Minnesota technology and consumer-electronics companies are once again in force at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show — also known simply as CES — which runs through Sunday.
The gigantic show, which boasted 3,887 exhibitors and 177,393 attendees last year, typically draws more than a dozen Minnesota companies and brand names ranging from 3M and Memorex to Polaroid and Sleep Number.
Among their new-product announcements:
BRACKETRON
The Edina-based maker of smartphone accessories is teaming up with ride-sharing service Uber to hawk a series of Uber by Bracketron products.
The gadgets, including in-car phone mounts and phone-charging devices, are much like others in the Bracketron product line, but have Uber branding because they are intended for those signing up to be Uber contract drivers.
In non-Uber product news, Bracketron is introducing a compact, cylindrical Xventure device-charging battery pack made to resemble a shotgun shell for novelty appeal if not practical reasons.
POLAROID
Once the Apple of its day (think the 1970s) and later nearly moribund, this photography-focused name has been somewhat ascendant in recent years. The Cult of Mac tech website is the latest to chronicle this comeback, which the Pioneer Press detailed in 2013.
At CES this year, Minnetonka-based Polaroid is introducing a Pop digital camera that is the company’s latest variation on instant-snapshot devices.
It is also jumping into the booming security-camera market with its Hoop, a compact video cam that connects to Wi-Fi for residential monitoring.
In addition, Polaroid is showing off camera-equipped drones, a new line of fitness trackers and smartwatches, an updated version of its iconic Cube action camera, a line of 3D-printing devices, and new Smart TVs with built-in Google Chromecast streaming capabilities.
These products typically aren’t designed or manufactured by Polaroid itself, but are licensed from other companies and offered with Polaroid branding.
SLEEP NUMBER
Select Comfort, the Plymouth-based smart-bed maker and retailer is introducing its latest model, the Sleep Number 360. This bed has through-the-night sleep-pattern monitoring with corresponding, on-the-fly physical adjustments for more-effective slumber.
This monitoring concept isn’t new, but Sleep Number is continually refining it.
The Sleep Number 360 also warms the foot of the bed before the user gets in for greater comfort. In addition, it raises a user’s head if it detects that he or she is snoring, and it will gently awaken the person at what it determines is the most effective point in time.
