Archive for the ‘CES 2010’ Category
While I would classify my time in Vegas for the 2010 CES show as a resounding enjoyment, many smaller vendors whom were unable to display product on the show floor or took to a hotel suite for an additional (less expensive outlet) may see it a different way. Instead of the looking over your shoulder at competitors products, vendors now have another problem to look after — angry CEA employees enforcing bogus crackdowns. According to DailyTech, whom witnessed the scandalous events first hand as well as from a few other sources, tCEA and hotel employees at the Venetian and Palazzo confronted and threatened to kick out those using their *legally paid for* hotel suites for any type of product showcasing.
Seems a little shifty if you ask me. A classic case of greed and jealousy perhaps? The biggest question however is “Why?” I myself went to a few hotel suite events at those very same hotels. At any given point there were at most 50-60 people in one room. How is a 50-60 product shindig going to upset a 6 digit consumer electronics show? Simple answer: It won’t. It’s simple greed. Greed because those close to the matter claim they could either leave their suites sans refund or pay the CEA the entry $10,000 entry fee to display at CES.
Sure sounds like greed (with a healthy dose of blackmail) to me. Will I still attend future CES shows? Sure will. Will I support everything the CEA does? Nope. Like most organizing bodies and groups, the CEA is just like the rest apparently — greedy, juvenile, and insulting.
Anyone else (you will remain anonymousness) see or hear similar “behind-the-scenes” dirt going on?
DailyTech
Headphones may seem like a dime a dozen. In reality, the field is quite like that. Though a few rare gems do stand out here and there. Audio Technica has generally been known for their higher end headphones. This year however, AT was eager to show off their new QuietPoint ANT-ANC3 in-ear phones with noise reduction technology.
It just so happens that the first 100 members of press received a free pair of the ANT-ANC3′s. How do they stack up? After some initial testing, I’d say they’re better than my dual driver Apple In-ear earphones and pretty damn close to my $250 Ultimate Ears UE5 Pros. Exciting stuff. The sub $100 price tag is worth mentioning as well.
In ear phones weren’t the only talk of the town though. Audio Technica also took today to lift the covers on the ATH-ANC7B over ear headphones. These phones go over the wearer’s ears and block up to 90% of external noise. Even more important than fancy technology is the frequency response — 10Hz – 25,500Hz via 40mm drivers. Of course, the last 5k of the supported audio range can’t be registered by mere mortals. Still, they’re mighty sweet. Enticed yet?
Moving on to bigger and better things, the ATH-ANC25′s aim to retain the same sound quality of the ATH-ANC7B’s and reducing size with a smaller on-ear design. Throw in iPhone/iPod/mp3 player support and you’ve got yourself a winner. $99.99.
Finally, AT’s last announcement focuses on the ATH-ANC27′s. These feature the same basic features of the previous two ‘phones but add lockable, detachable cords, 1/4 – inch plug adapter, airline adapter and a AAA battery all for $119.99.
Do these new offerings and Audio Technica’s past offerings look any more appealing?
So here at CES you’ll see a ton of products and ways to market those products. Ed Hardy took a slightly different approach to the whole “look at us” thing. For a few seconds I wondered why a clothing designer was showing at CES — until you could actually push through the crowd and see..the cases.
They say sex sells and we are in Vegas/Sin City after all. Like Skullcandy, Ed Hardy found a simple way to gain attention for their product (in this case iPod cases). At the end of the day, those two booths had the best turn out in my opinion. Kind of reminds me of E3 of years past and the infamous booth babes.
Wrapping it up: Ed Hardy makes trendy clothing and iPod/iPhone cases that don’t work so well as clothing. Best leave them to covering up your gadgets instead.
Enjoy 
The concept is simple and easy to implement. Instead of plugging your electronics directly into the wall, plug your electronics into the Smart Socket and from there to the wall. Lastly plug in the Area Control to the wall then your router and your set.
Now you can monitor your energy usage and it even can calculate your electricity costs per appliance. Now the cool part is that via a laptop, smartphone or even SMS you can send a kill command to an appliance that is running or in standby mode. Remote control of your house electronics is a short set up and SMS away from being under your total control.
Nuu player is an IP Media player that helps streamline getting online content as well as digitally stored content onto your TV. It boasts content delivery of Youtube, Boxee, Hulu as well as social networking staples like Twitter, Facebook and Skype (with plug in for web cam). These are just a few examples of apps and services that Nuu will help move to the TV. For those of you looking to completely remove your laptop/desktop from being plugged into your TV, the Nuu player runs on Linux and has wifi to search for media on the network and 160 GB hard drive for storage of content. Nuu player is looking to run at about $299.99
*Mobile Post*
Think Star Wars-like holographic images are still years off from the hands of mere mortals? Well, to be fair, the examples at CES are more geared towards commercial uses. Even still, you can’t beat the coolness.
The 180 degree viewing angle and plug-n-play functionality mean you don’t have to be a rocket scientist or programmer to get unique and captivating holographic images. In case you were wondering, the seemingly futuristic HoloAD displays images in SXGA and above resolutions. Money. Expect more when I actually sit down.
**Posting via phone, sorry for bad formatting if visible…*
While I wouldn’t exactly consider myself a super high end audiophile, I admit that I certainly enjoy a superior sound. Before CES, I hadn’t heard of HiFiMan. And for good reason, at $800 and the size of an old Sony Walkman cassette player means this isn’t going to be mass market. However, for those with a choosy ear, the HiFiMan HM-801 is worth a solid look.
The main innards include Burr-Brown PCM1704 DAC’s, OP627 chips, direct connection to amps via line out.
The most interesting design feature however is the customizable GanQBay, removable and customizable headphone amp motherboard. Don’t like the low-end of a particular amp? Fine. Easily swap it out via the easy access panel on the back.
The final nugget for now is the price: $800. Expensive? Yes. But for those who crave the utmost in sound quality and like to be mobile, money means nothing. Stay tuned for more…
While I wouldn’t exactly consider myself a super high end audiophile, I admit that I certainly enjoy a superior sound. Before CES, I hadn’t heard of HiFiMan. And for good reason, at $800 and the size of an old Sony Walkman cassette player means this isn’t going to be mass market. However, for those with a choosy ear, the HiFiMan HM-801 is worth a solid look.
The main innards include Burr-Brown PCM1704 DAC’s, OP627 chips, direct connection to amps via line out.
The most interesting design feature however is the customizable GanQBay, removable and customizable headphone amp motherboard. Don’t like the low-end of a particular amp? Fine. Easily swap it out via the easy access panel on the back.
The final nugget for now is the price: $800. Expensive? Yes. But for those who crave the utmost in sound quality and like to be mobile, money means nothing. Stay tuned for more…
A common theme in the TV arena here at CES has been 3D. Panasonic is in agreement with this sentiment as they consider this the era of 3D. A goal from Panasonic is an end to end solution for HD 3D content and equipment. From production of content to the consumer viewing the HD 3D content on their HD 3D TV. To accomplish the production end of 3D, Panasonic has an HD 3D camera and camcorder as well as other, just HD options (remember when HD was benchmark for the highest quality of content. Those 5 minutes are over).
For content deliver Panasonic has teamed up with Direct TV to begin bringing 3D content directly to consumers’ homes around Q2 (Juneish) 2010. Direct TV will be offering 3 channels of 3D HD content that will include documentaries, sports, movies, music, entertainment and more. As a sign that 3D is moving to mass media in a hurry, Fox Sports will air the MLB Allstars game in HD 3D. Direct TV is looking to push out a firmware update to current Direct TV boxes so they can handle the new content (sigh of relief that new Direct TV boxes don’t have to be purchased)
And to view the new HD 3D content the Viera lineup of TVs is getting the 3D magic as well. The TV lineup is as follows: Viera plasma V series will offer full HD 3D in152, 65, 58 54, 50 inch offerings. Now these are not just HD TVs that Panasonic slapped some 3D on. They have reworked these bad boys like changing the phosphorous compilation for better performance in contrasts and making blacks more black called Infinite Black Panel Pro with 5 million to 1 contrast . Tvs will also come with Viera cast wifi and video phone capabilities…..through Skype. Panasonic and Skype worked on this program from the ground up to make the user interface on Skype intuitive and easy enough for young in body and young at heart to utilize. Skype and Panasonic are looking to move the TV from just being about tv and movies to being the hub of technology in the family room.
For other news from Panasonic at CES:
Panasonic is re-introducing the Lumix line here in the United States. Abroad it has some significant market shares and Panasonic would like to see the brand do as well here in the US (which up until now it had not . A stand out camera was the Lumix DMC-FP3 which is super slim, ultra compact, has a 3.0 touch LCD and an intelligent auto focus with Mega Ois. A notable camcorder is the HDC-TM55. It has an 8gb hard drisk drive, an sd slot as well as record in 1080p.
To help facilitate the HD 3D Tvs, Panasonic is releasing comparable Bluray players. The DMP-BDT 350 HD 3D (HDMI 1.4),Viera Cast enabled, sd memory card slot to view JPEG digital still pictures and HD video (taken with those handy cameras and camcorders Panasonic announced). Panasonic is also releasing HD Blu ray players that are 2D but do boast some interesting abilities. The DMO-B85, for example, has a fast boot up time of half a second and comes with Wifi. The DMP-B25 is another Blu Ray player , which is portable, that also has Viera Cast.
To work in tangent with the 3D end to end solution, Panasonic is also releasing new home audio solution, the SC-BT730. Each speaker has subwoofer in base, Viera Cast Wifi, with wireless rear speakers.
Last item that Panasonic unveiled today is a picture frame that does pictures and video, music from an iPhone/iPod, shows your calender and the faithful standby of being able to play a CD.
One thing that Panasonic made clear was the fact that they are going to significantly ramp up their advertising and education of consumers. They will be focusing on their entire lineup but especially with the Lumix line . Also, they will be looking to highlight the features and values that the Panasonic line can offer consumers.
