CES ~ CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW 2023 ~ Highlights

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW 2023 ~ Highlights Of Some Unique Showings …. BOB SKIDMORE (Please note that Google’s BlogSpot, the provider we use to publish this monthly column, has changed the allowable format style. So, if the column’s format looks a bit strange it’s due to Google and BlogSpot, not THE GADGETEER.) CORRESPONDENT © 2023 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Each year manufacturers, distributors, retailers and the media get together in Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show. CES, as it’s better known, is an opportunity for inventors to test prototype ideas and manufacturers to show soon to be available new gadgets and products to resellers and the media. 2023 was no different, with the exception that some 115,000+ attended compared to only 45,000 last year caused by COVID. Exhibits increased as well with some 3200 exhibitors showing their wares, up from 2200 in the previous year. CES is also a venue where tech announcements are made. One such announcement came from Delta Airlines with word that FREE Wi-Fi is coming February 1st to initially more than 500 domestic planes. This access will use T-Mobile service with equipment supplied by Viasat, a U. S. based satellite broadband provider, and will be limited to frequent flyer, members only, however anyone can become a frequent flyer SkyMiles member for free. There will be no limit on the number of devices that can be connected to this in-flight Wi-Fi service. International flight access is planned sometime in the future. This service feature has no effect on rules applying to cell phone usage aboard flights…. Automobiles and their gadgets were a large part of the show. German manufacturer, BMW, I Vision Dee, sees a time when your car will allow you to program emotive, human-like faces into the car’s grille via E Ink technology. The entire car will be made up of 240 E Ink panels allowing you to change the color and create patterns in seconds. AI, artificial intelligence, technology will be able to speak to you like a friend. Bear in mind that some of these features are a concept, but some could actually find their way to BMW’s actual cars…. There were plenty of gadgets utilizing “Matter”, an open-source, universal smart home protocol supported by companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung and many, many others. This protocol consists of a single, Wi-Fi-based standard that bundles together with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and SmartThings just to mention a few. Devices using this technology include smart lights, smart plugs, roller blinds and a new SmartThings hub. Later in the year we can expect to see more robot vacuums and smart home cameras incorporating this technology too. Many of these items already exist, but improvements are always coming with upgrades using newly developed technology…. Health technology also had a big presence at CES this year. Two companies, Withings and Vivoo displayed sensors that attach to your toilet bowl to analyze your urine. These sensors can monitor nutrient levels, hormones and much more. Another company, Casana, showed a Heart Seat that’s designed to monitor your heart rate, blood oxygen and blood pressure while you sit on the smart toilet seat during extrication. Nuralogix, announced a process to use AI to measure your blood pressure, heart rate and much more by simply analyzing your face from a selfie. Valencell, showed a blood pressure fingertip sensor without the use of a traditional cuff. Hearing aids were also on display since the FDA’s recent approval of over-the-counter sales of hearing aid devices. Some makes and models can even double as earbuds….

Samsung showed an 8K projector known as The Premiere. It can turn any wall into a screen as big as 150” diagonally. Makes for the possibility of large screen displays in tight areas such as apartments, RV’s and mobile homes. This design simply sits on any small table that’s placed against the screen wall and shoots the image in an upward direction thus displaying the video on the wall…. Samsung also introduced their ICX system known as Ready Care. This system uses sensors to measure a driver’s drowsiness and will employ driver-facing infrared cameras to monitor their status. Naturally, this system is expected to interface with Samsung’s many other products such as Galaxy Watch. While we’re speaking of watches, Citizen displayed a smartwatch that can gauge fatigue…. Without question, CES 2023 had many innovative devices and gadgets on display, too many to highlight here. Please remember, some of these items show what the future may hold, but don’t expect to see all of them in stores any time soon. Who really knows what the future holds? The manufacturers and customer interest will dictate this and thus make it happen! Graphic credits: CES Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer, who may be contacted at bskidmore@mac.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent, or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his points of view and not those of the manufacturer, or any legal resource. The manufacturer generally supplies products and press releases at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior ratings. ## Check out Bob’s Twitter page for up to the minute gadget news. Available at: https://twitter.com/bskidmore

Multi-Plug AC Swivel Adapter with USB Charging Ports

MIFASO USB OUTLET EXTENDER ~ AC Multi-Plug Swivel Outlet Adapter With USB charging Ports…. © 2023 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BOB SKIDMORE CORRESPONDENT (Please note that Google the publisher of this column & Blog Spot have changed the publishing format. THE GADGETEER’S column may not conform to normal publishing standards. This is not the fault of THE GADGETEER, but rather that of Google and Blog Spot.) Many times, we are in need of what is commonly known as a cube tap that provides multiple AC power sockets from one wall outlet. MIFASO has taken such devices to a new level. Their model X002TOLY3D outlet extender not only provides 6 outlets, 2 front, 2 Left/side and 2 Right/side, but also permits you to swivel the stack thus creating a 180° rotating series of 6 sockets.

This rotating feature allows you to turn the stack up to 90 degrees left, or right from center, This provides a simple way of positioning an outlet in a very unique position not possible with the old-style cube taps. These sockets provide 1800 Joules of surge protection from electrical spikes and other possible electrical faults. As a bonus MIFASO has incorporated 3 built-in IC technology, high speed USB ports; 2 standard USB A ports (output 2.4A/5V per A port) and 1 USB C port (3A/5V), for powering, or charging USB devices. One should always use any type of multiple socket adapter with caution. The electrical socket that you are plugging such adapters into is connected to a feed from your main electrical panel. Naturally, other sockets with connected devices and light fixtures could be connected to this same circuit. Today’s breaker panels are typically designed with 30-amp circuit breakers. The formula to calculate how much power consumption a particular circuit is using is *30/20/15 amps x 120 volts which equals 3600/2400/1800 watts respectively depending on the breaker’s amp load capacity. So, you need to determine what devices are, or will be plugged in to the circuit you are using and add the total wattage being drawn when they are in use. All devices have tags attached to them that tell you the wattage consumption. Overloading a circuit can cause the breaker to trip, disconnect, and if the breaker is faulty and does not trip, disconnect, could cause a fire. If you are in a building built in the 1960’s the chances, unless you upgraded your electrical panel, are that you have 20, or even 15-amp circuits some of which could use fuses in place of today’s breakers. *The formula above will calculate each circuit’s maximum wattage consumption based on the total maximum amp load of the circuit. Note: These figures are based on the USA electrical system standards. They are not a World-Wide standard which will vary from country-to-country. I have found this adapter to be very useful when needing to place it in a unique position otherwise not possible with other multiple socket adapters. Please be sure to adhere to the wattage overload precautions as noted in the article. Available from Amazon MSRP: Amazon $18.99 GADGETEER’s RATING: ★★★★★ For more information go to: https://amzn.to/3iB3tam Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer who may be contacted at bskidmore@mac.com or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent, or endorse any products. Articles are strictly his opinion. endorser endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his points of view and not those of the manufacturer, or any legal resource. The manufacturer generally supplies products and press releases at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior ratings. ## Check out Bob’s Twitter page for up to the minute gadget news. Available at: https://twitter.com/bskidmore

~Elecom Trackball for MAC & PC computers

ELECOM WIRED TRACKBALL MOUSE ~ For Mac & PC’s…. © 2022 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BOB SKIDMORE CORRESPONDENT (Please note that Google’s BlogSpot, the provider we use to publish this monthly column, has changed the allowable format style. So, if the column’s format looks a bit strange it’s due to Google and BlogSpot, not THE GADGETEER.) Are you tired of wireless trackballs that need frequent battery replacement, or constantly having to be charged, as well as their sensitivity pitfalls? The ELECOM WIRED TRACKBALL MOUSE (M-HT1URBK) may be your solution? I recently tested this trackball after much frustration with my previous wireless models. The ELECOM trackball provides precise cursor movement by means of its various settings and adjustments. The cursor’s DPI sensitivity, how fast it can respond, can easily be adjusted to a DPI setting of 500 (low), 1000 (medium) or, 1500 (high). This feature alone is worth the upgrade. The track ball rests on three 2.5mm large ruby style ball bearings. They provide an extremely smooth motion as you navigate the ball. This system minimizes the need for cleaning as often as well. When you do feel the need to clean, the ball easily pops out of its socket. The overall positioning of your hand over the mechanism is specially designed on six specific points in the hand and how the muscles and your skeleton system interact. Optical tracking technology provides precise cursor movement for excellent accuracy so you can easily navigate quickly to where you wish to go on the screen. This feature far exceeds what any other trackball that I’ve ever tested, or owned could do. You can assign the 8 buttons to up to 10 different functions to accommodate your work, or gaming needs. A left/right scrolling tilt wheel provides limitless clicking and movement combinations.

The ELECOM TRACKBALL interfaces with a wired USB connection to both MAC OS 10.12 or later & PC Windows XP, 7, 8.1, RT8.1 and Windows 10, or later. This trackball will not disappoint! I highly recommend it! MSRP: $69.99 GADGETEER’s RATING: ★★★★★ For more information visit: https://amzn.to/3QcC4bb Available at Retail & Amazon. Pricing varies! Graphic credits: Amazon & Google Images Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer, who may be contacted bskidmore@mac.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent, or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his points of view and not those of the manufacturer, or any legal resource. The manufacturer generally supplies products and press releases at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior ratings. Check out Bob’s Twitter page for up to the minute gadget news. Available at: https://twitter.com/bskidmore

BUG ZAPPER THAT REALLY WORKS

Dedady Indoor Bug Zapper ~ by XIAMEN LAIKEN LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY…. © 2022 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BOB SKIDMORE CORRESPONDENT (Please note that Google’s BlogSpot, the provider we use to publish this monthly column, has changed the allowable format style. So, if the column’s format looks a bit strange it’s due to Google and BlogSpot, not THE GADGETEER.) Have you ever been plagued by Mosquitos, Nats, Moths, Fruit-Flies, Beatles and other pesky flying insects, and not known how to best combat these critters? Well the DEDADY BUG ZAPPER, also sold under various other brand names & suppliers, may just be your low-cost solution. The beauty of this device is that it does not use, nor emit, any chemicals to kill the bugs it traps. Instead it emits noiseless, ultraviolet rays via a recessed blue lamp that attracts bugs to fly into the device and then electrocutes them via an electrified power grid mounted in front of an ultraviolet lamp. This kills them before they ever reach the ultraviolet lamp.

An easily removable blue plastic protective cover prevents accidental access by the user, children and pets thus eliminating the possibility of shock. Naturally, you should still keep this product out of the reach of children, or pets as it’s not a play toy! An on/off switch is provided for your convenience as well. The low power of the lamp is very energy saving, quiet, without radiation, without any special smell and without the possibility of secondary pollution since the trapped dead insects are not distributed to other places such as food, drinks and dishes. Cleaning the device is a breeze too, as shown below:

The DEDADY BUG ZAPPER is an inexpensive, environmentally safe way to trap most insects. Having a wide range of applications, it’s suitable for households, restaurants, hotels, and many other consumer and professional applications. Think about all the bug sprays you won’t have to purchase. Like all methods it’s not going to be a 100% solution, but certainly comes extremely close. I’m very impressed!!! Available from Amazon, Walmart and other suppliers MSRP: Amazon $12.95 Single unit - $39.99 Six-pack (Cost can vary by other suppliers) GADGETEER’s RATING: ★★★★★ For more information go to: https://amzn.to/3Q8K6BG Graphic credits: Google Images; Amazon; Manufacturer Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer, who may be contacted at bob.thegadgeteer.skidmore@gmail.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent, or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his points of view and not those of the manufacturer, or any legal resource. The manufacturer generally supplies products and press releases at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior ratings. Check out Bob’s Twitter page for up to the minute gadget news. Available at: https://twitter.com/bskidmore

360° REARVIEW MIRROR SMARTPHONE CAR MOUNT

A 360° REARVIEW MIRROR SMARTPHONE CAR MOUNT ~ An Easy, Safe Way To View Your Phone In Your Car…. (Please note that Google’s BlogSpot, the provider we use to publish this monthly column, has changed the allowable format style. So, if the column’s format looks a bit strange it’s due to Google and BlogSpot, not THE GADGETEER.) BOB SKIDMORE CORRESPONDENT © 2022 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED I’ve tested and written several previous columns about smartphone mounts, or holders for your car, but I think I’ve found the “piestar resistance” of such devices. Amazon refers to this gadget as the 21-H02 (ASIN: B09V4L46H) Mirror Phone Holder by Imcneal. The model reference ID may seem a bit odd, but that’s probably due to its being a Chinese import directly marketed by Amazon. This phone holder is made of a new ABS+ metal material and thus resists scratches and breakage while still being simple, practical and easy to install. Unlike other brands, it features a 0.5 – 1.1-inch adjustable mounting jaw clamp to easily attach to most mirror mounts, or other types of mounting surfaces. Unlike other devices, the clamp that holds the phone in place on the holder does not block portions of the smartphone’s screen’s viewing area. Its 360° rotation allows for easy adjustment to any viewing angle, with a fully retractable, adjustable arm, allowing you to position it for maximum viewing in most vehicles. Naturally, you can rotate the holder’s phone clamp to allow for vertical, or horizontal viewing. Its clamp accommodates phone sizes within 3 - 7 inches. Unlike some other holders the fully adjustable capability of the 21-H02 virtually eliminates any daylight washout of your phones display screen, a viewing problem that’s akin to other similar looking products on the market. Without a doubt this is one of the most versatile and practical smartphone mounts I’ve ever tested. And yes, it does not block the driver’s vision thru your car’s windshield since it’s positioned away from the glass and below the mirror. Unlike smartphone cupholder models that require you to totally look down and away from the windshield, viewing is just a slight, quick glance away. However, please remember that smartphone mounts, and the viewing of smartphones, should be limited to navigation and incoming phone call alerts and not the viewing of videos, Facetime, or email and text messages. The latter uses are strictly forbidden by law, and could subject you to a traffic citation as well as be the cause of deadly accidents. If there’s a negative at all, it might be that any attached cables for power, etc., have to hang straight down unless you’ve made other provisions to cosmetically, permanently hide them is some way.

GADGETEER’s RATING: ★★★★★ MSRP: $12.99 at AMAZON For more information go to: https://amzn.to/3MAtd0I Graphic credits: Amazon Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer, who may be contacted at bob.thegadgeteer.skidmore@gmail.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent, or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his points of view and not those of the manufacturer, or any legal resource. The manufacturer generally supplies products and press releases at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior ratings. ## Check out Bob’s Twitter page for up to the minute gadget news. Available at: https://twitter.com/bskidmore

A Source For Meds At Affordable Prices

COST PLUS DRUGS ~ Finally, A Source For Meds At Affordable Prices… (Please note that Google’s BlogSpot, the provider we use to publish this monthly column, has changed the allowable format style. So, if the column’s format looks a bit strange it’s due to Google and BlogSpot, not THE GADGETEER.) BOB SKIDMORE CORRESPONDENT © 2022 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Drug prices seem to drastically vary from pharmacy to pharmacy. Even insurance company’s mail order pharmacy suppliers seem to have difficulty keeping the cost of meds down to an affordable price. So, is there an alternative, a possible solution? Well one of ABC TV’s Shark Tank, Sharks and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban and his business partner, Dr. Alexander Oshmyansky, MD, PhD, think they have one. On January 19, 2022 they formed the MARK CUBAN COST PLUS DRUG COMPANY (MCCPDC) on-line pharmacy, and just weeks later, the launch of their Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) was established. Both these entities are efforts in their pursuit to help shield consumers from inflated drug prices. Here’s how it’s structured. Let’s use the drug Albendazole (200mg – 2 count) as an example. Their cost is $26.08 per course. They mark it up 15% so they can run the company and further invest in disrupting the pricing of as many drugs as they possibly can. This brings the base price of the drug to $30. Then they add the additional cost of $3.00 that their pharmacy partners charge them to prepare and provide your prescription to you. This makes the final sales price on their web site to $33.00. An additional shipping cost of $5 is added at checkout. The retail price at other pharmacies is as much as $437.68 equating to a savings of $404.68 not including shipping. This is a startup company so they don’t have every drug on the market, but they are adding drugs to their inventory on a daily basis. In effort to keep you informed on new drugs available they publish a FREE monthly newsletter with these additions to their inventory. You can subscribe to it by going to their website: https://bit.ly/3lYUCxn Here are some more drug cost comparisons: Imatinib 30 count supply of 400mg’s -Leukemia treatment - Retail price $9657.30 per month – lowest price with a typical voucher $120 per month – COST PLUS DRUG price $39.00 per month; Mesalamine – ulcerative colitis treatment – Retail price $940 per month – lowest price with a typical voucher $102 per month – COST PLUS DRUG price $32.40 per month; Colchicine – Gout treatment – Retail price $182 per month – lowest price with a typical voucher $32 per month – COST PLUS DRUG price $8.70 per month. All prices shown above subject to possible shipping charges and prescriptions by your doctor are required. To price compare your medications visit the link below. Click on MEDICATIONS at the top of the site, fill in the brand name, generic name, or by health condition and click your ENTER, or RETURN button. Now, be prepared to be surprised! If you don’t find your medication return to this site periodically as COST PLUS DRUGS is adding additional drugs on a daily basis. To order medications have your physician contact them at: 833.926.3384 (NCPDP ID # 4940208). COST PLUS DRUGS currently does not accept payment from any insurance carriers. Naturally, this is always subject to change so check with them periodically. While their prices are generally the lowest, you always want to shop your medication needs with other suppliers before committing to anyone! Recently, the U. S. Congress passed a bill that will cap annual medication costs for Medicare participants to $2000.00 annually. This bill also allows Medicare to negotiate with drug companies on specific medications. Any discounts they are able to agree to could also result in that drug being available to non-Medicare users at a better price. This bill does not begin to take effect until 2023 and we all know that the government does not operate on the fast track! So, be patient, but know whatever happens will aid the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company to negotiate better pricing on your behalf. For more information: https://bit.ly/3lYUCxn Graphic credits: Cost Plus & Google Images Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer, who may be contacted at bob.thegadgeteer.skidmore@gmail.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent, or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his points of view and not those of the manufacturer, or any legal resource. The manufacturer generally supplies products and press releases at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior ratings. ## Check out Bob’s Twitter page for up to the minute gadget news. Available at: https://twitter.com/bskidmore

THE NOTE TOWER FOR COMPUTERS AND MORE....

NOTE TOWER ~ Desktop Pro 2-Page Document Holder …. BOB SKIDMORE (Please note that Google’s BlogSpot, the provider we use to publish this monthly column, has changed the allowable format style. So, if the column’s format looks a bit strange it’s due to Google and BlogSpot, not THE GADGETEER.) CORRESPONDENT © 2022 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED We all have occasions where we are using paper documents to aid us in writing something on our computer, be it a MAC or PC. The problem we experience is having such paper documents in an easy to refer to position without having to strain our eyesight, or take up valuable, or limited desktop space in the process. The NOTE TOWER is one of a series of products that easily solves this problem while still being space saving and inexpensive. I tested and like the DESKTOP MINI version. This unit is a self-standing and supporting tool that features Nano-Suction pads that temporally grip most surfaces. It has twin fold-out thin arms attached on each side of a center document holder that accommodates eight flexible clips per side. These clips easily permit you to slip letter size sheets, photos, index cards and post-it notes on either side allowing for a display much like an open book. Simply slide the document into the flexible clips and the NOTE TOWER MINI will display them in direct view. What could be more efficient? At the bottom of the tower is a base that can accommodate a pad of 50 3x3 sticky notes. The tower is available in white, or black as are their other models. For those who desire something that easily attaches to your laptop’s screen’s edge, the NOTE TOWER MONITOR DOCUMENT PAPER HOLDER may be the answer since it easily clips on and off. This unit allows for documents to be featured on the right side of your screen. This style therefore does not appear as an open book.

GADGETEER’s RATING: ★★★★★ MSRP: $13.99 (stand-a-lone) ~ $16.99 (screen attached) For more information go to: https://amzn.to/3s633cT (self-standing model) https://amzn.to/3KWnjGQ (screen mount version) Graphic credits: Amazon Bob Skidmore is a freelance writer, who may be contacted at bob.thegadgeteer.skidmore@gmail.com, or followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the latest gadget industry news. He does not represent, or endorse any of the products he reviews and his opinions are solely his points of view and not those of the manufacturer, or any legal resource. The manufacturer generally supplies products and press releases at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior ratings. ## Check out Bob’s Twitter page for up to the minute gadget news. Available at: https://twitter.com/bskidmore