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Thursday, January 6, 2011

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Skype announces plans to acquire Qik

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 10:23 AM PST

We can't say we saw this one coming, but Skype's just dropped a bombshell right in the middle of CES -- it's announced plans to acquire rival video calling company Qik. No terms on the deal have been disclosed, but Skype says that the transaction is expected to close this month.
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Skype To Acquire Qik
Combined companies bring deeper video capabilities across devices

LUXEMBOURG, 6 January 2011 - Skype today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Qik, a provider of mobile video software and services that enable individuals to capture, instantly share and preserve great moments on video from anywhere. Qik has 60 employees, and is headquartered in Redwood City, California and has an office in Moscow, Russia. The transaction is expected to close in January 2011. Terms of the acquisition will not be disclosed.

Qik was founded in 2006 and offers innovative and flexible solutions to capture and share video with anyone across mobile devices, the web, and desktop platforms. Videos can be shared in real time or stored so moments can be viewed later, allowing for video messaging, sharing and archiving. The Qik service is available on over 200 mobile phones across the Android, iPhone, Symbian, Blackberry and Windows Mobile platforms, and comes pre-loaded on a wide variety of mobile handsets through partnerships with leading handset manufacturers and carriers.

Both Skype and Qik have a common purpose of enriching communications and sharing with video, across any device. The acquisition of Qik helps accelerate Skype's leadership in video by adding recording, sharing and storing capabilities to Skype's product portfolio. Through this acquisition, Skype will also be able to leverage the engineering expertise that is behind Qik's Smart Streaming™ technology, which optimizes video transmission over wireless networks.

"The Qik team has delivered exceptional video experiences for its mobile partners and millions of end users across a range of devices," said Tony Bates, Skype's Chief Executive Officer. "Skype's software enables an estimated 25 percent of the world's international long distance voice calling minutes*, and approximately 40 percent of those Skype-to-Skype calls are happening over video. Qik's deep engineering capabilities and strong mobile relationships will be an impressive complementary fit with Skype."

Together, Skype and Qik will focus on providing a richer, more integrated experience that will allow people globally to share experiences in real-time video across different platforms, as well as, store those moments so they can be viewed anytime later.

"Qik has worked very hard to solve complex problems that allow millions of people everyday to take advantage of sharing their lives with those people who are most important to them," said Vijay Tella, Chief Executive Officer of Qik. "Joining Skype allows Qik's team to unite with Skype's talented team to develop new and innovative products for our customers and partners."

* 2010 TeleGeography Research issued on January 6, 2011; 24.7% of total international PSTN and international Skype-to-Skype calling minutes.

About Skype
Skype is a communications platform provider whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they're apart. Skype was founded in 2003 and is based in Luxembourg. Skype can be downloaded onto computers, mobile phones and other connected devices for free at www.skype.com.

About Qik
Qik is a leader in the mobile video space enabling smart phone users around the world to capture special and spontaneous life moments from anywhere and instantly share those moments with friends, family and followers. Qik's comprehensive solution meets all consumer video needs including video calling, video sharing, video messaging and the ability to sync and save videos to the web and desktop. The Qik service is available on over 200 mobile phones across the Android, iPhone, Symbian, Blackberry and Windows Mobile platforms. Qik has headquarters in Redwood City, California and an office in Moscow, Russia.

Viewsonic introduces the first TV with Boxee (& Intel) inside

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 10:16 AM PST

Say hello to the latest hardware news from Boxee, as Viewsonic was showing its new TV amongst its existing Android tablet lineup featuring the software and requisite Intel CE4100 processor built in. It didn't appear to integrate live TV or other inputs into the Boxee software, instead of opting to run the software as its own app, offering a similar experience to the existing Boxee Box, minus the box of course. This TV should drop in "early Q2," press release details are after the break.

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ViewSonic Showcases Industry's First Internet-Connected Smart TV Solution Running Boxee Software With Intel® AtomTM Processor CE4100

LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwire - January 6, 2011) - CES 2011 -- ViewSonic Corp. (South Hall 30873), a leading global provider of computing, consumer electronics and communications solutions, today unveiled its first connected TV featuring Boxee, software that brings intelligent capabilities to the smart TV experience. The new TV is powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor CE4100, a system-on-chip designed for CE devices such as Blu-ray players, set top boxes and digital TVs.

An award sweeper at last year's CES, Boxee provides access to a wide array of shows, movies, video, music, and photos from the Internet and their home network allowing you the freedom to watch whatever you want, whenever you want as well as providing social networking features enabling users to exchange recommendations with friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Buzz. For the first time, Boxee is available integrated onto a smart TV enabled device from ViewSonic. Through this partnership, consumers will have access to preferred content via a personalized account. Whether viewing TV, movies, Internet video favorite apps, or personal content from your PC, Boxee's software enables users to access content by category, title, or source rather than by channel -- including entertainment media from Netflix, Vudu, CBS, Pandora and more -- simply type the name of what you want to watch and hit play.

"The CE4100 delivers processor performance for the smart TV experience, which offers rich content and application choices through integrated broadcast and Internet viewing and interaction," said Wilfred Martis, general manager, retail segment, Intel Digital Home Group. "With the ViewSonic solution, consumers can easily access and enjoy Boxee's ever-expanding content library on TV."

"Consumers are watching more videos online, and are looking for technologies that enable them to watch content on their big-screen TVs instead of their PCs," said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager for ViewSonic Americas. "We are leveraging our front-of-screen display expertise to provide consumers with the first and only TV to integrate the Intel Atom processor CE4100 with Boxee's award-winning media search and streaming software."

ViewSonic's integrated smart TV solutions utilizing Intel and Boxee technology will be available in Q2 2011. More details to be disclosed at this time.

For more information on this and other CES announcements, including hi-res images, please visit ViewSonic.com/ces2011. For further information on ViewSonic and its products, visit ViewSonic.com or follow ViewSonic on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

About ViewSonic
ViewSonic® Corporation is a leading global provider of computing, consumer electronics and communications solutions. ViewSonic develops, markets and supports a broad range of innovative products, including LCD TVs, computers, LCD monitors, projectors, digital photo frames, digital signage displays and digital media players. For further information, please contact ViewSonic Corporation at 800.888.8583 or 909.444.8888; or visit ViewSonic.com.

ViewSonic's Finch Club offers resellers an opportunity to benefit from specialized product training and discounts. To sign up, please visit FinchClub.com.

Trademark footnote: All corporate names and trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's expectations with regard to future events. Actual events could differ significantly from those anticipated in this document.

Audi rolls out updated hybrid e-tron Spyder at CES

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 10:14 AM PST

It's looking rather more polished since it first appeared the Paris Auto Show earlier this year, having been given a lovely coat of red paint (embarassingly almost exactly the same hue as the Tesla Model S that's here) but keeping the some gorgeous, turbine-styled wheels. It's the Audi e-tron Spyder, a hybrid with a twin-turbo V6 and dual electric motors as well capable of 0 - 60 times of 4.7 seconds, and we thought you might want to see. Still no price or availability, though. Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler is currently talking about the future of driving, and we'll keep providing updates of what's interesting.
Audi e-tron Spyder

Dell Streak 7 official on T-Mobile's 4G network, bringing dual-core Tegra 2 and Froyo

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 10:09 AM PST

Dell's Looking Glass tablet has just received its official papers, being dubbed the Streak 7 and packed off to T-Mobile HSPA+ network. Alas, unlike its fellow CES debutants from the likes of Motorola and LG, this slate only has Android 2.2 on board, no Honeycomb, but you do get a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera, a Gorilla Glass-protected screen, 16GB of internal memory, and of course the greatness and glory of that 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor. Full press release and an introductory video follow after the break.
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Dell and T-Mobile USA unveil Streak 7, both companies' first 4G tablet offering the ultimate entertainment experience

Las Vegas, Nev. - Jan. 6, 2011 PST

Today at 2011 International CES, Dell and T-Mobile USA, Inc. unveiled Dell's new 7-inch Android™ tablet, the Streak™ 7, both companies' first 4G* capable tablet specifically designed for the super-fast mobile broadband speeds of T-Mobile's 4G network. The sleek compact form of the Streak 7 combined with T-Mobile's super-fast 4G mobile broadband network make it the ultimate entertainment hub for families and consumers craving a rich multimedia and web experience both at home and on-the-go.

Portable, passable and easily shared, the Streak 7's brilliant seven-inch WVGA touch screen with Gorilla® Glass is ideal for Web browsing, streaming video, watching TV and movies, reading books and magazines or playing games virtually anytime, anywhere. The Streak 7 features Google's™ Android 2.2 operating system, a dual core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and full support for Adobe® Flash® Player. Preloaded with a variety of compelling content and applications from
T-Mobile, the Android-powered tablet also has access to more than 100,000 applications, games and widgets from Android Market™.

In addition to a rich entertainment experience, the Streak 7 easily captures and shares life moments with the rear-facing 5 megapixel camera for high-definition stills and video recording. The front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera with the preloaded Qik™ Video Chat application provide video-calling over T-Mobile's network as well as Wi-Fi to enable spontaneous connections with family and friends.

"Dell is continuing to create the very best in entertainment, mobile and gaming experiences," said Steve Felice, president of Dell's Consumer, Small and Medium Business unit. "With Streak 7 on the blazingly fast T-Mobile network, families, students and mobile professionals will gather, share, and find new ways to interact and keep in touch."

"We're proud to bring consumers our first 4G tablet, a milestone for T-Mobile, Dell and the industry," said Cole Brodman, CMO, T-Mobile USA. "As tablets change the way we consume content, T-Mobile's combination of 4G speeds, breadth of our 4G network, our affordable data plans and compelling new products like the Streak 7 place us in a position to offer the best experience and value for our customers."

The new Streak 7 will feature Dell's innovative Stage user interface, which provides a seamless and unified experience for accessing all your favorite content. Later this year, Dell will add syncing to Stage so people can keep their photos, contacts, calendars and other personal content synchronized across their Dell Stage-equipped devices, from tablets to PCs, connected through their home network.

T-MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT AND CONTENT:

The Dell Streak 7 also comes preloaded with unique content and applications to entertain the whole family, including:

* T-Mobile TV: live and on-demand TV including live news, sports and full-length entertainment, plus on-demand full episodes of your favorite shows.
* BrainPOP: animated educational content embraced by students and trusted by teachers and parents around the globe. BrainPOP brings learning to your fingertips.
* Zinio: the largest online newsstand, enabling customers to shop for, search inside, read, share and save digital content in new ways with more than 75,000 digital magazines from 26 countries.
* Qik Video Chat: connect with friends and family through T-Mobile's network and Wi-Fi, unlike some other video-calling solutions that only work through Wi-Fi. With the Streak 7's front-facing camera paired with Video Chat through Qik, customers can hold video conversations with those who have a Streak 7, or other compatible mobile device, and even broadcast their view through the rear-facing camera.
* Additional entertainment applications including Blockbuster, Kindle for Android, Let's Golf demo, Slacker Radio and Zoodles.

AVAILABILITY INFORMATION:

The new Dell Streak 7 Tablet is expected to be available in the U.S. in the coming weeks at T-Mobile retail stores, www.t-mobile.com, and direct from Dell.

FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS:

* Brilliant seven-inch WVGA (TFT) touch screen display with Gorilla Glass
* Android 2.2 (Froyo) with Android Market
* Qik video chat with built-in front-facing 1.3-megapixel webcam
* Stage User Interface – easy access to the stuff you care about
* Built-in support for T-Mobile's 4G mobile broadband network and Wi-Fi
* Dual core 1Ghz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor
* SMS/MMS, SWYPE® virtual keyboard and stereo Bluetooth 2.1 capable
* Support for Adobe® Flash® Player
* Support for Microsoft® Exchange e-mail, contacts and calendar
* 16 GB of internal memory and SD Card slot with support for expandable memory up to 32 GB
* Dimensions: 7.87" x 4.72" x 0.49"

Streak 7 adds to Dell's rapidly expanding mobility portfolio and represents the first 4G tablet for T-Mobile's robust mobile broadband product lineup.

Follow conversations on Twitter and in the blogosphere: #Streak7

Vitality GlowCaps smart pill bottle toppers now available on Amazon

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 10:01 AM PST

Pill poppers rejoice! AT&T-connected Vitality GlowCaps are finally available on Amazon. The intelligent pill caps, which use flashing lights and audio reminders, as well as phone calls and SMS, to remind forgetful patients that it's down-the-hatch time, retail between $10 and $15 a month through a Vitality connectivity service plan. Details of GlowCap's functionality were still up in the air when we got our hands on one back in March, but it looks like AT&T and Vitality have ironed out all the smart Rx kinks. Basically, your pill bottle lights up and chimes when it's time for your meds. As soon as you open the bottle, adherence data is then sent via AT&T to Vitality, who then passes that data on to you, your doctor, and any other approved party, in the form of progress reports. They're also equipped to automatically refill your prescription when the bottle gets low. Considering you still remember what that little light means when it appears (and you don't have a penchant for over-medicating), GlowCap might just save your life. We've been using ours for about a month now, and still haven't kicked the bucket -- review coming soon.

Razer refreshes Onza 360 controller with new Tournament and Standard Editions

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 09:50 AM PST

Is your Xbox 360's bundled controller not loving you quite like it should? Razer's ready to pick you up on the rebound with its updated Onza controller for Microsoft's console. The Tournament Edition offers analog sticks with adjustable resistance, an improved D-pad, backlit action buttons, and a pair of added programmable keys. The Standard version eschews the backlight and analog customizability, but keeps the other improvements. Pre-orders for both begin on January 17th, with the Tournament costing $50 / €50 and the Standard asking for $40 / €40.
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Razer™ Releases the Most Talked About Xbox 360 Controllers

Razer Enters the Console Market with the Razer Onza Controllers - Resistance is Futile

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Electronics Show -- Xbox gaming worldwide explodes as Razer, the leading high-end precision gaming brand, finally announces the release of their brand new elite Xbox 360 controllers: the Razer Onza Tournament and Standard Editions. Shopping malls and game outlets with barricaded doors and organized queues won't stop the onslaught of hysterical gamers who've endured the long wait for these brutal console controllers.

"We are extremely excited to finally offer console gamers the high-precision and tremendous detail that we have always done for the PC," said Robert "Razerguy" Krakoff, president Razer USA. "So I recommend pre-ordering for minimal stress and safety issues, as riots and mass mobs are expected at Razers' retailers."

Built for the hardcore competitive gamer, the Razer Onza Tournament Edition offers superior customizability with adjustable resistance analog sticks. Onza's tagline Resistance is Futile means nothing stands in your way for exceptional precision. Twist the analog sticks in one direction to make them more resistant for steadier control, or twist in the opposite direction for quicker, fluid movements. Boom! He's dead. Boom! She's dead. You're just too fast; nothing's stopping you when you have an Onza in your hands.

The Razer Onza Standard Edition features Multi-Function Buttons (MFB) on the controller's shoulders which allow remapping of critical buttons to any location under your fingertips. Not only does this increase efficiency of game control, but aids those with disabilities unable to reach specific functions on a crappy standard controller. Razer lets everybody play. Both Standard and Tournament Editions feature MFB, Hyperesponse™ technology, PC compatibility, and a 15 foot cable for the ultimate pleasure in Xbox gaming.

About the Razer Onza Tournament Edition Xbox 360 Controller:

The Razer Onza TE Gaming Controller gives professional gamers the competitive edge by bringing together all of these awesome customizable features to make the Xbox 360 your bitch. Featuring adjustable resistance on both analog sticks and two fully programmable Multi-Function Buttons (MFB), there is no excuse not to be the top scorer, whatever the game.

With an improved D-pad, Hyperesponse technology on backlit action buttons, PC compatibility and a 15 foot lightweight braided cable with quick release USB connector, it's no wonder the controller's tournament-controversial.

Price: US $49.99 / euro 49.99

Availability:

Razerzone.com – Pre-order Jan. 17th, 2011

Worldwide – Pre-order Jan. 17th, 2011

Product Features:

* 2 Adjustable resistance analog sticks
* 2 Multi-Function Buttons (MFB)
* 4 backlit Hyperesponse action buttons
* Precision D-Pad
* Non-slip rubber surface
* Quick release USB connector
* 15 foot, lightweight, braided fiber cable
* Approx. size in mm: 109(L) x 154(W) x 60.5(H)

For more information about the Razer Onza TE, please visit www.razerzone.com/onzate.

About the Razer Onza Standard Edition Xbox 360 Controller:

All it takes are two extra Multi-Function Buttons (MFB) on the Razer Onza Xbox 360 controller for a mind-blowingly different gaming experience – something Razer has a penchant for providing. An improved D-pad, Hyperesponse technology on the action buttons, and PC compatibility makes this a necessity for any discerning Xbox gamer. A 15 foot lightweight cable with quick release USB connector makes for lag-free ownage.

Price: US $39.99 / euro 39.99

Availability:

Razerzone.com – Pre-order Jan. 17th, 2011

Worldwide – Pre-order Jan. 17th, 2011

Product Features:

* 2 Multi-Function Buttons (MFB)
* 4 Hyperesponse action buttons
* Precision D-Pad
* High grip textured surface
* Quick release USB connector
* 15 foot, lightweight cable
* Approx. size in mm: 109(L) x 154(W) x 60.5(H)

For more information about the Razer Onza, please visit www.razerzone.com/onza.

About the Razer Group:

Razer™ is more than just the world's leading brand in high-end precision gaming products, perpetually defining the gaming and technology space. Founded in 1998 in Carlsbad, California, Razer is driven by the ceaseless pursuit for absolute precision and high usability in a distinctive, aesthetic design that will give gamers the edge they demand. With labs and offices in seven cities around the world, Razer dedicates user interface research and development to bring cutting-edge technology to each and every product. We live by our motto: For Gamers. By Gamers.

For more information, please visit www.razerzone.com.

Live from T-Mobile's CES 2011 press event

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 09:49 AM PST


11:26AM Demo time!

11:26AM It's official: 42Mbps service is coming to T-Mobile this year.

11:24AM Now we're seeing a chart of T-Mobile's 4G evolution on the HSPA+ technology path, starting with 21Mbps in 2010. We're seeing 28, 42, 84, 168, and 672Mbps bars here as we move through dual-carrier, MIMO, and so on.

11:22AM Ray says that HSPA+ will be the dominant next-gen standard over LTE for the next five years. We know that T-Mobile's looking at LTE in the long term, but the way he's talking, it sounds like the very, very long term.

11:21AM Wow, this is getting low down and dirty in the geekiest way possible: Ray says that much of Sprint's backhaul was on Ethernet (as opposed to something better like fiber) as of last October.

11:20AM 40 percent more major metropolitan areas with T-Mobile HSPA+ versus Sprint WiMAX.

11:19AM Neville says T-Mobile's "4G' network is 160 percent bigger than Verizon's. Snap!

11:17AM Here comes Neville Ray -- T-Mobile CTO -- to talk about network upgrades.

11:16AM Humm says they "embrace" their "challenger status."

11:15AM Data traffic on T-Mobile's network doubles every seven months. We can see how backhaul would certainly be a concern.

11:13AM T-Mobile says the keys to the "wireless data revolution" are affordable phones and tablets, aggressive plans and pricing, and rich, compelling services. Translation: cheap, awesome stuff.

11:12AM They've sold 900,000 "4G" devices so far.

11:11AM Nielsen study says T-Mobile's delivering the fastest data in the top 100 markets.

11:10AM "We were late in the mobile broadband race, but we turned out to be the winner of the race." Bit premature, we'd say... "what makes T-Mobile the winner? We are proud to announce we've reached 200 million pops with our 4G network."

11:09AM At a quick glance, it definitely looks a bit like a Galaxy Tab -- but then again, it's hard to distinguish glossy black slates from one another.


11:09AM Here it comes! Park had one too, we just couldn't see it at first.



11:08AM Looks like Humm's got one in his hands, but he's being coy so far.

11:08AM And now he's being joined by LG CEO JS Park! They're talking about yesterday's G-Slate announcement.


11:07AM "I am very excited to share some news with you about the evolution of our network."


11:07AM Here comes CEO Philipp Humm.



11:06AM And another ad. "I'm a T-Mobile myTouch 4G. And I'm an iPhone 4." You've probably seen the commercial.

11:05AM Here we go! They're kicking off by playing a T-Mobile Flash ad embedded on a website trashing the iPhone.


11:00AM We're in! Just waiting for things to get started.
On yesterday's new that LG would be bringing the G-Slate Honeycomb tablet to T-Mobile, interest in this particular presser obviously went through the roof -- and now we're here! Let's hope this is an action-packed hour of crazy new hardware, and maybe -- just maybe -- some discussion of HSPA+ as a 4G technology. Set your watches to it: this puppy kicks off at 11:00AM PT (2:00PM ET). Read on!

Live from Dell's CES 2011 press event

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 09:45 AM PST



11:26AM "Owning" is all about service and support.


11:26AM "We want to focus on using -- we want it to be simple, easy, and fun."

11:26AM Dell wants to change buying, using, and owning its products.

11:25AM 1 in 12 people on Earth have done business on Dell.com in 160 countries. That's pretty intense.


11:25AM "At the heart of 'You can tell it's Dell' is the belief that every customer is unique, and so is Dell. Everyone is unique, despite what other companies might say." Not sure who's saying everyone is the same, but sure.


11:24AM "At Dell, our core value is about delivering products and services to customers so they can do more... we make sure our customers achieve success."


11:23AM "Dell is in the middle of a major transformation."


11:23AM PaulHenri Ferrand, Dell's Chief Marketing Officer now on stage.

11:22AM "We've been hard at work creating a unified experience across Dell's products."



11:21AM The screens says Dell wants to "Make the best products" and "Make them open."


11:20AM Dell will have a strong lineup of 4G products -- they showed a picture of tablet on the screen. The Streak 7, obviously.


11:19AM Talking about the Inspiron all in one, the Zino HD, return of XPS, and Inspiron Duo.


11:18AM "Dell's consumer business is thriving... the strongest lineup of consumer products in Dell's history."


11:18AM "The music you just heard came from this XPS, and that's indicative of what's coming from Dell today... Believe me when I say it "beats" HP audio." Groans.



11:17AM Steve Felice, president of Dell Consumer on stage.


11:16AM Oop -- looks like we're starting! Dell video playing on the screens right now.

11:15AM Ha, we just scored some pictures of the prompter. The XPS systems listed there are already out, though.


11:14AM Just in case you were wondering what we're talking about, the Dell Streak 7 has already been announced by T-Mobile.


11:12AM Here's the real question: will you be able to put the Streak 7 in your skin-tight jeans, and will that get your heart racing?

11:09AM Teenage Dream now. No regrets, just love. And Tegra 2.

11:08AM Actually an extremely apt song, since the Streak 7 has a Gorilla Glass display.


11:07AM "Bulletproof" jamming out here. This time, baby.

11:04AM Oh snap -- PR for the Tegra 2-powered Dell Streak 7 on T-Mobile just hit the wires. Guess we know about that, then!

11:03AM We're in! This looks like it's going to be serious -- the production value here is through the roof. There's a runway down the main dance floor flanked by three huge screens, and dance music is pumping with Rain's light system in full effect.

10:56AM We're here, in line. Dell's actually outgrown the suite and is holding this thing in Rain -- we're hoping for some serious disco beats.
Dell hasn't had a regular booth or presser at CES in a few years now -- the company chooses to bunker down in a suite at the Palms instead. That's where we're currently hangin', waiting to see what Round Rock has in store for us this year -- and there's a huge Alienware Hummer parked outside, so we're definitely expecting some gaming news. But what else will Dell do? Another Adamo-bearing model? Another super-hasty Streak hands-on in a back alley? We'll find out soon enough.

Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb for tablets: a guided tour of the UI (video)

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 09:44 AM PST

A funny thing happened after Google posted (and subsequently pulled) its Android 3.0 Honeycomb video: T-Mobile celebrated its G-Slate announcement by posting the same video. And about six more after that (to be fair, they're also on the Motorola / Verizon Xoom we demoed). Today it was made official during Verizon's keynote, with Google itself narrating a hands-on demo. We've scrutinized these videos to no end and we think we've come up with the most complete picture of Google's tablet OS experience at this point. Join us after the break for all the goods.
Android 3.0 Honeycomb in pictures

Motorola Xoom Honeycomb UI photos



Overview. We learned today at the Verizon keynote that former webOS design guru (now a Google UX Director) Matias Duarte played a big part in the art direction, and frankly, that's a very good thing. The new interface shows a near-unified aesthetic, a marked improvement over what we've seen so far from Android.

After all the live wallpapers we've born witness to since Eclair hit the scene, it was actually a bit of a surprise that this blue-tinted background is completely static in every video. Lock screen is nothing special -- just a slide to the right -- but afterwards we're shown a very neat and clean home screen that functions just like previous Android iterations (the long row of apps looks to be more aesthetic than it is a dedicated space). Physical buttons have been eschewed in favor of more pixelated fare. The top left has Google text and voice search, bottom left has back, home, and app switch buttons. Bottom right has the time, WiFi signal, and battery (the latter two given only half the usual symbol). The top right has an Apps button that takes you to the traditional list of software, and a plus sign that takes you to a pretty classy view of the panes and a list of widgets you can add, app shortcuts to insert, wallpapers to adjust and the ever-elusive "more" category.

As for the widgets we've seen so far, the first one to stand out is one dedicated to Gmail which, frankly, is about time. There's also a revised calendar look that just like Gmail lets you scroll through items from the home screen, a new browser widget, a revised contact widget, and what looks to a stack of YouTube links that shuffle through what we'd guess is a finger flick downward. Before you ask... of course there's picture frames and bizarre variations of an analog clock.


Maps. It's pretty much exactly what we saw with the 5.0 update, with an expanded top bar and a more tablet-friendly pop-up menu for locations. One thing we're noticing on this and other apps is the Android common "menu" button, which helps us in no way figuring out what the third bottom-left butt


Gmail. If you've used it on the iPad or Galaxy Tab, you pretty know what to expect here. It's a two-column format with the menu on the left and the list of mailbox on the right, which shifts to mailbox on the left and specific message on the right when you dive deeper. All the standard features look to be present and laid out intelligently. We're not ashamed to say this is one the more exciting parts for us.


GTalk. A sleek two-column menu with contacts on the left and options for video chat. Video chat looks somewhat grainy, and you can switch between front- and rear-facing camera, mute yourself, and nix video altogether.


Books. Unlike the current Android version that simply tiles the books, the Honeycomb rendition we've seen stands the tomes up in a row that to browse through. It doesn't capitalize on screen space as much as, say, the iBooks menu, but maybe there's more options. Shop and search are stacked up clearly on the top right. Every instance of actually reading seems to rock the two-page format, but bear in mind we've only seen landscape mode so far.


Browser. Here's where it gets interesting. The browser appears to be more or less a variant of Chrome, none too surprising. There's tabbed browsing, incognito mode, and bookmarking. Add in a physical keyboard, and you've got a Chrome OS killer, ironically enough.


Keyboard. There's a few notable difference between the landscape Gingerbread and landscape Honeycomb QWERTYs. The symbols key have moved to above shift, a tab key has been placed in top left, delete is in the top right (as it should always be) with enter right below it and a second shift below that. The spacebar and comma are now both on the right and along the bottom row of keys (with secondary functions displayed in grey), and the spacebar now enjoys the company of emoticon, and forward slash on the left, and apostrophe, hyphen, and voice on the right.

Wrap-up. This is probably Google's most dramatic update to the Android platform yet, and clearly the one that really pushes its UI in a much-needed user-friendly direction. The open question now is how might this transition to the phone platform, if at all?

Skype gets official with apps for Sony Bravia, Vizio VIA TVs

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 09:41 AM PST

Both Sony and Vizio have already quietly dropped word that Skype would be heading to their respective internet-connected TVs, but Skype itself has now made the move fully official, a full year after it offered the first demo of Skype on a Panasonic VieraCast TV at CES 2010. Unfortunately, it isn't offering many more details than Sony or Vizio, and it's using both "coming soon" and "later this year" to describe the rollout on TVs from the two companies, which leaves open a depressingly long and confusing possible launch window. What's more, Skype has also confirmed that it's working with Panasonic and Sony to bring some added connectivity to your existing TV with the aid of a Skype-enabled Blu-ray player and webcam -- look for those "soon."

Boxee makes deal with CBS for digital content sales

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 09:36 AM PST

As we eagerly wait for Netflix and VUDU to hit the peppy, young Boxee Box, The New York Times is reporting that the company has inked a deal with CBS for selling episodes through the software platform. As you know, the aforementioned network has traditionally tread carefully in the digital distro arena, while this is the first such deal between Boxee and a television network. "It's a major step for us, working with the biggest network in the U.S.," said the company, who expressed hopes that this is "the beginning of more deals with more major content providers both here in the U.S. and abroad." Just what we needed: more ways to watch Two and a Half Men.

Late mid-week shocker: young adults get their 'news' from the 'net, not from television

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 09:29 AM PST

In what is undoubtedly a shocking and groundbreaking revelation, the Pew Research Center has conducted a recent study which has caused it to conclude that young adults now get their news predominantly from the internet, rather than from television (and even less from ham radio). According to the study, which the center seems to have been conducting yearly for a while now, 67 percent of adults under 30 said in 2010 that the 'net was their primary source of news, up from 34 percent in 2007. Curiously, respondents could choose up to two 'main' news sources, so 52 percent report that television is a main news source in 2010, down from 68 percent in 2007. While none of this probably comes as any surprise to any of you, our readers, it does tend to explain that strange and ever-growing tendency we've noticed in our friends of talking about things like Groupon, Facebook, and some meme some webpage made up to sell something as if they were talking about actual news.

Lenovo L2363d is a 3d monitor with 3D webcam and 3D glasses

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 09:09 AM PST

NVIDIA blew what's left of our minds with its Project Denver announcement yesterday, so today it's back to the more familiar world of 3D to soothe our souls. The company's 3D Vision technology has been installed on the above Lenovo L2363d, which touts both three-dimensional output and input, courtesy of a pair of webcam lenses embedded in its top bezel. This 1920 x 1080 display spans 23 inches diagonally and requires the usual active shutter glasses to enjoy its content. So, if you buy one for yourself and your nearest and dearest, you can get your 3D videoconferencing action on in proper Blues Brothers style.
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NVIDIA Showcases New Lenovo 3D Gaming Monitor With NVIDIA 3D Vision Technology at CES

Lenovo IdeaCentre PCs and Monitors With Built-In Stereoscopic 3D Webcam Expand NVIDIA's 3D Vision Ecosystem to More Than 1,000 Supported Products

Lenovo L2363d 23-inch 3D Vision monitor

LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwire) -- 01/06/2011 -- CES 2011 -- NVIDIA today announced the expansion of its NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ ecosystem with the addition of new 3D-enabled PCs and monitors by Lenovo.

NVIDIA is demonstrating the new Lenovo 3D monitor, as well as a number of new 3D Vision systems and 3D content, at CES this week (Booth # 31431 -- Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 3).

Award-winning NVIDIA 3D Vision technology delivers a breathtaking stereoscopic 3D experience for gamers, movie-lovers and photo enthusiasts on their PCs and notebook computers. The 3D Vision ecosystem now exceeds 1,000 notebook and desktop PCs, displays, TVs, projectors, NVIDA GPUs, video applications, cameras, and games, with more devices and 3D content being steadily added.

The Lenovo IdeaCentre K330 PC, a high-performance 3D gaming PC tower that features the powerful NVIDIA GeForce® GTX460 GPU, now joins the extensive list of 3D Vision technology-supported PCs. In addition, the new Lenovo L2363d 23-inch 3D monitor, one of the first full-HD (1920 x 1080) monitors to feature dual webcam lenses, enables users to take 3D photos or participate in stereoscopic 3D web conferencing using NVIDIA 3D Vision glasses and technology.

"NVIDIA's 3D Vision delivers superior quality, performance and compatibility required to our consumers to enjoy an immersive 3D entertainment experience," said Wei Jin, director of Lenovo Idea product group. "The IdeaCentre K330 PC and L2363d monitor were designed with this in mind, providing new levels of power, performance and high-quality visuals to shift consumers' 3D gaming and multimedia experiences into overdrive."

NVIDIA 3D Vision technology supports the richest array of 3D content available, including 500 3D games, Blu-ray 3D movies, 3D photos and streaming Web video. It also enables users to upload, share and view full-resolution 3D photos, as well as enjoy 3D movies at NVIDIA's 3DVisionLive.com, the world's first 3D Vision online community. In addition, NVIDIA's new 3DTV Play™ software enables consumers to attach their PC or notebook to 3D HDTVs and HDMI 1.4-capable audio/video receivers and enjoy all the latest 3D content in the comfort of their living rooms in full HD 3D, and with HD surround sound audio. 3DTV Play software is bundled free with 3D Vision notebooks and PCs, and is available now at NVIDIA's online store for $39.99.

"By joining the growing list of OEMs selling 3D Vision PCs, Lenovo will enable more consumers throughout the world to experience high-quality 3D entertainment on their PCs," said Phil Eisler, general manager of 3D Vision at NVIDIA. "And, with the new Lenovo monitor, consumers for the first time can experience high-quality stereoscopic 3D web conferencing on a desktop PC system."

For more information on the Lenovo IdeaCentre K330 PC and 3D L2363d monitor, please visit: www.lenovo.com

Sleek by 50 Cent Platinum headphones announced, invites Beats to a showdown

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 09:00 AM PST

It's official. The cans we saw teased earlier in the week have just been made official by Sleek Audio and Curtis Jackson (otherwise known to the world as 50 Cent), with the rapper himself dishing out cash and input to make it happen. We're told that they were designed by 50 and engineered by Sleek, and are the first headphones ever to offer 'Wireless Hybrid' technology with military-grade metals. More specifically, the Sleek by 50 Cent Platinum headphones utilize Kleer lossless wireless technology, with a 60 foot range and a micro-USB rechargeable battery. If you run out of juice, there's a detachable mic cable that can be jacked in for continued listening. The cans themselves house a pair of 50mm dynamic drivers, a customized internal amplifier and a call-out to Dr. Dre. Just kidding. Maybe. We're still waiting on a price and release date, but we'd expect 'em to ship soon for just a touch more than HP's Beats -- you know, given the wireless and all.
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Sleek Audio and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson Come Together to Create the Next Step in Mobile Audio Performance; Sleek by 50 Cent

Wireless Hybrid, carbon fiber pro-tuned headphones

Palmetto, Fl. 2010 – Sleek Audio, the leader in Wireless Hybrid and tunable audio products, has announced a new venture with entertainment powerhouse Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson to create a new benchmark for the mobile music experience. The Sleek by 50 Cent line offers headphones designed by 50 Cent and engineered by the award-winning acoustic experts at Sleek. They are the first headphones to offer Wireless Hybrid technology using military-grade metals and the latest in fit and performance.

50 Cent, widely recognized as one of the most talented and prolific music artists, has become a force to be reckoned with in the business industry having encompassed an arsenal of successful endeavors in fashion and lifestyle, fragrance, publishing, video games and film among others. As a musician, 50 Cent realized the need for a U.S.-made audio device that offered powerful, accurate sound reproduction without the limitation of cables. This idea led to the partnership with Sleek Audio and as a result, in a deal structured by his business manager Greg Collins and Financial Advisor Brad Feinstein, 50 has become an equity partner in the company.

"I know music and I've tried everything on the market as far as headphones go, but I wanted something different, something better, that really pushed the envelope and gave all music fans a new way to listen to their favorite artists," said 50. "I was fortunate to find Sleek, the technology they employ and their knowledge of how we hear music truly blew me away. It was a perfect match, I didn't want to create another pair of loud headphones, I wanted to create headphones that offer top-level performance, style and new technology," added 50 Cent.

Sleek's CEO, Mark Krywko, was excited at the opportunity to work with the world's most toured artist. "The key to creating this relationship was bringing 50 into the Sleek family. He's not just slapping his name on the side of a product, he's part owner of the company and an integral part of what we're doing. By combining our knowledge of acoustics and hearing aid science with 50's experience as a recording artist we've created something that music lovers of all genres are really going to love."

Getting to the heart of why we use headphones to listen to music... to escape.

Music listeners don't use earphones and headphones to enjoy music to be part of a group, they use them to escape. Music can take you places you've never been before, it can ease your mind during a trying time, or allow you to escape the physical pain during a long run. Until now, nearly every headphone on the market limited its users by tethering them to their media player. The Sleek by 50 Cent Platinum headphones don't make consumers choose between build quality, sound quality, or even whether or not they'd like to go wireless. By utilizing Kleer lossless wireless technology, Sleek Platinum headphones offer true, uncompressed wireless sound. Music lovers can enjoy over 60 feet of range, wireless track and volume control, and even sync up to four headphones to one audio source. If the micro-usb rechargeable battery runs out, the detachable mic cable can simply be plugged in for continued listening.

Form enhances function through advanced design technology.

Beyond the wireless technology, critical points of the Sleek Platinum headphones construction incorporate military-grade carbon fiber and metal accents strategically placed for both form and function. These materials are used to house two pro-tuned 50mm. dynamic drivers, powered by a customized internal amplifier for unparalleled audio performance. Tested by some of the industry's most critical producers, recording artists and audiophiles, the Sleek Platinum headphones are the world's most comprehensive mobile audio product.

About 50 Cent
What began as music chart dominance for the rap music phenomenon 50 Cent, has quickly transformed to success in corporate America as a multi-tiered business mogul to be reckoned with. Recognized as one of the most talented and prolific music artists of his time, 50 Cent has managed to leverage his star power into record breaking brand extensions encompassing a broad spectrum of businesses including music ownership, artist management, film production, footwear and apparel, video games, publishing, health drinks and supplements. With annual sales quickly approaching $300 million from a variety of business interests along with numerous business endeavors on the horizon, 50 Cent has cemented his position in the industry as both a business and entertainment mogul.

About Sleek by 50 Cent
"Because you deserve more. Sleek by 50 Cent is about moving forward, pushing limitation, and setting new standards for mobile audio."
50 Cent has joined forces with the innovative minds of Sleek Audio to create a new benchmark for the mobile music experience. The concept was to create the next step, a new system, which frees the listener to enjoy true professional level audio wherever, and whenever they desire.

Developers of the first ever pro-tuned Wireless Hybrid headphones, Sleek by 50 Cent speaks to the heart of why we enjoy music through headphones and allows you to escape into your music like never before. Hear the subtle nuances of each track, feel the bass pulse through your body, all without any physical connection to your music source. www.sleekby50.com

PogoPlug Video converts footage on the fly, streams it to all your connected devices

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 09:00 AM PST

We always thought the PogoPlug was a neat idea -- a miniature server that gives you access to USB devices on the go -- and today, Cloud Engines is making it a little more useful. The $200 PogoPlug Video may look just like the PogoPlug Pro that tempted your pocketbook in October, but it's got a brand-new daughterboard inside, whose purpose in life is to take your video files, convert them to variable bitrate H.264 and stream them anywhere in the world in real time. CEO Daniel Putterman claims that -- depending on device support -- it can pull footage directly from a connected camcorder and share it with your dearest relatives' computers, tablets and phones then and there. Sony's AVCHD camcorders will be compatible on day one, with other companies negotiating right now, and speaking of promises, the company says that additional printer support for all PogoPlug devices is "right around the corner." Like what you see? They'll be happy to take you money starting March 1st, and devices will go on sale just in time for April Fools' Day. PR after the break.
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Cloud Engines Unveils Pogoplug Video

Instantly streams personal video library anywhere on the Internet

San Francisco, CA (January 6, 2011) – Cloud Engines Inc. today announced Pogoplug Video, a new version of the award winning Pogoplug that allows personal video content to stream instantly to any device on the Internet without requiring end users to convert video to a new format or to upload it to an external website.

Pogoplug Video is built upon next-generation hardware video technologies. The product enables users to stream video directly to iPhone, iPad, Android and other Internet connected devices. Video can also stream to UPnP Internet-connected TVs or set-top boxes.

"Pogoplug Video is the breakthrough product that many of our end users have requested." said Daniel Putterman, co-founder and CEO of Cloud Engines, Inc. "Now you can become your own personal broadcaster and share and stream personal video without uploading it to a website."

Ensuring compatibility with the latest HD video formats, Pogoplug Video has been optimized to work with Sony's AVCHD camera products to make high-quality video instantly streamable. Sony has selected Cloud Engines Inc. as a featured solutions provider, and will showcase Pogoplug Video at the Sony booth at the Consumer Electronics Show 2011.

"Sony is pleased that Pogoplug Video will support our latest AVCHD camera products and will make premium quality AVCHD recorded content accessible to anyone on the go." said Masashi Imamura, Corporate Executive, Senior Vice President of Sony Corporation.

Daniel Putterman, co-founder and CEO of Cloud Engines, Inc., said "Sony represents high quality video. Pogoplug Video lets users easily share content without compromising quality."

Pogoplug Video is $199, will be available for pre-order on March 1, 2011 and will sell at various retail locations, and directly from www.pogoplug.com, on April 1, 2011.

Pogoplug Video Features

* Share high-quality videos of supported formats immediately. Users no longer need to wait for complicated conversions and lengthy uploads to view and share personal content on mobile or networked devices.

* Watch videos and pictures in full HD. Pogoplug Video automatically streams at the highest quality possible.

* View multimedia on all devices. Pogoplug Video uses multiple streaming protocols to support the most popular mobile and Internet enabled devices. For local viewing, Pogoplug Video supports UPnP so users are able to play content on any UPnP set top box or video game console.

* Stream media from many of the most popular camcorders, video cameras and mobile phones.

About Cloud Engines, Inc.
Founded in 2007 by experienced entrepreneurs from the digital media and security industries, Cloud Engines is located in San Francisco, California. The company was formed with a mission to change the way personal content is stored and distributed over the Internet. The Cloud Engines philosophy is that by making a product simple, open and affordable, the community will participate in making it better. To this end, the Pogoplug service is available across multiple products and through partners. For more information, please visit www.cloudengines.com and www.pogoplug.com.

Livescribe hack lets you play Zork with (smart) pen and paper

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 08:44 AM PST

Livescribe's pen certainly seems like a hackable enough device, but for some reason we have many hacks or mods that make the smart pen even smarter (or dumber, for that matter). One big one quietly popped up last month, however, and has apparently largely gone unnoticed until now. YouTube user "chipos81" has managed to port Infocom's Z-Machine virtual machine to the pen (the Echo, specifically), and you know what that means: Zork on paper. Look down. Examine link. Go past break. Watch video.

[Thanks, Charlie]

Idapt's i2+ universal charging dock rejuvenates your Nexus S and iPhone 4... simultaneously

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 08:30 AM PST

We've come a long way since 2008, eh? Not only has the Idapt i2+ seen a massive external makeover compared to the original, but this one supports the simultaneously charging of three mobile / USB devices. The "universal" charging dock ships with a cornucopia of tips, enabling it to juice up a Nexus One, BlackBerry, iPod, iPhone, PSP, GPS system or pretty much any combination of handheld gizmos on the market. Two docking ports are arranged on the top, and a spare USB port allows a third item of your choice to receive new life via a tether. It'll ship in "an assortment of colors" this spring, but it looks as if pricing won't be announced until later on. One more look (along with the full PR) is after the break.

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IDAPT Unveils IDAPT i2+ Universal Charger at CES

Check out IDAPT during CES in the North Hall, iLounge Pavilion, Booth #4216

Barcelona, Spain – January 6, 2011 – IDAPT, a leading mobile technology leader, is excited to announce the new IDAPT i2+ universal charger. The new charger allows users to charge up to 3 different mobile devices simultaneously while eliminating cord clutter.

The IDAPT i2+ has 2 charging ports and a bonus USB charging port to meet all charging needs. As with previous IDAPT chargers, the new i2+ features IDAPT's unique interchangeable tip system allowing the unit to be compatible with over 4,000 different devices including iPad and iPhone as well as BlackBerry, Nintendo PSP, XBOX controllers, GPS systems and Bluetooth products. Additionally, the "quick release" button allows for safe and easy ejection of the interchangeable tips.

The IDAPT i2+ will be available in an assortment of fun colors Spring 2011.

About IDAPT:

IDAPT is a company specialized in the design of solutions that simplify everyday lives of mobile technology users. Its innovative range of universal chargers, based on a patented system of interchangeable tips, has achieved worldwide recognition among users and industry experts. Innovation and commitment to develop new products that suit user's needs are the company's main commitments since its foundation in 2006. With headquarters in Barcelona, IDAPT has distribution agreements in more than 30 countries.IDAPTweb.com

Looxcie introduces LooxcieLive, enables mobile-to-mobile stream viewing

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 08:23 AM PST

Vlogging and lifecasting are both things we haven't really gotten into in this new-age of gadget crazed aliens and humans, but the LooxcieCam is a gadget -- and you know us, we kinda-maybe-sorta really love gadgets. Here at the Consumer Electronics Show, Looxcie ousted its new streaming service which it has dubbed LooxcieLive. In addition to the Bluetooth video connectivity to your smartphone, the service allows you to beam the vidcast across mobile networks and WiFi to any other dude or dudette on your contacts list that's got the app installed. Those looking to get started right away will be disappointed -- the service is currently unavailable, but will be live within the first half of 2011.

Aside from the newly announced software, we got a chance to play with the LooxcieCam. The headset we looked at was paired (via Bluetooth) to a Droid X using the LooxcieMoments app, and the streaming quality was something we hope to see an improvement on. The unit, stuffed with 4GB of recording memory, can record one hour of VGA quality (and 4 hours of sub-VGA quality). The app is both available in the Market and App Store, and minimum requirements to run it are 2.0 on Android and 4.2 on iOS. Interested in seeing the headset in action? Head past the break and click play.
Looxcie introduces LooxcieLive, enables headset-to-mobile streaming


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Looxcie Announces LooxcieLive: First Wearable Live Video Streaming from Looxcie Headsets to Mobile Devices

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Looxcie, makers of the first wearable camcorder that lets users go back and capture moments then instantly share them, announced today that it has developed LooxcieLive™, a breakthrough live video streaming service that leverages the award-winning Looxcie social video camera. LooxcieLive™, planned for a first half 2011 release, allows users to capture live video from their point of view and stream it across mobile networks and Wi-Fi, to single or multiple viewers. Users can stream "see-what-I-see" personal video casts to share with others, creating an immersive, real-time experience for the viewers no matter where they are.

"Looxcie is innovating in first-person video streaming by creating an immersive environment for your viewers to see and experience what you see in real-time," said Looxcie CEO, Romulus Pereira. "LooxcieLive has created a way for people to easily share their life, whether they're rock climbing, sailing, or touring the Pyramids in Egypt, with anyone they wish in a way that brings the viewers along for the ride."

In addition to LooxcieLive, Looxcie now offers two other smartphone apps: LooxcieCam, the new smartphone app that lets Looxcie users record high-quality 30 frames per second (fps) video in full 480p; and LooxcieMoments, the original Looxcie app for instantly creating and sharing clips. With the apps on a compatible smartphone, Looxcie is a mobile-connected device, allowing you to instantly share and stream life on the go. (Looxcie apps are compatible with Android 2.0 and higher phones as well as with iPhone iOS 4.2 and higher). With the addition of these new apps, Looxcie is an extensible platform for online video sharing.

In addition to the mobile apps, the new LooxcieDesktop helper application for the PC or Mac gives users the ability to easily transfer their entire raw video contents captured via LooxcieMoments, to their desktop computer for archiving or editing, and also provides automatic firmware updating of the device, making it easy to extend the device's capabilities.

Victorinox Swiss Army debuts Slim, Slim Duo and Secure SSD USB drives, we go hands-on

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 08:13 AM PST

Victorinox has been putting a Swiss Army spin on USB drives for some time now, and it's just rolled into CES with its latest batch: the Slim, Slim Duo and Secure SSD. In addition to being slim, the first two of those are also available in flight-friendly versions sans knife and, as you can probably discern from the name, the Duo actually packs two USB drives for up to 128GB of storage (compared to 64GB for the standard Slim). The Secure SSD, on the other hand, packs up 256GB of storage, an integrated Bistable LCD/e-Paper display, secure data encryption and, of course, a Swiss Army knife. Alongside those, Victornix has also announced its Apple Secure application for Mac users, and it's once again kicked off its annual "Crack the Code" contest, which offers $250,000 and a trip to Switzerland to anyone able to crack the encryption on the drives. Hit up the galleries below for some more shots and our quick hands-on with the drives.
Victorinox Swiss Army USB drives hands-on

Victornix Swiss Army press photos
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Victorinox Swiss Army Unveils Slim, Slim Duo and Secure SSD USB Devices at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show

Iconic Brand Showcases High Performance Portable Data Storage Tools and Hosts Third Annual "Crack the Code" Contest

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In advance of the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show, Victorinox Swiss Army (VSA), the exclusive marketer of Victorinox USB Flash Memory devices, today announced the launch of new electronic additions to its Swiss Army Knife business-the Victorinox Slim, Victorinox Slim Duo and Victorinox Secure SSD. The Slim line includes advanced USB flash drives-which are available in flight friendly versions-featuring unique designs and colors, slim dimensions, and data storage of up to 128GB. The Secure SSD is the world's smallest 256GB solid-state drive, delivering three times faster read speed and more than double write speed when compared with standard high speed USB Flash devices.

"The VSA brand evolves with the needs of today's modern, multitasking consumer, and our line of secure flash drives are essential products for anyone seeking to protect their professional and personal documents," says Rene Stutz, president of Victorinox Swiss Army USA. "We design each USB Memory product in keeping with the VSA heritage of quality, functionality, innovation and iconic design and are thrilled to demonstrate to all CES attendees our new Victorinox Slim, Victorinox Slim Duo and Victorinox Secure SSD innovations and to build awareness for our entire memory device portfolio."

VSA will be exhibiting at booth #35258, located in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. CES attendees are encouraged to stop by to learn more about new and existing Victorinox Flash USB Memory devices, view interactive demonstrations, and also meet personally with CEO and Victorinox Swiss Army founding family member Carl Elsener.

New introductions that will be showcased include:

* Victorinox Slim and Victorinox Slim Duo-combines portable data storage USB device with VSA's standard pocket knife functions, such as blades, nail files, and scissors, and available in flight friendly version.. Products are waterproof, shock resistant, and available in stylish color choices including red, blue, orange, pink, green and silver. The memory capacity is up to 64GB for the Victorinox Slim and 128GB for the Victorinox Slim Duo
* Victorinox Secure SSD-the world's smallest 256GB solid-state drive, the Secure SSD includes a Swiss Army Knife and offers secure data encryption, in addition to delivering superior read and write speed when compared with other high memory USB drives. Additional features include: Bistable LCD/e-Paper, Graphic display, 96 x 48 Pixel Monochrome; option to personalize text on the display, dynamic power management, 32 bit high speed processor
* Apple Secure-application delivers all functionality in Apple-inspired graphical user interface (GUI), making all VSA product management software products Apple compatible


CES attendees will also have the chance to demo the following Victorinox USB flash drives, each of which is available in flight-friendly versions:

* Victorinox Presentation Master-removable USB flash drive combined with the craftsmanship of a Swiss Army Knife. Device features Bluetooth® remote control for computers, laser pointer, secure data encryption, fingerprint authentication, and up to 128GB storage
* Victorinox Secure-Swiss Army Knife featuring a removable USB flash drive with secure data encryption, fingerprint authentication and up to 128GB storage
* Victorinox Flash-combines all the functionality of a Swiss Army Knife with a USB flash drive offering up to 128GB of memory. As are all Victorinox Memory devices, product is perfect for transporting pictures, music and other files


For product fact sheets and high resolution images, click here to visit the VSA online CES press kit.

In addition to product demonstrations, individuals are encouraged to participate in the third annual Victorinox "Crack the Code" contest-a data encryption competition that challenges consumers, hackers and media to retrieve secure data from VSA's security protected Victorinox USB flash drives. The competition runs for the duration of the CES event, with each entrant allowed two hours to attempt to breach the secure Victorinox USB flash drive. The prize package for "cracking the code" includes $250,000 and an all-expense paid trip to Ibach, Switzerland. Detailed rules and regulations can be found at www.swissarmy.com/crackthecode or visit the VSA booth to sign up and participate.

Media attending this evening's Pepcom Digital Experience!, the country's largest consumer electronics press event which provides a sneak peek at the best new innovations for CES, can see the entire line of Victorinox USB Flash Memory devices and meet with VSA executives on site. The event takes place from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm at Ceasar's Palace Hotel in the Caesars Palace in the Octavius Ballroom.

About Victorinox

Victorinox produces and sells unique, high quality products worldwide which are of practical use in differing areas of life: Swiss Army Knives, Cutlery, Timepieces, Travel Gear, Fashion and Fragrances. The head office of the company is in Ibach, Schwyz, in the heart of Switzerland. This is where the founder of the company Karl Elsener first set up his cutler's business in 1884 and, a few years later, designed the legendary "Original Swiss Army Knife".

SOURCE Victorinox

Xtrememac's dual USB wall charger gets it right, car charger and battery pack ain't bad either

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 08:00 AM PST

CES is most definitely in full swing, which means the wave of accessories is coming hot and heavy. Xtrememac has just revealed a trifecta of USB chargers, all of which seem to boast subtle changes from the norm that piqued our interest. First off, the universal dual USB wall charger has not one, but two USB charging ports, delivering a full ten watts of power (read: enough for the iPad) to a pair of your favorite gizmos. Moving on, there's the universal USB car charger, which sadly doesn't sport two USB ports. The universal USB battery pack and wall charger looks mighty similar to the PowerPak XT, doubling as a USB wall charger as well as a portable battery pack when it's unplugged. As for pricing? Try $14.99, $24.99 and $59.99 in order of mention, with the whole lot being available now directly from the company.
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XtremeMac™ Announces New Universal Series of USB Charging Solutions

See the new chargers at Pepcom's Digital Experience or the Bellagio Grand Ballrooms during CES

Sunrise, FL – January 6, 2011 – XtremeMac, a leading designer and manufacturer of accessories and audio solutions for Apple devices, is pleased to announce its new Universal Series USB charging line during CES. The new wall and car universal chargers are designed to help keep your mobile devices charged while you're on the go. The chargers are compatible with most USB powered device, including Apple, Blackberry, HTC and Samsung phones, MP3 players, GPS systems, digital cameras and more.

The Universal Dual USB Wall Charger has two USB charging ports allowing users to charge two USB-powered devices simultaneously. The charger delivers 10 watts of power to ensure rapid charging and features a low profile design that leaves access to a second wall outlet.

XtremeMac's new Universal USB Car Charger is a compact, versatile accessory that quickly and efficiently charges and powers any USB-powered device while on the go. Features include an LED power status indicator and a built-in self- resetting fuse for device protection.

The Universal USB Battery Pack and Wall Charger extends the battery life of any portable USB-powered device while on the go or while at home with its featured rechargeable lithium-polymer battery and dual USB port wall charger. It also includes an integrated viewing stand for mobile devices and five orange LED power indicators to let users know how much juice they have when on the go.

XtremeMac's Universal USB Car and Wall chargers are available for US$14.99 and US$24.99 (MSRP) respectively, or can be purchased in a combination power pack Dual USB Wall and Car Charger for US$39.99 MSRP. The Universal USB Battery Pack and Wall Charger is available for US$59.99 MSRP. These new chargers are available at XtremeMac.com.

Skype video calling coming to Android, demoed on the Droid Bionic

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 07:51 AM PST

You know that front facing camera on Motorola's LTE Droid Bionic? Well, it looks like you will be able to use it to make Skype video calls very soon. We were hanging around the Motorola booth early this morning and while playing around with the new 4.3-inch phone we noticed a "Skype demo" application. One click on the application revealed that the video calling capability, which just became available for the iPhone, will be heading to Android soon. There wasn't a working app, but the video demo clearly showed how easy it will be to log into Skype, pull up your contact list, and make a video call over Verizon's next generation network. We've got a few pictures below and a short video is on the way. Now we just need Skype to make this official at its press conference in just a few hours...
Skype video calling demo on Droid Bionic

PS3 custom firmware lets you 'Install Package Files,' piracy not allowed

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 07:50 AM PST

Well, that didn't take long! Just one week after hacking collective (and chr0nic misspellers) fail0verflow revealed a hack that delivered the PS3's private cryptography key on a platter, another hacker going by the MoNiKeR "KaKaRoToKS" has taken the next step, delivering tools that will convert your plain ol' vanilla PS3 firmware (yup, even the latest security-minded 3.55 patch) into a fancy new custom firmware. One capable of running signed and encrypted executable .PKG files ... not unlike the ones that Sony itself uses to distribute PSN games. But this custom firmware isn't all about piracy. KaKaRoToKS writes, "Since the kernel is left unmodified, this means that this custom firmware is really meant for future homebrew installation, and it will not allow piracy. I plan on keeping it that way." We suspect that myriad other, less scrupulous hackers don't share that sentiment. If you want an "Install Package Files" option the Game section of your XMB, PS3-hacks.com has a guide just for you. Peep a video of a custom firmware installation after the break.

Is this the Samsung SCH-i520 headed to Verizon?

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 07:45 AM PST

Is this the Samsung SCH-i520 you've been waiting for wrapped in a protective case? We can pretty much bank on the fact that the HTC Thunderbolt is getting outed today and with this pic slapped up by Offwire -- which looks suspiciously like an unbranded version of this Verizon set we saw -- we may well be looking at another of Verizon's suite of new LTE sets. Nothing much is known about this 4G slate, aside from the obvious forward facing camera, but Verizon's press event starts in the next little while and we hope we'll learn more.

Sanyo: we've shipped more than 150 million Eneloop rechargeable batteries

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 07:37 AM PST

Sanyo has announced that as of the end of 2010, it had officially shipped more than 150 million rechargeable Eneloop batteries. The company now ships the batteries -- which can be recharged up to 1,500 times -- to more than 60 countries. We reviewed Sanyo's rechargeable offering alongside another battery a few months back, which you can check out if you'd like. Other than that: the full press release is after the break.
Show full PR text
SANYO's eneloop Marks its Total Global Shipment of 150 Million Batteries
Further promoting a `lifestyle that values reusing and recycling' with the eneloop rechargeable battery

Tokyo, January 5, 2011 - SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO), a world leader in rechargeable battery technology, is pleased to announce the total global shipment of eneloop rechargeable batteries reached 150 million at the end of December, 2010.

"eneloop" rechargeable batteries have received high market appraisal for having the characteristics of both dry cells and rechargeable batteries. The batteries come pre-charged and ready to use like a dry cell, and are economical and environmental as they are able to be recharged for repeated use as well as recyclable at the end of their lifecycle. According to a company survey, the satisfaction level of "eneloop" users is over 90%*1, and numerous companies now bundle "eneloop" batteries with their products. The sales of "eneloop" batteries in more than 60 countries worldwide is steadily growing year by year.

On November 14th, 2009, SANYO released an improved eneloop battery, rechargeable approximately 1,500 times*2 made possible by improvements in the materials, manufacturing method and structure of the battery. In addition, as part of the Green Power Certification System, SANYO pre-charges the batteries at the factory with clean energy generated by solar panels, embodying the eneloop concept of 'energy looping'. Furthermore, in June, 2010, SANYO added the "eneloop lite" rechargeable battery to the eneloop series. The eneloop lite is an entry model of the eneloop rechargeable battery with a lower capacity and price that can be charged approximately 2,000 times, the highest in the industry.

Since the initial release of the eneloop batteries, the design, concept and of course performance have been continually improved. November 14th, 2010 marked the 5th anniversary of the eneloop release in Japan. SANYO will continue to expand the "eneloop" series throughout the world so that people can comfortably adopt a new "lifestyle that values reusing and recycling" contrary to the popular "use and throw away" lifestyle.

Mac App Store hands-on

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 07:31 AM PST

You may have heard that admist the craziness of CES, Apple decided to launch its Mac App Store on this fine January morning. We've gone ahead and updated our machines to 10.6.6, so we're officially App Store ready. Read on past the break for a walkthrough of the basics, as well as a smattering of some early apps featured front and center.

The first thing you notice upon launching the Mac App Store is the striking resemblance it bears to the iPad App Store. This, of course, shouldn't come as a surprise considering what we've been shown of the next iteration of Apple's desktop OS, Lion. It seems Apple has chosen to take many design cues from iOS "back to the Mac" indeed.


The only obvious difference we see at first glance is the omission of the "Genius" feature from the Mac App Store, which has been replaced with a "Purchases" button. In due time, we're sure Apple will port this feature over, though we're not sure why it's not present at the moment. Still, even the icons used for the respective screens are identical, and aside from a change in the orientation of top charts, the two app stores are still pretty damn similar.

Upon downloading your first Mac App, you'll be prompted to accept some new terms and conditions (which we totally took the time to read through with a fine toothed comb), and then you're off to the races. Unsurprisingly, Apple's own apps are currently dominating the top paid app charts -- for the moment at least -- but the venerable Angry Birds holds the top spot.

Like on the iPad (and iPhone for that matter) app store, each app page is a standardized, simple affair with a brief description, some screenshots, and customer ratings. Since the store just launched this morning, there aren't a ton of customer reviews just yet, but we expect that'll change in due time (read: quickly).

When you actually buy an app, the icon sort of jumps down into your dock, where it starts downloading with a little status bar beneath. This animation feels very iOS-esque (iOSque?), and could certainly be an indication of things to come when Lion arrives in Summer '11. You can also track download status under the Purchases tab, where you can see how large the app is as well. Apps are downloaded to your Mac's Applications folder, and it doesn't look like there's any way to change that default (for now at least).

As far as downloading apps, that's pretty much all there is to it. It's clear that this process is meant to be as simple and streamlined as possible just like the iOS counterparts. We'll be updating this post with more apps as we check 'em out, but if you've got any you would -- or wouldn't -- recommend don't hesitate to sound off in the comments.

App highlights



Angry Birds ($4.99 introductory price): It's the same Angry Birds you know and lose countless hours of productivity because of. The multitouch trackpad is a surprisingly good controller, but it still doesn't match direct input like on your iPhone or iPad. Also, the app uses a mouse-like input for selecting options and then switches back to direct touch control for actual gameplay, so switching between those modes can take a little getting used to.

Twitter (Free): If you're at all familiar with Tweetie for Mac, you'll feel right at home with Twitter for Mac, an app we actually knew would end up launching on the Mac App Store. It's got support for native retweeting, multiple accounts, and Growl notifications, so if you've been in the market for a new Twitter client and #newtwitter just isn't cutting it, be sure to give this a download.

Soundcloud (Free): Soundcloud's app in the Mac App Store takes everything we hate about the Soundcloud app and fixes it. We're talking easier sorting and searching, as well as built-in audio capture so you can upload straight from within the app. Follow and favorite from right within the app to curate a playlist of your liking -- all for the very low price of "free".

Chopper 2 (99 cents for a limited time): A followup to the wildly popular Chopper game for iPhone and Mac, Chopper 2 is a fun game with some pretty sweet 3D graphics. This second iteration has 36 new missions, and you can even use your iPhone or iPod touch as a WiFi remote control. For 99 cents -- for now at least -- how wrong can you go?

LG Optimus Black hands-on

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 07:20 AM PST

We were on-hand for a hands-on as LG threw itself a bash celebrating a couple swish Android sets: the Optimus 2X and the Optimus Black. We've seen plenty of the 2X already, but the Black is an entirely different creature. First off, the taper on the back that sees the set go from 9mm in the middle to 6mm on each side is both nice to look at and helps keep the set cradled in your hand. The 4-inch WVGA NOVA display is both bright -- 700 nits, if you worry about that type of thing -- and extremely legible in the glaring spotlights installed at the stand. LG was touting the addition of its Wi-Fi Direct feature -- what at first sight seems like gimmickry -- that allows direct file transfer between sets without the need for an access point, and hey, it worked -- and might even be useful. We look forward to the Optimus Black crashing into our lives sometime in the first half of this year.
LG Optimus Black hands-on

Eye-Fi's Direct Mode hands-on: from camera to tablet in seconds (video)

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 07:19 AM PST


We have to say, we're pretty pumped about Eye-Fi's new Direct Mode, and that's not just because it's free -- CEO Jef Holove showed us how his wireless SD cards can fire snapshots from a point-and-shoot camera straight to a Samsung Galaxy Tab, and it looks like a breeze. Once the free update launches later this year, you'll just need to download the Eye-Fi app, and select your Eye-Fi X2 card from a list to permanently pair them -- much like Bluetooth or a WiFi access point -- and then whenever you shoot within range, the pics will automatically spirit themselves to your Android, and can send them to Picasa or Eye-Fi View from there with an additional tap. See Direct Mode do its thing in the video above.

Live from CES 2011's opening keynote with Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 07:15 AM PST


10:08AM And that's it!

10:07AM "In my judgment, we'll start manufacturing in a high-tech way here in the US again."

10:07AM "We're testing our connected home solution that'll roll out in the first half of this year."


10:05AM "Just a few words to close." Any announcements here, Ivan? No?

10:05AM Ivan's back!

10:02AM McAdam's talking about the new Apps Innovation Center coming later this year in San Francisco that gives devs a place to test and develop awesomeness.


10:00AM Jha says there'll be lots of new opportunities. Bewkes says content on every device.


9:59AM Ivan asks "any final predictions from you guys?"

9:59AM All the CEOs are reconvening on stage!

9:59AM "We're really excited about this release, and there's a lot more good stuff that we're working on -- so please stay tuned."


9:58AM Voice calling now -- we're hooking up with Matias Duarte right now!

9:56AM Next, Google Books. Arc-shaped 3D linear book browser is cool, but if you have a LOT of books, we could see how it could be sub-optimal.

9:56AM Ha, they're showing the leaked Honeycomb video through a YouTube posting by Android Police!

9:55AM Now we're checking out YouTube.

9:55AM "I can tell you from extensive personal research that this game is really great on this hardware."

9:54AM Demoing Dungeon Defenders!


9:54AM Task switching being shown -- there's a thumbnail for each app so you can see what was going on. Card-based UI once again!

9:53AM He's demoing Maps' 3D mode, though that's something we've already got on the latest version for Android phones. The crowd audibly oohed and aahed at that -- guess they're all using other devices!

9:53AM Now we're seeing Gmail -- paned, of course, thanks to the large display -- and Maps.


9:51AM Looking at the tabbed browser now.

9:51AM Now he's demoing adding widgets to the home screen -- quite different from the Android status quo, since you've got a dedicated "+" button to bring up a pane where you can browse widgets.

9:50AM "You'll see we have an entirely new visual design for Honeycomb -- we were going for something that was both futuristic and familiar."


9:49AM Just saw Engadget in the tablet's bookmarks widget. Awwww!

9:49AM "First thing you'll notice is that there are no buttons in front -- the buttons are virtual, they're drawn with pixels." He mentions this means they can be customized depending on what's going on with the device, and the orientation is always correct. Quite true.


9:48AM Now we've got a Google guy out showing Honeycomb in action!



9:47AM "Google's releasing a new version of Android called Honeycomb that'll work on these great 4G devices." Phones included, then?

9:46AM "We're very excited about how these devices bring together 4G and the Android platform to deliver great new experiences."

9:45AM Now we're seeing the same Xoom promo video we saw yesterday during the Moto press conference.

9:44AM Now he's got the Xoom out. "Again, this is a combination of the work that has done by Google to deliver the world's first Android 3 tablet."


9:43AM Dual-core processor, LTE. "I call this combination 'the end of waiting.'"


9:43AM He's got the Droid Bionic out, talking about how awesome it is.

9:43AM Jha's talking about how fast Android is growing -- it's the second-biggest smartphone platform in the world.


9:42AM They're reminiscing about the Droid when they first started thinking about it way back in '08. Memories!


9:40AM Now we've got Lowell McAdam up with Motorola Mobility boss Sanjay Jha.

9:40AM "Jeff, we're delighted to work with TimeWarner. We want you to keep working on all that fun stuff, and we'll keep working on getting it to consumers in a simple way."


9:38AM Now we've got a wacky graphic up showing all the content providers you need to pull together to recreate something like Verizon's FlexView. We'd almost say there was some kind of latent animosity toward content companies here, but it's TimeWarner's CEO talking.


9:36AM Jeff: "We had this concept, we called it TV Everywhere. Now we have every distribution company trying to create a uniform approach to this for consumers." Basic concept: if you subscribe to some form of content, you should be able to see it on any device on demand at no extra cost. Sounds about right to us!

9:35AM "So, Jeff, I see you have all this extraordinary talent with TimeWarner, and now you're making your acting debut."

9:33AM Ellen DeGeneres and "Marky" Mark Wahlberg, Zach Galifinakis, Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper... the list just keeps going. Everyone's watching themselves on iPads.


9:32AM A couple sitcoms with multi-screen gags, then TNT's NBA crew. Wolf Blitzer! TimeWarner really pulled out all the stops here.


9:31AM Conan O'Brien just showed up on video... and he's watching himself on like twenty different screens ranging from televisions to iPads to phones. We see what's going on here.

9:28AM "This is the best programming explosion in more than a generation."


9:27AM "I think the first golden era [of television] is when it was invented, and the second is now."

9:26AM Ivan's got TimeWarner CEO Jeff Bewkes with him.

9:26AM "Consumers are actually watching more TV than ever before -- what's changing the game is how they're watching video."


9:26AM Ivan's back!

9:25AM "Innovation on this scale can only happen through collaboration with strategic partners."

9:23AM "The final piece of the picture is the cloud... Verizon's centers around the world give us the infrastructure to be a big player in cloud services."



9:22AM Talking about FiOS now: 18 million homes when the rollout completes, 150MBps service now available. Four and a half minutes to download HD movies over FlexView.

9:21AM Talking about 100Gbps straight to the home within a few years powered by multi-terabit connections on the back end. Yow.

9:20AM Now he's talking about the growth in fiber -- LTE cell sites are all connected with it.

9:19AM "Yesterday, Motorola introduced the Droid Bionic and the Xoom, their new phone and tablet." No mention of the Atrix for AT&T, amazingly! He says we'll see devices from LG, HP, Samsung, and Novatel later in the day at Verizon's press conference.


9:18AM He says latency is cut in half with LTE -- pretty critical for some applications.

9:18AM McAdam's underscoring the fact that they'll blanket their nationwide network with LTE over the next three years.



9:17AM "We bought spectrum in the 700MHz range and set out to build the fastest, most advanced network in North America."


9:16AM "We're changing the game again across all of our networks -- wireless, broadband, the internet backbone, and the cloud."

9:16AM Here comes Lowell McAdam of Verizon Wireless -- and the Verizon heir apparent.


9:15AM "Now, it's time to turn the wheel again -- what will consumers want in the next ten years? 3D? Holograms? Smart homes? Smart societies?"


9:14AM Ivan's going down memory lane here, talking about growth in phone use and data use.


9:13AM First mention of 4G in the keynote!




9:11AM "Earlier when you came in the room, you were asked to turn off your wireless devices. When Verizon is up here, turn 'em on. Ping all you want." Confidence!


9:10AM Here comes Ivan!

9:09AM There's some weird, spacey, constellation stuff going on right now accompanied by trippy music. People in the background are talking about data and signal strength.


9:08AM "It is my pleasure to welcome Verizon as our opening keynote." Video time!


9:08AM Shapiro's talking up Seidenberg's credentials -- we think he's about to come out.


9:07AM Here's a weird one: CEA owns the name "World Trade Center Las Vegas," and it's teamed up with the Las Vegas convention bureau to add the new name to the Las Vegas Convention Center where CES is held.

9:06AM "I believe history will be made today by our keynote speaker." Tease!



9:03AM "We've attracted virtually every leading consumer electronics company [to CES]." We can think of one you haven't, Gary!



8:59AM Now we're getting a little plug for Shapiro's new book, The Comeback. "I urge you to buy the book now, because like all products, there will be a cheaper and better version next year."




8:57AM Now we're being shown a video: "In Washington, some lawmakers have forgotten what makes innovation great." This must be about healthcare, right?




8:55AM Now he's talking about spectrum allocation, a topic near and dear to the CTIA's heart. Looks like they're all on the same page: more spectrum is needed for wireless broadband.

8:54AM It's gotten a little political here: Shapiro's upset at the lack of trade agreements and government overspending. They're official CEA stances -- this is a trade organization, after all.


8:50AM He's talking about the CES' role in innovation, which in turn spurs economic growth. The techno-capitalist's cycle of life, as it were.


8:48AM "Each year I anticipate the CES like a kid awaiting Santa!"

8:47AM Here comes Gary Shapiro, CEO of the CEA.


8:45AM A CES promo video is playing, accompanied by Taio Cruz. Hands are definitely up in the air.

8:45AM Here we go!

8:44AM Lights dimming, music getting loud. This might be a good sign.



8:40AM It's getting real in here: the three giant screens just faded to bright red Verizon logos.


8:39AM This pre-keynote playlist is turning into a who's-who of trip hop classics from the past decade. Not the mood we were expecting, but we'll take it.


8:35AM We were just told the show kicks off "shortly." We've been asked to turn off all wireless devices in about ten minutes to prevent interference with the on-stage demos, but we're going to prevent doing so at all costs, up to and including our own untimely deaths. Wish us luck, folks -- just know that if the liveblog suddenly goes dead, we were probably dragged off into spartan holding cells by CEA security.

8:34AM Now a little Faithless on the sound system.

8:29AM No better way to kick off a keynote session than with some classic Crystal Method, which is precisely what's being blasted over the PA right now.

8:18AM We're in and seated near the stage. Gary Shapiro of the CEA -- the organization that runs CES -- will be joining Seidenberg on stage.
Ivan Seidenberg is passing the torch to current Verizon Wireless boss Lowell McAdam later this year after a long career with Verizon, so today's keynote session starting at 8:30AM PT (11:30AM ET) should be a bit of a swan song for him. We don't know what he'll announce, if anything -- Big Red's official press conference is later today, where presenters are expected to offer more details on the carrier's range of LTE handsets -- but we'll naturally be looking out for teasers and tidbits here this morning. Read on!

Ford Motor Company CEO Alan Mulally tells us why CES is important (video)

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 07:11 AM PST

Each year we see more and more cars at CES, more and more infotainment systems, and more and more reasons to get excited about driving to work. But each time Ford is the company with the biggest presence, and this year there's more Blue Oval than ever with the first CES unveil of a whole new car, the upcoming Focus Electric. Alan Mulally was kind enough to take a few minutes to speak with us about just what the heck the company is doing here and, more importantly, what kind of surprises are coming from his keynote speech on Friday. It's all in the video below. And, yes, more of that Mustang too -- which just so happens to be painted in our favorite color.

Mac App Store generating error messages instead of app purchases? Here's the fix

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 07:08 AM PST

Oh, this ain't cool. According to the roughly gazillion complaints we received this morning upon the launch of Apple's Mac App Store, users are seeing the ol' "unknown error occurred (100)" message when first launching the store after the upgrade. According to TUAW, it's a problem with the iTunes Terms and Conditions -- which some users aren't getting prompted to accept, hence the error message. What should you do if you get the error? Quit the store and reload it. If that doesn't work, folks are finding that rebooting and then launching the store again does the trick.

Razer Switchblade: 7-inch pocket gaming concept blows our minds six ways from Sunday

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 07:01 AM PST

The most beautiful thing to come out of CES 2011? The show ain't over yet, but we're unafraid to say that Razer's Switchblade is the device to beat. Before you go getting your hopes up, we have to (regretfully) point out that this here gaming handheld is but a concept, but considering that Toshiba's Libretto W105 made it to store shelves (if but for a moment), we're hoping and praying that the Switchblade can also find its way to a production line. Little is known about the device itself, but Razer has imagined it using a pair of 7-inch multitouch displays as well as a layer of tactile, dynamic keys on the lower screen. Much like the Optimus Maximus of yesteryear, this keyboard would enable gamers to place different screens underneath depending on title, and even within a game, you could imagine the keys shifting to account for different POVs, levels, scenarios, etc. Internally, the concept is based around an Intel Atom processor, but there's no word on what kind of GPU would work alongside of it. Sadly, Razer's unwilling to talk pie-in-the-sky details when it comes to price and release, but if four million comments show up below begging and pleading for the company to take this commercial...

Update: Just to be clear, the keyboard on the bottom is a full-on LCD , but covered with physical keys. In contrast, the W105 had a flat touchpanel on the bottom.
Razer Switchblade 7-inch gaming tablet concept at CES 2011


Show full PR text
Razer™ Announces New Mobile PC Gaming Concept Design

The Razer Switchblade powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor redefines Mouse/Keyboard Interface for mobile gamers with an all new ultra-sensitive multi-touch screen and dynamic tactile keyboard

Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas, Nevada – January 6, 2011 – Razer, the world's leading brand of high-end precision gaming products announced today the development of an innovative concept design, based on the Intel® Atom™ processor, bringing traditional PC desktop gaming to a portable form factor.

The new Intel® Atom™ powered concept model, codenamed "Razer Switchblade", brings an evocative level of design to gaming by replacing the traditional mouse and keyboard interface with an ultra-sensitive multi-touch screen, dynamic tactile keyboard, and an intelligent user interface that adjusts the configuration and key layout on-the-fly based on game content and user requirements.

The Razer Switchblade concept was created from the ground up by Razer designers and engineers, in collaboration with Intel; focusing on enhancing the entire user experience of playing the extensive PC game library on a handheld device.

"The main problem with mobile PC gaming so far is that no one has been able to port the full mouse and keyboard experience onto a small size portable solution," said Min-Liang Tan, CEO and Creative Director, Razer. "By combining adaptive on-the-fly controls and display, we managed to maintain the full tactile keyboard in a miniature computer while saving valuable screen estate."

"PC Gaming continues to attract innovation with rich 3-D graphics, high definition video, and life-like animation," said Brad Graff, director of gaming platforms for Intel's Ultra Mobility Group. "The Intel® Atom™ processor, combined with Razer's expertise in bringing gaming solutions to market, will help make it possible for consumers to have a powerful gaming experience in mobile devices."

"With our established focus on human interface devices, moving the mouse and keyboard experience to the next level was a natural step." continues Min-Liang Tan. "Razer isn't just about bringing innovation to the PC, but creating products that will change the future of gaming. The Razer Switchblade is one such product."

About the Razer Switchblade Concept
The Razer Switchblade Concept is a breakthrough portable gaming device model that allows gamers to play on the go without giving up the precision and control ordinarily possible on a desktop gaming system. Integrating two multi-touch seven-inch screens, and an innovative tactile dynamic keyboard, the Razer Switchblade Concept delivers the full desktop experience in a netbook sized solution.

For more information, please visit: www.razerzone.com/Switchblade

Sony Ericsson: no OS updates for Xperia X10 beyond Android 2.1, it's better than 2.2 anyway

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 06:59 AM PST

The farce that has been Sony Ericsson's bungled, delayed, and deservedly maligned Android upgrade story for the Xperia X10 family is coming to a fittingly silly end. Questioned by Android Community on the possibility of a Froyo (Android 2.2) upgrade for its initial set of Android handsets, the SE team has just come out and admitted that there'll be no future OS upgrades, at least in terms of Android iterations. The X10, X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro are not being abandoned, not at all, but the only software enhancements you can look forward to will come directly from Sony Ericsson. The company hardly sees that as a bad thing, however, judging by a recent tweet announcing its belief that an SE-customized Eclair tastes better than Google's untouched Froyo. We'd protest, but what's the use?

GoPro 3D Hero, Battery, and LCD BacPac hands-on

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 06:54 AM PST

GoPro 3D Hero, battery, and LCD BacPac hands-on
Helmet cam user? Chances are you've suffered the extreme indignity of capturing footage of the sky or the ground but, sadly, nothing in between. They're hard to aim. GoPro is tackling that issue with the LCD BacPack, a clip-on LCD that attaches on the back interface port on 1080p HD Hero cameras, showing you not only what the camera is looking at but also battery life and even a speaker. Then there's the Battery BacPac, which is the same size but instead of a display makes room for a second battery and, thanks to its miniUSB port, doubles as an external battery charger. Neat! And, yes, there's a new back cover needed to fit over the new bulge.

Finally there's the egregious 3D Hero expansion, a revised version of what we saw in September. It comes with a cable to ensure that both start filming at the same time, though sadly it doesn't come with any extra neck muscles to keep this thing aloft should you affix it to your helmet. We got a chance to look at some of the resulting footage and the results are compelling -- not as clear as your average big-budget Hollywood summer release but, considering the size of the thing, quite compelling. All three devices are expected to launch in the next few months but, sadly, at undisclosed prices.
GoPro HD Hero accessories

Dell Streak 7 pops up on the T-Mobile website

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 06:46 AM PST

We had a nagging suspicion that this was goin' down eventually. and here you have it: the Dell Streak 7 has appeared on T-Mobile's website! As of this posting, actually clicking on the option gives you nothing -- but we assume that will change soon enough. In the meantime, they do have a Sidekick XL to sell you.

Netbook Navigator announces it'll announce three new Windows-based tablets at CES

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 06:36 AM PST

Netbook Navigator has made tablet pcs in the past -- one of which we reviewed -- so it should come as no surprise that they've got several more brewing. In fact, we are now hearing that the company's got three (yes, three) Windows-based tablets to show off when the floor opens and the stampede begins. Among the offerings will be the NAV7 tablet, what the company is describing as the "first ever multitouch Windows 7-inch" tablet, plus the NAV10i and a slightly revamped NAV9. While we don't have full specs for any of these tablets, we do know that all will be Atom CPU-based devices with SSDs, 2GB of RAM, 'several' USB ports, WiFi, Bluetooth, and webcams, plus optional 3G. Other details about the NAV10i -- it'll be a 10-incher (capacitive LCD), while the NAV9 will be a rugged 8.9-incher. We'll let you know as soon as we get our hands on these bad boys, but until then: the full press release is after the break.
Show full PR text
Netbook Navigator to Announce the Launch of 3 New Windows Tablets at CES 2011


This year Netbook Navigator plans to unveil three brand new Slate PCs, including the first ever 7" multi-touch Windows 7 tablet, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 4, Booth 35903

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Netbook Navigator, a leading provider of mobile devices, today announced plans to debut 3 brand new Windows-based tablet PCs at CES 2011 from Jan 6-9. This exclusive new product line will include the NAV7, the first ever multi-touch 7" Windows tablet, the all new NAV10i, and the debut of a newly upgraded NAV9 Slate PC. Netbook Navigator will also be demonstrating their Navigator User Interface (NAV UI) offering users a more interactive and touch-friendly PC desktop experience tailored to the tablet form factor.

All 3 tablets will feature the latest Intel ATOM processors, Solid State HDDs, 2GB RAM, multiple USB ports, WiFi/Bluetooth, optional 3G connectivity and front-side webcams.

In addition to these features, the NAV7 will feature a multi-touch 7" capacitive LCD, accelerometer, built-in touch pad and swappable battery providing users with unprecedented PC mobility.

The NAV10i will feature a multi-touch 10.1" capacitive LCD, multiple shortcut keys for easy access to key features, and a front-side track pad for precise control of the Windows desktop.

The newest NAV9 will feature a rugged multi-touch 8.9" low-pressure resistive LCD and SDHC/MMC card slot, and will be available in all black for the first time.

The NAV UI software interface will only be made available exclusively on these 3 tablet devices, and will feature a navigation system that will allow users to easily manage multiple PC applications simultaneously, and browse files, folders and apps with the swipe of a finger.

See them live on display at CES 2011: South Hall 4, Upper Level, Booth 35903

For more information visit www.NetbookNavigator.com/ces

About Netbook Navigator

Founded in 2009, Netbook Navigator is defining the future of mobile computing, establishing themselves as a leading provider of cutting edge, fully customizable Windows-based mobile devices for a wide range of consumer, professional and enterprise market applications. Netbook Navigator focuses on delivering unique, high quality products that enhance the users' overall quality of life by combining cutting edge hardware with powerful and unique touch-friendly software. Netbook Navigator's offices are located in the New York City area.

SOURCE Netbook Navigator

Huawei IDEOS X5 announced for Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and (eventually) the US

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 06:32 AM PST

Of the manifold riches sure to unloaded by the fine folks at Huawei at this year's CES, be on the lookout for the IDEOS X5. The Android 2.2 smartphone that we first saw yesterday features a 3.8-inch multitouch screen, SWYPE input, a 5 megapixel camera with 720p video, FM radio, and Flash 10.1 -- all in a svelte 11.4mm thick package. Available in Singapore, Hong Kong and New Zealand beginning this month, with a U.S. carrier to be announced. Keep an eye on this space for news from the launch later today!
Show full PR text
January 06, 2011 08:00 AM Eastern Time
Huawei Device Introduces IDEOS X5 at CES

New Ultra-Slim Smartphone with Android-Based Operating System, High-Speed Connectivity and High Definition Video
2011 International CES

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Huawei Device today unveiled the most recent addition to the IDEOS™ family of smart devices, the IDEOS X5. With excellent browsing, high definition video experiences and the power of the Android™ 2.2 operating system, this ultra slim touch screen phone features excellent Internet browsing capabilities as well as high speed connectivity. From hardware and software to product design, each detail of the IDEOS X5 is specifically chosen to bring consumers a smart mobile experience that is easy to enjoy.

Speaking at a press event at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Victor Xu, Chief Marketing Officer of Huawei Device, said, "We are excited to launch the next generation IDEOS: the X5 smartphone. This smartphone is a new alternative to traditional brands and competes well in terms of design and functionality. IDEOS X5 offers the latest technology at a price that's right."

The IDEOS X5 provides business professionals with more efficient solutions including document processing capabilities supporting Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe PDF formats. The smartphone provides email functionality through Gmail and Exchange mailboxes, in addition to calendar support for schedule management. It also offers high speed connectivity through HSPA and WiFi 802.11n, enabling professionals to stay connected at all times and places.

The IDEOS X5 features:

* a 3.8 inch multiple touch screen with easy-to-use SWYPE input and voice recognition for additional convenience
* an ultra-slim width of 11.4mm, curved edges and brush metal coating to serve as an ideal everyday accessory
* a 5 mega pixel camera with 720p high definition video recording and playback
* a FM radio, SRS professional audio effect and Flash 10.1 to enhance the gaming experience

The IDEOS X5 will be available in Singapore, Hong Kong and New Zealand beginning January 2011. A U.S. carrier will be announced mid-2011 and pricing details will be confirmed at that time.

The IDEOS X5 is the next phone in the IDEOS™ range and is jam-packed with features designed to simplify your world. First launched in September 2010, IDEOS has sold more than one million handsets in over 70 countries. People in more than 130 countries are already using Huawei devices, which are often customized and rebranded by operators. This expansion of the IDEOS brand represents a new era in establishing Huawei Device as a stand-alone brand.

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading telecoms solutions provider serving 45 of the world's top 50 telecom operators. Huawei's products and solutions have been deployed in over 100 countries and support the communications needs of one third of the world's population. The company is committed to providing innovative and customized products, services and solutions to create long-term value and growth potential for its customers.

Huawei Device provides a wide range of products, including mobile broadband devices, handsets, convergence devices, and video solutions. Huawei Device is dedicated to being a trusted partner for operators, helping them meet their subscribers' diversified needs by providing a rich variety of network terminals. Through the end of 2009, Huawei Device products have been chosen by more than 470 operators around the world. Huawei Device is a strategic partner of a number of the world's top operators including Vodafone, T-Mobile, BT, and Telefónica. For more information, visit Huawei Device online: http://www.huaweidevice.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/huaweidevice. YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/huaweideviceco. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Huawei-Device/125524087493943

Honeycomb will not require dual-core CPU as minimum hardware spec

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 06:21 AM PST

Oh, never mind then. Google's ever-informative and ever-knowledgeable Dan Morrill has disabused the world from the bogus belief that Android's "made for tablets" iteration, aka Honeycomb, will require a dual-core processor as a minimum to run. Dan says there are no specific CPU requirements for aspiring Android 3.0 tablets to meet and we should all sit back, relax, and enjoy our breakfast. That's reassuring to note, but let's not read more into it than what's said -- while Honeycomb might not technically require a dual-core beastie to power it, there's a reason why the Motorola Xoom (which is soon to become the first device to offer Honeycomb onboard) is launching with a Tegra 2 chip inside.

[Thanks, Dean]

AirStash wireless flash drive with media streaming and WebDAV update hands-on (video)

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 06:21 AM PST

Remember our good friends from AirStash at last year's CES? Well, this year they're back with the same wireless storage dongle, but now bolstered with a new firmware and smarter ways of transferring files to and from your mobile devices. As before, the AirStash is essentially an SD card reader that can be accessed as an ordinary USB storage device, or a basic read-only file server via WiFi tethering, meaning the host device doesn't require a card reader or a USB host. Upon requests from many users, AirStash is now finalising an HTML5-based web app and a free native iOS app, both of which offer in-app image browsing and media streaming, including HD videos and Apple DRM content on iOS (associated with the appropriate Apple ID, of course).

What really surprised us was the claim that the AirStash's minuscule 600mAh cell can do streaming for around five hours, regardless of the media type. That said, we were only given a demo with a standard-definition video clip, and even that took about 25 seconds to buffer over 802.11g WiFi, so you can imagine how many sunsets you might see while waiting for an HD clip to load. With about a full month away from release, AirStash thinks it can push the loading speed up in time for launch, so we shall see. Read on to see the other new features.
AirStash wireless flash drive with media streaming and WebDAV update hands-on


What differentiates the native iOS app from the HTML5 flavor is mainly the former's iPhoto import feature. Simply click on the import button at the bottom of AirStash's app, and then you can choose to either import the currently opened directory, or import everything from the AirStash. Oddly enough, there's no way to select multiple directories for importing, but the AirStash folks have taken in our tip for consideration. Further down the simple menu, there's a switch for toggling either original size import or just native screen resolution import, depending on how much space you want to fill up on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. Either way, this is a pretty handy method for browsing or showing off your fresh shots on any sizeable display.

We were then shown the AirStash's WebDAV compatibility using iOS' Keynote. With this increasingly popular protocol, supported mobile apps -- regardless of their platform -- are able to read from and write to our little WiFi device. In this case, we opened Keynote, chose a presentation file, and let the app download it via WiFi. Had we edited the file, we could've also saved a new copy to the AirStash via WebDAV as well, and then distribute the file any way we wanted (as opposed to just emailing it out, especially if it's a large file and your recipient is sat right next to you).

All these new features sure make the $99.99 AirStash a more tempting deal, especially for road warriors attempting to fully replace their laptops with low-powered tablets. There's no hurry to whip out your credit card though -- we'll be giving the AirStash a spin once the firmware is ready in a few weeks' time, and hopefully we'll also dig out more WebDAV apps for various platforms, so stay tuned.

Denon and Marantz AirPlay update finally released for $49

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 06:20 AM PST

Denon and Marantz AirPlay update finally released for $49
We knew that Denon and Marantz receivers components would be the first to get upgraded to support AirPlay, but we didn't think it would take quite this long. The patch to add AirPlay support to nine network-enabled receivers and other devices. It was also supposed to be free until November 7th. Well, it didn't get out by then, and sure doesn't look free now, but it is at least available, a $49.99 patch downloadable for the following devices:
  • Denon AVR-4311CI
  • Denon AVR-3311CI
  • Denon AVR-991
  • Denon AVR-A100
  • Denon N7 Networked CD Receiver and 2.0 Channel Speaker System
  • Marantz SR7005 A/V Receiver
  • Marantz AV7005 A/V Preamplifier
  • Marantz NA7004 Network Audio Player
  • Marantz M-CR603 Networked CD Receiver
Full PR after the break.

Show full PR text
AIRPLAY CAPABILITY NOW AVAILABLE ON DENON AND MARANTZ COMPONENTS


-- Users Can "Unleash Their iTunes® Music Libraries," Stream Songs from iPhone®, iPad™ or iPod Touch® Devices to Denon or Marantz Systems --
Las Vegas, NV, January 6, 2011 - Denon Electronics, a premier manufacturer of high-quality home entertainment components celebrating 100 years of innovation and technology leadership, and Marantz America, a world leader of advanced home entertainment solutions, are proud to announce the availability of AirPlay music streaming capability on nine network-capable audio/video components in their respective lineups, making the A/V receivers the world's first to include AirPlay capability. Given the availability of the newly launched Apple iOS 4.2 update to its mobile operating system, owners of AirPlay compatible Denon and Marantz components may now stream songs directly from their iTunes music libraries, as well as music stored on their mobile devices, though their Wi-Fi enabled networks from their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch devices.* The AirPlay upgrade is available at both the Denon and Marantz websites for $49.99.

Denon® A/V receivers that are AirPlay capable include the AVR-4311CI (SRP: $1,999), AVR-3311CI (SRP: $1,199) and AVR-991 (SRP: $999), as well as the company's new 100th Anniversary Product Collection Model AVR-A100 (SRP: $2,499) and its N7 Networked CD Receiver and 2.0 Channel Speaker System, consisting of the new RCD-N7 CD Receiver (SRP: $599) and SC-N7 Stereo Loudspeakers (SRP: $199/pair). In addition, all of the new, IP-based Marantz® products, including the Model SR7005 A/V Receiver (SRP: $1,599), AV7005 A/V Preamplifier (SRP: $1,499), NA7004 Network Audio Player (SRP: $799) and M-CR603 Networked CD Receiver (SRP: $699) will work with the new AirPlay feature.

Unleash Your iTunes Library and "Give Your Home a Soundtrack!"
With AirPlay, users can literally "give their home a soundtrack" by unleashing their iTunes music libraries whether from Mac or PC and streaming all their favorite iTunes songs, as well as music stored on their Apple mobile devices, to select Denon and Marantz components through their Wi-Fi enabled networks from iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch devices. Users do not even need to be in the same room as their Denon or Marantz components to play, pause, skip, and stop the songs in their iTunes libraries. Users may even view iTunes music information, including album art, track titles, and artist info on Apple compatible devices or with their Denon and Marantz components with video output.

Noted Bob Weissburg, President of D&M Holdings NA: "Denon and Marantz both share a commitment to providing consumers with the most advanced lifestyle enhancing features and capabilities that allow them to get closer to the entertainment they love – simply and easily. Maximum compatibility with all of today's home entertainment content and source components is a top priority, including the iPod and iPhone, and now AirPlay capability. AirPlay adds yet another great dimension to content enjoyment and enhances the overall home entertainment experience. This is yet another example of how both the Denon and Marantz brands utilize ahead-of-the-curve innovations and technologies to take home entertainment to the next level."

For more information on Denon, visit http://usa.denon.com. For Denon 100th Anniversary and other news, visit http://www.denon100.com and http://usblog.denon.com. Become a fan of Denon on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/denonusa or follow Denon on Twitter at http://twitter.com/denonus.

For more information on Marantz, visit http://us.marantz.com. Become a fan of Marantz on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/marantzamerica or follow Marantz on Twitter at http://twitter.com/marantzamerica.

*A home Wi-Fi network, connected computer and iTunes account are required to configure the streaming feature.


About Denon Electronics
Denon celebrates its 100th Year Anniversary in 2010, carrying on its tradition of excellence with a renewed commitment to the highest quality home theater, audio and software products. Denon is recognized internationally for innovative and groundbreaking products and has a long history of technical innovations, including the development and groundbreaking commercialization of PCM digital audio. Denon Electronics is owned by D&M Holdings Inc.

About Marantz
Marantz America is committed to upholding the tradition of technological superiority initiated by founder Saul Marantz. In keeping with this emphasis on quality, Marantz audio and video components are carried only by the nation's premier audio/video specialty retailers. Additional information is available at www.us.marantz.com and www.facebook.com/marantzamerica. Marantz America is a wholly owned subsidiary of D&M Holdings Inc.

About D&M Holdings Inc.
D&M Holdings Inc. is a global operating company providing worldwide management and distribution platforms for premium consumer, automotive, commercial and professional audio and video businesses including Denon®, Marantz®, McIntosh® Laboratory, Boston Acoustics®, Snell Acoustics, Escientâ, Calrec Audio, Denon DJ, Allen & Heath, D&M Professional and D&M Premium Sound Solutions. Our technologies improve the quality of any audio and visual experience. All product and brand names with a trademark symbol (except for "iTunes," "iPhone," "iPod Touch" which are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.; and "iPad" which is a trademark of Apple Inc.) are trademarks or registered trademarks of D&M Holdings, Inc. or its subsidiaries. For more information visit www.dm-holdings.com.

DISCLAIMER
Statements in this news release that are not statements of historical fact include forward looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of the company. We wish to caution you that such statements are just predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties surrounding competitive and industry conditions, market acceptance for the company's products, risks of litigation, technological changes, developing industry standards and other factors related to the company's businesses. The Company reserves all of its rights.

Microsoft's first Windows Phone 7 update coming this month?

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 06:09 AM PST

It's no secret that Microsoft is anxious to get copy / paste functionality rolled out to Windows Phone 7 users on the double. In his CES keynote last night, Steve Ballmer himself said that it'd be coming soon -- but a little hint on Microsoft's site indicates that it might be coming as soon as this month: the URL Microsoft is using for the update's details page includes "january-update.aspx" in it, which we'd say is pretty telling. Of course, launch dates inevitably slip, and perennial Microsoft guru Paul Thurrott thinks it's tracking for early February before it'll actually reach users' devices... so we wouldn't go canceling vacations you've got scheduled this month just so you can be around to score the update as soon as it's available.
at 11:38 AM

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