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Gadget Gurus

Wednesday
Jan 07th
Home arrow "Best Of" Lists arrow Best of CES 2008
Best of CES 2008 Print E-mail
Written by Rich McComas   

ces_logo_270w.jpgThe Consumer Electronics Show held in Las Vegas every January is always our favorite show, but often the most difficult to select a Best-of List from.  Because this show is held only annually now (it used to be held twice per year, once in the summer in Chicago), a good portion of the product announcements are for gadgets that are just prototypes, slated for delivery much later in the year.  Therefore, in many cases, we really don't have the opportunity to fully review the technologies before writing about them.

For 2008, however, we did find several items that we considered to be revolutionary, including:

  • Logitech Duet - Controlling your computer's audio library through your home entertainment system.
  • Bug Labs - An open source platform for creating computer projects and toys.
  • EchoStar TR-50 - A DVR for the rabbit-ear over-the-air TV crowd.
  • MagicJack - Unlimited phone calls for $20 per year, incuding a phone number and forwarding.
  • Dymo DiscPainter - A dedicated printer that "paints" full color CD or DVD discs in under a minute.
  • Intermatic Home Settings - Powerful z-wave controllers and modules for controlling lighting.

 

 
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TECH2 LAKE HOUSE to be Completed Spring 2009

techhouse-1208.jpg

DEC 2008 UPDATE - Ron Rosberg's current project home, the Technology Lake House, is currently under construction on the shores of Clearlake in Northern California.  The new high-tech dock is complete, and the roofline is beginning to take shape.  So far, more than a dozen technology vendors have stepped up to sponsor this project, which has been simmering in Ron's head since he attended the first CES show in New York in 1967.  The 7,500 square foot project (plus two existing rustic cabin guest houses) is being built on a six-acre Honeymoon Cove resort with 500 feet of beach directly across from Konocti Harbor Resort.  This summer retreat will host two technology gatherings annually, inviting Western states home builders, contractors, and technology consultants for a live open house.  There is room to park up to twelve boats in the main dock and the guest dock, so plan on coming up for some lake fun after the project is complete.  For more info, send email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 650-342-5642.  To see the latest photos, visit Ron's Flickr gallery.

We are currently looking for products to evaluate in these areas:

  • Home automation: lighting, security, HVAC and entertainment
  • A/V technology for the 500 SF home theater media demo room
  • Remote video (needed ASAP for monitoring construction live)
Hot News on Cool New Features: The ENTIRE front of the home will be made of sliding NanaWall glass panels that fold into the walls, opening the entire home up to the lake during demo days.

Who are the Gadget Gurus?

peopleatsign.jpg Gadget Gurus technology reviews are heard and read by millions of people across the United States, including more than a dozen print publications, dozens of tier-one radio stations, on third-party websites, and more than ever, online at our own website.

NEWS: In 2009, you will see a number of exciting announcements from Gadget Gurus, including podcasts, our syndicated "Gadgets-in-a-Minute" broadcasts, and our ever-expanding "Best Of" lists.   Also, you will be seeing our portfolio of magazine "gadget pages" growing into a number of vertical markets.