CES 2008

(Credit: Sling Media)

It's been hinted at for months, but Sling Media has finally officially confirmed that a BlackBerry version of the company's SlingPlayer software is on deck. The software--which allows live TV to be streamed from any Slingbox model--is designed for broadband-enabled (3G wireless or Wi-Fi) BlackBerry smartphones. The software will cost the same one-time $30 fee as the similar versions already available for Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian phones. Sling will be demoing an early version of the software on the Pearl 8120 at CES next week, and the company hopes to have it ready for public release by the end of 2008.

The Slingbox PRO-HD: True high-def video streaming--at least on a home network

(Credit: Sling Media)

Sling Media has unveiled the Slingbox PRO-HD, the first version of its video place-shifting boxes designed to stream true high-definition video. The catch? Due to the massive bandwidth requirements, HD video can't be streamed over the Internet--just to other locations on a home network. Still, that means that PCs running the SlingPlayer software--or TVs attached to Sling's soon-to-be-reannounced SlingCatcher--should be able to view a high-def stream at up to 1080i resolution with 5.1 surround audio. (To date, some Slingbox models have been able to accept HD video, but the output stream was limited to DVD-level standard-definition resolution.)

Watch the Slingbox PRO-HD video on CNET TV.

The Slingbox PRO-HD will be loaded with a full range of inputs and passthrough outputs. Although it will lack HDMI (thanks to copy-protection restrictions), the PRO-HD will include NTSC, ATSC, and clear QAM tuners. The newest Slingbox is scheduled to be available in the third quarter of 2008 for $400.

OpenMoko's Neo FreeRunner to ship this spring to developers.

(Credit: OpenMoko)

OpenMoko is upgrading its Linux-based mobile phone with a faster processor, Wi-Fi networking, and better graphics abilities, the company said Thursday.

The Neo FreeRunner has a faster 500MHz processor, compared with 266MHz for the Neo 1973 introduced last July.

It's also got built-in hardware for 2D and 3D graphics along with new motion sensors that can trigger automated behavior. The wireless networking supports the 802.11b/g standards.

The company will preview the new version at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week and begin selling it to developers in the spring.

OpenMoko is a subsidiary of First International Computer, based in Taiwan.

Aiming to draw some attention to a redesign of its Web site, NBC plans to broadcast its evening newscast from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Monday.

While he will probably be able to avoid the long cab lines, anchor Brian Williams will brave the CES crowds to do NBC Nightly News live from the show floor. It will first air at 3:30 p.m. PST--evening for the East Coast audience.

In part, NBC is hoping to parlay the unusual locale into some attention for the NBC Nightly News Web site, which is getting a makeover. "While at CES, we will announce and debut a new and improved Web site for the show," an NBC representative said, declining to say what the new site will feature.

Pharos Trip & Pics

(Credit: Pharos)

The official kickoff to CES 2008 is still a few days away, but some companies are creating preshow buzz by making some early announcements, including Pharos. This morning the GPS manufacturer unveiled Pharos Trips & Pics, a geo-logger that brings GPS capabilities to your digital camera. Available later this month for $89.95, the kit includes a Pharos iGPS-500 receiver and a pocket-size battery unit that you take with you on your trip, allowing you to record such details as time, location, heading, and speed. You'll also be able to define how often you want the receiver to log information--anywhere from 1 second up to 5 minutes. Once you've returned from your expedition, you can then export this data to your PC and display them on a map of your choice, such as Google Maps or Microsoft Streets & Trips.

Pharos isn't the first company to come up with this idea (Jobo and Sony have similar products), but CES will be the first time I actually get to see this type of solution in action. Is it actually viable or just a cumbersome setup? Check back soon when I report back live from the show floor.

Also jumping the CES gun by a few days is Dell's 15-inch Inspiron 1525 laptop. This model actually popped up on Dell's Australian Web site earlier this week, but is being officially announced in the US today.

With a complete top-to-bottom revamp of Dell's entire laptop line in mid-2007, why the need for a new mainstream model so soon? While the current 14-inch Inspiron 1420 hit the size/features/performance sweet spot, and the high-end XPS M1330 and M1530 are slick, thin 13- and 15-inch models, the middle-of-the-road Inspiron 1520 was always a little too big and clunky.

With the upgraded Inspiron 1525 (hey, nobody ever accused these guys of creative naming), Dell's managed to shave a little bulk off of the system, and the smaller chassis leaves less dead space on the keyboard tray. Compared to the older 1520, this new version is about 30 percent slimmer and almost a half-pound lighter.

The Inspiron 1525 starts at only $499, and includes an HDMI output and touch-sensitive media controls, which are nice touches in that price range. The standard Dell configuration options are available (including a few new lid patterns, such as the one seen here), so you can easily build this out into a system costing $1,000 or more.

We'll take a more hands-on look at the Inspiron 1525 next week during CES.

It's always shocking when you realize the full breadth of HP's desktop product launches. Out of HP's four new desktop series, we count 10 new desktops set to hit stores in February. And that doesn't count the customizable counterparts at HP's Web site. All of these systems use chassis and hardware we've seen before, but what's most exciting is what you get for your money. We'll go over the highlights briefly:

(Credit: HP)

HP Pavilion SlimLine s3300 Series (includes the s3300f, the s3320f, the s3330f):

HP's small form factor PC will range from $549 to $949. Not much has changed since we first saw this scaled down computer last year. All come with dual-core CPUs, wireless networking (802.11b/g, no N or Bluetooth, disappointingly), and at least some degree of expandability. The most exciting news in this series is the $949 s3330f, which comes with a hybrid Blu-ray/HD-DVD drive. We gave a strong recommendation to the similar Pavilion SlimLine s3200t, which cost $1,540 this past November. That you'll be able to get a similar system for $500 less in a month makes that particular model especially enticing as a small-scale home theater PC.

Watch the HP Slimline S3330F video on CNET TV.

(Credit: HP)

HP Pavilion Desktop a6300 Series (includes the a6300f, a6330f):

The Pavilion Desktop remains HP's everyday PC that's not quite a budget system but doesn't aspire to any gaming or digital media editing heights. Starting at $549, you'll find dual-core CPUs in the various configs, as well as 500GB hard drives and 3GB of RAM in the higher-end model. Don't expect quad-core CPUs at this price range (at least in this half of 2008), or wireless networking or HD optical drives. Instead these systems offer the basic Windows computing experience, with a few HP-specific extras thrown in, such as its Photosmart Essentials software.

(Credit: HP)

HP Pavilion Media Center PC m8330 Series (includes m8300f, m8330f):

With the m8300 Series, HP starts to add performance and functionality. The entry price for the m8300f is $759, and while we don't have details on that particular system, the $959 m8330f includes AMD's new Phenom 9500 quad-core CPU. Other features include a 15-in-1 media card reader, multiple large hard drives, a TV tuner and a Windows Media Center remote control. With no high-end graphics cards, gaming will be limited, but for burning, encoding, editing, and playing your digital media, these systems should serve well

(Credit: HP)

HP Pavilion Elite PC m9100 Series (includes m9150, m9160, and m9180):

We gave HP flack for its Pavilion Elite m9040n and the amount of internal space that system wasted between two special bays for HP's proprietary removable hard drives, neither of which is included with the system. Sadly, HP hasn't revamped the design in its new Pavilion Elites, so you can expect the same frustration. If you really need to take two different removable hard drives with you, perhaps you'll take an interest, but add $300 to the Elite's $1,159 starting price to populate both spare bays. Fortunately, the base price does include Intel's Core 2 Quad Q6600 CPU (which remains superior to AMD's Phenom chips), as well as an HD-DVD drive, 3GB of RAM, a TV tuner, and plenty of hard drive space.

(Credit: CNET)

In addition to HP's herd of new desktops, you can also expect to see two new HP LCDs on store shelves in February. The 22-inch w2207h will go for $349 and the 24-inch w2408h will retail for $499. Like HP's previous displays (the w2207 and the w2408), these new models come with glossy screens, and attractive black bezels. New are the HDMI inputs (complete with an HDMI cable in the box), and a 3000:1 contrast ratio, up from 1000:1 on the original models.

We're all for more contrast, but HDMI on a PC display feels a bit superfluous. Thus, we wouldn't necessarily feel the need to run out and replace your current w2207 or w2208. If you're in the market for an LCD, though, we were fans of the w2207, giving it a solid 7.6 in our review earlier in 2007. If these new models are indeed improved versions of the originals, we think you'll like what you'll see.

(Credit: CNET)

We fell in love with HP's MediaSmart Server this past fall. You can imagine then, that we're glad to learn about HP adding even more features to its poster child for Microsoft's Windows Home Server, the software at the heart of HP's MediaSmart Server hardware. The three updates will bring server-side McAfee antivirus protection, Windows Vista 64-bit support, and improved data handling for things like quicker photo thumbnails and the ability to stream video. Even better, these updates are all free and will come to current MediaSmart Server owners this February via download.

One of three new entertainment laptops, the IdeaPad U110 features a textured red lid.

(Credit: Lenovo)

Getting a jump on the product-launch blitz that is CES 2008, Lenovo has announced a whole new brand of consumer-oriented laptops and desktops. Called IdeaPad and IdeaCentre, the lines are intended to complement the company's flagship business-oriented ThinkPad and ThinkCentre lines. While today's announcement does not include any specifics on desktop models, we learned plenty about the new IdeaPad laptops.

Watch the Lenovo Idea Pad U110 video on CNET TV.

The first full line of entertainment-oriented Lenovo laptops to hit the United States (we saw one consumer model, the Lenovo 3000 Y410, sneak into the States last fall), IdeaPads include such welcome design touches as textured lid finishes and a sleek "frameless" screen that's ergonomically situated a bit farther away from the keyboard than most laptops. Also key to the IdeaPad look are touch-sensitive media controls above the keyboard and a bright orange button, called the Shuttle Key, which can be used on its own to control volume or in combination with the touch controls for additional functionality (somewhat like a Fn key). There's Front Row-like media software, called Shuttle Center, and Dolby Home Theater sound. Every IdeaPad is also outfitted with a built-in 1.3-megapixel Webcam, VeriFace software for biometric security via face recognition, and a ThinkVantage-like Novo key that provides quick system recovery should you ever encounter a data-destroying virus.

Tonight's announcement includes the first three laptop models in the IdeaPad line: the 17-inch Y710, the 15.4-inch Y510, and the 11.1-inch U110. Individual specs and details after the break. ... Read More