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Iomega v.Clone turns your whole computer into a portable, bootable VMWare image
We're not used to thinking of Iomega as a software company, but with EMC -- the maker of VMWare -- in the background now, some sort of synergy was bound to happen. Iomega's new v.Clone software is the result, and it sounds pretty great. Basically it backs up your C: drive into a bootable, standalone app-wrapped VMWare image, which can run off of a compatible Iomega drive (new eGo and Prestige lines, for starters) on any other Windows computer. Any changes you make to your system in VM mode will then be synced back to your main machine when you return. We're guessing there will be some performance implications to the setup, and it'll take some using to know just how practical this might be, but it presents an intriguing opportunity for people to untether from their increasingly bulky, store everything desklaptops if it works -- and their friends don't mind them jacking in.
Turtle Beach upgrades, iterates USB soundcard line, adds optical output for true 5.1 surround
The USB soundcard race may not be the hottest, but it just got a little warmer just the same. Turtle Beach upgraded its Amigo and Micro external cards to be the -- wait for it -- Amigo II and Micro II. Both feature a new design that makes them larger than before but extends the device away from your laptop (or whatever you connect it to), giving a bit more flex room to connect your headphones or microphone. That's all you'll be connecting to the Amigo II, as it sports a pair of 3.5mm connectors: audio output and microphone input. The Micro II ditches the input, but adds S/PDIF digital optical output (via adapter) so you can get proper 5.1 out of your laptop. Both devices are said to be available soon for a very reasonable $24.95.
Kindle DX now with global wireless?
See that text up there? The part of the site that reads "Kindle DX Now with Global Wireless." Well, the Kindle DX doesn't have have global wireless... yet. The link is dead but it certainly looks like Amazon is about to make good on its earlier promise to bring global roaming capabilities to the DX as it did with its 6-inch Kindle. In fact, we're expecting a press release any time now. [Thanks, Brad]
ESPN 3D launches in June with World Cup soccer -- our football to follow later
Need any more proof this is the year of 3D? USA Today is reporting ESPN 3D will start broadcasting this summer with a World Cup soccer match, with additional content coming from the Summer X Games (we won't have to wait for the flick to hit theaters this time) NBA games, and college basketball & football. DirecTV still hasn't confirmed its rumored plans for 3D, but CableLabs CEO Paul Liao is quoted calling the level of engagement 3D sports presents viewers as "unprecedented." More details on exactly how 3D in the home will happen are sure to come throughout the week -- we've already been blown away by 3D sports, it looks like everyone else will have their chance in just a few months.
Skype HD: 720p videocalling from PCs or directly through LG & Panasonic HDTVs
Skype has already made an impact on the home phone, mobiles and PC desktops (couldn't do our podcast without it) and now it's taking on the living room. LG and Panasonic are already lined up to deliver new HD webcams for their internet connected plasma and LCD HDTVs that will enable living room-to-living room calling in 720p. With support for the service's standard features like free Skype-to-Skype calling, voicemail, receiving inbound calls and more, using the TV to make calls should be just as easy (but likely more embarrassing, try some HD makeup -- just a tip) as we're used to. PC users haven't been left behind with 720p HD streaming built into the latest client and new webcams on the way from faceVsion and In Store Solutions. Like the ones planned for the TVs, they handle video processing onboard so even older computers or underpowered netbooks can support HD streaming without bursting into flames. Let the good people at Skype explain it all to you in a video embedded after the break, we'll wait to get our hands and made-for-SD faces some time with the new setup this week at CES Update: We've found a few pics of LG's version of the Skype HDTV experience to go along with the Panasonic rendering above, check the gallery. %Gallery-81460%
WirelessHD 2.0 spec speeds up to 28 Gbps to make room for 4K, 3D, portable devices
Two years after finishing up version 1.0 WirelessHD (WiHD) is still trying to come out on top of the no-cables-necessary high definition streaming dogfight, and it's going to get a boost in that effort now that the 2.0 standard is available. Backwards compatible with existing WiHD hardware, the bandwidth has been upped to 10 - 28 Gbps (up from initial specs of 4 Gbps with a theoretical 25 Gbps limit) - enough to handle 4K resolutions, Deep Color, a newly specified 3D over WirelessHD set of standards, HDCP 2.0 DRM and even 1 Gbps file transfers between devices. Out of this world specs are just a matter of course for new hardware, but our focus is still on the group's ability to get the price down this time around if it ever plans on going mainstream. With an investment from Best Buy just announced and a spot in VIZIO's LCD lineup already confirmed, existing cable manufacturers may want to start developing Monster Air (10x higher transmission speed due to special platinum ionized molecules, of course) to sell sooner rather than later.
Samsung to demo a trio of innovative OLED displays
OLEDs have still yet to tackle the basics, getting bigger and cheaper, yet here's Samsung doing some funky stuff with them. The company will have three displays doing their thing this evening, the first being a 14-inch, 960 x 540 display that can switch between two channels fast enough to enable 3D viewing. It has a contrast ratio of 100,000:1, a greater than NTSC color gamut, and a predictably delectable 1.6mm thickness. Next up is another 14-inch model but with a different trick: it's transparent. We've seen such things before, but never at this scale. Finally we have some further information about that passport-sized OLED display showed off earlier this year. It's only two-inches in width, but interestingly it's powered entirely by RF, so no direct power source or battery is required; when paired with an RFID the display will power on when the card is scanned. That leaves us to wonder if these will be harder or easier to duplicate than existing forms of identification, but unfortunately our forgery expert McLovin could not be reached for comment.
ioSafe's Solo SSD ditches platters, isn't worried about buildings collapsing on it
Remember when ioSafe unveiled its original Solo right around this time last year? Man, that thing's looking mighty sluggish now. This year, the company is introducing the Solo SSD, which is hailed as the planet's first solid state external drive built to protect data from a building collapsing on it. Yeah, a building collapsing on it. It'll be available with capacities as large as 256GB and will get connected via eSATA or USB, and if you care to know, the ruggedness is due to the firm's own proprietary ArmorPlate steel outer casing. As for specifics, said tech helps the drive survive 5,000 pound crush forces, 20 foot drops onto rubble and blazing infernos to boot. It'll be available next month in the US for $499 (64GB), $749 (128GB) or $1,250 (256GB), with the full details / press release hosted up after the break. As soon as we catch some benchmarks on this thing, we'll be sure to pass 'em along.
Lenovo busts out IdeaCentre A300, IdeaPad S10-3t and plenty of other solid Ideas
Lenovo already treated us to a slew of new ThinkPad machines, and now it's time for the Idea line to get its due. Up first, we've got the IdeaCentre A300, which is hailed as the industry's thinnest all-in-one desktop. Measuring just 18.5mm deep, the 21.5-inch machine sports a 1080p LED panel, Core 2 Duo CPU, WiFi and a bundled Bluetooth keyboard / mouse. The IdeaPad S10-3t (shown above) is the industry's first multitouch capacitive netbook tablet, with Lenovo trumpeting the device's ability to easily recognize fingertip input and plow through chores with an Atom N470 CPU and a 320GB hard drive. Moving right along, the 14-inch Y460 and 15.6-inch Y560 offer up respectable multimedia performance on a budget, while the 20-inch Lenovo C310 goes down as the company's first multitouch all-in-one desktop. The Core i7-equipped IdeaCentre K320 caters to the gamers, and the G460 / G560 lappies are slated to suit those "mainstream" users who just need something basic to handle... well, the basics. Pricing, availability and detailed specifications await you just beyond the break.%Gallery-80873%
Klipsch LightSpeaker makes whole home audio as simple as screwing in a light bulb (hands-on)
When we walked the sound-filled halls of Klipsch's Indianapolis headquarters last month, the company insisted that it was always looking at possible expansions into new markets. Today at CES, it's proving that those words aren't being uttered carelessly. The all-new LightSpeaker is a unique and potentially game-changing device in the whole home audio market, as unlike similar contraptions, this one requires no external wiring or power. The device is designed to fit into normal 5- to 6-inch light recesses, which enables existing homeowners to easily retrofit these into their ceilings and walls. We were granted some hands-on time with the light, and put simply, you just screw it into a conventional fixture, dial up the desired zone on the bundled remote, and listen. A full-range driver sits just beneath the LED light, and it receives signals via a 2.4GHz base station that can be plugged into just about any source. Klipsch plans to ship these soon in two main packages: a kit that includes a base station and two LightSpeakers for around $600 and a single LightSpeaker by its lonesome for around $250. The bundled controller allows users to control two zones and two sources, and you can also adjust lighting brightness and volume via the main station or the smaller remote. Each zone can easily support four LightSpeakers, and when we asked if these could withstand the elements, we were told that they'd do fine in a covered patio but probably not within an unshielded pool deck. In other words, some humidity shouldn't be an issue, but you probably wouldn't want 'em to get rained on all night. We also wouldn't be surprised to see a bundle in the future that includes a wireless subwoofer to really round out the audio, but don't say you heard it from us. Peek the gallery for a closer look! %Gallery-81400%
Lenovo Skylight: its first ARM / Snapdragon-based smartbook, coming in April for $499
Remember that Snapdragon-powered Lenovo smartbook we peeked back in November of last year? No? Fret not, as the aforesaid outfit has just come clean with the details surrounding the previously elusive device. The Skylight is Lenovo's first-ever smartbook, and while we're still struggling to see what niche these things are designed to fill, we definitely can't knock the internals. It's the industry's first ARM-based, Qualcomm smartbook, and it's powered by a 1GHz processor. Other specs include a 10.1-inch display (1,280 x 720), a customized version of Linux, 20GB (total) of flash storage, 2GB of cloud storage, an 8GB miniSD card, twin USB ports, 1.3 megapixel camera, WiFi and a battery capable of humming along for ten hours on a full charge. It's also apt to be a lot like the unorthodox IdeaPad U1 Hybrid on the software front. The clamshell enclosure weighs under two pounds, and the integrated AT&T WWAN module ensures that you can get connected wherever a tower is available. The unit will ship this April with 18 preloaded web gadgets (including portals to Amazon MP3, Facebook, Gmail and YouTube), and pricing is set for $499 (MSRP). We're told that AT&T will offer it up as well, but it's unclear whether or not it'll subsidize the Skylight should you commit to a two-year DataConnect contract. Rest assured that we'll be getting some face time with this bugger in short order, but till then, you can peek the press release and a promo /hands-on video just after the break. Oh, and we should mention that we snapped an extremely brief hands-on with the machine a small bit ago, and we're still flabbergasted by how thin it was. Expect a more thorough look tomorrow! %Gallery-81327% %Gallery-81447%
Spyder3HDMI doesn't need any help to calibrate your TV
Datacolor has been pushing the automated calibration solution for a while with its line of SpyderTV products, the latest of which simplifies things even further, cutting out the need for an attached PC by simply connecting to the television's HDMI input. This way, everything that needs to be done is on the TV screen itself, and the company claims it will work with any digital TV. Considering how many people still aren't even watching HD on their HDTVs, even if its price isn't a hurdle (none announced yet, although the current Spyder3 pictured here is $99,) consumer ignorance will still leave many LCDs and plasmas stuck on torch mode or worse.
Viliv's HD5 PMP leaked ahead of CES, packs Windows CE, 32GB of storage
We're just a few days away from the opening of the show and, naturally, we've already seen a few notable leaks. This latest one, courtesy of Viliv, is perhaps on the lower end of the excitement spectrum, but is an interesting one nonetheless. The company that impressed us with a slew of MIDs and UMPCs throughout 2009 looks set to launch another PMP, the HD5. It has a much sleeker looking design than the S5 from last year (just 13mm thick), and higher specs too, packing 8, 16, or 32GB of storage plus SDHC expansion. There's a DMB/DAB tuner, five-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen, HDMI output, and support for 1080p content. Somewhat curiously it's running Windows CE, but we're guessing that'll be nicely hidden behind some sort of jazzy UI -- which we fully expect to be experiencing in the next few days. [Thanks, Gavin]
Sony launches Alpha A450 DSLR
Sony just expanded the Alpha DSLR with the new A450. It's got the same 14.2 sensor and BIONZ processor as the A550, but it doesn't have the fast-AF live view focus system or flip-out LCD screen -- you'll be looking at relatively small 2.6-inch fixed screen. Price doesn't seem to be official yet, but we're hearing it'll come in under $1,000, so it could deliver some decent bang for the buck. Great -- but we're hoping we'll hear some more about those rumored 3D Alphas later this week. Hit the read links for some more pics.
iLuv App Station speaker dock rolls with its own Alarm Clock App
It's CES again kids and that means it's time to pump out as many iPod / iPhone peripherals as possible. Most are lame reworks of designs we've seen over and over and over again. iLuv's App Station, however, is a refreshing update that combines a few old designs: as a rotating iPhone speaker dock, the device can be shifted into vertical or horizontal positions for movies or music. But there's also a free downloadable iLuv App that turns the device into a big ol' alarm clock. The App Station is expected to go on sale in February for 130 beans.
Panasonic's CES Lumix sextet leaked: FP and FH models galore
Looks like some Asian website, as Photo Rumors puts it, made a boo-boo and published its Panasonic point-and-shoot a tad early. Specs for six (and press photos for four) Lumix cameras have come to light. Here's what's the gang reportedly found, in a nutshell: the very compact, 14.1-megapixel FP3 has a 3-inch touchscreen LCD, 4x zoom, shoots 720p 30 frames per second video, and comes in a variety of colors; the FP1 similar in stature but with 12.1 megapixels and a 2.7-inch non-touchscreen LCD instead. The Lumix F3 drops the "very compact" look of the FP1 but is also 12.1 megapixels / 3x zoom, 720p 30fps video, and 2.7-inch LCD. The FH20 has a 14.1 megapixel sensor, 8x zoom, 720p video, and a Venus Engine IV image processor, which is also reportedly claimed by the FH1 (12 megapixels, 5x zoom) and FH3 (14.1 megapixels, 5x zoom). It's just that time of the season, eh?
Engadget is live from CES 2010!
Are your senses full with the aroma of stag parties and buffet bacon lying listless atop the flicker of a 3AM Sterno flame? No? Well, that's because you're not in Vegas. We just rolled in with the double-wide now parked just outside the Las Vegas Convention Center to celebrate our annual CES rite of passage. We're already knee deep in press releases and hot products with dozens of events scheduled throughout the week followed by extensive hands-on coverage and reviews of the all the best products that the consumer electronics industry can muster. You can view the news in the standard format that you're used to right here, or you can head over to engadget.com/ces. There you'll find our coverage presented in a tighter format so that you can more easily keep track of what's breaking and which events we're covering live (and when). So kick back and take it all in. It's going to get busy, but if you're like us then it just doesn't get any better than CES. Gratuitous trailer shot after the break.
Samsung announces two PMPs, one for fitness gurus, one made of glass
We expect there to be no shortage of hot new PMPs announced this week, so manufacturers are looking for something -- anything -- to differentiate theirs from the rest. Samsung has two interesting angles for its latest players, the first being the MyFit, an 8GB model with integrated sensors to detect fat and stress, plus the typical accelerometer to measure your activities, and apps that can help you keep hydrated and even stop smoking -- assuming you ever started. Oh, and it plays music, too. Then there's the Ice Touch, a 16GB model with a two-inch AMOLED screen that's transparent, much like the Xperia Pureness, but with more colors and fewer stunned looking models. The device itself is said to have a case made of tempered glass, which should make those accidental drops onto concrete a little more exciting, and it packs support for a wide variety of audio and video formats, lossless and high-definition, respectively. No pricing on either, but we'd expect the glass one to cost more than the healthy one.
HP TM2-1070US tablet details leaked, is temporarily out of stock
Wondering about HP's TM2 tablet we heard about back in September? Read on and sate thy curiosity, as eCost seems to have updated their database a bit early, spoiling HP's fun and, if this is accurate, confirming the detailed specs of the TM2-1070US. It's packing a 1.3GHz Core 2 Duo processor behind a 12.1-inch multitouch screen, 4500MHD integrated graphics, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 320GB disk, and even a fingerprint scanner, all in an aluminum case that's been given the "factory custom" treatment with some laser etching. It's listed next to a $1,099 price, which seems fair enough, though the site still won't let you order one at this point. We're guessing this one will stay "temporarily out of stock" until HP gets the druthers to make it official. That should be soon enough. [Thanks, Liam]
Airstash brings wireless storage to iPhone
In 2007 I thought that my 8GB iPhone was as large as I would ever need. Two and a half years later and I've already filled up the 16GB storage of my iPhone 3GS. Enter AirStash, an expandable flash drive (via SD memory) that you will be able to access from your iPhone. Simply plug AirStash into your Mac, drag and drop some files to the mounted volume, and head then out the door with AirStash and iPhone in your pocket. How the technology works is currently unclear (expect to see a demo at CES 2010), but a logical solution would be that AirStash automatically syncs its contents with an off-site server -- similar to what Dropbox does today. If it truly is as portable as that, it will obviate Dropbox's (and MobileMe's) need to install any client software if you are, for instance, using a friend's computer. Personally, I'd like to see Apple purchase Dropbox and turn MobileMe's cloud storage into something usable; but in the interim, I'm excited by the prospect that AirStash provides. [via Engadget]
