ces-2013
Latest
ASUS Nexus 7 dock hands-on
Along with the Qube and the VivoTab Smart at CES, ASUS also quietly showed off its dock for the Nexus 7 at its remote suite outside CES. Judging by the tablet's position in the above photo, you can tell that the fairly weighty dock makes use of the tablet's pin connectors towards the bottom of its left side. Swing to the back and you'll see a micro-USB port plus an audio-out socket. That's actually pretty much it for the dock, and there's no price or availability just yet for the US so we'll keep our eyes open for more detail. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Acoustic Research's $120 ARS60 Bluetooth speakers seem oddly familiar
This is Acoustic Research's ARS60, a portable Bluetooth speaker that's weirdly pint-shaped, pumps out 16 watts of RMS power and has a battery rated for ten hours of play at medium volume. Of course, we're fairly sure that this is a re-badged SuperTooth Disco 2, albeit slapped with a $120 price-tag. If you're interested in picking one up, it'll be available in the Spring, but if you don't want to wait that long, you could always just buy one of the originals at a cheaper price. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Lenovo signs up Bluestacks to add Android apps to its Windows 8 PCs
We've grown accustomed to seeing Lenovo's Android-running smartphones, so it shouldn't be a surprise to see the company bring the operating system to its PCs as well. The PC maker has followed AMD in teaming up with Bluestacks to bring its Android App Player to Lenovo's Windows 8 PCs -- almost a year to the day that the software was originally launched. The company promises that users will soon be able to seamlessly sync their favorite apps and SMS messages between smartphone and PC, but the company isn't ready enough to give a firm date, so we'll just have to hope it's soon. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
CES Unveiled: The HAPIfork aims to help you track your eating habits with Bluetooth
CES Unveiled was held last night in the Mandalay Bay conference center in Las Vegas, and served as the unofficial kickoff of one of the biggest gadget shows in the world. The Unveiled room was crowded with new product demos, but one product stood out: The HAPIfork. The HAPIfork, as you might guess from looking at it above, is a Bluetooth-enabled fork. Yes, really. The fork (and there's also a spoon version) uses a combination of sensors to measure just how much you're eating and how quickly, and then will translate those metrics to either an iOS or web app. The fork won't actually measure what you're eating (so it won't measure caloric content or fat content), but it will measure each "fork serving" you take, and it can even be set up to give you an alarm when you're eating too much or too quickly. And each app comes with a "coaching program" to help you eat more healthily (though, of course, actually listening to that coach is up to you). There are also a number of achievements to earn, so HAPIlabs has added a light gaming layer on the whole thing. It definitely seems like a interesting idea, and if you have a real issue controlling portion sizes, this might be worth a try. HAPIlabs is bringing out a USB-based version in the second quarter of this year that will cost $99, and then the Bluetooth fork isn't due until 2014. The HAPIfork definitely turned heads at CES Unveiled, but we'll have to wait just a little while to see how much the finished version actually helps fast eaters tame their habits.
Parrot's AR.Drone 2.0 gifted with optional flight recorder module and bigger battery
Marking the first anniversary of the AR.Drone 2.0 since last CES, Parrot has announced that it'll be offering an optional GPS flight recorder module as well as a bigger battery at some point this year. The former dongle simply plugs into the flying vehicle via the USB port, and it can record the flying parameters onto its 4GB memory, which can then be reproduced on the 3D AR.Drone Academy map. As for the larger battery, it'll come with 1,500mAh worth of juice which is 50 percent more than the original one (hence a flight time of up to 18 minutes now), though we'd imagine most hardcore enthusiasts have already modded third-party batteries for the power-hungry copter. On the software side, the AR.Drone 2.0 will soon be upgraded with a "Director Mode" for programming movements (including traveling, pan, crane and more) for more creative filming. Additionally there will be an "AR.Race 2.0" solo or multiplayer racing game, as well as an "AR.Rescue 2.0" adventure game in augmented reality. Sounds fun, and we'll be able to see the drone in action during our live CES interview with CEO Henri Seydoux this Thursday, so stay tuned. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Panasonic's new Lumix and camcorder lineup arrives at CES
Panasonic may not have dedicated much time to its 2013 Lumix and WiFi camcorder lineup in its CES 2013 press conference, but we're going to break it down for you. The HC-X920, HC-V720 and HC-V520 comes with built-in Wifi, a level shot function and real-time broadcasting, letting you relay the images straight to a smartphone. The HC-V210 and V210M have 72x optical zoom, optical image stabilization and a F/1.8 lens. On the Lumix side, it's announcing the Lumix DMC-TS5, a ruggedized model with a 16.1 megapixel sensor that can dive to depths of 43 feet and is shockproof from a height of 6.6 feet. The LZ30 bridge camera has a 35x optical zoom and a 35mm lens The XS1 has a 14mm thick body and a 14.-4 megapixel sensor. The ZS30 has an 18.1-megapixel sensor, 20x optical Zoom and integrated WiFi and NFC. The company is also shuttling out a GoPro rival in the form of the HX-A100 wearable HD camcorder, which we'll try to get our greasy mitts upon to show you more. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Parrot's Flower Power monitors plant's environment, sends data to the cloud
For a company that usually makes Bluetooth audio products and quadcopters, this sure is a weird product coming from Parrot, but we dig it (pun intended). The French company has announced its Flower Power at CES, and as you can probably guess from the name, 'tis a smart sensor that you can insert into a pot to monitor the plant's environmental variables: sunlight, humidity, temperature and fertilizer (but no acidity?). The data is sent to the cloud via Bluetooth Smart for analysis before coming back to your mobile device, and you'll be able to look up Parrot's "library of thousands of plants" for the extra care for your herbal friends. No price has been announced for the Flower Power just yet, but it'll definitely be out at some point this year. Update: Official video added after the break. Update 2: During our stage interview, Parrot CEO Henri Seydoux confirmed that that the Flower Power can also measure the soil's pH level, so all is good. Update 3: The pH detector has been removed from the final specifications. Sorry folks. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
LG's ET83 touchscreen Windows 8 monitor, fingers-on
We heard about it some time ago and managed to get some fingers on time with LG's new 23-inch Windows 8 optimized monitor at today's CES press conference. It's a nice looking peripheral, for sure. The IPS panel is cocooned by a black bezel, which meets a white shiny plastic rear at its tips. Along the bottom bezel are a number of touchscreen controls, including things like Menu, for adjusting picture quality and the like. The screen sits on a leg with a large hinge for adjusting your viewing angle. Unfortunately, the single leg support shake a bit when you tap the screen, so you're going to want go a bit easy when tapping on those Metro tiles. All in all, its quite responsive. We were able to tap and slide through the Microsoft UI in a breeze. As long as you're not too aggressive with you're touchscreening, it looks to be a pretty nice compliment to Microsoft's latest desktop operating system. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
LG's 65-inch 4K display, eyes-on
With Mobile World Congress about a month away, there wasn't a peep about new smartphones at today's LG press conference. The company was all about TV -- well, TV and smart appliances, we guess. But we couldn't help but be enamored with the giant TV sets, the company showed off once the curtains were drawn back at the end of the press conference. The most eye-catching of all, clearly was the 84-inch 4K display which downright dwarfed the LG rep standing to its side. Sitting just off to the right was the newly announced 65-inch model, which, like the 55-inch OLED that spent the show on-stage, looked like a relatively modest proposal sitting next to such a behemoth. Of course, these are 4K TV sets that we're talking about here, so we use the word "modest" as loosely as humanly possible. The set maintains the impressive life-like quality of its elder sibling (showing off massively detailed cityscapes) of course, but compared to incredibly sleek and shiny OLED sets that we saw early, the 4K seem a bit on the thicker side. Though, as with the OLED, LG's clearly focused on making the bezel as imperceptible as possible here. The 4K models are propped up by a shiny metal stand emerging from their center. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Myriam Joire contributed to this report
Sharp announces second screen support on iOS and Android for its SmartCentral HDTVs
We're here at Sharp's CES 2013 press conference, that it'll release a SmartCentral second screen and remote control app for its Aquos TVs. The service will offer split-screen TV and web browsing support, and users will be able to "flick" photos and videos from their mobile device to the TV, presumably in a similar manner to Sony's Throw. The company is also announcing support for Netflix's second-screen control, previously seen on the PlayStation 3 and a wallpaper mode that'll help your HDTV blend into your wall covering. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Griffin adds Aha by Harman to its iTrip Auto in-car FM transmitter
Griffin is announcing that it's pairing up with Aha by Harman to add the latter's ABBA-named audio service to the features offered on its iTrip Auto car transmitter. Download Aha Radio from the App store and connect your smartphone to the device, and the iTrip will automatically find a free FM band and pump over 30,000 different audio stations over your whip's speakers. The iTrip can be picked up for $60 and the software can be snagged down at the source link. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
LG announces that all of its LCD TVs will be LED-based from now on (update)
We're here at LG's CES 2013 press conference, where the company has just announced that it's only going to be using LEDs for its LCD HDTVs from now on. The company will still be producing Plasma TVs, so don't worry if you're still wedded to the standard. At the same time, it's also showing off its second-generation Cinema 3DTV design, that's packing an even thinner bezel (if such a thing is possible). Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
SpareOnePlus adds location tracking, audio alerts, keeps the 15-year life on a single AA battery eyes-on
Xpal's SpareOne disaster-ready cellphone was one of the most intriguing devices we saw at last year's CES. Using a huge capacitor, the stripped-down GSM handset promised a 15-year battery life from the charge of a single AA Energizer battery. While the call quality was basic, it could certainly be the sort of unit that you could stow in a first aid kit or car trunk for emergencies. Now the company has returned with the SpareOnePlus, which adds location-based data, readable with a smartphone app, which is good for keeping track of your loved ones on the go. Xpal has also tried to address one of our biggest gripes with the original by adding audio feedback, reading out the number that you're dialing and telling you who's calling -- although we're still wondering why they couldn't stretch to a screen. Bundled in the package is also a waterproof bag that promises to keep your essentials dry for 30 minutes under one meter of water. The only sting in this tail is that this extra technology (and bag) comes at a price -- which has increased from $50 to $99 and is expected to be available "early 2013." Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
3D Systems second-gen Cube 3D printer boasts faster prints and more materials
Everybody loves a sequel, right? And what better place to launch a followup than in shiny Las Vegas? Exactly a year after launch the first generation of its consumer-friendly 3D printer, the Cube, 3D Systems is getting ready to unleash its successor on the world. The second-gen Cube offers a number of enhancements over last year's model, including the ability to print up to 1.5 times faster and printing in both ABS and recyclable PLA plastics. The printer maintains the earlier version's easily-loaded cartridges (which can be sent back empty for a discount), touchscreen controls and WiFi connectivity. They'll start shipping on the 21st of this month to interested makers who pre-order one now for $1,299. Cough up an extra $100 and 3D Systems will throw in three extra cartridges of plastic and the company's design software. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Slacker Radio comes to Chrysler's UConnect
If, like us, you'll only consider driving when you've got a soundtrack of baroque chanting, then traditional radio stations can often be something of a disappointment. Chrysler and Slacker Radio have teamed up to ensure that our niche tastes can be catered for on the move, as the latter will be joining the former's UConnect service. The company won't be drawn on when the tie-up will happen (trust us, we've tried), but hey -- it can't be too long, can it? Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
D-Link's DGL-5500 802.11ac gaming router ships with Qualcomm's StreamBoost tech
Now that Qualcomm's busted out its StreamBoost technology, it's high time we saw some hardware built that can take advantage of it. D-Link's first to the queue with its new DGL-5500 802.11ac gaming router, which is able to shift bandwidth around to ensure lag-free performance. Aside from its wireless prowess, the soda can-shaped unit has four Ethernet and a USB port as well as easy-to-use setup instructions. It's being shown for the first time here at CES, and will arrive in stores late in the Spring, with prices still to be decided upon. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Dana Murph contributed to this report.
Roku celebrates 700 channel milestone with new partners: Coby, Harmon Kardon and others now Roku Ready
Sure, Roku's compact Streaming Stick will happily pipe streaming content to any MHL-ready TV, but there's nothing like the guarantee of certification to convince you you're buying the right flatscreen. Roku has announced partnerships with six more hardware manufacturers, ensuring future devices from Hisene, Harmon Kardon, Coby, Voxx Accessories, Apex and TCL will be "Roku Ready." New TVs from partners old and new will be on display at CES, Roku teased, all flaunting the Streaming Stick's access to a wealth of streaming content. There's news on that front too, Roku says its devices now offer access to over 700 channels of streaming entertainment. Brands such as Blockbuster On Demand, PBS, SyFy, VEVO and Fox Now give consumers choices from some of the top brands in streaming video, the company says in a press release, with services like Amazon's Cloud Player and Big Fish Unlimited's casual gaming portal rounding out the Roku experience. Read the announcements for yourself after the break. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
D-Link releases the $120 SharePort Go II pocket router / hotspot with added SD card reader
D-Link's second crack at its SharePort Go portable router comes with a raft of new features designed to help road warriors lighten their gadget load. The device is designed to turn a single Ethernet connection into a WiFi hotspot (like the SharePort DIR-505) with the added bonus of a built-in battery and media sharing capabilities. The new edition gets a squared-off new look, a built-in SD card reader and the ability to share the connection from external 3G and 4G modems. It'll arrive in April, setting you back $120, so you've got a few months to work out what other accessories you can now leave at home when you're on the go. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Dana Murph contributed to this report.
D-Link launches a raft of routers, cloud cameras at CES
Unfortunately for D-Link, the unbroken blue skies of Nevada aren't helping the company promote its latest raft of cloud-connected networking products. It's launching a pair of coke cans dual band routers and cloud-connected cameras that'll let you coat your house in WiFi and broadcast your antics across the internet. The cameras will save VGA footage to a hard drive, while the routes promise to offer speeds of up to 1750Mbps. If you want an impromptu security system, the cameras will arrive in February, the 1050 setting you back $80 and the 1150 a cool $100, while the routers make their way into stores from April -- the AC1200 costing $150 and the AC1750 marked up at $170. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Dana Murph contributed to this report.
Liquipel 2.0 nanocoating debuts with improved water protection, matches IPX7 and beyond (video)
We were rather stoked when Liquipel brought its "watersafe" nanocoating service from California to South East Asia in fall 2012, but it turns out that the Santa Ana-based company had another surprise lined up for us later on. At Startup Debut 2013 in Las Vegas today we saw the announcement of Liquipel 2.0, which claims to have "significant advancements in durability, corrosion resistance and water protection" than its predecessor. Specifically, the new version is "up to 100 times more effective... while maintaining component integrity and RF sensitivity." Obviously we had to see it to believe it, and to our surprise, this time Liquipel had a demo that let us submerge a 2.0-coated iPhone 5 under two feet of water -- you can see us going bonkers with it in the video after the break. According to Managing Director Sam Winkler, a device thoroughly treated with Liquipel 2.0 can actually achieve a liquid protection rating of at least IPX7: immersion at a depth of 1m for 30 minutes. While the iPhone 5 we tortured did eventually take in too much water and thus disabled the touch panel, it quickly came back to life after we shook off some of the water. Winkler added that his company's now offering its 4ft x 4ft "Liquipods" for shops that want to provide the Liquipel treatment themselves, but it'll be a while before all existing partners -- mostly outside the US -- can be upgraded to 2.0. That said, interested customers can already get the 2.0 treatment for the same price via the online service in the US. One final note: it turns out that Jaybird also uses Liquipel during the assembly of its sports headphones. Hopefully we'll see more products treated with the same goodness in the near future. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub. Myriam Joire contributed to this article.
