CES on POPSUGAR Tech

Test Driving the Nvidia-Powered Tesla Model S and Audi S7

So maybe we didn't actually get to drive the Tesla Model S and Audi S7 parked in Nvidia's CES booth — but we did sit in the driver's seat and see all the auto technology up close, which was nearly as good (but not quite).

by Nicole Nguyen

So maybe we didn't actually get to drive the Tesla Model S and Audi S7 parked in Nvidia's CES booth — but we did sit in the driver's seat and see all the auto technology up close, which was nearly as good (but not quite).

Car junkies feasted their eyes on the sleek sedans, which drew serious crowds on the showroom floor. We talked to Waikit Sin, head of technical marketing for Nvidia's auto unit, about the high-tech driving machines and how the technology company is moving the auto industry into the future.

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CES Jan 11, 2013

The Fitness Gadgets of CES 2013

At this year's CES, there was no shortage of heart-rate, exercise, and diet gizmos demoing just in time for everyone's get fit for 2013 New Year's resolutions.

by Nicole Nguyen

At this year's CES, there was no shortage of heart-rate, exercise, and diet gizmos demoing just in time for everyone's get fit for 2013 New Year's resolutions. We wandered the South Hall show floor, looking for the most innovative health devices the tech world has to offer. Take a look at the fitness bands, scales, watches, pedometers, and orbs (yes, actual orbs) of the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show.

iBitz Pedometer and Fitness App For Kids

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Tech News Jan 11, 2013

Tobii REX Eye Tracking Device Available Fall 2013

Tobii has announced that its REX eye tracking device will be available for average Joes and Janes starting Fall 2013 — and "eye" can't wait.

by Nicole Nguyen

Tobii has announced that its REX eye tracking device will be available for average Joes and Janes starting Fall 2013 — and "eye" can't wait. Tobii REX, which was one of our most-anticipated technologies at this year's CES, allows computer users to scroll, click, and navigate just by looking at the screen.

The technology is called "gaze interaction," and the experience is incredible, especially when navigating around maps or playing EyeAsteroids. REX is a small, lean bar that attaches to the bottom of a display and works seamlessly with the Windows 8 operating system. Both laptops and desktop screens are compatible with the device.

REX is formatted for Windows 8 computers only and will be open for preorder in Spring 2013. You'll be able to choose from two different sizes, depending on the size of your display. The developer edition is already being sold for $1,000, but the price for the consumer edition (surprise, surprise) has yet to be revealed.

Kid Shopping Jan 11, 2013

The iPotty: Kid-Friendly or Are You Kidding Me?

Parents often enjoy a good read in the loo, so why shouldn't newbies using the potty for the first time have the same experience?

by Rebecca M Gruber

Parents often enjoy a good read in the loo, so why shouldn't newbies using the potty for the first time have the same experience? Ask any mama who's been through potty training what the toughest part of the process is, and she's likely to say that getting your child to actually leave her activity and sit on the toilet is half the battle. So what if the potty actually had a fun toy — such as an iPad — attached to it? Would it make potty training any easier?

CTA Digital, a firm known for making tech products more accessible for tots, caused quite a stir this week when it introduced the iPotty ($40) at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The potty-training toilet for digitally connected tots is a traditional free-standing potty with an extended arm designed to hold an iPad (it has a touch-screen protector to keep the device from splashes and unwashed hands).

Potty training can certainly be stinky business — would the iPotty help make it easier?

Source: Instagram user amoneyondabeat

community Jan 11, 2013

Cool Capture: Mad Science

Nikon knew that no CES booth is complete without a resident mad scientist.

by Nicole Nguyen

Nikon knew that no CES booth is complete without a resident mad scientist. We spotted this lab lover in his natural element (heh heh) on the show floor, creating Mythbusters-esque mini-explosions and jumping around the set. Nikon's SLR picked up action with its superfast shutter speed.

Keep up with our behind-the-scenes coverage at @GeekSugar on Instagram, and stay tuned for more CES updates on Twitter and, of course, our home page.

Have you been testing out your photography skills and snapped a shot you want to share? Submit your pics to our Cool Capture group or to Instagram with the #CoolCapture hashtag, and your pic might be featured on the GeekSugar homepage.

CES Jan 11, 2013

Thunderstorm Is a Go! Up Close With Belkin's Handheld Home Theater

The integrated iPad speaker Thunderstorm ($200 to pre-order), which Belkin introduced earlier this week, delivers sound so rich, it rumbles.

by Nicole Nguyen

The integrated iPad speaker Thunderstorm ($200 to pre-order), which Belkin introduced earlier this week, delivers sound so rich, it rumbles. Belkin constructed an entire soundproof room on the show floor to prove just how capable the Thunderstorm is at creating a cinematic audio experience for gaming, movies, and music.

An iPad is fully enclosed in the speaker dock system, which also triples as a cover and an extended battery (10 hours). Thunderstorm, which goes on sale later this month, has a 30-pin connector compatible with the iPad 2 and third-generation iPad, and a Lightening connector version is due for Summer 2013.

We got to hear — and feel — the Thunderstorm's booming sound at the Belkin booth, and while we didn't know what to make of the heavy integrated dock at first, the audio quality is undeniably fantastic and immersive. If you're a film junkie who watches a lot of movies on an iPad, then you'll definitely want to consider the Thunderstorm.

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Tech News Jan 10, 2013

Razer Edge Tablet For Hardcore Gamers Shines at CES

It's been quite a week for gaming hardware at CES — CNET crowned Razer's CES-launched Edge PC gaming tablet ($1,000) with their 2013 Best of Show prize today.

by Nicole Nguyen

It's been quite a week for gaming hardware at CES — CNET crowned Razer's CES-launched Edge PC gaming tablet ($1,000) with their 2013 Best of Show prize today. NVIDIA earlier unveiled its handheld high-definition console Project Shield, and the Razer Edge game streaming device works in the same vein, but in tablet form.

This hardcore-gaming-PC-meets-Windows-8 tablet runs on an Intel i5 (or i7 for the Pro version) ($1,300) and NVIDIA GeForce graphics, so it promises to deliver high-performance tech in a portable handheld package. While the tablet itself is on par with most Windows 8 ultrabook-tablet convertibles, the Razer Edge's accessories are truly unique and certainly re-create — if not enhance — the full-console gaming experience.

We saw the Razer Edge in action at CES, and think the device adds "best of console" to the "best of tablet/PC" laptop-tablet hybrids also on display at the show. Get a glimpse of the Razer Edge from every angle, and take a peek at the handheld system's many accessories.

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Tech Style Jan 10, 2013

iWant: iLuv iPhone 5 Camera Case

A case that magically shrinks an SLR camera into compact size?

by Kelly Schwarze

A case that magically shrinks an SLR camera into compact size? Non non, mon cheri! C'est un trompe l'oeil iPhone 5 case that borrows the retro appeal of a vintage camera bag complete with space molded for a lens. The iLuv iPhone 5 Case ($55), made of a faux leather exterior and soft microsuede interior is paired with a removable strap, perfect to use when channeling a photography walk along the Seine.

As for that lens pocket, it's actually storage for earbuds or a Lightning connector. Fashionable iPhoneographers à gogo!

Tech News Jan 10, 2013

LG Shows Off a 100-Inch Laser Display TV

Projection displays offer that MTV Cribs-style home theater experience, but typically a big room is needed to properly project large cinema-quality images.

by Kelly Schwarze

Projection displays offer that MTV Cribs-style home theater experience, but typically a big room is needed to properly project large cinema-quality images. LG's Hecto TV, just announced this week at CES, gives size-conscious apartment dwellers a chance to get in on the home theater dream. The Hecto includes a 100-inch laser screen TV display and a projector that uses something called Ultra Short Throw technology to display HD images at 1920 x 1080 resolution even from just a few inches away — yeah, science!

We took a look at the Hecto on the CES show floor, where the projector was set up less than a foot away from the wall-size screen (seen at the base of the screen in the above photo), and we have to admit: the image quality was barely rivaled by the OLED and UHD TVs nearby.

Included with the TV is the same WiFi-enabled smart software available with other LG units, as well as the voice and gesture-controlled Magic Remote. Sadly, like many products at CES, pricing and US availability have not been announced.

Weight Loss Jan 10, 2013

A High-Tech Fork That Tells You to Slow Down: Intrigued or Bewildered?

Dieting isn't easy, and Hapilabs' Hapifork ($99), a high-tech utensil that reminds anxious eaters to slow down, is determined to guide dieters to long-term weight-loss success.

by Nicole Nguyen

Dieting isn't easy, and Hapilabs' Hapifork ($99), a high-tech utensil that reminds anxious eaters to slow down, is determined to guide dieters to long-term weight-loss success. The smart fork made a ton of buzz at this year's CES, and we're wondering if this is just another wacky electronic or an effective solution to curb weight gain.

Eating too fast can lead to overeating, because it takes 20 minutes to register feelings of fullness, which is why Hapifork encourages dieters to slow down between fork servings. Blinking lights and gentle vibrations indicate that the amount of fork servings per minute is too high.

Hapifork uses capacitive detection and a microchip to coach dieters through healthy habits and tracks progress using a desktop or smartphone application. A micro USB cable uploads information from the fork to the Hapilab online dashboard so that those watching their weight can visualize exactly how long it took to eat the meal, the amount of fork servings per minute, and the interval between fork servings.

So what do you think: is Hapifork another gimmicky weight-loss tool, or will the high-tech fork be the diet coach of the future?