Every year the Consumer’s Electronic Show (CES), the massive trade show produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), is held in Las Vegas to highlight the latest and greatest in consumer electronics. Since the CEA is the pre-eminent trade association promoting growth in the $195 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry, you would expect a monster blowout of a trade show.  And that’s just what this show delivered.

The show featured more than 3,250 exhibitors across 1.9 million net square feet of exhibit space, breaking both the space and exhibitor records set in 2012.  This year’s show unveiled about 20,000 new products, and there were several new products that simply blew the doors off of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Here is a sampling of a few of the electronic innovations that we felt were truly cutting edge.

• Samsung 45mm 2D/3D Camera Lens – Samsung unveiled the new NX 45mm F1.8 2D/3D lens, the first one-lens 3D system capable of capturing both still images and full HD movies in perfect 3D quality.  Normally, if you want to shoot 3D images, you need two cameras, or at least two lenses. But the innovators at Samsung crafted a lens with two LCD shutters inside the lens that alternate exposures within microseconds to give 3-D depth to the image.  Of course, the feature can be turned off if you simply want a 2D image, but where’s the fun in that?
• NVIDIA Project Shield Portable Gaming Device — If you’re a gamer, you’re gonna love Project Shield.  It’s the first portable gaming device that really plays like a bigger home device.  It has a full-size game controller, a 5-inch touchscreen, a NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor, breakthrough Wi-Fi technology, and stunning HD video and audio.  But not only is it a gaming device designed to add tactile controls to Android games, it also links up with email and web browsing to bring you a very cool, hand-held that can do it all.
• Sony’s Xperia Z Smartphone – It wouldn’t be a proper CES report without at least one smartphone shout-out.  The Sony Xperia Z is that phone.  Sleek, full HD display, super thin, water/dust resistant, powerful – what’s not to like. Wait; did you say water resistant?  Yes, so if you’re one of those people who must talk or text while showering, this is definitely the phone for you.
• LEGO Mindstorm EV3 – Probably the coolest thing to come out of CES 2013 was the EV3.  Yes, LEGO has had Mindstorm robotics since 1998, but the new EV3 is clearly a leap ahead (picture above).  The beauty of this set is that it can be as simple or as sophisticated as needed.  With the blend of basic computer science and simple building techniques, the EV3 gives kids a chance to make their own robots very easily. For the more experienced, EV3 begs to be tinkered with, and a Bluetooth link to the computing ‘brick’ allows the EV3 to be controlled via a remote control Android app. The kit has instructions for a few different robots, but it’s LEGO, so anyone can create their own.

So the 2013 CES lived up to its predecessors.  And while there were many other cool things – ultra HD and OLED televisions, new headphones, iPad accessories, wireless speakers and IP cameras – we just didn’t have the space to talk about everything. But all this cool new stuff and the record breaking size of this year’s show is enough to make us eagerly anticipate CES 2014 even more.  Besides, it’s Vegas, baby.

We’ll have a full CES wrap-up from the Davison Licensing Department next week.  Stay Tuned….

SOURCES

http://www.cesweb.org/About-CES.aspx

http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2013-01/best-ces-2013-popular-sciences-products-future

http://www.mynewsdesk.com/us/pressroom/tobii_technology/pressrelease/view/tobii-rex-world-s-first-consumer-peripheral-for-gaze-interaction-to-be-unveiled-at-ces-825213?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Subscription&utm_content=pressrelease

http://www.tobii.com/en/gaze-interaction/global/

http://shield.nvidia.com/

http://mashable.com/2013/01/10/mashable-ces-picks-2013/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+(Mashable)

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Will-the-Sony-Xperia-Z-cope-with-the-fierce-competition-of-2013-Heres-what-you-think-about-this_id38612?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+phonearena%2FySoL+(Phone+Arena+-+Latest+News)

http://www.wired.com/geekmom/2013/01/new-lego-ev3-minstorms-hands-on/

The post Best of Consumer’s Electronic Show 2013 appeared first on Davison.

The 6-in-1 Manicure Multitool is in stores now!

The awesome new product was designed by our client, Cathalene, and was licensed by Health Enterprises, under their “Portables, by Essence of Beauty” brand.

The 6-in-1 Manicure Multitool has a nail file, two-sided nail buffer, cuticle pusher, two-sided cleaning stick, nail brush and nail clippers. By combining six tools into one convenient, compact tool, it is perfect for enhancing nails anytime, anywhere! The innovative product also has a silicone, non-slip grip that is gentle on the fingers.

“I’m very glad it has finally found a home!” said Davison’s Corporate Creative Coach. “I think everyone on my team has touched it in one way or another.”

When we say our Licensing Team has been “Trying Longer,” we aren’t kidding. We first told you about the possibility of the product appearing in stores last August!

Our Vice President of Licensing said this is a very big moment, not only for Davison, but also for our client.

“Congratulations to our client, Cathalene,” said the VP. “Her dream is about to come true!”

Be sure to check store shelves for the 6-in-1 Manicure Multitool! Congratulations, Cathalene, and everyone who worked on this awesome new product!

Our client, Cathalene, has not made a net profit on this product.

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.

The post Manicure Multitool “Marches” onto Shelves! appeared first on Davison.

Just in time for the holiday season, bird is the word for the latest spin-off of a Davison-designed cooking item.  The Silicone Dessert Bar Pan is now talkin’ turkey!

At an industry trade show in July, XHP President Scott Nicholson predicted the Silicone Dessert Bar Pan would have a “great line-up for the future.”  That prediction included a certain silicone bake pan shaped like a turkey and… that prediction is now coming true!

Originally, our client, Joseph, came to us with an idea for a brownie pan that would allow soft, chewy edges on every brownie.  Working with Joseph, our design team created the Silicone Dessert Bar Pan, which quickly became a runaway success, selling on QVC and in stores like Bed Bath & Beyond and Kitchen Collection.

According to our Vice President of Licensing, the Turkey Cakelette Pan with Stencil is the latest spin-off of the popular Davison-designed product.

“It’s another item [for] our client, Joseph, and continues his success story of how one product can change the game,” said the Vice President of Licensing.

Following the initial success of Joseph’s Silicone Dessert Bar Pan, holiday and Disney-themed pans quickly followed.

Perched with a bird’s-eye-view from store shelves this fall, the silicone Turkey Cakelette Pan with Stencil provides a fun, new way to personalize holiday treats for family and friends.

Currently, the Turkey Cakelette Pan with Stencil is available at Amazon.com, Sur La Table and at Chicago Metallic online.

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.

The post Bird is the New Word for Davison-Designed Bakeware! appeared first on Davison.

As record-high temperatures sweep the nation, Gel Pet Mats come to the rescue! Licensed by Hugs Pet Products, the Davison-designed comfortable, cooling mats are to hit the market this summer.

And, we’re not the only ones excited about their release. Hugs Pet Products President, Chad Brewer, said he looks forward to adding this and more Davison-designed products to the Hugs catalog.

“Hugs is proud to be introducing it’s latest addition to our [ever] growing line of products focused on the quality of life for your pet,” said Brewer.

With three different sizes to choose from, Gel Pet Mats are perfect for any pet and promise to keep your four-legged friends cool indoors or out! Of course, our design team didn’t stop there! The soft, puncture-resistant material is durable AND comfortable – great for older pets who may suffer joint pain.

They’re also easy to store, but that’s not even necessary! According to Brewer, the mats can be used most anywhere!

“The mat is great in so many applications, whether you put it in the crate on a long trip, [lay] it on the carpet, so your pet has a cool place to [lie], or you can place it on your lap and have your pet lie there without transferring your heat or the pet’s heat to one another,” said Brewer.

The client has not received a profit on this product.

The post Cool Pets Crave Hot New Davison-Designed Pet Product! appeared first on Davison.

“The Hardware Show was great; we met with a ton of companies,” said the VP. “The show was better (than last year) because we have more products to discuss, more companies to work with, more people to talk to and more opportunities with companies that work with us.”

Drillcraft Tools Corporation unveiled the Tru-Miter, a client product that we developed and licensed to the company. The tool, which measures angles for a table saw, is unique because of its simplicity and its appeal to contractors as well as do-it-yourselfers. The factory prototypes received good feedback from buyers, including a big player in the tool industry. The client has not received a profit.

“We have a major corporation interested in this item, so that is a big plus,” the VP said. He expects Drillcraft will “start to tool up” in the near future, as they wait for the final go-ahead from the corporation.

The Tru-Miter was initially turned down by another company, but once again, the Licensing Department’s motto “We Try Longer,” has held true.

The productive meeting with Drillcraft also included discussion on several drill cases we are working on for them, as well as their plans to expand into power tools and lawnmowers, as the company begins to diversify.

“We will be providing them with new products to help them expand those lines,” said the VP. No doubt our designers will power up and help the company extend their reach!

While at the Hardware Show, our team also had great meetings with Metro Design and All Star Marketing, with whom we have established relationships. A Metro stepladder for which we did the packaging received good feedback. In addition, Metro is going to be branching off into toys, which gave the VP more good news to report: “We will be opening up discussions to help further their new product development in the toy category.” Our designers surely have many playful ideas to share!

New corporations that we are working with include Blacktop 360 and SportCraft, for which we are working on a new Frisbee design. They received the design while at the show which “looks good,” but needs a little tweaking, so stay tuned to see how that project soars!

Our team also opened up discussions with Grime Boss, which makes heavy duty hand cleaning wipes. They demonstrated how the wipes instantly clean hands of paint, glue or other sticky, icky substances.

“We talked about new product development, to see if there is anything else we can add to their line.” Surely we’ll find something that sticks!

All this relationship building will inevitably lead to more product design and building. But the VP of Licensing is confident that our tool-savvy guys and gals are up to the task.

“The corporate team will definitely feel the push with the workload coming through; but they’ve done a great job handling it so far, and I would expect nothing less in the future.”

While no client should expect that his idea will be presented at a trade show, Davison’s presence at trade shows is invaluable in building contacts and keeping in touch with companies that are looking for new or improved products

The post Davison Hammers out New Products at Hardware Show appeared first on Davison.

Fitness guru, Chris Freytag, presented the product on the popular segment, “In the Kitchen with David.” During the show, Chris showcased how to make traditional burgers stuffed with an array of delicious fillings including cheese, bacon and pepperoni. She also demonstrated how the Fill N’ Grill can make healthier options, such as turkey burgers stuffed with caramelized onions and feta cheese.

The Fill N’ Grill stuffed burger maker is a quick and easy way to fill a burger with your favorite ingredients. To use, simply put a meat patty in the bottom tray, press down with the meat-shaper tool and stuff your favorite ingredients in the center. Once the fillings are set, place a second patty on top, close the lid and press the “burger button” three times to seal the edges. Then, pull out the handled tray – which also serves as a spatula —  and your burger is ready for the grill!

We are ecstatic to report that the Fill N’ Grill sold out of 3,000 units in just three minutes!  There was also a large number of QVC customers who signed up for the product’s waiting list. The host said it all when she gushed, “These are so cool. You better bring us more next time, because I want some!”

Take a look at the video above and try to keep your mouth from watering!

This was a corporate project that Davison developed and licensed for its own benefit.

The post The Fill N’ Grill Sells Out in 3 Minutes on QVC! appeared first on Davison.

In the Sunday Show Daily edition, a full-page article  on new bakeware options includes the Surprise Filled Dessert Pan, created by our corporate team, and two client products — the Silicone Dessert Bar Pan and the Perfect Portion Petite Dessert Pan. The latter is the newest in the Davison-designed silicone bakeware line and is great for creating perfectly sized treats. All three pans have been picked up by Chicago Metallic, as has the entire silicone line. CM is ”a great brand that’s been around for a long time and that has access to all major retailers and everyone in between,” said Davison’s VP of Licensing.
In addition, the Fill-N-Grill stuffed burger maker that we created for Xtraordinary Home Products is featured in the new Gadgets & Kitchen Tools section of the HomeWorld Business issue covering the IHH show.

The handy Fill-N-Grill, which came out of a brainstorming session by our corporate team, makes creating custom burgers filled with mouthwatering ingredients quick, easy and mess free — no wonder the editors included it in the special issue!

Click on the images to view the great articles!

The post Davison innovations featured in HomeWorld Business magazine! appeared first on Davison.

“It looks beautiful,” said Jason, corporate creative coach. “This is one of those neat projects where the designer was able to impart some of his own wisdom.”

The design manager is referring to Davison senior designer Matt, who has experience making jewelry. Some bead crimpers on the market that look and work like pliers can be hurtful on the hands, Matt explained. Darice wanted an easier way of crimping beads, so he came up with a tabletop version that you can bear down on like a stapler.

“You don’t have to squeeze on anything; it rests on the table and you can lean on it. I know from experience, working with hand tools, even some of the most ergonomic can get pretty uncomfortable on the hands after awhile.”

The product also enables the user to crimp beads of different sizes, and there doesn’t seem to be any product on the market quite like it. When asked how he came up with the original idea, Matt said: “It just made sense to me; it was just a natural form to make it.”

The corporate team worked together on the product to produce the design, engineering, graphics and sample build. Great work, everyone!

The post New product on its way to Pat Catan’s! appeared first on Davison.

“This is the first project that is selling on store shelves with Darice,” said Davison’s VP of Licensing. “It’s great to see and we look forward to many more with Darice!!”

The Twirl-a-Ring is on the shelves of approximately 20 Pat Catan stores throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. The retailer, which is owned by Darice, features a huge array of jewelry making and other crafting supplies.

A Davison corporate designer drew upon his own experience making jewelry to design the unique three-stage mandrel, which can make three sizes of jump rings with one convenient tool, saving time, effort and money. A jump ring is a small, wire ring used to link elements of jewelry. The one-piece unit is easily machinable, works with any drill and solves a common problem, said the designer. Other members of the corporate team provided the engineering, graphic design and packaging engineering. This was a corporate project that Davison developed and licensed for its own benefit.

Check out the newest addition in the crafts category to our product pages!

The post Twirl-a-Ring now on the market and on Davison.com! appeared first on Davison.

We created the Potty Paws for a client who wanted an easy and convenient way to dispose of pet waste. The disposable bags are made of anti-microbial polyethylene film and have a zip-seal closure that provides for a no-mess solution. Simply place the bag over your hand to pick up waste, then turn the bag inside out, seal it shut, and throw away!

We created the Air Puff Bed for a client that wanted to make their pet more comfortable. The inflatable bed offers cushiony comfort and relief for dogs and cats, particularly those suffering from arthritis and other afflictions. The lightweight, portable bed features an inflatable air pillow and a soft, fabric cover. Simply adjust the air pressure so it cushions the pet’s limbs.

Each of these new products is already selling in at least six online stores; and each one is sure to gain fans among pet owners, as the Hugs brand, powered by the Davison “D”, continues to become known for products that enhance the quality of life for pets, as well as for those who love them.

Congratulations to everyone who worked on these great new products! Check them out on our pages!

The clients have not realized a net profit on their products.

The post It’s a Triple Play – 3 new Hugs Pet Products on the Market and on Davison.com! appeared first on Davison.