Christopher Allen has just wrapped up what he hopes were a successful few days in Las Vegas. He wasn’t gambling at the craps tables.
He was gambling his Canton company, iDevices Inc., was going to make a big splash at the Consumer Electronics Show – the annual mecca for all things electronic in the consumer marketplace.
Allen is the inventor of the iGrill, the world’s first wireless Bluetooth cooking thermometer. He said, to use the old cliché, necessity was the mother of his invention. “I was using other grilling thermometers and was frustrated by the need to carry yet another device. iGrill was the solution,” he said during an interview the week before the show.
The $99.99 device was almost an instant hit since its introduction in 2009. The iGrill turns your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into your own personal sous-chef, enabling you to multitask between your grill or oven and guests with the peace of mind that your food is perfectly cooked, at target temperature and safe for consumption.
The product quickly caught the attention of Apple, which chose it for participation in Apple’s Made For iPod, iPhone, iPad Developers’ Program. It is also a finalist for the Bluetooth.org’s 6th annual Best of CES 2011 Awards – Innovator of the Year. That award was to be announced during the show.
Apple invited iDevices to be part of the Consumer Electronics Show, which features 2,500 exhibitors showcasing the latest consumer electronics. More than 120,000 attendees from more than 130 countries are expected.
Allen is not concerned about being just one of hundreds of exhibitors. “I don’t think you need to be a big player to make a splash at a show like this. You just have to have a winning concept manifest in a quality product,” he said.
Allen discovered that the iGrill is not just a seasonal product targeted to summertime grilling. He said, “We had an amazing consumer response over the holidays … something that can be credited to two factors. The iGrill also works in the oven or on a stove top, making it equally as relevant a device for fall and winter meals as for spring and summer. An independent study conducted by Weber revealed that most people barbeque year-round with only one-tenth relegating their grilling to the warmer months. Next time I will not underestimate the unprecedented success a grilling implement can have in the midwinter marketplace. We sold out of units for Christmas in mere days.”
The company is not hitching its wagon just to Apple’s star. iDevices will be expanding to other markets beginning with Android in 2011. Allen added, “As well as working on our own innovations, we will be working with other companies in order to Bluetooth-enable their products. iDevices will be developing four products for release in the third and fourth quarters of 2011, all of which will be oriented to automating and streamlining lifestyles.”
Oatmeal Debuts At McDonald’s
McDonald’s restaurants in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts are rolling out their first new breakfast item since 2008: Fruit & Maple Oatmeal, which will be available to customers at breakfast and throughout the entire day. Delivering two of the three recommended daily servings for whole grains and about a half cup of fruit, Fruit & Maple Oatmeal has 290 calories per serving and provides 32 grams of 100 percent natural whole grain oats and about 25 percent of an individual’s 12 daily recommendations for fruit. Fruit & Maple Oatmeal without brown sugar has 260 calories per serving.
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Sears Enters Digital Field
Sears is getting into the online movie download business. The new service enables Sears and Kmart customers to download entertainment online, including new movies on the same day they are released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, portable media players, and mobile phones. Initially the service is not available on iPods or PSPs.
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Pizzeria Adds Catering
Harry’s Bishops Corner, Pizza Napoletana, voted “Best Pizza” by Hartford Magazine in 2008, 2009, and 2010, is now offering corporate catering. Businesses can order from a menu of authentic thin crust pizzas, fresh salads and a variety of beverages. Harry’s Bishops Corner is minutes from downtown Hartford and offers free delivery and 10 percent discounts on orders over $100. Co-owner Kevin Plaut said, “We are beginning to see a larger demand for our product in the corporate world. Pizza is a manageable way for businesses to accommodate large groups at an exceptional value.” More information is available by calling Harry’s Bishops Corner at (860) 236-0400 or online at www.harrysbc.com for menus and more catering information.
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E-Tailers Hit A Bump
According to an article at BizReport.com, retail customers were less satisfied with online shopping this holiday season than past. A survey by ForeSee Results attributes that to the online retailers using dynamic pricing, which basically monitors consumers’ online purchases and adjusts their website pricing according to what they believe the consumer will spend with them. BizReport.com says most times these e-tailers are ‘found out’ when consumers open separate browser windows to comparison shop. The e-tailers are being encouraged to adopt the business practices of brick-and-mortar retailers and engage in fair pricing practices.
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