The 2014 Consumer Electronics Show is in full swing in Las Vegas this week. Here’s a look at the wearable technology that might be in your future.

New headphones from LG use blood flow signals from the inner ear to measure heart rate. They pair with the Lifeband Touch wristband that tracks activity and can pair with Android and iOS devices.

The June is a crystal from Netatmo which can be worn on a leather band or clipped to your clothing. It measures ultraviolet intensity and exposure so you know when to get out of the sun.

The Pebble Steel, the company’s second smartwatch, is smaller yet slightly heavier and comes in grey or black. The Pebble works with Android and iOS devices, and an app store to aid users in finding software created for the wrist is launching soon.

And despite the fact that Google Glass is being routinely banned, Epson announced its second-generation Moverio smart glasses.

The Core may be the smallest device Sony has ever manufactured. It’s a waterproof sensor that can be inserted into a wristband and which promises to do more than just track your activity.

In introducing the device, a Sony spokesperson uttered the refrain, “We’re not just about motion, but emotion.” Sony is working with developers and hardware partners to make the Core and Sony’s SmartWear Experience more complete.

Cross-posted at the “Georgia Straight:http://www.straight.com/life/561401/ces-2014-wearable-technology-tracks-more-motion

The 2014 Consumer Electronics Show is in full swing in Las Vegas this week. Here’s a look at the 3-D printing technologies that might be in your future.

MakerBot, the company that produces consumer-grade 3-D printers, is expanding its ecosystem. In addition to selling the MakerBot Replicators and home-based scanners (full-body scanners are at its retail stores), the company curates 3-D model designs on its Thingiverse website.

The printing material is a corn-based plastic that is ecofriendly. Spools of the filament cost about $50.

At CES, MakerBot announced three new 3-D printers.

A new MakerBot Replicator Mini provides users with one-touch 3-D printing for less than US$1,500. MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis called it the point-and-shoot of the line of 3-D printers.

The fifth-generation MakerBot Replicator is the prosumer model that Pettis said will be used by designers and engineers. It will cost close to US$3,000 but comes with more features and can print larger objects.

The MakerBot Replicator Z18 has a “massive build volume” that can manufacture 12 by 12 by 18 inch objects (2,592 cubic inches). Pettis said it provides “industrial-strength 3-D printing”. It won’t be available until spring, and will cost US$6,499.

All the printers are app- and cloud-enabled, and have cameras inside the build volume so you can monitor what you create. The printers will also notify you when your items are finished by sending you a picture and can even automatically share photos with your social media accounts.

The company also rolled out new desktop and mobile apps that give users access to a cloud library and to their printers. The MakerBot PrintShop is another app that gives users access to simple creation tools for things like 3-D type and bracelets.

The new Digital Store includes models created by the artists at MakerBot, so printer owners can simply purchase the designs and print them at home, knowing that the designs will work.

Cross-posted at the Georgia Straight

The 2014 Consumer Electronics Show is in full swing in Las Vegas this week. Here’s a look at the laptops, tablets, and smartphones that might be in your future.

Lenovo’s new Horizon 2 is a 27-inch touchscreen tablet running Windows 8 that can you can set up as a desktop computer. Whether you want a keyboard and a mouse is up to you.

Toshiba’s first Chromebook is a 13.3-inch lightweight notebook that runs on Google’s Chrome operating system and provides a low-cost solution—around $300—for students who can manage their studies with a web browser, Gmail, and Google’s web apps. It comes with 100 gigabytes of cloud storage at Google Drive.

LG’s G Flex is a curved phone. Aside from the form factor, there’s nothing that the curve adds to the six-inch handset. Maybe it fits the back pockets of some people better than others. What shape is your bum?

Alcatel OneTouch announced at CES that it’s moving into the Canadian market with its Idol X and Idol Mini smartphones. The handsets run on Android’s Jelly Bean operating system. They will be available through Bell and Virgin Mobile.

Cross-posted at the Georgia Straight

Nintendo routinely waits until late November to release the bulk of its biggest video games of the season, and this year was no exception. This week, we take a look at the new Mario and Zelda games. Plus, the first Lego game made with girls in mind, and a game that explores the world of paper craft.

Read more at the Georgia Straight

I contributed to the annual Globe & Mail gift guide coverage again this year:

• 10 gadget ideas for under $100
• Audio options, from receivers to speakers to all-in-ones
• 11 gadgets for over $100
• Headphones
• Best gaming laptop for gifting
• Gifts for gamers that aren’t consoles