The Super Bowl and the Detroit Auto Show can wait. This week is all about tech gadgets, innovative design and an endless stream of connected devices that hope to become breakthrough products in 2019 and beyond.
The Consumer Electronics Show -- or CES -- in Las Vegas is unmatched in the hardware world. Sure, Apple, Microsoft and Google have their big reveals, South by Southwest is super hive of ideas and the RSA Conference is king in cybersecurity. But CES is arguably where you'll see the most news coverage and the most impressive demos.
The show, which runs Jan. 8-11, used to be known as a place to debut the latest in flatscreen TVs. Now it's filled with autonomous vehicle technology, AI-driven virtual assistants and dazzling video games -- although you'll still find all kinds of consumer gadgetry from high tech toothbrushes to a smart toilet for dogs.
Austin, being the creator city that it is, tends to be heavily represented at the giant trade show. Last year, we counted 16 local startups with official booths at CES. This year, the number has climbed to 25, with several companies returning for their second, third or fourth time.
They're demoing everything from a smart dog toilet that senses when your pooch steps onto a platform to holographic displays and conductive ink.
While most of the companies listed below are headquartered in Austin, some, like NXP and AMD, have their headquarters elsewhere -- but a huge presence in Austin or a co-headquarters that led them to list an Austin address for their CES bios.
Now, here's a look at the official exhibitors at CES from Austin, with a brief description of what they do that's drawn from the description they provided for CES, company websites and prior reporting.
- Advanced Micro Devices: This Santa Clara, Calif.- and Austin-based chipmaker has a major presence at CES this year. Its President and CEO, Lisa Su, who lives in Austin, is one of the conference's keynote speakers and plans to discuss gaming, visualization technologies and the world's first 7nm high-performance CPUs and GPUs. You can watch her presentation Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 9 a.m.
- Ambiq Micro: This semiconductor company will show off its latest platform to cut down on how much power real-time clocks, microcontrollers and radio products use.
- Astral AR: Led by Leah La Salla and Jose La Placa Amigo, this Austin-based drone startup has developed advanced software that helps drones assist law enforcement and emergency management officials.
- Audioengine: They make high-end connected speakers with Bluetooth connectivity.
- Circuit Scribe: A maker needs tools, and Circuit Scribe has developed a conductive ink pen that lets you run energy through your drawings -- an interesting way to encourage STEM education.
- Coherent Logix: This Austin-based company develops low-power processors for embedded systems in the automotive, broadcase, consumer, medical, military and wireless industries. It showcased deep learning, 5G tech and virtualization at CES last year.
- Compulocks Brands: They make laptop locks, tablet stands and other device storage and display units.
- ConverseNow Technologies: Developers of conversational interfaces, this startup, led by Vinay Shukla and Rahul Aggarwal, helps businesses personalize customer experiences.
- Dell: You probably first heard about them because of their personal computer lineup. They continue to be a leader in computing, but also have a wide-variety of other data products, gaming technologies and security products to show off. They'll be demoing their new Alienware laptops, among other things.
- FoVI3D: This company's light-field displays bring interactive holographs to tabletops. Its video demo is pretty cool.
- Gemalto: Based in Amsterdam, this company, which also has offices on Capital of Texas Highway, produces digital security and machine-to-machine products.
- GenXComm: In 2017, this startup raised a $7 million round led by Intel. They make chipsets that improve broadband internet connections and mobile phone signals.
- GridPlus: This company's software and hardware combo enables wider use of digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
- Hauoli: They've developed ultra-sensitive, acoustic-based tracking for smartphones and watches to enhance its gaming, VR and drone applications.
- inlo: Ever lose the remote and wish you could just Google to find it? This startup has developed mapping and asset management for IoT and smart homes to help track your stuff with beacons -- or BLE tags.
- Newtons Box: This company plans to debut its latest product at CES: The INUBOX, which is described as "the world's first smart toilet for dogs." It pledges to automatically capture and process your dogs doo doo with an odorless process. You just have to get your dog to step on a platform, take care of business and the device will detect the waste.
- Novacentrix: They create photonic curing tools, conductive inks and other tools for printed electronic devices.
- NXP Semiconductors: This international tech company will be showing CES-goers new autonomous car technology, along with advanced RFID and mobile payment tech -- among other things.
- Pani Systems: Water is a limited resource, and Pani has developed smart home water conservation technologies that help us track usage. it also donates water savings to charities working to bring clean water to developing regions of the world.
- Silicon Labs: This Austin tech giant has five spots at CES, and it is working with a company called Tile to embed tracking technology in consumer devices.
- TEL: It's a semiconductor and flat panel display company.
- Uhnder: This stealthy company says it's working on sensing, cognition and communication products.
- University of Texas at Austin, NASCENT: Think small. Real small. UT's Nanomanufacturing Systems for Mobile Computing and Mobile Energy is based at the Austin campus and develops high-powered nanomanufacturing systems.
- Wi-Fi Alliance: This coalition of companies is monitoring, analyzing and making recommendations for how we can all best use Wi-Fi in the future.
- Z-Wave Alliance: With 700-plus companies in its group, this alliance helps companies work together to bring Z-Wave technology to more industries.
