CES 2019

CES 2019: When Low Tech Beats High Tech

Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 14, 2019

CES is known for being a high-tech love-fest, where approximately 180,000 strangers gather to gawk at geeky gadgets—some of which will never see the bright light of day shining outside the Las Vegas Convention Center. CES 2019 was no exception. There was more new, high-tech stuff than any single human being could see, even over the course of the six days this human being was in attendance. Interestingly enough, though, two low-cost, low-tech items designed to defeat much more sophisticated pieces of smart, high-tech gear caught my attention as much as any of the other flashier, higher-tech devices sprawled across what felt like (to my feet, anyway) a bazillion square feet of convention floor space: the Smartē Mute+ and the TV Jockstrap.

For want of a better description, the Smartē Mute+ is a 1.19-inch tall, 3.75-inch round cap that's specifically designed to fit on top of most current versions of the Amazon Echo, Echo Plus, and Echo Dot smart speakers. (Sadly, it does not work with the 3rd generation Echo Dot.) But the Mute+ isn't a fashion accessory. It's a sound-cancellation device that, when installed on top of an Echo and turned on, "cancels any voice or noise, near or far, from the smart speaker's microphones." The Mute+ is battery operated (three AAAs are included), features a low-battery indicator light, and includes a clear outer edge that allows the Echo's light ring to be visible. The Mute+'s built-in timer can be set for up to one hour, during which time six LEDs on top of the device remain lit to assure you that the Mute+'s cancellation technology is engaged. According to the company, the Mute+ can remain on the top of the Echo device even after the timer has finished (or the Mute+ has been manually turned off) because it only affects the Echo's microphones when it's active.

The Mute+ is available in black or white directly from the company's website for $29.99. As of this writing, the Mute+ is on sale for $24.99—but no word on how long the deal will last.

On the tech (and naming) scale, the TV Jockstrap is about as low as you can go. It also goes about as low as you can go when you strap it around your TV in order to completely black out the annoying—or game-spoiling—crawl that's ever-present on news and sports broadcasts. The inventor of the TV Jockstrap, Richard Pisani, told me he and his wife were tired of seeing the scores of other games sprawled across the bottom of the TV screen when they were watching sporting events that had been recorded on their DVR. In addition to being annoying, the crawl would sometimes inform them of the results of games they had also recorded but had yet to watch.

The ingeniously clever TV Jockstrap is a soft, adjustable, black, elastic strap that can wrap around the bottom or top of the TV screen. Out of the package, the TV Jockstrap is said to be capable of fitting flat-screen TVs "up to 75-inch class" and can be cut (if desired) to eliminate excess length when used with smaller TVs. It's stupidly simple and yet incredibly effective. It has a low-tech price, too. Currently available only from Amazon, the TV Jockstrap has a $16.99 list price. Also as of this writing, the TV Jockstrap is on sale for $12.99—but no word on how long the deal will be available.

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Submitted by brendag15663 on January 17, 2024 - 1:13am

CES always brings us the flashiest tech, but sometimes it's the simple solutions that steal the show! The Smartē Mute+ is a genius sound-cancellation device for Amazon Echo, while the TV Jockstrap takes a low-tech approach to eliminate annoying crawls on sports broadcasts. Who would've thought such simplicity could make a big impact?

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Submitted by KeonMuller on August 9, 2024 - 1:51am

The Smartē Mute+ at CES 2019 caught my eye with its simple yet innovative design. It's a game-changer for privacy, effectively silencing Echo smart speakers when needed. While tech gadgets can be flashy, it's neat to see something like this that merges practicality with simplicity. For a fun diversion, check out Pokerogue and the Pokerogue wiki!

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Submitted by clearholidays on August 12, 2024 - 2:25am

It's fascinating to see how sometimes the simplest solutions can make the biggest impact. At CES 2019, amidst the sea of cutting-edge technology, two low-tech innovations stood out for their ingenuity: the Smartē Mute+ and the TV Jockstrap. These modest yet effective products managed to grab attention even in a showcase dominated by high-tech gadgets. For those planning an adventure or looking for something different, exploring unique items like these can be as refreshing as finding the perfect Indian tour packages for your next getaway.

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