COMMENTARY | The hot gadgets at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) of 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada, are difficult to choose from, and the coverage of the event has featured more than enough electronics that are truly drool-worthy for gamers, TV lovers, movie buffs and even fitness fans. Whether you’re in the market for a revolutionary gadget purchase or you simply want something to add to a wish list, here my favorite products of CES 2012.
Sony Playstation Vita – Few electronics consumers can argue that the Sony Playstation Vita (PS Vita) is one highly anticipated and rather spectacular addition to portable, handheld gaming. The graphics on this portable device are truly impressive, and the implementation of a touch screen promises to deliver interactive gaming in an on-the-go format.The PS Vita is available on February 22nd, 2012, starting at $249.
Samsung Galaxy Note – The Samsung Galaxy Note is a 5.3-inch android for AT&T with a stylus “S Pen” that makes it feel more like a tablet-phone hybrid. Demonstrations of artists sketching impressive caricatures and designs immediately caught my attention, and the more I research the Galaxy Note the more I want one. Everything you need in a smartphone is here — mobile output, 8MP camera, light-weight design and app-friendly — plus an intuitive scheduler and advanced memo feature, both enhanced by the digital “S Pen” accessory. Popular Electronics currently has a $699.99 price tag for this hot smartphone.
Canon EOS C300 – A product is worthy of professional cinematography crews, the Canon C300 will “mark the beginning of a whole new system for the motion picture industry.” It is capable with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses, and the combination of the Super 35mm Canon CMOS sensor and the success of the Canon brand in the DSLR industry makes it easy to predict success for this revolutionary device. The $20,000 price tag might make most electronics consumers cringe, but it’s tough to say no to a total resolution of 3840×2160 and 1080p images.
LG 55″ OLED 3D TV – The OLED 55″ 3D TV certainly won’t be cheap, considering 15″ versions of LG’s 3D HDTV technology have hit the shelves with a $2,500 price tag in recent years, but this OLED TV is the elusive unicorn of the HDTVs at CES. With a vivid, unrivaled picture and swift response times, this LG TV blows everything else out of the water — 3D or not. No release date for this product has been announced, and it won CNET’s Best of Show award for CES 2012.
Basis Band: This amazing gadget monitors and tracks your stress level (via the Galvanic Skin Response), calories burned, activity level, and even the quality of your sleep. What sets the Basis Band apart from the similar products is its ability to be worn 24/7 for continuous monitoring. Considering the battery is reported to last a few weeks, the $199 price tag for the Basis Band seems even more a reasonable fitness purchase and less of an electronics splurge. You can reserve your Basis Band via pre-order now.
Sources:
Mark Milian, “Gallery: Hot gadgets at CES,” CNN
Tim Moynihan, “Eyes-On With LG’s Stunning 55-Inch OLED 3D TV,” PC World
“Best of CES 2012 Awards,” CNET
Christina DesMarais, “Gadgets for the Health-Conscious,” PC World