Written by By Andrew Williams, CNN
One of the most wonderful things about being a member of the technology press is having the chance to run across genuinely great products.
Manufacturers are constantly working on giving you “new” and “improved” things to play with and the people we spoke to all had exciting things in the pipeline.
Some products that were on show for the first time are at pre-order stage and yet to find a permanent home. These are all yet to ship, but will undoubtedly be key products in 2019. But in the meantime, they might leave you yearning for a moment back in 2018.
We’ve picked seven items that could mean the most.
1. Pillow Bots
Pillow bots are the perfect things to keep your office or home comfy, at all times. You can restate your phone’s WhatsApp conversations when it’s not needed, or give you another set of hands to respond to emails from.
They’re an affordable and unobtrusive addition to a desk or couch and have plenty of appeal when you consider what everyone — from CEOs to barista employees — has to do. They are the least techy office gadget and they’re a step up from the humble plastic pillow that’s forgotten long before business hours.
Pillow Bots, from $79, Amazon
2. Mr. Pop Smartphone Dock
Smartphones are by far and away the most useful gadgets for so many reasons, but they can get annoying. From screen scratches to tiring wireless charging, they need a break or a recharging.
A stylish smartphone dock for not just one phone, but different devices and operating systems will give you easy access and convenience. The Mr. Pop Smartphone Dock will give all your smartphones a USB connection to provide an always-on connection, charging for up to 8 hours, and create perfect phone screens.
The pocket sized Mr. Pop Smartphone Dock, from $25, Amazon
3. Paperless Calendar
Organization is also a big problem for technology users. It’s difficult to keep a decent inventory of how much you need each day and plan ahead, you don’t want to lose anything or put off plans for the sake of being “on time.”
Try the Paperless Calendar, this downloadable app makes time management a cinch by syncing to multiple calendars and keeps to-do lists in one place.
Paperless Calendar, from $8, Paperless Depot
4. Kaio Wine Organizer
The wine organizer is becoming a household device, thanks to its dedicated user base and now there’s another contender: Kaio’s wine organizer which automatically helps you conserve and organize your bottle of wine.
The box-like wine organizer has been designed for all types of wines: sparkling, white, red and rosé.
The bottles can be sealed and users can use a snap-lock to keep them in their place. They are Wi-Fi enabled, which means you can do things like preview your wine and set reminders, all without leaving your sofa.
Kaio Wine Organizer, from $149, Amazon
5. Erobar Smart Wine Glasses
Erobar’s smart glasses are the perfect combination of technology and smart glasses. We put them on to try out how they work: like everything else, you need your phone to work. But with an hourglass on the side of the glasses, it’s easy to keep track of your glasses and they come in four different styles. There are also lenses you can customise with different shades.
Erobar glasses are smart glasses that connect to a phone to keep track of glasses, ready to be used in different ways. Credit: Courtesy of Erobar
Erobar glasses are smart glasses that connect to a phone to keep track of glasses, ready to be used in different ways. Credit: Courtesy of Erobar
Erobar glasses are smart glasses that connect to a phone to keep track of glasses, ready to be used in different ways. Credit: Courtesy of Erobar
6. Pavlok Mini Pool SwimTab
Fitness trackers are all the rage, but it can be hard to keep them on-track when it’s too hot or damp to get to the pool.
Pavlok is a smart, waterproof, tracker that automatically saves the last time you were at the pool and is used to check your swim times during the day and track your progress. And it can even tell the difference between wet and dry and tell you when it is safe to go to the water. It automatically syncs with the Pavlok app on your phone and is designed to look good and not stick out — no matter what.
Pavlok, from $69, Amazon
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