The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple, for the first time ever, plans on attending the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January of 2010. It’s an interesting turn of events considering Apple decided to shun MacWorld in favor of announcing products and initiatives through their websites and their own events.

With Apple coming to CES, the real question now is – will Steve Jobs headline CES with a keynote speech? No one knows as Jobs isn’t returning phone calls to Gary Shapiro, the chief executive of the Consumer Electronics Association which runs CES.

However, you can probably be sure that if Jobs does make a keynote appearance at CES, the first few days will surely be buzzing.

It’s the end of July and we’re all looking forward to next year’s CES. Amazing!

[Check it out via News.com]

Technorati Tags: Apple, CES 2010

Registration is now open for CES 2010 over at http://www.cesweb.org/. Registration is free to industry professionals only through Sept. 30th. Starting on October 1st, the registration fee will be $100 dollars. This will increase to $200 dollars on January 2nd.  Yes.. we’ll be at CES 2010 again! Can’t wait!

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: CES 2010

Sony’s new 11 inch OLED TV (XEL-1) is now available for purchase at the SonyStyle website. Things you need to know about the new “Organic Panel” TV – it measures 11 inches diagonally; it’s incredibly beautiful; and.. it’s incredibly expensive at $2499.99. Yes.. you read me correct – $2499.99.

AND.. I’m not kidding when I say this display is beautiful. Actually it’s gorgeous. We saw the displays at CES 2009 and colors absolutely pop out from the display. If they were only cheaper and larger..

Here’s the lowdown on the specs:

• Measures 3mm thin
• 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
• Sony Super Top Emission technology intensifies brightness and efficiency
• 105 percent of the NTSC color space
• Fast response time
• High brightness
• Consumes 40 percent less power than conventional 20 inch LCD panels
• 960 x 540 resolution with the same pixel density as a 40 inch 1080p LCD TV
• Dolby Digital support
• 1 optical audio input, 2 HDMI inputs with support for 1080p/60, 1 RF connector
• Memory Stick media slot

Yup – a very sweet display indeed. However, let’s be real for a second here. Despite the gorgeous screen, we certainly can’t recommend this display to anyone right now – simply because the price is just way too high (unless of course money is no object to you). Give it a few years though. OLED displays will slowly come down to earth as manufacturers figure out how to make larger displays at lower costs.

I’ll end things off with pictures that we took of the display at CES 2009. Again – these stills don’t fully express how beautiful the panels really are. OLEDs are our future!

Here are pictures of larger OLED display from Sony (prototypes of course)

Technorati Tags: Sony, OLED TV, XEL-1, Organic LED, CES 2009

If you’re looking for a truly portable speaker solution for your iPod, iPhone, mobile phone, or MP3 player, then you should definitely check out the new Altec Lansing Orbit MP3 and Orbit M speakers. These tiny wonders can easily be stored away in your pocket, purse, or backpack and then brought out to provide a 360 degree sound field wherever you’re at. The units also come with an integrated cord storage system that allows you to wrap the cord around the speakers for storage and protection. As for the difference between the Orbit MP3 and Orbit M -  the M includes a 2.5 mm adapter for music-enabled mobile phones.

The Orbit speakers run off of three AAA batteries which provide up to 24 hours of power. You can further customize the Orbit speakers by skinning it with designs provided by Skinit.com. Pre-designed skins can be purchased for $14.95 while custom skins can be created for $19.95.  Here are some pictures of skinned Orbit speakers.

The Orbit MP3 and Orbit M can be purchased for $39.95.

Technorati Tags: Altec Lansing, Orbit MP3, Orbit M, portable speakers, iPod, iPhone, MP3 players

I’ll be honest. I’ve always thought of Altec Lansing products to be functionality solid yet a bit dull when it came to styling. Their 2009 product line however, certainly looks to change all of that. Here’s our review of the latest speaker products to come out from Altec Lansing this year.

First up, we have the Altec Lansing Expressionist Bass speakers. These twin desktop speakers have 4 inch subwoofers built right into the base of each of the units as well as 1.5 inch full range speaker drivers. Other features include built-in controls and an auxiliary input jack. The Expressionist Bass is available now in white or black for $129.95.

Looking for an inexpensive 2.1 channel speaker system for your computer system? Then you’ll be interested in the new BXR1221 (pictured below) which features impressive styling and an even more impressive price of $29.95.

Don’t need the subwoofer? You can go for the BXR1220 which has the two speakers minus the subwoofer for a price of $19.95. The speakers connect to your PC via the USB port.

Here we have another 2.0 speaker system in the form of the Expressionist Classic. The Classic features dual 3 inch full-range speakers, power and volume controls, and an auxiliary input jack. This classy looking speaker system can be yours for $79.95.

Altec Lansing has one other new Expressionist speaker system coming out (not pictured here) called the Expressionist Ultra. The Ultra is a 200 watt 2.1 speaker system with trapezoid shaped speakers and a powerful sub. Expect the system (model MX6021) to be available for a price of $199.95. Ubergizmo has a nice picture up of the Ultra here.

Looking for speakers on the go? Altec Lansing has a new full line of stylish inexpensive earphones called the Muzx Series. 

First up,are the MHP111, MHP116, and MHP126. The MHP116 and MHP126 (pictured left and center below) have crystal designs with SnugFit eartips and will be available for $19.95 each. The MHP111 (pictured right below) feature a CRYSTALLIZED Swarovski jeweled design and has a price of $19.95.

Next up, we have the Muzx 216 (below) noise-isolating earphones which has an MSRP of $29.95.

Finally, we have the natural wood earphones (yes wood) – the Muzx 136. These headphones feature a large acoustic chamber and a SnugFit noise-isolating design. Price for these earphones? $29.95.

Need something with a bit more oomph? Altec Lansing also has a new line of “streetwise earphones” called the BackBeat series. Here’s the product breakdown.

On the high end, there’s the BackBeat Titanium earphones (pictured below) with a price of $79.95. Features include:

• Titanium enhanced micro-speakers
• Noise-isolating earphones
• soft-sided carry case
• For iPod/iPhone and MP3 players

Next up is the BackBeat Plus noise-isolating earphones (pictured below) with a price of $49.95. Features include:

• Neodymium micro-speakers with enhanced bass
• Noise-isolating earphones
• Tangle-free cloth cable
• For iPod/iPhone and MP3 players

Moving down the list is the BackBeat Classic noise-isolating earphones (pictured below) for $29.95. Features include:

• Quality micro-speakers
• Noise-isolating earphones
• Tangle-free cloth cable
• For iPod/iPhone and MP3 players

Need some earphones with a built-in microphone? Check out the new BackBeat Plus Mobile and BackBeat Classic Mobile.

The BackBeat Plus Mobile earphones (pictured below) are noise-isolating earphones priced at $59.95 with features such as:

• Enhanced bass
• Balanced highs and mids
• Discreet inline microphone
• Inline call answer end button
• Reduces background noise
• 6 piece fit kit with multiple silicone ear tips
• Supports iPod, MP3 players, and iPhone

Looking for something a tad bit cheaper? There’s the new BackBeat Classic Mobile for $39.95 which features:

• Discreet inline microphone
• Inline call answer end button
• 6 piece fit kit with multiple silicone ear tips
• Compatible with iPod, iPhone, MP3 players

OK..  so what if you’re looking to cut the cord altogether? Altec Lansing has you covered there too with the BackBeat 906 headphones with built-in microphone for $129.95 (pictured below). These headphones come with a Bluetooth adapter for devices lacking Bluetooth transmitters. Features include:

• Dual-mic AudioIQ technology helps separate voice from background noise
• Hear the outside world with a press of the OpenMic button
• Bass-boost feature

BackBeat 903 lacks the Bluetooth adapter and is priced lower at $99.95.

We have a few more Altec Lansing products to discuss but we’ll save that for the next few posts.

Technorati Tags: Altec Lansing, Expressionist Speakers, Computer Speakers, In-ear earphones, earphones, CES 2009

Sharp announced a new line of AQUOS HDTV sets at CES 2009 called the AQUOS E Series. The E series is made up of E77U models and E67U models – each of which have a variety of display sizes. The E77U models include the 65 inch (64 33/64” diagonal) LC-65E77U, 52 inch (52 1/32” diagonal) LC-52E77U, 46 inch (45 63/64”diagonal) LC-46E77U, and 40-inch (40” diagonal) LC-40E77U. The E67U models include the 40 inch (40” diagonal) LC-40E67U  and 32-inch (31
35/64” diagonal) LC-32E67U.

Before we get into the specs, here are the pictures.

LC-65E77U:

LC-52E77U:

LC-46E77U:

LC-40E77U:

LC-40E67U:

LC-32E67U:

You’ll find the following common features across all the AQUOS E series displays:

• Advanced Super View (ASV) Superlucent Panel for “dramatically bright and crisp picture with reduced haze and reflectivity”
• New design with color accents at the bottom of the frame
• New convenient swivel stand

Features of the E77U series include:

• Fine Motion Enhanced Technology for 120Hz Frame Rate Conversion
• 4ms response time
• 10 bit ASV Superlucent panel
• 10 bit processing engine
• Full 1080p picture
• Spectral Contrast Engine XD (Extreme Dark)
• Optical Picture Control (OPC) automatically adjusts luminance to room brightness and lighting conditions
• Brightness Preservation picture processing for energy efficient displays
• Black cabinet with soft champagne gold hue
• Five HDMI 1.3 ports
• Two component video inputs – 1080p compatible

Features of the E67U series include:

• ASV Superlucent panel technology
• Four HDMI with 24p input capability
• Two component video inputs with 1080p support
• Energy saving features with Sharp Optical Picture Control (like the E77U series)
• New design with subtle copper hue at the bottom of the cabinet and swivel
• LC-32E67U comes with advanced gaming features such as Vyper Drive circuit to reduce lag time between game console input and TV display

And now – the pricing and availability
For the E77U series:

• LC-65E77U will be available in June for a price of $4,499.99
• LC-52E77U will be available in February for a price of $2,399.99
• LC-46E77U will be available in February for a price of $2,099.99
• LC-40E77U will be available in March for a price of $1,399.99

For the E67U series:

• LC-40E67U will be available in March for a price of $1,199.99
• LC-32E67U will be available in February for a price of $899.99

Technorati Tags: Sharp, AQUOS E Series, E77U, E67U, CES 2009

Sharp introduced their first AQUOS LCD TV series with built-in Blu-ray Disc Players at CES 2009. Featuring a full lineup of display sizes, the new lineup includes the 52-inch class (52-1/32” diagonal) LC-52BD80U, 46-inch class (45-63/64” diagonal) LC-46BD80U, 42-inch class (42-1/64” diagonal) LC-42BD80U, 37-inch class (37” diagonal) LC-37BD60U and 32-inch class (31-35/64” diagonal) LC-32BD60U.

Here are pictures of the new models.

LC-52BD80U:

LC-46BD80U:

LC-42BD80U:

LC-37BD60U:

LC-32BD60U:

Common features of these new combo units include:

• Single step operation turns on TV and activates play with Blu-ray disc is inserted
• Advanced Super View (ASV) Superlucent panel for bright/crisp pictures with reduced reflection
• AQUOS Pure Mode for optimized viewing of Blu-ray titles
• AQUOS Blue design – subtle blue accent on the bottom of the frame and swivel stand
• Models LC-52BD80U, LC-46BD80U and LC-42BD80U feature Fine Motion Enhanced Technology for 120Hz frame rate conversion, 10 bit panel for Deep Color compatibility, and “dejudder” technology for smooth reproduction of film content
• Fast pixel response times
• Spectral Contrast Engine provides deep blacks and high contrast ratios
• 176 degree viewing angles
• LC-52BD80U, LC-46BD80U and LC-42BD80U have four HDMI inputs
• LC-37BD60U and LC-32BD60U have three HDI inputs

The LC-52BD80U and LC-46BD80U will be available in February. The LC-42BD80U, LC-37BD60U, LC-32BD60U will be available in January.

Technorati Tags: Sharp, AQUOS, LC-52BD80U, LC-46BD80U, LC-42BD80U, LC-37BD60U, LC-32BD60U, CES 2009

Our attention now shifts to Sharp’s latest Blu-ray products announced at CES 2009.

First up, we have the Sharp AQUOS BD-HP50U Blu-ray Disc Player. This is a fairly standard player with features such as full HD 1080p playback, support for BD-ROM Profile 1.1, HDMI 1.3 output, and support for the latest advanced lossless surround-sound formats.

Here’s a quick rundown of specs for the BD-HP50U:

• Built-in RS-232C port allows external control systems to manage the player
• IR input allows the unit to be controlled wirelessly through a remote sensor – allows the player to be hidden away
• Supports BD-ROM Profile 1.1
• HDMI 1.3 output including support for x.v.Color
• Lip Sync – automatically adjusts audio and video signal processing times to eliminate lip sync errors
• Support for Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD, Dolby Digital Plus
• Quick Start loads a movie in less than 10 seconds
• JPEG viewing
• Supports 1080p/24p output
• Compatible with BD-ROM/RE/R, DVD Video, DVD-RW/R, DVD+RW/R and audio CDs

The AQUOS BD-HP50U is available now for $449.99.

Next up, Sharp introduces two new third generation Blu-ray players. First, there’s the AQUOS BD-HP22U. Features of this full HD 1080p player include:

• Supports BD-ROM Profile 2.0 (BD-Live)
• Ethernet jack
• Advanced audio decoding including support for Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus
• AQUOS Pure Mode
• Lower power consumption in both Power On Mode and in standard mode (19 watts power consumption)
• HDMI 1.3  with x.v.Color
• 1080p/24p playback
• Sharp Quick Start feature
• Includes 2GB of memory
• JPEG viewer
• Available in May for $299.99

Finally, we have the AQUOS BD-HP16U which features:

• Advanced audio decoding including support for Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus
• AQUOS Pure Mode
• Lower power consumption in both Power On Mode and in standard mode (19 watts power consumption)
• HDMI 1.3  with x.v.Color
• 1080p/24p playback
• Sharp Quick Start feature
• JPEG viewer
• Available in March for $279.99

Technorati Tags: Sharp, AQUOS BD-HP16U, AQUOS BD-HP22U, AQUOS BD-HP50U, Blu-ray player, CES 2009

Fans of Casio digital cameras will certainly appreciate the new year. The company revealed details of six new digital camera models at CES 2009 – the high speed EXILIM models EX-FS10 and EX-FC100, the EXILIM models EX-Z400, EX-Z270, EX-S12, and the EXILIM EX-S5. Models EX-Z400, EX-Z270 and EX-S12 feature Casio’s latest high speed image processing engine which allows users to cut and paste moving subjects on top of still backgrounds.

First up, let’s look at the new high speed EXILIM EX-FS10 and EX-FC100 digital cameras. The individual camera specs are as follows:

High Speed EXILIM EX-FS10

• Card sized camera measuring 3.8 x 2.3 x 0.64 inches
• 3x optical zoom lens
• 2.5 inch Super Clear LCD display
• 9.1 megapixel resolution
• Available in in blue, gray, red and white for a price of $349.99

High Speed EXILIM EX-FC100

• Compact camera measuring 3.9 x 2.3 x 0.9 inches
• 5x optical zoom lens with CMOS shift anti-shake function
• 2.7 inch Super Clear LCD display
• 9.1 megapixel resolution
• Available in gray or white for a price of $399.99

More pics of the EX-FC100:

Common features of both the EX-FS10 and the EX-FC100 include:

• 30 shot per second high speed burst shooting with 6.0 megapixel images
• The camera can save up to 25 frames prior to the instant the shutter button is actually pressed
• Number of shots per second can be set at 30, 15, 19, 5, 3 or auto. User can set total # of shots in one burst to 30, 20, 10, or 5
• Automatically record just the best of the images captured in a high speed burst
• Slow Motion View – press a button and view the movement of the subject in slow motion on the LCD monitor
• High speed anti-shake and high speed night scene functions – the camera is capable of combining a number of images taken in burst mode and then align the position of the subject to form a single shot
• High speed best selection – camera automatically selects the best image from a set of images taken in burst mode – best image will be saved
• Lag correction
• High speed movie recording at up to 1000 frames per second. Frame rate can also be set to 420 fps or 210 fps. While recording at 30 fps, you can press a button to record at 210 fps
• HD Movie function – capture videos at 1280 x 720. You can simultaneously capture 6.0 megapixel stills
• Rechargeable lithium ion battery

Now, let’s move to the EXILIM Models EX-Z400, EX-Z270, and EX-S12. The individual camera specs are as follows:

EXILIM EX-Z400:

• Wide-angle 28mm 4x optical zoom lens
• 12.1 megapixel resolution
• 3.0 inch Super Clear LCD display
• CCD shift anti-shake mechanism
• 39 BEST SHOT scene modes
• Long life battery allows for around 550 shots on a full charge
• Available in brown, gold, or pink for a price of $299.99

EXILIM EX-Z270:

• Wide-angle 28mm 4x optical zoom lens
• 10.1 megapixel resolution
• CCD shift anti-shake mechanism
• 37 BEST SHOT scene modes
• 2.7 inch widescreen LCD display
• Available in black, gray, gold, or pink for a price of $229.99

EX-S12:

• Measures 3.7 x 2.1 x 0.6 inches
• 3x optical zoom lens
• 2.7 inch super clear widescreen LCD display
• 12.1 megapixel resolution
• 41 BEST SHOT scene modes
• Available in silver, pink, green and black for a price of $249.99

Common features across all three models include:

• EXILIM Engine 4.0
• Dynamic Photo function- cut out a moving subject from several images captured and combine it with a different still shot that’s used as the background

• EX-Z400 and EX-Z270 feature hand-held night photography and shooting in adverse lighting conditions – cameras automatically analyze given situation and selects the most appropriate settings
• Improved Tracking AF
• Makeup function – cameras make adjustments to smooth skin in images and soften facial shadows caused by sunlight. Choose from one of 12 levels of skin beauty
• HD Movie function – shoot videos at 1280 x 720
• Rechargeable lithium ion battery

Finally, there’s the new EXILIM EX-S5 – a new “sleek and sturdy” digital camera.

Features include:

• Compact form factor measuring 3.8 x 2.2 x 0.7 inches
• Control panel, frame, and rear casing have contrasting colors
• 10.1 megapixel resolution with 3x optical zoom lens
• 2.7 inch widescreen LCD. Shooting information is shown in an “operating panel” on the right hand side of the screen
• Widescreen movie recording (16:9 aspect ratios). Features YouTube Capture Mode which allows you to record movies using settings ideal for YouTube
• Customizable focusing frame and menu screens
• Supports SD, SDHC
• 23 BEST SHOT scene modes
• Rechargeable lithium ion battery
• Available in blue, black gold, silver, pink and purple for a price of $179.99

All six new models will be coming out in March.

AND in case you missed our coverage of the ladies of CES, here are some of the cheerleaders that showed up at the Casio booth. Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: Casio, EX-FS10, EX-FC100, EX-Z400, EX-Z270, EX-S12, EXILIM EX-S5, Digital Cameras, CES 2009

What we have here is a Bluetooth-enabled 7 inch digital photo frame designed by Andrée Putman for Parrot. This simple and elegant looking frame allows users to wirelessly transfer pictures from any Bluetooth enabled PC or mobile phone. If you don’t have a Bluetooth enabled PC or handset – no worries. You can transfer pictures to the frame using a USB connection or via an SD/MMC card. The 7 inch display has a resolution of 720 x 480 and supports up to 262K colors. Other specs include support for Bluetooth 2.0, a mini-USB port, and support for JPEG and GIF file formats. The frame measures 219 x 174 x 25 mm and weighs 695 grams.  You can purchase the frame for £250.

If Bluetooth connectivity isn’t enough for you, then you should check out the other Designer digital picture frame from Parrot – the Specchio “mirror” picture frame designed by Martin Szekely.

The Specchio features Wi-Fi connectivity in addition to Bluetooth 2.0 support. You can deliver digital images to the frame in a variety of ways. You can email pictures the frame. You can display whole Picasa or Flickr albums on the frame via Wi-Fi. You can transfer pictures from the PC/Mac via Wi-Fi. And of course, you can transfer pictures via Bluetooth from your mobile handset.

Ah yes, the Specchio frame also doubles as a handy mirror – just in case you want to look at yourself too. The 7 inch display has a resolution of 720 x 480 and supports up to 262K colos. There’s also a mini-USB port as well as an SD/MMC card slot. You can purchase the Specchio now for $499.99.

Technorati Tags: Parrot, Digital Picture Frames, Designer Collection, CES 2009