Consumer columnist and West Hartford resident Harlan Levy has more than 20 years of experience writing stories about everyday experiences that anyone could encounter.

By Harlan Levy

Last week my wife and I received separate Paperless Post invites by email to a party at our friends’ apartment. Oddly, I couldn’t open it after trying several times. Then my wife did. She also tried repeatedly and couldn’t open it either

So I emailed our friends, saying we couldn’t open her kind invitation. “It’s a scam!” she replied. I researched it and found that these fake invites had exploded over the internet nationwide. Unfortunately, every time you try to open them they email one to all your contacts, trying to steal your identity to pocket your cash and buy things on your account. Very clever.

Highlights from last week’s 4-day Consumer Electronics Show

Here are the interesting new items I found:

Lego Smart Bricks:

• Lego Smart Bricks are tech-packed toys including an array of sensors capable of detecting other nearby building blocks, lighting up and playing music. Star Wars Lego sets made with the new smart bricks arrive on March 1. That means TIE Fighters and smart Star Wars minifigures will interact, making sounds and activating lights.
• LEGO’s new Smart Bricks aren’t sold individually but come in themed sets, with prices ranging from approximately $69.99 for smaller sets (like Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter) to $159.99 for larger sets (like the Throne Room Duel & A-wing), with prices reflecting the number of smart elements (bricks, minifigures, tags) rather than just piece count, making them pricier than standard sets for younger builders.
• Multiple “Star Wars” Lego sets featuring Lego SMART Play will be available in stores on March 1, but you can now preorder.
• Darth Vader’s TIE. Fighter: Around $69.99 (includes 1 Smart Brick, 1 Smart Minifigure).
• Luke’s Red Five X-Wing: Around $89.99 – $99 (includes 2 minifigures).
• Throne Room Duel & A-wing:Around $159.99 (includes 3 minifigures).

Soundcore Sleep A30 Special sleep earbuds:

• In August, Soundcore released the Sleep A30 earbuds, the first sleep earbuds with active noise cancellation. But complaints were that the nine-hour battery life (six and a half with Bluetooth on) was insufficient. So manufacturer Anker fixed it with the “Special” version’s additional hour of juice (plus Calm app integration) at a lower price point than the earlier version’s $229.99 pair. The Special can be pre-ordered for $199.99 in four colors: mist lilac, lunar white, moonlit white, or mist green.

Vibrating chef’s knife:

• Seattle Ultrasonics’s C-200 Ultrasonic Chef’s Knife has an 8-inch blade that is already quite sharp on its own, but with the press of a button, 30,000 sonic vibrations per minute make the knife feel sharper than it physically is. The amount of effort required should be chopped in half, the company said, even on bread or winter squashes. It’s available to pre-order for $399 at Seattle Ultrasonic’s website.

Toyota Walk Me Robotic Stair-Climbing Chair:

• Toyota Walk Me is a robotic mobility chair that walks on four legs, climbs stairs, and folds compactly.
• The device replaces wheels with four robotic limbs that can bend, lift, and adjust independently. Inspired by how goats and crabs move across uneven terrain, the chair glides smoothly on flat surfaces while maintaining balance and adaptability on slopes, stairs, and gravel paths.
• As the chair climbs stairs, its front legs first test the height and pull the chair up, as the rear legs push their weight upward. Meanwhile, sensors and lidar systems continuously scan the chair’s surroundings, enabling Walk Me to navigate obstacles like rug edges or toys. Weight sensors keep the user centered before any significant movement, while collision radars will halt the chair if something crosses its path.
• Walk Me’s seat adjusts to the user’s shape while the curved backrest supports the user’s spine and small side handles allow for manual steering. Voice and display controls: Voice commands set destinations or speed, while an armrest display shows battery level and distance at a glance. Folding and vehicle transfer: With one button, the chair folds to carry-on size and can lift users for easier car transfers or floor-level seating.
• No price available, since it’s a prototype, but advanced robotic devices like the iBOT cost $22,000-$29,000.

INMOTION P6 electric unicycle:

• It launches fast, maintains power, and adapts to every terrain. Reaches a 93 mph top speed and pulls 0-30 mph in 1.9 seconds. 235 V platform and 20 kW peak output use a silicon carbide controller to sustain power and resist heat for long periods. Automotive-grade battery and fast charge: 4,200 Wh Samsung pack with BMU/BCU/BDU control delivers long range and safety, and charges in 4 hours or 80% in 1 hour with 14A. Hydraulic suspension: Center-mounted 90 mm liquid dampening soaks bumps and lets you set firmness for comfort or tight high-speed feedback. Connected safety and utility: INMOTION IoT adds GPS tracking, anti-theft alerts, ride history, OTA updates, dual USB outputs, and IPX6/IPX7 weather protection.
• Price: $4,999.

Go ahead: Ride on the wild side.

NOTE: If you have a consumer problem, contact me at [email protected] (“Consumer” in subject line), and, with the power of the press, maybe I can help.

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