CES 2009

The HF S200, one of Canon's new camcorders for the Spring of 2009

(Credit: Canon USA)

Canon may have announced 11 new camcorders for Spring, but with the exception of the HF series there's not a lot to look forward to. MiniDV is clearly on its way out--only one new model this year from Canon. Though it's shipping 2 new models, Mini DVD isn't dying fast enough for my taste; the few situations in which it's convenient is overshadowed by its unreliability as a live recording medium and the inability to use the discs in the increasing number of slot-loading players. And while the FS series remains a standard-def standby, I think Canon's models tend to be a bit pricey in the face of increased competition by mini camcorders.

Photos: Canon camcorders, Spring 2009

On one level, I suppose it's not terribly surprising that Canon hasn't yet jumped in with a direct-to-Web camcorder like the Flip MinoHD--Canon has a history of deliberate nonparticipation in the truly low end of its markets--but it would have been interesting to see what the company did with the concept. Given that it would have probably involved Pixela ImageMixer, which Canon continues to ship with all its products, we're probably better off not knowing.

On the HD front, I was a bit taken aback by the relatively unchanged Vixia HV40. Although Canon frequently skips a generation in innovation, it rarely skips two. Maybe the company has put all its eggs into the AVCHD basket: it's split its SD-based models into two product lines, the compact Vixia HF series, continued from last year, and the new, higher-end Vixia HF S series with a bigger body but also a bigger lens and larger, higher-resolution sensor. The Vixia HG20 and HG21 remain in the lineup, since they're on the fall replacement cycle.

It's not always about brand-new hardware, though. Canon's rolling out Digic DV III in most of the HD models, which the company says has better face detection--up to 35 faces and the ability to recognize faces at angles--improved automatic lighting correction and enhanced noise reduction. All the flash-based models will also get a new Video Snapshot feature, which takes 4 second clips. I was initially skeptical, but this sounds like one of the few true useful differentiating features that come along so rarely. At least until everyone copies it.

Update (4/19/2009): CNET now has a full review of the Zoom H4n.

I know it's a little out of my realm of expertise, but I have a bit of a fixation with high-end portable audio recorders. Maybe it's a leftover from my glory days playing in garage bands, but the elusive dream of having one pocket-size gadget for making awesome live recordings still gets my blood racing.

The Zoom H4n might bring high-end audio recording to the masses.

(Credit: Zoom/Samson )

My current mobile recording faves, the Edirol R-09HR and Sony PCM-D50, do an outstanding job capturing pristine, high-resolution audio--but they're not cheap, and there are some things they just can't do. If you're on a budget, Zoom's tried and true H2 and H4 mobile recorders have been a staple for many cash-strapped musicians, podcasters, and journalists. Unfortunately, despite Zoom's low price and extensive features, its H2 and H4 recorders haven't been given much of an update since they appeared on the scene in 2006.

Well, it looks like 2009 may be Zoom's comeback year, as it has announced plans to reveal its new H4n recorder at CES 2009. The Zoom H4n takes many of the features included on the original Zoom H4 (stereo mics, XLR/TRS mic inputs, variable-recording patterns, and a slew of recording formats and resolutions), but the design has been overhauled with a larger screen, improved button arrangement, a shock-absorbing rubberized body, and an all-metal microphone design.

The Zoom H4n records to SD and SDHC Flash media (up to 32GB) and captures audio resolutions up to 24 bit at 96KHz. Unlike the competition, the Zoom H4n includes many musician-friendly features, such as 50 virtual guitar-amp model effects, track markers, playback speed control, and studio effects.

The single coolest feature on the H4n (in my skewed opinion) is the ability to simultaneously record up to four channels by combining the internal microphones and external inputs. This is a feature I wanted dearly on the original Zoom H2, allowing you to capture the live sound of a performance and the clean sound from a mixing board as four independent tracks all in one shot. Brilliant!

No word on pricing or availability, but Zoom has historically kept its portable recorders in the $200 to $300 range. (Update: Pricing on the Zoom H4n is expected to be $500 MSRP, with an expected street price around $349.)

Zoom H4n pocket handheld recorder

The HF20, Canon's 2009 successor to the HF10.

(Credit: Canon USA)

We really liked Canon's first foray into flash-based AVCHD camcorders, the HF10/HF11, and it looks like follow-up models HF20 and HF200 should live up to their legacy. They're smaller--though it's tricky to not jeopardize usability in the shrinkage--and use a new 15X zoom HD lens and a smaller-but-higher-resolution .25-inch 3.89-megapixel CMOS sensor. Each hour of video at the 17Mbps bit rate takes about 7GB of storage or just over 10GB for each hour of 24Mbps video.

Like the higher-end HF S10 and HF S100 , these models integrate the new Digic DV III processor, which the company says offers improved face detection--Canon claims it can identify faces at oblique angles as well as preselect faces--enhanced autoexposure with the company's Auto Lighting Optimizer, and better noise reduction.

They also incorporate the features added into the FS series: Video Snapshots, which are 4-second clips used to create a "highlights reel" effect (the camcorders ship with a music CD); quick charges in 10 minutes per half hour of battery life; an electronic lens cover and video light; 3-second prerecord; and Dual Shot for capturing photos while shooting video.

The only difference between the two models is memory configuration; the HF20 has 32GB built in, while the HF200 has none. Though pricing isn't yet available for either model, Canon's Web site indicates a February ship for the HF200 and March for the HF20.

(Credit: The six-socket ezSpace UFO power expander.)

Trying to put more electronics in a tight corner and running out of power outlets? ezGear has a solution, and it comes in a compact package.

The company announced Monday at CES its newest wall mount power expander, called the ezSpace UFO.

Taking the shape of a flying object, the ezSpace UFO is a six-outlet plug expander with built-in 1050 Joule surge protection that provides space for a large plug or transformer on each outlet.

The ezSpace Wall Mount UFO plugs directly into the power outlet on your wall and provides the same six outlets standard on other models. The device features an LED indicator and a reset button on the front (to be used in case of a surge when the device shuts down).

In the middle, the ezSpace UFO also houses a screw for you to secure it to the wall. This way, it will stay in place even with multiple large transformers plugged in.

Personally, I'd like one of these for my home office so I can decommission the existing power extender that has a humongous cable. Unfortunately, the device is not available until the second quarter of 2009.

Canon updates its MiniDVD models.

(Credit: Canon USA)

The higher-end model in Canon's duo of standard-definition MiniDVD camcorders for 2009, the DC420, boasts slightly better specs than the DC410: in addition to the features of that model, it integrates a 1.07-megapixel CCD and 48x Advanced Zoom lens. Oh wait, that's what its predecessor, the DC320, had. As far as I can tell, there's no real difference between the two models except some minor cosmetics. Hmmm. Maybe it's just me.

No pricing yet for the DC420, which is slated to ship this month.

Canon's cheapest DVD camcorder: the DC410.

(Credit: Canon USA)

If you're wedded to the idea of a miniDVD-based standard-definition camcorder, Canon still plans to offer a couple of options in 2009, the budget DC420 and ultra-cheap DC410. The DC410 is essentially the DVD equivalent of the ZR960, with the same 680,000-pixel CCD, 41x Advanced Zoom, and mic and headphone jacks, plus the DC410 includes a card slot for shooting and saving photos. Given the low resolution you could probably get better pictures from your camera phone, though.

Slated to ship this month; no price as yet.

Canon HV40: same as it ever was.

(Credit: Canon USA)

I'm not sure if it's a commentary on Canon, prosumer HDV, or the quality of the original HV20, but with 2009's Vixia HV40 it's going to be three generations of essentially the same product. There wasn't much difference between the HV20 and its successor, the HV30, and this year's HV40 has basically the same design, same 1/2.7-inch 3-megapixel CMOS sensor, and the same 10X zoom lens. All that's new is support for a native 24p mode plus a user-definable custom key.

Though Canon hasn't yet determined pricing, it's slated to ship in March 2009. I don't expect the price to be as low as the HV30, however, and given the minor changes in the new model, I'd snap up one of the older versions, which can be found for less than $600, before they disappear from the market.

The iLuv iMM183 will not protect your iPhones from tornado damage, but it will greet you in the morning with a gentle rising volume feature.

(Credit: iLuv)

Taking a page from the boombox trend of the 1980s, iPod-docking alarm clocks are taking on an absurd amount of features in an effort to stand out from the herd. Case in point: the iLuv iMM183, a dual-dock alarm clock capable of charging two iPhones or iPods. This little bedside beauty comes with a remote control, FM radio, EQ control, aux input, and last but not least--an NOAA emergency alert system with localized weather warnings.

Aside from the emergency/weather alert display, you're basically looking at the same iLuv iMM173 we saw last year. Still, the list of iPhone-supported alarm clocks is pitifully short and if you're a two iPhone family living in a hurricane zone, the iLuv has you covered.

No word on price or release date, but the previous model retails for around $130.

(Credit: CrunchGear)

We're just a couple of days away from CES 2009, but rumors are already starting to fly about the new Palm Nova smartphone that is set to debut on January 8. Citing a "trusted source," CrunchGear reports that the first Nova device will have a slider design with a full QWERTY keyboard and portrait-oriented touch screen. Not surprisingly, it's been compared to the iPhone and will supposedly be outsourced to HTC like the Palm Treo Pro.

In addition, the new operating system has been described as "amazing," with full personal information management (PIM) and e-mail support. The smartphone will also come with a ton of software and media playback functions.

Again, these are all rumors at this point. The official unveiling is set for Thursday at CES, and I will be at the event to get all the details, photos, and more, so stay tuned.

[More resources: Boy Genius Report, Engadget Mobile]

I ended 2008 talking about all-in-ones, so might as well begin 2009 on the same topic. Lenovo hasn't been much of a player in U.S. consumer desktop market lately, but the IdeaCentre A600 all-in-one, announced this morning, very plainly has the home user in mind.

According to the specs in the press release, Lenovo has followed the large LCD trend common to other all-in-one vendors. The IdeaCentre has a 21.5-inch display, along with a built-in subwoofer, and an optional Blu-ray drive and digital cable tuner, features that position the IdeaCentre A600 alongside other large screen all-in-ones as a secondary home entertainment device. If its core hardware is common, the optional multipurpose motion-sensing remote control helps Lenovo's new desktop stand out.

Lenovo's new IdeaCenter A600 with motion sensing remote control.

(Credit: Lenovo)

Lenovo says the new remote works as a Media Center control, a VoIP phone, an "air mouse," (Lenovo's quotes), and a game controller. From the press release: "It is the first to bring PC users the ability to play games using the remote control's 'motion drive' feature, which controls onscreen objects according to the movement of the remote." The press release mentions no PC game titles currently available or in development that support such a control scheme, however.

Regardless of its potential gaming utility, pairing a motion sensitive remote with a large screen all-in-one makes sense. If all-in-ones are supposed to serve as PCs as well as a home entertainment centers, the latter usage model is much more seamless with the mouse and keyboard removed from the equation. HP's TouchSmart touchscreen all-in-ones have been the only product line so far to really attempt a solution for this problem, but right now TouchSmarts include only a handful of supported programs. Even if touch computing becomes ubiquitous, an interface that requires you to walk up and physically touch the display still has potential logistic issues. A device that can control the Windows environment as an air mouse, and also drive digital media like a traditional living room remote sounds like a feasible compromise.

Like other, but not all, all-in-ones, the IdeaCentre A600 is built with laptop PC components, including an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of RAM and up to 1TB of hard drive space. Lenovo says it will start at $999 in its most basic configuration when it goes on sale in April, a remarkable price for an all-in-one with such a large LCD, regardless of its input technology.