Image via Complex Original
We came. We saw. We conquered. SXSW Interactive 2014 is officially a wrap, and it was a memorable year, to say the least. Between Julian Assange and Edward Snowden speaking via video chat, Ben Horowitz stanning over Nas, and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone breaking down the philosophy of connectivity, it's been a rollercoaster five days. We even thugged our way through the annual trade show, where hundreds of startups and established tech companies exhibit their products (there was no shortage of apps). Among the pack, we picked 10 companies to watch out for this year. These are The Coolest Tech Products We Discovered at SXSW 2014.
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PonoPlayer
The veteran singer-songwriter, Neil Young, debuted the PonoPlayer at SXSW Interactive with the mission to "restore the soul of music." The hope is that the device can compete with similar products like the iPod and music streaming services like Spotify. Created in collaboration with Ayre Acoustics, the PonoPlayer is made with zero-feedback circuitry and can hold up to 500 digital albums, with memory cards available for added storage. "Hearing Pono for the first time is like that first blast of daylight when you leave a movie theatre on a sun-filled day," Young said. Pre-order a device via Kickstarter beginning March 15.
To support its Kickstarter effort, go here: PonoPlayer
Moff
What if everything you did—from getting dressed in the morning to eating lunch to typing on the computer—was transformed into some sort of childlike, superhero experience? Well, Moff intends to do just that. The wearable smart toy, which is compatible with iOS devices, senses movement and will apply a variety of different sounds to each new gesture. Always dreamed of having an epic lightsaber battler like in Star Wars? Well, now you can.
To support its Kickstarter efforts, go here: Moff
Epiphany Eyewear
Whether you want to admit it or not, wearable tech is the wave of the future. Despite Google's lock on the eyewear market with Glass, Epiphany Eyewear presents a stylish alternative. The specs feature social video editing and cloud storage capabilities. Equipped with HD 720p capture and a built-in mic, Epiphany lets you record important moments in real time. The glasses are also compatible with prescription lenses for everyday use. Snap a photo with ease, or record footage from your POV at a moment's notice.
For more, go here: epiphanyeyewear.com
News Bayou
With an increasing amount of content posted to the web each day, it can be hard to track what's happening in your area. National news stories often flood local and major media outlets like CNN and ABC, but NewsBayou wants to change that, or at the very least redirect your attention. The site aggregates news stories from surrounding newspapers and media outlets based on your current location. Think of it as a hyperlocal database of breaking stories, cultural events, and neighborhood minutiae you might have missed otherwise.
For more, go here: newsbayou.com
No Trace
Launched just last week, No Trace is yet another private messaging service in our hyper-connected society. Similar to Whisper, Wickr or Secret, No Trace is completely untraceable. Send messages privately between friends or family members without the worry of who is tracking your digital footprint. Best of all? Each message itself can only be viewed for less than a minute before it vanishes, after which it is completely erased from No Trace's servers. Messages can also be unsent as long as the recipient has not viewed the message. To paraphrase Public Enemy: the NSA can't hold us back!
For more, go here: notrace.im
RollTV
These days, curation is king. Tumblr popularized the trend, and RollTV looks to capitalize on it. The app allows users to carefully select and curate their favorite videos into one place. With new web series dropping each week, and music videos released every day, RollTV impedes the flood of content by letting you decide which videos matter. Say goodbye to the endless stream of channels, feeds and updates.
For more, go here: watchroll.tv
Avegant
The Avegant Glyph wants to take the music-listening experience to the next level. On display during SXSW Interactive, the headset employs a virtual retinal display to give users a visual experience while listening to music (our very own Compex TV new correspondent, Jinx, had the chance to try the headset on during an interview with Snoop Dogg). The company has also tested the headset for gaming and interactive use, and is continuing to expand the Glyph's audio-visual capabilities. Despite its price point ($499), this might be the best thing next to Oculus Rift.
For more, go here: avegant.com
Skeletonics
Simply put: the Robot apocalypse is coming and Skeletonics may be your only chance at survival.
For more, go here: en.skeletonics.com
iGenApps
This was probably the coolest app I saw at SXSW. It's an app that creates apps (think Wordpress but for apps). This is what we talk about when we talk about innovation. iGenApps—who came in third place in this year's SXSW ReleaseIt awards—let's anybody create an app, and all without special programming and coding skills. The company officially unveiled their app during Interactive and already over 12,000 apps have been created. Design the logo, interface, social integration, and overall purpose of your app with relative ease. The possibilities are limitless—and the power is, truly, in your hands.
For more, go here: igenapps.com