Tag Archives: CES 2016

Nortek Brings Water Saving Solutions to CES



Nortek logoHome irrigation and water monitoring might not seem like the most exciting technologies being represented at CES. But if you’ve ever had to manage an irrigation system or fallen victim to a hidden water leak, you may find these products from Nortek to be greater than any other gadget the convention had to offer.

Avi Rosenthal, VP of Security & Control at Nortek, stopped by the TPN booth to meet with Todd and Daniel. Avi brought two products. The first is a smart irrigation controller. This controller uses Z-Wave technology to connect to the Internet and other devices. It gets regular weather updates so it knows which days to water the lawn and which days not to. It can be set up with different zones so your lawn and vegetable garden can have different watering schedules. Another Nortek product is the smart flow detector that attaches via velcro to the copper water main that comes into a home from the water company. This device also uses Z-Wave to transmit data to a user’s smartphone. The flow detector can be used to find potential water leaks in the home, down to as small as five ounces of water per hour.

Daniel J. Lewis dares you to get started in podcasting with The Audacity to Podcast.

odd Cochrane is the host of the twice weekly Geek News Central Podcast which can be found at GeekNewsCentral.com

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Aurai Helps Fight Eye Fatigue at CES



Aurai LogoEye strain and eye fatigue are real problems faced by most modern people. All day long, we’re staring at computer screens, tablets, smartphones, and other displays that can be stressful to our eyes. And while we have a number of options available for treating fatigued muscles and joints, there aren’t a lot of choices when it comes to treating eye problems. Aurai is a new “eye massager” that is hoping to change that.

Eric Chu of Taiwanese manufacturer In Trust Technologies stopped by the booth to meet with Daniel and Todd. Eric came armed with a working prototype Aurai. Todd was volunteered to test out the device. Todd compared the Aurai experience to a massage chair but with much lower pressure. He said the sensation of the Aurai is cool and that he could feel it “walking back and forth” over his eyes. Aurai consists of two parts: A silicon mask that’s placed over the eyes and an external controller. Aurai’s massaging action is created with water and its temperature is controlled by a smart-chip enhanced thermal-electric cooler. In Trust Technologies will be launching a Kickstarter campaign soon to further development of its Aurai massager. The company is hoping to offer an early bird special of $119 to its Kickstarter backers. When the product goes full retail, it’s expected to sell for $239. You can register to be notified when the Kickstarter campaign goes live if you’re interested in purchasing an Aurai eye massager.

Daniel J. Lewis dares you to get started in podcasting with The Audacity to Podcast.

odd Cochrane is the host of the twice weekly Geek News Central Podcast which can be found at GeekNewsCentral.com

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Kwikset’s Z-Wave Protocol Locks Provide Peace of Mind



Kwikset logoEveryone wants to keep their homes safe and secure. Kwikset is the largest lock manufacturer in the world. They make a whole series of products that can replace the door locks in your home with an updated, IoT version.

Todd and Marlo spoke with Director of North American Sales and Business Development for Kwikset, Larry Goldman, at CES 2016. He discussed Kwikset’s new line of door locks that operate in the Z-Wave protocol. Z-Wave is a wireless technology that is similar to Bluetooth. The difference is that Z-Wave has been designed specifically for security and is part of the IoT platform.

Kwikset offers a series of products that replace the door locks in your home. It ranges from a simple keypad door lock to a touch screen door lock. These door locks operate wirelessly and run on 4 AA batteries (which can easily last for a year). You can connect these door locks to an app on your phone that will let you see which doors are locked or unlocked, to lock the door remotely, or to let someone in while you are not at home. This technology brings homeowners peace of mind.

Marlo Anderson is rounding up the latest technology news at The Tech Ranch.

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Velodyne LiDar Leads the Way for Autonomous Vehicles



Velodyne LiDAR logoGoogle cars are autonomous vehicles that drive themselves. If you look at the top of a Google car, you will see technology from Velodyne LiDar. Those little devices use LiDar technology (which is a 3D viewing mechanism). They are key sensors for autonomous driving.

Daniel spoke with President of New Business Development for Velodyne LiDar, Marta Hall, at CES 2016. Marta talked about the new generation of LiDar technology. The devices are a key sensor for not only autonomous driving but also for autonomous intelligence. Marta Hall explained that if you want to be very safe in an autonomous moving vehicle you need a system of safety that has autonomous intelligence. This technology can save lives.

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CentraLite Smart Switch Talks to Smart LED Bulbs



CentraLite LogoThe Internet of Things is made up of several smart devices and appliances. The trick is to figure out what to do with this technology to make it work best for you in your home. CentraLite is “the man behind the curtain” that makes the IoT devices for a lot of companies that you have heard of.

Daniel spoke with Director of Marketing for CentraLite, Jason Whatley at CES 2016. CentraLite is an IoT device manufacturer. They make things like smart sensors, thermostats, in-wall switches, and more for companies you’ve heard of like Samsung’s SmartThings and Lowe’s Iris system. CentraLite has been making IoT devices since before there was an “internet of things”.

One of the devices CentraLite makes is a Smart Switch. It solves two problems that home owners who use Smart LED bulbs have. One problem is that turning off the Smart LED bulbs kills the power to those bulbs. The other problem is that there isn’t a convenient way to turn a Smart LED bulb on or off without pulling out your smartphone. The Smart Switch is a device that goes over an existing light switch in your home. It locks out the switch and provides dimming buttons that talk to the LED Smart bulbs.

Daniel J. Lewis dares you to get started in podcasting with The Audacity to Podcast.

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The Aira Jacket Gives You a Massage On-Demand



TWare logoAt the end of a tough work day, it is not unusual to end up with a tired and aching body. Whether you are lugging around equipment, or hunched over a keyboard, work can cause you to need a massage. AiraWear has the perfect solution to this problem – and you can wear it while you work!

Daniel spoke with Product Manager of TWare,Tan Juan Yuan at CES 2016. TWare is a wearable tech company that creates devices that you can wear on your body. Their first product was a TJacket that inflates, wraps around the body, and gives the wearer a hug. It was designed for autistic children and can help them calm down when they are feeling agitated.

TWare’s newest product is part of a brand called AiraWear. The Aira massage jacket provides massage on-demand. Aira is connected via Bluetooth to a smartphone app. Use the app to control the intensity of the massage. The Aira provides a massage to a person’s shoulders, middle back, and lower back.

The Aira is very quiet and will not be heard at all (unless the room is extremely silent). It has a battery that lasts for 3 hours of intensive usage. The battery can be recharged via a USB port, and extended by using a power bank. The retail price of the Aira massage jacket is $249. Tware will be setting up a crowdfunding campaign for it in early March of 2016.

Daniel J. Lewis dares you to get started in podcasting with The Audacity to Podcast.

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View the Future With Vuzix iWear Video Headphones



Vuzix logoVuzix is a leading developer of smart glasses and video eyewear. Their products are designed to let you view the future. They make watching a video, or playing a video game, more portable and exciting than ever before.

Daniel spoke with Director of Consumer Sales for Vuzix, Mike Hallett at CES 2016. They talked about the amazing Vuzix iWear Video Headphones. They come in two versions: an HDMI version and a wireless version.

The newest version is the iWear Wireless Video Headphones. They are the second generation of the iWear Video Headphones that Vuzix released last year. The new version is completely wireless.

Both versions of the iWear Video Headphones offer a virtual, private, personal, home theater that you can take on the road with you. They each give you a virtual 125 inch screen as viewed from 10 feet. They have full 3D capabilities, full headphones, and video. One unique thing about them is that they have been designed so the weight of the product rests on the back of your head (instead of on your face like other products do). This provides users with a more comfortable experience, whether they are using the product to watch a movie or to play a video game.

The iWear Video Headphones are available on the Vuzix website for $499.99. The new version of the iWear Video Headphones will be available in the summer of 2016.

Daniel J. Lewis dares you to get started in podcasting with The Audacity to Podcast.

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Datavideo Makes Products That Help People Do Shows



DataVideo logoWhether you are just getting into video production and live streaming, or if you are a seasoned professional at it, you are going to need the right gear to help you get the job done. DataVideo is a live production manufacturer that creates products that help people to do shows.

Don spoke with Managing Director of Datavideo Craig Moffat. They discussed two of Datavideo’s multitude of products: The DAC-70 and the NVS- 25.

The DAC-70 is an up/down cross converter. It has been described as a “Swiss army knife” and is their most popular product. It is made of durable aluminum. The DAC-70 converts from one format to the other: from SDI to HDMI or from HDMI to SDI. It can slide into a rack, and a studio can use multiple DAC-70 converters if they need to.

The NVS-25 is a video streaming server/recorder. It lets you stream any video source. It functions as a dedicated server that encodes your video and streams it. Point it towards the URL of wherever you stream at. Turn on the NVS-25, and it will always go to that site. There is also a drop down menu you can put your URL into. It takes ten minutes to set up, and you don’t have to set up more than once if you are always streaming at the same URL. You can attach a USB storage device to the front of the NVS-25 and record your video onto it.

The DAC-70 is available now at the Datavideo website at MSRP $500. The NVS-25 is also available now at the Datavideo website at MSRP $800.

Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and he holds classes at TheGadgetProfessor.com.

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Cyberlink Refreshes Creativity Software For 2016



cyberlink-3d-bluerayFor 2016 CyberLink refreshes both its photo editing and video editing products, including PhotoDirector 7, a $79.99 photo editor, and PowerDirector 14, a $99.99 video editor.

CyberLink aims both products at photo and video editors that are looking for software with an intuitive interface that doesn’t require a steep learning curve. CytberLink video editing offers a wide range of downloadable, easy-to-use professional video effects that are difficult to build from scratch.

CyberLink offers individual products and bundles via their website either as downloads or in boxed sets, available now. The individual products and product suites are available at big box retailers, as well as Amazon and at the CyberLink website.

Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and he holds classes at TheGadgetProfessor.com.

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Hatch Baby is Changing the Face of New Parenthood



voWe9otw_400x400New parents face a lot of joy – and also some anxiety. Hatch Baby is creating a series of smart nursery products for new parents. They are trying to take away the anxiety and bring back the joy of new parenthood. Their first product is intended to give reassurance to new parents.

Don spoke with CEO of Hatch Baby, Ann Crady Weiss at CES 2016. Hatch Baby’s first product is called the Smart Changing Pad. It is a redesign of the traditional changing pad that is found in every nursery. It has a Wi-Fi scale built in so a parent can know that their baby is growing as she should be and that their baby is getting enough nutrition. It is a way to check on weight when you are not at the doctor’s office.

The Smart Changing Pad is easy to use. Place the baby on it and take a weight reading (by pressing a button). The Smart Changing Pad is as accurate as scales in most pediatrician’s offices. The data about the baby’s weight will be sent to the cloud and then sent to the Hatch Baby app on your phone.

The Smart Changing Pad can also tell a parent how much a baby drank. Weigh the baby, then feed the baby, then weigh the baby again. The difference in the two weight readings shows you exactly how much the baby drank.

The Smart Changing Pad is so popular that Hatch Baby’s current shipment sold out due to overwhelming demand. They will ship more again in March of 2016. The Hatch Baby app is free for anyone to use. The Smart Changing Pad is priced at $299.

Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and he holds classes at TheGadgetProfessor.com.

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