With the Consumer Electronics Show winding down, it's time to take one last look at the products that excited and intrigued us over the past week. Many of the more interesting CES gadgets are prototypes or early versions of models that may not be available until later this year -- if ever. And some are odd devices we're not sure we'll ever actually want or need, but still think are worth highlighting simply due to the sheer creativity -- or audacity -- behind them. Although CES will soon be over, we'll continue updating our database as more information is available about these and other products unveiled this week, so be sure to add your favorites to your Want list so you can check in and get alerts once the products are available for purchase.
Sony's 56-inch OLED UHDTV may be the brightest, sharpest TV the company has ever made. That is, if it's ever made, since we're pretty sure that the prototype shown at CES is one of only a few in existence. And if it is made, expect it to be expensive: Non-OLED UHDTVs the same size as this one sell for as much as $12,000, and HD OLED sets go for about the same. Combine the two, and you may just have to mortgage your home to get one.
The S9 merges a striking, easel-like stand and nearly bezel-free design with one of the highest-resolution sets ever made. An 85-inch version will be available later this year; while pricing hasn't been announced, it'll likely sell for about the same as Sony's 84-inch XBR-84X900, which goes for about $25,000. A 110-inch model is also expected. Don't even ask how much that one will be.
Panasonic's latest high-end plasma model is an HDTV, which may make it seem positively old-fashioned, but it also means it'll sell for a price you may actually be able to afford. And today's 1080p programming will look great on its 60 or 65-inch screen. Although not yet available, the set is already being teased on Panasonic's online store, so get ready to pre-order.
You may not be familiar with Hisense, but the Chinese TV-maker is hoping that will change this year. AT CES, the company unveiled a series of 4K UHDTVs, including a 110-inch model, which probably won't fit in any room in your home. However, since Hisense hasn't announced a release date or price, you should have ample time to save up for both the set, and a suitable home in which to display it.
Vizio is known as a budget TV brand, and if the company keeps its promise to "bring the expensive new technology to mainstream consumers," we may see some more affordable 4K sets from the company later this year -- though, of course, no pricing or availability info was provided at CES.
The X20 is is a more affordable alternative ($599) to Fuji's $1,300 X100S digital rangefinder-style camera (which also debuted at CES), and boasts an optical viewfinder, fast autofocusing, and a bright f/2.0-2.8 4x zoom lens. The 2/3-inch, 12-megapixel sensor should yield sharp pictures, and the camera's copious manual settings should please pros looking for a small SLR alternative.
Like Fuji's model, the MX-1 is a retro-styled pocketable camera with some good pro-style features. Expected to sell for $500, the camera includes an f/1.8-2.5 4X zoom lens, full manual controls, tilting LCD, brass accents, and a popup flash -- though it lacks the X20's large sensor and optical viewfinder.
With its square body, built-in filters, and WiFi capabilities, the PowerShot N seems tailor-made for Instagram. Its articulating LCD and 8x optical zoom lens are also handy features when you want to capture the right shot. But is it worth $299?
Sigma's latest camera based on the unique Foveon three-layer sensor packs the power of a DSLR into a pocket-sized package. The DP3, like all of Sigma's cameras, is a niche product for pros who believe its sensor captures colors more accurately than other cameras -- and are willing to pay a premium for it.
With its detachable display, the Helix is a useful, relatively lightweight hybrid that works well as both a classic, ThinkPad-style laptop and a dedicated Windows 8 tablet. It also includes a good stylus for writing and doodling. Priced at $1,500, the model clearly targets road warriors looking for a compromise-free Windows 8 device, and it may just deliver.
Some might say the 10-inch VivoTab is everything the Microsoft Surface for Windows Pro should have been. It's lightweight, has a good, optional detachable keyboard, and sells for just $499 (without the keyboard). While its Atom processor means it won't be the fastest Windows 8 PC on the block, it's still a desktop-class PC with the price and form-factor of an iPad (or a Windows RT tablet), making it a very tempting device.
This well designed, fast prototype Android tablet has a sharp, 2560x1600 display, and could challenge some of the leading 10-inch models when it hits the market later this year -- especially if it's priced competitively, which we expect will be the case.
Manufacturers like Acer, Archos, Polaroid, and Coby used CES to introduce ultra-cheap tablets. Not Panasonic. If this tablet is ever released, expect it to be ridiculously expensive. Actually, we don't expect it to ever be released, since the market for a big-screen, big budget, 4K tablet may consist of about 10 well-heeled execs. But it sure looked cool at CES.
One of the first Bluetooth speakers with NFC-assisted pairing (which lets you pair it with a compatible smartphone just by tapping the two together), the BTX500 also supports the AAC and apt-X codecs for superior sound quality, and can run for eight hours on a charge. At $300, it's priced on par with some speakers with lesser capabilities, and Sony's $200 BTX300 has similar specs, though it's smaller and has a shorter battery life.
Going on an extended campout, and need a speaker that can keep the music going the whole time? The Rukus XL is for you. Its 72-square-inch solar panel can give you a day of streaming audio after just 5 hours in the sun, and an AC adapter will spell you on those cloudy days. Of course, at 7 pounds, this isn't the most portable speaker around, but with a 5000 mAh battery and eight full-range drivers delivering 22 watts, at least you know where that weight comes from.
The Origin is two Bluetooth speakers in one: A smaller, travel-friendly unit, and a larger one that works like a docking station. Dock the smaller one, and it'll automatically start charging, while audio from any paired device will switch over to the larger, more powerful speaker.
In addition to Bluetooth, the T640B can stream over WiFi, using Pure's Android or iOS app. Connect multiple Pure speakers via WiFi, and you can listen to the same music throughout your home (or at least as far as your WiFi network carries you).
Is the Razer Edge a) a powerful Windows 8 tablet that makes Microsoft's Surface look like a child's toy; b) a unique portable gaming PC with custom controllers that actually work; c) a home-gaming console that supports up to four simultaneous players, and works with any HDMI display; or d) a laptop that can rival any Ultrabook for power and portability? If you didn't pick all of the above, take another look at the Edge, and see if you won't be tempted to pre-order this $999 tablet/laptop/gaming console.
Our first Must-have game controller, featuring six customizable buttons, an embedded display with multiple profiles, and super comfortable ergonomics. Crushing noobs on Xbox Live has never been easier.
Like the Wii U, Project Shield merges a controller with a touchscreen display. Unlike Nintendo's product, the Shield can be used as a standalone console, since that display runs on Android and can play games written for that platform. And it can also stream PC games over a WiFi network. Shield is currently just a prototype, and its viability will depend in part on how much it sells for if it ever reaches the market.
The Kickstarter-funded GameStick is an Android-based gaming console on a USB stick, designed to fit neatly into its wireless controller when you're not using it. At a projected price of $79, the GameStick is poised to take on the Ouya, and the seemingly endless series of Android-based mini-PCs that have surfaced recently.
This upgrade to Withings' Smart Scale adds the ability to track your heart rate and your home's air quality to its predecessor's weight and body-fat analysis features. Air quality is sampled every 30 minutes, and the scale can give you a reading on your home's CO2 levels each time you weigh yourself.
GPS units for drivers may be giving way to smartphones, but bikers still benefit from dedicated units. The Edge 810 has a 2.6-inch color display and detailed street and topographic maps, can sync with a smartphone, and has a handlebar mount for easy installation on any bike.
Sony's smartphones haven't exactly posed any threat to Apple and Samsung (or even Nokia and RIM), but the Xperia Z could help to change that. Its 5-inch 1080p display may rival that of HTC's Droid DNA, and its camera can also shoot high-dynamic-range video. Oh, and it's also waterproof, and has a battery that Sony says can last for nine days on standby.
The 5.5-inch display on Samsung's Galaxy Note II's 5.5-inch not big enough for you? Huawei's there for you, with the 6.1-inch Ascend Mate. While this is definitely a pocket-challenging phone, and may make one-handed use virtually impossible, it's unquestionably one of the more interesting phones shown at CES ... and one of the more intriguing tablets as well.
Scosche calls these reference-grade Bluetooth headphones, and like other Scosche models, include the company's proprietary 40mm rare-earth neodymium magnets. At $250, these are more expensive than most Bluetooth models, but if they sound as good as they look, they may well be worth it.
After making audio components for over 60 years, Onkyo has finally decided to branch out into the headphone market, with several new models unveiled at CES. The folding, on-ear ES-HF300s are designed to resemble the knobs on classic Onkyo gear, and include high-end drivers and gold-plated connectors. They'll be available this year for $180.
Lenovo's new gaming desktop is designed for mainstream gamers who want a powerful, striking machine that won't break the bank -- or require them to build it themselves. Starting at $1,199, the Erazer will be available in March, and will include handy features like easy overclocking software and externally accessible drive bays.
The Piston is a small form factor PC optimized for gaming over the Steam network. Although it's still at the prototype stage, it seems like a promising device, with lots of ports, easily upgraded innards, and up to 1TB of internal storage. Alas, no word on when (or if) this will be available, and how it will be priced.
Like Microsoft's original Surface (now known as the Pixelsense), and Sony's recent Tap 20, the Horizon is a big table-based tablet that can be accessed by multiple users at once. At CES, Lenovo showed off the Horizon using multiplayer games like Monopoly and air hockey, along with apps for photo viewing and videos. The 27-inch, $1,699 device will be out this summer.
While Google is busily working on its augmented-reality glasses, other companies are developing their own wearable tech, like the Smart Glasses, which pair with a smartphone over Bluetooth, creating something of a heads-up display for your apps. The $500 device also includes integrated GPS and a built-in camera and mic.
The Pocket Playlist isn't just a portable hard-drive that's also a WiFi-based streaming media server. We've seen those before. What makes this $129 gadget interesting is its ability to work with the PlayItLater service, which means you can fill it with video from subscription services like Netflix and Hulu, and stream those videos to other devices, even when you're offline.
Do you really need a 1TB flash drive? Probably not, unless you work in a field like video production, and need to carry around lots of massive data files all the time. But do you want one? Of course you do. Too bad the 1TB version of the Predator will cost about $3,000 when it's available later this year.
If your mother ever told you to eat more slowly and chew your food, the HAPIfork (and its upcoming sibling the HAPIspoon) will give you the evidence you need to show her you're heeding her advice. The smart fork can track how quickly you eat, and provide health tips based on your eating patterns.
It's a Bluetooth speaker. In a planter. That you can put flowers in, so that they can enjoy the music with you. Really, what more can we say?