CES 2009

Sony camcorder photos at CES 2009

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While Panasonic and Canon look like they're delivering a solid, if somewhat uninspiring, line of camcorders for the first half of the year, Sony emerged from CES with the most newsworthy set of models--newsworthy for what the product line doesn't include, as well as what it does.

What's missing? MiniDV camcorders, for one. While last year's DCR-HC52 and HC62 remain on the market, Sony didn't announce anything relevant to MiniDV--no consolidation of the existing models, as Canon did, or outright declaration of dropping models, as with Panasonic (if not publicly, then at least in conversation). Nor are there any DVD-based AVCHD camcorders for 2009. Those seem to have quietly slipped away from Canon and Panasonic as well.

In my opinion, the highlight of Sony's spring line is the HDR-XR500 series, the top of the prosumer HD line. These models include a first-to-market implementation of the rather misleadingly named back-illuminated CMOS technology, which promises much better low-light recording quality, as well as geotagging capability. One of the lower-end models, the XR200V, includes geotagging but not the new sensor, and a straightforward replacement for the low-end hard disk-based model. The geotagging has potential, but lacks the metadata support to do anything useful with the tags outside the camcorder.

At the other end of the spectrum, Sony jumps into the cheapo, direct-to-Web camcorder market with its so-called "Webbie HD" models. A notable move on two fronts: first, Sony becomes the first major camcorder manufacturer to produce one of these camera phone-like models; and second, Sony just entered a race swimming with cheap products--not exactly the company's usual pond.

In the middle, we've got the usual solid but unexciting standard-definition models in flash, hard disk, and mini DVD flavors. Have fun with that 60X zoom lens, folks.

LAS VEGAS--Trackballs, keyboards, and Bluetooth car adapters may not be as exciting as many of the products shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, but they are practical and a lot of people buy them. Kensington has been building products like these for years and continues to innovate in these pedestrian but very important categories. Kensington's Leonard Tsang manages to keep podcast host Larry Magid awake and interested as he describes his company's latest products.

See our complete news coverage from CES here

(Credit: Mio Technology)

Mio Technology unveiled four new models to its Moov line of portable navigation devices at CES 2009, along with an improved software platform called Mio Spirit.

Calling 2009 a "watershed year for Mio," the GPS manufacturer debuted the Mio Moov S300, Mio Moov S500, Mio Moov S556, and Mio Moov S700, which will all come preloaded with the Mio Spirit navigation software. The revamped interface was designed to simplify map views and searches, including those for points of interest and other key navigation tools. Responding to customer feedback, the new search capabilities make it easier to search for POI close to your current location, destination, or along your route. Mio has also increased the POI database to include 12 million entries.

As far as the individual products, here's a breakdown of what each has to offer. All models are expected to ship during the first half of 2009.

Mio Moov S300: The entry-level Moov S300 features a 3.5-inch touch screen and comes preloaded with maps of the United States and Canada. Text-to-speech functionality is also available in English, Spanish, and French. The S300 will cost $199.99.

Mio Moov S500 has a 4.7-inch touch screen.

(Credit: Mio)

Mio Moov S500: The $249.99 Moov S500 offers all the same features as the S300 but bumps up the screen size to 4.7 inches.

Mio Moov S556: A bit more on the high end, the Moov S556 sports a sleeker design and a flat 4.7-inch touch screen. The core features are the same as the previously mentioned models, but you also get integrated Bluetooth, lane guidance, and 3D junction view, which will present realistic 3D views of major roads and signs. Suggested retail price is $299.99.

Mio Moov S700: Last but not least, the Moov S700 is designed for campers and RVs and comes equipped with an extra-large 7-inch touch screen and MAD Maps, which offer scenic routes. It also comes preloaded with maps of North America and 12 million points of interest. The Moov S700 is priced at $299.99.

The new Classmate PCs will have twistable displays, allowing the Netbooks to be used in tablet mode.

(Credit: Intel)

Intel has revealed the design for a tablet version of its Classmate PC, a low-powered Netbook designed for use in primary schools.

The tablet-format Classmate, which was unveiled Friday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, will let manufacturers build Classmate PCs that can be used either as a standard clamshell laptop or--with a 180-degree swivel of the display--as a touch-screen tablet. As with most Netbooks, it will run on Intel's Atom processor.

"Education is one of the best ways to improve the future for individuals, villages or nations," Lila Ibrahim, the general manager of Intel's emerging-markets platform group, said in a statement Friday. "There are 1.3 billion school-age children around the world and of those only five percent have access to a PC or the internet. The IT industry has a huge opportunity to contribute to how technology can improve students' learning and students' lives."

Ibrahim's division developed the reference design for the convertible Classmate PC based on ethnographic research. Child-friendly features include a water-resistant keyboard and a sturdy frame. Another feature is dubbed "palm rejection"--in tablet mode, the user can rest their palm on the touchscreen while writing, without the screen registering the palm's pressure as input.

(Credit: Polaroid)

People are still lamenting the passing of Polaroid Instant Film into history, but thanks to technology featured in its tiny portable PoGo printer launched in 2008, the company is offering a new shoot-and-print option: the Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera. And despite its parent company's woes, Polaroid has no intention of curtailing product plans in 2009.

Plans for a 21st century Polaroid camera were announced in August 2008, but the product itself was announced at CES 2009.

The camera, which has a certain retro boxiness to it, is pretty big in comparison to most point-and-shoots with its camera specs. The 7-megapixel camera/printer measures 4.7 inches wide by 3 inches high by 1.3 inches deep and weighs 10 ounces--without paper, battery, or SD card. Keep in mind though: the original instant-print cameras didn't fit in a coat pocket, but this one does.

There's a 3-inch LCD on back and controls are simple. The only disappointment is the lack of an optical zoom, likely due to space constraints (there's a 4X digital zoom, though).

The camera uses Polaroid's Zink (zero ink) 2-by-3-inch paper. The LCD simply pops up, you insert a deck of 10 sheets, and you're ready to go. Shoot something you want to print? Hit the Print button on back, pick the photo, and press OK. In less than a minute you have a print.

I have had a chance to play around with the camera and I've got to say that it's a lot of fun, but definitely not for everyone. The print quality is just OK, which for a photo that small is fine (though I hope Polaroid can figure out how to do larger print sizes). Also, the camera itself is comparable with any other inexpensive 7-megapixel camera.

No pricing was announced, but I would guess it to be around $200 when it ships in spring 2009.

Shady video game console emulators at CES 2009--photos

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One of the interesting trends we saw at the lackluster gaming showcase at this year's CES was an abundance of Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and Sega Genesis hardware manufactured by third-party companies.

Some booths, which preferred to remain nameless, were showcasing 3-in-1 portable players as well, with slots to play all the above-mentioned consoles. All you need are the original game cartridges.

Perplexed as to how this kind of blatant patent infringement could possibly be tolerated, we asked these booth reps, "How can this be legal?" One booth rep immediately told us that "the patent for these consoles has since expired, essentially making it a free-for-all." At a different booth, a clearly uninformed rep responded, "As far as I know, all this is Kosher."

But is it? A while back in 2005 a Gamasutra article disclosed some research and uncovered that simply because a patent is expired doesn't mean protection of the patent has also. So what are these guys even doing at CES in the first place?

We'll be in touch with Nintendo for some further explanation and a statement, but as far as we can tell, some of these vendors appear to be breaking the law with these devices. We'll update this story once we hear back.

Meanwhile, check out our slide show highlighting some of these suspect products for sale from various vendors on the showroom floor.

Getting to know the Nyko Kama Charge Kit--photos

While the Nyko Wand took our Best of CES gaming award, we were also fans of a few additional accessories the company announced for the Nintendo Wii.

We really like the Kama Wireless Nunchuk we reviewed a few months ago, and Nyko has decided to improve on the item again. We know Nintendo had a fairly unpublicized grievance with the Kama's striking resemblance to an original Nunchuk, and Nyko wouldn't comment if the Kama Charge Kit was a result as a settlement between the two manufacturers.

The Kama Charge kit not only comes with a new and improved Nunchuk--albeit cosmetically different than the original Kama--it comes complete with a rechargeable rubberized battery pack and custom charging cradle. We also really liked the inclusion of an additional battery pack and gripped cover to transform an original Wii remote into a chargeable one.

Check out our slide show detailing all of the new updates to the Kama Nunchuk.

If you stare at this pic long enough, eventually it stares back at you.

(Credit: Westinghouse)

In Westinghouse's press materials it states that either of the following monitors would be an ideal solution for a tailgating party. Finally, vendors are starting to give tailgaters the respect they deserve. No word yet if these TVs/monitors include beer holders.

During CES Westinghouse announced three new LCD HDTVs. The 19-inch PT-19H340S, the 22-inch PT-22H340S, and the 22-inch 1080p PT-22F380S. Each display includes support for 720p (1,366x768) resolution, a 16:9 aspect ratio and a purported 5ms pixel response time.

In addition, each display includes connections and support for ATSC/NTSC/CATV/ClearQAM tuner, which allow for over the air and direct cable transmissions. The displays also have support for 1080i, 480p and 480i formats. Connections options include HDMI, VGA, component, and composite.

All three feature Westinghouse's Daybright technology, which automatically adjusts the brightness based on ambient light in the room.

Some other specs include 800:1 contrast ratio and 300 candelas per square meters (cd/m2) brightness for the PT-19H340S and 800:1 contrast ratio and 400 cd/m2 brightness for the PT-22H340S. The PT-22F380S features a 1,920 X 1,080 (1080p) resolution with a 1000:1 contrast ratio, 300 cd/m2 brightness and 5 ms response time.

All three HDTVs will be available in March. Prices are TBD.

(Credit: Viewsonic)

I guess I can thank Viewsonic for ensuring that I'm not writing about monitors and monitors only for CES 2009. The company has made a few attempts to diversify its product line, and I for one appreciate it, if for no other reason than you can say only so much about HDMI connections and screen sizes before you're driven batty. Take it from one whose been there (and maybe is still there).

The LinkPC or ViePC (Viewsonic's press material claims two different names) is Viewsonic's most unique offering at CES. The LinkPC is a small, square-shaped PC that attaches to the back of any VESA-compatible monitor. The device is powered by an Intel Atom 1.6GHz CPU and 1GB RAM. It also features a 160GB hard drive, gigabit Ethernet LAN, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, VGA output, sa erial port, and four USB 2.0 ports.

Like the VPC100, don't expect anything near a performance powerhouse here. The LinkPC is tailored to tasks like e-mail, Web surfing, and basically anything you'd expect to do on a Netbook.

The LinkPC has an MSRP of $399 and will be available in March 2009.

You know there's trouble when you combine birds, spheres, and targeting computers.

(Credit: Viewsonic)

I'm starting to notice a trend among monitor vendors. Simply selling monitors just isn't enough anymore. We already covered BenQ's foray into the all-in-one PC market and now Viewsonic is following suit.

During CES, Viewsonic announced the VPC100 all-in-one PC. The VPC100 is 35mm thin, and following the monitor trend of CES 2009, has a 18.5-inch 16:9 LCD screen.

Powered by an Intel Atom 1.6GHz CPU and 1GB RAM, the system also has a 160GB hard drive, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, a 1.3-megapixel Webcam, DVD +/- RW drive, integrated stereo speakers, 3-in-1 card reader, and comes with Windows XP Home installed.

Viewsonic says that thanks to its slim size, the VPC100 is ideal for office workers, call centers, libraries, emergency operations centers, interactive kiosks, and information terminals. Not that you can't buy it for your home, but don't expect to be doing much gaming on this thing. Unless you like watching low-res slide shows of your favorite games.

The VPC100 will debut next month for $549.