What mattered at CES 2014 -- Day 3
We used the final big day of the show to track down some unusual products, plus an LED TV that could be as good as a plasma.
LAS VEGAS -- We're getting toward the end of our time here at CES 2014, and what a time we've had: curved TVs aplenty, more smartwatches than could fit on the longest wrist, and Doc Brown of "Back to the Future" wearing Google Glass.
The end of the show is traditionally a time for our reporters to hunt down the really innovative gear, the life-changing tech that's going to matter to you. Like the Voyce, which is a bit like a Fitbit, but for dogs. For a mere $299 plus $15 per month, it tracks how many steps your dog takes, its heart rate, and the other vital signs. The idea is that you can share the information with a vet to spot any health problems before they become big problems.
Then there's the Sleep Number x12, a smart bed that has an app available to show how long you've slept and how well. A light underneath the bed turns on automatically when you get up, and you can use voice control to raise and lower the mattress. Plus, if your partner is snoring, you can use the remote control to raise that side of the bed to try to shut him or her up. Alternatively, you could simply use your voice to tell your partner to STOP SNORING.
I checked out the world's largest and loudest Bluetooth speaker that also happens to be a full-size replica of a Dalek from "Doctor Who." If you're a fan of the show, it's worth watching this video just to hear the Dalek relaxation tape at the end.
In more serious news, Panasonic showed off an LED TV that attempts to produce a picture that's as good as its outgoing plasma range. It uses some of the tech the company developed for plasma to fiddle with the black levels to try to bridge the gap in tech between LED and plasma. Our man in the field Ty Pendlebury got to check it out, although he wasn't entirely convinced.
A panel of industry experts got together to discuss the ethical problems thrown up by wearables, with some interesting results, while CNET's Dan Ackerman mused that PC gaming had suddenly become hot at CES.
That's it for these roundups this year, folks. Make sure you watch the video below to see Donald Bell and Brian Cooley's final word on what the key themes and products were of 2014's CES. See you in 2015, and let us know what you were most impressed by from this CES in the comments below.
