R150 lollipop which performs music in your cranium and AI holograms that roast customers – MyBroadband

The 2026 version of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) as soon as once more noticed lots of the world’s main tech firms and some upstarts showcase many modern and peculiar merchandise.

The commerce present was first held in New York City in 1967 as a spin-off of the Chicago Music Show, which was the US’s first main occasion for exhibiting client electronics.

Between 1978 and 1994, it turned a biannual occasion, with winter and summer season editions in Las Vegas and Chicago, respectively. Since 1998, it has been an annual occasion in Las Vegas, usually held in January.

The first CES had round 100 exhibitors and 17,500 attendees. CES 2026 had 4,100 exhibitors, with the ultimate attendee depend anticipated to exceed 150,000.

Among probably the most important bulletins made on the occasion over time was the disclosing of the CD participant by Philips and Sony in 1981.

It was additionally the place the Nintendo Entertainment System was revealed in 1985, and the unique Xbox console and controller had been launched in 2001.

Russian-developed Tetris was additionally first proven to the US public on the Summer 1988 CES, close to the top of the Cold War.

MyBroadband checked out a few of the greatest and most uncommon devices unveiled at CES 2026 and located the Lollipop Star notably intriguing.

Made by newcomer Lava, the lollipop-shaped gadget makes use of bone conduction to transmit music that the person can “hear” of their cranium after they chunk down on its arduous sweet.

There are at the moment three flavours of the lollipop, every with its personal track. The blueberry model performs Akon’s Beautiful Day, lime performs Armani White’s Mount Pleasant, and peach performs Ice Spice’s Munch.

The firm plans to increase the vary of flavours and songs and provide the lollipops in comfort shops, priced at $8.99 (R149).

While US sweet is tough to return by in South Africa, a novelty product that proves in style may turn into out there at Walmart, which launched its first two shops within the nation in late 2025.

An influence station that at all times appears to be like on the vibrant facet

A extra sensible and reusable gadget is the Jackery Solar Mars Bot, which places a sensible spin on the moveable battery energy station.

The four-wheeled bot options an extendable arm and platform with six small photo voltaic panels with a peak producing capability of 600 watts or 0.6 kilowatts (kW).

The wheels and platform of the Solar Mars Bot can robotically reorient within the optimum route and angle for harvesting mild from the solar.

The bot’s built-in battery options 5kWh of vitality storage with a peak output of 3kW, sufficient to energy commonest family home equipment and several other kinds of energy instruments.

For powering gadgets, it has three energy sockets, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports. A companion cellular app and built-in 5G enable customers to examine the bot’s standing in actual time and ship instructions to it.

The bot is ready to autonomously cruise to your location and return to a charging base when out of doors lighting situations are poor, and its battery is low.

Among the functions during which Jackery believes the Solar Mars Bot may be useful are out of doors occasions, overlanding journeys, and search and rescue operations.

Cortana your life

For these in search of one thing with a bit extra persona, Razer has its holographic AI-powered desk companion.

The gaming producer is not any stranger to uncommon devices exterior its regular line-up, with a few of its earlier contributions together with a peculiar Covid-19 masks.

Razer’s Project Ava is a tube that may produce a 5.5-inch 3D holographic character operating on AI-powered software program with imaginative and prescient and audio sensing for contextual consciousness.

The firm says that Ava incorporates a dynamic persona that learns and evolves based mostly in your interactions.

“Ava simplifies life by organising your schedule, consulting on work tasks, and guiding you to victory as your enthusiastic gaming wingman,” Razer defined.

More than only a gaming buddy

It also can act as a wellness and routine coach by monitoring your habits and moods and offering personalised motivation and reminders for self-care routines.

Other options embrace multi-language translation, artistic brainstorming, and on the spot information synthesis, summarising key developments and significant information factors by analysing advanced paperwork and spreadsheets.

Razer at the moment affords 5 swappable companions — Ava, Kira, Zane, Faker, and Sao. It is straightforward to anticipate Halo followers petitioning the corporate for a Cortana companion.

The hologram tube itself options twin far-field array mics, an HD digital camera with an ambient mild sensor, customisable showcase LEDs, a USB-C information and energy supply port, and a downward-firing speaker.

Razer expects to make Project Ava out there for buy within the second half of 2026. Interested patrons can reserve theirs for a totally refundable $20 (R330) deposit.