CES 2009

(Credit: Hoover's)

If knowledge is power, then salespeople in the field and roving business execs can now wield their share of it thanks to two new mobile apps. Hoover's Mobile and Hoover's MobileSP tap into the Hoover's business directory to bring instant company and employee information to sales, financial, media professionals, and just about anyone else drenched in B2B.

The free Hoover's Mobile for iPhone, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile phones looks up company information, phone numbers, the building address, executive organization, competitors, and financial overview for any company you enter--like the one whose doors you're about to waltz through.

Pony up $20 per month for Hoover's MobileSP--BlackBerry or Windows Mobile only--and get an interactive GPS reading that can build you lists of prospects near you based on any number of filters, including business size, earnings, and the mile radius of your choice.

Hoover's MobileSP can also fetch in-depth financials, and industry and company details that you can then save on your phone, down to a roster of the company's employees. Extremely useful, and creepy.

The Palm Pre. Still no word on pricing.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

LAS VEGAS--As the device with the most mystery attached to it, there were plenty of questions left after Palm introduced its Pre on Thursday. I had a chance to sit down with Palm vice president Stephane Maes to get some (but not all) of the answers to my burning questions.

Palm isn't answering the big question--how much will it cost--but Maes did say "we obviously know what all the prices are of the products that are out there and it will be competitive."

Although Sprint is the exclusive partner for launch, Palm is working on devices for other networks that will launch later, including a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) version, though Maes would not say more about that device.

The Web browser is Palm-developed, but based on the WebKit engine. No word on Flash support, he said. Palm didn't give a lot of details on the media player, but Maes said Pre owners will be able to buy music from the device via the Amazon music store.

Maes said there will be some sort of app store for downloading add-on software. In general the company won't be trying to play gatekeeper.

"Certainly, we want to let a thousand flowers bloom," he said. "Every now and then there are a few dandelions we'll want to winnow out."

What else? Let's see. It's not a world phone. It does have the technical capability to be used as a tethered modem for a laptop. (The original story suggested it couldn't based on comments from Sprint that the feature wouldn't be made available).

It is Linux-based, though that is invisible for most developers as the tools to write applications are JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It won't natively run applications written for the original Palm OS, but Maes said "we anticipate there will be solutions to do so." And no word yet on battery life.

Got other questions? Send them my way and I will see what I can do to get them answered.

Photos: Palm previews the Pre at CES

The iHome's iP71 iPod- and iPhone-friendly computer speakers will arrive this spring.

(Credit: iHome)

A few months ago, we reviewed a couple of sets of iHome computer speakers that featured a built-in iPod dock. Well, the company's showing off a follow-up to the iH70s we reviewed. This model is called the iP71 and comes in black instead of silver, which is a good thing in our book.

There doesn't appear to be any significant difference between the iH70 and iP71 except for the fact that the newer model will offer GSM-shielding for iPhones. The iP71, likes its sibling, plays and charges iPhones and all docking iPod models and has a USB port for computer connections, so you can sync your iPhone and iPod to your Windows or Mac PC with a touch of a button.

The iP71 computer speakers will be released in the spring. No price has been set, but the iH70s retail for around $130, so we imagine they will be in that ballpark.

Griffin Navigate is a remote with an FM radio for iPod and iPhone

(Credit: Griffin)

Griffin Technology showed off the Navigate at a CES press event yesterday, though it was announced officially at Macworld several hours before. The Navigate may seem like just an ordinary iPod remote, and indeed it can be used that way. A nice bonus is that you can also use it with the iPhone, which could be a good thing if you're not crazy about the iPhone's touch-screen controls (also pretty useful when you're driving and need to not look at the screen). But the Navigate also has a built-in FM radio as well as four station presets and RDS track info display. The device itself is decent, with an OLED screen, a power switch, the typical play, stop, pause, forward, backward, and scan controls, and an EQ mode as well.

Griffin is also planning on an iPhone application called iFM that will work together with the Navigate remote. iFM will identify your geographic location and automatically lists local radio stations so you can just tap your desired radio station from the list instead of having to scan for it. iFM will also display broadcast information like title, album, and artist info. Griffin plans to release iFM sometime in March 2009.

(Credit: Sony Electronics)

Sony is expanding its mobile-audio lineup with eight new Xplod in-dash CD receivers. Of these new models, three offer built-in Bluetooth connectivity and seven feature USB ports--five of which are iPod compatible. Also among these new models is Sony Xplod's first double DIN receiver in years.

Starting with top-tier model being added to Sony's GT line of car stereos, with the high-end CDX-GT930UI features a rear USB connection for iPod, iPhone, Walkman, and other USB devices, as well as a rear aux-in. Out back, you'll also find four-volt front, rear and sub preamp outputs. On the business end, the unit features a motorized, detachable faceplate that is home to a wide area "Extended FL" four-line display with switchable blue, green, and red key illumination.

Next in line, the CDX-GT730UI model features a four-line, full-motion display similar to that of the high-end model. This CD/MP3/WMA/AAC receiver moves the USB connection and aux-inputs to the front panel. The new CDX-GT530UI model steps down to a simpler display and drops a preamp output, making it the most affordable head unit in the lineup with connectivity for iPod, while the CDX-GT430U unit's USB port loses the ability to control the iPod.

Photos: Sony expands Xplod lineup at CES 2009

Three of Sony's new head units feature Bluetooth technology for simple hands-free phone calls and audio streaming (with a Bluetooth compatible phone).

The top-of-the-line MEX-BT5700U model features a front USB port for easy connection to all digital music players, including iPod and iPhone devices. New for 2009, this unit can automatically transfer all phone book contact information from a Bluetooth connected phone to the display. The unit also features A2DP Bluetooth audio streaming with metadata of a song, which means all album, artist, and track information appear on its large four-line display.

Stepping down to the MEX-BT3700U sacrifices the external microphone and "Extended FL" screen for a simpler display. The MEX-BT2700 drops the USB and iPod control altogether, as well as one of the three preamp outputs, in favor of a low price.

The CDX-GT77UI has an odd interface with a circular theme.

Finally, for the first time in years, Sony is adding a double DIN head unit to its lineup. Designed to be compatible with most new model cars, the larger sized CDX-GT77UI unit features a rear USB connection for iPod, iPhone, and other digital music players.

All models in the Xplod series feature 52 watts x 4 channels of max-power output and, where appropriate, each car stereo features ZAPPIN and Quick-BrowZer for quick navigation through music libraries, regardless of size. They are all HD Radio ready, and come with wireless card remotes.

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]

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(Credit: Engadget Mobile)

It's been a while since Palm has caused a stir, but the company certainly has people talking with its planned January 8 CES event. As CNET News reporter Tom Krazit reported last week, it's expected that Palm will preview its new operating system, codenamed Nova, at CES 2009, and the rumors look to be true based on new information from a Business Week article.

According to Peter Burrows at Business Week, Palm will unveil Nova and the first of a family of products in Vegas, but it's not looking to go after the iPhone or BlackBerry. Instead, Palm Executive Chairman Jon Rubenstein said the goal behind Nova is to create a flexible platform that supports a number of customer needs and to create products that bridge the gap between work-oriented BlackBerrys and the fun-oriented iPhone. Before joining Palm, Rubenstein was the senior vice president for hardware engineering at Apple.

Rubenstein and Palm executives wouldn't get much more specific about product details, other than that the team hopes to create phones that "make smarter use of data about you." The company also hopes to release products by mid-2009. I'll be at the January 8 event, so check back then for the full report and my first impressions.