For my first column I thought you might be interested in hearing about some of the things I saw at the Consumer Electronics Show. I look forward to sharing some of the electronic and computer oriented stuff I find each month.
At the Consumer Electronics Show this past January, the full-scale invasion of new "hybrid" products arrived: a combination mouse and digital phone, DVD recorders with hard disks and PC interfaces, broadband home routers with both Ethernet and Wi-Fi interfaces, MP3 players mated with FM radios, CD players, satellite radios, cell phones - or anything else that would stand still, luggage with solar panels to recharge gadgets, and printers that output to your TV (as well as paper). Of course, Bill Gates wowed the crowd as usual with his presentation of the new windows operating system, VISTA scheduled for release this fall.
Bill Gates
With more than 150,000 attendees from 110 countries witnessing the introduction of thousands of new products and technologies from more than 2,500 exhibitors, the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) lived up to its billing as the world's largest technology tradeshow. The 2006 International CES, produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), ran January 5-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show featured a bunch of exciting product and exhibitor announcements, many of which provide unprecedented control over when, where and how you watch movies, listen to music, view digital photos and access information, education and entertainment content as well as providing a variety of choices in the way you obtain, view and listen to digital content.
As you can imagine, seeing anywhere near all the 2,500 exhibits is a pretty much impossible expectation so, I had to decide what to try and spend my time on. One of the more valuable, independently sponsored approaches to this problem is Showstoppers, a media event, where a limited number of exhibitors show off their products on the first night of the show. Companies like Sony, Intel, HP, Microsoft, Xerox, Best Buy, Logitech, Zone Labs - and the innovative companies that launch new products, new services, and new companies themselves are there... this year, it was held at the Wynn, an experience in itself. My hat goes off to the folks who work very hard to make Showstoppers a smashing success, they do a fantastic job! With a much smaller number (around 100) of exhibits, I was able to spend some time talking to and learning from the people who were there to show off their products.
After a quick walk-around to see who and what was there, I decided to spend some time with the folks at Digital Innovations, a company with a huge range of products. For this event, they were featuring their security line, a set of items I found to be exceptional as well as extremely useful. The first is a Secure Force Wireless Separation Sensor which protects all of your valuable electronics from theft! It prevents you from leaving them behind, which, if you are like me, has happened!! You can attach it easily to your valuables and separation is what triggers an alarm. You'll never leave anything behind, again... guaranteed.
Next is a retractable Laptop Lock complete with a 4 foot cable that will secure your laptop to immovable objects... and it has a user select 3-digit combination.
Retractable Laptop Lock
How many of you keep important data on a thumb drive? Is it encrypted? Probably not, which is most likely what inspired the Data Guard USB Thumb drive lock, which keeps your data safe and protects your thumb drive against identity theft. It has a durable metal design and will fit any thumb drive. It also has a user select 3-digit combination.
Data Guard USB Thumb drive lock
A Property Protector Motion-Activated Alarm lets you protect any number of different items by attaching this compact alarm to them. It has a user select 4-digit code which you activate as you put an item down temporarily, e.g. a briefcase, while you are filling out a rental car form. If a thief grabs it the alarm goes off.
Property Protector Motion-Activated Alarm
Are you surfing when you're supposed to be working? Have a game up when you need to leave to attend a meeting? Looking at vacation locations when it's time to go to lunch? Here is the ideal solution - PC Defender Wireless PC Screen Lock - it automatically hides your desktop when you leave and unlocks it when you return. Of course, it also provides needed security when you are hard at work on a sensitive company project!
PC Defender Wireless PC Screen Lock
iSpot Wireless Lost Item Locator. This is one everyone in my family wants... misplaced keys, glasses, remotes, purses, cameras, iPods, cats, dogs, kids, you name it, I've lost it at one time or another and this is the ideal way to keep track. It's even color coded for the less detail oriented of us! Attach the receiver to anything and use the iSpot to find it, anytime.
iSpot Wireless Lost Item Locator
Finally, The Security Dr. Media Vault Ultra-Secure Locking case for all Confidential Media! It provides secure storage for digital media, CDs, DVDs memory cards, etc. It also has a user select 3-digit combination and fits inconspicuously in a standard DVD rack.
Security Dr. Media Vault Ultra-Secure Locking Case
Prices range from a low of $9.99 for the media vault to a high of $49.99 for the iSpot.
Sticking with the topic of security, I was most impressed with a product that I saw at one of the exhibits in the convention center parking lot which was filled with inflatable structures to provide space for more gee-whiz goodies. If you're worried about the security of your home or small business, but you haven't yet invested in a wired alarm because it's too expensive, you're a renter, or a college student, there is a new system that overcomes all those problems, costs $199.95 at retail, and is so simple to set up that you can be protected within minutes from the time you take it out of the carton. It's the LaserShield Instant Security System, the first “Plug and Go” system that you can take with you if and when you move.
LaserShield Instant Security System
The basic product consists of two handsomely designed modules, resembling small, inconspicuous silver bookshelf speakers. The first is the Master Alarm Unit , which holds the siren, the dialer and a voice annunciator that will denote the system's status. The Master Alarm Unit also features a highly sophisticated bunch of electronics and software, which allows the user to control LaserShield from a keychain remote or any touch-tone phone anywhere in the world.
The second element is the Wireless Detection Unit (WDU), which houses the infra-red motion detector and connects wirelessly with the Master Alarm Unit. Each Wireless Detection Unit can protect a room of approximately 1,100 square feet, and as many as a dozen WDU's can be linked to the Master Unit to provide protection for additional rooms, areas, garages, etc. Additional WDU's carry a suggested retail price of $59.95.
The setup is simplicity itself. A user just plugs the Master Alarm Unit into power and telephone, plugs the WDU into an electrical outlet, links the units with the touch of a button, and makes a phone call to establish 24/7 monitoring service which is handled by Rapid Response Monitoring Service, one of America's largest and most professional monitoring services.. the process takes less than five minutes.
Arming is just as easy. LaserShield can be armed and disarmed from the keychain remote or any touch-tone phone. Panic buttons on the two remotes and each of the wireless units provide additional personal security. LaserShield comes with a series of protections against annoying false alarms, including the absence of wires, magnets and contacts which often go bad and trigger false alarms; the lack of keypads, programs and codes to learn; and even a pet shield to keep Pooky (my dog) from triggering an alarm.
I think it's ideal for Island homes where we want to keep our windows open but also want the added protection an alarm like this provides.
LaserShield is expected to be available at major retailers in the first quarter of 2006. It is also currently available at http://www.amazon.com/. The charge for monthly monitoring is $19.95.
That's it for now, until next time, have fun with electronics and computers, but ebware the Ides of March (the 15th) if your name is Julius that is.
Aloha, Lou
