Ces2011
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General Motors takes us on a crazy test ride in the EN-V electric prototype vehicle (video)
Cars are big and stupid. Well, most of the time, anyway. Need to bring home a couple sheets of drywall in the rain? Man it's nice to have a big truck with a cab. Need to run Jr. to school five miles away on a smoothly paved? Suddenly that full-size, extended cab, 13.5mpg dually monster starts seeming just a little silly. Assuming people continue their flock to the cities, in the future that latter situation will be an awful lot more common than the former and our cities simply won't be able to manage. The streets won't be wide enough, parking garages tall enough, nor oil wells deep enough. We need something different, and GM thinks that something is the EN-V. Even though it still isn't the future we just got a drive in one, so read on for our impressions. %Gallery-113421%
The Engadget Podcast Show livestream extravaganza starts at 6:15PM PST / 9:15PM EST!
It's our last and final show of this fine CES. We're going to talk to some more staff members tonight, so get ready for some new faces. Also, get ready for zero tangents and total topic adherence. Right guys? Right? Check out the stream and chat after the break. Oh, and here are the last three shows, in case you missed them: Engadget Podcast Show 004 Engadget Podcast Show 003 Engadget Podcast Show 002 Engadget Podcast Show 001
Clickfree Wireless hands-on (video)
We went out on the CES show floor to find the clickfree Wireless Backup and all of its wireless backing-up power. Coming in two versions -- 500GB or optional 1TB capacities -- the Wireless Backup seems to be a fully capable backup option, competing with other wireless solutions like the Apple Time Capsule and the LaCie Wireless Space. It includes the company's patented AutoRUN feature that takes care of the initial setup, which is simple enough that even non-Engadget readers would be able to plug in and start backing up their files through the waves of the WiFis. After the software is configured for one or more computers, all that is required is a standard outlet for some juice and you're rolling. There's a number of options for those who want to choose specific files for backup and restore. While the clickfree Wireless is certainly competitive and one of the smallest backup solutions we've seen, comparing in size to an Apple TV or a Roku XD, it certainly doesn't share some of the features of being a NAS and WLAN router like the LaCie Wireless Space, nor does it have USB support. Video after the break. %Gallery-113425%
MultiTouch Ltd's 46-inch panel accepts unlimited touch inputs, we put it to the test (video hands-on)
MultiTouch Ltd has been at this IR-based multitouch thing since 2007 and it's hit CES in force this week. Sure, the current 46-inch model requires 12 inches of depth -- in order to provide sufficient space for the infrared cameras embedded in its back to capture the whole, ahem, surface -- but having unlimited touch inputs is always a wildly impressive sight. We put one of the displays to the test by exploiting a nearby crowd and slapping down a good 40+ fingers on it, all of which were recognized. To be perfectly fair, the IR cameras don't seem to have a very flat recognition area and many of our inputs were picked up from over an inch from the screen. The 46-incher under hand is already available for a totally affordable $17,000, provides full HD resolution, and hooks up to a PC for processing of input. See our thoroughly intensive test on video after the break. %Gallery-113460%
Acer's 4.8-inch phoneblet will head to a US carrier this year
You'll remember last month that Acer released a total of three Android tablets, including one 4.8-inch phone / tablet hybrid. Well, Acer's brought the phoneblet -- yes, we're calling it that -- it to CES, and while it wouldn't power on, we did notice that the back of the device was marked with a "WCDMA: US band sticker". Acer confirmed for us that the "100 percent phone, 100 percent tablet" will be heading to the US in April with Froyo or Honeycomb and that carrier partnerships are in the works. Obviously, this WCDMA unit would be destined for AT&T or T-Mobile, however an Acer's spokesperson also hinted that it could be coming to Verizon like the Iconia Tab A500. The metal device felt really nice in hand, but we couldn't turn on the unique 1024 x 480-resolution, 21:9 aspect ratio display. We're imaging that its 1GHz Snapdragon processor will provide a pretty snappy experience, but it looks like we'll be waiting a few more months to check out the entire package. %Gallery-113449%
PixelOptics emPower! electronic eyeglasses hands-on
PixelOptics is demoing what it claims is the most significant development in prescription eyewear in 50 years: emPower! PixelOptics' glasses offer up better field of view and less distortion than traditional lenses by sandwiching an LCD-like layer in the glass that can be focused with an electrical charge. The set's inbuilt micro-machine accelerometer detects when you tip your head down -- when you read, for example -- and triggers the glasses' focal area for presbyopia. The emPower! lens can also be set to manual and is then activated by a swipe of your finger on the frame. The kit includes the glasses and the inductive charger that will keep the eyewear powered up and running for a couple days. We were able to get some video of the lens in action focusing on a tie -- it is impressive to say the least -- the change happens as quickly as your eye blinks and is not noticeable when not activated. We'd say PixelOptics is on to something here, and if you're the type to plonk down $1,200 for a pair of glasses, these are definitely worth a peek. The only thing missing is a micro speaker that blasts out Bionic Man sounds each time you fire them up -- but we've great hope somebody will hack that in. %Gallery-113430%
Windows 7 Media Center embedded TV hands-on
We didn't think much of Haier's mention in Microsoft's Windows 7 Media Center embedded press release, but on the show floor today we ran across this HDTV which was actually a full-blown Media Center including tuners and a harddrive. The details were very skimpy beyond that, with no mention of specific specs, prices or if the product would really make it to market. But the idea of an all-in-one TV and DVR running our favorite software certainly is something to get us excited about. What we didn't like ws the motion remote used for the demo which was almost impossible to navigate and had us seriously longing for our favorite Green Button.
RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook using a 1GHz OMAP 4430 processor
We already confirmed that RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook was deadly fast in use, but up until now, we've still been left to wonder what kind of silicon was powering it. According to a RIM representative that spoke to us just now on the CES show floor, a dual-core OMAP chip from Texas Instruments is doing the honors -- more specifically, it's the blisteringly fast 1GHz OMAP 4430. And now, you know.
Visualized: when backpacks attack!
We spotted this giant backpack from Everki here at CES and couldn't help but put it to the intern test. Sadly, Sam Sheffer decided to open the backpack and was never heard from again. %Gallery-113447%
Nox Audio Admiral Touch preview: the wireless noise-canceling surround headset with Android 2.1
Nox Audio's brought a couple clever concepts to market before, but the Admiral Touch headset is something else -- a set of stainless steel cans with most every high-end feature we can think of, and one in particular that's never been done before. Yes, that's a 2.4-inch touchscreen color LCD embedded in the right earcup, running Android 2.1 on an ARM11 chip with 1GB flash storage and 256MB of RAM -- on top of a set of noise-canceling, 7.1 virtual surround sound wireless headphones that connect via both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth simultaneously. There's not much to do with the tiny Android at present, as its only launcher screen holds just four icons that change the headset's mode, but we're told it might be hackable later on (there is a microSD slot and a USB cord), and in the meantime it supports touchscreen gesture controls for volume and swapping tracks. Believe it or not, we've just started to describe the features, so hit the break for more. %Gallery-113439%
Apple AirPlay devices set to explode in 2011
Although DLNA may have had a significant head start, the streaming media standard available on more than 9,000 devices is about to be challenged in a very big way by Apple's upstart AirPlay technology. At least it will be if Jordan Watters, BridgeCo's VP of Sales and Marketing, is to be believed. BridgeCo as you'll recall, is the company that makes the silicon for AirPlay devices -- currently an exclusive arrangement we're told. While Apple may have thrust BridgeCo into the consumer spotlight, this ten year old company has a long history of quietly providing networked media processors and connectivity software to a who's who of audio companies. Here at CES we've already seen three speakers from iHome, the Zeppelin Air from B&W, and a trio of speakers from the previously unannounced AirPlay partner Klipsch rolled out. And this is just the beginning. According to Jordan Watters, AirPlay devices could ultimately dwarf "made for iPod" audio docks by 2x to 4x. Part of the reason for Jordan's optimism is the fact that so many iOS devices have already been sold and that many audio devices already on the market using BridgeCo chips can add AirPlay functionality via a software update, including the nine receivers just announced from Denon and Marantz. "The ecosystem is already there," he said smiling. And unlike iPod docks which are usually sold at a rate of one per iOS device, Watters sees consumers purchasing multiple AirPlay devices for every iOS device sold in order to enable whole-home distributed audio. In fact, growth could come as a "step function ramp sucking into the market," Jordan enthused. In other words, he expects AirPlay growth to be explosive. We'd chalk up the hyperbolic talk to Jordan's marketing role if it weren't for the abundance of anecdotal evidence supporting his claims here at CES. To start with, the company's modest meeting room was packed with interested manufacturers poking around BridgeCo's AirPlay offering. Jordan's also booked back-to-back-to-back with meetings until the show ends (and into the coming weeks we suspect). But what really convinced us was an all-in-one speaker prototype from a major consumer electronics company that was quickly whisked away before meeting the sensor beneath our D300's lens. If they're involved, well, we expect the rest will follow.
Sony HomeShare RMN-U1 universal remote hands-on
Trade shows obviously aren't the best environment for evaluating a universal remote, but we couldn't resist taking Sony's RMN-U1 HomeShare IR / WiFi controller for a quick test drive here at the CES. Physically the device is surprisingly light and has a decent screen resolution. Clicking the home menu displays icons for every system component as well as an activities button for accessing online music services like Slacker, playing tracks from a networked Blu-ray player / iPhone / iPod, or even sending media files between DLNA-networked devices. If a BRAVIA TV is connected to the system, users can select the particular input they'd like to hear audio from or cue a movie. Once a track is playing, the screen will display the song's album art and metadata along with playlists. Overall the RMN-U1 looks pretty capable at managing music -- though it's a bit menu heavy. It also seems fairly expensive considering what else is available at its $300 price point, but then again, we're not aware of another IR universal remote that's compatible with Sony's WiFi HomeSharing. Check out our gallery below for more shots of the interface and you may even spy photos of the rest of the new HomeShare line too. %Gallery-113393%
VideoEFx box transforms your 2D content into 3D (hands-on)
3DTV is "cool and all," but one of the biggest challenges to its adoption is a lack of substantial content. VideoEFx is a small company with a nondescript booth situated somewhere in the ginormous Las Vegas Convention Center, but what it's showing off is quite remarkable. A small black box about the size of an iPhone, it can take any 2D content and convert it to 3D in real time. Our first impression was one of amazement, especially given the fact that we were watching ourselves in real time through a standard 2D video camera hooked up to the TVs in the booth. When we asked how such a thing could be possible, we got hints about some fairy magic creative engineering that employs similar visual cues that your eye processes when you look at anything. Apparently some broadcasting companies have expressed interest in using the tech to power their own 3D streams due to the simplicity (and cost effectiveness, we assume) over current 3D filming solutions. We know you can't experience it from wherever you're tuning in, but take our word that this is some seriously impressive stuff -- even if other companies have achieved similar 2D to 3D conversion magic within TVs before. Still, not all sets offer this capability, and this even doubles as a three port HDMI switch. It'll carry a $400 price tag when it lands in April. %Gallery-113431%
Editorial: Windows on ARM is a big deal, but it's not enough to win at tablets
While "Windows runs on ARM now" is a really easy thing to say, it's an extremely complicated subject, fraught with industry drama, technical accomplishment, and a hint of Microsoft's vision for the future. Microsoft is saying loud and clear that x86 isn't enough (sorry, Intel and AMD), that current Windows form factors aren't sufficient (sorry, netbooks), and that it's still a nimble enough company to respond to changes in the market and consumer frustrations (sorry, Clippy). But what does that actually mean, in the long run? Let's talk things through, after the break.
Wireless Media Stick hands-on: stream your content to anything with a USB port
The Wireless Media Stick is an interesting little product that aims to bring media streaming to pretty much anything with a USB port. If the concept sounds familiar, that's because it kind of is -- we reviewed the Infinitec Infinite USB Memory Drive late last year. This USB stick has built-in WiFi, so you connect it to your network and can plug it into pretty much anything with a USB port that can read a mass storage device. We saw it demoed in a Blu-ray player as well as an iPod dock (both USB-equipped of course), and in the short time we spent with it the thing seemed to work as advertised. Under the hood it's essentially a Samba client, so all you have to do is share a folder on your Mac or PC and it'll show up in your Xbox, PS3, or whatever other box you've got it plugged into. We also saw an Android app that enables you to share all your content on your device straight to the stick, which should be hitting the Android Market January 30th. There are also BlackBerry and iOS versions in the works, but we weren't told when to expect them. We watched a playback of a Green Hornet movie trailer streamed to the device and it didn't seem to have much lag, but we'll have to put one through the paces to make a final judgment call. If you want to pick one up, it'll cost you a cool $120. %Gallery-113438%
InfiniTV 4 USB CableCARD tuner hands-on
We ran into the Hammers from Ceton Corp at CES and they revealed their latest products to us; the InfiniTV 4 USB and the internal InfiniTV 6. The InfiniTV 6 is basically the six tuner version of the InfiniTV 4 that we like so much, what we don't like is that there's no mention of price or availability -- we'd guess $500 or $600 and sometime during the middle of 2011. The more interesting revelation was that of the InfiniTV 4 USB, which you see pictured above. It also doesn't have a price yet, but it does record four HD shows at once like its internal brother, has a real nice feel to it, and looks really, really cool. We were curious to know how many of the InifniTV 4's have been sold to Windows Media Center users, and while exact figures weren't forthcoming, we were told "thousands and thousands." At this point Ceton is still focused on eliminating its four month order backlog and will turn its attention to brining new products to market after that. %Gallery-113442% %Gallery-113443%
Crapgadget CES, round five: iPhone 4 and iPad wed in unholy KIRF matrimony
Yes, this is what happens when the iPhone 4 and the iPad mingle in the back alleys of Shenzhen and bring mutant KIRF-y children to CES. The EYO T8100 is a dumbphone boasting a (likely resistive) 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen, quad-band GSM radio, dual SIM slots, two megapixel rear camera (with flash), VGA front camera, analog TV tuner, Java support, and WiFi, all wrapped in a silver / black, white, or pink package. Check out the spectacle in the gallery below. %Gallery-113420%
Tablets at CES 2011: Honeycomb, Windows 7, and all the rest
<div style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/features/tablets-at-ces-2011/"><img alt="" border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/01/tablets-1294522376.png" vspace="4"/></a></div> It's been raining <a href="http://www.engadget.com/topics/tabletpcs">tablets</a> here at <a href="http://www.engadget.com/ces">CES 2011</a>. No seriously, it as if the sky has opened up in Vegas and dropped touchscreen slabs with <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/android">Android</a> and <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/windows7">Windows 7</a> operating systems on our heads. It's been nearly impossible to keep track of the number of tablets released and the details we've learned about them... until now, that is. After the break you will find a complete list of all the tablets we have heard about as well as a few key details about 'em. You'll notice that most of the tablets listed plan to run Android 3.0 -- if you're looking for more on Google's not-yet-released tablet OS, you'll want to check out our <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/googles-android-3-0-honeycomb-for-tablets-a-guided-tour-of-the/">guided tour</a> and our interview with <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/exclusive-interview-googles-matias-duarte-talks-honeycomb-tab/">Google's Matias Duarte</a>. The show isn't over yet so expect us to add more tablets over the next couple of days, but without further ado, we give you the official Engadget tablet chart of CES 2011.<br /> <br /> You'll also note that we've denoted <strong>our favorites in bold</strong>, so pay closer attention to those and make sure to click through to hear why they've impressed us so much. Enjoy!<br /> <div style="text-align:center;"> <br /> Coming Soon!<br /> </div> <div style="text-align:left;"> <strong>Update</strong>: <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/12/2702325/the-best-ultrabooks-of-ces-2012">They're here... kinda</a>!</div>
Crapgadget CES, round four: the Konka g-baby
We're not sure why anyone would KIRF 2005's LG Migo, but if you're gonna do it, why not add some kitty icons?
Breffo Spiderpodium Tablet stand hands-on
Just when we thought were safe from the grasps the Breffo Spiderpodium Tablet stand, we found Breffo on the CES show floor and were forced to took a closer look at the scary yet flexible solution for all of our tablet holding needs. Priced at $35, the arachnoph-olding stand is aimed at tablets, but is certainly not limited to them. The Spiderpodium Tablet stand is built with a steel exoskeleton allowing for bendability and covered with silicon for maximum grippage of all tech toys, household objects and human faces alike. If the Spiderpodium Tablet stand isn't your cup of tea for elevating your gadgets, you can still create some terrifying monsters. %Gallery-113307%
