CES 2017 – GeekWire Special Coverage

Here are the ‘missed opportunities’ soccer legend Landon Donovan sees with sports technology

by Taylor Soper on January 17, 2017January 17, 2017 at 6:18 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — Major League Soccer clubs, like many other pro sports franchises, are using data analytics and technology more than ever to help players prepare and perform at higher… Read More

How this reluctant Fitbit investor almost missed a $1.6 billion windfall

by Todd Bishop on January 15, 2017January 20, 2017 at 8:52 am 6 Comments

Tech investor Brad Feld remembers his first call with Fitbit CEO James Park. It was in 2010, during a major snowstorm at his home in the Colorado mountains, and he was… Read More

Video: What it’s like to use Amazon’s Alexa in a Ford hybrid car

by Todd Bishop on January 10, 2017January 10, 2017 at 9:24 amComment

LAS VEGAS — Alexa was the buzz of CES this year, with exhibitors showing integrations of Amazon’s voice-enabled virtual assistant into everything from refrigerators and robots to lighting systems and vehicles.… Read More

NASA shows off robots, a VR trip to Mars, and more at CES

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 9, 2017January 9, 2017 at 3:06 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — NASA doesn’t make consumer electronics per say, but it does enough geeky stuff that it was right at home during last week’s CES. Maria Bualat, a robotics… Read More

NCAA President Mark Emmert: Technology a ‘very high priority’ for collegiate sports

by Taylor Soper on January 9, 2017January 9, 2017 at 10:53 amComment

LAS VEGAS — Utilizing new technology is a “very high priority” for the NCAA, according to the organization’s leader. GeekWire met with NCAA President Mark Emmert last week at CES,… Read More

The female perspective: Takeaways from my experience watching VR porn made for dudes

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 9, 2017January 9, 2017 at 10:45 am1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — Last week, I got to experience something I never thought possible as a woman: sex from the male perspective. The future is here, my friends. And though… Read More

The ‘Device Like No Other’ American Greetings showed off at CES was, you guessed it, a card

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 7, 2017January 7, 2017 at 2:47 pm1 Comment

When we found out greeting card titan American Greetings was exhibiting at CES we thought it was an odd match. After all, what kind of electronic innovation could this company… Read More

GeekWire CES Dispatch, Day 4: Spotting celebrities and searching for the next big thing in tech

by Todd Bishop on January 7, 2017January 7, 2017 at 12:12 pm1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — We’re back with our final video dispatch from the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, including several celebrity sightings, an Amazon Treasure Truck cameo, and some of our key takeaways from… Read More

Former NFL star QB Warren Moon predicts Seahawks playoff game and talks tech at CES

by Taylor Soper on January 7, 2017January 7, 2017 at 11:16 am 2 Comments

LAS VEGAS — There are tons of big-name sports stars at CES this week checking out the giant technology expo for the first time as more and more players take interest… Read More

Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank is moving fast, just in case Apple and Samsung step on his turf

by John Cook on January 7, 2017January 7, 2017 at 11:45 am 2 Comments

LAS VEGAS — “Why is a sports brand at CES?” That’s the question that Under Armour founder and CEO Kevin Plank asked a packed session at the Consumer Electronics Show… Read More

Amazon exec Paul Misener warns that state laws could bog down drone deliveries

by Alan Boyle & Monica Nickelsburg on January 6, 2017January 6, 2017 at 6:10 pm1 Comment

A patchwork of state laws governing drone operations would pose a “real problem” for aerial delivery systems like the one that Amazon is developing, one of the executives in charge… Read More

CES has strict rules on adult content. Why this sex-tech exhibitor has never had a problem

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 6, 2017January 6, 2017 at 4:07 pm 3 Comments

Tucked away in a far corner of the Las Vegas Convention Center, a friendly husband and wife team are waiting to chat with CES attendees about their line of high-tech… Read More

Ford CEO downplays Trump’s role in nixing Mexican plant, weighs in on tech, globalization and jobs

by Todd Bishop on January 6, 2017January 6, 2017 at 3:49 pm1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — Ford was the latest company to find itself in the spotlight over issues of jobs and globalization this week, as the automaker canceled plans for a Mexican… Read More

Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana loves VR, wishes it was around when he was playing

by John Cook on January 6, 2017January 6, 2017 at 2:21 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — Former San Francisco 49ers star quarterback Joe Montana is just one of the many attendees at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show who is enamored with the idea… Read More

GeekWire CES Dispatch, Day 3: The very busy show floor, an interview with Shaq, and more

by Clare McGrane on January 6, 2017January 6, 2017 at 2:09 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — For our team in Las Vegas, it already feels like CES has lasted several weeks (or perhaps several dozen). But Thursday was actually the first official day of… Read More

FAA tests drone defense system to protect against a flying robot uprising

by Alan Boyle on January 6, 2017January 6, 2017 at 3:22 pm 4 Comments

Drone sightings by commercial pilots are on the rise, and so is the Federal Aviation Administration’s research into systems that detect and defend against unmanned aerial vehicles. In cooperation with other… Read More

USPS at CES? Why the national mail carrier is at the world’s biggest tech expo

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 6, 2017January 6, 2017 at 1:02 pm 7 Comments

LAS VEGAS — One of these things is not like the other. Nestled among drones, audio equipment, and robots on the CES show floor is an organization you wouldn’t expect to… Read More

LEGO gives playtime a Boost with robotics kit that will let kids bring their toys to life

by Kurt Schlosser on January 6, 2017January 6, 2017 at 10:57 amComment

Because little geeks are the future big geeks who will make more cool stuff for all of us, it’s nice to see some CES news that is aimed at kids.… Read More

Q&A: T-Mobile execs talk KickBack, elimination of rates and fees, FCC’s future and wireless M&A

by Todd Bishop on January 6, 2017January 6, 2017 at 10:42 am1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — T-Mobile announced its latest “Un-Carrier” initiative here Thursday, announcing plans to include taxes and fees in the rates it promises customers, and return up to $10/month to customers who… Read More

Amazon at CES: ‘We believe there will be an Alexa skill for everyone, for everything’

by Todd Bishop on January 6, 2017January 6, 2017 at 10:40 am1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — Amazon said this week that there are now more than 7,000 Alexa skills, third-party integrations that extend the capabilities of its voice platform. But that’s just the beginning… Read More

Listen up, pet parents — Seattle’s Rover talks wearables and more dog tech trends at CES

by Clare McGrane on January 6, 2017January 6, 2017 at 10:03 am1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — In the Pacific Northwest, people love their dogs. The stereotypical Seattle office, with its jeans-and-a-T-shirt dress code and pooches roaming the hallways, is just one of many… Read More

Amazon Alexa VP throws subtle shade at Google Home exec over Echo’s lead

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 5, 2017February 5, 2017 at 9:57 am 11 Comments

LAS VEGAS — Amazon’s early lead with the Echo smart speaker left competitor like Google playing catch up. But a few months ago Google Home arrived on the scene, competing… Read More

Video: Former NBA stars Shaq, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith talk tech, politics, hoops at CES

by Taylor Soper on January 5, 2017January 8, 2017 at 3:08 pm 3 Comments

LAS VEGAS — It was so much fun we had to do it again. GeekWire just reunited with Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith before the Inside the NBA analysts aired… Read More

Cortana in the car: Microsoft launches new automotive tech platform, strikes Renault-Nissan partnership

by Todd Bishop on January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 at 4:26 pm 2 Comments

LAS VEGAS — Can Microsoft put itself in the driver’s seat in the new world of cars? After working for more than 15 years in automotive technology, the tech giant will… Read More

Spotted at CES: Amazon’s funky Treasure Truck makes trek from Seattle to bring deals to Vegas

by John Cook on January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 at 4:16 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — It’s a long way from home. Amazon’s quirky Treasure Truck, which has delighted shoppers in the Seattle area over the past several months with special deals, appeared… Read More

Geeks gawk as models rock the fashion runway with Gibson guitars and headphones at CES

by Kurt Schlosser on January 5, 2017January 10, 2017 at 5:36 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — This has to beat staring at another drone or smart refrigerator. In a large, white tent in the high-profile Central Plaza at CES, models strutted on a… Read More

Technology brings sports fans closer to their favorite teams than ever before, but they want more

by Nat Levy on January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 at 6:50 pm1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — No matter the industry, whether sports, virtual reality, cars or media, people want to be closer to their favorite teams, brands and products. That’s why leaders across… Read More

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver predicts how we’ll watch basketball in 5 years

by Taylor Soper on January 5, 2017January 8, 2017 at 3:11 pm1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — Over the past several decades, technology has changed the way NBA fans listen and watch games, from radios to televisions and now with the internet. So how will… Read More

Video

Media titan Barry Diller discusses fake news, the ‘nasty consequences’ of everyone being a publisher

by John Cook on January 5, 2017May 31, 2017 at 11:12 am 3 Comments

LAS VEGAS — It didn’t take long for Barry Diller — the outspoken and charismatic chairman of IAC and Expedia — to discuss the discombobulated state of media in 2017.… Read More

This is how actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt thinks we can fix education, journalism, and government

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 at 12:20 pm 2 Comments

LAS VEGAS — Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the lifelong actor who starred in Inception, 500 Days of Summer, and most recently Snowden, thinks online collaboration can solve some of the biggest challenges facing the… Read More

Live Blog

Live Blog: T-Mobile introduces ‘KickBack’ data refund, vows to include taxes and fees in rates

by Todd Bishop on January 5, 2017May 22, 2017 at 2:40 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — T-Mobile this morning announced a new “KickBack” program that will credit customers up to $10/month for unused data on lines that use less than 2 gigabytes per… Read More

‘I just have to pinch myself’: The Linux Foundation is still adjusting to AT&T’s embrace of open source

by Dan Richman on January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 at 10:11 amComment

LAS VEGAS — “AT&T is an open-source software company now — I just have to pinch myself.” That’s how Linux Foundation Executive Director Jim Zemlin started off a talk Wednesday… Read More

Audi teams up with Nvidia to create an advanced autonomous car by 2020

by Alan Boyle on January 5, 2017January 8, 2017 at 3:13 pmComment

Nvidia may be best-known for video games, but its deal with Audi to provide the smarts for an autonomous vehicle in 2020 demonstrates that it’s not just playing games in… Read More

Live Blog

Live blog: CES show floor up and running! GeekWire takes in the weird and wonderful

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 at 12:03 pmComment

Massive crowds are gathering at the Las Vegas Convention Center to spot celebrities, connect with key members of the electronics industry, and spot the hottest (and weirdest) new consumer products… Read More

Video

Guilty parents will feel good about this $149 exercise bike from Fisher-Price that keeps your preschooler active during screen time

by John Cook on January 5, 2017May 31, 2017 at 11:14 am1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — Kids love their screen time, a period to tune out from rest of the world. But for those parents — like me — who feel guilty every… Read More

GeekWire CES Dispatch, Day 2: High-tech celebrities, Alexa in the fridge, and VR barf bags

by Clare McGrane on January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 at 8:53 amComment

LAS VEGAS — The final CES media day was packed with surprises, reveals, and more than anything, Amazon’s Alexa. As GeekWire’s Taylor Soper reports, the voice activated Amazon assistant seemed… Read More

Ford is turning its cars into Amazon Alexa devices starting this month

by Todd Bishop on January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 at 7:03 am1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — Ford will begin rolling out Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant this month, starting by allowing hybrid and electric vehicle owners to interact with and control their cars from inside their homes using… Read More

Reddit’s Alexis Ohanian checks out car tech at CES, confirms fiancée Serena Williams is a geek

by Taylor Soper on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 10:15 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — We know Alexis Ohanian is a geek. The entrepreneur co-founded Reddit and helped start companies like Hipmunk and Breadpig before co-founding a VC firm. But what about… Read More

Nvidia unveils cloud service that turns your PC into a powerful gaming machine

by Taylor Soper on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 7:33 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — It’s difficult for many people to play the latest and greatest computer games because they don’t have a PC or Mac powerful enough to handle the required processing power… Read More

Intel goes all out at CES media event, gives 260 reporters and analysts VR demos with barf bags

by Taylor Soper on January 4, 2017January 6, 2017 at 12:33 pm1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — Intel’s event at CES last year was pretty epic, with flying drones and twisting BMX bikers wow-ing journalists and industry analysts at the big tech show. But… Read More

Sony’s PlayStation 4 hits 53.4M in lifetime console sales, including 6.2M this holiday season

by Nat Levy on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 5:59 pm 2 Comments

Sony has sold 53.4 million PlayStation 4 consoles worldwide in a little more than three years. Sony CEO Kaz Hirai said at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Wednesday the… Read More

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s 3 problems with the Internet — and how to fix them

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 4:46 pm1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt is ready for the Internet to “grow up.” It needs to happen, he told the crowd at AT&T’s Developer Summit, if we’re going to… Read More

Samsung doubles down on smart refrigerators with second generation of tablet-as-a-door technology

by Nat Levy on January 4, 2017January 8, 2017 at 3:14 pmComment

Last year Samsung raised eyebrows when it slapped a giant 21.5-inch LCD touch screen on the front of a refrigerator. This year, Samsung is going even further with that technology, adding… Read More

Intel and New Balance reveal new $299 RunIQ smartwatch; runs on Android Wear and Intel Atom

by Taylor Soper on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 3:26 pmComment

New Balance is getting into the smartwatch game with a little help from Intel. The shoemaker today announced RunIQ, a new $299 smartwatch that is engineered and powered by Intel technology, including… Read More

The internet of beds? Microsoft exec teases the future of IoT, which could include 50 billion devices

by Dan Richman on January 4, 2017January 9, 2017 at 11:09 am1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — You may have heard about the internet of cows, but we may soon see the internet of beds and the internet of nursery equipment. That was one of… Read More

Toyota unveils ‘kinetic warmth’ concept car at CES that uses AI to nurture driver-vehicle relationship

by Taylor Soper on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 3:06 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — Can technology help our cars behave more like humans? Toyota is betting on it. The company unveiled its newest concept car at CES in Las Vegas on… Read More

Video

CES: Samsung faces up to Note 7 recall, promises root-cause report ‘very soon’

by Todd Bishop on January 4, 2017May 31, 2017 at 11:16 am 2 Comments

LAS VEGAS — Opening its news conference here at CES this afternoon, Samsung didn’t shy away from the company’s biggest news story of the year: the recall of the Samsung… Read More

Video

Samsung and Google unveil Chromebooks with built-in stylus, challenging Microsoft Surface and Apple iPad Pro

by Todd Bishop on January 4, 2017May 31, 2017 at 11:26 amComment

LAS VEGAS — Samsung today is unveiling a pair of new Google notebooks, the Intel-powered Chromebook Pro and ARM-powered Chromebook Plus, bringing two higher-end options to the line of budget-oriented… Read More

Say please, kids! Mattel’s new Cortana-powered smart hub can require good manners

by Todd Bishop on January 4, 2017January 5, 2017 at 7:06 amComment

LAS VEGAS — A new smart hub announced today by Mattel, targeted to kids and parents, is notable in part because it will be powered by Microsoft’s Cortana technology, not Amazon’s Alexa… Read More

Faraday Future FF 91 ‘may not even be a car,’ but whatever this ‘species’ is, it can ‘outrun gravity’

by Kurt Schlosser on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 12:32 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — I’ve owned my share of cars and SUVs and Jeeps over the years, and while none of them have ever been electric vehicles, I can’t remember ever referring to… Read More

‘This will put Monster on the map.’ High-end speaker manufacturer launches Amazon Alexa bundle

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 11:21 amComment

LAS VEGAS — Monster, the audio company behind Beats headphones, is bringing Amazon virtual assistant Alexa to its line of Soundstage home speakers. Noel Lee, the company’s founder product driver,… Read More

Amazon’s smart assistant Alexa now tops 7,000 skills, a 7X increase in 7 months

by Nat Levy on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 10:37 amComment

Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa is getting more skillful by the day. The brain behind Amazon’s Echo speakers has topped 7,000 skills, Amazon’s vice president of Echo, Alexa and app store… Read More

New Alexa skill from Turner Sports helps fans ditch cable guide, find how to watch their teams

by Taylor Soper on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 10:05 amComment

Scrolling through a TV guide or surfing around the web to find out which channel, radio station, or website is best to follow your favorite team can be a time-consuming process. Now… Read More

Indoor drag race at CES: Faraday Future FF 91 vs Bentley, Ferrari and Tesla

by Kevin Lisota on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 9:36 amComment

LAS VEGAS — Last night, Faraday Future unveiled their FF 91 electric car at CES. They boasted of a 0-60mph acceleration of 2.39s, the fastest of any production car and… Read More

Talk to the fridge: LG will put Amazon Alexa in a refrigerator, letting users buy groceries via voice

by Todd Bishop on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 9:37 am 3 Comments

LAS VEGAS — LG Electronics will put Amazon’s Alexa voice-enabled virtual assistant in a new Smart InstaView refrigerator, allowing people to ask questions, play music, check calorie counts, and add items to their shopping lists… Read More

GeekWire CES Dispatch, Day 1: Fast cars, big dreams and high-tech underwear

by Todd Bishop on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 9:39 amComment

LAS VEGAS — The CES show floor doesn’t officially open until Thursday, but the press conferences and technology previews are in full swing. On our first day at the event,… Read More

Sticky-note printer could change the way you jot down reminders

by John Cook on January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 at 12:59 amComment

LAS VEGAS — Want to create your own sticky note? Mangoslab, which spun out of Samsung Electronics last year, showed off a small “sticky note printer” called the Nemonic that… Read More

Hair coaches, anti-pollution scarves, smart canes: 7 ridiculous products from CES Unveiled

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 3, 2017January 4, 2017 at 12:21 am 3 Comments

LAS VEGAS — TIL “smart” products can be pretty dumb. That was my main takeaway from CES Unveiled, a media expo where electronics companies show off their goods before the… Read More

These high-tech boxers shield testicles from smartphone radiation and protect sperm

by Taylor Soper on January 3, 2017January 3, 2017 at 8:37 pm 7 Comments

LAS VEGAS — While weaving through a throng of reporters and analysts on Tuesday afternoon at CES Unveiled, the kickoff event at the giant Consumer Electronics Show, I noticed a… Read More

Faraday Future unveils their first electric car — the FF 91

by Kevin Lisota on January 3, 2017January 8, 2017 at 3:21 pm1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — With a thumping bass soundtrack in a lengthy airplane hangar-like building in Vegas, Faraday Future unveiled their new FF 91 electric “super car” tonight. The automaker was criticized… Read More

This underwater drone sports a fish luring light and baiting system to help hook the big one

by John Cook on January 3, 2017January 6, 2017 at 12:33 pmComment

LAS VEGAS — A revolutionary immersive fishing experience. That was the bait that got me — a novice fisherman whose pulled in a few halibut and salmon over the years… Read More

Meet the Jetsons: Smart homes estimated to be $3.5B annual market, says chief CES economist

by Monica Nickelsburg on January 3, 2017January 3, 2017 at 7:28 pm1 Comment

LAS VEGAS — Smart home devices — like connected lights, security, and appliances — may seem like they’re in their infancy but the high-tech products already comprise a $3.5 billion annual… Read More

More than 700 Amazon Alexa applications may launch in the next 4 days, CES chief economist says

by John Cook on January 3, 2017January 3, 2017 at 4:19 pmComment

LAS VEGAS —Alexa, will this be the CES show where your dominance is established in voice computing? Shawn DuBravac, the chief economist for the Consumer Technology Association, thinks it very… Read More

Don’t be left in the dark: History promotes Navy SEAL series ‘Six’ with night-vision demo at CES

by Kurt Schlosser on January 3, 2017January 4, 2017 at 9:14 amComment

LAS VEGAS — If you thought talking to your washing machine via Amazon’s Alexa was the most grueling example of real-world combat that would be unveiled at CES, think again.… Read More

Photos

: Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers AT&T guest keynote at CES. (GeekWire Photo by Monica Nickelsburg).

: Media executive and Expedia chairman Barry Diller, left, speaks at CES. (GeekWire photo / John Cook)

: T-Mobile CEO John Legere speaks at CES in January. (GeekWire Photo / Todd Bishop)

: Former NBA Commissioner David Stern looks on as his successor Adam Silver speaks at CES.

: Amazon’s Treasure Truck at CES. (GeekWire Photo ? John Cook)

: Ford CEO Mark Fields at CES in Las Vegas today.

: Intel CEO

: OhMiBod co-founders Suki and Brian Dunham. (GeekWire Photo)

: Naughty America demos porn in VR at CES. (GeekWire Photo / Kevin Lisota)

: Kenny “The Jet” Smith at CES.

: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (center) speaks at Turner’s Sports Business Innovation event at CES in Las Vegas on Thursday. (GeekWire photos / Kevin Lisota)

: Former NBA Commissioner David Stern looks on as his successor Adam Silver speaks at CES.