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Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 showcased on video, doesn't look all that inadequate to us
We have no small amount of respect for Samsung for coming out and admitting that its Galaxy Tab 10.1 slate won't necessarily be the best thing since sliced Apples, but we wouldn't go so far as to describe it as "inadequate," which is what company VP Lee Don-Joo recently called it. It's a handsome, svelte and undeniably powerful device, a set of qualities that is in full show during AndroidHD's 11-minute long video of a day spent in the company of a Tab 10.1. Now, this isn't a hands-on video so much as a commercial made by someone other than Samsung. You can tell Sammy didn't author it because nobody tries to fit this Galaxy Tab inside a pocket. Jump after the break for the ocular feast. [Thanks, Taylor]
Nintendo returning to CES after a 16-year absence
If there's one event that's immune to being overhyped, it's the annual January expo of everything consumer electronics, known to you and us as CES. The only downer to this geek endurance test is that we've felt it's been lacking a little on the gaming front lately, which is why we're so giddy to hear the news that Nintendo will be rejoining the ranks of exhibitors over in Las Vegas in a few weeks' time. CES 2011 will be the first time in 16 years that the console sales leader has deigned to pitch up a stand at America's biggest tech show, with our suspicion being that the event will be used as an opportunity to remind the world about the upcoming 3DS handheld. Or to drop that Wii HD bombshell we've all been waiting for. Yeah, right!
Seagate's Showcase HDD turns DISH Network receivers into DVRs
There ain't much new here outside of marketing hoopla, but for those who missed Seagate's announcement early last year, we've got a revised one ready for publishing this year. The Showcase external HDD line has now been certified for compatibility with the Solo ViP 612 receiver, ViP 622 / 722 DuoDVR and the ViP 211 / 211k receivers. In essence, this here hard drive converts the receivers in the bunch into full-fledged DVRs, giving you one less reason to spend haphazardly on a new set-top-box. No need to thank us, we're just doing our jobs.
The many faces of Tweeter call it quits
The long-suffering Tweeter chain has thrown in the towel and closed its remaining stores, including those under the Sound Advice, Showcase and HiFi Buys banners. We heard about the Sound Advice news almost a month ago, so there's a definite note of inevitability to this news. CEPro is reporting that the future of the unsold inventory which was cleared out of the Tweeter distribution centers when liquidators stepped in and now sitting on showroom floors remains in question. It's definitely been a rocky year or so for the Tweeter chain, which has already come back from bankruptcy once before, but somehow we think the current economic climate will make for a long hibernation this time around.
Seagate reveals Showcase external HDD: for media centers and DVRs
Great, just great. Soon after Western Digital made a fool of itself by introducing an external hard drive "certified" for use with DISH Network HD DVRs, along comes Seagate to further fuel the hype machine. Announced at this year's Cable Show (after being mentioned at CES), the Showcase storage solution is "designed" to extend storage capacity of DVRs and media centers. In a similar vein, the outfit's newest drives are "compatible with Motorola's s-SATA-capable HD DVRs," and they also come with USB 2.0 ports and up to 1TB of space. No word on a price or any of that jazz, but those who can't figure out that an external hard drive is an external hard drive can look for 'em to land in Q3.
Marantz showing off high-end SACD players, amplifiers and more
Though we're not exactly sure if Marantz will be a wholly owned subsidiary of D&M Holdings for much longer, the boutique brand is still planning to strut its stuff at the upcoming Audio Karma Fest in Michigan. Reportedly, the outfit will be showcasing a number of luxurious components from its Reference Series, include the $3,199 SC-11S1 preamplifier, $4,199 SM-11S1 power amplifier, $3,699 SA-11S2 SACD player and the all new $2,599.99 AV8003 Networking AV Preamp / Processor. For those lacking the requisite scratch, the slightly less magnificent SA8001 SACD player ($899.99) and PM7001 integrated amp ($599.99) will also be around. Word has it that all of the items will be demonstrated on Snell loudspeakers, which all in all should deliver a fairly blissful experience.
Showcase Quicksilver interface
A reader tipped us off to this very cool new interface for Quicksilver called Showcase from Julius Eckert. It's basically pure eye-candy, but what eye-candy it is! Taking its cue from Cover Flow it leverages Leopards Core Animation technologies to, er, showcase Leopard's graphical goodness. While I'm not entirely sure it's practical in the long run, Showcase is definitely a fun addition to Quicksilver in Leopard. Thanks panpot!
Widget Watch: Showcase your TiVo's content on your Mac
Unfortunately, an HD TiVo was too expensive for me in 2007, and none of my friends or relatives ponied up the cash to get me one as a gift this holiday season, so I'm forced to settle with the extremely inferior Comcast HD DVR box. But for you TiVo owners, here's an awesome plugin to easily and stylishly connect your TiVo with your Mac. Showcase is a dashboard widget that, given your TiVo's IP and MAK, will not only show you what your TiVo is up to, but also let you download and decode shows directly from there on to your Mac.TiVoToGo was shipped almost exactly a year ago for Mac, but Showcase seemingly does almost everything TTG does, and is available in simple widget form for the low, low price of free. A few users say it's a little slow (not surprising, given that it's doing all of this stuff from a widget interface, not a full application), but if, unlike me, you did have people who loved you enough to get you a TiVo HD this year, it's definitely worth a download.Thanks, Dave!
Your Elite Beat Agents screenplay + a video camera = an easy $10,000
Nintendo is giving all of you auteurs a chance at some exposure, cash, and Nintendo swag, and all you have to do in return is mess around with a camera. They're asking for entries for their Short Cuts Showcase, to be shown at the Top of the Rock in New York City's Rockefeller Center.To enter, make a three-to-five minute film that includes something Nintendo-related and submit it on CD or DVD by June 6. If you're not up for the Elite Beat Agents theme, may we suggest a courtroom drama? Also, if you happen to have DS Fanboy open in the background of your movie at some point, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Johnny, tell them what they'll win after the break!
On the floor of Garmin's Chicago flagship
Did you get the memo? Navigation systems aren't just for pilots and geeks anymore. And it's not like they're content staying put in your car, either; they've migrated to your wrist, your bike, and your phone. They've gone so mainstream, in fact, that Garmin decided earlier this year that they could justify springing for a brick-and-mortar store in the heart of one of North America's trendiest shopping districts, Chicago's Magnificent Mile. For the record, yes -- this is the same Magnificent Mile fellow tech companies Motorola and Nokia have also decided to call home in 2006 (in fact, you can see Motorola's joint across the street). Spending big bucks on the glitz and glamor of a Michigan Avenue address is all well and good, but realistically, what sets the world's first Garmin Store apart from, say, your local Best Buy or Circuit City when it comes time to mess around with Garmin's latest navigational wizardry? Read on for our sneak peek!
