Tag Archives: CES 2014

Griffin Technology Introduces the PowerMate Bluetooth and the Merchant Square Case



Griffin Technology showed off two items at CES 2014. The PowerMate Bluetooth and the Merchant Square Case .

The PowerMate Bluetooth is a programmable device which connects to your Mac through Bluetooth. It can be programmed to control various applications. You can use it to control volume, scrub through video, play and stop music and much more. You can program up to six different functions or key commands. It will be available sometime this summer for $59.99.

Merchant Square Case

The Merchant Square Case is a joint effort with Square. It is a case made specifically to work with the Square Card Reader. When in use the Square Card Reader fits snugly into the case. This prevents Square Card reader from moving when you go to swipe a card. It also has a grove to guide the card into the reader. Once you are done using the reader, you can store it in the back of the case, so you never lose it. The Merchant Square Case is available now for $19.99.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

Support my CES 2024 Sponsor:
$11.99 – For a New Domain Name cjcfs3geek
$6.99 a month Economy Hosting (Free domain, professional email, and SSL certificate for the 1st year.) Promo Code: cjcgeek1h
$12.99 a month Managed WordPress Hosting (Free domain, professional email, and SSL certificate for the 1st year.) Promo Code: cjcgeek1w
Support the show by becoming a Geek News Central Insider

iRing the First Motion Control Device for iOs



ir2iRing is the first motion control device that works with the iPhone and iPad. It will work with various music apps including The Groovemaker and VocalLive  and more. The iRing FX/Control app runs in the background and talks to the other app, meanwhile the iOs camera picks up and follows the motion. The ring has controls on both sides. Instead of moving your fingers back and forth on the apps. You control the beat by moving the ring back and forth over the apps and the pitch by moving it closer and farther away from the app that you are using.

The iRing can be used by someone who knows very little about music but also by an experience musician. Although right now the ring  just works with music apps that IK Multimedia has created, but according to IK Multimedia there is no reason it shouldn’t work with other types of apps. They are offering an SDK and licensing to app developers in hopes that more apps will be built that use the iRing. The iRing will be available starting the 1st quarter of 2014. It will cost $25.00 for two rings and the utility app.

Interview by Don Baine, the Gadget Professor.

Support my CES 2024 Sponsor:
$11.99 – For a New Domain Name cjcfs3geek
$6.99 a month Economy Hosting (Free domain, professional email, and SSL certificate for the 1st year.) Promo Code: cjcgeek1h
$12.99 a month Managed WordPress Hosting (Free domain, professional email, and SSL certificate for the 1st year.) Promo Code: cjcgeek1w
Support the show by becoming a Geek News Central Insider

eflow will be showing off Electric Bikes at CES 2014



Eflow

Electric bikes (eBikes) have been a growing trend in both Europe and Asia over the past couple of years. They are just beginning to find a market in the US. From July 2012 to July 2013 the number of units sold in the US more than doubled from 70,000 to 159,000 units. One of the main manufactures of electric bikes is eflow a Currie tech company. Eflow currently has three bikes models in their lineup; the original the 2×10 speed E3 Nitro with RST front suspension. The E3 Flight with 1×10 drivetrain for $3500 and finally the E3 Fit a 350 watt compact folding bike at $3500 MSRP. Eflow ebikes have the following items:


           * Lithium battery pack integrated into the seat tube 
           * internal cable routing
           * a quick release wheel
           * regenerative braking
           * water tight motor connector
           * 500-watt hub motor
           * four levels of pedal assist
           * throttle overdrive

The E3 Nitro won the Gold Award from the IFthe German design group at the 2012 Taipei Cycle Show. It is a great bike for city life. The controls are on an easy to read LCD console with multi-assist options. It has an adjustable front suspension aluminum frame. The E3 Nitro also has fat tires and heavy-duty wheels making it perfect for urban riding. Eflow will be at Show Stoppers @CES on Jan 7 between 6–10pm at booth A–30 to show off what is trending in eBikes.


Netgear unveils Android set-top box in your pocket



netgear-mediacastBetween Google TV devices and Chromecast, it would seem there are enough options to get Android into your living room. However Netgear has plans for one more for you, and this one is very much like the Chromecast produced by Google itself.

The device is called the NeoMediacast and it’s a pocket-sized HDMI dongle. With NeoMediacast, service providers can develop and operate a complete media streaming solution that supports their multi-screen video initiatives, where quick time-to-market is critical, much the same way as the Google version works.

“Consumers are clamoring for new options for accessing digital content across their screens, including their wide-screen HD TVs. With the NeoMediacast HDMI Dongle, our service provider customers have the means to provide a plug-and-play solution to their subscribers that also provides opportunities for additional revenue stream”, said Michael Clegg, senior vice president and general manager for Service Provider Business at Netgear.

The device comes with Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), there’s an SDK for developers, Micro SD card slot, 802.11ac and is Miracast-enabled. It will be available in the first half of 2014 and no price has been announced.


CES 2014: Toshiba shows off 4K laptops, brings Ultra HD to your computer



Lately we have been seeing an increase in the number of 4K monitors hitting the market, including ones recently unveiled by Dell. Content for these screens has been a bit slower to appear, though Netflix has recently pushed the trailer for the upcoming House of Cards season out in Ultra HD quality.

Today, Toshiba became the first to unveil the new technology in laptops, showing off a pair of new notebooks at CES 2014 in Las Vegas.

toshiba-tecra-w50

The Tecra W50 is a 15-inch model with integrated NVIDIA Quadro professional graphics, a fourth generation Intel Core processor, and a 3840 x 2160 282 PPI display. The Satellite P50t is a touchscreen model featuring the same specs as the W50. Both devices will ship with Windows 8.1. No other specs have been reported as of this writing, but we’ll update this when more information is known.

Few other details are known so far, including price and availability date for either device. It’s safe to assume they aren’t geared towards the budget-minded, so start saving up your money now if you have your heart set on one of these notebooks.