Hey gang, Valkor here. It's been some time since I covered a Pepcom event; it's mostly my fault since I've been doing quite a bit of traveling as of late. But while I may have been down, I certainly was not out. And I'm back just in time to attend Pepcom's Holiday Showcase in NYC. This time round I got the chance to look at some interesting tech items as well as stuff that's not so techy. Check it out!
ViewSonic – ViewSonic has had a couple of moments in the Val-Cave; most notably was the M2 portable projector that seemed to find its way into Alacran's hands somehow. But he enjoyed it and his review reflected that. However, can ViewSonic score another hit with their latest portable projectors? First up, we have the successor to the M1 that's rightfully named the M2. This is one sexy beast of a projector, with a slim bod that can project in native 1080p, and it's travel-friendly, so you can use it home or away whether on vacation or showing off a presentation at work. Next is the M1 Mini, a pocket-sized projector that you can take anywhere you go. Definitely looks like something that would be fun for the kids, but who knows, maybe adults can have fun with it too!
Petness – Hemp treat for pets! I didn't even know you could feed animals hemp, and yet here we are. Petness has a nice variety of treats and oils that will set the mood just right for your dog. I've got a noisy, stressed-out pup that hangs with me on occasion, and his barking is so bad that I'm unable to sleep. So, we're going to give “Calm” a try and see how it works out for him. So, you can expect a full review very soon.
Pet Releaf – Similar to Petness, Pet Releaf also makes use of Hemp and CBD oils that will put your dog in the right mood. But different from Petness is that they offer a wider variety of treats, capsules, and oils. I'll be giving the Boom Bars and Edibites a run, just to see how they work out. And we'll have more from the company in future posts.
LaCie – If you're into film and photography, and much of what you do finds you outdoors, then you're going to need something sturdy that can keep up with you throughout the day and beyond. Enter LaCie, who has brought along a couple of rugged SSD drives, perfect for outdoor settings that can also handle your data backup. First up we have the Rugged BOSS, which also has a built-in screen that allows you to monitor transfers, storage, and battery life of the device. There's also an associated app that will allow you to manage your files. Next, we have the standard Rugged SSD that can survive drops, dips in the water and it's even shock-resistant. Then there's the SSD pro, which has all of the durability of the regular Rugged SSD, but now you're adding in faster speeds. I like all three and given how much I do outside with shooting events and such, these SSDS may be just what the Val-Cave needs.
Puro – As much as I love my gaming headsets, when I'm settling down for a session, I try my best to limit my volumes so that whatever I'm playing isn't blasting in my ears. I don't always limit, but sometimes I do. But the younger crowd should look to do the same, which thankfully Puro has answered the call with their “Volume Limiting Gaming Headset”. These headsets keep the decibels low, yet they don't sacrifice much in terms of audio quality. From what I've tested on the show floor, the audio was pretty decent and you could easily make out the vocals as well as having all of the effects of explosions and bullets flying around you. I think Puro is on to something with these headsets and I hope to see this and more inside the Val-Cave in the not too distant future.
x-doria – I've had the pleasure of covering x-doria from last year's CE Week, where we reviewed some smartphone cases of their Defense series. Well, they're back with some new cases that cover the latest smartphones (we'll be reviewing one for the iPhone 11). But what really caught my eye was the Defense Vertical Duo Wireless charger. This charger will allow you to not only power up your smartphone, but also smart headsets (if they have wireless charging). Would it be possible to charge two smartphones at once? There's only one way to find out...
HyperX – Currently, my go-to gaming headphones are my 1More Spearhead VR because the clarity on those bad boys is amazing. However, it's possible that HyperX's latest gaming headphones – the Cloud Alpha S 7.1 might give 1More a run for their money. The headphones tout “Custom-tuned HyperX 7.1 surround-sound”, adjustable bass, and quality drivers. I haven't had the chance (yet) to test out what these babies can really do. But they'll have their chance in the Val-Cave soon enough.
Playfoam – I try to limit slime and other related “toys” that might cause a mess around the cave... simply because I hate cleaning up the mess. But Playfoam's Fluffle is something I think I might keep on hand because... wow! When I first saw it from afar, it looked liquidy, yet mesmerizing. However, Fluffle only looks wet as the actual product is very dry. And the way it flows through your fingers, well it looks as if its alive (associated vid below). While I think kids will enjoy it, I can see adults having some fun with Fluffle too. Maybe as a stress reliever?
Gabb Wireless - Now more than ever, kids need smartphones not just so they can stay in touch with their parents or loved ones, but for safety concerns too. It's a crazy environment out there as kids have to deal with bullying and even active shootings. Yet, they also don't need the latest smartphones as they're too distracting towards their studies. Enter Gabb Wireless, and they have control of not just the hardware but the software as well, making it so that a child has access to what they need as opposed to too much entertainment that might occupy too much of their attention. There's still plenty of growth in terms of what Gabb offers, but right now you get to talk/text but it could use some security apps as well as a tracker for parents so that they'll know when their kids are home.
