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Jaybird's sport earbuds offer customized sound with an app
Jaybird's line of wireless in-ear headphones has become a popular choice for listening to music during a workout. At CES 2016, the company has two new models: Freedom and X3. While both offer wireless connectivity, the MySound companion app is perhaps the most appealing feature for both. The software allows you to customize the audio based on your listening habits: You can tweak the EQ as well as save settings to the Jaybird Freedom earbuds so that no matter which device you're listening from, your sound profile is there. In other words, the settings are synced on the headphones, and Jaybird says it's the first to offer the feature on wireless sport earbuds.
Hexoskin's fitness clothes now work with third-party apps
In late 2014, I tested out Hexoskin's first smart shirt, a vest that promised to monitor your vital statistics while you exercised. After a year in the lab, the company has rolled up to CES with a second-generation version of the wearable that comes with a couple notable changes. The first is that the battery life has been extended, with the firm promise that it'll last up to 30 hours on a single charge. After that, the most notable tweak has been to include Bluetooth Smart in the hardware, enabling it to connect to any compatible GPS, smartwatch or bike computer. In addition, the data that you create while out and about can now be exported to third-party fitness apps like Strava, Runkeeper and Endomondo.
Faraday Future unveils its FFZero 1 supercar of the future
Faraday Future has unveiled the FFZero1, a concept car that the firm promises will spearhead a complete revolution in the way we drive. "What would happen if we just started clean?" the company's flashy promotional video asked the assembled audience here at CES 2016. The Zero1 is a single-seat race car that, it's likely, will quickly become an object of desire for car fans worldwide. As for its looks, you won't be surprised to see that the craft is pretty much what we saw in the leaked renders from earlier in the day.
Swedish TiVos have smartwatch controls
Smartwatch displays might not be big enough to do a whole lot more than pop alerts, but Sweden's Com Hem wants to help wearables replace your living room's Houdini-esque remote controls. The idea here is that your Android watch or Apple... Watch can be used to change the channel, view the program guide or record a show. Dave Zatz notes that these functions appear specific to Com Hem's TiVo devices, at least for now. Oh, and Android Wear devices can use voice commands to choose a channel.
UHD Alliance reveals its specs for 'premium' 4K TVs
Last year a number of TV manufacturers, Hollywood studios and other content companies got together so they could avoid ruining the home experience of 4K. A battle over competing standards and formats has made a mess of tech like Blu-ray/HD DVD and the rollout of 3D, but this industry consortium is committed to making sure that doesn't happen with Ultra HD. As Fox exec Mike Dunn put it during a panel discussion, "Unless you have a standards group that puts the glue for the industry together, it's not seamless for the consumer." Tonight the group showed off the logo and specs (above) that you should probably look for if you consider buying a high-end Ultra HD television. Update: Samsung says its entire line of 2016 SUHD TVs has been tagged with the UHD Premium certification.
You can use your smartphone to 'lace up' this sneaker
These may not be Nike's highly acclaimed Back to the Future kicks, but their power-lacing system is going to leave you impressed. Meet the Digital Sole, a pair of sneakers created by French company Zhor Tech, who has come up with a design that can be "laced up" (note: there are no laces) right from a smartphone. What's more, Zhor Tech's smart shoes are able to track your steps and the amount of pressure you're putting on your feet, all thanks to an embedded sensor which displays information on an app.
The Royole-X is a foldable headset for movies on-the-go
For a brief moment in the hectic and crowded floor of CES, I escaped and watched a trailer for a "Fast and Furious" movie. No, I didn't sneak away into a theater (I wish) -- I simply donned the Royole-X, a new personal theater headset that's on display here at the CES Unveiled event. At first glance, it seems very much like the Avegant Glyph, another personal theater headset. But instead of using a mirror projection system, the Royole has an AMOLED embedded in its visor. Specifically, it's supposedly a superthin and flexible AMOLED display at only 0.01 mm thick. The result is what the company is calling the "world's first foldable audio and video headset.
A closer look at NuAns' Neo, the prettiest Windows 10 phone
Windows 10 Mobile is still a work in progress, but a Japanese phone maker just might have made me a Microsoft convert. Maybe. NuAns' NEO is perhaps the first seriously pretty Windows 10 thanks to its unique split-back design, which couldn't be any further from the subdued style of this year's new Lumias. As it stands, there are 64 possible top-and-bottom combinations, a number that leaps when you factor in some of the secret, special edition covers NuAns is making. I don't think I could ever pull off an ostrich-leather-and-snakeskin phone, but I appreciate having the option.
Netatmo's security cam can pick out cars, humans and animals
Netatmo is no stranger to home monitoring cameras, and at this year's CES, the company is taking its efforts outside. The WiFi-connected Presence outdoor security camera has a unique feature: It can distinguish between cars, people and animals. In addition to real-time monitoring, the gadget can also be set up to record only when it detects a person or a car, for example. You'll get a notification to your phone through Netatmo's app, where you can flip on the flood light to deter any would-be intruders.
Lenovo's cheap smartphone can do quality selfies
This time last year, Lenovo unveiled the Vibe Xtension Selfie Flash attachment and then managed to avoid launching a smartphone with front LED flash for the rest of 2015. (Well, if you exclude the Motorola bunch, that is.) At long last, this year the company's back with an affordable model that not only has an integrated front light, but also uses good components to produce quality selfies. Meet the Vibe S1 Lite, which is a $199 device that manages to offer a Sony-powered 8-megapixel front-facing camera with a five-piece lens for "zero distortion," as well as a front LED flash. The main camera isn't bad, either, as it comes with Samsung's 13-megapixel ISOCELL sensor with phase-detection auto focus plus a dual-tone flash.
Sensorwake clock wants to wake you up with scents, not sound
One of the most hated sounds in the world has to be the shrill siren of the alarm clock in the morning. But what if you could wake up to a pleasant scent instead? That's the thought behind the Sensorwake, which is a unique olfactory alarm clock. Insert one of six scent cartridges (ocean, lush jungle, croissant, coffee, chocolate or peppermint) in the slot, program in your wake time and you'll be awakened with the aroma of your choice.
The water bottle of the future has a built-in screen
It's a water bottle with a color screen built-in. Nothing sounds more "ugh, CES" than that. However, the product is more serious than it sounds. And heavier than it looks. It also does more than just measure your water intake. LifeFuels is a new company, and this is its first product ever: a smart "nutrition" bottle that adds pre-measured amounts of concentrated supplements and flavors to the water inside. There's space inside the lid for five different "fuel pods", while Bluetooth connectivity to your phone will keep you updated on exactly how much water (coconut-flavored or otherwise) you've drank in the day.
Here's a transforming robotic video projector
Cerevo unveiled its newest -- some would argue, wackiest -- invention to date at CES Unveiled. Dubbed the Tipron, this machine is equal parts autobot and long-throw projector. It stands just a foot and a half tall when completely folded (handy for when it's recharging or not in use) but then doubles in height as it unfurls to cast 80 inches of 720p video at your wall. The device can also wheel itself from room to room at your command via an Android app, so users aren't limited to watching content in a single space.
The 3DRudder is a $175 VR controller for your feet
Last year 3DRudder let us put our kicks on its feet-based motion controller, but it wasn't quite ready for the full VR demo. This year the team is back with an Oculus headset attached so we can get the proper experience. From my experience, the balance board isn't much different than what we've seen, as its embedded gyroscope, accelerometer and pressure sensors gave me hands-free control through a 3D environment with six degrees of freedom. I picked up the controls pretty quickly, and I could definitely see using this in combination with a mouse/keyboard or game controller. The 3DRudder VR Edition is supposed to ship by the end of March, and preorders are open now for $175/€175.
Wisewear hides a safety alarm inside a woman's bracelet
If there's one issue with conventional personal attack alarms, it's that if it isn't already in your hand when trouble strikes, it's basically useless. Wisewear is a company that's tackling the issue head-on by turning a piece of jewelry into an instant and immediate way to sound the alarm. The firm has baked Bluetooth into a bracelet set called The Socialite that, on the surface, looks simple enough. Double-tap the touch panel, however, and it'll send your location and a distress signal to your friends over SMS.
Mekamon is a fighting robot with an augmented reality twist
A couple of little four-legged bots could be the future of fighting games. Reach Robotics, a UK-based company, is pushing for mixed reality gaming with modular robots called Mekamons that will face off in the digital and physical worlds. It's building an augmented reality game with these intelligent bots that are capable of launching a full-blown attack on each other. Its existing prototype at CES has infrared, Bluetooth and an in-built compass to help it detect the exact location of an opponent for an accurate attack in a multiplayer game. For now, Reach is using an app to control, arm and level up the bot in a single-player game (the only working format at the event).
Parrot's Disco drone takes flight as a fixed-wing ultralight
The latest in Parrot's stable of drones ditches the popular quadcopter format, opting for a fixed-wing design instead. The Disco -- in keeping with Parrot's musical naming theme -- is still in the prototype stage, with pricing and release date still up in the air, but aims to provide an approachable interface for beginners and casual users. Simply give the Disco a little shake to get the motor moving, then throw it into the air, where it will automatically take flight and adopt a circular holding pattern until you're ready to take control.
NVIDIA's Drive PX 2 is a liquid-cooled supercomputer for cars
NVIDIA's sequel to the Drive PX in-car computer it debuted last year is a liquid-cooled beast with the power equivalent to 150 MacBook Pros. Say hello to the Drive PX 2. It sports 12 CPU cores and has 8 teraflops worth of processing power -- similar to about 6 Titan X video cards. NVIDIA also claims that it can achieve 24 trillion operations a second, which should make it particularly useful for powering self-driving cars. Jen-Hsun Huang, NVIDIA's CEO, says it's the first supercomputer made for cars -- it's certainly the first we've seen with such insane specs.
The Q.rad warms your home with microprocessor waste heat
Microprocessors generate a surprising amount of heat during the course of their number crunchings -- especially when you cram a slew of them together in a modern data center. While major tech companies like Google, Facebook and eBay have long reclaimed that waste heat for other uses, French startup Quarnot is now bringing those recycled benefits to consumers. The company showed off its Q.rad home heater on Monday at CES Unveiled. The Q.rad harnesses the waste heat generated by its onboard microprocessors to warm your house.
The Oree Stylograph is a smart pen made out of pure copper
While Livescribe may have the recognition, it's by no means the only smart pen on the market. Here at CES, we got a peek at the Oree Stylograph, a beautiful ballpoint smart pen that's made of pure copper. In fact, it was a Kickstarter project that was fully funded just a few weeks ago and should start shipping soon. The pen feels nice in the hand and, fortunately, uses standard ballpoint cartridges. Like the Livescribe, it communicates with your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth and will automatically transfer whatever you've scribbled to the corresponding Oree app. The app doesn't have character-recognition now, but it will by the end of the month, according to a spokesperson.
