Ahhh. CES. It was quite a hectic week for new announcements of consumer electronics and we didn’t even attend this year. While it wasn’t a massive amount of smartphones unveiled, the size of smartphones are easily getting bigger. Flatscreen TVs are getting bigger and even more double the resolution w/ more 4K HDTVs. More appliances are getting ‘Smarter’ with added Wi-Fi and/or Android support like ovens. To wrap up our coverage on the big International trade show, we wanted highlight a few of the cool, innovation products unveiled.
Meet the ZBoard, another KickStarter success story. This is an electric, weight-sensing skateboard w/ off-road tires that allows the rider to move forward by leaning forward and lean the opposite way to brake. Powered by a 400-watt electric motor that gets a top speed of 15MPH and range of up to 5 miles. The ZBoard comes in a Classic ($649) or Pro ($949) models w/ the Pro edition offering longer range and slightly faster top speed.
Check out a video on the ZBoard in action below.
Remember the 1999 movie, “Wild, Wild, West”? Where the villain, Dr. Arliss Lovelace, uses a giant mechanical spider in attempts to thwart the good guys. Back in 2006, a group Vancouver-based artist/engineers got together to create the Mondo Spider. Then in 2009 was upgraded into a zero-emission walking vehicle, powered by solar energy. Although you can’t purchase one, it’s still looks awesome to ride on.
There some more details and to see the Spider in action in the video below.
Next up on our list is Audi’s Piloted Parking system demoed on an Audi A7. Think of it as instead of like Google’s self-driving car more like automated parking. Using specifically-placed laser scanners along with integrated Wi-Fi and a smartphone app, allows this A7 to let you out at your desired location and have it park itself. It can also come and pick you up like your own personal valet. Awesome, right? Audi is approved to use this tech in the state of Nevada but is currently only specified for short distances going only around 5MPH. They to continue to improve on this technology so when its ready for the open road, it will be as safe as possible.
Check out Audi’s Piloted Parking in action below.
Among the many things the company already unveiled for CES, Lenovo announced a table PC dubbed the IdeaCentre Horizon. To be marketed as the first interpersonal PC, the Horizon offers users a 27inch 16:9 widescreen display w/ 1920 x 1080 resolution + 10-point multitouch support, powered with a chipset up to a 3rd-generation Intel Core i7 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, up to 1TB HD, 2-hour battery life, NVIDIA GeForce graphics support, Dolby Home Theater v4 stereo support, Windows 8, and Lenovo’s Aura UI that allows multiple users to access the PC. The Horizon is due out this summer w/ pricing starting at $1,699.
Check out a demo of the desktop/table PC in the video below.
There was also Samsung brandishing off a bending OLED displays for tablets, HDTVs, as well as a flexible OLED smartphone prototype as well. How does a bendable display on a smartphone look like? The screen is designed with a curve as it wraps around the device. The curved display would show notifications on that curved edge under the Youm brand. Below is a diagram of how its made compared to other types displays.
We will make sure to be in attendance for next year’s CES. Check out our complete coverage on CES 2013 here.
