The Tech Ranch

Bird Buddy—originally known for their charming, camera-equipped smart bird feeders—has taken a bold leap beyond birds. Their latest innovation turns your backyard into a living, buzzing, blooming ecosystem… with solar-powered AI cameras, modular nature blocks, and something they call “nature intelligence.”

And yes, it’s just as cool as it sounds.

From Bird Buddy to Nature Buddy

“Our mission was always to connect people with nature,” says the Bird Buddy team. “We started with birds—but now we’re going broader.” Their new product line expands that mission to bees, butterflies, ladybugs, and native flowers, all through a network of intelligent, unobtrusive garden sensors.

At the heart of this update is a small solar-powered camera disguised as a tulip-shaped flower, which blends into your yard or balcony. Just point it where you want it, and it will begin identifying, recording, and reporting on wildlife activity.

Smart Features Include:

• HD images & video of pollinators, insects, and blooms
• Fun facts & educational blurbs with every photo
• Personalized alerts like, “Hey, your soil’s a little dry,” or “Butterfly migration’s about to begin!”
• The ability to name individual bees and plants via AI recognition
• All powered by the sun and delivered through the Bird Buddy mobile app

Meet “Nature Intelligence”

You’ve heard of artificial intelligence. Bird Buddy has developed something they call Nature Intelligence, where the environment doesn’t just react—it communicates. Using AI, these new devices can:

• Alert you when a plant needs water
• Recognize the same bee visiting repeatedly
• Encourage you to support biodiversity by planting native species
• Add educational, story-like prompts that gamify your garden

You can even give names to the visiting bees and butterflies—just like people already do with birds and houseplants.

Wonder Blocks: Nature’s LEGO for Grownups

One of the most whimsical aspects of the new Bird Buddy ecosystem is their new Wonder Blocks: a modular set of mini habitats you can build to attract and support various insects and pollinators.

Build a “bee hotel,” a butterfly feeder, or a ladybug lounge—then plant the right flowers nearby and let the cameras document what happens. It’s equal parts DIY nature park, STEM education kit, and biodiversity toolkit.

And yes, even those with just a balcony or urban patio can participate.

Kickstarter Launch Coming Soon

While Bird Buddy’s original smart feeder is already available, the new line of pollinator-focused tech will launch on Kickstarter this spring. They’re once again working closely with their community to refine final product designs before launch.

At this year’s showcase of smart innovation, one booth didn’t just shine—it glowed. Govee, the fast-growing smart lighting brand, continues to prove that light isn’t just functional—it’s emotional, programmable, and incredibly fun.

I caught up with Matthew from Govee, and it felt like meeting a kindred spirit. Both of us share a passion for tech—and especially lights. It’s no wonder Govee’s motto this year was “Bring Color to Your Everyday Life.”

From Strip Lights to Whole-Home Lighting Magic

Just four years ago, Govee entered the market with simple LED strip lights. Fast forward to today, and their catalog includes lighting for every corner of the home—bedrooms, gaming spaces, home theaters, outdoor patios, and more.

Whether you’re a gamer, a holiday decorator, a cozy minimalist, or someone who just wants a warm yellow glow in the evening—Govee has you covered. The best part? It’s all controlled with one intuitive app.

Smart Tech for Every User

One of the most impressive things about Govee’s platform is its universal accessibility. From kids to seniors, users can create lighting scenes, schedule routines, or sync lights with movies, games, and even sunrise/sunset cycles.

They also built in AI-driven scenes, where you can say something like:
“Make me a Los Angeles Lakers theme” — and the app creates a full lighting show to match.

Govee’s Newest Products

At their booth, Govee unveiled several standout releases:

• Gaming Pixel Lights – customizable LEDs that bring reactive lighting to your battle station
• Mini Light Panels – build any wall design and shape with modular smart tiles
• JBL Table Lamp 2 Pro – a sleek bedside lamp that doubles as a high-end Bluetooth speaker
• Scene Stage Outdoor Lights – Christmas lights that you’ll want to leave up year-round, with dynamic animation modes

If you’ve ever dreamed of a kitchen that cooks for you—like actually for you—then Apecoo is about to make that dream a reality.

During our latest Tech Ranch feature, I had the chance to step into a booth that smelled like heaven. Waffles, mashed potatoes, tortillas—it was all happening at once. But this wasn’t a trendy café; it was a robotic kitchen demo by a rising smart appliance company called Apecoo.

Their lineup? Four smart cooking machines, all designed to simplify the food prep process down to a single button press.

The Mashed Potato Robot

Let’s start with the comfort food classic: mashed potatoes. Apecoo’s potato machine steams, cooks, and mashes your potatoes automatically. Simply load in up to five raw potatoes (about 5 liters), press the button, and 20 minutes later, you’re spooning out fluffy mashed potatoes—ready for a generous helping of gravy.

The Roti & Tortilla Maker

Next up: Apecoo’s automatic tortilla machine. This device takes flour, water, and oil, kneads the dough, presses and cooks it, then ejects fresh tortillas every 30 seconds after a short warmup period. Each batch produces 15 tortillas—perfect for family dinners or taco Tuesdays.

The Waffle Bot

Then there’s the waffle-making robot. This machine doesn’t just cook waffles—it mixes the batter too. You add your ingredients (flour, sugar, milk, etc.) into the chamber, and the robot does the rest: mixing, heating, and delivering perfectly golden waffles without you ever opening the lid.

No burnt knuckles. No mess. No pre-mixing.

The DIY Coffee Capsule Maker

Finally, something for coffee lovers: Apecoo’s capsule maker lets you grind and pack your own espresso pods using fresh beans and reusable metal cups. It detects pod size automatically and grinds the perfect amount of beans for your taste. The result? Custom-flavored capsules at a fraction of the cost—and way less waste.

Designed for the Home, Built for the Future

While these products are built with home users in mind, Apecoo plans to release a commercial version of its waffle robot, targeting hotels and cafes. And based on what I saw, it’ll be a hit.

The best part? Most of these machines will hit the market in March. So if your kitchen is due for an upgrade—or you’re just tired of standing over a hot stove—Apecoo might be the brand to watch.

When you think of tech shows, you probably picture robots, AI, and smart devices—not someone getting a fresh haircut. But that’s exactly what happened when I stumbled into the Wahl booth and walked away with more than just a trim. I got a powerful lesson in how innovation, tradition, and a good conversation can come together to change lives.

A Makeover on the Show Floor

I’d been needing a haircut for a while—CES just gave me the excuse. Wahl’s Master Barber, Ben, was more than happy to oblige, offering a quick cut right on the convention floor. But what started as a fun moment quickly turned into something more meaningful.

Ben used the Wahl Color Pro, a color-coded haircutting system designed to make DIY haircuts at home easier than ever. Each guard is matched by color to a number, simplifying the process for beginners or busy families looking to save time and money. “If you want a number three on the sides,” Ben explained, “you just grab the blue comb. No guessing.”

Innovation Behind the Clippers

Wahl isn’t just clippers anymore. Their lineup includes:

• Lithium-ion powered tools for longer, more powerful performance
• Beard trimmers and softeners for at-home grooming
• Pet clippers built with stronger motors and sharper blades
• Even dog nail grinders—though thankfully, Ben didn’t suggest using one on me!

The company has deep roots and serious longevity. Ben himself has been with Wahl since 1999, traveling the country as their Master Barber. His journey began at age 13 in Nashville, where he learned from his uncle and cousins.

More Than a Haircut

One of the most touching parts of our conversation was hearing Ben talk about the emotional side of barbering. He’s been there for customers through marriages, divorces, illnesses—even giving people their last haircut before cancer treatments or, in some cases, before their final viewing.

“It might sound strange,” Ben said, “but I’ve been going to funeral homes to cut hair for years. It gives families closure.”

It was a powerful reminder: barbers do more than cut hair. They listen. They support. They give people confidence and dignity—sometimes in the most difficult moments.

Wahl’s Role in a Digital World

As technology pushes everything forward, it’s comforting to know some traditions adapt without losing their heart. Wahl blends user-friendly innovation with decades of craftsmanship, proving that even in a digital world, human connection and hands-on skill still matter.

And yes… my haircut turned out great.

Final Thoughts

You never know what you’ll find at a tech show. Sometimes, it’s not just the machines that make an impact—it’s the people.

Whether you’re cutting your own hair, trimming the dog, or simply needing a therapeutic chat, Wahl has a tool for it—and a story behind it.

Stay tuned to The Tech Ranch, where we bring you tech with heart… and the occasional fresh fade.

Innovation doesn’t always mean reinventing the wheel—sometimes, it’s as simple as reimagining the hoop.

Meet Huupe (pronounced “hoop”), the world’s first smart basketball hoop, built to track your performance, correct your form, and even connect you with players around the world. Whether you’re looking to get serious about your shot or just want to elevate your home or office fun, Huupe is bringing the game into the digital age—without losing its soul.

From Garage to Global

Huupe started in a garage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and five years later, it’s now used by players worldwide. Designed with athletes and casual players in mind, the hoop is available in both full-size for gyms and schools, and a Mini Huupe for home, office, or dorm room play.

What makes it different? Huupe uses radar and lidar sensors—not cameras—to track your shots. This choice wasn’t just about innovation; it was about respecting your privacy, especially in home environments.

What Huupe Tracks

Huupe delivers real-time feedback by analyzing:

• Shot distance
• Accuracy and trajectory
• Form correction (like follow-through or knee bend)
• Instant performance stats after every shot

It’s like having a personal coach built right into your backboard.

Play Anytime, Anywhere

The Mini Huupe is perfect for indoor spaces and mounts easily over a door or wall. You can:

• Challenge friends in different cities to games like HORSE or three-point contests
• Participate in global challenges like “most in a minute”
• Track your stats over time, whether you’re shooting foam balls, paper wads, or real mini basketballs

Yes—it works with any ball.

What’s Next?

While Huupe already offers basic improvement tips, it’s getting smarter with every shot you take. Over time, its AI will offer more personalized coaching suggestions to help players of all skill levels improve even faster.

Whether you’re a high school athlete or someone who loves an impromptu office shootout, Huupe brings connectivity, fun, and data-driven feedback to a game we all know and love.

Where to Find Huupe