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The Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro helps stay motivated, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and achieve fitness goals -— with or without a phone. Equipped with GPS capabilities for easier navigation, this advanced fitness tracker is designed to keep pace with active lifestyles. With its military-grade durability and lightweight form factor, you might forget it’s on your wrist.
Automatic activity detection means you don’t even have to touch the Gear Fit2 Pro to record walking, running, cycling, rowing and other “dynamic” activities.
The Denon AVR-X8500H is hailed as the first true 13.2-channel A/V receiver. Boasting 13 channels of built-in amplification for unprecedented performance without external amplification, the AVR incorporates custom-made DHCT (Denon High Current Transistors)—discrete monolithic amplifiers enabling an immersive sound experience through Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and out-of-the-box Auro 3D surround decoding support.
AdRocket is an all-in-one software solution that automates digital advertising for appliance, electronics, mattress and furniture retailers, allowing independent retailers to build a digital ad strategy that fits their budget. Developed by Retailer Web Services (RWS), AdRocket promotes stores on Google, Facebook, Instagram and other leading sites across the internet. The AdRocket App enables retailers to view and participate in available manufacturer promotions, easily adjust ad spends, augment group spends and view campaign analytic reports. Automating the placement of ads through AdRocket—a process most providers do manually—increases efficiency and decreases human error.
The UBP-X700 adds to Sony’s current family of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players that produces a much wider range of color than standard HD players, and produces contrast and brightness that makes the picture display closer to real life. Optimizing the way the HDR picture is delivered from the player to the TV screen, the UBP-X700 supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision for ground-breaking detail, color and brightness.
Ethereal’s second-generation HDM-GA2 Gigabit Accelerator transforms existing hard-wired passive HDMI cables by expanding their bandwidth capability to 18Gbps for up to 20 meters, with support for every feature set under HDMI 2.0b, and up to 9+ meters for the 48 Gbps format. This low-profile product is easy to mount behind the display system. The HDM-GA2 is designed to be used only with passive HDMI cables and is intended to be installed at the display side of the system. It has the flexibility of adjusting to different cables and gauges.
With a combination of optics, performance, advanced features and a durable design, the EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM is an outstanding L-series medium-telephoto lens. As Canon’s first 85mm L-series lens with IS capability, it has an advanced optical formula with a large-diameter aspherical lens, plus a bright f/1.4 maximum aperture to deliver gorgeous, sharp and detailed images suitable for virtually any application.
The new Chromebook 15 CB515-1HT line builds on the original Acer Chromebook 15 to deliver the same large display paired with a streamlined aluminum design, backlit keyboard, Google Play Store with Android App support at launch and industry-leading battery life of up to 12 hours. The Acer Chromebook 15 CB515-1HT-P39B has a 1920 x 1080 full HD display, Intel Pentium processor, 4GB of memory and 32GB of internal storage. It provides the performance needed by everyday users who are running multiple apps, tabs and even streaming video for school and home projects for $399 suggested retail.
The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance starter kit gives consumers everything they need to outfit an entire room. This includes the bridge, the heart of the Hue system, and four standard-size A19 LED light bulbs, capable of emitting 16 million colors or 50,000 shades of white light.
Enjoy the convenience of your lights turning on or off automatically, as you arrive and leave home. Mimic your presence with lighting; make it seem like you’re home when you’re not, and have extra peace of mind when away.
The Bosch 800 Series Black Stainless Steel Dishwasher is designed to withstand everyday life in the kitchen with a contemporary aesthetic. Bosch Black Stainless Steel helps guard against scratches caused by common items like wedding rings and keys, as well as fingerprints. It operates at 42dBA — so quiet, consumers hardly know it’s running — and it provides flexible loading features to help simplify kitchen cleanup and create space for every dirty dish.
With this compact and simple device, drivers can make any car a smart car and cruise confidently with location tracking, crash detection, boundary detection, a 24/7 emergency call center service, just by plugging a Splitsecnd unit into any vehicle 12V outlet. No cell phone or Bluetooth is required. The online user dashboard provides the status of a driver, and it also features voice control through Amazon Alexa and Google Home integration. Should the device detect an accident, emergency services will be dispatched immediately knowing the exact location of the driver, data on the severity of the collision, as well as the driver’s medical history, according to the company. Subsequently, a designated contact will be informed.
The ideal display for gaming enthusiasts who want seamless, quick motion gameplay on large screens with superior picture quality, LG’s 32GK850G-B features a fast refresh rate (144Hz), delivers fluid and responsive gameplay motion and is designed to all but eliminate stuttering and screen tearing when in the heat of action with compatible NVIDIA G-SyncTM graphics cards.
The ATH-ANC700BT headphones combine Audio-Technica’s proprietary active noise-cancelling technology with Bluetooth wireless technology and convenient touch and swipe controls built into the earcup: Tap earcup to answer calls, play/pause music, and increase and decrease volume; swipe to skip to the next or previous music track. The headphones’ noise-cancelling functionality is driven by a four-microphone (two in each earcup) multi-feedback system for wide-range performance that greatly reduces environmental noise. They feature 40mm drivers and memory-foam earpads (firm internal layer, soft outer layer).
Available in four color variations, Shure’s latest offering delivers high-quality audio with detachable cables. The wireless SE215 incorporates technology originally developed for the professional market, combining premium sound, quality and durability. With an ergonomic, sound isolating design that naturally blocks up to 37dB of outside noise — and eight hours of battery life paired with 30 feet of range — users have the freedom to experience their music in any environment. Boasting a single dynamic MicroDriver, the wireless SE215 features an acoustic network tuned for detailed sound and extended bass performance. With multi-point pairing capability, listeners are able to pair up to two devices simultaneously for seamless transitions between different environments and multiple media.
Let the Rewind Wireless Retro Headphones take you back in time to kicking it with your Walkman, now with today’s technology. The Rewind headphones provide 12 hours of playtime with an included micro USB cable to recharge. The custom EQ3 Sound lets you choose between three sounds to find your desired tune; Signature, Balanced, and Bass Boost. All of the controls you need are in one button on the outside of the headphone, with a built in microphone to allow you to answer and hang up phone calls.
With HairMax’s LaserBand 82, people experiencing hair thinning or hair loss can deliver a comfortable, at-home treatment in as little as 90 seconds. The LaserBand 82 delivers a targeted dose of therapeutic, low-level light through medical-grade lasers to stimulate hair follicles, promoting hair growth and restoring the hair’s natural growth cycle to help grow fuller, denser, thicker and stronger hair. HairMax laser devices are FDA-cleared. They have been proven safe and effective by seven clinical studies with 460 men and women, with an average increase in hair count of 129 additional new hairs per square inch after six months, according to the company.
The 24-inch compact washer delivers a more thorough clean up to 35 percent faster compared to current Samsung models. It cuts wash time without compromising performance and gives consumers the gift of time.
QuickDrive’s Q-Drum feature, a large main drum and a back plate that moves independently, creates dynamic washing action that moves clothes in four directions — up and down, back and forth — to quickly, gently and thoroughly remove dirt for a more powerful and intense wash cycle. Samsung also brings connectivity to the laundry process with QuickDrive, which is IoT-ready and compatible with Samsung’s SmartThings, the company’s smart home platform.
The LG WK7 ThinQ Google Assistant Speaker is designed for users who want premium-quality sound with AI-enabled capability. This smart speaker has the Google Assistant built-in and was developed in partnership with Meridian Audio, an industry-leading innovator in crafting elegant, high performance audio solutions since 1977. LG teamed up with Google to ensure the WK7 delivers all the conveniences that come with having a digital assistant at your side.
The WK7 has high-fidelity audio capabilities and improved vocal clarity thanks to Meridian Audio’s technology so users can enjoy sound quality previously unavailable in a smart speaker. Meridian Audio combines advanced signal processing and hardware design to expand image height and widen the sound field, with custom Clear Vocal and Enhanced Bass presets for uncompromising performance.
The Spowasher is a compact air humidifier and purifier combo that will keep the air fresh, clean, and moist. The unit has a CADR of .36 square meter per minute with 7 hours of run time with a full charge. Here’s how it works: Set the Spowasher in its operating position. Pour water into the top (150ml max) until the filter is submerged under the water and just tap on the power indicator at the top to begin operation. Air enters through the unit and pollutants, bacteria, and virus are filtered out. Then clean air is released back into the environment. The Spowasher also indicates in real time on the quality of the operating enviornment with its color coded LED light display located at the top.
The VPL-VW885ES is Sony Electronics’ newest true 4K HDR laser home theater projector, delivering superior picture quality equipped Sony’s innovative technology for the home theater aficionados and movie buffs who demand high-end, professional cinema experiences from the comfort of their home.
Armed with 2,000 lumens of brightness, Infinite Dynamic Contrast with real-time laser light level control and 20,000 hours of lamp life, the projector delivers an immersive environment for an unrivaled experience in a compact chassis. Its compact size allows installation in smaller rooms while still displaying an impactful, large screen view.
The EOS M50 is a compact interchangeable-lens camera for aspiring photographers looking for an easy way to boost the quality of their photos and videos. With clear, high-resolution 4K UHD 24p video, you can capture the incredible details and cinematic moments of your life at home or wherever your adventures take you. Snap vibrant, eye-catching photos with a 24.1 Megapixel (APS-C) CMOS Sensor using the built-in Electronic Viewfinder or Vari-angle Touchscreen LCD. Thanks to the fast and improved Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus system, you can quickly lock focus on your subject to make sure you don’t miss the action.
Comprised of three models — Demand D11 (large; 48Hz-24Khz), Demand D9 (medium; 44Hz-24Khz), and Demand D7 (small; 57Hz-24kHz) — this series aims to become a new industry benchmark for affordable bookshelf speakers. They feature a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter, which is laterally offset by 5 degrees and coupled with a 20/20 Wave Alignment Lens. This allows for precise center stereo imaging by eliminating undesirable symmetric diffraction. With Definitive’s Patented Double Surround midrange/woofer, greater excursion is provided and the resulting output is superior in mid-range detail, while also delivering punchier bass via sealed cabinets with up-firing bass radiators.
The HS-WD200+ can be programmed to control any aspect of a smart home system by simply multi-tapping the paddle. Examples: two-taps opens or closes the garage door; three taps unlocks or locks the front door; four taps lights the way to the kitchen for a midnight snack; and five taps turns off all lights, turns of the audio/video gear, sets the thermostat back and arms the security system. HS-WD200+ LED indicators can also be individually programmed to glow or blink different colors when things happen in your home.
The Air Fryer Microwave Oven is is a convection microwave with many capabilities and multiple cooking modes. It also has preset auto cook modes specialized and optimized for different types of meat, while the enhanced convection motor ensures better, more thorough cooking. The unit “fries food” using nothing but hot air with temperatures up to 482 degrees F. It uses convective properties to cook food in its 0.9 CF of operating capacity.
In the air or on the road, the Bracketron Roadtripper Travel Mount is designed to safely and securely hold tablets and other mobile devices.
Powerful magnets safely and securely hold smartphones and tablets up to 10.1 inches. The versatile patented design works with twist latch tray tables — up or down — and can be adjusted to fit most viewing angles It also works as a phone vent mount for your car or as a phone/tablet stand. The mount Includes a travel case with room for earbuds and cables, and comes with two mounting plates: one small for phones one large for tablets.
Bring a front- and backyard to life with the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Lily spot. Transform an outdoor space with 16 million colors and 50,000 shades of white light to:
A Lily base pack comes with three spots, spikes to secure the fixtures in the ground and mounting brackets for deck/wall applications; a power supply to plug into an outdoor outlet and a 9-foot cable to space out the fixtures; and two connectors and 16-feet extension cables.
The Outdoor Living Suite features monogrammed corner panels with the same design found on the award-winning Hestan Commercial restaurant equipment, according to the company. It also has weatherproof outlets to conveniently power all gadgets, tools and devices. Single-point gas and electrical connections streamline fuel and power for all Hestan products in your suite, while heavy-gauge, welded body construction and stainless steel front, sides and bottom weathers the elements in style.
The SSC0586DS is designed to be the start of a cooking revolution. The innovation is simply that steam can be hotter, cook better and promote healthy living. The combination of superheated steam and conventional, radiant heat in all cooking modes means that your food will be crispy and browned on the outside, moist and delicious on the inside.
The Sharp Superheated Steam Countertop Oven is a powerful, low-profile, pizzeria-style oven. Roomy enough for a 12-inch pizza or nine slices of toast, the included Broiling Pan and Crisper Tray give you more cooking area than a standard quarter-size sheet pan. The bright display keeps the control at your fingertips. Thanks to the premium stainless steel finish and hidden baking element, cleanup is fast and easy.
The Samsung 970 EVO is the storage solution of choice for consumers who play games. The drive delivers ultra-fast transfer speeds for uploads and downloads and stores up to 2TB of data. With sequential read and write speeds of 3,500 and 2,500 MBps respectively, the drive’s quick transfer speeds mean more time for productivity and gaming and less time staring at long download and transfer bars. These write speeds are up to 32% faster than the previous generation drive. Plus, with the ability to store up to 2TB of data, consumers have more room for their content and games.
Never be stranded with a dead battery or in darkness again! The JumpSmart is billed as the most practical, portable, and powerful vehicle jump starter on the market today. The innovative capabilities include a jump starter, flashlight, and power bank that is a must-have for everyone in the family. Jump Start most vehicles with the powerful 10,000 mAh battery and the smart, safety jumper cables. The LED flashlight shines bright with 1,100 Lumens and has a reach of 150M, sweeping light over the length of a football field.
The Scosche MagicMount Charge Surface is the ideal solution to bring Qi-Wireless charging anywhere. It has been Qi-Certified by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) to assure safe, compatible wireless charging with any Qi-enabled device including fast charging to Apple or Samsung devices with up to 10 watts of power. Safety features including foreign object detection make sure that charging only activates when your phone is properly placed over the charging area and when nothing is obstructing that area.
The XPEDITION 8 features dual 8-inch woofers and three 1-inch tweeters that are powered by 420 watts of explosive peak power. This speaker has been designed to disperse sound whether standing upright or laying on its side due to its intelligent stereo orientation, allowing users to customize sound how they want to hear it. Want to add even more beat-dropping bass? Switch over to Beast mode to put the woofers in to clear-sounding overdrive, or link a second XPEDITION 8 to create a stereo pair. It can withstand 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes, and it even floats in a position where the woofers and tweeters do not hit the water.
Integrated handles make it easy to tote this lightweight speaker anywhere and the DC power source makes the XPEDITION 8 great for tailgating and sports events. Its LED light show has 12 multi-colored combinations from the woofers plus two strobe lights.
Elite ProAV’s Saker Tab-Tension CineGrey 5D is 1.5 gain ambient and ceiling light rejecting projector screen with material durable enough to come in Elite’s Saker electric “roll-up” configuration. Its greatest value comes from its ability to counter the “wash out” effect of ambient light. The material is also ISF certified for its ability to achieve D65 color neutrality, superb contrast and dynamic range bringing a world class performance to any installation.
LG’s newest air conditioner models feature a DUAL Inverter Compressor that’s meant to eliminate unnecessary noise and provides superior cooling. Available in 14,000, 18,000 and 22,000 Btu options, LG’s inverter technology allows consumers to choose the perfect size for any type of room or setting. Furthermore, LG’s new line of air conditioners operate at low sound levels of just 44dB, thanks to the brand’s BLDC Motor and proprietary inverter technology, which eliminates unnecessary noise and allows for smooth operation that is quiet and energy efficient.
The 36-inch refrigerator with bottom-mount freezer is engineered to deliver exceptional food preservation, customizable storage and deeper capacity to a standard cabinet cutout. It features EvenFlow Air Circulating Technology that consists of independent ventilation for each compartment, providing uniform and precise temperature control, and ensuring better food preservation. EvenFlow Air Circulating Technology creates an air curtain to prevent cold air from escaping when the door opens, and an insulated dual variable speed compressor maintains precision temperature control with minimal vibration.
The German-owned trilogy of luxury majap brands that is BSH — Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau — managed to sidestep many of this year’s tariff tribulations thanks to the company’s farsighted embrace of domestic manufacturing. The Irvine, Calif.-based business operates no less than four major facilities here, including production plants in La Follette, Tenn., and New Bern, N.C., and R&D centers in New Bern and Knoxville and Caryville, Tenn. Bosch, in particular, has been giving the factories a workout, after expanding distribution to The Home Depot last summer.
The Wall Plug is a Z-Wave compatible smart power adapter that gives any connected device that uses a standard power outlet the ability to be controlled through Z-Wave smart home hubs. For easy setup, users can simply insert the Wall Plug into any outlet and push a button to pair to the Z-Wave network. An LED ring indicates the strength of the Z-Wave network by changing colors.
This versatile smart watch supports busy and healthy lifestyles, helping consumers achieve wellness goals, receive notifications, respond to messages and more. With a quick turn of the Gear Sport’s unique rotating bezel, users can easily navigate the apps and options on the 1.2-inch super AMOLED display to get information while they’re on the go. For example, users can access Samsung Pay, ensuring they’re never without their digital wallet.
Energizer wireless charging power bank QE10000CQ is equipped with 10,000mAh and fast charge technologies that can efficiently power your smartphone up to three times. Charging at 10 watts, QE10000CQ provides a faster charging rate and is said to be compatible with any wireless-enabled device.
Whether it’s the cutting-edge camera innovations, the stunning Infinity Display and stereo speakers, support for the fastest network speeds and multiple storage options, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ are designed to offer the best of the best from this leading smartphone manufacturer. The camera on the Galaxy S9 and S9+ features revolutionary innovations, including a mechanical dual-aperture camera that expands and contracts just like the human eye and adapts to the light in just a fraction of a second.
Designed as an all-season solution for outdoor audio entertainment, the SPK-080 is the next generation of Peerless-AV’s line of outdoor soundbars, offering a more powerful and durable outdoor audio solution. Providing full range audio (50Hz-20kHz) and outputting 200 watts of total system power, the new soundbar produces higher quality sound at a greater level and is vigorous enough to overcome ambient noise found in outdoor settings, making it a true outdoor solution. With an IP65 rating, the new Xtreme Outdoor Soundbar can withstand even the most extreme environments.
The HEOS HomeCinema HS2 wireless soundbar and subwoofer adds power, dimension and depth to movies, music and games with bi-amplified mid-woofers, tweeters and advanced DSP processing, plus a wireless subwoofer. With the HEOS Home Entertainment Skill and Amazon Alexa voice control (via a connected Alexa device), users are able to access popular music streaming services, adjust volume, change tracks, and leverage several other commands.
The Royole RoWrite allows business people, artists, and students who find it convenient to write on paper easily digitize their work. What appears to be a folio with a paper pad inside is … exactly that! But underneath the paper pad is a proprietary sensor array that tracks pen position. A pressure sensor within the pen records how hard the pen is pressed to the paper. With those two parameters an accurate digital reproduction of the notes, artwork, or physics equations will be made. A free dedicated smartphone app is available to download them at the end of the day.
Experience the magic of the LeapStart 3D Interactive Learning System and get kids excited about learning with 3D-like animations that magically bring the activities to life. Ideal for visual or auditory learners, the touch and talk activities enhance learning with interactive animations to help kids build math, reading, problem-solving skills and more. The LeapStart library of 25+ books (each sold separately) covers a variety of preschool through first grade subjects for 2-7 year olds with more than 30 activities in every book.
The LG OLED 65E8 TV with AI ThinQ boasts an elegant glass design to complement its OLED picture quality and immersive viewing experience. This refined glass design celebrates the transcendent technology of LG OLED to create an image that appears to float in the air. The black canvas and expanded color gamut of the 65E8 intensify its vast palette to match the color capacities shown in today’s digital cinemas. To complement the picture quality, the TV incorporates LG’s AI ThinQ technology for an enhanced interactive experience. Natural Language Processing is employed to deliver intelligent voice-activated control and connectivity.
Samsung Gear VR with Controller, powered by Oculus, lets users journey through uncharted lands, sit front row at the big game, and watch the latest blockbuster — all from wherever they want. Convenient, comfortable, and immersive, Gear VR with Controller allows users to experience virtual reality through a new lens. Leveraging the power of Samsung’s flagship Galaxy smartphones, Gear VR offers an untethered, fully mobile VR experience through the phone’s signature Super AMOLED display and top-of-the-line processing power.
This year marks the fifth summer we’ve held our TWICE VIP Awards, in which we ask our audience to vote on the products, technologies and services they believe are making the biggest difference in the business. A few years ago, we made the decision to expand the pool to include tech nearing market readiness and that you anticipate holds the biggest potential.
Here’s what we’ve learned after doing this program in that time:
- The breadth of what’s encompassed within “consumer technology” is wide, varied and complex. We had nearly 50 categories this year, with products touching every aspect of consumer life — from washing machines to VR headsets to health monitoring. Covering this range is often dizzying and difficult, and we know it’s even harder trying to be an expert on them all so you can demonstrate their value to your customers. Only in CE retail are you expected to speak confidently on various voice assistants, video displays and vibration-reduction technologies, often all within the same hour.
- Our readers not only love voting on the hits and misses — the number of dealers and distributors weighing in this year was among the highest since the program’s launch — they relish seeing what’s coming. While several of this year’s names are repeat winners, others are brand-new companies that we’re eager to see how they perform. History has shown our audience has a keen eye for what works and what doesn’t on the shelves.
- Holding this program during the summer is the perfect setup for the fourth quarter. Seeing what retailers get excited about is a reliable barometer for the rest of the industry. After all, retailers are consumers too.
I want to offer my congratulations to all of the winners, with a special congratulation to Samsung, which once again took home the Super VIP Award thanks to its ability to lock down seven wins.
Those of you who subscribe to our digital edition will soon receive in your inbox a special issue featuring all of the winners and nominees.
