ces-2009
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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%
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.
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.
Toshiba's DMFC "internet viewer" prototypes are truly next-gen
It's not every day you walk past something quite as striking as Toshiba's new DMFC internet viewer prototypes. Sure, folks like Toshiba and Samsung have been chatting up DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell) power technology for ages, but to see it live and in person -- and powering a truly unique form factor -- is quite a treat. Word is these things can last for a week of typical use on one methanol refill, and are running regular old Windows XP. Unfortunately, there's no word on what processing and storage is under the hood or when these will hit the market, or for how much. Basically, Windows 7 is much more likely the OS we'll be seeing on them by the time they're ready to go -- if that ever happens at all, DMFC doesn't have the best track record of actually breaking through the productization stage. Video is after the break, and the gallery includes a couple other Toshiba prototypes.%Gallery-41724%
Seen @ CES 2009: A man too tough for gadgets
On the way to Microsoft's booth, we encountered a man clearly so tough that he doesn't even need to class up one of the world's largest electronics shows by including shirt sleeves. Just in case that didn't get the point across, the writing on the back of the shirt says it all. This is clearly a man who ain't takin' any lip from some puny HDTV pitchman. Even Scrat in the back can't believe his attire.
LG's Renoir spokesperson: he will jump for you, ladies and gentlemen
Four days of late nights, early mornings, endless meetings, and drugs will do this to even the most stoic PR flacks. Almost magical video is after the break.
Seen @ CES 2009: The Lady Fitness Workout Kit
Ladies, how often have you taken a look at your poor little Wii Fit, and thought "If only there were some sort of peripheral to let the world know that I'm both concerned about my fitness aesthetics, and was emblazoned with pink"? Probably so often that you've lost count. As you know, pink is completely 100% the only color women are allowed to love and/or get accessories in. So the Lady Fitness Workout Kit has your name on it. Sorry, boys.
CES 2009: Feet-on with the X-Rocker Vibe
There's a magical subset of products one finds at CES, if one looks close enough. We call it the "We probably won't buy these, and we're not sure who will, but we're really glad they're in the universe" class of products. Yeah, we know, not the punchiest name. We're workshopping it.A great example is the X-Rocker Vibe, an odd speaker stage that the company (which also makes a line of gaming-centric chairs) plans to launch sometime this year. X-Rocker said the Vibe was supposed to replicate the sensation of taking the stage at a rock show, but all we got was "playing Guitar Hero during an exceedingly mild earthquake." That said, the loud showfloor of CES isn't a great place for testing audio products, so we're going to give it the benefit of the doubt. Honestly, we're just happy it exists.
Engadget Podcast 128 - 01.11.2009: CES wrap-up
Well, it's over -- and what a week it's been. Join Josh, Paul, Nilay and super-special guest Thomas Ricker as they wrap-up the big announcements and trends of CES 2009 -- a little something about netbooks, a little something about the Pre, and a whole lot of love.P.S.- Things get a little crazy towards the end -- it's definitely time everyone went home and got some sleep!Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, Nilay PatelGuest: Thomas RickerProducer: Trent WolbeSong: You Give Love a Bad NameSubscribe to the podcast[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune MarketplaceDownload the podcastLISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC)LISTEN (OGG)Contact the podcast1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.
CES 2009: The Microsoft outer hub of booth games
Situated in the exact opposite corner of the CES Central Hall, Microsoft must have been strategically placed so that no wars would break out between the two juggernauts. Although Justin McElroy thinks it's so that an employee from Microsoft won't fall in love with an employee from Sony and cause complete chaos. That's definitely more plausible.However, just like Sony, Microsoft only had a tiny section devoted to gaming. You could get some hands-on time with Fallout 3, Lips, the new Scene It, Gears of War 2, Dawn of War II and Halo Wars. The rumor we'd heard that Fallout's upcoming Operation: Anchorage DLC would be there turned out to be untrue, so we spent most of our time beating young girls at karaoke with Lips. Okay, we kid. We geeked out on Dawn of War II. More on that soon. Meanwhile, enjoy the gallery below for you booth addicts.%Gallery-41641%
CES 2009: The gaming sliver of Sony's ginormous booth
Sony's a pretty big company. Shocker, right? They're busy putting out things like new digital cameras, wafer-thin displays, televisions that show realistic 3D images, and some new piece of tech that replaces your brain with a network of recycled Memory Sticks. Amazing.Still, with all that going on they do still manage to churn out games. Only a tiny part of their booth at CES was dedicated to gaming, but they managed to fit in Patapon 2, Killzone 2, Resistance: Retribution, Flower and an in-progress EyeToy game. Check them all out in the gallery below.%Gallery-41560%
