Our partner, One Event Technology, recently published an article on data analytics, etc, in a Culver’s store. They had a lot of success with Wyze Temp.
Archive for month: February, 2018
The home grill and barbecue market is one of the hottest in the world, with total sales raking in 1.47 billion dollars in 2016 alone. Outdoor grilling has been a favorite American pastime since the early 1950s, but of course grilling as a way of cooking food goes way back. Today the three most widely used grill types are the Kamado/Egg style, gas, and regular charcoal grills.
Total Sales of 1.47 billion dollars in 2016
The Kamado style grill is modeled after an ancient Japanese earthenware cooking urn. The most popular of which is the Big Green Egg. These grills are superb smokers and roasters. Because they are so well insulated with layers of ceramic, they are great at holding steady temperatures. Prices for the most common 18” size start at about $850.00 and climb well into the thousands from there. Here’s a handy article on top Kamado grills so you can see for yourself. Some of them look like works of art to me.
A turn of a knob, the flick of a switch, and BOOM you’re cookin’
Gas grills are the top pick among the three most widely used grill types. As of last year, they still outsold charcoal grills. Devotees of these grills say they love them because they are quick, easy, and convenient. A turn of a knob, the flick of a switch, and BOOM you’re cookin’. Prices for gas grills run the gamut and most owners will tell you they’re well worth it.
Last, but not least of the top favorites, is the good ole charcoal grill. C’mon you know the classic that pops into mind is always the Weber Kettle. Heck, I had a bright yellow one for years. That thing was a tank and lasted until I moved and gave it to the new, young and gleeful, tenants. Fans say there’s a good deal to love about charcoal grills. They’re often affordable, no propane tanks to deal with, and because they require a little more work you are more invested in the cooking process. The rewards of a more distinctive flavor with that crispy outside makes it well worth the while. One staunch fan told me that he also uses his charcoal grill as a ‘poor mans’ smoker.
Still having issues picking a grill? Check out this article for an in depth guide.
Remember, no matter what style grill sparks your fancy, it is crucial to monitor the temperature of your meats before pulling ‘em off the grill to consume.
A CES Newbie Shares 5 Takeaways From the 2018 Las Vegas Show
This year the Consumer Electronics Show took place in Las Vegas from January 9th – 12th. Our own Dave Pulvermacher had the opportunity to attend the show for the first time and so I suggested we interview him about his time there. Here we go, let’s bust the myth of ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’!
After having been to numerous types of shows at a variety of venues over the years, Dave thought he would know the routine. Yes, as expected, the “whirlwind of booths, advertisements, products, and flashing lights” were in abundance. He says he got that and much more. “Anyone who has been to Las Vegas knows that the hotel just “next door” is probably a 15-minute walk.” The CES show is spread out over the Las Vegas strip area. A little tip: Make sure you are wearing comfortable walking shoes. Thanks to Dave for taking the time out of his busy schedule to answer these questions.

CES Walk
- Where in Vegas did the show take place? It took place in 4 different locations – all over the strip. It was 2.3 miles end-to-end, as the crow flies. Part of the ‘fun’ was navigating taxi/Uber lines, which were huge!
- What were your initial impressions of the show? Glitzy. Alexa. Hey, Google! Google had the visual ads out in force, but Alexa was in basically every product – they really didn’t need to advertise much. However, the initial Wow factor cooled off after a few hours. I found the tech to be underwhelming in all. Lots and lots of iterative improvements, but nothing AMAZING that knocked my socks off. The displays and booths were sometimes more impressive than the products themselves.
- Were you there when the power outage occurred? If so, how was that incident handled? No, I was in a different part of the show at the time. Bummer, that it happened, but it certainly generated news!
- What was the buzz? What appeared to be the most popular technology items? Alexa and Google were everywhere, as I mentioned. But biggest, newest ‘trends’ were AI/AR/VR. Everyone seems to be promising ultra-cool experiences, but the applications are lagging in my opinion. The car tech was cool, but again nothing jumped out as being over-the-top awesome.
- Based on the show, what do you predict will be the hottest thing in the near future? In the near future it’ll be voice apps and products with more functionality. You might find yourself having an actual conversation with Alexa, rather than just asking for the weather. Longer term, the easiest tech to grasp is the driverless car. AI/AR/VR may be awesome, but you really have to ‘be there to believe it’. In other words, the technical aspects are more behind the scenes until you’re immersed in the virtual/artificial world.
Fantastic. Thank you again Dave for answering my questions and sharing your experience and insights. Now that you’ve attended the big show and much anticipated event of the year, tell us any closing thoughts or comments that you have. I wish I had another day. I walked 20,000 steps in one day (7hrs of show), and that included 1.5 hours getting from one end to the other. I do hope to go next year. I am still a tech nerd at heart and, while the tech revolutions weren’t jumping out at me, the show is still very impressive.
Well there you have it. Be sure to stay tuned-in for more exciting news here and through our social channels and thank you for stopping by today.
Yours Truly,
Elizabeth Sinclair