And that’s a wrap for CES 2018. The annual Consumer Electronic Show is probably one of our favourite events every year as we get the chance to look at the latest tech from around the world. In fact it’s the largest consumer gadget showcase of the year. So every January tech companies big and small converge on Las Vegas to show us all the new toys that will soon be part of our every day lives. Pretty cool right? So without further adieu here is our Best of CES 2018:
HTC Vive Pro & Black Box VR
In case you didn’t know we are huge fans of the HTC Vive. So it should come as no surprise to anyone that the brand spanking new HTC Vive Pro makes our Best of CES 2018 list. Ok we have to admit that VR has really not taken off as we had anticipated, but the Vive is far further along than any of the competition. I’ve even managed to get the fright of my life last year at the DTS when we reviewed AnotherWorldVR. Don’t believe me here’s the proof!
Anyway, the new Vive Pro was one of the biggest announcement at CES 2018, with improved graphics and integrated headphones. Oh and it has a new wireless adaptor which brings us as close to a fully wireless system. This allows the player to play without getting tangled in all the wires, that’s a big win in my book. Right now we have no prices available at this point in time but when we can get a closer look at this cool piece of kit we will bring you the full review.
Wi-Charge
Not exactly a consumer product but holy crap is this cool! Just imagine popping into Maccy D’s and your phone will charge the whole time your there. Without plugging it in, without cables and without actually doing anything. You might think this is some BS gimmick but it’s real, true wireless charging is happening.
The Wi-Charge, uses infrared to enable full-room charging and it impressed so much that the product actually won the CES 2018 Best of Innovation Award. Now that’s something you can’t turn your nose up at.
The cheeky buggers really pushes the boat out at this years even as the company allowed people to chill out in their demo space and charge their phone at the same time. Talk about proving a point.
L’Oreal UV Sense
This one is a bit different but well deserving of out Best of CES 2018 list. The L’Oréal’s UV Sense is a small sensor that fits on your nail and detects ultraviolet exposure. Probably not overly relevant in Ireland but hey we get summer one week a year so Im counting it.
The small, stylish sensor is completely battery free and includes a temperature sensor, UV sensor and an NFC antenna for easy connection to your smart phone. The L’Oréal’s UV Sense can store up to three months of data, passing the information to the app on your phone. This app will then keep track of your UV exposure levels and will also provide tips for managing sun intake. This technology is trying to solve a problem pro-actively which is something we like as most tech we get the chance to see is traditionally trying to help you after the fact. It is for this reason alone that the L’Oréal’s UV Sense makes our Best of CES 2018 list.
Blocks Modular Smartwatch
This is one of my personal favourites, I love watches and tech so any opportunity to merge the two with a bit of style always gets my full attention. Ok it might not be the flashiest piece of kit that was showcased at CES 2018 but this began as a humble Kickstarter program around 18 months ago. The Blocks has come such a long way in such a short space of time and is actually already for sale!
The idea is simple, build your own smartwatch that suits your needs. Buy the modules as you need them, whether that’s a GPS unit or a simple torch. These modules actually then make up the watch strap with a clever interlocking system. Blocks will work with iPhones and Android and will cost around $259, with extra modules for $35.
For that kind of money and customization I felt the need to include this in my Best of CES 2018 list.
Aflack Duck
Last but not least in our Best of CES 2018 is the My Special Aflac Duck. This one is guaranteed to make you say awh!
While so many robotic toys built for education, the Aflac Duck was created to provide comfort to children with Cancer. Kids can mirror their care routine on the duck and can express their emotions through the toy by holding the badge in the middle of it’s chest. By holding the token with a smiley face the toy will be able to respond accordingly. This is meant to bring the kid a sense of companionship as they undergo therapy.
The Aflac duck is expected to be available for kids diagnosed with Cancer for free by the end of the year. Yes you read that right, free! Tech doesn’t have to be futuristic or overly innovated, we can simply use it to help and that’s why the Aflac Duck makes our Best of CES 2018 list.
When can I get these?
So that’s it for another year. We found so many different products that could have easily made our Best of CES 2018 list, these are just what we thought were pretty cool. There were some stinkers too and we are putting together a list of some of the worst tech we discovered. Because we can and seriously you should see some of this nonsense.
Right now most of these products are not available to buy, but trust us when we know so will you.
