Tag Archives: CES2018

Robeau is Bringing Accurate Water Usage Measurement to CES

February 8, 2018cesces, CES2018, Robeau, waterShawn Thorpe

Water is our planet’s most precious natural resource. We can’t live without it. With that in mind, it’s important that we do everything we can to conserve water wherever possible. In our daily lives, we don’t think much about water that we may be losing due to old or inefficient water-management systems. But these losses could be bad for our infrastructure, the environment, and in the end, our bank accounts.

Don met with a representative of Robeau, a French company currently based in England. Robeau has developed highly efficient water-measurement technology that is currently being used by businesses in Europe to track their water consumption. Robeau uses wi-fi enabled meters that track water flow and then report back to a server. From there, customers can track water usage by day, week, month, or year. Robeau can also notify users thru mobile apps of issues like possible leaks, and users can then use Robeau to turn off problematic water connections remotely.

Robeau is currently in the process of bringing its products to the US market.

Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and gives lectures at TheGadgetProfessor.com

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Kulr Technology Brings Carbon Fiber Cooling to CES

February 8, 2018cesces, CES2018, Kulr TechnologyShawn Thorpe

Just about anything that uses electricity produces heat. As computing devices become more advanced and more powerful, they can become true heat machines. But heat inside a computer can be destructive. That’s why it’s important for computers to have reliable heatsinks that help to dissipate the heat they create.

Todd had a chat with Michael from Kulr Technology. (The company name is actually pronounced “cooler,” get it?) Kulr Technology specializes in carbon fiber heatsinks. The company is building on its 30 years of cooling-tech experience, where its products have been used on the International Space Station, the Mars Rover, the Mercury Messenger, and more. Kulr is also expanding its offerings to industries like AI computing, autonomous driving, and 5G wireless networks.

Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com.

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Wander the World with the Fonebud W at CES 2018

January 30, 2018ces, Interview, smartphone, Special Media, video, wifices, CES2018, Interview, Mobile, smartphone, video, wifiAndrew

Mobile data charges abroad can be prohibitively expensive and tethering for wifi burns through the phone’s battery. The new Fonebud W wireless hotspot solves this problem for over 80 countries worldwide. Don chats with Dixon about the features of this new device.

Using your home SIM while in a foreign land typically ends with a large bill when you get back, though seasoned travellers will have a pocketful of SIMs for local telcos. Mind you, it’s still a pain making sure that your smartphone is unlocked and forwarding your calls to your new number (unless you have a dual SIM phone). A much better solution would be the upcoming Fonebud W personal WiFi hotspot which works in over 80 countries, particularly in Asia and China. The 10,000 mAh battery will run the Fonebud W for well over a day and can be used to wirelessly charge a smartphone. Yes, it has a wireless charger built-in, though you can still charge with a cable. The small LED screen shows details of connectivity and battery life.

The Fonebud W will be available in Q2 2018 and will cost US$129-$169 including 24 GB data which is valid for a year.

Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and gives lectures at TheGadgetProfessor.com.

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Get in the Spirits with PicoBrew’s PicoStill at CES 2018

January 29, 2018ces, Gadgets, Interview, videobrewing, ces, CES2018, Interview, videoAndrew

At CES 2017, PicoBrew showed off their personal beer brewing machine and this year, they’re back with a little something to take home alcohol production to the next level. Todd finds out more from George.

For existing PicoBrewers, the PicoStill brings an opportunity to “up their game” and start distilling small batches of spirits safely and more precisely. 500 ml takes about 4 hours to produce, and up to 180 proof is possible with will multilevel distilling. Alternatively, the PicoStill can capture the essence of hops and other oils to give unique flavors and aromas to food and drinks.

The PicoStill is on pre-order for US$249 ($349 SRP) but it’s an accessory for other brewing appliances (Pico S/Pro/C) so check compatibility before ordering.

Also on show is the Pico C, a smaller and cheaper beer brewing machine for US$549.

Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com.

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Autoaid Put a Camera in Car Headlight for CES 2018

January 5, 2018automotive, cars, cesAI, Autoaid, Automotive, autonomous vehicle, car, ces, CES2018Andrew

At CES 2018, autoaid will be showing off the new Automotive Bulb Camera, combining a high resolution camera and car headlight into standard H7 and H4 lamp fittings. Consequently the camera system can be retrofitted to the vast majority of cars on the road, avoiding expensive specialist redesigns or clunky dashboard attachments. The Berlin-based startup expects the cameras to record traffic video for the training and development of autonomous driving systems. In addition the camera can provide real-time data to in-car driving assistance systems.

Aiming at developers of autonomous driving systems, the autoaid Automotive Bulb Camera is a high-resolution camera which is integrated into a halogen or LED automotive lamp using standard fittings. There’s no need to change anything in the headlight itself and the car still looks like a standard model. The camera communicates with autoaid’s new telematics platform, recording video and joining other driving information, such as steering, acceleration, braking, location, to the dataset. This is passed onto autoaid’s servers, which then uses object recognition to pick out vehicles, traffic lights, signs and so on. This detailed information on driver behaviour can be used to training autonomous systems. For car buyers, the solution also offers attractive driving aids such as a lane-keeping assistant or a collision warning system.

Moritz Funk, founder and CEO of autoaid, sums up the benefits: “The Automotive Bulb Camera can be retrofitted into virtually all vehicles more easily and seamlessly than any other prior
camera. Without visible changes to the car, new assistance systems are enabled for the end customers, while the industry is provided with the urgently needed data pool for the further development of autonomous driving.”

If you want to know more, autoaid are at booth 2401 at CES 2018 or watch the video below.

https://youtu.be/Iq7Yu_xnJpg