CES2013
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Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Sandisk's Dinesh Bahal (update: video embedded)
Is solid state storage you're thing? We'll be getting a demo of hard drive swapping from Sandisk's vice president of retail product marketing, Dinesh Bahal, just after the break. January 10, 2013 1:30 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
In-Win flaunts tubular, finny cases that let your components breathe fresh air
Worried that your PC case can't stand up to a natural disaster, or doesn't resemble a radiator enough? In-Win's read your mind with a couple of open-plan models from CES 2013: the aluminum D-Frame (above left) looks ready for the Paris-Dakar rally and is "crush-proof and shock-proof," while the H-Frame is basically case-shaped cooling fins, also in "exquisite satiny aluminum," according to the charming company literature. The two models are geared to modders serious about standing out from the usual ragtag LED and pump crowd, with pricing to match: $399 for each. If you scrape for one, though, at least you know you'll be unique -- In-Win will only produce 500 copies of the D-Frame, and a mere 100 H-Frames.
Get your Engadget tee at our CES vending machine: a guide
Hey you, wandering tech obsessive. Want a t-shirt with some white outlines that prove you attended CES this year? Then you'd best make your way around to the Engadget stage (between North and Central halls) here in Vegas, because we've got many hundreds of t-shirts to give away all this week. Along the side of the stage we've got a vending machine filled with them. But there's no cash slot. So what do you do? It's not all that complicated. Approach the machine, and you'll be asked to tweet your most beloved gadget of 2012, alongside the mandatory #engadgetces hashtag and a size-code. Seconds later, a freshly packed t-shirt, given the nod by editor-in-chief Tim Stevens himself, will be yours to walk away with. A visual guide follows.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Parrot's Henri Seydoux (update: video embedded)
What will we be doing with Parrot CEO Henri Seydoux? Playing with the company's AR.Drone, obviously. And who knows, maybe Brian and Richard Lai will ask the exec some questions, too. January 10, 2013 12:00 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
Archos debuts four new tablets at CES 2013, dubbed the Titanium line
In Archos' ongoing initiative to create way, way more tablets than anyone else, the company this morning unveiled four new tablets in what it's calling the "Titanium" line (not to be confused with the Platinum line, of course). That name doesn't refer to the actual materials these tablets are made of, but rather their tech prowess -- all four feature high-def IPS capacitive multi-touch screens with dual-core 1.6GHz CPUs and an unnamed quad-core GPU, running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. They come in a range of sizes, from 7-inches ($119) all the way through 10.1-inches ($199). We'll be going hands-on with the newly revealed tablets in the coming hours, so keep an eye out for more detailed impressions and some snappy images (would you expect any less?). For the full pricing on all four tablets, head past the break for the official word from Archos.
Amzer Shatterproof iPhone film hands-on
Amzer was demonstrating its Shatterproof iPhone protective film at CES and while we might not stretch as far as to say it makes your phone shatterproof, we can attest to it being pretty tough. The film is slapped onto the iPhone's face using nothing but a squeegee and some care and then the 4-layer film is set to save your handset from scratches and wear. Using a drill and then a sander our Daniel -- winner of this contest -- does some grinding and drilling to see how well it holds up.
Amazon AutoRip deal gives a free MP3 version of any CD purchase made since 1998
Amazon launched a new service that will start offering a free MP3 album of any CD you buy from them. Better still, you'll get versions of any album you've purchased in the last 15 years. The service will link to over 50,000 albums (with more incoming) and you'll be able to grab said digital copy before your new CD even arrives. You'll be able to play tracks on any Cloud Player compatible devices, including the Kindle Fire, Android devices, iOS devices, Roku, Sonos and Samsung Smart TVS, as well as the web-based player. It's already been activated and, better still, our previous music purchases are already on the Cloud Player ready to go -- no confirmation needed. We did note however, that some of our more obscure albums didn't transfer in full -- in some cases only half the tracks made the transition.
Visualized: Hello Kitty paints CES 2013 pink
Massive TVs, check. Slim laptops, check. Hello Kitty gadgets galore, check. So goes the typical CES checklist, and 2013 isn't any different. Several of the feline-adorned paraphernalia we saw on the show floor were repeats from last year, but we did manage to find a few new Kitty-branded appliances and accessories that are sure to give you an insulin shock. From toasters to Bluetooth speakers, go ahead and peruse the gallery after the break for probably the most amount of pink you'll ever see at an electronics trade show.
Eyes-on with LG's streaming Smart Sound Bar
Among the many, many things that LG is unveiling at CES this year is the curious addition of a sound bar with built-in video streaming. That still sounds like a contradiction of purpose to us, but the Smart Sound Bar, also known as the NB3730A, is more fascinating once you dive into the details. The large-sized bar pumps out 300W across its 2.1 channels, and its WiFi takes internet audio and video from CinemaNow, general internet radio, Netflix, Pandora and Vudu. Bluetooth audio is built-in as well. It's ultimately built for those who don't have an online-capable TV, Blu-ray player or media hub at their disposal -- a group whose ranks are thinning quickly, but certainly still exists. We got a quick glance at the Smart Sound Bar for ourselves. From a design perspective, it's simple to operate and thin, if not exactly short. This won't be a good fit for that small TV in the basement, then, although it's perfect for that big wall-mounted set. We'd like to tell you how well it works in real life, but expo conditions dictate otherwise: LG unfortunately lacks an internet connection for the sound bar on demo, and an extra-crowded booth isn't the ideal environment for gauging audio quality. If you're mostly wondering whether or not it will fit into the living room decor, however, we've got a gallery for you below.
Nuance Wintermute hands-on: a cross-platform, cloud-based personal assistant
It's becoming increasingly clear that the next wave of mobile computing is going to be voice driven. Mobile assistants like Siri and Google Now are garnering plenty of media attention and earning legions of fans. Nuance, the company behind Dragon -- often cited as the gold standard in voice recognition software -- wants to make sure it doesn't get left behind after pioneering the art of speaking to your computer. Dragon Mobile Assistant was the first step towards that goal, but it stuck primarily to searches and a few simple tasks. After leaving our stage here at CES, the company was nice enough to take us back to a suite where it demoed a project codenamed Wintermute. Besides throwing a bone to William Gibson fans, the project aims to make Nuance's personal assistant truly personal and platform agnostic by building a profile of individual users in the cloud. While clearly very much in the early stages, what we saw was none the less impressive. The mobile app, was able to easily recognize queries such as "what is the score of the Celtics game" and obey commands like "play music by the Rolling Stones." Nuance even threw in a bit of snide, Siri-like personality -- the assistant quipped about the rep being too young to listen to the Stones. That response was obviously triggered by the fact that the app knew Sean Brown, a senior manager at the company, was born well after the band's hey day.
Hands-on with eFun's Nextbook 7GP and 8GP budget-friendly tablets
Not content with showing off its handy aPen Touch8 for those Windows 8 laptops which lack touch capabilities, eFun also let us play around a bit with two of its newest Nextbook tablets here at CES 2013. For starters, the 7GP, as its moniker would indicate, is a 7-inch (1024 x 600) slate that's sporting Android 4.1, a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU alongside 1GB of RAM and 8GB of built-in storage. The 8GP, on the other hand, is a tad bit larger than its sibling with an 8-inch, 1024 X 768 IPS display but boasts pretty identical internals, so essentially you'd be spending 40 more bucks for a little more screen real estate. Speaking of which, while one of the tablets biggest features could be their relatively small price tag, eFun kept emphasizing to us how it believes the fact that they are Google-certified is perhaps the most important thing -- and yes, the ability to have Mountain View's Play store is definitely worth mentioning. Much to our disappointment, however, we weren't able to download any applications from Google Play or, for that matter, even browse the web, though that's not the company's fault, since having thousands of souls packed in a room makes for some very unreliable WiFi connectivity. Internet issues aside, both the 7GP and 8GP were rather smooth and quick when doing every-day tasks such as opening up apps and swiping between pages -- which is likely due to the pair feeding off of Google's Project Butter. Furthermore, were quite happy to find how thin-and-light the tablets are, with both Nextbooks being slightly thinner than something like, say, the Nexus 7 or the 7-inch Kindle Fire. All in all, eFun's 7GP and 8GP aren't too bad a choice for those looking to keep spending to a minimum, but at $130 and $170, respectively, there's no doubt that shelling out some extra cash can still get you much, much more bang for your buck elsewhere.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: the Engadget Podcast with Ashley Esqueda, Nicole Scott and Sascha Pallenberg (update: video embedded)
It's day two of CES, as there's already plenty to talk about. Thankfully, we've got plenty of guests to discuss all the news with, including Techfoolery's Ashley Esqueda and Nicole Scott and Sascha Pallenberg from Mobile Geeks. January 9, 2013 11:00 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
LG Ultra HD Touch Display hands-on (video)
We bet you're yawning at the mention of 4K TVs by now, but here's a slight twist on that high-res concept. LG is showing off the so-called Ultra HD Touch display at its CES booth. It's pretty much what it sounds like: a 4K TV with five-point multitouch. LG isn't demoing this product as a TV -- though technically it could work as your standard set; instead it has the Ultra HD Touch running an interactive program created by the French company Intuiface. We could tap to select and enlarge information on different periods of art history, and we could rotate and perform pinch-to-zoom with individual elements on-screen. We could also dive into a drawing app, which included different pen options for doodling directly on the display. Obviously, this sort of educational setup would be perfectly suited for a museum, though LG hasn't committed to any particular application of this display. Essentially, the idea is to demonstrate that touch technology on a giant 4K TV is quite possible -- and pretty neat, if you ask us -- rather than to debut a new high-brow product. But we have a feeling there will be more of such setups to come. For now, at least, you can check out our hands-on video past the break.
Neonode's Proximity multi-sensing technology hands-on (video)
Remember Neonode? The company's troubled N2 handset was so beleaguered with problems that less than a year after it launched, the company filed for bankruptcy. Since its lowest ebb, the company has reinvented itself as a component manufacturer leveraging its infrared-based user interface technology. Now it's demonstrating proof of concept hardware that shows off a way to add touch to any surface. Cool innovation or the reheated leftovers of an obsolete technology? Head on past the break to find out our initial impressions.
Polaroid shows off M10 tablet for $229, we go hands-on (video)
Polaroid had its 7-inch M7 slate on hand at CES 2013, and you best believe there's an older sibling in that other requisite slate size: the 10.1-inch M10. (We dig the straightforward naming scheme with these products, by the way.) Like the M7, it sports a 1,280 x 800 resolution. It runs a quad-core Cortex A7 CPU with 1GB of RAM, but curiously we found this larger device to be more sluggish than its dual-core little brother. It runs Android Jelly Bean with a light skin that consists of widget tiles. This features both a 2-MP front-facing camera and a 5-MP rear shooter, and ports include HDM1-out. Unlike the rubber-backed M7, the M10 sports a brushed-metal finish on the rear, which looks more elegant but doesn't provide the same comfy fit in the hand. The slate includes 16GB of on-board storage, but that's expandable via microSD card. It will go for $229 when it launches alongside the M7 this spring. Check out our hands-on gallery for a closer look and be sure to head past the break for a video demo.
Hands-on with Polaroid's M7 Android tablet (video)
Polaroid has its generically named Kids Tablet on hand at CES -- and don't you worry, we tested its child-proof design with a few hearty drops -- but the company is also displaying two full-grown Android tablets. The smaller of the two is the M7, which packs a 7-inch, 1,280 x 800 display. Under the hood is a 1.6GHz dual-core A9 processor with 1GB of RAM, and a 2-megapixel front camera sits to the left of the display. We found the tablet very responsive when swiping through home screens and jumping in and out of apps. This guy is running Jelly Bean -- with a skin of tile-like widgets running on top (it seemed a little too similar to Windows Phone 8's Metro interface, if you ask us). We can't emphasize enough how prevalent the fingerprints were when we picked up this device. Sure, it was well into a long day at CES, but the display was much greasier than other tablets we've handled. The tablet sports a rubber, textured backing which may seem cheaper than a metal finish but provides for a very comfortable grip. There's 8GB of internal storage, and the microSD card slot allows you supplement that. The MSRP is $129, with release for this spring. For now, check out our hands-on gallery and video after the break. Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.
LG's Smart Activity Tracker wields a swipeable touchscreen and smart TV apps, we go hands-on (video)
We've seen our fair share of wearable tech here at CES already and LG is looking to cast its hat in the ring as well. A waltz through the company's booth revealed the Smart Activity Tracker: a device that rests comfortably on the wrist, much like the Nike+ FuelBand or the Jawbone UP. Despite sharing some aesthetic similarities with the former gadget -- like a dotted LED display, USB clasp and soft-touch rubber coating -- LG's model has a few more tricks up its sleeve. First, the Smart Activity Tracker is compatible with both iOS and Android using the Fitness Band app to track, monitor and share your fitness habits (no big surprise given LG's handsets run Google's OS). As you might expect, the wearable touts Bluetooth for connecting to your smartphone and an accelerometer for tracking purposes. However, LG tacked on an altimeter for more accurate location data (the world ain't flat, you know) and the display can show call info during a run while also offering media controls for navigating through those playlists. Speaking of the display, this one is swipeable, allowing the user to cycle through without pressing a button repeatedly. Smart Activity Tracker bands will also sync with LG's smart TVs and fitness apps like Let's Dance to offer a workout from the comforts of your living room. Unfortunately, these aren't scheduled to arrive until sometime in the heat of summer, but when they do, there will be a few color options to suit those personal preferences. For now, a brief demo awaits after the break.
Valve hardware engineer Jeff Keyzer on Steambox: 'It's going to be different things for different people'
There isn't a hardware standard for Valve's upcoming Steambox concept. While the goal of the initiative is to move PC gaming from the desk to the living room, that doesn't necessarily involve a single hardware standard or minimum spec, Valve hardware engineer Jeff Keyzer told Engadget in an interview this morning at CES 2013. "It's going to be different things for different people. We're interested in investigating an ecosystem of devices that don't necessarily have to share a common spec," Keyzer said. Nothing's set in stone, of course, and Valve's still very much in the exploratory phase of its Steambox push. "We're exploring the space, and trying to understand what the tradeoffs are and how that impacts the user experience -- what it's like to actually use this hardware and play games," he explained. Beyond specs, he pointed out that all the prototypes of Steambox on display at CES share one common feature: "they don't look totally out of place in a living room." Keyzer and the hardware team at Valve certainly seem to understand the challenges ahead of them in 2013. In true Valve fashion, their approach to tackling those challenges lies in iteration and openness. "We're planning to be open and involve users, so I think over the coming year you'll hear from us, and it won't be this big secret. I really think that it's going to be quite open," Keyzer said. And there's that hardware beta we heard about last year, lest you forget. Steam's Big Picture Mode -- a TV- and controller-friendly version of Valve's widely used digital gaming service -- is the first volley in Valve's big living room push. Keyzer pointed out that several devices already on the market are essentially doing what Valve hopes to do in the coming year with its own hardware. "There are a lot of computer manufacturers that are making computers like these now that you can buy presently and are supporting Big Picture," he said, referencing the three non-Valve PCs on display in the booth. "But we think that there's a lot of fertile ground for innovation and exploration in that area, so that's what we're doing," he added.
Gigabyte shows off an extra-tiny desktop PC with a Core i7, April release date
There was a surprise waiting alongside Gigabyte's Windows 8 tablet duo at CES: an exceptionally small desktop. The as yet unnamed mini PC is a minor marvel of engineering that's much smaller than a Mac mini at an 0.3-liter volume (10 fluid ounces), but still manages to cram in a Core i3, i5 or i7 processor. We're also looking at up to 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for heavy duty tasks. Expansion is about the only sacrifice, as there's just two USB ports, Ethernet and a rather curious choice of two HDMI ports on the pre-production model we saw. Gigabyte didn't have the system ready to test, but it should ship worldwide in April, with a price to be set later.
Western Digital ships upcoming WD Black hybrid drives to OEMs
As devices get thinner and thinner, there's no place in the world for chunky hard drives, and to that end Western Digital has been talking about bringing ultra-thin 5mm hybrid drive technology to the market. We just got a look at the new drives here at CES, which will be branded WD Black -- two 2.5-inch models consisting of a 500GB, 5mm thick (or thin) unit with 24GB of NAND memory, along with a 1TB, 7mm drive that also has 24GB of NAND. A spokesperson said that NAND could eventually go up to 32GB. There's no performance figures or pricing available yet, but WD has already started shipping copies of the new models to OEMs, and expects that they'll land in the laps of consumers within the next 6 months. %Gallery-175646%
