These Are CES' Most Ingenious Gadgets

January 5, 2015 10:37 AM EST

Welcome to the weirdest place on earth, where you’ll find Dr. Phil, 50 Cent and Cal Ripken Jr. roaming the halls, ducking under drones and sidestepping Segways.

No, it’s not just Las Vegas on a Friday night, it’s the Consumer Electronics Show, a gathering of gadget-makers that descends on Sin City every year to promote the latest, greatest wares. This year’s CES is poised to be the biggest one yet, with last year’s show attracting more than 160,000 attendees to the two million square-feet nerdly delights.

Can’t make it? No problem. Here are some of the wildest, smartest gear you’re missing at CES this year:

Bragi Dash: I don’t typically cover Kickstarter campaigns until the product is available for sale to everyone (because so many gadgets fail to hit the mainstream), but I’ve been anxious to get an ears-on with these earbuds since I first saw them. CES has deemed the in-ear headphone/4 gigabyte music player/waterproof, heart rate-monitoring fitness tracker worthy of an Innovation Award, so I have hope it will see the light of day.

The cable-free buds can work on their own or stream audio via Bluetooth from a smartphone. And available for preorder for $299, they will ship in April — or so says Bragi, the company that makes them.

Big Ass Haiku: Another Best of Innovation Award winner, the Haiku isn’t a smart poem, it’s “the world’s most advanced ceiling fan,” or so they say. But I say it’s one of the most stylish overhead fan/light combos I’ve ever laid eyes on, and the mobile app-connected fan can sync with the Nest Smart Thermostat to move air and keep energy costs down.

The Haiku also has 39 LEDs to light up your space and an onboard computer with a predictive learning microprocessor, infrared motion sensor and the ability to detect environmental conditions. A staggering collection of tech, to be sure, the fan, which is available now, also comes with a $1,000-plus price tag to match.

Fuz Designs Noke: Pronounced “no key,” this $59 smart lock works exactly as you may imagine: it has no key. Instead, the Android, iOS, and Windows-compatible padlock pairs with smartphones via Bluetooth, letting users unlock it with a tap of the app. Forgot your phone? Well, you’re still in luck. The buttonless device can detect Morse Code-like taps, so you can open it without a paired device. Available for preorder with an April ship date, there’s also an extra bike kit that will attach the lock and an accompanying chain to your ride’s seat post for $79.

Top 10 Tech Product Designs of 2014

**Nest** Acquired by Google in Jan. 2014, Nest Labs wants to turn your home into a smart device. The home automation system includes Internet-connected smoke detectors and thermostats, which have screens and chic, round designs — a huge design boost for devices that haven't really changed in recent decades. Aya Brackett—Nest

DJI Inspire 1 The latest DJI quadcopter retains the simple style that's made their drones so popular, but adds 4K video capability — and the ability to transmit the HD video wirelessly to an on-the-ground devices. A new ground-facing camera also allows Inspire 1 to fly steadily to keep the video footage clean. — **DJI Inspire 1** The latest DJI quadcopter retains the simple style that's made their drones so popular, but adds 4K video capability — and the ability to transmit the HD video wirelessly to an on-the-ground devices. A new ground-facing camera also allows Inspire 1 to fly steadily to keep the video footage clean.DJI

**iPhone 6 and 6 Plus** Bigger is better, or so the critics cried, calling for Apple to make a supersized phone. That was before Apple quieted them with the release of the iPhone 6 Plus in September, the company’s largest iPhone ever. With an alluring 5.5-inch display that makes it feel something like a portable iPad, the phone is is a challenge to Samsung’s larger models. Along with a powerful 8-megapixel camera and longer battery life, the phone is more a statement than an answer.Apple

**Osmo Tangram** Tired of seeing your kids staring at screens like zombies? This iPad game brings virtual play to life. A reflector equipped with artificial intelligence snaps over your iPad's camera and can sense when objects are moving (or being drawn) on a pad in front of it. Osmo comes with three games, all of which promote creativity and—because it’s best played in groups—social intelligence. The best way to understand how Osmo works is by watching the video of kids who have never played with the device before testing it out for the first time.Osmo

**Tesla 2014 Model S** Tesla 2014 Model S has been praised both for its luxury feel and high-tech interior. The electric car offers instantaneous acceleration from a stop, a function very few other cars on the market provide. Tesla

Jawbone's Up3 wristband — **Jawbone's UP3 Wristband** Depending on your view, Jawbone is on the road to making us all super fit athletes or brutally efficient cyborgs who operate by data alone. How many minutes of REM sleep did I get last night? What’s the difference between my heart rate while resting and during a workout? How hydrated am I? How many calories did I burn on my last run? Jawbone UP3 answers all those questions better than any other Jawbone did before. The $179 wearable fits on your wrist and comes in black and silver.Jawbone

**Square Stand** The iPad holder and credit card reader launched last year with the goal of transforming an iPad into a point-of-sale. The sleek, white stand also offers an enhanced credit card reader, and can be adapted to include a cash register.Square

**Nerf Rebelle Rapid Red Blaster** Last year, Nerf decided to even the battlefield and create a new line of guns, arrows and crossbows specifically for girls. The resulting Nerf Rebelle line takes a cue from the success of *The Hunger Games*: The box is covered with tweens styled like that series' hero, Katniss Everdeen.Hasbro

Oculus Rift Crescent Bay The latest Oculus Rift prototype, Crescent Bay, marks one step further before the commercial release of the virtual reality handset. Crescent Bay features upgrades like 360-degree head tracking, a lighter weight, and high-quality audio. Lucky participants in the demos recalled the mind-boggling immersion in the scenes they were watching. The consumer version, Oculus Rift, is expected to launch as early as April 2015. — **Oculus Rift Crescent Bay** The latest Oculus Rift prototype, Crescent Bay, marks one step further before the commercial release of the virtual reality handset. Crescent Bay features upgrades like 360-degree head tracking, a lighter weight, and high-quality audio. Lucky participants in the demos recalled the mind-boggling immersion in the scenes they were watching. The consumer version, Oculus Rift, is expected to launch as early as April 2015.Oculus VR

**Qualcomm WiPower** Sick of tangled phone charging cables? Qualcomm WiPower allows you to power up your phone without plugging it in — a function that, to most people, is basically magic. The wireless charging pad eliminates the fuss of power chords, while also allowing you to turn everyday furniture like tables and chairs into charging surfaces.Qualcomm

Pacifi Smart Pacifier: New parents worry about everything (guilty as charged). Tapping into this concern, Blue Maestro is unveiling Pacifi, a Bluetooth-connected smart pacifier, at CES this year. Able to beam data to parents’ Android or iOS device, this $39 super-sucker can take your little one’s temperature, help you record when medication was administered, and — its smartest feature — trigger a phone alarm when the binky gets left behind.

Quitbit Lighter: Why quit smoking cold turkey when you can kick the habit with cool tech? A pocketable lighter that uses a heating coil to fire up your cancer sticks, Quitbit keeps a daily butt count, helping you to gradually draw down on your nicotine intake. Available for preorder and set to ship in March, the device will set you back $99, or about two cartons of Marlboro Reds.

Samsung Galaxy Note Edge: Though most of these gadgets are “smart things,” phones and televisions still dominate CES — device manufacturers just keep the big surprises under wraps until the show starts. But this Samsung smartphone is already on the market, with a novel edge-wrapping display that gadget geeks have been lusting over. The curved 5.6-inch AMOLED display gives apps more real estate to display information, notifications, and controls. Pick one up now at AT&T for $31.54 per month.

Sengled Snap Lightbulb: A perfect confluence of cutting edge tech, this smart spotlight bulb packs WiFi connectivity, LED light, and a 1080p security camera into one indoor and outdoor package. A 2015 CES Best of Innovation Award winner, this smart home device will cost $199 when it’s available later this spring. Personally, I can’t wait to plug one into my back-alley flood light and see what’s really happening back there.

Sensoria Smart Socks: Feel like your fitness app has been lying to you? Well, your feet don’t lie — at least that’s the premise behind these sensor-enabled socks. Packing powerful magnetic snaps, the Smart Socks hold onto a small anklet that that uses pressure sensors, an accelerometer, and Bluetooth connectivity to sync with your smartphone’s running coach app. Great for gauging your running form, the sock’s sensors can tell if you’re landing on your heels or toes and even monitor your cadence. Not yet available for sale, the whole package (anklet and socks) will cost $199, with additional socks running $49.

Vysk QS1 Quantum Security Case: Hacking, from celebrities to stores, was the biggest tech story of 2014. With smartphone cases like the Vysk QS1, here’s hoping that security will be the hottest topic of 2015. This case doesn’t just have a shutter to close off your phone’s cameras, it uses apps to re-route your phone calls and texts through secure, encrypted channels to give you a super-spy level of protection from digital eavesdroppers. And as a bonus, it packs a backup battery, boosting your smartphone’s power. Currently only available for iPhone 5/5s, this case isn’t for everyone. And even still, it’s currently only available for pre-order costing $229.

WakaWaka Base: Get ready for solar to shine bright in 2015. For years, WakaWaka has been making great mobile accessories that harness the power of the sun. And the company is as warm as its gear — for every device they sell, they give another one to needy people in developing countries. This new charger pumps out 10,000 mAh of power, enough to charge four LED lights. It also has a 5-port USB connector that can juice up phones and other gear. Pricing and a ship date aren’t yet available, but odds are it will be worth it and cannot arrive soon enough.

Read next: The 25 Best Inventions of 2014

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