Category Archives: CES 2015

Gibson Enhances the Studio with Les Paul Monitors

February 21, 2015CES 2015, EntertainmentPLUGHITZ Live

For his 100th birthday, Gibson is celebrating with new products in the Les Paul product line. Adding to the existing guitars and new headphones comes a set of studio monitor speakers. Like the headphones, using the same wood as the guitars, these speakers are styled to match both the guitars and headphones perfectly.

At the base of the speaker is a lighted Gibson logo. That logo, a seemingly simple detail, serves as the power indicator. When on, the logo is lighted; when off, it pulses. These are the types of details that make Gibson a great, professional design brand.

The monitors come in 3 sizes: 4″, 6″ and 8″. This sizing describes the cones of the woofers, which are custom designed to create a perfect audio reference for a studio. You can get the speakers in cherry, cherry burst and tobacco burst. You can pick up your own set for %599, $799 or $999 righyt now.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Gibson Adds Headphones to Their Iconic Line

February 21, 2015CES 2015, EntertainmentPLUGHITZ Live

Gibson may be best known for their guitars, but that is not all the company has up their sleeves. This year, the brand is introducing a line of headphones, filling all of the same levels their guitars do.

At the top of the line is the Les Paul headphones. Styled to match the look of the classic Les Paul guitars, these headphones are made with the same wood as the rest of the Les Paul line. To ensure that the headphones are properly protected, they come in a specially designed hard-body case.

As you would expect from a Gibson product, the sound quality is amazing. The cones are tuned to produce sound exactly as it is being played. This, along with its other features, makes the headphones a perfect on-stage or in-studio companion for any serious musician.

Along with the Les Pauls, there are other models being released, both smaller and less expensive. The headphones come with a variety of features, including standard 1/8″, Bluetooth and Thunderbolt. You can get a version with a microphone, to be used with your phone, and some models can even be fully customized, like Gibson Guitars.

If you are a Gibson fan, and want a high-end sound, these headphones are for you.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Gibson Talks About Their 2015 Guitars and Features

February 20, 2015CES 2015, Entertainment, GadgetsPLUGHITZ Live

Whether you play guitar or not, you almost certainly know Gibson. The company is best known for carrying on the tradition of Les Paul, who was the creator of one of the first, and certainly best-known, solid-body electric guitars. The Les Paul line of guitars carries on in the visual tradition, making them incredibly distinctive.

This year, which would have been his 100th birthday, the company is celebrating by enhancing his legacy through enhanced and additional products. For example, his signature, as well as the number “100” in his handwriting, has been added to each guitar. There is also a hologram of what is believed to be the final photo of Les Paul on the back.

In the technology of the guitar, the company has made their robot guitar smaller, and will include it with every Gibson USA guitar this year. For those who do not know, this feature allows you to choose a tuning, and the guitar tunes itself. It requires no wood be removed form the guitar; instead, it sits at the top behind the tuning knobs.

As Daniele is a big fan of Gibson, and is really into their guitars, she was curious which Gibson guitar a beginner should own. Check out all of the cool new features of the Gibson guitars.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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BLU Products Talks About Their Windows Phones Devices

February 20, 2015CES 2015, Mobile, WirelessPLUGHITZ Live

Yezz wasn’t the only company showing off Windows Phones; Miami, Florida-based BLU Products also had a pair of Windows Phone handsets on display. These devices have been available through the Microsoft Store for a little while now, but we wanted to get a better idea of why BLU decided to join the Microsoft family, how they have been doing and what the future holds.

The two current handsets are the BLU Win Jr ($89) and the BLU Win HD ($179). In BLU tradition, the handsets are all done in wonderfully crazy colors, and available unlocked for better than reasonable prices. More importantly, the specs manage to keep pace with the better-known brands.

Apparently, this combination is enough to keep the phones on the move. The company says that the Microsoft Store has big demand for the handsets. In fact, while discussing the current handsets, we had the opportunity to discuss the company’s future in the Microsoft ecosystem. Luckily, we will see new handsets added to the lineup, likely to coincide with the release of Windows 10 for Phones.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Yezz Announces a New Windows Phone and Firefox Device

February 20, 2015CES 2015PLUGHITZ Live

While CES might see a lot of talk about Android, Yezz took the opportunity to speak about 2 other platforms: Windows Phone and Firefox OS.

The company currently offers a pair of Windows Phone devices: the Billy 4 and Billy 4.7. This year, they announced a new member of the family: the Billy 5S. This is their first LTE device in the Billy line, as well as the first to sport a 13MP rear camera, and a 5″ IPS screen. It also sports dual SIM capability and a 1.2GHz quad-core processor.

In addition to the Billy 5S, Yezz also announced a new line of handsets: the Foxy, a line of Firefox OS handsets. As with most Firefox OS handsets, the specs are not traditionally spectacular, but are enough for the target demographic. A 1GHz single-core processor, 4GB of internal memory and 2MP rear facing camera are the common capabilities of the 2 new handsets. The Foxy 3.5 offers a 3.5″ HVGA LCD screen, while the Foxy 4 offers a 4″ HVGA TFT LCD screen.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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TazTag Creates a Physically Secure Android Device and Service

February 20, 2015CES 2015, Mobile, WirelessPLUGHITZ Live

Security was a big topic at this year’s CES. From watches to USB keys, there were all sorts of products trying to solve the problem of security, in physical and virtual world.

TazTag has a new smartphone designed to ensure secure communications between devices. The devices have a combination of hardware and software security, helping to guarantee the person you are trying to communicate with is the person on the other end.

Using biometric sensors, the phone requires a physical unlock before any of the secured applications can be accessed. Currently, the system supports secure chat, email, SMS and others. Also available is an encrypted voice service, available between compatible devices. The company also provides a secure, private application marketplace.

The hardware of the phone is also secured, preventing a thief from simply flashing the firmware and getting around its security. Without the right configuration, the hardware will be come useless.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Sketchers Adds a Matching Game to Kids Shoes

February 20, 2015CES 2015, Entertainment, MobilePLUGHITZ Live

One of the fun things about CES is getting to see companies who seem like they don’t fit, and seeing what idea they bring to the table. This year, one of the companies that surprised us by showing off a truly interesting product was Sketchers, the shoe company.

This year, the company is releasing a line of shoes with a lighted matching game built directly into the side. Playing similar to the game Simon, kids get 8 rounds of increasing pattern to match. If they match all 8 rounds, they are treated to a light show from their feet.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Qi Extends Its Capabilities, Powers Kitchen Equipment

February 20, 2015CES 2015, Gadgets, HomePLUGHITZ Live

Fulton Innovation introduced us to the Wireless Power Consortium in 2012, and since then, our team has become big supporters of the Qi wireless power standard. Since its beginnings as an inductive charger for mobile phones, the technology has continued to improve.

Today, the standard supports higher amounts of power transmitted over longer distances than ever before. The Wireless Power Consortium is not complete, though. They showed us a prototype of an enhanced coil that supports 1 kilowatt and can be transferred through a kitchen counter. The same coil will be able to support over 2 kilowatts in the near future.

That type of power is obviously not designed for charging phones and tablets, but instead for powering real-life devices. In their prototype, they use a food processor being entirely powered through the countertop. They even show off controlled amperage levels, which increase and decrease as different modes are chosen, or as the distance from the coil is increased.

The prototype gained the Wireless Power Consortium F5 Live: Refreshing Technology’s TPN Pick Award.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Plantronics Shows Off a Line of Gaming Headsets

February 20, 2015CES 2015, Computers, EntertainmentPLUGHITZ Live

In addition to their well-known phone products and their music headphones, Plantronics also offers a line of gaming headphones and accessories.

Plantronics RIG is a gaming headset which also offers a desktop mixer. You can bring in 2 audio sources so you can listen to the game and also bring in external sound. If you want to add your own music, you can; if you want to chat on Skype while you play a game on Origin you can. Plantronics has even heard of people using the external audio to bring in audio from a baby monitor – the options are pretty limitless.

Using the mixer, which supports line-in or fiber optic in, the headphones can be used with nearly any platform, including Xbox, PC and PlayStation. With dual microphones, the headset can also allow you to game chat and use the phone at the same time. They are available now for $129.99.

To focus on the PC, an altered version of the headset is also available specifically for PC gamers. Offering a shorter cord for desktop use, plus 7.1 surround sound, PC gamers get a bit of an advantage over their competitors. The mixer does not include fiber optic support or Xbox headset, like its multi-platform partner does. It is available now for $99.99.

Finally comes the simpler RIG Flex. It plugs in directly with a standard 3.5mm plug, meaning you can plug it in directly to a computer, Wii or mobile device. It has lost the mixer, making it ideal for mobile. What it doesn’t lose is the sound quality, build quality and, of course, comfort. It is available now for $79.99.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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Plantronics Brings Their Bluetooth Know-How to Music Headphones

February 20, 2015CES 2015, Entertainment, MobilePLUGHITZ Live

When you think of Plantronics, you might think of headphones, but you probably go right to phone products. What you might not know is that, in addition to their phone/voice products, Plantronics offers a line of music centric devices as well.

The BackBeat GO 2 is a set of fairly standard-looking Bluetooth earbuds, but with a couple of traditional Plantronics features. Included with the earbuds is a charging case, which can add 2 full charges, so when you are away from power for long periods of time, you can keep them charged without a wall. They are available now for $99.99.

The BackBeat Fit is a set of Bluetooth earbuds that is unique enough to have earned them a CES Innovation Award because of its design. The material is designed to be completely flexible, while still preventing them from being tangled or kinked. Along with the headset is a matching case, which turns into an armband. To ensure outdoor safety, the surface of both are reflective, and the earbuds do not block outside sound. They are available now for $129.99.

Straying from earbuds, the company also offers the BackBeat Pro, an over-the-head set of Bluetooth headphones designed more for sound quality than for sports activity. It offers active noise cancelation and 24 hours of playtime. What sets this apart is the sensors – it allows the headphones to automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off, similar to how many Plantronics voice headphones work.

They also offer external mics, so you can turn on or off outside sound. If you’re on an airplane and the flight attendant comes up, you can hit a button and hear what they are saying instead of having to move them off of your ears and shift them back. You can also use the headphones without Bluetooth if the battery dies or you’re in a place where Bluetooth won’t get the job done. They are available now for $249.99.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.

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