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Palm Pre / webOS launch roundup
The dust has begun to settle around Palm's event yesterday, and we're still sorting through all the news. Palm certainly packed a lot of "New-ness" (yet weirdly, no actual "New-ness") into its announcements yesterday, and it's pretty easy to get lost among all the Palm Pre / webOS related news. Lucky for you, we've consolidated the goods below, so feel free to experience all the Palm-related bliss you can handle. The liveblog Live from Palm's CES press conference Impressions / hands-on coverage Palm Pre first hands-on with live updates! Palm Pre in-depth impressions, video, and huge hands-on gallery Palm Pre interface tour Product announcements The Palm Pre Palm announces webOS platform Palm Pre's wireless charger, the Touchstone In depth / details There will be a GSM-friendly 3G Palm Pre Palm stock on a rocket to recovery Palm's Pre gets its own spot on Sprint's website Palm Pre website now live with official images, video Palm's the master of its own domain, the king of its own Castle Palm's Pre boxed Palm Pre's "New-ness" event video now viewable Palm Pre ads appear on Engadget
Pegatron and Freescale team for low-power, ultra-cheap netbooks and nettops
Pegatron has been pretty quiet ever since it split off from ASUS to do ODM stuff all by its lonesome -- which is sort of the idea, since Pegatron's mainly doing the behind-the-scenes manufacturing. We're glad, however, that the company peeked out of its shell to show off these new Freescale-based netbooks. The Linux-running laptops boast 8.9-inch screens, 8 hour battery life, 8GB of storage and projected retail prices around $199, while the nettop holds similar power in a pico-style form factor. Under the hood is Freescale's brand new ARM i.MX515 processor, which is a 1GHz chip that's described as basically being three times faster than the iPhone. The win here is that the chip draws very little power and generates very little heat, allowing Pegatron to squeeze impressive battery life out of a very thin form factor. Freescale is working with Ubuntu to prep an ARM-Linux distro, which will hit in May, and Adobe will have an ARM happy version of Flash 10 sometime this year. Supplementing the processor are chips for DSP, 2D, 3D and 720p acceleration, which switch on and off as needed -- we saw the computer in action playing 720p video smoothly while drawing a mere 0.5 watts and not even feeling warm to the touch. The limitation here is obviously straight-up processing power -- it's not very impressive, and certainly slower than Intel's Atom -- but for running an optimized Linux build and surfing the web or watching a vid, Pegatron and Freescale might've just found a new portability sweetspot. They're hoping to have an OEM pick these up around May or June sometime.%Gallery-41423%
Disney / ABC totally, maybe, kind of, considering supporting Intel Widget platform
In a move that in some circles counts as "throwing its weight behind" Intel's CE3100 Widget platform, the president of Disney-ABC Television Group mentioned that shows like Good Morning America and Lost could benefit from interactive TV apps. Without commiting to any action, citing unspecified legal issues that could throw a wrench in any such move, they envision real time voting or commenting onscreen or additional clues for the more-than-convoluted-enough-already-thank you Lost mysteries. From here at least it's hard to see Intel's chips making enough headway to justify such support this season, but based on recent Grey's Anatomy plot twists or the Geico Cavemen TV show we can easily see a desperate ABC desperately seeking some kind of partnership in lieu of improving the quality of its content.
Video: Samsung P3 PMP hands-on
We tried to get hands-on with the P3 PMP right after the Samsung event, but poor lighting and mass crowding prevented us from getting anything really usable. But fret not because we headed back to the company's booth to seek out the 3-inch WQVGA player with haptic feedback among the nauseating amount of HDTVs. The walk-through we were given paid specific attention to the P3's stereo Bluetooth capabilites as well as the touch-based interface. We came away pretty impressed with the polished UI and the smoothness of the user experience. Check out the device in action after the break and our gallery of hands-on shots as well. %Gallery-41415%
Samsung / Chumby prototype digiframe hands-on
The Samsung / Chumby digiframe was on hand at CES in a very, very early prototype form. In fact, the demo units didn't even have a back plate covering up the innards. We were told that Samsung's contribution is the processor within, and plans are to release it to market before the end of '09. Our early impressions? The widgets were liquid smooth and lookin' good; the video playback, however, was less than acceptable. Have a glance below for an early look.%Gallery-41417%
Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera hands-on
Polaroid's PoGo Instant Digital Camera isn't for the hardcore geeks -- it's stuck with a 5 megapixel sensor, no optical zoom whatsoever and an LCD monitor that was fanciful in 1998. What it can do, however, is churn out photo stickers in around 60 seconds after a photo is taken without the need for an external printer. Have a look at the March-bound unit below, and look, your kids will love it. Promise.%Gallery-41409%
DISH Network ViP 922 HD DVR hands-on and video
DISH Network was on hand at CES in order to demonstrate its first SlingLoaded DVR, the beefy ViP 922. We stopped by to give the set-top-box a look, and while it was a touch large for our tastes, the front panel did look pretty attractive. We even got the oh-so-kind booth attendant to run through the menus for a few minutes (which won't be backwards compatible with other DISH DVRs, by the way), and while the Sling icon and a few internet connected apps weren't operational on the demo unit, we figure you'll get the point. Have a look at the gallery below / video above!%Gallery-41416%
VIA shows off Nano-powered Dr. Mobile Freestyle Mini
If you've been listening to the Engadget Podcast, you know that Taiwan's Dr. Mobile is our new favorite fly-by-night Asian netbook vendor, and VIA's showing off its Nano-powered Freestyle Mini here at CES in a darkened restaurant. (Seriously!) Internally, it's basically a smaller version of the 11.6-inch Freestyle we played with a few days ago, but it's in a more traditional netbook package with an 8.9-inch screen. We were pretty blunt in asking the VIA rep why the Nano's basically been a no-show during 2008's Atom explosion, and while we didn't get a straight answer, it sounds like 2009 might be the year the battle for netbook platform dominance is finally joined -- the Freestyle and the Freestyle Mini should be available in the next few months. Dr. Mobile, paging Dr. Mobile.%Gallery-41411%
LG's new X120 netbook with Splashtop-powered instant on
We just bumped into LG's X120, a barely-differentiated followup to the X110 that's floating around the show floor. There's still a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, Windows XP and a 10-inch WSVGA screen, but what's new is the Splashtop-powered "LG Smart On" OS, which does the quick boot thing we've come to know and love on many ASUS products, the Voodoo Envy 133 and elsewhere. The effect, as always, is pretty stunning, and the OS should be helpful for a quick look at the web or to hop on IM over the laptop's WiFi connectivity. The netbook itself seems to have been tweaked a tad on aesthetics, but it's still a bit thicker than we'd like at this point for the netbook market. We're short on further details, but since the X110 did 3G, there's a good chance that'll be in play as well -- we're still waiting on PR from LG. In the meantime, you can check out a video of the startup after the break.%Gallery-41410%
Video: Hulu on the SageTV HD Theater
After seeing a few pictures of the Hulu access on the SageTV HD Theater, we wanted to go by and check it out for ourselves, and while we were there we took a quick video -- sorry it isn't in HD. Overall we liked the interface, and although we've given SageTV a hard time about the lack of richness in regards to the interface in the past, we were impressed overall. As we mentioned before, this isn't available to the public yet and one of the reasons is that right now the ads aren't coming through, but Sage assured us this would be fixed before it's released -- shucks.
D-BOX's GPH-120 Hybrid Motion system lazes its way into living rooms
We didn't think we'd see the day that D-BOX's motion chairs would find a way into homes, but between video gaming and Motion Code on Blu-ray, it looks like it's going to happen. The GPH-120 Hybrid Motion system is a reclining theater and gaming chair that will carry a $2,999 price tag. Not cheap, but motion actuators that can roll, pitch and move your head to the tune of 2Gs might provide more immersion than some 3D efforts we've seen and without the funny glasses. Plus, we're thinking any feelings of nausea might be more intentional, too.
White Dell Adamo pictures leak out
While we got some early time with Dell's super-secret Adamo prototype, it looks like we weren't the only ones -- and it also looks like we didn't get the whole enchilada: there's a wicked-sexy white version hiding in the Palms as well. Still no more details than before, but bub.blicio.us was also allowed to boot the aluminum ultraportable, so at least we know that there's chips in that box. We're actually headed back to check out the Mini 10, so we'll dig for even more (and try to get pictures in a better-lit room), but for now check these latest Adamo pictures in the gallery.%Gallery-41403%
Ford teases the future of Sync, plans to bring disembodied heads to dashboards everywhere
There's plenty of automotive tech on display at CES this year (amps and kickers for miles, dawg) and, while Microsoft is talking up its enhanced Sync for 2010 autos, Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally took an opportunity to direct our gaze a bit further down the road with an interesting demo of what he imagines the rear-view mirror of the future will look like. Ford calls it Emotic Voice Activation, or EVA, basically an integrated AI that can read you your e-mail, check the news, and even, apparently, detect what kind of tunes you're in the mood for. At this point we don't know anything about when or even if this sort of thing will be available in the real world, but, based on the video, we expect EVA to become standard equipment roughly when steering wheels lose their spokes and people actually start pulling over to check their e-mail. Soothing video below.
Crapgadget CES, round 1: Elvis Presley Plug 'n Sing
Nothing says value in Vegas like 30 bonus Elvis Christmas songs.
Palm Pre interface tour
We've taken a mountain of shots of the new Palm Pre, but we thought a proper tour of the apps and interface was in order. So with that in mind we banged together a gallery of shots from messaging, web browser, camera, photos, music, videos, notes, tasks, maps, and calculator. We have to say, the more we check this phone out, the more we like it; we're all pretty much gushing over here.%Gallery-41399%
Hands-on with ZeeVee's ZvPro and ZvBoxPLUS
True to its word, ZeeVee introduced us to the ZvPro, and we got a chance to put our hands on the range-topper model with Toslink-input, up to 1080i-encoding, RS-232 controllable streamer aimed at the high end customer who needs to send PC-sourced content around their coax cables. Also getting shown off was the prosumer-oriented ZvBoxPLUS, which has a little more uncertain future regarding how it will be marketed. You'll give up the RS-232 and assignable pairing for the audio/video inputs, but that Toslink customers have been wanting remains. %Gallery-41395%
Samsung's Capella Bluetooth earpiece invades CES
Samsung swept into CES this year like an alien invasion. Tucked away beneath its awards, massive booth presence, and disrupter blast of products is this sexy Bluetooth earpiece. The Capella (shown tucked inside the receiver) is meant to be worn as a fashion accessory. Hey, that's what they say. And at the risk of being juiced by a Martian, well, we're not going to argue.
Spotted: Curve 8900 running on AT&T
So Boy Genius Report reported on a shot of what seems to be a Curve 8900 running on AT&T -- which seems like a pretty good idea, may we add -- and we're trying to make sense of what's really going on. We hit up RIM's booth at CES to get the lowdown on the situation, and what do you know, the mythical beast is nowhere to be found. The reps on the floor said that it's only for T-Mobile and when we checked every 8900 on the show floor, we couldn't find one running on any other carrier. 'Course, we'd be shocked if RIM wasn't chronically refreshing BGR every fifteen seconds, so it's entirely possible that they saw the news, realized their grave error, and pulled the offending phone posthaste. Either way, it's a great idea, is it not?[Via Boy Genius Report]
HAVA SociableTV lets you and friends fight over the remote, remotely
Looking for another reason to choose HAVA over Slingbox? The SociableTV website will let HAVA owners share their video Justin.tv-style with friends or the world, and chat while they watch. Xbox Live may still be working on getting group watching features off the ground on Netflix and Sling.com is a solitary experience but William Loesch, Monsoon Multimedia CEO sees people jumping online and watching live TV events like the Super Bowl together (at least until the NFL hears about it) regardless of location. SociableTV.com is just a placeholder for the moment but expect things to go live with a free upgrade for all HAVA owners in the second quarter of this year.
SIM2 aims high with $58,000 Grand Cinema HT5000E DLP projector
SIM2 never fails to stun, and it's proving yet again that it couldn't care less about the global economic situation (or that it just aims at a class of people that are simply unaffected) with the Grand Cinema HT5000E. Said device was actually outed yesterday courtesy of an HDGiants pair-up, but today we're being gifted with the official details. The three-chip DLP beamer includes a trio of 0.95-inch DarkChip4 DMDs, a 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution, six lens options, Ethernet jack for remote control and world-class color uniformity / edge-to-edge focus capabilities. Yeah, it'll cost you more than most vehicles and even some diminutive homes at $57,995, but at least the white glove delivery service is included. A true bargain, let us tell you. Full release is after the break.
