One of the more interesting events leading up to the
opening of the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas is something they
call “CES Unveiled.” It’s a chance for a small collection of companies
— both large and small — to showcase some of the more innovative, and
sometimes quirky, devices that have either just hit the market or are
about to.
Here are a few that caught my eye this evening:
— AR.Drone, by Parrot (www.parrot.com/parrot-ar-drone/en):
This could be the ultimate in remote controlled flying machines. With
four blades, the thing does an awesome job hovering — at least indoors.
We didn’t get to see it fly outside. It can be controlled by an iPhone
or iTouch — and you can see through its two cameras while it’s on the
move. Ever wonder what’s going on in your neighbor’s yard? This could
be for you. But it probably won’t be cheap when it comes out this
summer. “We’re not saying the price yet, but it will be under
— Pocket Radar (http://pocketradar.com/): Have you ever wondered how your kid stacks up against
Wonder no more. With the Pocket Radar, you’ll be able to measure the
speed of his fastball and, hopefully, brag to other parents. Or maybe
you’d like to take your own measurements at the race track. Or finally
find out how fast that neighbor of yours is driving in front of your
house. The possibilities are endless, with this thing, which measures
speeds from 7 mph to 395 mph. Expect this one in March, at around
— ShowWX by
Like so many of the hot new items popping up at CES, this one revolves
around the iPhone and iTouch. Really, it’ll work on a variety of
devices with the right TV-out portal, but clearly the world’s love
affair with Apple’s music/video player is key here. Basically, this
device is a projector that lets you play, on a wall or screen, the same
thing that’s playing on your mobile device. You have a cool video you
want to show someone? Find a nice blank spot on the wall, ceiling or
floor and you are good to go. This one is expected to hit the market in
March, with a price in the
— Powermat (www.powermat.com/us/home/):
Who doesn’t want fewer wires and electrical cords in their home? This
product actually launched in the latter part of last year, but it’s
really just getting started. The basic idea is that it lets you charge
a cell phone without plugging it in. You just place it on the mat. It
does require some modification (a special back for your phone, if it’s
a supported model).
president, said they have new stuff coming — including their own line
of batteries to remove the need to install an after-market back on your
phone, and a charge pad that’ll handle netbooks.
—
(c) 2010, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
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