CES 2016: A look at the first tech announced in Vegas
By Leo KelionTechnology desk editor
Final preparations are still being made to the show booths
It seems some people can't wait - the CES trade show doesn't officially start until Wednesday, when its giant exhibition floors open their doors.
But already tech firms great and small are firing out press releases and YouTube videos.
For smaller firms, announcing a product now represents an opportunity to beat the crush.
Start-ups that exhibited at CES's Eureka Park zone over the past four shows have collectively attracted more than $1bn (£680m) in investment since 2012, according to the event's organiser, so it's about more than just titillating the public.
But for the larger companies, revealing a product in advance might reflect the fact that it didn't quite make the cut to be spotlighted in one of the tightly-timed press conferences.
Either way, below are a few of the early announcements that caught our eye.
Image copyrightTechnogym/iFitImage captionTechnogym and iFit have competing treadmills focused on rival senses
Fitness tech looks like being one of the show's big themes, and Technogym is looking to update its range of high-end gear with a treadmill that plays a "personalised music soundtrack" based on the speed the user is running at.
The firm says its system works by matching the rhythm of a song to the number of steps per minute it detects the person is jogging at. Spotify already does something similar with its app for street runners, but Technogym says it's the first to bring the idea to a treadmill.
Meanwhile, iFit has announced a treadmill of its own fitted with a 60in (1.52m) curved OLED screen. The company says it can use data from Google Maps to create the sensation of running in "exotic locations". Haters of vertical video better look away.
Image copyrightSamsungImage captionSamsung lets you look inside its fridge without opening the door
Adding big displays to appliances that seemed to do well enough without them looks like it will be another trend.
Samsung's latest fridge features a 21.5in high definition touchscreen that it says can be used to check its "temperature, humidity and operation mode" as well as to look at the food inside via a camera.
It will be interesting to find out which niche of the market Samsung thinks will take it as a preferable solution to simply opening the door.
Image copyrightLG
The other big South Korean firm in attendance - LG - has released a deluge of early details.
Among them is news of a new line of smartphones called the K series.
The firm says they have been designed to look "far more expensive and exclusive than they really are" - which, you would have thought, as a marketing campaign might undermine their appeal.
Image copyrightActonImage captionThe Blink electric skateboard - coming to a park near you soon
Elsewhere, Acton - the maker of one of last year's most talked about products, RocketSkates - has revealed its latest product: an electronic skateboard.
The Blink is controlled via a small handheld device, although a smartphone app can be used as an alternative, and travels at up to 12mph (19 km/h).
With hoverboards banned from use on the CES showfloors, could this prove an acceptable alternative - or just fuel future safety fears?
Image copyrightDigitsoleImage captionThe Digitsoles promise to help you see in the dark
For those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, Digitsole wants to pitch you its smartshoe.
The footwear contains a toe-warming system, can count your steps and features a built-in torch lamp.
The French start-up describes its $450 (£305) shoes as being "trendy". We'll leave that to you to decide, but can't help wonder if people really want to have to recharge their clothing.
Image copyrightDJIImage captionDJI has refreshed its drone line-up ahead of several new rival products launching
In drone-news, China's DJI has revealed a modest change to its line-up.
Its high-end Inspire 1 Pro now comes in black - great for those who like their unmanned aircraft to look that bit more menacing.
It also has a new version of the Phantom 3 that incorporates a 4K camera but has a less powerful data transmission system than the "professional" version of the drone.
As a consequence it can only be flown from up to 1.2km (0.75 miles) away instead of 5km (3.1 miles) - which from a safety point-of-view doesn't sound like a bad thing.
Image copyrightFordImage captionThe SmartLinkDevice platform allows drivers to control car-centric apps via their voice and the vehicle dashboard
On the roads, Toyota has thrown in its lot with Ford and committed itself to adopting the SmartDeviceLink platform.
The system allows smartphones to connect to a vehicle's dashboard and represents an effort by the automakers to pursue their own technology rather than fitting Google or Apple's in-car alternatives.
Ford said Peugeot, Honda, Subaru and Mazda are also considering supporting SDL.
It's curious timing bearing in mind Ford is soon expected to announce a separate tie-up with Google to build driverless cars.
Image copyrightGymwatchImage captionAre two wearables better than one?
There's are also been a couple of wearables announcements.
Gymwatch has announced that its weightlifting-tracking wristband can now communicate with the Apple Watch - so, now you have an excuse to have glowing tech on both arms and not just one.
Image copyrightKopinImage captionKopin's display is just 2mm (0.08in) high
And just in case you thought smart glasses had gone away, Massachusetts-based Kopin has announced what it says is the world's smallest display for eyewear.
Whether that means many of us would need a pair of glasses to be able to look at our glasses remains to be seen.
Image copyrightPetnetImage captionThe Petnet SmartBowl aims to stop pet owners over-feeding their animals
Finally, for now, just in case you were worried Mr Tiddles was being left out, Petnet has unveiled the SmartBowl.
The firm says animal owners just need to input the weight, age and activity level of their cat or dog, and the bowl will tell them when they have poured in the right amount of food.
Just be prepared to put up with your newly food-limited pet begging for extra treats as a consequence
It seems some people can't wait - the CES trade show doesn't officially start until Wednesday, when its giant exhibition floors open their doors.
But already tech firms great and small are firing out press releases and YouTube videos.
For smaller firms, announcing a product now represents an opportunity to beat the crush.
Start-ups that exhibited at CES's Eureka Park zone over the past four shows have collectively attracted more than $1bn (£680m) in investment since 2012, according to the event's organiser, so it's about more than just titillating the public.
But for the larger companies, revealing a product in advance might reflect the fact that it didn't quite make the cut to be spotlighted in one of the tightly-timed press conferences.
Either way, below are a few of the early announcements that caught our eye.
Image copyrightTechnogym/iFitImage captionTechnogym and iFit have competing treadmills focused on rival sensesFitness tech looks like being one of the show's big themes, and Technogym is looking to update its range of high-end gear with a treadmill that plays a "personalised music soundtrack" based on the speed the user is running at.
The firm says its system works by matching the rhythm of a song to the number of steps per minute it detects the person is jogging at. Spotify already does something similar with its app for street runners, but Technogym says it's the first to bring the idea to a treadmill.
Meanwhile, iFit has announced a treadmill of its own fitted with a 60in (1.52m) curved OLED screen. The company says it can use data from Google Maps to create the sensation of running in "exotic locations". Haters of vertical video better look away.
Image copyrightSamsungImage captionSamsung lets you look inside its fridge without opening the doorAdding big displays to appliances that seemed to do well enough without them looks like it will be another trend.
Samsung's latest fridge features a 21.5in high definition touchscreen that it says can be used to check its "temperature, humidity and operation mode" as well as to look at the food inside via a camera.
It will be interesting to find out which niche of the market Samsung thinks will take it as a preferable solution to simply opening the door.
Image copyrightLGThe other big South Korean firm in attendance - LG - has released a deluge of early details.
Among them is news of a new line of smartphones called the K series.
The firm says they have been designed to look "far more expensive and exclusive than they really are" - which, you would have thought, as a marketing campaign might undermine their appeal.
Image copyrightActonImage captionThe Blink electric skateboard - coming to a park near you soonElsewhere, Acton - the maker of one of last year's most talked about products, RocketSkates - has revealed its latest product: an electronic skateboard.
The Blink is controlled via a small handheld device, although a smartphone app can be used as an alternative, and travels at up to 12mph (19 km/h).
With hoverboards banned from use on the CES showfloors, could this prove an acceptable alternative - or just fuel future safety fears?
Image copyrightDigitsoleImage captionThe Digitsoles promise to help you see in the darkFor those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, Digitsole wants to pitch you its smartshoe.
The footwear contains a toe-warming system, can count your steps and features a built-in torch lamp.
The French start-up describes its $450 (£305) shoes as being "trendy". We'll leave that to you to decide, but can't help wonder if people really want to have to recharge their clothing.
Image copyrightDJIImage captionDJI has refreshed its drone line-up ahead of several new rival products launchingIn drone-news, China's DJI has revealed a modest change to its line-up.
Its high-end Inspire 1 Pro now comes in black - great for those who like their unmanned aircraft to look that bit more menacing.
It also has a new version of the Phantom 3 that incorporates a 4K camera but has a less powerful data transmission system than the "professional" version of the drone.
As a consequence it can only be flown from up to 1.2km (0.75 miles) away instead of 5km (3.1 miles) - which from a safety point-of-view doesn't sound like a bad thing.
Image copyrightFordImage captionThe SmartLinkDevice platform allows drivers to control car-centric apps via their voice and the vehicle dashboardOn the roads, Toyota has thrown in its lot with Ford and committed itself to adopting the SmartDeviceLink platform.
The system allows smartphones to connect to a vehicle's dashboard and represents an effort by the automakers to pursue their own technology rather than fitting Google or Apple's in-car alternatives.
Ford said Peugeot, Honda, Subaru and Mazda are also considering supporting SDL.
It's curious timing bearing in mind Ford is soon expected to announce a separate tie-up with Google to build driverless cars.
Image copyrightGymwatchImage captionAre two wearables better than one?There's are also been a couple of wearables announcements.
Gymwatch has announced that its weightlifting-tracking wristband can now communicate with the Apple Watch - so, now you have an excuse to have glowing tech on both arms and not just one.
Image copyrightKopinImage captionKopin's display is just 2mm (0.08in) highAnd just in case you thought smart glasses had gone away, Massachusetts-based Kopin has announced what it says is the world's smallest display for eyewear.
Whether that means many of us would need a pair of glasses to be able to look at our glasses remains to be seen.
Image copyrightPetnetImage captionThe Petnet SmartBowl aims to stop pet owners over-feeding their animalsFinally, for now, just in case you were worried Mr Tiddles was being left out, Petnet has unveiled the SmartBowl.
The firm says animal owners just need to input the weight, age and activity level of their cat or dog, and the bowl will tell them when they have poured in the right amount of food.
Just be prepared to put up with your newly food-limited pet begging for extra treats as a consequence
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