CES is the annual Consumer Electronics Show that happens every January in Las Vegas. If I’m not mistaken, aside from the adult-entertainment convention, (which conveniently happens at the same time as CES) it’s the largest convention of its kind in the World. CES is often the launching ground for innovative new consumer electronics products either hitting the market this year or in years to come; often companies like to showcase technological advancements to give the media and consumers an idea of what direction they’re heading in.
For us? Well, it’s a giant playground of technology–and its our absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to not only be in attendance, but to also bring you the latest information from the show floor as it happens. Mitchell and I will be arriving nice and early so we can spend some one-on-one time with some of the largest consumer electronics brands that exist today. As we get closer to the show, we’ll bring you several new editions of Our Road to CES 2011, highlighting some of the new products that we know will be unveiled or that we’ll have an opportunity to spend time with. +Continue Reading
If you’re looking for that perfect remote control toy to fend off your pets, the Sphero toy ball may be just the ticket. This small robotic ball made by Orbotix is controlled remotely via Bluetooth and operates using your smartphone’s tilt sensor. Sound like fun? Yup…to us too. Check the video after the jump.
No one knows as much about Radio Control as the folks at Horizon Hobby; if you’re looking to pilot an RC vehicle on land, sea or air, odds are, Horizon has something that you’re going to love. Well, there’s a new brand from Horizon, and it may just be the hit of the holiday season: Force RC. These full-featured, radio control micro helicopters are not the cheaply made knockoffs you’ll find populating your local mall; these helis are packed with features and can be flown by beginners as wells as helicopter veterans. The best part? You can team up with your friends and take your battle to the skies! Each Force helicopter has a built-in IR module that lets you fire at enemy helis; this same module also knows when you’ve been hit–each copter has its own LED “Guns” that flash, and sound effects can be heard through your transmitter. You can battle solo against a friend, bring in more friends and play as teams–you can even set up electronic ground targets to add to the fun. There are 2 models (The MH-35 Strike Heli and the FHX); both sell for $139.99 and are RTF, (ready to fly) with everything you need right in the box–even the 2.4 GHz, 5 channel transmitter. Horizon was kind enough to send us some, so make sure to check back for our full review. Until then, check out this video–but be warned: You will want one after seeing it.
The AR.Drone will always hold a special place in our hearts; not only is it one of the coolest gadgets out there, but it was also the subject of one of our first feature articles. As you probably know, the AR.Drone is a Quadricopter that generates its own WiFi signal, allowing you to fly it using your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Among its many high-tech features are 2 on-board cameras that send video back to your iDevice, allowing the user to see whatever the Drone sees–which lends itself perfectly to augmented reality gaming. Well, Parrot has just announced the first augmented reality game designed for the Drone–AR.Pursuit; a cat-and-mouse style aerial battle between 2 Drone users, where pilots use the video feed of their iDevice to not only fly the Drone, but also to attack their opponents. Rather than tell you about it, we’ve included a video so you can see for yourselves. AR.Pursuit will hit the App Store in late November and sell for $2.99. Full press release after the break…
You asked us for some RC car coverage, so we went right to the top. Our friends over at Traxxas, one of the premier names in RC racing, have been generous enough to send us the Traxxas Slash 4×4 Short-Course Truck (one of the hottest RC vehicles around) for a full hands-on. This 1/10th scale beast features a 2.4 GHz radio and a brushless motor that lets it do 40 + mph right out of the box; we’re also impressed by the waterproof electronics that Traxxas used, enabling the Slash to run through and over any terrain you throw at it. We’ll put the Slash through its paces over the next couple of weeks, so make sure you check back for the full review. Anything else that you’d like us to review? All you have to do is ask…
Well folks, this morning I awoke to some news that made me shriek like a young schoolgirl–Parrot’s AR Drone is officially available for pre-order through Brookstone (clicking the link will take you right to the pre-order page). For those not familiar with the Drone (shame on you!), I suggest taking a look at the preview piece we did to familiarize yourself–you even get to see me fly the thing! A big thanks to our friends at Parrot for sharing the good news…now read on for the details!
Parrot AR.Drone U.S. Invasion begins:
The first quadricopter for video games and piloted by Wi-Fi
now available for pre-order exclusively through Brookstone +Continue Reading
Some gadgets simply defy explanation; there’s no logical reason why you really need them in your life, you just simply HAVE to have them–this is the exact reaction I had the first time I laid eyes on the AR.Drone from Parrot. Long recognized as a leader in Bluetooth technology and devices, Parrot was truly thinking outside-the-box when it came up with the AR.Drone…the first RC Quadricopter you control using your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. While most RC cars, planes and helicopters use traditional hand-held radio devices (which are SO 2009), the AR.Drone actually lets you use your iPhone to control it over a Wi-Fi network (the Drone generates its own Wi-Fi network, so being in range of a router is a non-issue). +Continue Reading
CES is the annual Consumer Electronics Show that happens every January in Las Vegas. If I’m not mistaken, aside from the adult-entertainment convention, (which conveniently happens at the same time as CES) it’s the largest convention of its kind in the World. CES is often the launching ground for innovative new consumer electronics products either hitting the market this year or in years to come; often companies like to showcase technological advancements to give the media and consumers an idea of what direction they’re heading in.
No one knows as much about Radio Control as the folks at 
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