CES 2009

Home theater is Samsung's game at this year's CES. Though the company did announce the new P3 touch-screen MP3 player, an inch-thick plasma TV, feature-packed Blu-ray home theater systems, and backlit LCD TVs dominated the show.

Samsung unveils P3 touch-screen MP3 player
Photos: Hands-on with the Samsung P3 player
Samsung's slick HT-BD7200 Blu-ray home theater system
Samsung's funky Blu-ray and DVD players
Samsung's PN-B850 series of plasmas get down to an inch thick
Samsung HT-BD1250: 5.1-channel home theater offers Blu-ray, Netflix, Pandora
Samsung HT-BD8200 home theater sound bar includes Blu-ray, Netflix, Pandora
Samsung DVD-H1080: Portable-sized DVD player for the home
HT-BD7200: 2.1 Blu-ray home theater from Samsung
Samsung goes green with the LN-B6000 series of LED-backlight LCDs
Samsung BD-P4600: Wall-mountable Blu-ray player with Wi-Fi add-on
Samsung LN-B8000 LCDs put LED-backlighting and 240Hz in a 1-inch frame
Samsung's step-down LED-backlit LCDs feature Yahoo widgets, 120Hz
Samsung unveils the MBP200 Pico Projector

(Credit: Gizmodo)

The immortal PlayStation 2 undergoes yet another transformation, this time courtesy of Audiovox. This almost 9-year-old system is now officially going on the road. You may have seen a PlayStation 2 in a car before, but not like this.

The premier model is an all-in-one overhead unit that appears to look like an in-car DVD system but with the inner working of a PS2. Additional features include accessories such as a 16-channel wireless FM modulator, full color 16:9 wide screen, 10.2-inch display, two wireless game controllers, two fold-flat wireless IR headphones, and a wireless DVD remote control.

Audiovox is releasing two other in-car PlayStation 2 systems: one clamps on to the back of a headrest and a screen-less overhead pop down system with dome lights that links up with your existing in-car DVD player.

You can expect to see these products mid 2009. The exact prices for each model haven't been specified, but the base system starts about $200.

(Credit: Samsung)

Samsung has a nice little iPod Shuffle clone called the S2 Pebble. Well, the company must've liked that river-smoothed-stone look, because it's adapted it to the DVD-H1080 DVD player. Rather than a standard black box, the tapered wedge is little bigger than a portable CD player. Aside from the addition of a slot-loading disc drive and the red-accented Touch of Color design, the H1080 is otherwise just an update of 2008's DVD-F1080: an upscaling DVD player that also plays JPEG photos, MP3 music, and DivX video files from attached USB drives. Those who don't need Blu-ray compatibility can look for it in the first half of 2009 (price TBD).

(Credit: Toshiba)

Toshiba just announced two new portable DVD players hitting this March. While we weren't thrilled with the SD-P71S, it seems the high-end SD-P93S has gotten quite a makeover.

The P93S will feature a 9-inch 180-degree swivel screen along with a pearl-white finish. In addition to MP3, JPEG, and DivX playback, the unit boasts a five hour battery life. We're also glad to see that Toshiba has added an SD card slot for even more playback options.

The P93S will retail for $180, while the smaller, step-down, seven-inch-screen model will go for $130. Both portables will be available in March.

The iLuv i1166 is due to arrive in March, though no price has been set.

(Credit: iLuv)

iLuv has a new 9-inch wide-screen portable DVD player, the i1166, that integrates a dock for iPods with video capabilities. The device also has an SD-card slot and USB port (for connecting storage devices) and it supports playback of DivX video files and JPEG images.

iLuv says the i1166 Portable Multimedia Player for iPod and DVDs will arrive in March, but its price hasn't been determined yet. By comparison, the company's 8.4-inch i1155 carries a list price price of $269.99 but sells online for just over $200.

Here's a rundown of the i1166's specs:

• Compatible with all iPods with video capability
• DivX certified to play DivX videos
• Video output for TV connectivity
• Built-in USB/SD/MMC slot; supports the new slotMusic
• Three-way power source: AC, DC car adapter, or built-in li-polymer rechargeable battery
• Charges your iPod when docked and features iPod full remote control
• Digital Photo Frame to view photos from built-in memory, memory card, USB, DVD±R/RW, or CD-R/RW
• Remote control included
• Playable Media: DVD, DVD±R/RW, VCD, CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, MP3 CD JPEG, Kodak, DivX, MPEG4

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.