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Technology > CES 2012: The Early Rundown
January 11, 2012

Though it had barely started, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas was already bursting at the seams with the latest in technology being unveiled at its first teaser event, fittingly called CES Unveiled. Hordes of journalists, bloggers, enthusiasts, analysts, executives and PRs flocked to see what could literally be the future of technology and web design. Asher Moses of The Sydney Morning Herald reports that many participants, particularly smaller gadget makers, come in early to show off their latest inventions and innovations, and this year they certainly did not disappoint. A plethora of different gadgets boasting of various modifications could be found every which way, with touchscreen devices leading the pack. Here we have listed some that have become early favourites:

  1. Tablets

    There’s just no denying it- tablets are the wave of the future, and the future is now. Countless companies have come to the CES featuring these sleek and saucy devices, and according to the BBC, CES organiser Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) predicts over 50 new tablets will be launched within the week. During the unveiling event there were a couple of standouts, including French-invented Qook, a tablet specifically designed for the kitchen. The BBC reports that the Qook is Linux-based and splash-proof, with little “feet” that keep it off the ground should there be spills. It can also withstand temperatures of up to 60C (140F). The Qook offers a multimedia library of thousands of recipes and is already on sale in France, with an English version due for release this September.

    Another contender in the tablets race is Lenovo’s IdeaTab Tablet S2, which Moses of The Herald reports was one of the first to feature the new Android version 4.0, also known as “Ice Cream Sandwich”. Moses writes that the 8.6mm thin, 600 gram tablet connects to a detachable keyboard and has a 10-inch screen, front- and rear-facing cameras, 64GB of storage, a dual-core 1.7GHz processor and a HDMI output for connection to a TV.

    Not to be outdone, the brains behind “One Laptop Per Child” showcased the OLPC tablets, the first to be powered by solar cells. And just like their predecessors, these tablets will give children of developing and disadvantaged communities access to modern education.

  2. Ultrabooks

    Chasing after the tablets’ heels are the ultrabooks, of which according to the BBC, the CEA expects to have 30 to 50 new models unveiled this week. Among the frontrunners is Acer’s Aspire S5 Ultrabook dubbed as the world’s thinnest at 15mm, reports Moses. Weighing in at 1.35kg the 13.3-inch screened Ultrabook is reported to have a service similar to the iCloud which lets users store all their files online for access on any other device.

    Intel has also featured an ultrabook of its own, theirs featuring a range of natural gestures. News.com.au reports these to include voice-recognition, touchscreens and even gesture controls. Chinese computer maker Lenovo has also come out with an ultrabook, the ThinkPad T430u. Their 14-inch version may come with an NVIDIA graphics card and a significantly large 1TB rotating hard disk drive.

  3. Apps

    Making as much of a mark as the fancy gadgets they can be found in, new apps have also been featured at the CES, among them is Sculpteo, which claims to be the first ever to turn the shape of a human face into 3D objects, such as a vase. A more practical app the BBC points out is Escort Live, which communicates via Bluetooth with existing detectors to record the spots where speed cameras and police officers with laser guns or radar equipment are situated. These alerts are then shared to subscribers, helping them avoid potential speed fines and determining the most “hassle-free” route.

  4. Health Tech

    Also toting an app but with a more health-related function, Bodymedia featured the latest version of its health monitoring system. According to the BBC the system has an armband that “uses sensors to collect 5,000 bits of data about the user's body every minute. They are used to calculate activity levels, calories burned and how well its owner is sleeping at night - all of which can be monitored through a smartphone app.” In a similar fashion, another device called the Zensorium Tinke helps people track heart rate, respiratory rate and the level of oxygen in blood simply by attaching to a smartphone with the user placing a finger on it.

  5. Televisions

    It seems every other company is gearing up in the battle against Apple’s supremacy, and this time it’s not just in smartphones, tablets and ultrabooks – with the news of Apple’s iTV fast approaching, companies are starting to boost their televisions as well. Among them is LG, reported by news.com.au to have added gesture and voice commands to its TVs, as well as a significant upgrade to its Magic Remote.

    Also gearing up is Lenovo with its Android-powered TV. The 55-inch TV is said to have 8GB of ready storage, a 5-megapixel camera, access to apps and voice controls.

    For those who find internet-enabled TVs a tad too pricey, Samsung offers an alternative in their inTouch HD. By simply plugging the wi-fi equipped camera into your current TV’s HDMI port, you have access to the web, apps and the ability to make high-definition Skype calls.

  6. Miscellaneous

    Other gadgets and goods featured at the unveiling include various other quirky inventions and innovations to already existing inventions, such as the popular quadricopter, Parrot AR.Drone v2. Also featured and favoured by technology editor Asher Moses are PowerBag, which can charge up to four mobile devices at a time and Sculpted Eers, earbuds with a state-of-the-art custom fitting system.

 

 
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