CES is the world’s gathering place for all those who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), it attracts the world’s business leaders and pioneering thinkers.[1] With over 4,000 exhibiting companies and more than 123,000 attendees, CES is the place to be to learn about everything that’s new and hot when it comes to tech.[2]
BIC Graphic NA attended CES 2018 in January to gain insight on the future of technology innovation and how it translates to the promotional products industry. This research guides us to provide the latest and greatest in the tech category for our customers.
Wireless Charging Pads
While wireless charging is not particularly new technology, it was all over CES 2018 with companies releasing a wide variety of new functions and styles. Qi wireless chargers were especially popular as the industry standard recognized by most major smartphone companies. With Apple jumping on board the Qi charging trend with the newest iPhone releases and PowerMat announcing that all future chargers will include Qi, this standard is here to stay.
#32189 Incipio Ghost Qi 3-Coil Wireless Charging Base – Freely place your phone anywhere on this pad to begin charging. The sophisticated design has a rubberized surface to keep the phone securely on the pad and an audio cue to confirm when charging has begun.
#32188 Incipio Ghost Qi 15W Wireless Charging Base – Engineered for 15 watts of rapid refueling, this pad charges Qi enabled smartphones and tablets to full capacity 3x faster than standard bases.
Wireless Audio
Most of the major smartphone manufacturers are removing headphone jacks so audio accessories are being forced to quickly follow suit. At CES this year several major retailers showed off new styles, faster quick charging and the capability to connect multiple devices to a single audio source.
#32167 Truly Wireless Earbuds and Charging Case – These earbuds are the revolution of Bluetooth® Technology with no wires at all and a range of over 32 feet away. The earbud case is also a 2000 mAh power bank that will recharge the earbuds 15 times (from a full power bank charge) and your other devices as well.
#32124 Xoopar® Bluetooth® Earbuds with Logo Cap – From one of the most respected audio brands in China, show off your logo directly on these high quality Bluetooth® earbuds. Comes with an imprint directly on the right earbud for added exposure, and optional screen print or britePix® imprint on the case for an additional charge.
Smart Home Devices
Home automation is all about convenience and the popularity of smart home devices is only going to increase in 2018. People don’t necessarily want to shout over their music or movie, so remote and smart phone controlled options were a surprising “throwback” trend at the show.
#32165 Wifi Smart Wall Adapter – A promo solution for home automation that enables you to control power to an outlet from your phone. Works with Apple and Android devices with a button switch and timing setting.
Earth-Conscious Tech
One of the most buzzed about debuts at CES 2018 was a set of wireless headphones that incorporate recycled metal from seized illegal guns, with 50% of sales returning to the Humanium Metal Initiative. From earbuds made with recycled silicone and wood to Bluetooth® speakers made with recycled plastic, eco-consciousness and global humanitarian concerns have officially entered the tech space.
#32116 House of Marley™ Get Together™ Bluetooth® Speaker – A high-end fusion of form and function, this easily portable speaker system has a built-in rechargeable battery and Bluetooth® connectivity to fire up your tunes whenever and wherever you need them. The REWIND™ fabric cover is a 100% recycled blend and the CNC-milled bamboo panels are made from a highly renewable and easy to maintain natural resource.
Woodchuck USA Buy one. Plant One™. Program – These premium mahogany, walnut and cedar phone cases are handcrafted with a flexible rubber rim for added protection. Each purchase comes with a code that reveals the location of a specific tree that customer helped plant. The Buy one. Plant One.® program website also provides information about how local reforestation is impacting the community.
COB
Advancements in chip-on-board LED means more than just providing increased lumen output. COB light brings out vivid colors and tones for better illumination while taking up less space than traditional LEDs. More power in less space means new opportunities – especially in the auto, tools & flashlight category.
#21220 Round COB Flashlight with Magnetic Base – This COB light ball attaches to the base magnetically and can be rotated freely to adjust the light angle or direction. Portable and versatile, the magnetic base can be secured to most metal surfaces or the light ball can be disconnected to take with you.
#21214 3-in-1 COB Emergency Tool – With a seat belt cutter, glass breaker and COB light, this tool is perfect to keep in the glove box for security in case of an emergency.
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