CES 2026: Cool Stuff Found That Actually Matters — Mac Geek Gab 1124

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You walk the CES 2026 floor with Pete and Dave and quickly realize this episode is about practical gear that earns its place in your life. You hear about clever headphones, smarter thermostats, compact travel tech, and simple photo organization that fixes real annoyances without overthinking them. The crew cuts through the hype, calling out what feels thoughtful versus what just looks flashy, so you can spot the difference between tools that solve problems and gadgets that will gather dust.

Then things get broader and more futuristic without losing focus. You explore consumer health tech that is finally becoming accessible, modular controllers that rethink how you interact with devices, and open-ear audio that fits real-world use. Robots take over yards and floors, smart calendars and water sensors aim to reduce daily friction, and networking gear shrinks without giving up power. It is a fast tour of ideas that are close enough to touch, if not already shipping, with one consistent reminder guiding the whole conversation: stay curious, stay selective, and Don’t Get Caught chasing shiny things that do not actually improve your day.

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:16 — 48.6MB)

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Dave Hamilton

Dave Hamilton is a podcaster, a publisher, and a nerd who has spent the past three decades of his career educating thousands of computer users. In addition to Mac Geek Gab podcast (now in its 19th year!), Dave is co-host of Business Brain and Gig Gab, two other shows to check out! Dave is also the co-founder and CEO of BackBeat Media, a boutique network of podcasts and websites that represents fiercely-independent publishers, of which Dave considers himself one. He has been involved in online publishing since 1998, when he co-founded The Mac Observer, a popular Apple news site which was acquired in 2021. Technology isn't the only thing Dave's a nerd about: he's also a drummer, playing in Bitter Pill, Fling, and various other projects in and around the New Hampshire seacoast where he and his wife, Lisa, live and raised their two children. Dave's reachable for a limited amount of paid consulting at DaveTheNerd.com and you can find to him on Mastodon, Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, too!

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