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

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.

00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1124 for Monday, January 12th, 2026
- January 12th: National Curried Chicken Day
- MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of Ecamm Live or Carbon Copy Cloner 7!
- The MGG Merch Store is Live!
MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors:
- BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)!
- Eero
- Ecamm for Zoom integration
- MacPaw
- CCC Backup
Cool Stuff Found at CES 2026
- 00:03:41 TDM Twist Headphones
- 00:06:36 Eve Thermostat
- 00:08:08 FotoStax – $25 for a 10-pack
- 00:11:09 Targus Voyager EXP – $89.99
  - 00:14:04 NOMATIC Travel Pack
- 00:15:52 Eloquens Email AI Autoresponder
- 00:21:25 Consumer-focused Blood Glucose Monitors
  - Abbott Lingo, Stelo by Dexcom, Isaac from PreEvent, Y-Brush Halo, Actxa Core Smart Ring
Sponsors
- 00:27:27 SPONSOR: Copilot Money. Your money, beautifully organized, now across every device. For a limited-time, get 26% off your first year when you sign up at https://try.copilot.money/macgeekgab. Get two months free with code ‘macgeekgab’.
- 00:28:49 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG
- 00:30:25 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG
MOAR Cool Stuff Found at CES 2026
- 00:31:33 Modue – Modular controllers for gamers, creators, and more
- 00:35:00 Shokz OpenFit Pro Earbuds
- 00:38:58 Robot Lawn Mowers
  - Yarbo M-Series, Segway Navimow, Worx, Lymow
- 00:43:58 Robot Vacuums
  - Eureka E10 Evo Plus – $299
  - Eureka Z50 $799
  - Roborock Saros Rover
- 00:51:13 Skylight Calendar 2
- 00:53:28 Droplet Smarthome Water Sensor from Hydrific
- 00:58:04 TP-Link Aireal Digital in-app assistant
- 01:00:31 TP-Link BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 Portable Travel Router TL-WR3602BE
- 01:03:21 CubicScreen.com
01:06:22 MGG 1124 Outtro
- MGG Monthly Giveaway
- Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly
- MGG’s CES 2026 Sponsors
- Pilot Pete’s Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts)
- The Debut Film Podcast – Adam’s new podcast!
- Dave’s Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts
- MGG Merch is Available!
- Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page
- Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar
- This Week’s MGG Premium Contributors