Best of SEMA 2007

Best of SEMA 2007

Details: Category: Trade Show Lists; Written by Rich McComas

This year, three of our Gadget Gurus attended the SEMA show in Las Vegas, which drew more than 130,000 people, a new record. SEMA stands for the Specialty Equipment Manufacturer Association, and it is all about automotive aftermarket products. Our favorte event-within-the-event was the AutoFocus press event held the night before SEMA opened, and from this single press event, we drew more than half of our best-of list for SEMA, which includes:

MIO T720C - A bluetooth speakerphone GPS unit which is equipped with a geographically aware digital camera that can even scan your business card and read it into the bluetooth contact database.
Go Pro Video Motorsports Hero - For an amazing action video experience, this waterproof video camera can be mount on helmet, helmet, car, or wrist.
Intellistick - This digital dipstick can analyze the condition of motor oil by sensing additive depletion, coolant, fuel intrusion and contaminate build-up.
UFO Light - This time disc-shaped object would probably be unidentified in your tool box, but it is designed to slip around any screwdriver or other tool, and it illuminates what you are working on with three LEDs.
Sears Craftsman AXS - A standing toolbox with integrated workshelf, and more importantly, music with an iPod port, LCD readout with temp, time and even a stopwatch.
GasLock Indy-Cator - This shifter knob displays your gear in a large colored readout and works with almost every car.
Green Earth G-Oil - Engine oil made without petroleum using rendered beef tallow. This oil is carbon-neutral and based on a domestically-produced renewable resource.
Hot Wheels Bone Shaker - Hot Wheels sponsored the SEMA awards breakfast this year, and produced 1200 special edition "Bone Shaker" 1:50 roadsters for those in attendance. Just for grins, we put it up on eBay to see what collectors would think, and it fetched an amazing $122.

Who are the Gadget Gurus?

Gadget Gurus technology reviews are heard and read by millions of people across the United States, including more than a dozen print publications, dozens of tier-one radio stations, on third-party websites, and more than ever, online at our own website.

NEWS: This year, you will see a number of exciting announcements from Gadget Gurus, including podcasts, our syndicated "Gadgets-in-a-Minute" broadcasts, and our ever-expanding "Best Of" lists. Also, you will be seeing our portfolio of magazine "gadget pages" growing into a number of vertical markets.

TECH2 LAKE HOUSE

UPDATE - The exterior of the Technology Lake House is complete and we are now working on interior finishing and electronics. Last year, San Francisco's Channel 7 ABC News ran a special video report on the construction progress of the Technology Lake House, and we expect them back for a follow-up soon. Click HERE for a DLINK Live Video Feed with pan and zoom features (userid=user, no password, daylight hours only).

Ron Rosberg's current project home, the Technology Lake House, is currently under construction on the shores of Clearlake in Northern California. Even though the house is a wireless demo house, we have installed more than seven miles of wires in the walls for dozens of flat panel TVs, speakers, control panels, and sophisticated lighting. So far, more than a dozen technology and fixture manufacturers have agreed to sponsor this project, which has been simmering in Ron's head since he attended the first CES show in New York in 1967. The 7,500 square foot project (plus three existing rustic cabin guest houses) is being built on a five-acre Honeymoon Cove resort with 500 feet of beach directly across from Konocti Harbor Resort. This summer retreat will host technology gatherings annually, inviting Western states home builders, contractors, and technology consultants for a live open house showcasing the latest in home technologies. There is room to park plenty of boats, so plan on coming up for some lake fun after the project is complete. For more info, send email to ronald@usa.net, or call 707-995-2683. To see the latest photos, visit Ron's Flickr gallery.

We are currently looking for products to evaluate in these areas:

Home automation: lighting, security, and entertainment
A/V technology for the 500 SF home theater media demo room

Hot News on Cool New Features: The ENTIRE front of the home is made of 21 sliding NanaWall glass panels that fold into the walls, opening the entire home up to the lake during demo days.