Ah, CES.
The annual Vegas confab usually involves foot-numbingly long lines and traversing 5 billion square feet of exhibits, but given the global economic doldrums it will (silver lining) probably be less heavily attended.
The flow of pre-CES announcements for 2009 includes the stuff you would expect.
Digeo, the hardest-working DVR company in the business, is kicking off its retail play there. The MoCA folks say there will be Ethernet-to-MoCA bridges coming out. [UPDATE: Netgear today has announced just such an Ethernet-to-coax product, the MCAB1001, but has not released pricing.] And startup RaySat Broadcasting will demo AT&T CruiseCast, a service to deliver up to 22 cable channels to the back seat of your minivan.
Then, there are CES products that are so… unusual sounding, that it’s hard to determine if they’re real or not.
Here’s a pre-CES pop quiz. Below are three real product/demo announcements — and one fake one. Can you tell which is the bogey? Answers below.
A. Wireless Mobile-Device Charging System: This wireless power solution will be able to charge portable devices without traditional power cords. A protocol identifies devices that are able to be powered wirelessly and "assesses power needs and individual battery lifecycles" to provide only the necessary amount of power for any given device.
B. Mobile TV Goggles: Unique Chinese-made "goggles" provide an instant mobile TV experience. Users simply attach the goggles to their head and choose from a variety of live TV channels.
C. Mind-Operated TV Remote: Get ready for the next major innovation TV viewing convenience — the mind-operated remote control. Simply attach a wireless sensing device behind your ear, "think" of the channel number you want and the TV springs into action! Works with virtually any set-top box.
D. iPod Breathalyzer: The "iBreath" is an iPod accessory that lets users test their own blood-alcohol level, to make sure they haven’t had too much drink before getting behind the wheel to drive. This device also doubles as an FM transmitter that wirelessly sends your iPod tunes to any FM receiver.
——–
Answers:
A. Real. Energizer Battery is partnering with Fulton Innovation LLC to "accelerate development" of a wireless-charging system.
B. Real. The demo is being hosted by Israeli mobile TV chip maker Siano Mobile Silicon.
C. Fake. At least as far as I know.
D. Real, apparently. Available for $79 from an outfit called David Steele Enterprises. The site also sells iPod video goggles!
