Offbeat gadgets showcased at CES 2015

While we await the arrival of mainstream gadgets based on these technologies later this year, here are some products that caught our attention at the CES 2015 in Las Vegas.

AVEGANT GLYPH PERSONAL THEATRE HEADSET

An interesting accessory in the virtual reality space came from Avegant. The Glyph looks like a normal, over-the-ear headphone that can be flipped down to experience the virtual retinal display. It seamlessly switches between audio and video mode. According to Avegant, the Glyph has been designed in such a way that it holds the aesthetic of current headphone technology, while integrating next generation optics for a premium video experience. Priced at $599, it can be preordered later this year.

SONY FDR-AX33

Sony has pulled the wraps off its 4K Handycam, which the company claims is the 'most compact' of its kind till date. This new camcorder features Balanced Optical SteadyShot (B.O.SS) image stabilisation and 4K 100 Mbps high-bitrate recording. There is a manual ring as well as button to customise the needs of a videographer. There is also a three-inch LCD and an electronic viewfinder. The 4K video content shot with this camcorder can be played directly on a compatible 4K TV. It can also trim 4K images from the video frames.

TOSHIBA TRANSFERJET

This adapter for smartphones, PCs and tablets offers direct data transfer of up to 560 Mbps between two devices. Toshiba has come up with a dongle for iOS devices, the Lightning port, 2nd generation USB adapter for Windows, and microUSB adapter for Android devices. Connecting TransferJet to compatible devices, launching its app, selecting files and then touching the two adapters together initiates high-speed data transfer. It is ideal for wirelessly transferring high resolution images, videos, etc. Priced at $79.99, it will go on sale in March.

NETATMO WELCOME

This is a stylish camera that recognises the faces of your loved ones and sends their names to the smartphone. It is a compatible app, and by using it, one can check who all are currently at home by accessing live stream and even past events. Welcome also notifies if it sees an unknown face.