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What happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas -- Engadget departs CES
Well this was one for the record books. Between the full-court press of 3DHD, Sony's announcement of the VAIO P netbook... er, ultraportable, and the nuclear bomb that was the Palm Pre announcement, no one will forget this CES anytime soon. As in previous years, the Engadget team came, saw, and worked nonstop to cover every piece of gear we could get our hands on. After keeping it in the red for days on end, we're all feeling pretty burnt and ready for a long nap, but insanely stoked that we could bring you CES the way it's meant to be experienced: like a screaming neon blur.We'll be back in full force for CES 2010, but until then, you can gestate on our hard numbers and sad trailer teardown video after the break.Update: We're adding pics to the gallery, and just added a new video of us working as we normally do.%Gallery-41782%%Gallery-41781%
Samsung shows off OLED display collection at CES
OLED displays were out in full force this year, with Samsung bringing plenty of its own to showcase to CES onlookers. We already had a chance to check out a snazzy folding OLED late last week, but CNET was able to capture a few more for good measure. The most notable were the 3.3-inch "3D" AMOLED display (with a WQVGA resolution) and the 7.01-inch AMOLED panel, which was seen sporting a 1,024 x 600 resolution and a 30,000:1 contrast ratio. Flip through the gallery below for a few more looks, but don't get your hopes up too high for any near-term release dates.[Via OLED-Display]
Sharp does the unthinkable, intros slotMusic-friendly sound systems
Whoa, Sharp -- wait just a minute. Did you really just introduce a pair of music systems that get down with slotMusic players? Though it's practically impossible for us to believe that such an occurrence has just, um, occurred, the 160-watt XL-DH258NH and 64-watt XL-DH228NH micro-audio systems actually do include a USB port for syncing up with SanDisk slotMusic players (along with any other USB-enabled PMP, we presume). Of course, Sharp did hedge its bets by including an iPod dock along with a universal auxiliary input, so we suppose we can't harsh on 'em too much. Both units arrive in any color you like so long as it's glossy black, and there's even an AM / FM radio, six-band equalizer and alarm clock tossed in for good measure. Catch the XL-DH258NH this June for $199.99 or the XL-DH228NH in July for $179.99.[Via iTechNews]
DC Universe Online's 'classes' and combat explored
While DC Universe Online was being shown at CES 2009, there hasn't been too much new information coming out of the show. Whether that's a product of a videogame being at a tech and gadget show, or simply because SOE doesn't have anything new to show yet, is hard to say. Still, Opposable Thumbs got a chance to spend time with the game at the show and came out with some new information.There are no classes in DC Universe Online, instead players spend talents on individual powers. Anyone can switch between three combat stances: offensive, defensive and support. Offense stance gives more damage but takes more, while defense gives less and takes less and support boosts healing and buffing powers. And each stance offers access to certain powers, as well. It is important to remember, however, that a tank-spec character will always do better with a defense spec than, say a hybrid-spec. The goal of this system seems aimed at designing a flexible partying system, where certain people can fill a role in a pinch. Did you enjoy this? We've donned our capes and tights to explore SOE's DC Universe Online in-depth. Come explore more of Metropolis and Gotham with your friends at Massively!
Sony's flexible OLED mockups
Sony hasn't gotten very far along with these units -- they're really just plastic shells -- but we like we're they're headed with it. They showed off a full-screen laptop (pictured), bendable e-reader, and Walkman bracelet concepts, all based around flexible OLED technology and built with "flexible bioplastics," along with the flexible display that going to power them all when they hit the market... in the year 2000.%Gallery-41877%
Engadget HD Podcast 118 - 01.11.2009
Well CES is over and it'll be an entire year until we get to do it all over again. The show was a little slow for HD news this year so we didn't have as much to talk about, but there were some new things to cover like some in depth looks at things like the new DISH DVR software and the usability of Yahoo widgets. We also follow up on a few other things like XStreamHD's unbelievable plans and the new lineup of ZeeVee products. Get the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). [RSS] Add the Engadget HD Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically [Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace [MP3] Download the show (MP3). Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim Guest: Richard Lawler Producer: Trent Wolbe Program 05:04 - Yahoo! recaps a day of setting the Internet-on-TV movement on fire with Widgets 10:15 - DISH Network ViP 922 HD DVR hands-on and video 13:02 - Windows Media Center 7 with touch interface 17:46 - Cyberlink's native Media Center Blu-ray player 19:47 - Ceton Corp announces multi-stream CableCARD tuner for Windows Media Center 21:52 - 3D College football is actually quite enjoyable 24:53 - Hands-on with ZeeVee's ZvPro and ZvBoxPLUS 28:05 - Hauppauge HD-PVR now plays nice with PS3 29:50 - XStreamHD still kicking, showing off updated hardware 43:35 - Poll: What HD-related technology stole the show at CES 2009? LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG)
Phoenix Technologies HyperSpace instant-on OS review
Here at Engadget, we don't spend an awful lot of time dabbling in operating systems, but when Phoenix Technologies offered us the chance to check out its HyperSpace instant-on OS, we just couldn't resist. After all, it's hard to ignore the allure of reported sub-10 second bootup times on portable-by-nature machines (often referred to as "netbooks," for those camped under rocks). Considering that HyperSpace is well on its way to a netbook near you (we're told that undisclosed partnerships should be completely hammered out within the next few months), why not follow us past the break to see if the system really is all it's cracked up to be.
Samsung's CES 2009 booth tour
Samsung's booth was a fairly massive affair with just about everything "CES" you can think of on display. While we missed the portable projector phone, dubbed the Samsung Show, we did see a flexible OLED display, washing machines, vending machines, TVs, and a mountain of other gear. Follow on after the break for some video footage, and there's the gallery for you to peruse at your leisure.%Gallery-41707%
Crapgadget CES, round 9: pimped Segway KIRF
Four wheels, custom rims, a fold-out DVD player, and a metallic paint job? Eat your heart out, Woz. Couple more after the break.
LG's CES 2009 booth tour
LG's booth was, like some of the other heavy tech hitters, filled to overflowing with everything we came here to see. From netbooks, the GD910 watch phone, an OLED TV, and who can forget the LG Renoir? They most definitely kept us, and the giant crowds milling about, smiling. Hop through for a vid with some booth highlights, and there's a gallery right here stuffed with pics of all the candy. %Gallery-41709%
Microsoft's CES 2009 booth tour
Microsoft brought less instead of more to the show and was on hand mostly to highlight Windows 7. We peeked at the multi-touch functionality of the new OS (see the vid after the break), Zune, Xbox 360 dreams, and learned that less is more as far as Windows Mobile is concerned. Microsoft's booth also seemed to take the prize for grandest use of gaudy colors in a display, well done Microsoft! Gallery is below and the vid is just a click away. %Gallery-41704%
Crapgadget CES, round 7: the furry phone
Engadget HQ: now 85 percent more fabulous.
Samsung Show finally makes projector phones sexy
Is 2009 finally the year of the projector phone? Eh, not likely -- but there are finally a few models filtering into retail after years of talk, prototypes, and empty promises, including the Logic Bolt from independent manufacturer Logic Wireless and this puppy from Sammy. We're told that the aptly-named Show is inbound for release in South Korea before the end of the month, it runs Samsung's ubiquitous TouchWiz platform, and it packs DLP-based pico projector tech from TI, but that's about all we (and Samsung's US reps) seem to know about it. The projector can be used to view media stored in phone memory, pull up mobile TV via Korea's T-DMB airwaves, or simply project light, a function luddites may know better as a "flashlight." Most importantly, it actually isn't half-bad looking -- a symptom of a major manufacturer getting involved and throwing some won and industrial design staff at the thing, we bet.
Crapgadget CES, round 6: New Generation Video Game System
Palm ain't got nothing on this new-ness.
Grippity drops by again to show off gaming mockup and original keyboard model
We just can't get enough of these Grippity back-typing keyboards, and Jacob Eichbaum dropped by the Engadget trailer one last time to show us his super-early mockup of a Grippity back-typing gaming controller, along with the original prototype that started all this insanity. Apparently they've been getting a lot of interest from manufacturers, especially with the media remote we saw the other day, so hopefully we'll see this crazy concoction hitting stores sometime this year.%Gallery-41760%
LG Renoir hands-on
Though it has been out for some time, we'd not had the chance to really check out LG's Renoir properly -- even though Engadget Spanish has had a chance. Of course, LG's massive booth featured an area dedicated to this 8 megapixel effort that we had to almost fight through to get at this phone. The interface is good, the weight and feel in-hand doesn't come off as $10 plasti-crap, and the touchscreen does seem to get its job done. Crazy presentations aside, LG's Renoir is a really solid effort, color us suitably impressed. Engadget Mobile has the gallery.
URC's PSX2 lets any universal remote navigate on the iPod
Universal Remote Control has showcased a new iPod accessory here at CES well ahead of its official debut at EHX Spring, and supposedly it'll enable any universal remote to navigate anywhere on an iPod with a single button press. The package includes an iPod dock that connects to the TV, essentially enabling users to kick back and serve up tunes and videos without needing an iPod-friendly controller. Reportedly, it even allows users to do things not originally intended on the iPod thanks to an elaborate macro setup. A few more details are included in the read link, and we get the crazy idea that this is just the thing URC needed to get into the mainstream mind.
Awesomegadget CES: Dragon Fire Breather
The commotion in the room when we found out the eyes light up was seriously louder than for the Pre announcement.%Gallery-41742%%Gallery-41744%
Video: Powermat's wireless charging lineup in action
We already ran through Powermat's new wireless charging lineup, but in case you wanted to see it in action -- you skeptic, you -- there's video after the break.
