I took a train into New York City on Wednesday to check out Pepcom’s annual holiday preview show. It’s always a little strange to see Christmas decorations everywhere before Halloween, but this event serves as an early look at the gadgets companies are hoping will land on holiday wish lists. I walked the floor to see what stood out.
Check it out in my latest dispatch video!
Withings was there showing off the U-Scan, a health device designed to fit inside a toilet bowl. It analyzes urine to track things like nutrition and kidney health. The system uses cartridges that last about three months and can identify multiple users automatically. There’s also a cleaning and charging station to keep it maintained. It’s a bit unconventional, but it’s another example of how personal health tracking keeps expanding into new spaces.
Remarkable had a smaller version of its popular e-ink tablet called the PaperPro Move (compensated affiliate link). It keeps the same minimalist design but shrinks things down to a more portable size that fits in the hand. It’s designed for people who prefer a distraction-free writing experience without the bulk of a larger tablet.
A company called Neurable caught my attention with a pair of headphones that double as a brainwave reader. The silver pads on the band are electrodes that can analyze brain activity to estimate your “brain age” and track changes over time. They’re also regular headphones, but the focus here is on cognitive health rather than just audio quality.
Xperi—better known for TiVo—demonstrated its television operating system that’s beginning to appear on Sharp Aquos TVs (compensated affiliate link) in the U.S. The interface organizes content recommendations across streaming apps, including Plex, and aims to make finding something to watch a little easier.
Kensington had a few new items, including the Expert Mouse TB 800 EQ trackball. It has adjustable polling rates, multiple buttons, and a sturdy metal design with a satisfying scroll dial. They also showed off a Thunderbolt 5 dock loaded with ports, an M.2 slot for storage, and a compact flash card reader. It’s hefty, but that makes it stay put on the desk. These aren’t shipping just yet but will be available soon at Amazon (compensated affiliate link).
Ambient was demonstrating a bedside clock called the Dreamie that encourages better sleep habits without relying on a phone. It uses light and sound cues to signal bedtime and can play white noise, podcasts, or ambient sounds through the night. A motion sensor tracks how often you get up and records environmental conditions like humidity and temperature. It’s designed to promote healthy sleep without constant screen time.
HP had a lightweight 14-inch portable display that covers the full sRGB color range. It’s bright for a bus-powered monitor and includes a magnetic cover that doubles as a stand. They also had a new version of their HyperX SoloCast 2 microphone (compensated affiliate link), a simple USB mic that’s inexpensive and aimed at beginners who want better sound for podcasting or streaming.
Another HP product on display was a League of Legends–themed Omen laptop, complete with game-inspired design details and high-end specs. It’s targeted at fans of the game who want hardware that matches their interests.
Yubico didn’t have anything brand new, but they noted that their security keys are now available in Best Buy stores (compensated affiliate link), which makes it easier for people to pick one up locally.
Nvidia was at the show too, but there was no sign of a new Shield device—just their GPUs this time.
SanDisk, however, had a few storage products on display, including an ultra-small USB-C drive that fits flush with a laptop port and can transfer data at around 400 megabytes per second. They also had Crayola-branded USB drives (compensated affiliate link) shaped like crayons, with a few colors exclusive to specific retailers like Walmart.
I also came across Napster at the show, though this version of the brand has nothing to do with music. The company is introducing a new AI service built around access to specialized AI experts. You can ask questions and get responses based on the expertise of these AI personalities, and they’re designed to perform certain tasks as well. Napster is also showing a hardware accessory that clips onto the top of a laptop and projects a 3D version of your AI assistant, adding a visual layer to the interaction. But it’s Napster in name only.
That wrapped up my walk through Pepcom’s holiday tech showcase. I’ll be back at CES in January to see what comes next. This event always feels like the calm before the storm—an early glimpse at what we’ll soon see everywhere once the holidays hit full swing.
See all of my prior dispatches (over a decade’s worth!) by clicking here!