Darphynia's Diary

The top of my CES badge. We are back at CES, and this time it's (supposedly) bigger than ever, with even more drones & 3D printing areas.  Not that we really need more, but why not?  I am looking forward to seeing everything that will be coming out in the next year.  Over the week, I will try to post updates on what we experience.  I am especially looking forward to seeing what new products Razer and iHealth will be producing over the course of the next year or so.  Virtual Reality (VR) is another thing I am quite excited for, and not just for the gaming aspect.  With VR, you can be just about any place at any time.  Last year, we were chased by a T-Rex, we attacked a giant robot destroying the city, and watched two cute cranes play ball.  Oh, the future... Stay beautiful!      

The final day of CES, which is a shortened day, was spent between the Sands and the LVCC, saying our “goodbyes” to everyone. We also learned that Android had a pin event . Various booths were giving out limited Android pins, and it reminded me of when I used to trade at Disneyland (now, I'm just a collector. . . and no, I'm not ashamed to admit that). Had we known about the trading, we would have paid more attention. There was an app associated that allowed the user to mark which pins were obtained and where others could be found. There were 45 pins in total, and we only got about 4 or 5. . . it, literally, would have taken an entire day just to collect them all. I feel like I need to complete the collection...hopefully they have it again next year. Were you able to get any? If you were, which ones? We also saw a kiosk called SAMPLEit , which allows consumers to purchase sample-sized bath, beauty, fragrance, snack, detergent, and hair products for around $1.00-$2.0...

CES 2015 was the year of the drones and fitness bands. First, the drones...they were out in full-force; some with cameras and others without.  Here is a picture of one from my personal favorite, Zano that is equipped with a camera, and connects to your phone via an app.   It can find its way to you, and create all types of memories.  The Zano also comes in limited varieties, such as glow-in-the-dark (my personal favorite). Image courtesy of H. Nelson Next come the fitness bands. Of course the bigger, more well-known, companies were there, such as iHealth (my personal favorite) and FitBit .   Health trackers cover everything from steps to heart rate and sleep patterns.  Below are photos of a few of the fitness bands we saw.  I will have a review of each of the bands I will be testing out, as well as another comparative piece with a table. You will then be able to see which is best for your needs should you decide to purchase one.  Nea...

Part of South Hall is dedicated to gaming, and Oculus was definitely the highlight of the day. The virtual reality (VR) and virtual gaming (VG) have advanced significantly, and each demo made you feel a part of it. If you made an appointment, you were taken to one of the private viewing rooms (otherwise you stood in an insanely long line, and viewed it with others on the open floor). Each room was soundproofed, and each had a mat for the viewer to stand on. Viewers encountered rubber duckies, a charging T-Rex, being at the edge of a skyscraper, and three other scenarios. One of the most memorable was the skyscraper demo. I didn’t even realize where I was. As the screen changed, I thought I was looking out of a window in a high-rise, only to look down and see ant-sized cars whizzing below. Even though the logical part of me knew I wouldn’t fall, I didn’t want to take a step forward on the mat because I feared that something might happen. Everywhere you turned there was somethi...

We got in to Las Vegas just before 1 p.m. on Monday. Checked in to the hotel, and despite the Internet going in & out, it’s been nice. Woke up early today (Tuesday), after a restless night due to body aches, and covered South Hall 1 & 3. Most of the vendors in the South Halls carry mobile accessories, such as this plastic iPhone 6 case: Image courtesy of H. Nelson Image courtesy of H. Nelson    Remember those oil-in-water toys when we were kids? Well, you can now relive your youth. . . or at least that part of it. This color can be changed to virtually hue, and the little hearts can be changed to cars, dolphins, or whatever your little heart desires! Yes, they are wholesale, and no, they do not sell just one at a time. I did a quick search, though, and the cases can be purchased for virtually all phones here . There are also glitter-in-water cases, such as the kind found here . The image on the right shows how much will be added t...

So, I wasn't able to get my posts in this week, and it's because I've been prepping for my Vegas trip.  I will be attending CES 2015, and can't wait!  I will try to post make-up posts for this past week, and keep up next week, but I can't make any promises. Here is what I will be taking during this trip: TPG Clear Soft Pack (Large & Medium) Image property of thepowdergroup.com I absolutely LOVE these!  I've had mine for years, and they look brand new.  Each pack I have houses everything from makeup and brushes, to docking stands and charging cords.  The plastic is strong and durable, and each pack can be washed.  A little soapy water will do the trick.  The large size fits several palettes, individual shadows, and a brush roll.  I can also fit all of my cords, mouse, note cards, and pens with room to spare, or clothes, for short trips.  The medium is perfect for long trips, when I need to take more toiletries that normal. ...