Ces2011
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NYT: Next batch of Google TV devices delayed, pending software updates
We were expecting to see a slew of new Google TV-powered displays and boxes at CES in a couple of weeks, but now The New York Times is reporting the list of new product partners at the show may be much shorter than expected. The cause is reported to be Google's last minute decision to ask for more time to work on its software first, resulting in no new hardware from LG, Sharp and Toshiba at the show, leaving only Samsung and VIZIO to show off their products. The always popular unnamed sources now peg timing for the next full fledged assault of Google TV hardware as after the company completes updates including the addition of the Android Market some time next year. Of course, Chrome OS and Honeycomb already provide plenty of examples of a disconnect between the good folks at Mountain View and their hardware partners, but with some already casting doubt on the platform's potential, and the company's ability to work out licensing deals with Hollywood, it'd be good to see more than last week's partial facelift as a sign of what is to come.
E FUN Next3 Android 2.1 tablet available for $230, real fun sold separately
Getting sick of cheap Android tablets and e-readers? Boy, we hope not, because E FUN's Next3 is just one of many being announced in time for CES 2011. As you may have gleaned from the headline, the Nextbook Next3 runs Android 2.1 and has the usual array of specs for its $230 price -- a resistive, 800 x 600-resolution 8.4-inch display, a 600MHz Rockchip processor, WiFi 802.11 b/g, 2GB of onboard storage, and an SD card slot. From the looks of the pictures in the gallery and the short press release after the break, it seems to be positioned as more of an e-reader than a tablet -- you know, with its integrated Borders eBook Store and all -- but you should be able to surf the web and watch some videos on it. No word on what apps are preloaded, but naturally there's no Market access. We're going to call a spade a spade here and say this thing looks a heck of a lot like the Pandigital Novel and Velocity Micro Cruz Reader, but we'll be checking it out in Vegas in a few weeks to get a confirmation on that. Don't let that stop you from ordering one today, though -- it's only $200 at HSN right now. %Gallery-111610%
GenosTV sets a date with CES, plans to demo Cyclops universal remote
Well, one thing's for sure: it ain't a Harmony. GenosTV, a small subsidiary of the ShambroWest Corporation, is fixing to make somewhat of a splash at CES next year, primarily by showcasing working prototypes of a remote that has been in circulation since June. The monstrosity you're inevitably peering at above is described as the Cyclops Multifunction Universal Controller, and while we aren't told if uses IR or Bluetooth (or both), we are expecting to get a little hands-on time with it in a matter of weeks. The company will also be using its time in Vegas to schmooze with connected HDTV makers, presumably in an effort to strike up a bundle deal with the Sonys, Samsungs and Vizios of the world. Needless to say, our interest is decidedly piqued.
LG 'B' Android phone caught in the wild, looking thin and ready to spank S-AMOLED (update: confirmed)
We're still coming down from that rush of adrenaline that accompanied the launch of the dual-core Optimus 2X last night, but we've had a hunch lately that LG is planning on taking Android very seriously in 2011 -- seriously enough to have something even sexier than the 2X up its sleeve. Looks like that sexiness could be delivered in the form of a device codenamed "B," shots of which have been delivered to Phandroid in a direct comparison with the iPhone 4 and the Galaxy S -- two handsets we're sure LG would love to embarrass. As you can see up there, the screen's looking pretty insane, especially when you consider that those other two phones in the picture have arguably the best displays in the mobile business right now; it's claimed to offer 700 nits of brightness, a 40 percent improvement over the Galaxy S. Oh, and if that doesn't impress you, Phandroid's tipster has also sent in a shot of the edge that appears to make the 9.3mm iPhone 4 look downright chubby. No word on a release date for the B just yet. Update: LG's decided to dispense with the mystery and has shot out a tweet confirming the B's existence and inviting us all to come check it out at CES 2011. We'll be sure to do just that.
2011 to bring 200 PCs combining GeForce GPUs and Sandy Bridge, first laptops to be quad-core
What's NVIDIA got up its sleeve for CES, you ask? A whole host of Sandy Bridge laptop and desktop machines, by the sound of its latest press release. The green giant of graphics has proudly announced a new record of 200 OEM design wins for Intel's incoming CPUs. The big draw of Sandy Bridge is that it's the first processor to include an integrated GPU embedded directly within its die, which is projected to improve power efficiency and overall performance -- though clearly it hasn't been impressive enough to get PC vendors to abandon discrete graphics chips. If anything, they seem to be going in the other direction and insisting on a discrete GPU as well. In other news, whether with or without NVIDIA's help, the first Sandy Bridge laptops will feature quad-core parts. Such is the word directly from Intel, with one insider adding that the dual-core debutants will get their chance a month after CES, around the middle of February. Skip past the break for NVIDIA's boastful PR or hit the source for more on Intel's plans.
IR-embedded Surc case converts iPhone into a universal learning remote
Whoa, Nelly! ThinkFlood won't like this... not one bit. If you'll recall, the RedEye universal remote dongle was well received, as a simple 3.5mm adapter added IR beaming to Apple's slate of iDevices. But now, Mashed Pixel has taken the integration one step further, seamlessly embedding an Infrared emitter into a case. Simply pop the Surc around your iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4, download the (free) accompanying app and start programming. Before long, you'll be dictating your home entertainment setup sans any external accessories, and heck, you may even improve your phone's reception all the while. The only downside to this approach compared to ThinkFlood's is that the iPad is obviously not supported, and once you upgrade to the iPhone 5, your trusty IR case becomes a glorified paperweight. If you're kosher with that, though, you can get your pre-order in now for $69.95, with initial shipments expected to make their way out in Q1 2011. %Gallery-110542%
Microsoft to demo new slate PCs, Windows 8 tablet functionality at CES?
The CES 2010 Ballmernote has become something of a black mark for Microsoft -- the company's delivered almost nothing in the year after Steve demoed the HP Slate and talked about future Windows 7 Slate PCs -- but as one would assume, Redmond's expected to pick up right where it left off in just a few weeks at CES 2011. According to the New York Times, Microsoft's prepping to explain how it will target the iPad with the help of a number of partners, including Samsung and Dell. While the article is quite vague, it looks like the keynote will include a few new tablet demos, including one of a new Samsung device that sports a "slick" slide out keyboard -- we'd put money on that being the 10.1-inch Gloria. The Times says the Samsung tablet (not to be confused with the Samsung Galaxy Tab) will run some sort of software layer when "the keyboard is hiding and the device is held in portrait mode," but Microsoft's is also reportedly eschewing a central app store for native tablet apps and instead encouraging software companies to build HTML5 -based web apps. That certainly sounds a lot Google's Chrome strategy (and a strategy that could backfire since HTML5 apps will work on Chrome OS devices and iPad equally well), but the Times' source didn't know if these "apps" would be ready for CES as they are "still in production." As far as we can tell, a lot of this is still built upon Windows 7, but it's also rumored that the Redmond gang will tease Windows 8 on stage -- something that sounds extremely plausible to us, since we've heard from numerous sources that Microsoft's real tablet strategy will rely on Windows 8 and a new all-touch interface that the company has been working incredibly hard on. While Windows 8 isn't due out until the later half of 2011 / early 2012, Ballmer would do well to use his CES time to tell us about Microsoft's "riskiest" product bet and finally do something to address Microsoft's notable absence from the modern tablet market. Of course, nothing's for sure, except for the fact that we'll be there, providing live coverage of the entire thing. Update: We've been thinking about it (as well as keeping an ear on our chatty Tweeps) and there's also a chance that Microsoft could show off its own Windows 7 software layer for tablets. Either way, we're hoping to get some major answers.
MSI to reintroduce WindPad tablets at CES, claims Oak Trail improves performance and battery life
You'll remember that back at Computex MSI introduced two tablets or so-called WinPads -- there was the Windows 7 / Atom slate and another one of the Android / ARM variety. Well, MSI is planning to resurrect those with some slight improvements for CES, and this time it's gearing up to actually release them both. First up is the 10.1-inch Windows 7 Home Premium version, which will be one of the first Intel Atom Oak Trail-powered devices out there, says the company. According to MSI's Director of North American Sales Andy Tung, Intel's tablet solution does show both battery life and performance improvements over the current Atom chips, but it's "not extremely significant." Based on our discussion with Tung, we got the feeling that it's a step in the right direction for Atom but still not as long-lasting as it needs to be to compete with ARM-based tablets. Beyond that, the tablet measures less than an inch thick and will have a 1024 x 600-resolution, multitouch display, mini-HDMI and mini-USB ports, an SD card slot, and an accelerometer. Tung wasn't ready to reveal pricing, but he said it should be available in early 2011. On the Android side of things, MSI's got a dual-core Tegra 2-powered 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800-resolution slate prepped with the same selection of ports and features -- although, this one is slightly thinner and also has a drop-proof design. So, what version of Android will it run? Well, that depends on Google's timing, says Tung. If Android 3.0 or Honeycomb is available by the February / March timeframe MSI will go with that option -- however, if it's not, it will go with Gingerbread, so it can hit the market earlier in 2011. We have to say both tablets sound rather intriguing, but will they be able to go up against the hundreds of others coming at CES: The Tablet Year? We'll know more in Vegas, that's for sure!
Sphero toy ball rolls itself, you control it with your smartphone
Don't have the airspace required for an AR.Drone? Gearing up for its CES 2011 debut, Sphero is a small, robotic toy ball made by Orbotix, and controlled remotely via Bluetooth and your smartphone's tilt sensor. A ball that moves by itself? Call us lazy (too lazy to roll a ball even), but we think this is a toy whose time has come. Sure, the whole thing is pretty straightforward, although we hope that once iPhone and Android developers get ahold of that open API we'll see plenty in the way of augmented reality gameplay: a maze or a racing game of some sort would make this thing quite coveted, in our opinion. Catch a video of the prototype in action after the break.
LG Star preview
<div style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/lg-star/preview/"><img border="1" hspace="4" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/12/10x1210fbfu5xbd.jpg"/></a></div> The LG Star. The dual-core beast from the east that was once a mere <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/16/exclusive-lgs-4-inch-android-phone-with-dual-core-tegra-2-and/">twinkle in our eye</a> has managed to find its way to the Engadget mansions, having been lent to us by a very generous (and very anonymous) tipster. It's clearly a test device, as evidenced by its diagnostics menus and lack of a lockscreen, but there's no disguising the power that lies within it. We put the Star through a battery of common Android benchmarks and the results were, in a word, outstanding. Basically, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/all/tegra2">Tegra 2</a> will give anything your <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/10/smartphone-buyers-guide-the-best-phones-for-atandt-verizon-spr/">current phone</a>'s running an inferiority complex. Join us after the break as we delve deeper into this upcoming powerhouse of a handset from LG. One thing's for sure: CES 2011 can't come soon enough.<br /> %Gallery-110305%
LG's next set of 3D glasses were designed by a designer, will grace CES 2011
Alain Mikli, for those of you (and us) who didn't know, is a highly regarded designer of eyeglasses. LG, as we're all aware, is a 3D-peddling purveyor of HDTVs. Marry the two together and the offspring is a rather fetching set of 3D goggles, built out of "select metals," and featuring a co-patented nose bridge and perfect weight balancing for the utmost in user comfort. LG promises to let us play around with the new eyewear at CES next month, which we'll be more than happy to do -- telling you about the eventual price tag, on the other hand, probably won't be such a pleasant experience. More imagery of the specs and the full press release follow after the break.
Toshiba planning trio of tablets for CES: one each for Android, Chrome OS and Windows 7
So what if the Libretto exited the common consciousness almost as quickly as it entered it while the Folio 100 was bad enough to get its major UK retailer to discontinue it? Toshiba promised it'd have a family of tablets for us by the end of 2011's first quarter and the plan apparently hasn't changed. DigiTimes is reporting today that three new Toshiba slates are set for their debut at CES in a month's time, two of them equipped with 10.1-inch screens and a third sized at 11.6 inches. Microsoft's Windows 7 and Google's Chrome OS and Android will each be responsible for providing the operating environment on one of these new tablets, indicating that Toshiba -- much like the rest of the world -- has yet to make up its mind about what the best tablet OS out there is. We should know more in just a few short weeks.
TDK debuts $499 'Three-Speaker Boombox'
Some recent attempts at a modern boombox may have been less than faithful to the original incarnation, but TDK looks to at least have its heart in the right place with its simply-named "Three-Speaker Boombox." Set for an official debut at CES in January, the $499 device boasts a streamlined design compared to the 1980s-era originals, but it's still unmistakably a boombox and, according to Crave's early hands-on, it pumps out a surprising amount of sound from its 35 watt RMS speakers. You'll also get a full range of audio inputs (including iPhone / iPod support via USB, rather than a dedicated dock), a built-in AM / FM radio, an OLED display on the front and, perhaps best of all, some oversized aluminum knobs. Needless to say, we'll be keeping our eyes out for this one at CES.
Motorola planning 4G devices for Verizon, 7- and 10-inch tablets early next year
It looks like this CES could be a hot one for Motorola. Can you believe it was only a bit more than a year ago that Motorola introduced the Droid? Now it has a whole lineup of incredibly hot phones, and CES seems like a perfect time for the beating of chests in front of an industry. Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha just went on record during a keynote at the Credit Suisse 2010 Technology Conference, saying Motorola will be entering the tablet space 'in the near future.' He also said that he sees both 7-inch and 10-inch tablets as viable sizes -- something that seems perfectly logical to us, and might jibe with how we initially heard of Motorola's "Stingray" tablet as a smaller device, but later heard it was a full 10-incher upgradeable to LTE. This all follow's on Sanjay's statement in September that Motorola wouldn't be joining in on the tablet space until next year, a year which is rapidly approaching. Meanwhile, Sanjay also confirmed that Motorola would have 4G devices "early" next year, which also sounds like a CES hint to us, though it might just be 4G modems and hotspots at the outset. Still, bring it on.
Polaroid's CES 2011 teaser hints at instant photography's rebirth
Technically speaking, Polaroid returned to instant photography earlier this year with the introduction of the 300, but we all know that thing was forgotten as soon as it was revealed. The famed camera outfit -- despite being a shell of its former self -- just dropped a luscious teaser into our inbox to let us know about an exclusive event it'll be hosting at CES 2011 next month. The image you see above is severely distorted, but we did so to give you a better idea of what's truly to come -- unless that's an outrageously shaped projector, we're guessing it's some sort of next generation instant camera. The slot on the bottom definitely helped push us over the edge, but if you'd rather cover the whole thing in mystique and guess for yourself, the un-doctored (er, unmutilated) teaser is just after the break. Oh, and we'll be bringing you the blow-by-blow on what this thing really is on January 6th, hopefully with Outkast blaring in the background.
Intel's Sandy Bridge CPUs start to seep out, 2GHz quad-core i7-2630QM coming to HP dv7
Intel's Core i7-2630QM chip has made the leap from the company's roadmap onto its first spec sheet, courtesy of HP's dv7. We've come across a provisional component list for an update to HP's gaming laptop, which includes the 2GHz quad-core CPU as the star of its show. Now, of course, neither HP nor Intel has said anything official on the matter, but Laptoping has also been snooping around and found listings at online retailers for laptops from Gateway and Lenovo also offering the still unannounced part. It's not exactly a secret that Intel intends to blow the bloody doors off CES 2011 with its Sandy Bridge processor line, but it's reassuring to see vendors looking eager and ready so far in advance of the launch date -- it should mean no shortage of choice when Paul Otellini finally steps to the stage and makes things officially official.
Toshiba and Vizio expected to join Google TV bandwagon in January
Content providers might be banning Google TV left, right, and center, but hardware partners don't seem to be losing any enthusiasm. After Samsung openly admitted to contemplating a HDTV with Google TV hardware and software built right in, Toshiba and Vizio are now said to have firm plans to introduce such new products at January's CES 2011. While neither manufacturer would be drawn into confirming this latest bit of insider info, Toshiba's American GM, Jeff Barney, is quoted as saying, "Google certainly is a key partner for us on the PC side and will likely be key for us on the TV side as well." How else could Google function as a key TV partner than with its web-connected TV experience?
Nintendo won't be exhibiting at CES 2011 after all, will conduct meetings behind closed doors
Wait, put the cork back in the champagne, Nintendo isn't making its triumphant return to CES after all. The Consumer Electronics Association has just blasted out a new press release, presumably with a face red with embarrassment, to correct its erroneous note that Nintendo will be an exhibitor at the 2011 tech showcase. As it turns out, Satoru Iwata's crew have booked some meeting rooms during the show -- to discuss what, we don't know -- which somewhere along the line was misinterpreted to mean that the company will be exhibiting its wares. It won't. We'll be there anyway, this just means we'll have to be a little craftier about extracting our information. [Thanks, Curtis]
Pocketbook spills the transflective colored beans, announces Mirasol e-reader for CES this year
Details are about as scant as can be, and The Digital Reader claims the entire announcement was a mistake, but PocketBook USA just outed what could be the very first Mirasol e-reader in a CES 2011 press release. In addition to the newish PocketBook Pro e-readers spotted at IFA 2010, the company will apparently showcase a brand-new model with one of Qualcomm's transflective color screens, and to commemorate the long-awaited occasion it's tentatively christening the reader "Mirasol," too. Early whispers suggest the device cost a bundle and won't have a fast enough refresh rate (12fps) for video speeds, but we'll find out the truth of the matter come the first week of January. PR after the break.
Nintendo returning to CES after a 16-year absence
If there's one event that's immune to being overhyped, it's the annual January expo of everything consumer electronics, known to you and us as CES. The only downer to this geek endurance test is that we've felt it's been lacking a little on the gaming front lately, which is why we're so giddy to hear the news that Nintendo will be rejoining the ranks of exhibitors over in Las Vegas in a few weeks' time. CES 2011 will be the first time in 16 years that the console sales leader has deigned to pitch up a stand at America's biggest tech show, with our suspicion being that the event will be used as an opportunity to remind the world about the upcoming 3DS handheld. Or to drop that Wii HD bombshell we've all been waiting for. Yeah, right!
