by Lori Cunningham

This is my third year covering CES, the largest Consumer Electronics Show ( 2011) in the US.  Executives from every major industry attend this show to find new ways to keep connected and conduct business.  This year’s show was the largest show ever since its inception, with over 3,100 exhibitors and over 153,000 attendees.  Over 20,000 new products were launched during CES.  Phew!

Exhibits and press meetings were spread between the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Venetian hotel and Sands Convention Center, located at the Venetian.  As many of you know, I love my Striiv pedometer.  I was curious to see over the course of the week, how long I actually walked.  To my surprise, I walked the equivalent of a full marathon – over 26 miles in five days.  No wonder why I’m so  tired.

I wish I could say I’m resting all week but we are in the process of moving into my dream home…the WellConnectedHome, a home I’ve decked all out with the latest home technology – much of it DIY.  Be sure to subscribe to theWellConnectedHome.com to find out about the latest cool home tech for home automation, entertainment, and more.

Anyways, back to CES.  I’ve included some pictures here to give you the sights of the show and some of the parties I attended as well.

Press Day starts a couple days ahead of CES.  Most of the larger companies “wow” the press with their latest innovations at this time.  Panasonic surprised the crowd at the end of their conference when Justin Timberlake made a presence to talk about MySpace.com’s latest venture,  MySpace TV.  MySpace TV allows mySpace friends to communicate on their TV as they are watching sports and shows on their TV’s.  Timberlake took on an ownership stake in MySpace.com in June, apparently after seeing the possibility of future ventures after appearing in the movie, The Social Network.

Panasonic also announced that this year’s 2012 Olympics in London will be filmed using Panasonic’s 3D cameras…which means we will be able to watch the Olympics like never  before.  Due to the discounted prices and bundling of TV/Blue  Ray or TV/Video Console packages this Christmas, 3D TV’s  are increasingly becoming a part of home life.  I recently purchased a smart TV with 3D — not because of the 3D  but because of the TV itself.  I for one am THRILLED and can’t wait to see the Olympics in 3D with my family.

Sony was another fun press conference to attend.  Upon arrival, we were all given 3D glasses.  Sony introduced their new line of products initially through an interesting 3D video.  It was great to see their products “come alive” so to speak.  Sony introduced their new S tablet with enhanced entertainment features – what you’d expect from an entertainment company.

One of the entertainment aspects of the tablet is called PlayMemories.  PlayMemories allows you to share content from your tablet, camera, PS Vita, PlayStation 3 console, TV’s and smart phones to your other devices enabled with PlayMemories.  PlayMemories is included with many of Sony’s 2012 product line and is available for download as a  free  app through iOS and Android now.  PlayMemories works by allowing you to save pictures/video to the cloud and accessing it from different devices.

Sony sported a number of guest appearances during their press conference featuring Will Smith from Men in Black (MIB3) and Kelly Clarkson, who sang a song live for us.  I will post these on on our WellConnectedMom channel on YouTube  later.

SHARP’s press conference was interesting.  I never realized that SHARP is a vertically integrated company, meaning they make all the components for their TV’s themselves.  Being vertically integrated allows them to lower their costs and go to market faster.  There’s no doubt SHARP’s Quattron yellow color produces rich colors in their TV’s.  New this year are a more developed platform for  their Smart TV’s and a beautiful 85″ Quattron TV.  Aquos Live is built-into all new Aquos TVs – meaning you can call into their support line and they can log into your TV to assist you.

I loved their Freestyle TV’s which promote mobility.  Want the kids to watch TV in another room, but you don’t have a TV there?  Just move your SHARP Freestyle Wi-Fi-enabled TV in there.  They’ll be watching shows off the Net in no time.  Take the TV out to the pool with you, it’s no problem.  All you need is a plug.  What a novel concept, moving your TV with you instead of buying a TV for each room.

While walking around at one of the press events, I ran into Bob Marley.  Marley was showcasing off his new audio equipment which is sold at the HouseofMarley.com.  I’d say all of his jammn’ has served him well.  At age 66, he looks great!

The showroom floor was packed as business execs, buyers, and the press (reporters/bloggers) roamed the floor.  Having a hands-on experience enables a better understanding of a product’s features.

LG’s booth was pretty impressive, as usual.  As attendees entered the hall, they were handed 3D glasses to take advantage of LG’s 3D video showing the possibilities of 3D in filming.  I have to say, 3D videos are fun to watch.

LG showcased a number of 55″ OLED TV’s which were no thicker than a pencil.  Absolutely incredible, with a contrast ration of 100,000,000.  Last year, OLED TV’s were on display, but they screen size was not very large.  OLED TV’s will be pricey, probably in the $2,500 range, but expect the price to drop as more manufacturers jump on board to produce them.

Ever wanted your picture with the ViewSonic birds?  Attend CES next year, they’re there every year!

Samsung’s booth did not disappoint.  Samsung debuted their 55″ OLED TV’s as well.  Samsung’s model boasts a dual core processor and the ability to process “smart content,” which will be introduced at a later time.

IGN and Qualcomm hosted a hip party at the Surrender Nightclub at the Encore.  The drinks were good and the drink ice sculpture was cool.  The nightclub had a great vibe and a photo booth provided extra entertainment for the night.

Other interesting products on the CES showroom floor included Xi3 modular computers.  These computers are so small, you can carry it in your hand.  They come in a variety of colors and can actually be hooked up to the back of your monitor so you don’t even see them.

Xi3 differs from other computers in that it separates its motherboard into three distinct components 1.) the processor and memory area 2.) display and power options 3.) I/O or special connectivity options.

This means you can swap things out such as hard drive space, RAM, and more as technology advances. They have a separate external storage drives as well that you can add on as your fill up your memory in your Xi3. Pretty slick.

One of the many things I like about CES is the opportunity to meet the people behind the ideas that make it to the marketplace.  I met Adrian Mirando, Chief Creative Officer at Poldera.com.  Adrian came up with the concept of putting a retractable chain on his iPhone after leaving it behind at a restaurant establishment last year.  The phone disappeared quickly. He vowed to not let that happen again.

He created the iKeep retractable cable clip that attaches to your iPhone and then clips to your belt, purse, backpack, etc..  Having lost phones myself before, this “leash” would have been most helpful.  I could also see this helpful in tethering your iPhone or iPad to your purse or child’s belt loop, so s/he doesn’t leave it behind when you let him/her borrow it for a few moments.

Another item I like even more is the iKeep Charger which is the iKeep with an included charger.  I have  been to many conferences where I borrow a plug somewhere to charge my phone.  Clipping the phone to my bag will help secure it better and ensure that I remember to unplug it when I grab my bag.  Love it.

I loved meeting 13 year old, Taylor Burghard, the Chief Design Officer TekChick Designs where “smart is cool.”  Taylor recycles used Apple laptop keyboard keys to create fun messages on earrings and necklaces.  Messages include:

I-CTRL-U

LOVE

YME?

and my favorite, GR8-MOM - among many more.

Her dad was on hand as her official Involved Parent, as his card read.  Taylor really impressed me with her candor and how well she related her story to buyers and members of the press.  Right now Taylor’s factory is in her basement, but she is hiring “staff” as her business grows.  Great job, Taylor, you’re an impressive young entrepreneur!

Well that about “wraps up” my CES in pictures, though I have hundreds more to share!  Stay tuned for the WellConnectedMom’s 6 Trends of CES 2012, and my top favorite products for moms from CES this year.

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by Lori Cunningham

Merry Christmas, everyone!  You’re busy running around getting just the right gift for your husband, your kids, your parents, your friends…but what about you?  What would you like this Christmas?

You’ve heard about some great gadgets out there, perhaps your friends even use some of them, but will are they really worth the money?  And worth the time it takes to understand how to use them?

This is where the WellConnectedMom.com’s Top 10 Christmas Gadgets for Mom’s list* comes in handy.  Each of these gadget picks have been selected due to their relevance to moms.  I have used all of them except for the Ultrabook and each of these items have personally been very useful in my life.

On with the list…

Striiv Pedomoeter  $99

The Striiv is a pedometer infused with today’s technology.  Gone are the black and grey small digital pedometer screens.  Now you see your progress in full color.  Striiv not only counts your steps but it helps to set goals for you too.  Ever walk the San Francisco bridge?  Climbed the Eiffel Tower?  Walked the Zion Narrows in Utah?  Walked up 2 of the great pyramids in Egypt?  The Striiv shows you how close you are to attaining these goals.

The Striiv also has a social awareness part where you can choose a charity and every step you takes counts towards a donation made by Striiv and other companies towards that charity. I choose clean water for people in South America. Every 18,000 steps I make gives them a clean glass of water.  I think of those people in South America often.  This pedometer packs much more including a fun game where you earn coins based on steps and stats that show your averages, personal best, and progression of days.

Smartphone $99-$700+

The smartphone has revolutionized our lives.  The processing power in one phone today used to fill rooms with equipment of yesteryear.  The smartphone is an indispensable tool for any mom.  Using the phone for calls and texting is great, but the smartphone goes way beyond this.  The camera takes spur of the moment shots, the flashlight is an amazing feature – never leave stuff behind in a dark movie theater again!

Maps will assure that you never lose your way – whether walking or driving, the Angry Birds game will help you take out the frustrations of the day, the Words with Friends app keeps your mind keen while playing a “Scrabble” type games with friends, listen to your tunes on the go, Skype with family and friends whether close or far, shopping – find the best bargains on a product  BEFORE you buy it, receive e-mail when on the run and respond back in a more timely manner.  The list could go on and on.  I was hesitant before I could stomach paying the extra money for the data plan.  But I’m telling you, as a mom, it’s worth the extra money.

Eye-Fi SD Card $39.88

If you have wireless (Wi-Fi) set up at home or at your office, the Eye-Fi SD card is a must get.  The Eye-Fi allows you to wirelessly download pictures taken on your camera automatically, as soon as you turn your camera on and you enter your Wi-Fi- network.  I shoot a lot of pictures for my blog and with a regular SD card, I have to take the card out of the camera, insert it into the computer, and go through the steps to ensure they upload on my computer.

With the Eye-Fi, when within my Wi-Fi range, (which is often since I take a lot of pictures at home), as soon as I take a picture, it is already downloading onto my computer!  How cool is that?  I love taking pictures at birthday parties at our house and streaming the pics to our TV so the kids can see themselves.  I used to have to disappear for a while during a party to make this happen, now it happens instantaneous.  Brilliant.

Tablet $298-$1,000

The tablet is another revolutionary product.  In essence, it is a larger smartphone, though typically it does not make calls.  At home, the tablet is a great tool.  It is so much easier and fun to use than the smartphone because of the larger screen and faster processor.  Watch movies, listen to tunes, play games, read your e-mail, take pictures and video, Skype friends while walking through the house, explore and book travel, take pictures of items and post on eBay, etc.

I use Microsoft Office OneNote to keep all of my projects in order.  Think of OneNote as a bunch of notebook binders with tabs to keep things organized.  It is a dream to use and I use it extensively for keeping track of house projects, blog goals, wish lists for the kids, family recipes, travel arrangements, etc.  I’ve never been so organized.

What I like best about using a tablet is that it untethers me from my PC in my home office.  I’m more visible now and can quickly look things up on YouTube or Google when talking with my husband or kids.  I have a Wi-Fi version.  The 3G version is nice to have but adds to your monthly data plan cost and many stores now offer free Wi-Fi.

Ultrabook $799-$1,200

The Ultrabook is the newest arrival in the progression of laptops.  Ultrabooks just hit the market in May and they’re touted to takeover the laptop as the leading mobile computing device in years to come.  Ultrabooks are different from laptops in that they are typically lighter, very thin, have a long battery life (5-8 hrs.), and have instant on access from sleep mode, similar to tablets.  Intel foresees the prices of Ultrabooks getting closer to $500 as more manufacturers make them and components to build them become more mainstream and cheaper to buy.  Unlike tablets, Ultrabooks have full processing power.

Self-Defense Training Camp XBOX Kinect $34.99

Self-Defense Training Camp for the XBOX Kinect is a great way to learn self-defense moves right in your own family room.  How many of us think self-defense is important but have never taken the time to take a class?  You will learn vulnerable parts to strike on your attacker as well as ways to get out of a tight embrace should you be snatched.  Self-Defense Training Camp walks you though a number of steps that build upon each other to help you memorize the moves.

Not only is this game beneficial for you, but it opens the door for you to teach your kids about self-defense and have discussions about what to do if someone kidnaps them.  It takes your self-defense conversations with your kids out of theoretical and into practical – kids are more engaged and learn to train their bodies what to do.  This is a great teaching tool for moms and kids alike.

Smart TV $479-$4,000+

For several years, TV’s have offered apps for Netflix, Pandora, Blockbuster, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, weather, and more, but now you can get full access to the Internet on your TV.  Smart TVs socialize your PC or “personal computer” so you can share with others in your home websites that do not have apps like your favorite recipe or cooking show site, a travel destination you’re thinking about taking, online photo sharing sites, your blog, kids educational sites, music sites, and millions more.

You can also connect to your computer to show your latest pictures/videos and stream your favorite tunes on the big screen.  I like to stream pictures of my kids through the years, they love watching themselves grow up on TV.

Smart  TVs must connect to your router to access the Internet.  All Smart TVs have an Ethernet plug (if you happen to have an Ethernet cable nearby that connects to your router) or can access the Internet wirelessly with a WiFi adaptor (often purchased separately for around $75.)

Neat Receipts Portable Scanner and Software   $199.95

How many of you have a built-in scanner as part of your “all-in-one” printer?  How many of you use it?  I use mine occasionally, but frankly it’s a bit cumbersome.  Neat Receipts Portable Scanner is small and fits neatly on my desk. I use it for two main items: 1.) receipts 2.) business cards.

If you’re like me, you have a drawer full of receipts.  Going through them to find a certain receipt is not always easy.  Keeping track of where money is spent is fine if you use Quicken, but the data you download from the credit card companies does not show the products you actually bought.  By scanning in my receipts, I have a clearer picture for spending and can export the data to Quicken, Quickbooks, Excel, TurboTax, or a PDF.  The Neat Receipts scanner is also great for tracking business expenses while on the road.  Due to its portable size, it can go with you.

I will be taking the scanner with me to the Consumer Electronic Show, coming up in January.  I receive so many business cards and this will be a great tool for keeping tack of them and keeping them for future reference.  Neat Receipts uses optimal character recognition (OPR) so receipts and business cards scanned in will be searchable for particular words.

Use Neat Receipts to scan in your recipes, kids artwork, important documents, etc.   The Neat Receipts portable scanner and software is a phenomenal organizational tool.

Gaming Console $150-$400 PlayStation 3 Wii  XBox  

Gaming consoles are hot sellers – they’ve been for years.  The games that are coming out now are amazing – so realistic and so interactive - especially with the sensors that PlayStation 3 Move, Wii, XBOX Kinect and use.  Wii has been a family oriented console since its conception, but PlayStation 3 Move and XBOX Kinect are catching up with the large number of family games they are producing.  Now you can play Minute to Win it, Family Feud, Monopoly, Apples to Apples, Battleship, Life, Sorry, Yahtzee, Price is Right, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Trivial Pursuit, Twister, carnival games, and more right in your own family room.  All of these are great games to play with the family or have a fun casual night with friends.

Need more exercise?  Try Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout, Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, Gold’s Gym Dance Workout, Zumba Fitness Dance, EA Sports Active, and a bunch of others.  Today’s gaming systems are not just for the kids anymore!

WebCam $20-$99

Home video conferencing is getting more and more popular. Webcams are great for Skype but they are also many other purposes.  With the right software, you can play games with it, surveillance your room via your smartphone, send video e-mails to the grandparents, create your own talkshow or podcast, taking pictures and doctoring up with fun online tools, and more.  Although you can use your tablet for Skype now, there are still benefits of a stationary video camera – especially when your young kids are Skyping with friends or family…it’s just safer.  See WellConnectedmom.com’s Top 5 Things to do with Your Kids and a Webcam for more ideas.

Well, there it is, our top 10 Christmas gadgets recommendations for moms.  There are so many useful gadgets out there, it’s hard to narrow it down to just 10.  Interested in seeing more top pics?  See the WellConnectedMom’s top Christmas gadgets list for 2010 and 2009.

Want some suggestions for kids Christmas presents?  We recommend the LeapPad by Leap Frog, Roman Town, Laser Pegs, Disneyland Adventures for XBOX Kinect, and Wappy for Nintendo DS.

*In the past two years, I have been given a Striiv, Eye-Fi Card, Self-Defense Training Camp, Microsoft Lifecam Studio webcam, PlayStation 3, and Neat Receipts portable scanner to review and provide my honest opinion.  I have found these products to be very useful and continue to use them personally after the review.  All opinions stated are my own.

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While at the Toy Fair tradeshow earlier this year I became interested in how cellphones and iPads were encroaching into toys and games.  Several games caught my eye, namely the fun strategic Rush Hour game and the new Solitaire Chess, both from Think Fun Games.  These games are a lot of fun to play in the physical world with other people, but now they are also available from iTunes in solitaire mode; they’re very addictive.

Now I’ve Seen Everything!

I continued to look for cellphone/tablet crossovers.  I was not disappointed.  I walked into a hobbyist dream booth showcasing all sorts of toys from INTERACTIVE Toy Concepts. It was the Wi-Fli helicopter that caught my eye.

Toy flying helicopters have been all the rage these past few years, but I have yet to see one where the remote control is your smartphone or iPad.  Nor have I seen one as well-constructed.

The Wi-Fli hobby class helicopter is pretty slick.  From its tail to its nose, it measures 12 inches with a body 8 inches in diameter.  It includes a balance bar and two sets of rotating blades and one tail rotor.  Though mostly made of plastic, there are some metal parts as well.  I suspect the plastic is essential for keeping the weight down for flight as well as lessening the impact to the chassis when impacts occur.

Features:

• features exact directional flight – up/down, left/right, forward/backward and 360 degrees
• digital proportional flight control
• rotor gyro for precise flight stability
• 3.7 volt li-polymer rechargeable battery
• includes 2 replacement connectors and one replacement tail rotor (yes, you will crash it)
• uses an enclosed USB Charging cable – helicopter can be completely charged via your USB drives on your computer
• a free Wi-Fli app available in the iTunes  and Android stores to control the helicopter with your smartphones or iPad
• a more advanced app option allowing you to use the accelerator in your smartphone/iPad to control flight by moving it in different directions

 Ready for take-off, as flown by our teen-aged neighbor.

Headed for the skies!

The advanced version of the app allows you to control the helicopter by tilting the iPad or smartphone

in the direction you want it to fly in.

The Wi-Fli Helicopter can fly pretty high.  The higher you fly, the easier it is to control,

as you have less to bump into!

The Interactive Toy Concepts Wi-Fli Helicopter is available in-stores at Target, Radio Shack – for $99.99, and at Macy’s online as well.  I could not find it at Amazon.

A Mother’s Perspective

I had a lot of fun playing with the Wi-Fli Helicopter.  I still have a ways to go to learn how to fly it properly.  But that’s what I love about it.  The Wi-Fli Helicopter is a true class hobby chopper with precise control, yet it sells at a toy price.

At first I thought the Wi-Fli Helicopter would be great for my kids to try.  Perhaps that would be the case for the helicopters you see at the local fair or toy stores, but not for this helicopter.  The packaging says it’s intended for kids 14+ and there is good reason for that.  Teenagers will love this chopper…it’s fun, challenging, and a great group activity.  Dads will love the Wi-Fli chopper.  Heck, even I enjoyed it.

If you’re looking for a great hobbiest-type of toy for your teenagers or husband, this will certainly bring them entertainment…and great bonding moments.

Win It!

Want to try one out for yourself or give a present that is sure to be a WOW! gift for Christmas?  Enter to win our contest to score a Wi-Fli helicopter for yourself!

TO ENTER

• Fill out the form below.  One entry per person.
• Only USA and Canada addresses please.
• The contest ends December 21st, 12am PST.
• The winner will be chosen by random.org.
• Prize will be fulfilled through the mail (after Christmas).

GET EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN

• Get 1 extra entry for following Well Connected Mom on Facebook.
• Get 1 extra entry for following Interactive Toy Concepts on Facebook.
• Get 1 extra entry for following @wellconnectdmom on Twitter.
• Get 1 extra entry for tweeting on twitter, “I hope to win cool iPhone/iPad controlled Wi-Fli helicopter and @wellconnectdmom http://bit.ly/uEejar.  #Giveaway ends 12/23rd.”

* I was given a Wi-Fli Helicopter in return for my honest opinion.

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