Behind the Scenes: CES 2014 Planning and Organizing, Not as Easy as You Think
Every year there is this event. The International CES. Some of you might have heard of it. It is the single largest tech event in the world. It kicks off every year in January in Las Vegas. The show covers all aspects of technology from next years TV’s, Cars, Connected Homes, Start Ups, Tablets, Phones, Accessories and everything else in between. New products get announced, new concepts get shown off and upcoming technology makes the headlines across the globe. It spans 1.9 million net square feet, and that just covers the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Las Vegas Hilton and The Venetian. That number doesn’t take into account the numerous suites and meetings held at the Bellagio, The Pallazo and countless other hotels up and down the strip.
How does a site, like ours, plan for such a massive event? Very carefully. Seriously though, it is nothing short of a tedious task. So I thought that it might be interesting for us to share a little bit of what goes into attending this show.
In past years there have only been two of us on the floor. Most of the time was spent moving from meeting to meeting for 7 days straight. All in an attempt to see as much as we could see to report back to you guys about later. One sad fact and truth about an event this massive, is the overwhelming amount of people sucking the life out of data connections everywhere. Sure, there is a press room for us to visit and get things out, but they too are crowded. This year however, we are fortunate enough to have 6 guys on the ground. Bonus for us and for you guys. I thought planning with a crew would be a lot simpler of a task than it has turned out to be. We have managed to fill up the entire week with quite a few meetings for everyone.
Negotiating 1.9 million+ square feet is pretty insane when you think about it, but it is nothing compared to when you first step onto the show floor. The first task at hand was navigating the 75 to 100 daily emails for meeting requests. Filtering out what is most relevant to AndroidSPIN and our readers, and what is just too cool to miss regardless. Then there is the limit of time. Crossing from North Hall to South Hall isn’t just a 5 minute walk. Booking our meetings based on their location was imperative. Keeping walking time to a minimum so that there would be more time to talk, video, photograph and learn about anything we are looking at. The good news though is that the first few weeks of December is when you get bombarded with requests and then they slowly taper off around Christmas until opening day.
There are only so many hours in a day and only so much a small crew can see. We have about 70 meetings scheduled over 6 days on the floor. We will see plenty more though. Having been multiple times myself, I know we will have shorter meetings than expected and less time moving to the next than planned. That is where the next phase of planning come in. I call it “The List”.
The list is an organized list of companies and their booth numbers organized by their locations and in numerical order. Many are ones that requested we come meet them and don’t have the time to schedule a formal meeting, others are companies I know we should visit or have visited in the past. Currently our list has another 50 booths to attempt to make it to also. Mathematically, if we make all the meetings and hit all the booths on the list and nothing else, we will have visited roughly 120 various companies. I have no doubt in my mind that we won’t probably hit the 200+ number though. Especially considering events like CES Unveiled, Showstoppers and Pepcom Digital Experience housing multiple companies at small tables.
None of what I have mentioned above is a secret. Anyone can visit cesweb.org and take a look around. See a list of companies, find their locations on the various how floors and check out a photo gallery of last years show.
We are definitely excited to make the trip this year and have a number of plans to bring more to you guys then we have been able to in the past. Next week I think I might clue you into the packing stage of the prep work. If anyone is interested I mean.
I am sure there are a number of my fellow bloggers and news sources out there that will be in attendance as well. How is your planning and booking phase going? Are you overwhelmed, overbooked and ready to go?
Swiss researchers created a cube that can sit, jump and walk (video)
Swiss researchers have created a metallic cube that can “walk” across a surface. Staff at the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich crammed a series of inertia sensors and constantly-spinning rotors (called reaction wheels) into a 15-centimeter cube, dubbed Cubli, that enable the contraption to move around on its own. When one or more of the weighted rotors abruptly stops spinning, the machine sort of jumps on its edge — all thanks to centrifugal force. Once upended, the rotors act like a gyroscope to maintain Cubli’s position. Halt another wheel and things get really crazy: the device defies gravity, tipping up and balancing on one of its eight corners. By repeating these motions in succession, the gizmo uses a series of controlled falls to slowly hop across a surface. In terms of practical applications, the Swiss researchers said this tech could aid in remote planetary exploration, possibly giving the Curiosity rover and its ilk some company. All noble goals, but for now the lab says that Cubli is just a high-tech toy. And that? That’s perfectly fine.
Filed under: Robots, Science, Alt
Via: Huffington Post UK
Divoom Bluetune-Bean, the perfect pocket sized Bluetooth Speaker [Review]
If you are still looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for the pre-teen in the family, or maybe just something for mom in the garden, then the Bluetune-Bean from Divoom might be one that could fit the bill.
The Specs:
- 3 watts of speaker power, max 6 watts
- 50 mm micro driver
- 100 – 20000Hz frequency range
- Bluetooth v3.0 +EDR
- 10 m range / 360 degree sound
- 6 hours of playback time
- 68 x 45 x 92 mm
- In the box – USB Charging cable, Bluetune-Bean, manual (no wall plug)
The Bluetune is a small portable bluetooth speaker that offers a lot for its price and its size. The outer casing is a nice soft rubber that gives it a great feel and look. On the bottom you have your micro USB port for charging. It is under a rubber stopper that is a bit of a pain to get open.
On the left side is a power/sync button. Like any other Bluetooth device, press and hold it to put it in pairing mode. Just below that is a phone button. Yes, the Bluetune-Bean is more than just a speaker, it is also a speaker phone. The mic is located between the two buttons. The phone button also doubles as a play/pause button for your tunes.
Sound quality of the Bluetune-Bean
For its size I was quite surprised by the volume level of the speaker. My wife has been using it on a hook on the shower door while streaming music to get ready for work. It fills the bathroom and floods into our room. We have a two story townhouse and I can even hear it downstairs in the living room.
It isn’t going to ‘bump’ and rattle the walls, but you can’t expect it to. Heck, it really doesn’t have much, if any, bass. The audio quality is clear and unlike many other smaller speakers that I have seen and used, it doesn’t seem to have and pops or cracks. Probably due to the lack of bass.
Overall thoughts on the Bluetune-Bean
The Bean comes in various colors as you see above. Giving them a little flare and personality for the user. It doesn’t have any volume or track controls directly on the speaker, but I don’t think it needs them. There is room on the right side of the speaker for them, but it would increase the price of the Bean, which would make it more expensive then it is actually worth.
The anodized metal hoop at the top is a pretty useful addition. You can hang it on a hook, or use the carabiner clip to connect it to a belt loop or backpack.
As with nearly every single Bluetooth speaker I have ever used or seen, using it as a speaker phone is a painful experience. I can’t blame Divoom for this drawback. It has been a struggle for every speaker I have ever used. Don’t look to this to be the speaker phone accessory.
It fits the bill as a good stocking stuffer for pre-teens or the less needy high audio and deep bass loving individual. Its small size makes it good for travel when you might want a little more sound than what your phone or tablet can put out without breaking the bank.
On a personal level, the Bluetune-Bean is super easy to use. My non-techy wife can connect her phone and listen to music easily. I have clipped it to my belt loop for walks with my son so we had some good walking music. I plan to take it camping this summer and hanging it from the middle of the tent for a little extra sound boost. For the sound and the price point, it is a great little speaker to have handy.
Cost wise, you are looking at $30 from Divoom themselves for a Bluetune-Bean in any color choice available. You can pick them up on Amazon for $24 and $30
Are You Really Surprised?: CyanogenMod Reaches 10,000,000 Installs
As if the Android community needed any further confirmation that CyanogenMod is one of the best and most trusted ROMs out there at the moment, it’s been confirmed anyway as CyanogenMod has now clocked in 10,000,000 installs according to CMStats. It’s an impressive feat to have seen its acceptance grow over the years to become the trusted ROM on Android, one which has recently become CTS-certified in a landmark moment, allowing the ROM to be shipped on the Oppo N1 out of the box and use the Google Play Store to install apps.
It’s almost surprising that the news that CyanogenMod reaches 10,000,000 installs hasn’t come earlier, but in reality, the number may actually be a lot higher than 10,000,000 as CMStats is only able to count devices that have CMStats enabled and have checked in within 90 days. Regardless, it is still a great feat. If you were interested in what devices CyanogenMod is most used on, these stats were posted on XDA:
Installs by Device
Device Total galaxysmtd 509,743 i9100 492,575 i9300 456,696 cooper 220,659 pyramid 200,491 mb526 193,650 bravo 192,112 mako 187,057 maguro 176,778 blade 175,284
The top 3 devices are made up by the Galaxy S, Galaxy S2 and Galaxy S3, which isn’t really surprising seeing how many more devices there are of these than anything else (you might also say it is because of TouchWiz, but that’s another discussion entirely).
Who’s using CyanogenMod right now? Who’s thinking of changing over? Let us know what you think about this news.
Source: XDA
Google Shopping Express starts selling gadgets, continues same-day delivery until December 24th
Hey, Bay Area residents: Mountain View’s hoping you’ll bring its online shop your business instead of braving the crowds for some last-minute holiday shopping. Google’s Shopping Express will continue doing same-day deliveries until 5PM Pacific on December 24th, so long as you place an order before noon. Even better, the portal now sells gadgets straight from Google Play. The selection’s pretty slim at the moment, but if you have a relative dying for a Nexus 7/10 or a Chromecast, then you’ve got it made. Sadly, the service has yet to expand to other locations, so everyone else will have to find an alternative, or, you know, grab a Red Bull on the way to the mall.
Filed under: Google
Via: Google Commerce
Source: Google Shopping Express
Recommended Reading: Google starts over, sculpture on the moon and more
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology in print and on the web. Some weeks, you’ll also find short reviews of books dealing with the subject of technology that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read.
The Day Google Had to ‘Start Over’ on Android
(1,933 words)
by Fred Vogelstein, The AtlanticPocket!function(d,i){if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);}}(document,”pocket-btn-js”);
Back in 2005, Google had tasked teams of engineers with developing a secret mobile product that would position it to better compete with Microsoft. When 2007 rolled around, teams had worked 40- to 80- hour weeks for almost a year in an effort to revolutionize mobile phones. However, Apple was first out of the gate, revealing the iPhone on January 9th and forcing Google to rethink all the work that had been done. Fred Vogelstein recounts the outfit’s post-iPhone Android development and a touchscreen Dream device built to make up for iOS shortcomings.
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Robot Telemarketer Employer: Samantha West Is No Robot Time’s Denver Nicks examines the work habits of Samantha West, a telemarketing robot that will actually deny that label. She’s really more computer software than robot, though, allowing those who don’t speak English well to wade through prospective buyers. Pocket!function(d,i){if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);}}(document,”pocket-btn-js”); |
This 100-year-old deal birthed the modern phone system. And it’s all about to end. A hundred years ago this week, The Klingsbury Commitment kept AT&T from being another broken-up monopoly that fell under the US anti-trust laws of the early 20th century. Brian Fung takes a look at the letter (one of the first successful PR campaigns) that maintained the company’s hold on telecommunications and the monopoly’s ultimate fall. |
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The mysterious story of the battery startup that promised GM a 200-mile electric car (7,490 words) 200 mile range in an electric car? Well, Envia Systems certainly thought it possible and it struck a deal with GM to power vehicles like the Chevy Volt. One year later, the deal is void, the startup is being accused of misrepresenting its wares and two execs are battling each other in civil suits. So, what went wrong? Pocket!function(d,i){if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);}}(document,”pocket-btn-js”); |
The Sculpture on the Moon (7,060 words) Paul van Hoerydonck is the only artist to have a sculpture on the moon. Slate’s Corey S. Powell and Laurie Gwen Shapiro tell the story of Fallen Astronaut and the Apollo 15 mission that placed the 3-inch aluminum figure in a small dusty crater in 1971. Pocket!function(d,i){if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(“script”);j.id=i;j.src=”https://widgets.getpocket.com/v1/j/btn.js?v=1″;var w=d.getElementById(i);d.body.appendChild(j);}}(document,”pocket-btn-js”); |
Filed under: Misc
NYC lumps electronic cigarettes with tobacco-filled brethren, bans vaping in public places
New York City’s war on smoking continues unabated. Today, the city council voted to equate electronic cigarettes with real ones by extending NYC’s public smoking ban to cover both types of smokes. That’s bad news for folks who liked to do their vaping in public parks, or the hangers-on looking to get a fake contact high from their fumes. It also means that all you Gothamites who’ve been passionately tracking the progression of e-cig technology are now stuck testing the latest battery powered suck pipes in the privacy of your own homes.
Filed under: Misc
Via: Wall Street Journal
Feedback Loop: computer names, Google Hangout alternatives, cord-cutting and more
Welcome to Feedback Loop, a weekly roundup of the most interesting discussions happening within the Engadget community. There’s so much technology to talk about and so little time to enjoy it, but you have a lot of great ideas and opinions that need to be shared! Join us every Saturday as we highlight some of the most interesting discussions that happened during the past week.
This week, the Engadget community shared how and what they name their devices, switching from Android to iOS (wait, what?), SMS alternatives to the Google Hangouts app, styluses for winter use and whether or not it’s possible to finally cut the cord. Click past the break and read what fellow Engadget users like you have to say.
What do you name your computer?
Futurama characters, Dharma Initiative stations, birds and Latin words. What do all these things have in common? They’re themes Engadget readers said they use when Kris asked how people name their devices. Do you name your computers, phones and tablets? If so, post your names in our forums!
Alternatives to Google Hangouts on Nexus 5?
DaBash doesn’t want to rely on Google Hangouts as the primary communications application on his Nexus 5, and is looking for SMS app recommendations. “I just got my Nexus 5 and I did not like the idea of having my hangout conversations being mixed with my text messages.” Do you have any recommendations? Tell DaBash what your favorite messaging app is.
Documenting the move from Android to iOS
Engadget product research team member frankspin documented his move from Android to iOS and things went a lot better than expected. “As a previous Android user I often saw a lot of Android users exclaim about how coming to Android was such a liberating experience from the grasp of Apple’s walled garden. For the last few years I believed this, but over time I started to open up to what Apple and iOS have to offer.” Share your own experiences when switching mobile platforms.
Stylus recommendations for thick gloves
Winter is here. And that’s why dtanders is looking for advice on styluses that would work while using thick gloves. For those of you who have to deal with the strange concept of winter (hey, we’re pretty spoiled in California), what would you recommend?
Now can we cut the cord?
Each week, it seems new services and hardware are announced that make it easier for consumers to watch television and consume video content how they choose. That’s why johncolucci asked if you can really cut the cord yet. Have you successfully shed the shackles of Big Cable? Tell us how you cut the cord.
That’s all this week! Do you want to talk about your favorite gadget or have a burning question about technology? Register for an Engadget account today, visit the Engadget forums and start a new discussion!
Google Play Music gets a new look for iOS 7 and ‘I’m feeling lucky’ radio
If you’re an iOS user that stuck with Google Play Music past the free All Access promo, a new update brings this refreshed UI for iOS 7 and a few new features. As promised at launch, it now supports “I’m feeling lucky” radio which randomly assembles a playlist based on recent listening habits. Also new are themed auto-playlists built around tracks in your library and those you’ve given a thumbs-up to. Google’s iOS team added genre radio stations for All Access subscribers too, and the ability to search by genre for everyone, bringing this version’s features up to par with its Android counterpart. With the amount of countries where the service is now available, that shouldn’t leave many people out — unless they live in Canada, that is.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple, Google
Source: iTunes
Got Windows Phone? You have 20GB of bonus SkyDrive space for the next year
If you’re a Windows Phone user, check your email — you’re about to get a big holiday treat. Microsoft has followed up its earlier Surface promo by giving Windows Phone owners a free 20GB of extra SkyDrive storage for the next year. The bonus capacity stacks on top of whatever is already present, and customers have until January 31st to claim their additional cloud space. You’ll have to wait for an email like the one above before you can take action, but we’d expect these notices to roll out to all registered Windows Phone users in short order.
Filed under: Cellphones, Storage, Internet, Mobile, Microsoft
AIVAnet 