Parrot @ CES 2013: Zikmu and Flower Power

by W. Andrew Powell
Parrot AR.Drone at CES

The convention floor at CES was packed with delegates looking for new products, but there’s no question that the show is about both old and new technology, and Parrot offered a little bit of both this year in Las Vegas, along with some excellent upgrades.

For Parrot, makers of everything from speakers to car hands-free systems, the older products on display were the beautiful Zik headphones and the ever-cool AR.Drone 2.0 remote-controlled quadricopter. While the Zik headphones don’t seem to be on the block yet for any updates, the AR.Drone had a number of new options, plus Parrot announced an overhaul for their stunning Zikmu speaker system.

Lastly, Parrot showed off their diversity at CES with their latest product coming out later this year, the Flower Power plant monitoring system.

Here’s a look at the company’s latest offerings:

AR.Drone 2.0: Flight Recorder, Extended Battery, Director Mode
The AR.Drone received some interesting updates for 2013, and the big one might actually be the extended 1,500 mAh battery pack, which boosts battery life by 50% for much longer flying time (which sounds like it would be around 20 minutes total now with the add-on).

More noteworthy, however, for flyers who want to get a bit more creative with their AR.Drone, is the new Flight Recorder, which is a GPS device that includes 4GB of built-in memory (for recording up to 2 hours of HD video and flight data), and the option to run autonomous flights by creating a flight plan the Drone can execute. Additionally, the data from flights is then available for analysis after the flight, giving users a whole new level of information.

Director Mode, on the other hand, brings the AR.Drone’s 720p HD camera to even better use for budding filmmakers by letting users program the flight movements to capture angles or speeds, which can be pre-planned or shot on the fly. Director Mode also gives users the ability to adjust the camera’s white balance, exposure, and saturation, which means you can match up video with other footage more easily.

While I haven’t had a chance to get my hands on an AR.Drone, seeing what they can do at CES was impressive. The company had a group of them programmed to do a stunt routine for the crowds, and it was very, very cool, especially since it was set to music.

There’s no word yet on when the new upgrades will be available for the AR.Drone 2.0, but expect them later this year. The AR.Drone 2.0 retails for $329 in Canada.

Parrot Zikmu
Parrot Zikmu - uncovered
Parrot Zikmu - docking port

Zikmu Solo speaker gets a Duo
The Zikmu speaker has not been around for very long, but already the company is working on an impressive core update that will expand functionality and improve sound, while leaving the outer design happily unchanged.

At CES I had a private session with the Zikmu Solo, which is frankly a thing of pure beauty, and while the company was clearly very proud of the system, they’ve been enhancing it, and this year they will make it possible to pair up two Zikmu Solo speakers as a Duo.

Using Wifi for the connection, the speakers work as a master and a slave, much like photographic flashes, and will be able to stream music in all the usual formats, including Bluetooth.

Based on the audio I heard from the speakers at CES, I would already recommend them. The price tag is not for everyone, but they’re worth every penny if you want something stylish and sweet-sounding.

The Zikmu Solo will retail for $999 each.

Flower Power to the rescue
And then there is the small but very impressive Flower Power device. No release date has been announced yet for this little plant protector, but to say I’m intrigued is an understatement.

Essentially, the premise is simple. You take the Flower Power and stick the end in the soil of your favorite plant, and then you connect to the app and wirelessly program it for your plant. Thanks to the device’s database of over 6000 plants, the Flower Power can track the needs of almost any plant, and it monitors everything from sunlight, moisture, pH level, and temperature, to fertilizer.

Using Bluetooth, you can check to see how your plant is doing, and the app even provides push notifications in case you’re not paying attention.

Right now there is no definitive launch date or price, but it is expected later this year.

Wrap-up
Out of all the companies I saw at CES, I give big credit to Parrot for being so diversified, and for making quality, well-designed products that turn heads. While there’s something to be said for companies that are sharpening their skills in niche markets, I’m impressed that Parrot will have four amazing products in 2013 that are absolutely noteworthy, including the Zik.

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