After a record-breaking year, the 51st CES event in Las Vegas has once again closed its doors. With early estimates indicating over 180,000 attendees soaking up information from over 3,900 exhibitors, covering 2.75 million net square feet of exhibit space. It is easy to see why CES is the biggest tech event of the year.
There were queues everywhere, a 2-hour power cut to one of the largest areas of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) on Wednesday and enough robots on show to suggest Skynet might be closer than we all think!
But among this endless sea of drones, breathtaking TVs, smart homes, autonomous cars and VR headsets, was some great travel tech.
{Tech} for Travels Top Picks of #CES2018
Travis the Translator
I first previewed this device back in May 2017 as part of my Indiegogo Specials. I was keen to get some hands on time and meet the team but I had severely underestimated the demand. I visited the booth twice, and both times they were swamped such was the interest in arguably one of the best travel tech devices to finally remove the language barrier!
This palm sized piece of tech can translate 80 different languages to your own, in real time! No delay, no headsets or smartphone pairing are needed with 20 offline options. Travis can connect to cell or wifi networks to operate in an online mode and access the full library of languages.
Travis has dual noise cancelling microphones and built-in speakers so it will operate in most environments without any difficulty. Alternatively, you can plug or pair headphones if the background noise is too loud!
Travis is currently unavailable for purchase as they fulfil the pre-orders from their hugely successful Indiegogo campaign, but you can sign up here to be kept informed of when you can get your hands on one.
Jabra Elite 65t Wireless Earbuds
Where headphones are concerned, wireless is the future! Jabra have already entered the market with their Elite Sport earbuds, but at CES, announce the Elite 65t.
The small form factor and flush outer finish mean they sit neatly inside the ear without sticking out. They have a special coating to hold them firmly in place and protect, not just from water, but sweat!
A 5 hour battery life can be extended via the carry case which can fully recharge the buds twice. The Elite 65t earbuds have a built-in microphone for handsfree phone calls and are compatible with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant. They would also make a great companion with the Travis (above)!
The Jabra Elite 65t are still to go on sale in Europe but will be priced at $170 in the US.
GoalZero
If outdoor pursuits, camping or wilderness living is your ideal travel activity, then you will need to know about GoalZero.
They have every possible power solution for the connected traveller, who prefers to be outside – all of the time! The Venture 30 & 70 models are ideal for camping adventures with a rugged and weatherproof exterior.
Both can be charged on the go with the GoalZero Nomad Solar panels or before you leave home. Design features include 5 LED lights to indicate remaining power and double up as a torch and built-in Micro USB/Lightning cables.
GoalZero also has a large range of lantern and light options to enhance any campsite; for the full range and prices, visit GoalZero.
Lenovo Miix 630
As CES announcements went for 2018, Lenovo were right up there with new to market tech. We were treated to the X1 Tablet, Yoga & Carbon models but the stand out release came in the form of a 2-in-1 all-in-one tablet!
Unlike many of the other power tablets on the market today, the Miix 630 ships ready to do business! It has Windows 10 S the lightweight or, streamlined, version of Win10 OS, a detachable keyboard case/cover and the Lenovo Digital Pen. No need for costly accessories here!
Weighting just 1.33kg and yet still able to deliver up to 20 hours battery life the Miix 630 has the power and performance to help you make the move from laptop to tablet. There is also the option for 4G LTE connectivity! All the function of a notebook with the always on connectivity of a mobile.
The full line up can be seen on the Lenovo site, with the Miix 630 due for release in the 2nd Quarter of 2018 with prices starting from $799.
ZTE Axon M
During 2017 some great new handsets were released; Pixel 2, iPhone X, Galaxy S8 and the Note8. In December though, ZTE launched the Axon M – and challenged the norm!
There is no sign of a sleek slim outer casing, curved infinity edges, super AMOLED display or even a rear camera. Instead, ZTE, have doubled up with a secondary screen!
Yes it is a hinge instead of the much talked about, foldable display, and as expected, doubles the thickness of the handset when folded.
ZTE had a big stand for the Axon and, amazingly, the hands on time I had with the device was positive. When in dual screen mode you can choose from full screen, split screen or home screen with an open folder. It is by no means a flagship device based on the power/specs and the true potential for the dual screen can only come to fruition if developers build apps for it!
Ultimately, the Axon M will only appeal to a niche market, but it is different – and different is good! The ZTE Axon M is on sale for $724.
For more photographs from this years event, head over to the {Tech} for Travel Instagram page.
#CES2019 will run from January 8th-11th, 2019.