By: Fredwill Hernandez
Excitement and anticipation are always in the air for the start of the CES [2018], this year turning 51, taking place Jan. 9 – 12, [2018], where over 170,000 electronic enthusiast and those who thrive on the business of consumer technologies from over 140 countries have arrived in Las Vegas, and converged at the Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center [LVCC] for the trade show.
With so much floor to cover and new things to see, it is really up to each attendees personal taste and preference.
Drones who in the past three years have taken off and seen an explosive consumer demand with a sales [forecast] expected to reach record highs of 3.7 million units in 2018 (20 percent increase) earning $1.2 billion in revenue (17 percent increase) over 2017, according to the Consumer Technology Association [CTA], which owns and produces the CES, are without a doubt one of the main attractions.
One of those companies which plans and has capitalized on those numbers is Autel Robotics, home to the impressive EVO [The Evolution of Flight] drone, unveiled at CES.
“The EVO has folding arms to provide maximum portability making it compact and easy to carry, it shoots 4K (Ultra HD) video at 60 fps, it has a 3-Axis gimbal for clearer and smoother image quality with a 94 Degree Field of View,” eloquently explained Jeff Powell, Vice Pres. – US Div. – Autel Robotics. “The drone also has an advanced computer vision system that includes front, rear, and downward sensors to see and avoid obstacles in its path. The EVO’s controller has a built-in 3.3 inch OLED screen with live HD dual band transmission with a 7KM range, and it has 30 minutes [of] flight time.”
As I walked through the show floor, a few other things stood out and caught my attention.
One of those items was the impressive Removu K1, the All-in-One 4k Camera Stabilizer, which I can describe as, ‘a baby smart Selfie stick with an impressive stable camera,’ which boast 4k (Ultra HD) video at 30 fps, or 12 MP photos with its F2.8 wide angle lens, on a 3-axis stabilizing gimbal for super clear images and smooth stable footage.
“With the K1’s 50 centimeters’ focal lens, the trigger on back of the K1 handgrip – one can quickly switch to ‘Selfie’ mode, and one can preview what the camera sees with the [K1’s] built-in 1.5″ LCD screen which is also a way to playback your recorded videos or photos instantly,” explained Min Bae Kwon, President, Removu America, Inc. “The K1 is also equipped with a powerful interchangeable smart battery providing [more than, but] flawlessly up to 3 hours of filming, and through our app for [either] iOS or Android, it allows the user to control the K1 remotely. You can start/stop recording, take a photo, change the camera settings, preview your footage or even remote-control the camera’s position.”
On the smart phone’s side of things, “hands down” it was at the ZTE booth where I ran into the new and unique Axon M cellphone which boast dual screens stacked on top of one another and folds open to form a 6.75-inch mini-tablet.
I quickly learned that the cellphone can be used in a “dual mode” which lets you run two apps side by side, one in each screen in [both] portrait or landscape, it can be used in an “extended mode” which lets you run one app on both [identical full HD] screens in a tablet-like experience, or a in a tent type [folded] standing “mirror mode” which simply mirrors the same content on both screens, or just as a regular cellphone in “traditional mode.”
“The Axon M phone is also equipped with two identical 5.2″ Gorilla Glass Gen 5 displays, Smarter Battery Management with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 [with a 3180 mAh battery], a 2O MP [both] rear or front-facing camera which can also capture 4k video, HiFi audio with Dolby Atmos through its speaker or 3.5 mm headphone jack, an Integrated Power Button with a Fingerprint Sensor, and it also has 4 GB RAM – 64 GB ROM with expandable memory up to 256 GB through its MicroSD slot,” eloquently explained N Andrew Elliot, Vice Pres., Strategic Marketing, ZTE [USA].
Following the introduction of new flagship models from major manufacturers in 2017, smart phones will continue to anchor the industry and see slight growth in 2018. Unit volume will reach 189 million smart phones (two percent increase) shipping in 2018, with revenues expected to reach $62.9 billion (three percent increase), according to CTA.
To compliment the [new] wireless and quick charge cellphone technology, I ran into, impressive Hyper + Drive USB-C Hubs, made by Sanho Corporation [HyperShop.com].
Their HyperDrive USB-C Hub + 7.5W Wireless Charger, turns a single USB-C into 8 ports that include 4K HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, USB-C Power Delivery, 3 x 3.1, microSD, SD, and it also supports 5W/10W/15W high speed Android charging.
After tremendous adoption in recent years, some tablet sales have been cannibalized by convertible, 2-in-1 laptops as standalone tablet adoption has leveled off and replacement cycles have slowed. Tablet sales will decline in 2018. CTA predicts sales of 45.6 million units (12 percent decrease) and revenues of $12.5 billion (13 percent decrease).
These predictions have not discouraged Brydge [Keyboards] a company who has been in the forefront and making headlines creating unique accessories for tablets since April 2014, introduced during the 2016 CES, and who have been CES Innovation Award Honoree‘s, [for an impressive] three years in a row.
This year Brygde’s CES Innovation Award was for their 10.5-inch iPad Pro Keyboard, which includes [Brydge’s ] patented 180- degree hinge system, 100% aluminum build, backlit keys, and superb haptic key feel, and it’s also backed by a [best-in-class] limited lifetime warranty.
“The latest iPad is a game-changing tablet and deserves a complementary keyboard. The Brydge 10.5 aims to unlock the full potential of the latest iPad and deliver the ultimate in mobile computing for iOS users” said Toby Mander-Jones, Co-CEO of Brydge, through communication released during CES. “We are excited to again be recognized for our leading design in tablet keyboards. Brydge is dedicated to being the market leader in innovative devices that deliver the ultimate experience in mobility and productivity when working with the iPad.”
“This year [at Brydge] we also launched other tablet accessories that include Slimline protective cases for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, Universal mobile batteries in 5,000mAh, 10,000mAh, and 15,000mAh, Flexible tempered glass screen protectors for iPad and Surface Pro, and 1.2m DuPont Kevlar Reinforced USB cable (with double weaved nylon outer layer) available with Lightning & Micro-USB connections,” eloquently explained Justine Smith, COO & Founder, Brydge [Keyboards].