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Feminist Frequency shares the promising gaming trends of 2016
Since 2009, Feminist Frequency has been tracking harmful representations of women in gaming. During this year's CES, Feminist Frequency's Executive Director Anita Sarkeesian and Managing Editor Carolyn Petit joined us on the Engadget stage to discuss something a little different: some 2016 gaming trends that showed the industry is moving beyond typical stereotypes and tropes and starting to think more differently.
BMW shows off what else you could be doing in a self-driving car
The world is overflowing with autonomous cars. That's great because the competition will ultimately benefit everyone. The typical self-driving demo (while generally impressive), usually requires reporters to sit in the passenger seat with a safety engineer behind the wheel. BMW, on the other hand, put me behind the wheel and let its prototype 5 Series tell me all about Las Vegas while barreling down the freeway.
The Octopus watch might make a responsible person out of your kid
I'm no parent, but I was sort of a lazy jerk as a child. While I eventually got my act together, I have to wonder if having something like the Octopus watch as a wee lad might have helped. Unlike other smartwatches for youngsters, which usually focus on keeping them connected or entertained, the Octopus was instead designed to build and reinforce good habits on a regular schedule.
The Engadget Podcast Ep 23: Leaving Las Vegas
Editor in chief Michael Gorman, executive editor Christopher Trout and managing editor Dana Wollman join host Terrence O'Brien to give you one last update from the ground in Las Vegas. They talk about the history of sex at CES, it's quiet reemergence and all the most absurd gadgets from the show floor. Plus they settle once and for all who is the Flame Wars champion, and who will have something to prove in 2017.
BACtrack's new wearable told me how drunk I was at CES
At 7 PM the exhibition center's doors opened and hordes of journalists broke through the velvet rope line holding them at bay. They rushed down broad, carpeted hallways, deftly ignoring the staff's pleas for calm and demands for proper identification. There was no time for pleasantries that night: It was a land rush, with limited table space and access to the precious few Ethernet connections. Welcome to the Pepcom Digital Experience, where exhibitors and reporters alike jockey for the other's attention in hopes of scooping their competition. It's madness, enough to drive a man to drink. So that's exactly what I did.
RZA's advice for starting out in music production
After a performance with electronic music duo Parisi here at CES, we sat down with RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan to chat about Roli Blocks. The modular touch-sensitive pieces of tech snap together to create a user-friendly way to start making music in minutes. They're a fun option for beginners and pros alike, and the hip hop producer offered advice for people looking to dive into music for the first time, what makes Blocks unique and the types of sounds you can expect from the gear.
Aisha Tyler on technology's power to enable filmmakers
Actor, author, comedian, talk show host, filmmaker. Aisha Tyler is all of these things. She's also the 2017 CES Ambassador, which is why we had to have her on the Engadget stage to discuss the role technology plays in professional career and its impact on her ability to do the projects she wants to. Watch. Learn. Enjoy.
How Blue used its microphone know-how to design headphones
Blue's USB microphones have been a podcasting staple since the Snowball was introduced in the mid 2000s. Before then, the company had years of experience crafting professional-grade studio mics that became the go-to options for producers and engineers. It's a reputation that Blue maintains to this day. In 2014, the company decided to tackle headphones with Mo-Fi -- a wired model with a unique hinged design and a built-in audiophile-grade amplifier. Then, at CES this week, Blue took the wraps off three new models: the planar magnetic Ella; Mo-Fi's successor, Sadie; and the wireless Satellite. Soon after, I sat down with CEO John Maier to find out how the company put its microphone expertise to use in a range of headphones.
ASUS' new displays include one with a wireless charging pad
ASUS didn't show all its cards at its CES event. The computing giant has unveiled a pair of high-end desktop displays that each have their own clever tricks. The Designo Curve MX38VQ (above) is arguably the star if you're an everyday user: the 37.5-inch, 3,840 x 1,600 monitor packs a Qi wireless charging pad to top up your smartphone. We've seen charging before, but not on a screen this big and wide. It also packs a "frameless" panel and Harmon Kardon-boosted speakers (albeit a modest 8W) if you're tight on space.
Sony should be taking bigger risks at CES
I've always had a soft spot for Sony. I grew up with a Walkman cassette player and an absurd 13-inch Sony TV set hooked up to the Sega Saturn in my bedroom. But in recent years, I've grown increasingly concerned about the company's future. Yes, the PlayStation brand is strong, and its image-sensor division remains a lucrative asset. But in so many other categories, Sony is struggling. Take its smartphone business: The X line was a disappointment last year, doing little to change the sluggish sales of the Z series that came before it.
It's no longer enough for budget phones to just be cheap
Two years ago, the world of smartphones looked very different. It was hard to find a decent phone for less than $500, batteries took forever to charge, and screens were generally smaller than five inches. These days, you can get a long-lasting 5.2-inch (or larger) phone with speedy performance and the latest operating system for $400. Heck, you can even get one for $200.
CES 2017 by the numbers
As CES 2017 slowly winds to a close, we look back on the week that was. This year's show saw a number of new devices and technologies make their debut. Razer unveiled a triptych laptop display, Griffin trotted out a smart toaster, Ford announced a 300-mile electric SUV and Dr. Samsung will see us now. We have numbers, because how else will we determine the Best of CES winners?
Immersit Vibes puts a rumble pack in your sofa
Sitting down: It's such a passive activity. Immersit wants to shake that up, all too literally, with its "vibes" sofa accessory. We've seen Immersit before, when it debuted a much more intense (and more expensive) 4D motion kit. That one actually raised the sofa off the ground for added impact. Vibes, on the other hand is meant to be more accessible, and at around $350, it's within most consumers' reach.
Presenting the Best of CES 2017 winners!
We debated. We argued. One of us even yelled. After a long night of going through our list of finalists, our editors have finally settled on our winners for the official Best of CES awards. Below is our list of winners for each category, including our Best of the Best and our People's Choice winner too. Congratulations to all our finalists and winners!
Sony's flagship soundbar kicks out room-filling audio
CES is filled with Dolby Atmos-spitting audio equipment, but Sony's HT-ST5000 stands out. Sony has improved this model with the ability to scale audio properly no matter what size your room is. Just adjust for the height of the ceiling and where you're sitting (using its onscreen GUI) and it can provide impressive positional audio.
Never worry about leaving the stove top on ever again
The first time someone says "smart stove knobs," you instantly conclude that the technology industry needs an intervention. But while the Inirv React's concept seems gently ridiculous, the product itself makes you wonder why nobody thought of this before. Essentially, it's a series of powered dials that sit on your gas range, letting you turn them off remotely with your smartphone. Even more impressive, however, is that a nearby sensor can do it automatically if it senses heat, gas or that you've left the house.
'Super Mario Bros. 3' is harder with a live audience
Old-school video games are hard. That's what we learned after booting up an NES Classic Edition for today's gaming challenge live from the Engadget stage at CES. Feminist Frequency's Carolyn Petit joined me on stage to thoroughly thrash me, while her colleague Anita Sarkeesian talked smack from the sidelines. All told, we played Super Mario Bros.3 , Bubble Bobble and Balloon Fight. To top it off, an already-challenging experience was heightened by some temperamental game controllers. Oh, the thrill of gaming before a live audience!
These connected shoes could help you run faster, smarter and more safely
Power laces and 3D-printed materials aren't the only things shaping the future of footwear. If Sensoria and Vivobarefoot have their way, people could soon be wearing shoes packed with tech to help them run faster, smarter and more safely. Here at CES, the companies revealed a pair of concept sneakers that feature two removable chips and four pressure sensors near the heel area. Not only can the system measure speed, pace and track you via GPS, but it's also smart enough to learn your stride rate and foot-landing technique.
A game of 'Whac-a-Mole' can tell if you're concussed
When Reflexion Interactive's Matt Roda was in high school, he suffered a severe concussion during a hockey game. At the time, his coach put him back in the game after asking asinine questions like who was president and what year it was. The experience inspired him and his friends to find a better way for high schools to detect concussions without buying expensive gear. A few years later, the Reflexion Edge was born.
Circuit Cubes make engineering basics a snap for kids
Kids who fall in love with technology and engineering have never had it better. There's no shortage of websites and tutorial videos and hardware kits meant to teach them the fundamentals of crafting their very own gadgets, but I'd argue few are as elegant -- or as fun -- as Tenka Labs' Circuit Cubes. They're tiny modules laden with magnets, batteries, sensors and other fun little components, but since they're cubes, they allow players to build complex, multifunctional structures in three dimensions. Imagine a mash-up between LittleBits and Lego and you're on the right track.
