The annual CES gadget fest closes Friday, following an eventful week with hundreds of thousands of new gadget introductions, controversy over bringing presidential politics into the show with an appearance by first daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump and a headline-grabbing act of war against Google.
Some 175,000 people attended, and while Trump’s appearance was mild, without any protest, California speaker maker Sonos did rain on Google’s unveiling of new products with “partners,” when it accused the search giant of stealing its technology. Sonos is asking for an immediate cease-and-desist order preventing Google from selling speakers, phones or laptops.
Ouch.
Meanwhile, there are no Google-partnered products on our reporters and contributors highlights. Here are seven stand-outs.
(Photo: Uber)
Hyundai’s Flying Cars
The lure of a flying car is rarely more enticing than at CES, when 175,000-plus attendees regularly gridlock Las Vegas streets. Sunday, Hyundai put its own air-taxi cards on the table by unveiling the S-A1–a four-passenger electric aircraft with eight rotors that let it take off and land vertically–that it’s developing with Uber. Hyundai said the SA-1, with a 62-mile range, 150 mph cruising speed and eventual autonomous operation, would deliver “an era of liberation from gridlock and the democratization of flight.” But the touted 2023 launch seems exceedingly optimistic. Aviation-safety consultant Robert Mann offered a more conservative prediction via email: “Maybe by the 2028 Olympics, but most likely beyond that time.” — Rob Pegoraro
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