Expert Blogs
Many of our top picks for 2010 Buyer's guide were on display this year. We reviewed the IDAPT i4, Scosche flipSYNC and the sneakPEEK II here on our blogs, and were big hits at the show. The i4 was one of my top picks in our Buyer's Guide for 2010, and the flipSYNC garnered an honorable mention. IDAPT unveiled their latest and greatest charging wonder at CES: The i1Eco. A universal charging solution that will let you recharge multiple gadgets (much like the i4), but will work in both car and home.
Archos was probably the smallest, most swamped booth I saw at the show. The booth rep looked to be burned out, so I didn't even bother him. Just started taking pix and trying stuff out myself, grabbed a press kit and took off. The truth is, I have always had a positive view of most Archos gear. The A/V devices get high marks from reviewers.
Sometimes the simplest things are the coolest (IMHO). Anyhoo, yesterday as we were perusing vendors in the iLounge Pavilion at CES, we stopped at RadTech's booth (#4724). They were giving away these little 30-pin connectors (see below). It was a great find, because I needed it last night, as I was trying a new case for my iPod touch. One bulky enough to have to take the whole thing apart again to charge it (the standard Apple 30-pin connector cable wouldn't fit). The RadTech connector is slim enough on one side, and guess what?...It fit!
On Thursday, one of the first booths I visited was NLU Products (booth #5227). They didn't have much on display when I got there (the new Incredible line of iPhone cases shown above), but actually there isn't much to see unless they apply their product to your phone. They specialize in custom-made, scratch-resistant film and skin products, and they have them for every flavor of iOS device and/or Mac Product (and other phones too)...
Phyllis already posted up on the Griffin Crayola product that is wowing people at CES, but we swung back around to get more coverage of a few of the other goodies they have brough out for CES. The first is a Bluetooth remote gadget for your entertainment center, the second an iPad-connected stomp box that works with the iShred amp app (and your electric guitar), and the last a very cool car diagnosti\c device to troubleshoot engine codes and check your gas mileage efficiency.
Hal and I had an up-close and personal look at the latest iPad stand/case products at the Joby booth today (the Ori, and the Yogi). One is a stand/case combo that includes the twisty, adjustable legs that the other Gorillapod products all share (though quite a bit thicker), and the Ori, which like the Japanese paper art it is aptly named for, is a fold-out wonder to behold. If you don't know about Joby, they make adjustable camera stands that will hold your camera at almost any angle imaginable.
Peavey and iConnectivity were within throwing distance of our booth in North Hall (easiest hall to navigate). So if you are coming down to the show this weekend, are a musician interested in iPhone/iPod gear to make or create music, then you want to check them out. I'll break them down for you, but the videos at the end really do a better job than I can. I'll be getting gear from both of them for review in the near future (fingers crossed).
iLuv has been good to us this year, providing cases for giveaways, etc. I am also partial to their docking hardware. They make just about every flavor of accessory for iOS--a one-stop shop of add-ons for your Apple gadgets. I was a little disappointed that they did not have more "new" innovative products on display (2 items were embargoed and I was not allowed to take pictures or even see them).
Wow, did I get a hookup at Speck today in South Hall (booth 31546)! Samples galore, and all the latest CandyShells one can stand! Speck's shtik with the CandyShell line is "Hard shell, soft center...", which means the case has a hard polycarb outside and rubber interior. Their cases are well made and shock resistant. I got the grand tour, including iPad bags and Android cases. Even scored a CorePack Fly carrying bag for my netbook (which I desperately needed)...
You never know what little gems might pop up at CES and from where. 2 of those turned up in the back corner of the North Hall (the nosebleed 1035 meeting areas). 4i has created an interesting iPhone cover with tactile nubs, and the Solar JOOS Orange will charge up to 4 iPhones on a single charge cycle...Check it out...
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