I decided to step away from the fray of volatile markets, collateral management nightmares, the T+2 shorter settlement follies and nonstop Pope Francis coverage, and to focus on shameless, holiday-inspired consumption, particularly of the gadget kind.
The people at Pepcom Inc. are hosting what they call their “Holiday Spectacular!,” Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Metropolitan Pavilion event space in downtown Manhattan. It’s a special exhibition for press and analysts, featuring mostly consumer-oriented gadgets. In anticipation of the event, Pepcom has issued a preview of the vendors in attendance.
What follows is a totally random, subjective list of things I will be checking out on your behalf, in case you’re in the market for such items for the holidays. I will do a follow-up posting on what I really liked. You can also leave a message and tell me what you’d like to know more about.
For starters, retailer Brookstone will be at the event and is pushing its “Top 10 WOW Gifts,” which it is hoping will become the “must-haves” of the season. On display will be such items as the Star Wars-inspired BB-8 App-Enabled Droid for kids, dubbed the “breakout toy” from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens. ”
Brookstone will also feature a four-foot tall Meccanoid G15KS programmable robot and Cat Ear Headphones. In case you care, “Cat Ear Headphones are the brainchild of two U.C. Berkeley alumni and are one of Ind
iegogo’s largest crowd-funding projects to date,” says Tom Via, Brookstone CEO, in a prepared statement. “After raising over $3.4 million dollars in funding, the duo turned to Brookstone for the expertise they needed to bring their vision to life.”
Brookstone will also have on hand:
- the ReAct full body massage chair
- a Parrot Bebop Drone Quadricopter with HD fisheye camera;
- BlueSmart Carry-on luggage with App-controlled lock
- A battery charger and proximity alerts;
- Cordless Shiatsu Neck & Body Massager with heat;
- Tranquil Moments Pro Sleep System;
- Fizzics Draft System for pouring the perfect beer every time;
- And Big Blue Unplugged Indoor-Outdoor Speaker.
Some of the other items I will review are
Alcatel Onetouch
The vendor is touting its offering as the “all-new ruggedized Go Watch and Go Play smartphone.”
Antenna79
The vendor will showcase “new smartphone cases that leverage advances in antenna technology to improve the signal strength and overall performance of your mobile phone.”
BeastBikes
SpeedForce says it will introduce “a bike comput
er that turns any bike into a smart bike.”
BlackBerry
Not dead yet, BlackBerry says it will present its “new limited edition BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition, along with the latest additions to its portfolio.”
Cobra Electronics
Cobra Electronics and sister company Escort say that they “are pleased to showcase their newest models of radar detection systems, featuring digital signal processing (DSP) technology for award-winning range and added rejection of false or unwanted alerts. Also on display will be Cobra fan favorites – Cobra JumPack CPP 8000 portable power/jump starter system and a new line of Drive HD Dash Cams.”
Dash Robotics
Dash Robotics will be unveiling “its first generation of Kamigami Robots – lightning-fast machines you can build, program and evolve.”
Epson
Epson America will show off “breakthrough Supertank all-in-one printers, plus new home and mobile tech for connected families, photo enthusiasts and fans of big-screen entertainment.”
Fizzics
Fizzics will be showing the world’s “first personal beer dispenser that delivers a fresh from the tap experience from any bottle, can or growler.”
HEXO+
HEXO+ is the world’s first entirely autonomous drone that allows you to capture stunning areal footage with the use of a simple smartphone app.
iRobot
iRobot to showcase the Roomba 980, its newest innovation in robot vacuum cleaning.
Martian
Martian officials say that they will debut the recently launched Active Collection of award-winning Voice Command Smartwatches; water resistant smartwatches that honor classic analog designs with advanced features like voice commands, Smart Notifications and access to thousands of apps.
Muse
Muse, the brain sensing headband, “helps you to take the guesswork out of meditation by giving real-time audio feedback that motivates and guides you through a more fulfilling and ongoing meditation practice.”
Perfect Company
“Perfect Company will be unveiling their new Pro stainless steel Bluetooth editions of connected kitchen items Perfect Drink and Perfect Bake, complete with a taste of their world-class cocktails and perfectly delicious baked goods,” officials say.
Petzila
“Petzila will be showing off the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season – 
the Petzi Treat Cam that lets people (‘see’) video,
(‘speak’) audio, (‘snap’) take pictures and (‘treat’) dispense treats to their pets at anytime from anywhere,” according to the vendor.
Seek Thermal
“Seek Thermal will be showcasing the company’s expanded product line, including the most advanced thermal imaging smart tools which allow people to discover energy inefficiencies at home, have a personal safety tool with them, and more,” officials say.
Stack Lighting
Stack Lighting will showcase the “first autonomous responsive lighting solutions, enabling seamless home awareness and automation.”
The ONE Smart Piano
“The ONE Smart Piano is a connected device that teaches you to play with light-up keys, virtual video lessons, and piano games, and will be the best gift for musical newbies starting this holiday,” officials say.
TiVo
TiVo promises to unveil a “brand new product!” I will let you know what they are premiering.
Vidmob
Vidmob will debut “a first-of-its-kind app” for getting professionally edited video.
VTech
VTech will be showcasing “its modern retail, small business and Connect To Cell phones, as well as the latest innovations from the Safe&Sound baby monitor portfolio.”
VXi Corporation
VXi Corp., maker of corded and wireless headset solutions, “will be showcasing the newest addition to its BlueParrott line of Bluetooth headsets, the stylishly small and comfortably light BlueParrott Point.”
