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DokiWatch lets kids make video calls and share their location
A cellular watch that can make video calls? You won't find many of them because smartphones are so much better at doing that, but we've probably all longed for this seemingly futuristic concept when we were young (just as our own James Trew confessed in his Neptune Pine review). Thanks to the folks over at Doki Technologies, kids these days will get to realize this dream. The DokiWatch is a rugged Android smartwatch with a 1.22-inch touchscreen, and it packs all the essentials for keeping an eye on a child: It comes with 3G radio (1900/2100 MHz; works on AT&T and T-Mobile) plus a Micro SIM slot, as well as location tracking (using GPS, WiFi and cellular signal), an SOS button and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera -- the part which makes it stand out from the other kids smartwatches.
A sweatshirt massage is better than no massage at all
I like massages. Who doesn't? But what if you could get a massage while you worked? Stood up or sat down anywhere. In your home, the office, or in the car? That's the premise of the AiraWear, a massage vest that embeds into (at the moment) a zip-up hoodie. I'm typing part of this article while my shoulders are being gently teased by two firm foam points, backed by air cushions that inflate and deflate. I just cranked the power to max and I'm feeling pretty good.
Philips' izzy offers simple take on multiroom audio
As expected, a number of companies debuted multiroom audio gear here at CES, but Philips aims to make its system the easiest to use. With the izzy line of speakers, the company's goal is simplicity while still offering all of the perks of a multiroom setup. To accomplish that, the izzy speakers don't require an app to get going. Instead, the speakers create their own network by using so-called izzylink tech to pair with each other. When I asked if users should be concerned about range, a Philips rep assured me it wouldn't be an issue. I look forward to putting that to the test in the future.
Google and Lenovo's 3D-scanning smartphone costs less than $500
Google and Lenovo have partnered to create a smartphone that uses the Project Tango platform, meaning your little handheld computer will be able to read the physical world to overlay digital information and objects on it. The phone will launch in summer 2016, and while the industrial design isn't finalized, it'll be under 6.5 inches. What you're seeing here probably won't be what you'll see later this year.
Federal marshals raid a booth at CES over patent violation
US marshals raided and shut down a booth at CES on Thursday afternoon, serving a court order to the Chinese company displaying a $500, one-wheeled, self-balancing electric skateboard, Bloomberg Business reports. This product may sound familiar -- Silicon Valley startup Future Motion debuted the Onewheel, a single-wheeled, self-balancing, electric skateboard at CES 2014. The company also held a successful $630,000 Kickstarter campaign to fund its production. We tried out the retail version of the Onewheel in November 2014 and had a lot of fun with it. Apparently, Changzhou First International Trade did, too.
A virtual baseball simulator could change how hitters train
EON Sports VR is on a mission to change sports training as we know it. The young, Kansas City-based startup recently teamed up with retired MLB player Jason Giambi on Project OPS, a virtual reality baseball trainer powered by a consumer headset. But that's not the only novelty EON Sports VR has been working on. Last June, it teased an interactive baseball hitting simulator, one that allows players to step into a virtual batting cage and practice their swing. Today, at CES 2016, I had the chance to try it.
Glowforge is a laser cutter for DIY enthusiasts
The onslaught of 3D printers has created a booming market for machines that can make quality products at home. Glowforge is a new object-maker that's a 3D laser printer, cutter and engraver rolled into one. It will help DIY enthusiasts churn out a range of products with wood, acrylic, leather, fabric or even glass. The cutter uses a dual camera technology for realtime autofocus so it helps aligns the laser head with your pattern and makes the cutting process easy. The camera recognizes the material and even follows the beam of light, which is the width of a human hair, so it can adjust the timing and position every step of the way.
Hands-on with the crazy projects from Samsung's secret lab
Just like most major companies, Samsung now has a secret incubation lab of its very own, dubbed Creative Lab. Last week the company revealed it'd be showing off its first batch of projects here at CES, so we hustled over to check them out as soon as we could. Samsung had three concepts on the floor: Rink, a hand-motion controller for the Gear VR; Welt, a smart belt that tracks your waistline; and TipTalk, a strap that can be placed on any watch for smartwatch-esque features.
Intel and Lady Gaga team up to 'Hack Harassment'
Hack Harassment is exactly what it sounds like -- a tech-driven initiative to curb online harassment and find solutions to issues with hate speech and threats on the web. The program, which Intel teased during its CES conference this week, is spearheaded by Intel, Vox Media, Re/code and Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation. Hack Harassment's first move will be a series of hackathons, held both online and in-person, with the goal of advancing anti-harassment technology.
Meet KATIA, a robotic arm that wants to do it all
Some people very strongly believe that robots will eventually replace humans in the workforce. Those people probably wouldn't like KATIA, a surprisingly versatile robot arm we just met here at CES. Carbon Robotics founders Rosanna Myers and Dan Corkum managed to build an industrial-grade robotic arm that, ahem, won't cost you an arm or a leg. Seriously, they're aiming to sell KATIA for a relatively paltry $1,999 starting this March.
360Fly's new camera captures 4K video
360Fly unveiled at CES this week a new 360 degree camera that captures 2880 x 2880 4K video -- quadruple the resolution of its predecessor -- at 30FPS while generating immersive, VR-capable content. What's more, the new unit boasts a host of fresh capture modes and now tracks telemetry data as well. These capture modes include 2560 x 1440 resolution forward facing, time lapse; and motion-, acceleration- and audio-triggered recording. Additionally, the 4K 360Fly incorporates a GPS sensor, barometer/altimeter and accelerometer. It can even output 360 degree video in real time with the addition of an optional Micro-HDMI accessory base.
Kodak's Super 8 camera is retro in all the right ways
One of the nicer surprises at this year's CES was Kodak's Super 8 camera announcement. Perhaps more surprising is the fact that the company isn't leaving the film development up to aspiring film makers. In the $50-$75 development cost, you can expect to get a film reel and a digital copy. Pretty neat. Being the curious folks that we are here at Engadget, I stopped by Kodak's booth for a closer look at the Super 8 prototypes.
Philips' Fidelio E6 system has surround sound when you need it
When it comes to home theater speakers, they're mostly meant for one purpose: audio from your television. Sure, you can connect a mobile device and listen to music, but you're pretty much stuck with the same speaker layout. Philips is looking to offer a solution that's more modular while still keeping the 5.1 surround sound abilities. With the €899 Fidelio E6 (no US pricing yet), the company's solution is detachable speakers. Yes, really. The concept isn't new to Philips, as it already launched a soundbar with removable speakers on the ends. The Fidelio E6 goes a bit further than that.
Motorola's name disappears from its phones this year
Motorola's name is virtually synonymous with cellphones (it invented the category, after all), but you aren't going to see it around for much longer. Parent company Lenovo informs CNET that it's phasing out the Motorola name on phones this year: The "Moto" name and that signature "M" logo will be all that's left on higher-end devices, while lower-cost models will go with Lenovo's own Vibe moniker. While Motorola as an organization will still exist, it won't be nearly as prominent in 2016.
Owlet's smart baby monitor can save lives while looking cute
Most startups crow about saving people time or money — Provo, Utah-based Owlet, on the other hand, is part of an exclusive club that wants to save lives. After a successful crowdfunding campaign and a beta testing push, Owlet recently released its washable, wearable baby monitor to the masses in hopes that its heart tracking abilities could help few the youngest of young ones succumb to ailments like SIDS.
The Engadget Challenge: Living vicariously through others
The most ridiculous spectacle to ever grace the Engadget stage at CES is over. But you can relive the magic of the Engadget Challenge right here. We spend much of our modern lives exploring the world through other people's social media accounts. You may have never been to the Grand Canyon, but your friend's Instagram feed makes it feel like you've seen it all anyway. While you can experience the places and things via social media, the question is can you be an active participant. Can you actually accomplish something through the eyes and hands of another? We seek to answer that very question in our first episode.
Alienware announces Oculus-ready PCs, teases OLED laptop
Breaking down and accepting the Oculus Rift's $599 price tag is just the first step of experiencing virtual reality. The second step is getting yourself a gaming PC capable of running high-end VR content. That means juggling specs, buying the right parts, buildling a machine... or picking up an Oculus-Ready certified build from Alienware.
Razer's Nabu Watch is a tribute to the past
Don't call it a smartwatch, because as far as Razer is concerned, this is a digital chronograph that just happens to have smarts built-in. The Nabu Watch takes an old-timey digital watch from the late '90s — specifically a Casio G Shock and its kin — and bakes in the firm's Nabu fitness tracker tech. There's no pixel-dense display here, but three separate modules, the top two showing the date and time in glorious dot matrix. The lower third plays home to a 128 x 16 OLED screen that matches the one you'll find on the Nabu band itself. Thankfully, all of the same fitness, sleep tracking and social features from the original have made it across to this new variation.
I don't need a damn Bluetooth pregnancy test
My first response when I heard about the First Response Bluetooth pregnancy test was this: Nope. Nope, nope and nope. Of all the things in my life that need to be "connected" or "have an app," a pregnancy test ranks dead last. Taking a home pregnancy test is one of the most private rituals that a woman of childbearing age can have. It is also one of the scariest and most heart-wrenching experiences a woman can go through. And to somehow turn it into a way to piggyback on the Internet of Things trend strikes me as terribly opportunistic and even a little insensitive.
Introducing the Best of CES 2016 finalists!
Our editors have been on the ground for the better part of this week scouring every nook and cranny in Las Vegas to bring you the latest and greatest from CES 2016. And now we're ready to announce to you our finalists for the official Best of CES awards. Below you'll find our selections for all 14 categories, which range from best wearables to the most innovative tech we've seen at the show. We'll announce our category winners tomorrow, which is also when we'll reveal our Best of the Best award recipient, the most coveted prize of them all. That special award is selected from our pool of category winners. If you want your voice heard too -- no worries! There's an additional category for the People's Choice, where you can vote for your favorite entry in our compilation of finalists. Just head on over to our poll right here to vote and the one with the most votes will win our special People's Choice award. All award winners will be announced at a special ceremony tomorrow at our CES stage, so be sure to come back right here on Engadget around 5 p.m. PT Friday afternoon to watch it all unfold. Photo by Will Lipman
