Category Archives: CES 2015

Denon Professional Unveils a Dozen New Products at CES 2015

CES 2015, Entertainment

DenonProfessionalA trip to CES is never complete without visiting our good friend Eric Palonen. Now spear-heading Denon Professional, a high-end audio product company, Eric is responsible for showing more people some of the company’s great products. At CES 2015, Denon Professional debuted 12 new and exciting products, all launching in the spring.

Denon Professional showed off the Solution Series, designed for the A/V integrator or consultant. They’re little boxes made for very specific tasks. For instance, the DN-2000BR is a Bluetooth receiver with balanced audio outputs. For someone who’s upgrading a building, you no longer need to buy all new equipment to outfit the space with the latest tech. Other products in the Solution Series handle things like AirPlay, DLNA, audio routing without drilling holes, and Android mini-computers.

Denon Professional also demonstrated the Envoi. It’s a portable and powerful PA system perfect for places where a user might not have access to a large bank of power but need sound reinforcement. With the Envoi, you get a 360-watt speaker with a myriad of functionality and inputs. You can stream music from your smartphone, off an SD card, Bluetooth or even plug in your audio mixer. You can then unplug it and operate it for up to 12 hours on a single charge. Even better, there’s a built-in wireless microphone. Envoi will retail for $599.

We also got to take a look at the DN-300Z. It’s a poly-media player, so it’ll play almost anything you can think of. Slot-loaded CDs, USB, SD card reader, Bluetooth and AM/FM radio all come in a concise 1U device and perfect for clubs, places or worships or other larger venues. $399 gets you a DN-300Z.

Lastly, Eric showed us another Solution Series device, taking a page out of the on-the-desk KUDO device, with a covert presentation manager. Typically mounted under a table or in a rack, it supports Bluetooth, DLNA, MiraCast, Airplay and is 4K-ready.

All these devices, and more, can be found at Denon Professional’s website and it’s definitely a place you’ll want to check out to see the entire line-up.

Interview by Nicholas DiMeo of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Crosley Mixes Old School and Today with New Line of Turntables

CES 2015, Entertainment, Home

CrosleyThe retro-style record players are coming back with a bit of flare, all thanks to Crosley, a name that has been around since the 1920s. During the ’20s through ’40s, it was pretty much the household brand when it came to spinning some vinyl. The brand was then sold and brought back as a retro radio company, and now has started to join in on the resurgence of vinyl in the new millennium.

At CES 2015, Crosley launched a couple of new products aimed at getting people back into records again. First, the Cruiser turntable will make it easy for someone who wants a plug-and-play way to enjoy their favorite records. No longer do you have to buy components and piece them all together. The Cruiser comes in dozens of colors and styles, and some even feature your favorite cartoon characters or TV shows. The turntable will generally run you about $69 and is available at all major retailers, including specialty stores.

For those who want more added functionality or features, Crosley has launched a myriad of different turntables to fit different needs and styles. Things like Bluetooth, CD players, nicer speakers, wood housing and more can all be found in several different product lines from the company. Prices range depending on the flavor, but typically run between $150 and $400. All of the products can be found at Crosley’s website.

Interview by Nicholas DiMeo of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Canon Continues Camera Excellence with New Line of HFR Camcorders

Cameras, CES 2015, Photography

CanonAs avid Canon fans and users of the company’s cameras for our coverage and shows, we always make the Canon booth a yearly visit at the International CES. This year did not disappoint as Canon has continued to improve upon their “bridge” grade of video camera, the level between beginner and advanced amateur.

This year, Canon showed off a trio of Vixia HFR series cameras: the 62, the 60 and the 600. The only differences in these are internal memory storage. 32GB comes with the HFR62, along with WiFi and NFC. The HFR60 comes with 8GB and the same features, while the HFR600 comes in either black or white and contains no internal storage at all. All the cameras come with a 3″ touch panel, 57x advanced zoom and image stabilization, in a small and compact body.

The WiFi and NFC features are the key components to the new line of cameras, which compliment Canon’s other new product, the Connect Station CS100. Just by touching the R60 or R62 to the station, you can wirelessly share and send your videos. You can also use the SD card slot to transfer the videos as well.

The HFR62 will be $449, the HFR60 will be priced at $399 and the HFR600 will run $299, all launching in March.

Interview by Nicholas DiMeo of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Find a lost pet at night or “see” a window air leak with the Flir One Thermal Imaging Device

Cameras, CES 2015, Images, Photography, , , , , ,

Flir   Thermal imaging is not just for uses in the military anymore.  Of course, you can use the technology to give you “eyes” in the dark, but it’s uses are far more broad.  Keith Metz-Porozni of Flir explains some of the many uses of Thermal Imaging.

The Flir One Personal Thermal Imaging Device connects to your iPhone or Android and creates a way for you to check air leaks in a home, find a lost pet at night or find a wall stud to hang a picture from.  There are many uses and could easily become a required tool for mechanics, carpenters, etc.

 

Interview by Marlo Anderson of The Tech Ranch for the TechPodcast Network.

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Jack Ellis, Test Pilot

CES 2015, , , ,

TPN LogoIn a change from the normal CES programming, Don interviews Jack Ellis, TPN‘s video production engineer, who is normally behind the camera rather than in front. Jack’s a retired airline captain who had the job of every boy’s dreams, that of a test pilot.

Regrettably he doesn’t spill the beans on any hair-raising near-misses and Don will have to get him back to rectify that omission, but he does talk a little about aircraft that are now museum pieces.

Interview by Don Baine, the Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.

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iSmartAlarm Intelligent Home Security

CES 2015, Home, , , ,

iSmartAlarm Logo

When it comes to making a house a “smart home”, there’s no shortage of products on the market. Many are piling into the space in an unfocussed way, without clearly thinking through what problem needs to be solved. Contrary to this scattergun approach, iSmartAlarm identified a problem, solved that and then expanded out to make a home smarter. Don discusses iSmartAlarm’s approach with Zac Sutton.

While home security systems with external monitoring can provide reassurance, the reality is that there’s a costly monthly fee, alerts are often triggered by false alarms and by the time the monitoring company has gone through the list of keyholders, any housebreaker will be long gone. The iSmartAlarm is an expandable home security system, built around a central hub (“CubeOne”) which can be expanded with cameras, motion detectors, magnetic sensors and smart power switches. It’s all wireless and it’s very easy to setup.

Alerts are sent to the home owner via several different methods, including email, push notification and texts. If present, the camera can be reviewed remotely to see if it’s the dog, a child arriving home from school or a ne’er-do-well taking off with their belongings.

The iSmartAlarm can be purchased now with second generation products becoming available soon, including smoke alarms and multi-sensor units. The “Preferred Package” costs $199, which includes the central hub, motion sensor and door/window sensors.

Interview by Don Baine, the Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.

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FreeWavz Wirefree Wearable Earphones

CES 2015, Gadgets, , , , ,

FreeWavz LogoBluetooth headphone are commonplace these days but usually there’s a connector between the two earphones, either as a wire or a band. The FreeWavz wirefree earphones are different, using Bluetooth to transmit the music to both earphones, so there’s no physical connection between the earphones. The earphones are smart too, as the blend between sound from the smartphone and the surrounding environment can be adjusted to match the wearer’s preferences.

That’s the “wirefree” part taken care of. What about the “wearable” bit? Aimed at the fitness enthusiast, FreeWavz aren’t only earphones, they’re fitness bands for the ears, measuring the wearer’s heart rate. As you’d expect, the data is reported back to the connected smartphone but the wearer also hears about his heart rate, calories burned, distance and steps in his ears via the FreeWavz. It’s all clever stuff and there’s more revealed in the interview.

The FreeWavz earphones are expected in the summer and are on pre-order for $219 (RRP is $249).

Interview by Don Baine, the Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.

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iStabilizer Selfie Stick at CES

Cameras, CES 2015, , , , ,

iStabilizer LogoThe OED named “selfie” as the word of the year for 2013 and since then it’s been embedded in the zeitgeist. In turn, the selfie stick became one of Time’s inventions of 2014 providing greater depth and spatial awareness for the inclusive snapper. In short, they’re great fun and you get more in the picture. Marlo talks with Noah Rasheta from iStabilizer about their new monopod aka selfie stick.

iStabilizer have a range of gadgets to mount, hold or otherwise position smartphones, tablets and action cams. The new version of their selfie stick makes life especially easy for selfie takers with a universal smartphone mount at one end and a Bluetooth button at the other end of the stick to press the shutter in the camera app. The stick works with both Apple and Android smartphones – there’s another button on the handle to switch between the different types. Overall, it couldn’t get any easier: put smartphone in mount, hold stick to get the best picture, smile and snap.

Interview by Marlo Anderson of The Tech Ranch for the TechPodcast Network.

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Sennheiser Momentum Wireless Headphones

CES 2015, Wireless, , , , ,

Sennheiser LogoSennheiser have always been one of my preferred headphone brands and I previously reviewed the Momentum On-Ears for GNC. Consequently, I was very interested to hear that a second generation of Momentum headphones were on their way with both Bluetooth wireless and noise-cancellation features. Marlo chats to Scott Houston from Sennheiser about the Momentum Wireless.

The new Sennheiser Momentum Wireless takes the original Momentum and updates it for listening on the move. No tangled wires with Bluetooth wireless; environmental sound kept to a minimum with active noise cancellation; integrated microphone to take calls without removing the headphones, improved padding for extended listening and folding arms to pack the headphones away neatly. Overall, it looks like a tidy package.

Of course, this doesn’t come cheap with the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless costing US$499 or GB£379 from Sennheiser’s web store.

Interview by Marlo Anderson of The Tech Ranch for the TechPodcast Network.

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Babolat Play Connected Racket Raises The Game

CES 2015, Health, , , , ,

Babolat PlayBabolat‘s pedigree in tennis is hard to beat, going right the way back to the 19th Century, when the company helped create the first racket strings. Today, it’s pushing forwards into the 21st Century with a new connected racket based on their AeroPro Drive to help both tennis professionals and keen amateurs improve their game. Don chats with Jean-Marc Zimmermann, Babolat CIO.

The Babolat Play racket looks like an ordinary racket on the outside but with sensors integrated into the handle, players now have access to a wealth of information – power level, impact position on the racket head, type and number of strokes (forehand, backhand, serve, overhead smash), top spin or back spin, all provided through a smartphone app for both Apple and Android. Incredibly, there are no sensors outside of the handle, so the racket can be treated like any other racket when it comes to match preparation and re-stringing. The racket can be taken on court for six hours between charges, which is plenty for a couple of matches, and holds over 150 hours of performance information.

The Babolat Play racket will be on sale in mid-January for $349. Two further models will be on sale; one lighter for junior players ($299) and one with a larger head (if I understand correctly), also at $349.

Interview by Don Baine, the Gadget Professor.

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