CES 2010 latest mp3 and portable video players news

(Credit: Etymotic)

Walking into the North Hall at CES this year might make you wonder if someone had picked up MacWorld and deposited it into the Las Vegas desert. The space was packed end to end with various iPod accessories, complete with iLounge Pavilion. As you might imagine, headphones made up no small part of the audio offerings on display. Among the many companies on display was Etymotic, which was demonstrating its new mc-series headphones.

Etymotic intros hf3 and new mc series earphones (photos)

The sleek new earphones come in a variety of shimmery colors, including a forest green version not shown here. They also include Etymotic's excellent noise-isolating capabilities with a variety of eartips to help with fit. Of course the big news here is the price: the mc5 will sell for just $79, and preliminary listening tests have them comparing favorable to the Editors' Choice-winning

The iType keyboard for iPhone and iPod Touch is just one of several anachronistic innovations unveiled in the company's 2010 product lineup.

(Credit: Ion)

You've gotta love Ion. Year after year, no company better embodies the CES spirit of throwing offbeat products at the wall and seeing what sticks. Some of the products catch on and some don't, but it's always fun to flip through its new releases and see what might be the Skymall superstar of the new year.

For 2010, Ion is continuing its tradition of USB turntables, iPod speakers, and analog media converters (including a USB Walkman-style cassette deck), but also breaking ground on several new product categories.

The most notable new addition is the iType, a full-size keyboard that docks with an iPhone or iPod Touch (shown above).

They're also rolling out a Flip alternative called the Twin Video, that includes both front and rear cameras that capture picture-in-picture video. Baby delivery videos will never be the same.

To see more of the Ion 2010 ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog

There were a number of hot trends at this years CES, such as 3D televisions, Internet-connected cars, tablets, e-book readers, and Netbooks. Unfortunately, I don't cover any of that technology.

I cover portable media players, and for the most part, CES offered slim pickings. Last year, we had Sony's X-Series Walkman unveiling, a hands-on with the long-awaited Samsung P3, and a grab bag of PMP announcements from Iriver. This year, Sony was mum on the Walkman, Samsung's MP3 players seemed desperately gimmicky, and Iriver's lone PMP announcement came with scant details.

CES: The show's hottest music tech

Truth be told, I was hardly surprised by what I saw. It was what I didn't see that made me feel uneasy. Going into CES, my preshow predictions promised Android-powered PMPs and all kinds of interesting fusions between iPod accessories and custom-built apps. Well, I was wrong.

Sure, there were dozens of Android-powered touch-screen devices out there, but in the looming shadow of Apple's ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog

Sennheiser/Adidas 'phones

(Credit: Sennheiser)

Sennheiser and Adidas worked together to create sports headphones. Sennheiser product manager Eric Palonen showed off some earbuds that include an "ear fin," saying that "we took a lot of the weaknesses of a typical headphone and made them a strength for the sports community." The ear fin, a small rubber extension near the ear pieces, keeps the phone from falling out of your ear. They also have water resistant cables that you can wash when dirty.

They range in price from $80 to $120. While these weren't 't the most exciting technology at the show, they are definitely handy, especially for runners. Adidas has created a device called "MiCoach pacer" that plugs into your MP3 player and headphones to track your heart rate and provide real-time audio feedback.

Jasmine and Donald report live from the show floor on the Best of CES finalists and all of Monster's shenanigans.

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... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog

(Credit: Kent German/CNET)

LAS VEGAS--I've not been shy about admitting that I'm a big fan of Callpod's Chargepod. I've taken it on many trips and I love that I can charge my camera, cell phone, and MP3 player simultaneously. But not only that: leaving all those individual chargers at home saves room in my suitcase.

At CES the company raised the bar a bit higher, with the debut of the Chargepod V2. Like the first Chargepod, the V2 can power multiple gadgets at once, but it also includes adapters for powering your laptop (both Macs and PCs) and it has a three-port USB hub for transferring data between devices or for connecting peripherals.

At 5.2 inches wide by 4.88 inches long by 1.34 inches deep, the V2 is designed to be portable. It's covered in a black plastic skin and weighs 11.4 ounces. Small LED lights let you know a device is connected.

The V2 isn't cheap ($199), but it offers a lot of ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog

We talk with Professor Karlheinz Brandenburg, co-inventor of the MP3, about how the popular audio format came about, how best to use it, and what's next in digital audio technology.

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While the majority of Monster's announcements this year focused on portable headphones, the company didn't want aspiring and professional DJs to be left out in the cold. Enter the Beats by Dr. Dre Spin headphones, a cushy full-size set with all the style we've come to expect from the product line and a few unique twists.

(Credit: Monster)

For those who aren't familiar with DJing (or spinning, in case you're wondering where the naming came from), one important detail to know is that a DJ needs to hear both what is coming through the headphones and what is coming through the speakers. Due to this, most vinyl junkies continually push back one earcup to rest behind the ear. It is with this consideration that the Spin is designed with earcups that flip up and back toward the band, a useful solution that should make for a much more comfortable spinning experience.

The Spin headphones also have one more unique feature: there are headphone jacks in both earcups. This means that ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog

(Credit: Monster)

Sean "Diddy" Combs may be a bit over-the-top, but I have to give credit where credit is due: the cat's got style. And that's definitely part of the draw with the new earbuds he's putting out with Monster and Dr. Dre, the Diddy Beats.

These in-ear 'phones are clearly designed by a fashionable eye, from the tapered, conical earpieces to the chrome accents and lowercase "db" initials stamped on the outer edge. Add to that Monster's signature flat ribbon cable, and you have a head-turning style that's sure to attract listeners who consider headphones not just an audio accessory, but something meant to complement an outfit.

The Diddy Beats come in a choice of three colors--black, white, and powder pink--and will be available with Monster's ControlTalk module, which offers playback controls for the iPhone, the iPod, and limited Blackberry devices. (It also includes a mic and call-answer button for phone