As part of CES 2019, I spent a lot of time with Panasonic (they were one of our sponsors this year,) checking out a bunch of their current and future tech innovations. We shot a video that teased the top 5 tech that we were going to be exploring in the booth, (don't miss the Harley Davidson electric motorcycle!) Here's the breakdown:

1. Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle
2. Panasonic Projection Mapping and Real-Time Tracking
3. Panasonic CIRRUS Intelligent Transportation Solution
4. Human Characteristic Sensing and AI
5. SPACe_C eMobility Concept 48v ePowertrain platform
6. ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio System (bonus!)

Continue reading "Panasonic Lumix S1, Harley-Davidson LiveWire and more from Panasonic’s CES 2019 booth!"

This year during CES 2017 I had the opportunity to work with Panasonic in their booth as part of another influencer campaign, similar to last year. In 2016, I focused mostly on the Technics audio hardware--but this year it was all about the Future Tech Lab. Get a preview of the best tech that we found in the Panasonic booth in the video embedded above, and then hit the jump to check out all the products that I was able to learn about during this CES, like the bendable battery, the sports arena of the future, on the fly multilingual language translation, the incredible Lumix GH5, and more!

Continue reading "Panasonic Innovation Shines: Lumix GH5, Future Tech Lab, and more"

If you talk to DJs both old and new about the Technics 1200 turntable, you'll quickly realize just how legendary the deck truly was. Last year, Panasonic revived the Technics brand, and customers the world over had one question: "Where's the 1200?" Passionate fans even went to far as to sign petitions to let Panasonic know that they wanted to see the iconic record player make a triumphant return. At CES 2016, they got their wish, as the Technics SL-1200G and SL-1200GAE were announced, and they've been improved over all of the previous models.

Continue reading "The Technics 1200 Turntable Returns"

4K television sets have been available for sale for a couple of years now, but there hasn't been a lot of content available in the native 2160p resolution for owners of the pixel-dense displays. That's about to change, as 4K UHD discs are set to debut in late February. To view the discs, you'll need an updated disc player, and Panasonic has announced the UB900 Ultra HD Blu-ray player which will be available soon in both Europe and the US. It'll support 1,000-10,000 nits output, BT.2020 color gamut, 60fps high frame-rate support, and will even sport twin HDMI output, allowing you to separate where you send the video signal from where you send the audio. Studios like Sony, Warner Bros., and Fox are readying the releases of their UHD Blu-ray discs, many of which also support HDR. 2016 is setting up to be a big year for 4K technology.

Continue reading "Panasonic DMP-UB900 UHD Blu-ray player plays 4K discs"

If you've been an early adopter of smart home technology, you've probably recognized just how cumbersome it all can be. As cool and futuristic as the devices themselves are, it gets old having to jump in and out of multiple apps in order to turn on your smart lights, lock your smart lock-equipped door, set your security system, manage your thermostat, etc. In fact, the average home has over 100 devices that can potentially connect to the Internet, as I learned when Panasonic told me about its Ora technology that looks to power the smart home of the future.

Continue reading "Panasonic Ora brings together the smart home of the future"

We were big fans of the original Withings Blood Pressure Monitor, but the new model introduced at CES 2014 is a vast improvement since it works wirelessly. No longer requiring to be tethered, the Withings Wireless Blood Pressure model works with the iPhone, as well as Android devices (the previous version only worked with older iOS device that used the 30-pin connector.) You launch the app after applying the cuff, and you get your blood pressure and heart rate, which can be archived so you can refer to the data later, and view trends. You'll be able to get it soon for $129.95.

Peep a video demo after the break.

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Continue reading "Withings introduces Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor for iOS and Android"

I've got a lot of love for Mophie and its line of Juice Pack and Powerstation charging devices for smartphones, tablets, and pretty much anything that charges over USB. I've owned them since the original was released for the iPhone 3G way back when. Now, the company is looking to expand into new territory with the Mophie Space Pack. The Space Pack is a battery case for the iPhone that also incorporates built-in storage, allowing users of the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s expand the overall storage capacity of their devices. Available soon in 16GB and 32GB variants, users will be able to store any type of file on the Space Pack, including iTunes content, photos, and videos, all managed through the Mophie Space app. The 16GB model will sell for $149, while the 32GB version will be $179. Both are available for pre-order today, and begin shipping on March 14, 2014.

Check out a video demo of how it works after the break.

Continue reading "Mophie Space Pack increases both battery power and storage of iPhone 5 and 5s"

When talking about eye-catching smartphones at CES 2014, the LG G Flex is definitely the one getting lots of attention. I got my hands on it last night at Digital Experience and asked LG about what the true benefits are of a curved display outside of gimmickry, and that video will be coming soon on Bleeding Edge TV (so keep an eye on Gear Live's YouTube channel!) The device sports the obvious gorgeous, curved OLED 720p display, which is actually flexible to 180 degrees and also features self-healing material on the rear casing. For real. Other specs include the inclusion of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 mobile processor, 2 GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel rear camera. It's been available in a few countries in the Asia Pacific market, and will be making its way to the USA in the first quarter of this year. Expect to find the device on AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile sometimes in the first quarter of this year.

We got the opportunity to chat with Nick Cannon about the NCredible line of Monster headphones in the video below. The NCredible line includes a pair of over-ear DJ headphones called NPulse, on-ear headphones called NTune, and in-ear earbuds called NErgy. As you look at the cost of the various models, you quickly see that these are some of the most inexpensive headphones offered by Monster, which is important to Cannon, as he wants kids to be able to get headphones that are cool without breaking the bank. Find out more about the NCredible philosophy, as well as headphone fashion, in this video.

Continue reading "Nick Cannon interview: NCredible headphone line, fashion"

We were able to check in with Corning to get a look at Gorilla Glass 3, the upcoming product that should be hitting the next generation of major smartphones later this year. If you use a smartphone or tablet, you probably want glass that is super-strong and holds up to in-pocket scratches, and shocks like being dropped. No one wants a cracked screen, right? That's where Gorilla Glass 3 comes in. It's tougher in every area when compared to last year's Gorilla Glass 2, which means it can withstand more impact, is harder to scratch, and is just a better product all around. Check out our video demo after the jump to get a look at its impressive performance, and expect this to hit the iPhone 5S and major Android smartphones later this year.

Continue reading "How strong is Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3? [Video]"

We know how much our readers love Monster headphones, so we are hitting you with a video taking you through the 2013 headphones line-up. We go through each model, including Inspiration with TUMI, Diesel VEKTR, DNA, MVP Carbon, Diamond Tears, Ncredible, and more. The line includes over-ear headphones, on-ears, in-ears, gaming headset, and more. Hit the break for the video. Be sure to subscribe to Gear Live on YouTube for more tech video coverage.

Continue reading "Monster’s 2013 headphone line-up [Video]"

Monster announced some new additions to its Diesel VEKTR on-ear headphone line at CES 2013. Being the fashion brand that Diesel is, you can expect a couple of new colors to be added. First, the matte-finish Military Green with gun metal accents. If that's not your thing, there's also the new Chrome VEKTR, with it's eye-catching mirror finish. Both new models will sell for $279.95 when they go on sale later this Spring. If you're looking for something for traditional, a white model just went on sale for $269.95. All of these are in addition to the black Diesel VEKTR that launched last year.

Continue reading "Monster Diesel VEKTR on-ears get new Military Green, Chrome color options"

We got a look at the Canopy Sensus Touch Case at CES 2013, and walked away impressed. The Sensus Touch Case gives iPhone users 10-point touch input along the back and sides of the device, which means you can do things like play games by swiping along the back of the iPhone, leaving the display free and clear of your fingers. You can also do things like snap images by tapping the side of the phone, or zoom in and out of objects with a slide of your finger. Expect to see the case launch later this summer, priced somewhere between $59 and $99.

Read More | Canopy

Continue reading "Canopy Sensus Touch Case makes your iPhone touch-sensitive on back and sides"

Monster and EA Sports have jointly announced the MVP Carbon, a pair of gaming headphones, which is a first for Monster. The MVP Carbon headset brings simulated 5.1 surround sound through 30mm drivers. Naturally, you also get an integrated microphone (removable) for chat, and a headphone amplifier that Monster calls the "Gamebox."  Sugar Ray Leonard and Xzibit are working with Monster as ambassadors for the MVP Carbon, which go on sale in February for $269.95, and will be available in black and white, with glowing EA Sports logo. The MVP Carbon are compatible with Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, and Wii U.

Read More | Monster EA MVP Carbon

Continue reading "Monster and EA Sports collaborate on MVP Carbon gaming headphones"

Over the past few years, a new category of gadget has emerged with the aim of quantifying our health. You know the ones--Fitbit. Nike FuelBand. JawBone Up. Withings Wi-Fi Scale (and Smart Activity Tracker!). Fitbit Aria Scale. The list goes on. There are trackers and scales from tons of companies that'll sync your details to their servers, share them with services of your choosing, giving you pretty graphs and hopeful motivation from friends and followers to do the right thing as it pertains to diet and exercise. After all, sitting is killing us. Are all of these gadgets actually moving the needle in terms of our fitness levels? Our friend, Dave Taylor, takes a closer look and chimes in with his toughts after the jump.

Continue reading "Will fitness gadgets actually make us fit?"

General Motors unveiled the long-awaited 2014 Cadillac ELR this week, the first plug-in extended range EV hybrid for the brand. For all intents and purposes, the ELR is a Chevy Volt that's been souped up with Cadillac luxury touches. Originally revealed as the Cadillac Converj, the ELR will feature a redesigned interior cabin that will supposedly define future Cadillac models, with features like Regen on Demand buttons on the steering wheel that let the driver capture the energy generated by the vehicle's momentum, conserving it for a bit more battery juice. The ELR also packs in the awesome Cadillac CUE infotainment dashboard system. The vehicle puts out 207hp, more than 25% more than the Chevy Volt. No final word yet on EV range, though, but the Volt gets about 35 miles before gasoline kicks in, and the ELR is a bit heavier. GM says that production on the ELR is set to begin later this year in preparation for a 2014 North American launch.

Read More | GM

Continue reading "GM reveals the Cadillac ELR plug-in hybrid EV"

Samsung's latest audio line, revealed at CES, comes with a bold claim: it's are the first in the world to use a soundbar with a built-in vacuum tube amplifier, and Bluetooth to connect to your TV, ditching the wires if you use it alongside a 2013 Samsung television (or other Bluetooth-enabled TV, we'd imagine.) As you can see, it also has a subwoofer, making it a 2.1 solution.

This feat is apparently achieved by a wireless Bluetooth speaker (DA-F60) using the apt-X audio codec and NFC to connect to devices such as your TV. Furthermore, its 7.1 channel surround sound system should also please the home theater crowd, which will work with Samsung's 2013 television line-up. The system also uses a Gallium Nitride amplifier to enhance the sound quality.

Samsung also revealed a "premium" Blu-ray player capable of upscaling DVD content to 4K.

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If you're weren't lucky enough to attend 2013's Consumer Electronics Show, then you can catch up on NVIDIA's keynote here. The company had a fairly talked about showing, revealing a similarly praised and criticized product in its Project Shield, Android-based gaming console. NVIDIA also revealed its new Tegra 4 processor, all of which you can see in its entirety in the video after the break.

Read More | Twitch TV

Continue reading "Watch NVIDIA’s CES 2013 keynote video"

Fulton Innovation, known for its advancements in wireless power, is making yet another run at wireless power in 2013. What's in store this year: Using your tablet to wirelessly charge your smartphone. Fulton showed off its "two-way technology" at CES 2013, displaying a tablet that doubles as a wireless charing pad for other devices and Qi-compatible phones. Fulton demonstrated its two-way technology's flexibility with a printed poster of aDj console that is played by tapping elements of the poster to create sounds, all powered by its two-way tablet, as instead of powering lights it powers the speakers. The circuits of the poster are implemented in conductive inks that create the wireless power coil. Lastly, Fulton showed its multi-device power mat that allows multiple Qi-compatible devices to charge on a single surface.

Read More | The Verge

Withings has announced its contender in the wearable fitness tracker battle with its Smart Activity Tracker at CES 2013. As seen in the image, the Smart Activity Tracker is small, similar to a Fitbit, and it nicely packs in Bluetooth 4.0 for low battery consumption. Throw it in a pocket or wear it on your belt or arm, and it'll track steps taken, flights of stairs climbed, calories burned, sleep quality, and running strides. Even cooler, unlike other similar devices, this one can measure your pulse when you press your finger against its built-in heart rate monitor. A small OLED display is on front to provide all of your stats at a glance, and the battery lasts about two weeks per charge, and uses micro USB for recharging. No pricing info is available for the Smart Activity Tracker just yet, but we'll let you know as soon as we know.

Read More | Withings Smart Activity Tracker