CES 2008

The HS-1200 in the flesh

(Credit: CNET)

Are you a hardcore PC online gamer who's constantly restricted by the always-too-short-or-in-the-way cable on your headset? If so, Creative's new HS-1200 may be just the ticket. It's a fully wireless headset--the first such full duplex stereo model (according to the company), which means it can simultaneously send and receive audio. The PC headset will work with any VoIP or voice application, but Creative is aiming straight at the PC gaming market. The HS-1200 communicates with your PC via a USB transceiver that's about the size of a hockey puck--which also includes a separate umbilical cable used for recharging when the headphones are not in action. (It just plugs in--no cradle required.) Unfortunately, the battery is locked in and not replaceable, so charge degradation over time may become an issue.

On the design side, the microphone extension on the HS-1200 is such that flipping it up will turn it off--just bring it back down and the microphone is ready for use. The headset itself has four buttons: volume up/down, power, and call pickup (for using the HS-1200 for VoIP and communication applications when you're away from the desktop). The USB connectivity is designed to guarantee plug-and-play Windows connectivity--no software installation required.

Look for the Creative Labs HS-1200 to retail for $150 when it becomes available this spring.

The Creative Xdock HD takes iPod video to the big screen.

(Credit: Creative)

Creative has announced plans to release the Xdock HD, an HD-quality iPod video dock. The Xdock HD is due for a spring release with a retail price of $399. Four bills might seem like a steep price for an iPod dock, but the Xdock HD has some serious technology under the hood.

First and foremost, the Xdock HD provides a means to play iPod video content at 720p or 1080i resolution. This feat is accomplished by Creative's own video upsampling technology, which transforms your puny iPod videos into HD-worthy gems.

The second great asset of the Creative Xdock HD is its ability ... Read more

Creative InPerson

(Credit: Creative Labs)

Video phone, videoconferencing--there's really no good vocabulary for discussing video communication over the Net without rendering your audience glazed and confused. Nor are there any glitzy new technologies to get their geek juices flowing. But Creative's doing its darnedest to spark some new life in a product category that never quite took off. And it seems like a pretty good effort, at that, with a product that strives to liberate videoconferencing from the tether of the PC or the conference room.

The company's portable InPerson conferencing system consists of a device that resembles a 1.6 pound, 10-inch laptop, with a VGA-resolution Webcam with a nice wide-angle view, built into the hinge. The hardware sits in your living room, hotel room, or any other room, running off the two-hour capacity battery or AC. The H.264-compressed video can stream on the 7-inch wide-screen LCD, or you can hook it up to your TV for a more life-size conversation. It connects to the Net via Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet, going through Creative's servers for the video and VoIP audio (it adheres to the SIP telephony standard). Creative claims it has very good low-light performance (which seemed to be true when I took a brief look at it), as well as above-average audio quality. When not in use, you can stick an SD card in the slot and use it as a really expensive photo frame.

That's really the rub: it seems quite pricey to me. The device itself costs $699.95, and there's a $10 per month subscription fee for the Web service. On the plus side, it doesn't require another InPerson on the other end; any old Webcam will do.

Can Creative InPerson save your foundering long-distance relationship? Probably not. But it has the potential to save you some money and time on the extra travel.

(Credit: Creative)

Like day side of Mercury, ultracompact is so hot right now. Creative seems to be aware of that fact, as the company's only major portable audio announcement for CES is an update to both of its Zen Stone lines of MP3 players. The new Stones "with Built-In Speaker" (yes, that's the official name) are pretty much exactly what they sound like--the itty-bittiest of Zens with a single, integrated external speaker. That's not the only difference, though. The new players also offer an updated color scheme; it's a brushed-metallic look with your choice of baby pink, navy blue, pearly white, or black. The control pads are clear, which is also a bit of a different touch. Overall, the updated paint job makes the Stone just a bit more elegant and less toylike. To make room for the speaker, Creative made the devices slightly chubbier, though I think this gives them a more substantial feel--plus, they still fit comfortably in a coin pocket of a pair of jeans, so who's counting?

(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)

Naturally, the mono speaker doesn't sound fantastic, but it gets surprisingly loud, and I must say that I'm keen on the idea of walking around with my own theme music for the world to hear. With the headphones plugged in, you can expect the same excellent audio quality that the Zen line has been delivering for years. The players, which are due out at the end of this month, also offer an enticing price point. The screenless Zen Stone comes in at $49.99 for 1GB, while the Plus version (with 2GB of memory, a screen, and an FM tuner) will set you back $59.99.

(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)

(Credit: CNET Networks/Corinne Schulze)