CES 2009

Either that is a huge hand or, (more likely) the projector is tiny.

(Credit: BenQ)

I'm not certain if this has truly never been accomplished before, but BenQ is claiming that its new GP1 is the world's first LED pocket projector with an integrated USB reader. According to BenQ, users will be able to run movies, slides, or whatever they want, simply by plugging a USB thumb drive in, with no need for a separate PC.

In addition, GP1 users will be able to connect digital cameras, PDAs, iPods, iPhones, smartphones, gaming consoles, and laptops for viewing projected from 10 inches up to an 80-inch diagonal size, and it will project sound through its integrated speaker.

If you're concerned about color accuracy (and really, who isn't?), BenQ seems to think it has you taken care of with a 120 percent NTSC color gamut. According to BenQ, this is 40 percent higher than non-LED projectors.

Connection options include D-Sub (VGA), Composite, and USB inputs, and PC audio output as well as a detachable iPod docking station.

The GP1 will be available in March 2009 with an MSRP of $599. Check out a couple more closeup shots.

LAS VEGAS--At the Consumer Electronics Show, Jeff Ravencraft of Intel talked about the status of SuperSpeed USB 3.0 and how fast it really is.

The most salient benefit of SuperSpeed USB is the 10X improvement in data transfer speed over current USB, version 2.0. So, for example, transferring a 25GB HD movie will take 70 seconds instead of almost 14 minutes.

Transfer of a 25GB HD movie:

• USB 1.0: 9.3 hours
  
• USB 2.0: 13.9 minutes
  
• USB 3.0: 70 seconds
  

In the video below, Ravencraft, who is president of the USB Implementers Forum, discusses the merits of SuperSpeed USB and the schedule for commercial rollout.

Laptop mice are supposed to be smaller than average ones to save space in your bag, but do they have to be so small that only Stuart Little can use one? I'd rather sacrifice a little extra room in my bag for a comfortable mouse, but Jasco offers a peaceful compromise.

The Jasco Convertible Mouse looks similar to other laptop mice; it has a retractable USB cord, contoured buttons, and a small scroll dial, but the real difference is in the top slider that extends out the back to provide extra space for your hand. I tested both sizes and found that the fully extended position feels the most natural and allows for painless movement across the standard laptop screen size. The mouse quickly retracts back into its closed position to fit neatly into your laptop case or carry-on.

Check out the Jasco Convertible Mouse in big box stores now for $19.99.

LAS VEGAS--At the Consumer Electronics Show, Wireless USB devices made an appearance en masse.

What does that mean exactly? Wireless USB notebooks, docking stations, hard drives. And more consumer-centric devices like Wireless USB speakers, displays, and USB phones. In fact, Samsung was showing a prototype mobile phone. (See photo below.)

"It looks and feels like wired USB, only it's wireless," according to Jeff Ravencraft of Intel, who is president of the USB Implementers Forum, speaking in an interview at CES.

Over 130 products have been certified, according to Ravencraft. "The next thing in Wireless USB is Wireless USB 1.1 where we're adding upper band support for a worldwide footprint for ultra-wide-band frequency, easier association of the device to the host, and more power efficiency," Ravencraft said.

At close range, up to 3 meters, Wireless USB delivers up to 480 megabits per second, he said. At this range, throughput is essentially the same as wired USB, Ravencraft said. Up to 10 meters, this drops to a maximum throughput of 110 megabits per second.

Ravencraft said there are wireless hard disk drives in the market now.

ThinkPad notebook with Wireless USB Intel silicon

(Credit: Brooke Crothers)

Samsung DUOS mobile phone with Wireless USB

(Credit: Brooke Crothers)

IOGEAR was showing commercial devices with Wireless USB, including a Wireless USB audio adapter and a Wireless USB to VGA kit that makes monitors wireless.

(Credit: Brooke Crothers)

Sony stopped by the Car Tech booth at CES 2009 to install its MEX-BT3700U Bluetooth-enabled CD receiver, which features hands-free calling and A2DP stereo audio streaming.

However, this isn't a one trick pony, with neat features such as a front panel USB port that offers full iPod control, Quick BrowZer searching that helps to quickly locate the desired song, and Zappin technology, which lets you choose songs by simply listening to snippets.

At this year's CES, Victorinox announced the newest member of its team, the Presentation Pro. This convenient business tool is small enough to slip into your pocket or onto your keychain, but don't be fooled by its mini size--this thing has every gadget you'll need to give a business slide show presentation.

Along with the typical array of scissors and knives that have made Victorinox a household name, the Presentation Pro also builds in a USB thumbdrive with up to 32GB capacity, a precision laser pointer, and even a biometric fingerprint scanner with compartmentalized data storage for multiple user access. Best of all, the USB key implements a small Bluetooth remote control that connects to your laptop and lets you easily change slides and deliver an all-around effective presentation.

Victorinox also offers the Presentation Pro Flight, which includes all of the tech features as the original, but forgoes the blades to permit the user to carry the tool on an airplane with no security hazards. Both versions will arrive in stores in this spring, although there's no word yet on the price.

The SideStage add-in extension monitor from D-Link.

(Credit: D-Link)

It's been just two days at CES, and I am already very tired of Alt-Tabbing and looking at my Dell XPS 1330's little screen. I sorely miss my Dell 30-inch UltraSharp LCD at home. Bragging aside, it's really hard to work with multiple little windows on a little screen, especially when I need to look at more than one of them at a time.

For this reason, I was psyched to run into D-Link's newest invention: the SideStage.

Basically, it's a 7-inch LCD monitor that you can plug into your computer via a USB port. The port then both powers and feeds data for the screen to display. Once plugged in, it becomes an extension of the computer's main screen.

The SideStage features 800x480 resolution, with both landscape and portrait modes. Weighing only 1.34 pounds and housed in a sleek black frame, it is 7 inches wide, 4.6 inches tall and only 0.75 inch thick.

The SideStage makes a lot of sense for multitaskers like me. While it's small, it's great for organizing: I can designate certain Windows applications to open only on it, such as instant messengers, widgets, or even our beloved CNETTV.com home page, and leave the main screen of my computer for serious programs like Microsoft Word that I use often. It's really perfect for writers on the go and in this case, unlike with most displays, its small size is actually an advantage.

The SideStage in action at CES 2009.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CBS Interactive)

According to D-Link's representative Les Goldberg, the SideStage is compatible with virtually all CRT and flat-panel monitors, has standard and wide-screen aspect ratios, 32-bit True Color depth for high-quality images, and ultra-low power consumption, which is consistent with the D-Link Green initiative.

Unfortunately, the SideStage will not be available right away for me to use during the rest of CES 2009. I'll have to wait until the end of the year; at that time D-Link will also announce its price.

If it doesn't cost too much, I am pretty sure I'll be (even) more productive next CES.

The widespread proliferation of sensitive data via USB thumbdrives demands a need for data encryption, and SanDisk is stepping up to bat. Their newest Ultra Backup USB flash drive uses both password protection and 256-bit AES hardware encryption to reduce holes in vulnerability across the board.

Sandisk's entire line of USB flash drives, including their Cruzer series, is also getting a much-deserved makeover. The new designs use a capless design and have a convenient LED that glows amber while the drive is in use. In addition, all the drives will continue to use U3 Smart technology that lets users run software applications directly off the key without any extra fussy drivers.

The Ultra Backup USB drive is offered in a range of capacities from 8GB ($40) to 64GB ($200) and will be available in Spring 2009.