As a member of the press, I’m inundated with CES-related emails and phone calls beginning in November. It reaches a fever pitch around the middle of December. Here are some of the Bluetooth products I’m looking forward to see at the upcoming CES, which runs January 6th through the 9th.
This is a small sampling because many of the manufacturers are waiting for the show to announce their products. That said, some are happy to provide a sneak peak, especially if it means they can quality for a 2011 CES Innovations Award. Two Bluetooth products won awards this year in the Wireless Handset Accessories category. The first is Jabra’s STONE2 headset, which has an unusual shape that wraps behind your ear. As a result, it doesn’t require the typical on-face microphone.
The second is ID8-Mobile’s MoGo Talk XD. It’s the first integrated Bluetooth headset and case that docks onto the back of an iPhone 4. Both products will be on display in the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center in a special section devoted to the Innovations Award winners.
I also plan to check out the Creative ZiiO tablet, which will be on display at the CSR (Cambridge Silicon Radio) booth in the North Hall. It’s the first tablet to feature CSR’s aptX codec for high-quality Bluetooth audio. At the same booth, I’ll be able to hear the Conran Audio Dock. It uses the aptX codec and can stream audio from Bluetooth A2DP-compatible media players, smartphones, laptops and tablets.
While in the North Hall, I’ll swing by the ZOMM booth to see the latest version of the ZOMM product. The company describes it as the first wireless leash for cell phones. Connected to your phone via Bluetooth, the keychain-sized ZOMM can flash, vibrate and even sound an alarm if you start to walk away from your phone. With the new version, you can adjust the ZOMM volume from your phone and select the distance at which the alarm will sound.
Other Bluetooth products I plan to check out at the show include Plantronics’ Voyager Pro UC headset. It uses capacitive sensors to know when you’re wearing it, so it can route your calls to the headset. iDevices will be showing iGrill, the first cooking thermometer you can control over Bluetooth using an iPhone or iPad app. IOGEAR will have solar-powered, hands-free Bluetooth car kits. And Orbotix will be rolling out the Sphero, a robotic ball you can control via Bluetooth using an iOS or Android device.
CES will have specialized TechZones throughout the various convention halls. I’m particularly interested in visiting the Digital Health TechZone, because I’m curious to see how many Low Energy Bluetooth health-related devices will be ready to ship in the first half of the year. The Bluetooth SIG will have a booth there. Continua Health Alliance will be there, as well. Continua Health Alliance helped develop some of the new Low Energy profiles.
I’ll have more to report once CES begins. It will be a long and hectic week, so I plan to bring comfortable shoes.