, recording or reception of television." Apple won the award for its ""Eco-system for Real Time Presentation of TV Content to Mobile Devices without the use of Specialized Television Hardware." It's not entirely clear what ecosystem the award recognizes, but we presume it has to do with iCloud. The Emmy was awarded at an event at the Bellagio Ballroom in Las Vegas. [Via Macgasm]
Reebok and mc10 team up to build CheckLight, a head impact indicator (hands-on)
Concussions have always been a concern for those who play contact sports. However, there's been a renewed focus in recent years by the sports community -- the NFL in particular -- to learn more about concussions in the interests of promoting player safety. Pro leagues aren't the only folks tackling the problem, though. Verizon, Intel and Ridell are all building systems to help identify concussed players. Reebok and mc10 have collaborated to create CheckLight, a head impact indicator meant to make it easy to see when an athlete has taken a dangerous blow to the head. The CheckLight is composed of two parts: a sensor device built by mc10 and skull-cap made by Reebok. The sensor itself is a strip of plastic filled with flexible sensors connected to a small microcontroller module with three indicator LEDs and a micro-USB port. One LED serves as a battery level indicator, one flashes yellow after moderate impacts and a third flashes red for severe blows. mc10 wasn't willing to share the exact hardware inside, but we know that it's got a rechargeable battery and has rotational acceleration, multi-directional acceleration, impact location and impact duration sensors. Data from those sensors is then run through the company's proprietary algorithm to determine when to fire the LEDs. We got to chat with Isaiah Kacyvenski -- mc10's Director of Licensing and Business development and ex-NFL player -- about the CheckLight and the role it has to play in keeping athletes safe, so join us after the break for more.
Plextor trots out M5M series mSATA drives at CES
Plextor just unearthed a new lineup of mSATA drives that will be targeted at enthusiasts looking to give their ultraportables an additional shot of adrenaline. Known as the M5M series, the diminutive chips will come in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB sizes, each which boast a highly respectable sequential read speed of 540 MB/s. Meanwhile, sequential write speed for the three models is rated at 160 MB/s, 320 MB/s and 430 MB/s, respectively. The M5M series carries a mean time before failure (MTBF) of 2.4 million hours, and is said to become available this quarter. No word yet about pricing, however. To learn about the security features of the Plextor M5M series, feel free to hit up the PR after the break. [Image credit: AnandTech]
BenQ unveils two 1080p 3D projectors at CES
BenQ isn't holding any keynotes, but the company does have a presence here at CES. In fact it rolled out a pair of 1080p 3D projectors today for the home theater enthusiast. The W1070 and W1080ST are the latest in the company's consumer line, and they're powered by DLP's Dark Chip 3 which is usually found in high-end models. But at $1,099 and $1,299, respectively, the W1070 and W1080ST certainly aren't priced for the high end. The 1080 can project images up to 100 inches wide from as little as six feet away. It's even ready for proper color calibration right out of the box. Both machines are also compatible with NVIDIA's 3D Play and DLP Link, plus they're sporting dual HDMI ports. Both are available now. For more info check out the PR below.
iFrogz's Caliber Advantage iPhone 5 gaming case hands-on
It's no secret that iOS mobile gaming leaves us wanting when it comes to physical controls. Fortunately, at CES 2013, iFrogz is out to fill that void with the Caliber Advantage iPhone case-gone-console. The Caliber Advantage, an iPhone 5 and fifth-generation iPod touch accessory, uses Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to the corresponding enabled application rather than the phone itself. iFrogz mentions that a deal with Epic Games and Chair Entertainment to build the basis for the Caliber software powered by the Unreal Engine is in the works. In fact, later this April the company will host its own developer conference aimed at seriously expanding the platform and hopefully adding support for previously released titles. Marrying a case with a full-fledged controller certainly adds some bulk, but after handling the prototype, the approximate half inch of added girth honestly didn't incite any ill feelings. The chassis, while clearly heavy on the plastic, felt more sturdy than anticipated, and fairly natural to our hands. As for the buttons? Crisp and responsive, hard though that may be to believe. The unit is set to retail at $70, and curious iOS gamers can feel free to take a closer look in the gallery below. Kevin Wong contributed to this report.
Zoom iQ5 professional stereo microphone hands-on
Earlier at CES, we got our hands on the Rode iXY 30-pin stereo microphone iPhone add-on that left our Lightning users a bit sad. Cheer up! The folks over at Zoom got us over to their booth to take a peek at the company's new iQ5 professional stereo microphone. The iQ5 is a different beast than its aforementioned competition in that it works in conjunction with native iOS applications. What this means is that you can use it while recording video on your iOS device. The microphone itself rotates for this specific purpose, allowing for both horizontal and vertical audio recording in raw, 90- and 120-degree field positions. The recording resolution is capped at a respectable 16-bit/44.1kHz -- though slightly less than we were hoping. We didn't get a chance to actually hear an audio sample from the iQ5, but we're pretty confident it'll sound better than the standard mic equipped on any of the supported devices. The Zoom iQ5 lacks a bit in customization department as well as build quality -- we're generally not fans of the cheap plastic construction, which is unlike most other Zoom products. The spec sheet certainly leaves us wanting, but it's a start in the right direction for current-gen iOS devices. The iQ5 will set you back $100 and will start shipping Q2 of this year -- until then check out the gallery to hold you over.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: the Engadget Podcast with Jon Rettinger and Phil DeFranco (update: video update)
Yes, friends, it's the penultimate Engadget CES podcast! This time out, Tim and Brian will be be joined by TechnoBuffalo's Jon Rettinger and YouTube superstar Phil DeFranco to discuss all of Wednesday's goings-on and play with some of the best toys the show has to offer. January 9, 2013 11:00 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
Apple had a huge CES 2013 presence, without even being there
Wired has an interesting -- although certainly not unexpected -- look at how Apple has managed to have a massive impact on this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas without having any official presence at the show. As the piece points out, a large percentage of products being shown at the event have to do with the Cupertino gang's creations, with 500 (out of 3,000) exhibitors residing in the Apple-specific iLounge pavilion alone. Even with our goal of focusing on the best, most interesting products on display, we've managed to keep pretty busy. In fact, to witness the complete lineup of Apple-focused products on display at this year's CES is something akin to starting into the Ark at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. It's worth noting that pretty much everyone Wired spoke with for the piece says they don't really care if Apple attends the show or not -- even the CEA, which organizes the event. Of course they don't; as long as Apple keeps making immensely popular products these folks can produce accessories for (and need a place to show), why should it matter if they're actually in the building?
Rapoo TV claims to make 'any HDTV smart,' is compatible with iOS and Android
Less than 24 hours after announcing the H9080 wireless headphones, Rapoo's let it be known that its CES 2013 repertoire also includes a little something for the living room (or bedroom, depending on where you prefer to enjoy your downtime). With its Rapoo TV, the company's touting the ability to turn any HDTV into one with intelligent features -- essentially, though, it is a wireless receiver that allows iOS and Android devices to connect to it, allowing them to mirror mostly any content on the bigger screen. Of course, there might be some better options for iOS users (and Android soon, we imagine) in the market already, but the company's still hoping some folks may have room for yet another set-top-like unit in their home. The company says the Rapoo TV will be available sometime in Q1 of this year, however there's no word on pricing just yet.
Geonaute's 360 degree sports camera catches all the action, even our hands on
Sport and action cameras are big business, and even though there are a couple of main players, it doesn't stop other's trying to get a bite of the apple. Geonaute, however, have come at the situation from a different angle. Heck, they're coming at it from every angle, with its 360-degree offering. Equipped with three 8-megapixel wide-angle lenses the camera captures an almost spherical field of view. This might initially sound like a strange idea... after all, who wants all of that in one video, won't it all be warped beyond recognition? The short answer is no, in fact it's much better than you would ever have thought, and we'll explain why shortly. Going back to the camera itself, it looks a little like the innards of those security cameras you find in government buildings etc that peer at you ominously. However, in this case, the three lenses have color detail around them which makes them look anything but sinister, and the circular base section might look a little large, but in fact it's light in the hand -- and actually helps it sit quite comfortably atop a helmet. In 360 video mode the advertised resolution is up to 2,048 x 1,024. In photo mode you'll get single shot, burst and time-lapse modes with a top resolution of 4,096 x 2,048. The actual FOV is 360 degrees on the horizontal, and 150 degrees vertically, but the end result is a fairly complete viewing sphere. The 3,000 mAh battery should be good for two hours of footage, and the microSD card slot will take cards of up to 32GB. While there is a waterproof housing, the camera itself will take the elements on pretty well thanks to its IPX7 rating. Read on after the break for more impressions.
TCL shows off MoVo Google TV box, 'China Star' 110-inch 4K TV
Chinese manufacturer TCL has a rather significant showing at CES 2013, with a number of TVs and TV-related products. We're not sure if we'll be seeing any of these debut in the US, but among them were a 110-inch "China Star" 3D 4K TV that's got a brand tie-in with Iron Man 3, and its MoVo Google TV product. Its Google TV set-top box is powered by the same Marvell Armada 1500 SoC as many others, but features a custom skin and uses facial recognition to provide personalized experiences for every family member. It seemed to run equally to other Google TVs, although we wonder if that custom skin may slow down the pace of future updates. Also on display in the booth are TCL's iCE Screen that debuted last year, and its super thin V101 Blade TV. There's more details on the products in the press release after the break, as well as some in person pics (including the 36+ sq ft China Star and accompanying costumed Iron Man) in the gallery.