CES - The Other Side

January, Las Vegas, NV - Third in a series of reviews, these are the fun and peculiar sightings and discoveries from the 2011 CES show.  Through the course of roaming the cavernous halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, I saw plenty of obscure things. Some had no relevance to our business, others were fun to look at - all shared now with you.

• Cycle indoors and wow your friends!Spin cycle. For anyone that's ever been to a fitness center, here's the spin exercycle of the future.  I don't know how comfortable this would be, but it does rate high in the coolness factor. Single folk? I recommend this as furniture in your new pad.

• The Swiss Army knife. When I was a kid, this was an incredible symbol of ingenuity. I always thought about having one of their really wild ones. As I lusted over the limited collection at a local sporting goods store in the 70s. I wondered. Specifically, how could they have thought of all the neat tools and then engineered them to work as one PLUS have all this coolness fit in your pocket?

 Many include USB memory!

• POWER! This innocent looking black backpack opens to expose solar receptors to the sun for charging your laptop, tablet or phone. Goal0 (Goal zero) is the company, they have several interesting solar recharge products... have a look... Goal0 

  

Charge your goodies anywhere.

• Personal fitness - Sure, you've seen digital watches that calculate pace, distance, heart rate, and calories burned. Now take that to the next level. Several companies had cloud-based systems that captured all of an athlete's vital stats, put them on a map with live readout for traiing partners, families etc to track DURING your workout. Orwellian overtones ignored, imagine your friends and family being able to track your progress on the course at a large and crowded bike or running race? Coming very soon to mainstream companies like Garmin, Nike, Timex/Ironman, those guys. 
• Track, cheer, analyze your performance. 
• And more pictures of neat and bizarre sightings at the best techie show you could attend...
• All glass speakers by Greensound - Unbelievable to see and hear!
• Chrome body on Audi R8.
• Drop your iPod or iPhone into your radio for car tunes. Ferrari optional.
• Closer look...
• Reusable colored cable ties
•  What to do with your Lamborghini? Fill it with speakers of course and pump at the stoplights!
•  Or the bed of your pickup? Same advice. Pump it. The Green Hornet car, shot up and fresh off the set.
• Sound Blaster wireless sound system - FINALLY!
• Audi R8 in stealth mode