CES 2012: Swag-A-Thon Day 0
posted:
1/11/2012 10:18:00 AM
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CES 2012
Welcome to the first post of the 2012 CES Swag-A-thon. This annual tradition is where you learn about what companies, their PR firms, and especially tchotchke makers the world over want us to have when we visit press events, and in return so of which will eventually wind up in your hot little hands as we set forth with our regular giveaways over twitter and facebook.
Welcome to the first post of the 2012 CES Swag-A-thon. This annual tradition is where you learn about what companies, their PR firms, and especially tchotchke makers the world over want us to have when we visit press events, and in return so of which will eventually wind up in your hot little hands as we set forth with our regular giveaways over twitter and facebook.
Last year with the economy where it was, it was unsurprising to see a lack of major floor samples and even small giveaway items. Sure, there was still some good stuff to be had, so you either really had to work for it, or worse, it was just not very good and nothing you’d want to take home for yourself or anyone else.
This year, while still maybe a bit smaller in comparison to say 2010, still has some real high quality stuff to be had and most of it rather either easily:
Press bag – this is a default freebie and usually the swag against which all others are measured. This year sadly, it’s pretty much a piece of junk, so most things will be measuring highly against it. It’s a nice enough backpack, but when you look at the construction and materials it pales substantially in comparison to most prior years bags.
The first thing I picked up this year was actually for my wife. As a fan of monkeys, she has a sizable stuffed monkey collection. Not only does the monkey I picked up fly, but it’s TMobile branded (our cell carrier) and he screams while flying. Talk about the perfect toy for my somewhat rambunctious wife. I expect my first few days home to be filled with flying monkeys.
Next up was a walk by the Radio Shack booth where they actually flat out handed me a Livestrong bracelet and an Enercell portable battery recharger. I don’t get giving away Livestrong stuff as the funds from those sales are supposed to support their cancer initiative, but I’m sure someone somewhere paid for it. The Enercell is quite badass, as it is both light and easy to use. Fully charged it put 38% life back into my totally dead battery, which was a great bit of help as I spent nearly 16 hours straight out of my hotel room yesterday.
MIMOBOT who I’ve covered at CES these past couple of years had a new little gadget they were giving away that really caught my attention. A Micro SD card transfer device that you simply slide your memory card into and plug the device into the USB slot on your PC. The best part? They’re themeing them with their Star Wars and DC Universe licenses, so now I have a Dark Lord of the Sith as my data servant.
What seemed the most oddly placed giveaway at Digital Experience was Schlick giving away their new high end Hydro 5 three-speed vibrating razor. When the PR guy said “What differentiates it from the other products on the market is that not only does it vibrate, but it does it at 3 different speeds”, to which the man standing next to me replied “Is that a good thing? I’m 58 years old, I think I vibrate enough on my own while shaving”. Another guy standing next to me actually spit pop all over the floor. It was maybe one of the funniest moments I’ve ever seen at a show, ever. Even the salesman was laughing really hard. The best part? The 58 year old guy took the razor anyways.
As usual, there were small plushes and your usual items available for the grab and go swag connoisseur, but I resisted much of that, as so little of it appealed to me, and most of it wouldn’t make sense as giveaway items to you fine folks anyways.
Last year with the economy where it was, it was unsurprising to see a lack of major floor samples and even small giveaway items. Sure, there was still some good stuff to be had, so you either really had to work for it, or worse, it was just not very good and nothing you’d want to take home for yourself or anyone else.
This year, while still maybe a bit smaller in comparison to say 2010, still has some real high quality stuff to be had and most of it rather either easily:
Press bag – this is a default freebie and usually the swag against which all others are measured. This year sadly, it’s pretty much a piece of junk, so most things will be measuring highly against it. It’s a nice enough backpack, but when you look at the construction and materials it pales substantially in comparison to most prior years bags.
The first thing I picked up this year was actually for my wife. As a fan of monkeys, she has a sizable stuffed monkey collection. Not only does the monkey I picked up fly, but it’s TMobile branded (our cell carrier) and he screams while flying. Talk about the perfect toy for my somewhat rambunctious wife. I expect my first few days home to be filled with flying monkeys.
Next up was a walk by the Radio Shack booth where they actually flat out handed me a Livestrong bracelet and an Enercell portable battery recharger. I don’t get giving away Livestrong stuff as the funds from those sales are supposed to support their cancer initiative, but I’m sure someone somewhere paid for it. The Enercell is quite badass, as it is both light and easy to use. Fully charged it put 38% life back into my totally dead battery, which was a great bit of help as I spent nearly 16 hours straight out of my hotel room yesterday.
MIMOBOT who I’ve covered at CES these past couple of years had a new little gadget they were giving away that really caught my attention. A Micro SD card transfer device that you simply slide your memory card into and plug the device into the USB slot on your PC. The best part? They’re themeing them with their Star Wars and DC Universe licenses, so now I have a Dark Lord of the Sith as my data servant.
What seemed the most oddly placed giveaway at Digital Experience was Schlick giving away their new high end Hydro 5 three-speed vibrating razor. When the PR guy said “What differentiates it from the other products on the market is that not only does it vibrate, but it does it at 3 different speeds”, to which the man standing next to me replied “Is that a good thing? I’m 58 years old, I think I vibrate enough on my own while shaving”. Another guy standing next to me actually spit pop all over the floor. It was maybe one of the funniest moments I’ve ever seen at a show, ever. Even the salesman was laughing really hard. The best part? The 58 year old guy took the razor anyways.
As usual, there were small plushes and your usual items available for the grab and go swag connoisseur, but I resisted much of that, as so little of it appealed to me, and most of it wouldn’t make sense as giveaway items to you fine folks anyways.
