Held in Las Vegas every year, CES is one of the biggest consumer electronics shows. This year brought more exciting tech that will set the tone for the rest of the year.
But not everything at the show went smoothly.
Some demonstrations faltered, other technology was criticised as unnecessary and wasteful. And the conference even suffered a power cut at one point, giving many tech-nuts their first taste of sunshine in months.
Introducing Blackout™: The biggest thing to hit #CES2018 since #5G. #CESblackout pic.twitter.com/xObxxxHvQe
— Intel (@intel) January 10, 2018
Someone told Alexa to turn off the lights #CES18 #CESblackout
— Noah Klein (@Mrnono2) January 10, 2018
Here’s our list of the best tech and biggest flops from this year.
If the tech show exhibitors are correct, 2018 will be the year of voice. Google and Amazon’s home assistant systems enjoyed record sales over Christmas and now the assistants are finding themselves into more and more pieces of kit.
CES 2018 has voice assistant systems in tech including Bang & Olufsen smart speakers, mirrors, light switches, microwave ovens and cars.
In the fast-moving world of technology, drones were in danger of feeling like old hat. Analysts believe that consumer drones are slowing down. But transport drones are here save the day for copter fans.
Intel stole the show flying its two-person Volocoptor taxi drone on stage before performing a lightshow, flying 250 drones through the Bellagio’s fountains.
Get a closer look at the #Volocopter, the Intel-powered autonomous air taxi that took flight at #CES2018 pic.twitter.com/XQUhIxx6cQ
— Intel (@intel) January 11, 2018
It seems that everything we hear about robots these days is scary. It’s all killer robots this and job-stealing robots that. That’s why its nice to see an adorable robot pup with no greater purpose than to make you happy.
Sony’s Aibo is definitely the cutest gadget of the year, but would you pay $2,000 for a robo-dog?
cuteness overload from #ces2018. This is the new @Sony #Aibo. pic.twitter.com/qFJFkQ6DMY
— Geoffrey A. Fowler (@geoffreyfowler) January 9, 2018
Measuring 146 inches, Samsung’s massive “The Wall” television was the biggest screen unveiled at CES 2018.
It’s whopping size and Micro LEDs – which offer better contrast and more vibrant colours – combine to make The Wall the most impressive TV at CES 2018, closely followed by LG’s roll-up screen.
CES 2018: Samsung unveils giant TV called The Wall that’s 12 foot wide https://t.co/xOPYkbcoRg
— Metro (@MetroUK) January 9, 2018
If you are afraid of public speaking, spare a thought for LG vice president David Vander Waal who lived many nightmares when the company’s home-helping robot decided to stop working midway through a demonstration.
LG’s Cloi robot is supposed to act like an interface between you and your smart appliances. This video should serve as a reminder that voice-controlled kit isn’t completely reliable yet.
Ah, a CES classic —someone’s product demo not going as planned. This year it’s LG’s voice assistant CLOi. #CES2018 pic.twitter.com/uor6SJC84H
— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) January 8, 2018
2018 might the year of voice and in-home assistants, but do we really need to be able to talk to our toilet?
Kohler’s $6,000 Numi smart toilet is voice-activated. It has mood lighting, a heated seat and hot air jets to warm up your feet. For some people, this will be a dream come true. But it’s a hard pass from us.
From the impractical to the downright ridiculous, walking the CES floor revealed some especially bad gems.
Finally a way to detect smells! I don’t have any way to do that that’s also part of my body pic.twitter.com/jin8b5GWBe
— Ed Zitron, CES garbage man (@edzitron) January 11, 2018
CES has reached a point where Atari just decided to give up and make a physical version of pong that probably costs like a grand pic.twitter.com/EXmIiO6l52
— Ed Zitron, CES garbage man (@edzitron) January 10, 2018
Finally a bed that gives you sea sickness pic.twitter.com/hGE6T8QZBZ
— Ed Zitron, CES garbage man (@edzitron) January 11, 2018
