CES 2016

And I am back for a 6th year for CES®.

Changes this year are in the naming. No longer referred to as the Consumer Electronics Show. It’s simplified to CES®. I still have to tell people that are not tech-related that it’s consumer electronics show.

My focus this year is: USB-C devices, hubs, laptops and adapters, fitness devices, the VW BUDD-e electric concept van and other electric cars.

My regular stops are a visit to see new Canon cameras, Fitbit booth, the Cocoon backpack and Grid-IT booth and the Sony booth. And of course a visit to my favorite hotel/casino The Cosmopolitan for an open bar party (Bond Bar parties are no longer held – sad).

CES starts Wednesday, January 6th and goes through Saturday January 9th, 2016 in Las Vegas, NV at Las Vegas Convention Center and The Venetian. I am there the last 3 days this year.

CES 2015

It’s that time of the year again when the annual Consumer Electronics Show happens.

This is my fifth year back at CES.   This year, I will be covering just the first two days.

As with previous years, there will be a plethora of announced products like more 4K televisions, HD cameras, wearables like fitness trackers, digital media and much more.

CES starts Tuesday, January 6th and goes through Friday January 9th, 2015 in Las Vegas, NV at Las Vegas Convention Center and The Venetian.

Bond Bar – Autos ‘n’ Apps Meetup

The Third Annual Autos ‘n’ Apps meetup is sponsored by Panasonic. One of my favorite CES pre-show parties at one of my favorite hotel casinos – The Cosmopolitan. And the Bond Bar… classy, fun and a bit on the wild side.

Casual Fun

I always find at least a few people to network with, share visions of tech and shoot the breeze.

This party is always open bar and there is not a single type of drink off limits. Some are even suggested by the wait staff. Here’s a few I tried last night.

Chocolate Banana

Also called a Chocolate Monkey. Although this is shot form, so it’s just vodka and banana liqueur. Yummy.

Dirty Martini

A classic. This one was made with Hendricks Gin. Soak the olives for some extra kick after you finish your drink. These go down all too well.

Lemon Drop

A standard shot at most bars, this one was classed up using Grey Goose vodka. I only had one of these.

See you in 2015

I look forward to this event next year.

CES 2014

For the fourth year in a row, I will be at CES.   This year, I will be covering just the first two days.

As with previous years, there will be a plethora of announced products like more 4K televisions, HD cameras, cell phones, digital media and much more.

CES starts Tuesday, January 7th and goes through Friday January 10th, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV at Las Vegas Convention Center and The Venetian.

CES 2013 – Pre Show

I am here in Las Vegas for the annual CES trade show. This is my third year back and I’m excited to be attending all four days of the show this year.

Lots To See

I am looking forward to seeing lots of new tech and gadgets, especially digital cameras (both video and still), the 4K television (four times the resolution of today’s 1080p TVs), non-Apple tablets and the growing curiosity of the newest crop of ultrabooks. Plus anything else that piques my interest.

But First..

But before the official show starts tomorrow, there is a pre show CES party I will be attending at the Bond Bar inside the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino, drinking martinis and enjoying the company of fellow tech people.

More reports as I find them both here and over on my main blog, Banal Leakage.

Week Ending January 5, 2013

The blogging week worth of posts for the first week of 2013.

Adult Beverages

Crown Royal Black & Sprite

– my favorite whisky mixed with Sprite, which is tones down the sweet when mixing

Master Bloody Mary

– what makes a quick but tasty bloody mary, using Tito’s Vodka

Banal Leakage

LEGO Star Wars Droid Escape

– the build of a LEGO set that has sat on my shelf at home for the last few months

She Would Have Been 90

– my mom, who passed away in 2006, would have been 90 years old. I reflect on what a birthday phone call conversation would be if she were still alive

CES 2013

For the third year in a row, I will be at CES.  But instead of only covering two days of the show, as I did the previous two years, I will be covering all 4 days.  I’ve not been to all 4 days in many years (back in the late 90’s when I was a newsletter/magazine publisher).

This should be an exciting show with all sorts of new products shown.  My coverage of the show in the last couple of years has been weak, but I’m hoping to step that up with more videos, more booth coverage and more product photos.

CES starts Tuesday, January 8th and goes through Friday January 11th, 2013 in Las Vegas, NV.

Attending NAB 2012

I am at NAB 2012 this year.

I had a scheduling conflict last year and was major bummed I couldn’t go. I am only at the show for 2 days so will try to see as much as I can here.

As an amateur filmmaker and short video creator, I’m sure a lot of what is here is going to be professional, but I want to see what I can look forward to as I expand my video production skills. One of the must see stops is Adobe Premiere CS6, a rival to Final Cut Pro. Also, the new Canon 4K cameras and any other video production coverage for this Final Cut user.

Speaking of Final Cut, I won’t be going to the Final Cut Supermeet as that is Tuesday night, so will have to catch up on how it was later in the week.

I will post later with a summary of my experience.

CES 2012 – Day 1 – Ultrabooks

Day one of CES 2012 was packed.  Hard to walk anywhere most of the day, but I fought the crowds and made some nice discoveries in the ultrabook category.

Ultrabooks are one of the most talked about gadgets this year and there was no shortage of them.  Lenovo has a strong contender with the U300S.  Just under 3 lbs, it’s a light and speedy portable that make for an easy to carry anywhere.

Don’t confuse the name HP chose for their ultrabook. This is not anything close to the DOA Palm netbook from a few years ago. First off, the spelling is different (smart move, HP) and it’s running Windows not an OEM operating system. This sturdy lightweight has got a dual core processor, 4gb of RAM and a bright screen and had a soft rubber backing on the bottom for easy handling.

Samsung’s 900 series ultrabook is an all aluminum case, a comfortable keyboard and a clear display that’s easy on the eyes for the 7 hours of battery life this portable gives out.

Toshiba’s ultrabook is 2.5 lbs – one of the lightest of the bunch – and with a 13-inch screen that appears to be flimsy, but it’s not… just thin and clear and built tough.  The keyboard and trackpad were one of the better ones of the bunch.

As a Mac guy, I don’t see myself switching to any of these ultrabooks (my heart is set on the MacBook Air), but if you are a Windows person and need a capable laptop to take with you pretty much anywhere, I highly recommend these models, based on my time with them at the show.

I will have more coverage of all that I saw at CES once I return home both here and over on Banal Leakage.

Going To CES 2012 in Las Vegas

It’s that time of the year and while I didn’t post much from the 2011 CES show, I am going back again this year to see what’s new and exciting in the world of consumer electronics.

Cameras and ultrabooks are my main focus this year and I hope to post at least a few updates here of what I find that I consider useful and cool.

The show is Tuesday Jan 10th thru Friday Jan 13th.  I will be attending the first 3 days, plus a few events at night.