CES2013
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Eton adds two more solar-powered Bluetooth sound systems to its Rukus lineup (hands-on)
For those about to rock out (in direct sunlight, at least), Eton won't just salute you, but offer you more options for your environmentally friendly moshing. At this year's CES, it's launching two more solar-powered Bluetooth boomboxes to complement the Rukus that arrived at 2012's show. The Rugged Rukus offers the same hardware as the flagship, but wrapped in a sturdy IPX-4 shell that'll keep it safe from knocks and splashes. It's also trotting out the Rukus XL, a not-too-distant cousin of the old Soulra XL iPod dock, which ditches the e-ink display in favor of a chunky, triangular body, flip-out solar panel and six more speaker drivers. We took a quick look at these two eco-friendly music machines at CES, and were impressed by their solid build and smart appearance. The Rugged model is suitably compact and lightweight, and the XL has a handy mobile device storage area hidden behind the front panel though its 72-square-inch solar panel is quite massive in person. The Rugged Rukus will arrive in Q1 and will cost $99.99, and the Rukus XL setting you back $199.99 when it arrives in Q2. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Pure unveils Jongo for low-cost multi-room audio, revamped Pure Connect app
Many consider Sonos the main game in town for mobile-friendly, multi-room audio. Pure wants to give us at least one major alternative. Its new Jongo speaker line delivers multi-speaker streaming for radio, podcasts and Pure Music subscriptions across the home through WiFi, rather than a proprietary network, and includes Bluetooth for those who want to skip the network altogether. The system promises to cut the traditionally high costs of spreading sound throughout the home, as well: the inaugural Jongo S340B portable speaker (at left) coming in the first quarter of the year should cost $229, or about $70 less than its stationary Play:3 rival. An A140B audio-to-WiFi bridge (bottom) and a 100W S640B flagship speaker (top) should fill out Pure's plans when they ship later in the first half of the year, although there's no immediate pricing for a point of reference. In tandem with the hardware, there's a matching refresh of the Pure Connect app. The software update brings in the control of Jongo speakers that you'd expect, but it also promises simpler navigation, tie-ins with Audioboo's user-recorded spoken word content and a dedicated discovery area to find music beyond the beaten path. Android and iOS users should have access to the app during the first quarter. Pure Music, a music store and a social listening component should reach the app in the near future, although Americans will have to wait until sometime in 2013 to use the service that their British and German friends have today. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Ben Gilbert contributed to this report.
Lenovo intros four IdeaPad laptops, all with touchscreens; prices start at $699
Remember we said lots of PC makers were going to play it safe at this year's CES, introducing touchscreen versions of their existing laptops? That definitely applies to Lenovo: the company just announced four touch-enabled notebooks, and they all look pretty similar to its earlier offerings -- save for those touchscreens, of course. First up, there's the IdeaPad U310 Touch and U410 Touch, which have the same industrial design as the U310 and U410 Ultrabooks, just with a little extra heft (the U310 is 3.85 pounds / 18mm thick; the U410, 4.4 pounds / 21mm thick). Other than that, the specs closely match the current U310 and U410: up to 4GB of RAM and 500GB of storage on the 13-inch model, and up to 8GB of memory and 1TB of space on the big guy. Both will be offered with a Core i7 processor, but only the 14-incher has a discrete NVIDIA GPU (the U310 gets by on Intel's integrated HD 4000 graphics). The U410 also offers four USB ports, while the U310 makes do with three. Finally, battery life is bound to differ: the U310 is rated for up to six hours, compared with eight on the U410. Whichever you choose, though, the screen resolution tops out at 1,366 x 768, and the hard drive can be paired with a 24GB SSD to help speed up boot times. The U310 will arrive in March starting at $779, while the U410 is slated to land in April with a starting price of $850. Additionally, Lenovo announced two mainstream laptops, the 14-inch IdeaPad Z400 Touch and the 15-inch Z500 Touch. Unlike with the U310 and U410 Touch, the specs here are pretty consistent, other than the difference in screen size. Both measure about an inch thick, even with an optical drive on board. They'll be offered with Core i7 processors (standard voltage), a 2GB NVIDIA GT645M GPU, up to 8GB of RAM and up to 1TB of HDD storage. Additionally, they'll come standard with backlit keyboards and will be available with optional 1,600 x 900 displays -- both nice-to-have features, we'd say. The two laptops will start at $699, according to Lenovo, but the Z400 will arrive in March, while the Z500 is scheduled to ship in April. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Lenovo unveils new IdeaCentre A730 and C540 desktops for $549 and up
In addition to announcing new touchscreen notebooks today at CES, Lenovo is unveiling a trio of Windows 8-optimized desktops. You can get the lowdown on the new Erazer X700 gaming system here, but for now we'll take a look at the two all-in-ones. Up first is the IdeaCentre A730, a 27-inch multi-touch all-in-one that measures just 0.9 inch (24.5mm) thick. Still, the system has room for an optical drive, which is integrated into the base. You have your choice of a 2,560 x 1,440 or 1,920 x 1,080 frameless display, and like many Windows 8 devices we've been seeing lately, the screen is adjustable -- from -5 degrees to 90 degrees. The desktop comes with up to a Core i7 processor, storage maxes out at 1TB and graphics options include an NVIDIA GeForce GT 745M chip with 2GB of dedicated memory. The A730 will go on sale for $1,499 and up in June. Lenovo is also adding to its C series desktop lineup with the new 23-inch C540. It's more budget-friendly than the A730, with the non-touch model starting at $549 and processor options topping out at a Core i3 chip, and it will be available both with and without a touchscreen. (The resolution is 1,920 x 1,080 for both versions.) The highest-end graphics option will be a NVIDIA GeForce 615 chip with 2GB of RAM, and you can outfit the system with up to 2TB of storage space. The non-touch IdeaCentre C540 will be available in February, and touch models will hit the market in June. Hit up the press galleries below for a look at both systems. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Lenovo intros the ThinkPad Edge E431 and E531 with new trackpad, charging connector (video)
It's CES, which means if a company is going to show up, it may as well go all out with the product announcements. Lenovo, for its part, is getting a head start. The show doesn't actually kick off for another two days, but the company has already unveiled a slew of desktops, laptops and Ultrabooks (and one travel monitor, to boot). Now it's rounding things out by introducing a couple notebooks for its small business customers. These include the ThinkPad Edge E431 and E531, both mainstream laptops with optical drives and optional touchscreens. More important than speeds and feeds, though, the company is ushering in a redesigned trackpad, one that gets rid of those secondary buttons meant to be used with the TrackPoint. (They're now built into the touchpad, clickpad-style.) Eventually this will become the standard across all ThinkPads -- a move that will probably cheese off ThinkPad diehards, but please newcomers who'd rather have a larger touchpad. Additionally, the company unveiled a proprietary new charging standard called OneLink, which uses a single cable for charging, video and data. To go with it, Lenovo also unveiled the OneLink dock, a peripheral with four USB ports, HDMI and an Ethernet jack. Lenovo says OneLink will also become standard for the ThinkPad line, so we're guessing more accessories like this aren't far off. Other than the difference in screen size (14 and 15 inches, respectively) the specs on those two laptops are largely the same: up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, eight hours of battery life and a Core i7 option at the high end. The screen resolution tops out at 1,600 x 900, and if you get the 14-inch version, you can choose between a glossy or matte finish (the 15-incher is matte only). They'll also be offered with a 1GB or 2GB NVIDIA GPU, though Lenovo hasn't said which one. As for the dock, it sports USB, Ethernet, HDMI, VGA and audio inputs. It also sounds like it's just the first in a series of OneLink accessories, so look out for more news on that front. For now, though, this first batch of products is scheduled to ship in May, with the laptops starting at $539 and the dock priced at $99. For now, check out some hands-on photos after the break along with a quick video highlighting the new trackpad and charging port. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Lenovo announces the ThinkVision LT1423p, a mobile touchscreen monitor with pen support (video)
Maybe you're the kind of person who needs an external display even on business trips. Or maybe you've got a non-touch PC, and getting a touchscreen monitor seems like the best way to jump on the Windows 8 train (you know, as opposed to replacing your PC altogether). Whoever you are, Lenovo's banking on there being more of you out there. The company just announced the ThinkVision LT1423p mobile monitor, a 13.3-inch display that weighs a shade under 1.6 pounds, making it light enough to potentially stuff in your carry-on. Once it ships sometime in Q2, you'll be able to pick it up in wired and wireless versions, meaning you can connect over either USB 3.0 or WiFi. (While the wired one is powered over USB, the wireless model has a 10-hour battery, the same one inside the ThinkPad Tablet 2.) Ether way, you're looking at a 1,600 x 900 AH-IPS, Gorilla Glass panel. The screen supports pen input, too, and comes with a writing implement that registers 256 degrees of pressure sensitivity. Like we said, it'll ship sometime in the second quarter, priced at $349 for the wired version and $449 for the wireless one. In the meantime, we've got a demo video waiting for you right after the break. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Lenovo announces multi-user Horizon Table PC for $1,699 and up (video)
In addition to announcing some traditional all-in-ones today, Lenovo is introducing the IdeaCentre Horizon 27 Table PC. It too is a full-fledged, battery-powered desktop, but it can collapse into table-top mode, becoming a 27-inch, 1080p slate optimized for multi-user touch input. The design is quite similar to the Sony VAIO Tap 20 we saw at IFA, with a built-in stand that supports the screen in an upright position. The 17-pound design feels sturdy, but it's also very thin, at 27mm (1.1 inches) thick. The blood and guts are what you'd expect of a high-end AIO: processors range from Core i3 to i7, graphics max out at NVIDIA GeForce GT 620M and storage tops off at 1TB. Users can switch between the Aura moon-dial UI, which is a hub or games, photos and other media, and the standard Windows 8 interface. As you can imagine, the Horizon is ideal for multi-player games, and EA Games has pre-loaded several titles, including Monopoly, that are primed especially for this machine. Incidentally, Lenovo also bundles the Table PC with joysticks and an e-dice. There will also be an optional stand, which supports use in flat table mode as well as desktop mode -- with an included keyboard, to boot. Lenovo says pricing will start at "approximately $1,699," with a release date slated for early summer. Check out our hands-on video past the break for a closer look. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
LaCie teams up with Philippe Starck on the Blade Runner limited edition hard drive
Philippe Starck, the design mind behind various Parrot wares, has teamed up with LaCie once more for a quite dapper external storage device. The duo has just announced the Blade Runner here at CES: a 4TB USB 3.0 hard drive wrapped in heavy-duty aluminum and sporting a LED power button in the shape of Mr. Starck's logo. That's not all. Only 9,999 of these bad boys will be produced so you'll need to have your affairs in order ahead of time if the gadget strikes your design sensibilities. The drive will also include 10GB of Wuala secure cloud storage to lend a hand with the archival process. No word on when the Blade Runner will arrive, but when it does, you can expect to nab it online from LaCie and other retailers after parting with the requisite $299. For a closer look at the goods, hit the galleries below to take a gander at the press shots and our brief hands-on. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Reminder: We're live from Samsung's CES 2013 press event tomorrow
There are plenty of events at CES, but few show the kind of variety as Samsung. New Ultra HDTV? New superphone? New superfridge? We might just see all three -- and more. There's only one way to find out. You can join the liveblog right here at the time listed below. January 7, 2013 5:00 PM EST
Intel's CES 2013 press conference happens January 7th at 4pm ET, get your liveblog here!
There are certain things at CES we just won't miss. Samsung's press conference. Sony. Panasonic. And then there's Intel. We attend the company's keynote every year, and we intend to continue that tradition in 2013. Intel, of course, is being coy about what's in store, only saying it has news to share around phones, tablets and laptops. (Guess there won't be a "virtual cable TV service," then?) What we do know is that Kirk Skaugen, VP and general manager of the PC client group, will be speaking, so we expect to hear lots about Ultrabooks, especially those of the touchscreen variety. In particular, we're hoping to hear a little more about those rumored Y-series chips, whose lower-power design should be an ideal fit for all those laptop / tablet hybrids we've been testing. Guess we'll find out tomorrow. Bookmark this link and come back at 4pm ET to get all the news as it's breaking. January 7, 2013 4:00 PM EST
Mad Catz reveals line of multiplatform gaming peripherals alongside GameSmart initiative
After introducing the world to its GameSmart crossplatform hardware initiative last week just ahead of CES 2013, Mad Catz today revealed exactly what that'll mean for consumers: several of the company's peripherals are being reappropriated for use across mobile, PC, and Mac platforms. That includes the R.A.T. mouse, the F.R.E.Q. headset, the M.O.U.S.9 wireless mouse, and the C.T.R.L.R. wireless gamepad, all of which are being branded into the GameSmart line. Beyond the PC / Mac / mobile applications of these devices, Mad Catz says "some" are also designed for console use without going into specifics -- we'll be sure to ask Mad Catz about that when we get our first hands-on with the line of GameSmart peripherals this evening. All four devices become available "in a range of distinctive colors" to the general public in "early 2013." Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Goal Zero brings the Yeti 150 solar generator back from the wilderness
It's not the first gadget to be named after the abominable snowman, but at least this one might save your neck in a tight spot. Goal Zero's Yeti 150 solar charger is designed for use in the great outdoors, packing a 15W photovoltaic panel hooked up to a 150 watt hour battery. It'll be available to buy this Spring, just in time for camping season, and will cost you a not-too-abominable $400. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Live from Engadget's CES 2013 Trailer!
Ever wondered what it's like spending CES week in a trailer with the Engadget staff? Well, we can't quite offer up that experience, but here's the next best thing. We'll be updating this liveblog all week with the sights, sounds and smells of CES 2013.
BodyMedia's CORE 2 armband tracks your health, or lack thereof
BodyMedia's line of armbands has been helping folks monitor their health for years, and today the company has announced a new, smaller and more fashionable member of the family. Called the CORE 2, it packs a three-axis accelerometer, plus temperature, heat flux and galvanic skin response sensors to measure all kinds of biometric data. Those internals gather over 5,000 bits of data every minute to track how hard you exercise and how many calories you burn when doing so. It doesn't take nights off either, as the band also tracks sleeping patterns to give wearers a full 24/7/365 picture of their health. Using Bluetooth 4.0, those biometrics get passed on to BodyMedia's existing mobile apps and web portal to track your fitness over time, create custom workouts and recommend dietary adjustments to help your body be the best it can be. What really sets the CORE 2 apart from other fitness bands is that it has interchangeable faceplates, straps and cuffs, so folks can tailor the bracelet's appearance to match their outfit. Unfortunately, the CORE 2 isn't yet ready for sale just yet, so we don't know when it'll be available or how much it'll cost. However, fitness fashionistas stay tuned -- we'll be seeing it in person here at CES, so there'll be more pictures coming your way this week. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Dish Explorer is a second-screen solution for satellite subscribers, we go hands-on (video)
We got a sneak peek at Dish's Explorer app earlier today, but now we're able to provide a closer look. This application serves as a "second screen" -- it's most useful when you're in front of the TV, and essentially replaces your standard remote control with a social media-enabled content-rich touchscreen experience. That means full Twitter and Facebook integration, with sidebars to outline what your friends or contacts are watching at that very moment, so you don't end up feeling left out when your office's favorite show is discussed at the water cooler the next day. The app also ranks current shows based on their popularity on Twitter, updated in realtime, and organizes programs by category, displaying movies sorted by genre, or current televised sporting events. You can also search for films and television shows, and once you've come across one you'd like to watch, you can tap to watch it now (your linked TV will flip to that channel immediately), then tweet your impressions, complete with the proper (pre-loaded) hashtag. We spent a few minutes poking around Explorer, and the app seemed to work well, with an intuitive structure and useful added content, such as a Rotten Tomatoes rating atop each film's cover art. It's a useful way to discover more about whatever you happen to be watching currently, while also serving to help you locate interesting content amid a sea of programming garbage. Dish Explorer will be available beginning later this month. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Smart TV Alliance adds Panasonic and IBM to its fold, lays bare new SDK features
Looks like LG and Toshiba aren't the only TV manufacturers dreaming of a platform-independent future for Smart TVs -- Panasonic has joined the Smart TV Alliance too. Founded to help build a non-proprietary ecosystem for Smart TV apps, the Alliance's ranks have grown to include Panasonic IBM Specific Media, ABOX42 and TechniSat. Smart TV Alliance president Richard Choi is optimistic that the new members will help it mend a fragmented market, giving developers a chance to focus on building apps, rather than navigate compliance processes. A CES developers conference hopes to get them started, too -- introducing the latest SDK's upcoming features, including updated HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript specifications, as well as support for new video codecs and 3D video. Technical presentations will be available this Wednesday for folks in Sin City. Everyone else? Check out the Alliance's official press release after the break. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Griffin and Crayola intro contact-free Light Marker, drawing workstations
Griffin and Crayola are already best of friends through their ColorStudio HD collaboration for the iPad. They're deepening that relationship at CES with a handful of iPad accessories and apps based around the quintessential crayon. Heading up the pack, the Crayola Light Marker you see above upgrades the earlier input by letting kids draw in the air; they can splatter (thankfully virtual) paint and play other games without scribbling directly on the tablet's screen. A pair of cradles are joining the marker, including the Digital Activity Center portable lap desk (after the break) and the briefcase-like Color & Play Workstation. The software side is being rounded out with special Barbie and Hot Wheels versions of the ColorStudio HD app, each of which has drawings themed around the perennial favorite toys. Griffin expects the Light Marker, Digital Activity Center and Color & Play Workstation to reach young artists' hands in the spring for $30, $40 and $20 respectively; the specialized iPad apps should arrive later in January, each for $3. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Dish Explorer for iPad steers Hopper DVRs, tells TV watchers what's trending
Dish was quick to take advantage of its Sling Media integration with remote live TV, but it hasn't put as much of an emphasis on what happens when we're still sitting comfortably in our living rooms. It's filling that hole with the launch of its Explorer app for the iPad. Viewers with a Hopper DVR can control their set-top box directly from the tablet, as you'd expect, but they'll also get a companion to whatever they're watching, whether it's live or recorded. Explorer catches the buzz around a show on Facebook and Twitter, including rankings if you'd like to see what shows are the hottest; it also builds in Thuuz sports stats and ratings to identify what's likely to be the big game for the day, even as it's happening. The app doesn't officially reach the App Store until Monday, and there's no word of an Android port, but we'll be sure to share our first-hand experiences as soon as possible. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Griffin launches PowerDock 5 multi-device charging platform and ChargeSensor adapters
Given how many of us have more than one device, it's rare to see gear that really cares for our increasingly large gadget collections. Griffin's solution is to produce the PowerDock 5, a USB-device toast-rack that can replenish the energy of up to five iPads simultaneously. It's priced at $100 and will be available in Spring. At the same time, the company is putting out a new PowerBlock plug adapter and PowerJolt car charger with Griffin's ChargeSensor technology, which identifies the power needs of your device and meters out energy accordingly. Both will be available in the spring, the PowerBlock setting you back $30 and the PowerJolt costing $25. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Griffin launches MicConnect XLR microphone adapter, refreshes StudioConnect with Lightning connector (update: hands-on!)
It wouldn't be a CES without accessory mavens Griffin launching a small armada of products. This year, the company is launching a revised version of the StudioConnect that's compatible with Apple's Lightning connector. It'll go on sale in the Spring, and 4th Generation iPad and iPad Mini owners will have to stump up $150. It's also pushing out MicConnect (similar to MIDIConnect), an XLR-to-3.5mm connector that lets you hook studio-level microphones into mobile devices and can even supply phantom power. While it's not due to make it onto store shelves until June, it will only cost $40, which might soften the blow for impatient musos everywhere. Update: We've just spent some time with both of Griffin's new peripherals and we were quite impressed (although not completely surprised) at how light they felt in our hands. That being said, we weren't so fond of how much of a fingerprint magnet the StudioConnect was, however it's nothing a cleaning cloth (or a shirt) can't easily fix -- otherwise the main change in the new revision is the obvious inclusion of that Lightning connector, which in itself may make the upgrade all worthwhile. The MicConnect, on the other hand, didn't appear to suffer from any of these nitpicky issues, and its materials felt solid enough that potential users won't be worrying about it breaking in their backpack, messenger bag or, heck, even pockets -- yes, it's that small. Want to see for yourself? Then be sure to gawk at our hands-on galleries after the jump. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Edgar Alvarez and Alexis Santos contributed to this report.
