CES 2016

Dynaudio’s first- and second-gen Xeo wireless speakers were previously reviewed in Sound & Vision. Long story short, we liked ‘em. Now the company has a new wireless speaker, the Xeo 2, that adds a few features the previous versions lacked, and is also considerably more affordable.

Andrew Jones speaker demos have been reliable crowdpleasers at CESes going back many years. Having decamped from TAD and Pioneer to the German company ELAC, he continues to impress.

“Works with Apple HomeKit” was a common theme among many of the new automation companies demonstrating at the International Consumer Electronics Show, and Elgato’s Eve family of devices offers some very affordable options to quickly and easily bring smarts and Siri-based control to your home.

EZVIZ makes cheap—no, that’s not right, because they’re high-quality so let’s say very affordable—cameras for DIYers to use to monitor homes and apartments without breaking the bank in the process. The company’s cameras are also small, unobtrusive, and, importantly, not ugly. I tried out the EZVIZ Mini last year and was quite impressed with the performance and form factor, especially considering the $69 price. Now EZVIZ is introducing several new models that, if they live up to their pre-release promises, will be even more exciting.

Buried deep in the Mobility zone of the LVCC’s North Hall, Libratone’s minimalist wood and glass-lined booth seemed an oasis of Scandinavian design amidst the electronic(s) noise.

It’s a few days after CES and I’m finally winding down from the relentless press events, press releases, and my feet have forgiven me for the miles of hiking the floors of the Convention Center. My waistline, however, may take a while to recover from the receptions and cocktail parties that manufacturers love to host during CES.