Worst Products Of CES 2011: Weird New Tech From The Consumer Electronics Show

The 2011 Consumer Electronics Show was full of game-changing technology--think Verizon's 4G LTE network and Motorola's Atrix smartphone--but there were more than a few tech flops as well.

In addition to compiling the best products from CES 2011, we've also put together a slideshow of the worst gadgets on display at the world's largest consumer tech expo. From french fry-shaped phones and sparkly speakers to vibrating weight loss machines and a "smart" washer/dryer duo, these tech products just didn't do it for us.

See our full CES 2011 coverage here.

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Polaroid's GL10 Instant Mobile Printer

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Polaroid's slim new printer will print photos on the go from your camera or phone. The new gadget malfunctioned when we tried it out, and while the ability to quickly and easily print photos offers instant gratification, the color and quality of the prints was sub par.

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Polaroid's slim new printer will print photos on the go from your camera or phone. The new gadget malfunctioned when we tried it out, and while the ability to quickly and easily print photos offers instant gratification, the color and quality of the prints was sub par.

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Comments

[Nick Zier]

11:36 PM on 01/29/2011

Only pretentious jerks don't like a french fry phone.

[Frank Mondana]

06:54 PM on 01/28/2011

I think the idea behind the keyboard is to give the user a more tactile feel. It doesn't appear to be a mobile product, more for when you're home or at your desk and would like to enter data on a keyboard that feels far better than the onscreen version.
So, then, isn't the idea that it have "moving parts"? Why do tech articles seem to forget the touch typist?

[Shivaite]

01:51 PM on 01/11/2011

If you checked Consumer reports frequency of repair stats you will understand why LG washers need this connection, they break down a lot!

[Craig 212]

12:46 PM on 01/11/2011

I could see some people being interested in those old school phone handsets, for at home use. A lot of people are ditching their landlines, and this could add some familiarity.

[bwright85]

04:47 PM on 01/11/2011

I agree..I personally, hate holding my cellphone to my hear and those blue tooth things are just to pretentious and ridiculous for me. Plus it looks like you are talking to yourself :)

[MotorcycleBoy]

04:51 PM on 01/11/2011

what's weird is that those 'old school' handsets have been around for at least 5 yrs...maybe longer

[freespeech2]

10:33 AM on 01/11/2011

There is a Bluetooth version of a handset similar to the POP cellphone handset that I would love to have. Plain black, just like my old analog Western Electric desk set...

[Jeany]

05:30 PM on 01/10/2011

I wish the handset people would make alternative handsets for new corded land line phones. I don't like fat handsets because my hands are small and get very fatigued holding fat thick wide handsets.

[Rich Phitzwell]

11:27 AM on 01/10/2011

All Im saying is internet + pron + Spin Cycle.

[Craig 212]

12:51 PM on 01/11/2011

Porn has always been at the forefront of technological pioneering. Instant cameras, camcorders, VHS, DVD, etc. Porn was what helped all of these new and expensive technologies to survive long enough to become affordable for mainstream markets.

[Rich Phitzwell]

04:01 PM on 01/11/2011

And now its changing the way we wash our cloths!

[Alicia Flowers]

11:23 AM on 01/10/2011

Kinda like the "Pop Phone" that allows you to use a landline like phone instead of your cell at home for lengthy calls. I think we'll see more of these.

[LLNYRN]

11:46 AM on 01/10/2011

I think the "Pop Phone" is a fun idea.
I miss that old phone "feel".

Hell.
I'll buy one.

[socialtalker]

12:44 PM on 01/10/2011

they have a certain charm, but only if i have use that thing that you could put on the phone to sit on your shoulders. not that i use a cell phone that much anyway.

[thedogatemyhomework]

11:12 AM on 01/10/2011

Double fail -- Just last week, a gadget guru appeared on that loser CBS afternoon program "The Talk" to show off the most exciting new products at the CES. One of the very hottest new things: Those fabulous bright colored POP phone handsets for mobile phones by Native Union!

[captainswife]

11:06 AM on 01/10/2011

I could use the heated mouse pad.

[Gronkie]

10:23 AM on 01/10/2011

I get the LG call to customer service thing. My wife likes a simple washer and dryer because she thinks all the bells and whistles just offer more opportunity for breakdowns (and I can't say she's wrong). Having a feature like that, even if it almost never gets used, could go a long way in making housewives more comfortable in purchasing a more complicated machine.

[Gronkie]

10:21 AM on 01/10/2011

I used to go to the CES shows back in the 80's when they had two shows a year and high-end audio was the hot thing. My nomination for the worst product EVER was a pair of leather ear extensions. They were large ear shaped things, punched out of leather and they fit over your own ear, making your ear about 50% larger. The idea was that by making your ear bigger, you could capture more sound and direct it toward your eardrum. I spoke with the inventor, and he was a very sincere guy, but it was hard not to laugh at absurdity of the idea. I wish I could remember what they were called or how much they were selling for. I seem to remember that they were very expensive for a a couple of small punched out pieces of leather. I'll bet he's still got a garage full of those things.

Then there were the rings that attached to the outside rim of your CDs to add stability, and the special green pen (not just any green Sharpie, it had to be this particular pen) that you would run around the edge of your CDs that was supposed to improve the sound because they would absorb laser light that might leak out around the unsealed edge.

[martiniandabotoxchaser]

09:37 AM on 01/10/2011

There are innovations and parasites.  These are the parasites.

[dmsdzinr]

08:45 AM on 01/10/2011

WOW! Loads of JUNK!

[TooLooze]

08:05 AM on 01/10/2011

Regarding the LG washer and dryer contacting tech support, I just have to say that their "support" consists of them reading from the same manual that didn't address the problem when the consumer read it and then saying "reply hazy; try again". In other words, the magic 8 ball maneuver.

[BLACKCAT66]

09:26 AM on 01/10/2011

LG is wretched, I work in that industry and we won't bother selling the stuff period. The customer support is the worst and good luck trying to find anyone to come out and service their products if they break down under warranty. LG is lousy about paying service contractors so most of them dropped the line. I'm not saying their products are bad but they don't stand behind their products if anything goes wrong and that alone is enough to be a living nightmare for anyone selling the stuff.