CES 2014: Music goes for a swim

NYNE Aqua

Maybe this will take your mind off the latest cold front. At least two companies will be showing waterproof Bluetooth speakers at nest weeks International CES in Las Vegas.

One is the Aqua speaker from NYNE. The Aqua has an IPX7 rating, which means it can be fully submerged for up to 30 minutes in about 3 feet of water. It's designed to float on the surface of a pool or lake while pumping out music from a mobile phone or other Bluetooth device.

It also has a microphone, making it useful as a speaker phone, perhaps for conference calls in a hot tub. The Aqua has a list price of about $130.

Swimmer

The Swimmer from Boom Movement looks like it could cut through the water like an eel. But its detachable tail doesn't wiggle, it bends, so you can hang the speaker from bicycle handlebars or a belt loop.

You can replace the tail with a suction cup an stick the speaker on a window.It also can be immersed in three feet of water for up to 20 minutes.

The Swimmer sells for about $60 at Boom's website.

By: Ric Manning On 12/30/2013

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CES 2014: A power move for skateboarding

Shanghai-based Yuneec is best known for producing the world’s first commercial electric aircraft, the GreenWing430. But at CES, the company will be showing off an electric-powered skateboard.

Yuneec says the E-GO Cruiser is the world’s lightest electric longboard weighing 13.9 pounds. It hasn’t yet said how far the E-Go will travel on a charge or how much the board will cost when it’s available in the U.S.

The company also will display the FlyingEyes HX3, a civil drone made of carbon materials that can stay aloft for 90 minutes.

By: Ric Manning On 12/29/2013

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CES 2014: Moneual's baby monitor buzzes and blinks

Moneual, a company best known for its robotic vacuum cleaner, will introduce several new products at the 2014 International CES next month in Las Vegas. Among the more unusual new items is a wristband that parents can wear to link to a baby monitor.

The Smart Wristband Baby Monitor is a specialized monitor designed for the hearing-impaired. It will alert the user by vibrating and flashing an LED light. The  wristband uses Bluetooth for short-range communication around the house.

Moneual says the main console's sound filtration system is able to distinguish between white noise, such as a TV or fan in the background,  and a crying baby. And the console also has a built-in speaker that plays music for the baby or soothes them to sleep. 

By: Ric Manning On 12/29/2013

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CES 2014: Bigger, curvier TVs ahead

Have you heard about 4K TVs? You’ll be hearing a lot about them in a couple of weeks when the International CES opens in Las Vegas.

4K TVs are the next step in high definition. The screens on today’s typical 1080p high-definition TV boast about 2 million pixels. A 4K Ultra HD TV has about 8 million pixels - or about four times the resolution.

Sony, Samsung, LG and the other top TV makers have been talking up 4K for the past couple of years. At last year’s trade show there were a handful of set on display with high-price tags. Sony’s set, for example, was priced at about $25,000.

4K sets will be all over the 2014 show, which opens on Jan. 7 and some will have prices that are closer to the cost of today’s top TVs.

Samsung and LG are also expected to show giant sets that features a curved screen - kind of like an IMAX screen for your home. Both companies have shown a 105-inch curved set, but neither one has suggested what they will cost if and when they go on sale.

Sony is also known to by migrating 4K displays to other products, including camcorders, mobile phones and computers.

Here’s more on what to expect from the big TV makers in a report from CNet. 

By: Ric Manning On 12/28/2013

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CES 2014: New smart lock works with smart phones

As in past years, there will be plenty of big-screen televisions, tablets and mobile gadgets to explore when the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show opens Jan. 6 in Las Vegas. But technology is also rapidly moving in to take over more mundane tasks around the house. 

A few months ago, I wrote about the Kwikset SmartCode lock that uses a keypad to open and close a deadbolt lock. You can set a separate code for friends to use and get an upgrade that connects it to a mobile phone.

A new twist on the smart lock will be on display this year at CES from a start-up company called August. The August Smart Lock works with virtual keys that can be sent to a friend’s smartphone. 

August recognizes a user’s phone as they approach the home. It verifies their credentials and unlocks the door, all without a physical key. As the owner, you can specify how long the virtual key will be active before it expires and you can disable it at any time. The lock still works with a physical key and can be manually locked or unlocked from inside.

The Smart Lock sells for $199 at August.com.

By: Ric Manning On 12/26/2013

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Christmas special: 2 Rock-Its for $15

You might have seen the Rock-It on TV's "Shark Tank" or some other show. It's a clever gadget that turns almost anything into a speaker. Connect one cable it to a mobile phone, iPod, or some other music device, then attach another to a flat surface and you instantly get a loud boomy speaker.

The Rock-It works with any flat surface, like a window to desktop, but it works best with a hollow object like a cardboard box or a plastic beer cup.

Orig Audio sells the devices for $19.99 on the company's website. But this weekend you can get two for $15 with free shipping if you use the promo code "1515" at checkout. The offer expires at 12 noon EST on Monday.

Oh, there's one catch. The two Rock-Its are red and green. You know, for Christmas.

By: Ric Manning On 12/13/2013

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CNet has great gift ideas for under $50

Still looking for inexpensive tech gifts? Check out the list of cool gadgets under $50 at CNet.

The Roku streamer and a $25 digital amp are pretty s;lick. But tell Santa to put me down for the Belkin Bluetooth Music Receiver. It plugs into anything that has speakers and an auxiliary input - your home stereo, powered speakers or an old iPod dock.Then you can wirelessly stream music from any Bluetooth-enabled device such as a smartphone, tablet or most iPod Touch models.

I found one at Amazon.com for $24.95.

By: Ric Manning On 12/12/2013

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What's new in travel gadgets?

My Well-Being's Gadget Guy's latest video looks at gifts for travelers.

I've got a TSA-friendly lock, my favorite mobile charger, a travel pillow that doubles as a tablet stand and the Screaming Meanie travel alarm.

By: Ric Manning On 12/12/2013

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