Meet the Gadgets That Will Save Your Phone -- and You
By: Mobile is truly the driving force behind the Consumer Electronics Show this year -- similar to the PC 10 years ago -- but it's also a dangerous world. So we set off to find a few of the best technologies to keep you and your smartphone safe.
Tech 21 is a company that has licensed D3O technology for smartphone cases. It's a putty-like substance that instantly hardens when it's under intense pressure, which makes its $35 cases ideal for absorbing impact from drops.
Then there's Liquipel for the inside of your phone. Liquipel applies its nano-coating inside a phone to waterproof it. The service has been on the market for a few months, but until this year you had to send your phone through the mail to have it done. Soon Liquipel will rent its machines to retailers who will be able to apply the waterproofing in store for $60.
But there are dangers out there for people, too.
Samsung's newest HD Security System provides a much sharper picture than previous generations -- the improved resolution means the difference between being able to read the license plate on a car outside your house and having to settle for the make and model. The improved cameras are due in March, with do-it-yourself kits starting at about $1,000.
Cobra's iRadar radar detection system is now 35 percent smaller and able to fit under the hood where curious eyes can't see it. Meanwhile it connects with a phone to do its duty -- when other iRadar users identify speed traps and other hazards, they show up on your smartphone map.
And at a more personal level, Masimo, a company that has made professional medical equipment for 24 years, now has a $250 accessory that reads your blood oxygen, heart rate and more, and displays the real-time data on your phone. I'd call it peace of mind for hypochondriacs everywhere.
