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Blue Microphones looks to tackle headphone hi-fi audio woes with Mo-Fi
Blue Microphones have long been the choice of podcasters and recording pros for capturing audio both in-studio and on the go. Now, the audio outfit is looking to tackle hi-fi mobile listening with an effort it's calling Mo-Fi. The company says that "true mobile high fidelity" is what Mo-Fi brings to the table with a line of products coming in spring 2014. "The market is plenty crowded with lo-fi headphones for our mobile devices. But classic hi-fi headphones are too power-hungry for our mobile devices. We are ready for the next innovation in headphones and the market is ready now too," said John Maier, CEO of Blue. Unfortunately, that's about all the detail Blue is spilling at this point, so we'll have to wait to hear more on the gadgets and the hi-fi... er, Mo-Fi tech that'll power 'em. There's a teaser video after the break that flaunts what a appears to be a set of headphones, but that's the only tidbit we have to go on right now. You can, however, click over to the source link below for product previews as they arrive.
Dolby Vision imaging finally comes home this fall with Netflix and Xbox Video as partners
Dolby's TV image-enhancement tech has been in development for a long time, and today the company is finally ready to show you when and where you'll find it. What we saw in December has been graced with the Vision name, and the outfit has promised we'll see TVs with it baked in this fall. What's more, Sharp and TCL have compatible hardware on display in their respective CES booths this week, and Amazon, Netflix, VUDU and Xbox Video are stepping up as content providers. Hit the Dolby link below for more information, and be sure to check back later this week for our latest impressions.
Vizio's Portable Smart Audio players run Android, play from built-in streaming apps
Don't call it a wireless speaker. Though Vizio's new Portable Smart Audio players are capable of streaming music over WiFi and Bluetooth, that's not how they were meant to be used. Rather, these guys have Android KitKat built in, along with a quad-core processor, allowing you to play music and video off any app you choose. Basically, then, you can bypass the streaming altogether -- a setup that's potentially easier to use, and maybe more reliable, too. And because both players have access to the Google Play store, you don't have to worry about whether Pandora, Netflix, et cetera come pre-loaded. Alternatively, the players will have some undetermined amount of built-in storage for saving music locally. And there's a USB port too if you already have your stuff stored on an external hard drive. Available with 7- and 4.7-inch screens, the little guy is obviously more portable (think: 3.6 pounds versus 8.8). To be fair, the bigger model does have a built-in handlebar, making it easier to carry, but you'll still probably want to put it in the backseat the next time you're on your way to a beach party. At the same time, the 7-inch model brings bigger drivers and a bigger set of passive radiators, allowing the player to get down to a lower frequency of 60Hz. Believe us when we say the difference is noticeable -- the larger version definitely has a thumpier sound than the 4.7-incher, which goes down to 80Hz. No word on pricing (or battery life, for that matter), but we imagine all will be revealed before these go on sale -- whenever that happens.
Wilson Electronics' new 4G signal booster doesn't care about carriers
Wilson Electronics is only interested in one thing: boosting cellular signals for those starved of bars. The company's also quite fond of Vegas, and for the third year running, it has made the trip to CES with fresh hardware in tow. Previously, Wilson's boosters have been able to enhance the signal from a couple of carriers at the most, but the new DT4G doesn't care what device you're using, nor which network bills you at the end of the month -- all it cares about is making sure you've got all the 4G, 3G or 2G airwaves you need. It's touted as the very first carrier-agnostic booster, and will be ready to cling to walls "soon" for around $400.
Broadcom's audio SDK for the internet of things makes AirPlay easy
While many are content with the phrase "internet of things," Broadcom prefers the equally vague slogan "Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices" (WICED) to describe its platform for helping hardware speak the same language. The company's revealed its latest efforts in this area today in the form of an SDK for implementing audio streaming over WiFi, which includes baked-in support for Apple's AirPlay standard, as well as good, old DLNA. It also promises serious streaming range and tight synchronization for multi-room dance parties. Broadcom hopes OEMs will leverage the SDK to connect all manner of home entertainment gear to one another, and the internet. You know, for streaming stuff to things that are networked with other things, and stuff.
Vizio finally intros its first Haswell PCs, with Iris Pro graphics and 802.11ac WiFi
At this point, we wouldn't be surprised if Intel used CES as an opportunity to talk up its next-generation laptop processors, due out later this year. That said, you'll still find the rare company that's just getting around to releasing models with Haswell. Vizio has belatedly refreshed both its 15.6-inch Thin + Light and its 24-inch all-in-one, both of which now come standard with fourth-generation, quad-core Core i7 processors, 1080p touchscreens, 802.11ac WiFi and Intel's Iris Pro graphics -- the same kind used in Apple's latest iMacs. Other than that, these have the same designs as the PCs Vizio showed off at last year's CES, which is to say they have all-metal bodies and flat keyboards with closely arranged buttons. As always, too, these come with zero bloatware installed, just like if you bought it from Microsoft itself. No word yet on pricing or availability, but you should know this: 15.6 and 24 inches are it as far as screen sizes go. That's right, the 14-inch laptop and 27-inch all-in-one are no más, so don't bother waiting for any refreshes there.
Vizio's HDTV plans for 2014 focus on Ultra HD, in sizes going all the way up to 120 inches
We took a peek at Vizio's CES 2014 booth and came away impressed with not only its current mainstream HDTV lines, but also what it's planning for the future. The current E- and M-series are rolling out now with features like smart apps (cribbed from its Co-Star LT platform) and local LED dimming backlighting that are usually reserved for higher-end HDTVs. It's also readying a number of new audio products, from those Android-packing Bluetooth speakers to its current soundbars and even an upcoming sound plate device that you can sit your TV on. Still, the models we think most will be the most interested in are Vizio's upcoming Ultra HD televisions. The P-Series holds its mainstream approach, with 64 zones of LED backlighting and a built-in CPU with two CPU cores and four GPU cores in sizes of 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 inches. The custom Vizio design handles all the processing and per-pixel tuning needed to work at that high resolution, and the TVs even support the latest wireless tech like 802.11ac, and 4K streaming from sources like Amazon and Netflix when it's available. Vizio's most striking assault however, is planned at the extreme high end with its Reference Series. Consisting of two models -- a 65- and 120-inch versions -- they promise all the features of the others, plus an upgraded 384 zones of local dimming, Dolby HDR tech for unprecedented lighting and color quality, and an integrated 5.1 soundbar (with wireless subwoofer). We don't have prices or release dates for Vizio's 4K-ready TV lineup yet, but the company reminds us of its groundbreaking pricing history. That's enough to have us interested and thinking these may be some of the first cheap Ultra HD TVs worth purchasing -- assuming they debut in the second half of the year as planned.
EnerPlex Jumpr Slate is the thinnest lithium polymer battery money can buy
You know what you don't want? A fat external battery. Sure, you want one with plenty of juice to recharge your myriad mobile devices, but power packs with slim profiles are preferred. And EnerPlex has just the thing you need in the 6.7mm-thick Jumpr Slate. It's got two full-size and one micro-USB output ports, four LEDs to let you know how much (or how little) juice you have left, and it comes in 10,000 and 5,500mAh sizes pushing 2.4 amps. Both Jumpr Slates land at the end of the month, with the big boy costing $99 while the smaller version costs $59. Richard Lai contributed to this report.
With the Snapdragon 602A, Qualcomm looks to improve the connected car
In addition to announcing a version of its Snapdragon 800 processor tweaked for your home theater, Qualcomm is introducing a chip made specifically for in-car entertainment. The Snapdragon 602A, unsurprisingly, shares several specs with the Snapdragon 600 chip seen in mobile devices, but it's made to meet the automotive industry's requirements for temperature, longevity and more. It also packs in plenty of additional tech, which we'll get to in a minute. Qualcomm's been involved in the connected-car space for about a decade, with 3G and 4G modules to show for it. Though it offers Gobix 9x15 3G/4G LTE modules along with WiFi and Bluetooth, the 602A is ambitious on more than just the connectivity front: The chip will initially power infotainment -- serving multiple video streams to numerous screens in your car, for instance -- but will pave the way for more advanced connectivity and safety features. For example, facial-recognition support could let you start the car by looking in a camera, and gesture recognition could enable a smarter backup cam. As with the Snapdragon 802, the goal behind the 602A is to bring the dynamic app experience of smartphones and tablets to a different environment. This means improved 3D navigation, cloud-based software and integration with mobile devices, among many other things. Support for both Android and QNX gives carmakers options for building their own infotainment systems that comply with the automotive industry's requirements, as well. Qualcomm hasn't mentioned a timeframe at this point, but we have it on good authority that such an announcement is coming this week.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon 802 processor is a 4K powerhouse for your TV
With 4K TVs (and content, hopefully) promising to be one of CES 2014's biggest trends, it makes sense that Qualcomm would introduce a processor tailored to handle heavy-duty streaming. The new Snapdragon 802 is just that: a TV-specific quad-core SoC that shares many features with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 and its "Ultra HD" 805 for mobile video. According to Qualcomm's VP of Marketing Tim McDonough, the Snapdragon 802 brings the best of smartphones to your smart TV. So, in addition to powering 4K content on your living-room set, the processor will enable a much-improved app experience (read: programs that run at an actually usable pace) on your big screen. Of course, it can also handle multitasking, from browsing online while streaming a movie to simultaneously playing up to four HD videos on one TV. And thanks to Hollywood Quality Video, a video-processing engine, 1080p content can be upconverted to a level "approaching Ultra HD." As for where the processor itself will live, that's up to the OEMs. The Snapdragon 802 can be built into both TVs and set-top boxes. The processor won't turn up in devices until late 2014, but we could have a few demoes in store for us at CES this week. If you're looking for more nitty-gritty details, head past the break for some additional specs.
Garmin's new dash cam will record your crash, man
In the grand scheme of things, $220 might be a small price to pay when it comes to accident liability. Or $250, for that matter. In addition to the rear-facing camera it announced today, Garmin's also offering up a window-mounted dash cam. Where the other helps you avoid potential collisions in the first place, this one'll record the incident if, god forbid, you do get in an accident. The camera records wide-angle video in 1080p, 720p or WXGA resolutions, turning on and off with your engine. The Dash Cam has an incident detector, saving relevant video to its 4GB of storage (a number you increase via expandable memory). The 2.3-inch display, meanwhile, makes it easier to position the cam correctly, and, if need be, you can pull the camera off the windshield to take snapshots. The footage is timestamped and, if you opt for the $250 GPS version, geostamped, so you know where incidents occurred. Both models are arriving next month.
Garmin's latest GPS navigator has a backup camera for avoiding fender benders
Here's a nice feature from the sometimes staid world of in-car GPS devices. The latest from Garmin features a wireless backup camera that'll show what's behind you on its 7-inch display. The ruggedized camera plugs into your vehicle's rearview lights for power, switching on when they do, so you can toggle between that image and the standard navigation screen. The Nüvi 2798LMT package runs $400 and includes the standard Garmin features like voice-activated navigation and free traffic reports and maps.
SteelSeries launches the Stratus, the first wireless iOS 7 gamepad
With its new gaming protocols in iOS 7, Apple opened the door for gamepads that make use of the iPhone's Lightning connector to bring an assortment of inputs to iOS titles. Recognizing that not all iOS gamers own an iPhone, accessory maker SteelSeries has unveiled its new Stratus controller, becoming the first wireless gamepad to support Apple's latest iOS platform in the process. Unlike Logitech's PowerShell and PowerA's MOGA Ace Power, the Stratus connects to an iPad, iPhone and the iPod touch via Bluetooth 2.1, putting four pressure-sensitive face buttons, four shoulder buttons, dual analog sticks and a four-way d-pad in a design that reminds us a little of Sega's Genesis/Mega Drive gamepad, at least in black. While you won't be able to attach your iOS device to the Stratus and play on the move, it does mean you can set it aside and play against up to three other players on the big screen via AirPlay. Without that additional clutter, the Stratus comes in significantly lighter than rival controllers, giving you around 10 hours playtime on a full (USB) charge. SteelSeries has already made the Stratus available for pre-order on its website for $99.99/€99.99, and you can find the link in the source below.
Are regular speakers too opaque? Check out the Clio
Does your speaker look a bit too, you know, speakery? ClearView's got an interesting solution in the form of the Clio, a new product unveiled today that it's deemed "the first invisible speaker." That title's a bit of a stretch, as you might have guessed. For starters, there's the clearly visible base, which houses the electronics, controls and inputs. The phrase refers to the transparent, curved glass at top, which resonates to produce sound waves and certainly makes the system less conspicuous than most speakers out there. So, aside from looking different, what benefits does such a technology provide? For starters, the sound waves disperse in 360 degrees, so if you put the speaker in the middle of a room, you'll be able to hear clear sound on either side. Convinced? You can pick one up right now through the company's site for $350.
NVIDIA certifies PCs and routers that can stream games to its Shield handheld
If you've ever tried to stream a game from a PC (or PS4) to a mobile device over WiFi, then you'll know the bandwidth requirements can be quite fussy. Attempt to remote play in high definition at 60 frames per second, as NVIDIA promises with its Shield handheld and recently upgraded GameStream service, and things start to get seriously pinnikity. So, to help you pick the right hardware to go with your Shield (which is now going for $250 at Amazon, by the way), NVIDIA has started a certification program to label PCs and routers that are GameStream-ready. Expect to see the green logo on pre-built machines from the likes of Digital Storm and Maingear that have the necessary GeForce GTX graphical guts, as well as a number of dual-band and wireless-AC routers from ASUS, Buffalo, D-Link and Netgear. (You'll find a full and current list of certified products over at the source link). Compatible routers will also support streaming from the cloud, via NVIDIA's alternative GRID service, although of course you'll also need a steady 10Mbps broadband connection before you even think about trying that.
NPR receiver gets closed-captioned radio emergency alerts for the hearing impaired
I'll be the first to admit that I had a little trouble wrapping my brain around this one, but I think I've got it now. Sure the appeal of closed-captioned radio for the hearing impaired is clear, but what wasn't immediately apparent was why, precisely, one would want a standalone box for such information if you could potentially get it just as easily through, say, the station's website. This first iteration (which is very much still in the proof-of-concept phase) is intended for emergency relief organizations like FEMA and NPR and its partners are currently testing it out in the Gulf states. The box uses a tablet as a display, getting emergency information through the radio spectrum, so you can use it when the power is out and your WiFi isn't working -- assuming you've still got juice in your tablet, which powers the box. At present, those emergency alerts are the only thing that are currently closed captioned, though NPR is aggressively looking at captioning most or all of its programming, so you could theoretically get the text narration through the box or through the public radio network's site. Future iterations of the receiver will also be a fair bit smaller, perhaps eventually being built into radios with displays, so hearing-impaired public radio fans can still get their Terry Gross fix. Nicole Lee contributed to this report.
Seiki U-Vision HDMI cable promises to squeeze 4K upconversion out of 1080p video
Known for suddenly coming on the scene last year with some of the cheapest Ultra HD televisions around, Seiki is getting into the accessories game with its new U-Vision HDMI cable. The $40 HDMI cable packs Technicolor 4K-certified video processing that it claims promises the best edge restoration, noise reduction and other tweaks available, all performed by the USB-powered Marseille Networks VTV-1222 chip within. While we usually prefer that our signal pass to the TV unaltered, so far Seiki's UHD TVs haven't proven to pack the most sophisticated scalers within. Also helping its case are industry darlings like the Darbeevision Darblet that many are using to improve the quality of their HD video on passthrough. We saw the cable in action and while the demo seemed clean, the demo reel didn't give us much of an opportunity to compare what it was actually doing. The cable will go on sale sometime in the first quarter of this year, and arrive as an adapter in Q2. Dana Wollman contributed to this report.
Netatmo reveals designer bracelet that helps to protect your skin from sun damage
Netatmo's adding a dash of fanciness to this year's parade of wearable announcements at CES. The firm, known for its thermostat and weather monitor, unveiled the June bracelet: a wrap around piece of arm candy with a gem stone-like sensor that measures sun exposure. Since it was designed by Louis Vuitton and Harry Winston collaborator Camille Toupet, it looks a lot chicer than most wearables out there. The downside, however, it that it doesn't have its own display. Instead, it syncs with an iOS app, which not only displays how much sun you're getting, but also tells you what SPF number your sunscreen should have and when to wear shades or a hat. When it starts shipping in the second quarter of the year (or so the firm hopes), it'll come with a $99 price tag and will be available in platinum, gold or gunmetal. That sounds expensive for something that fills an extremely specific niche, but if you usually pay more than that for jewelry, we imagine it might be a worthy investment.
Google to bring Android to cars with a little help from Audi, GM, Hyundai, Honda and NVIDIA
Already with more than one billion activations on mobile and media devices, Google's Android is set to make an impact on another major industry: automobiles. Following rumors that the search giant was working with Audi to embed its open-source OS inside its cars, the company confirmed today it has teamed up with five automotive and technology companies (with more expected in the future) to form the Open Automotive Alliance. Alongside Audi, Google will be joined by General Motors, Hyundai, Honda and chip-maker NVIDIA, which will all work to bring Android to cars starting this year. The coalition aims to create a common platform that will drive innovation and in turn make cars "safer and more intuitive for everyone." With Apple and Nokia already pushing hard to bring their own software to cars -- Apple already counts Honda, GM and Hyundai as Siri Eyes Free partners -- 2014 could be a big year for connected cars.
Fujifilm's X100S camera now comes dressed in black
If you've been waiting for Fujifilm to release a darker-hued X100S to match the X100, wait no longer. The company has revealed the X100S Black, which does exactly what it says on the tin -- it's the same high-end, retro-styled camera as before, just in a sober (if rather eye-catching) new color. We're told that the blackened model will cost the same $1,299 as its silver counterpart, and it should hit shelves in February.
