The Consumer Electronics Show is the largest electronics show in the U.S. Once a year, a small city of 140,000 entrepreneurs, media members, and assorted analysts descend on Las Vegas for this show to end all shows. Inevitably, tons of mobility related announcements are issued at CES.
This year, a variety of mobility products and services were on display throughout the show floor. Chief among them were Solid State Drives (SSDs), Bluetooth stereo headsets, Bluetooth sound systems, iPod accessories, and social networking startups. Below, we look at some of the more interesting things that caught our eye.
Ecosol Powerstick Portable Charging Device
$69.95; ecosolinc.com
At first blush, the Ecosol Powerstick appears to be another ho-hum portable charging device with a 750 mAh charging capacity. What sets the Powerstick apart from other solutions are not only its good looks, but an advanced dynamic charging recognition system. The Powerstick has a microprocessor that recognizes the device connected to it and automatically provides the correct charge for it. The Powerstick is a sleek, aluminum finished device with cute little Gas Empty/Full icons on its face. A small hole on one end accepts the short interchangeable wire tip that will charge your phone. My only real issue with the unit was that Ecosol should have designed the unit with a space for the wire, instead of forcing users to carry the wire(s) around separately. The only hiccup I ran with actual performance was with the HTC TyTN II (AT&T Tilt), where the mini-USB charger tip didn’t have enough output to charge the TyTN II. The Powerstick comes with 9 different tips to support most current devices, but make sure you check compatibility before buying. It’s available now on the developer’s Web site and in retail stores Q2-Q3.
ARC Wireless Freedom Antenna
$25-$35; antennas.com
Many phones have a little rubber protector on the back covering an external antenna port, allowing you to improve reception by connecting to a high gain external antenna. The Freedom Antenna is designed to mount on or near your windshield, but it is fairly portable and can be used elsewhere. After plugging your phone in, your reception/signal strength can increase up to eight times, according to the manufacturer. Ostensibly for use in the home, office, or vehicle, the device is fairly portable and its hard plastic case protects it well. I did experience a slight improvement in reception when I tested it in my home and office, but I thought having to connect and disconnect to the antenna every time I wanted to use the phone was a hassle. It’s probably better suited for in-vehicle use on relatively long trips, or other situations where you can leave your phone connected for a long time. It’s available from a number of online sources and is one of the least expensive signal boosters out there.
RAYTEL EGO CUP Bluetooth Speakerphone
$110-$130; tellphone.com
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