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Just a quick update.

I received an email from Joel M. Cochran, SoundEgg.com Project Manager, informing me that the Acousticom’s SoundEgg has had their booth moved to North Hall – Booth 4916.

They will have three demos running, so you will definitely get a chance to try one out.

More information on the SoundEgg can be found at my review here at CESwebcast and at the Acousticom SoundEgg site.

The HomePlug Alliance is an intriguing group of companies from different sectors of the technical industry that are working together to establish a single protocol for delivering data, video and audio through the existing 110 electrical wiring in your home.

This is an idea that’s been around for some time. Back when I was just starting out in electronics, I built an encoder/decoder circuit that could send music from one room to another through the house wiring. It worked, but wasn’t all that reliable (the filter would allow the 60 cycle hum through at times). I moved on to other things, but the idea has always stayed with me.

HomePlug is taking this simple technology to a new level. The idea is to not only limit transmission and reception to the local area at home, but to be able to deliver services through the power grid. High speed internet and television services are among some of the ideas on the table. Imagine, powerline networking by just plugging your computer into the wall!

Once this system is implemented, you could buy a new HDTV (HomePlug equipped, of course) and simply plug it into the wall. From there you would have all your channels and high speed internet delivered through the homeplug powerline power cord to the tv. This would also mean that broadband internet would be available anywhere there was an electrical outlet through powerline ethernet adapters, expanding available areas to most remote rural locations. Power line communication service would also be delivered through VOIP and standard phone connections.

Here’s a video explaining the system:

Some big companies are already onboard with HomePlug, including Intel, Cisco, Comcast and GE. Rob Ranck, President of the HomePlug Alliance, was interviewed at CES 2009. Here is that interview:

This is a great idea and long overdue, but might not comfortable for anyone with any “Big Brother” paranoia. I can see a lot of possibilities for your tv or stereo system to listen in or even watch. Hmm, maybe MY paranoia is showing!

The HomePlug TechZone at CES 2010 is located at LVCC, South Hall 1 and is sponsored by HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc. You can visit their website at HomePlug.org.

MTC-600 Onboard Car Computer

Maxtrack, a Brazilian company, will be showing their MTC-600 on-board car computer at CES 2010. This is a pretty impressive piece of equipment that can handle just about everything in your car.

Several devices are integrated into the system such as keyboard, message panels, passenger counters (yes, passenger counters), billing equipment, cameras (there are four cameras), sensors, actuators, among others. It will gather all the information about your car and store it. Your car will know if it’s running or not, what direction and speed it’s going and whether it’s in an open area or not. Most of that can be handled by a good GPS system, but this car computer does a bit more.

Sensors placed throughout the automobile will monitor and take specified actions for just about any situation it encounters, from controlling the interior temperature and ambiance to identifying and recording information from any peripheral you want to hook up to it. It can even tell you about your bad driving habits that can cause extra wear on the automobile.

And, of course, it can all be done through voice commands, as well. The digital audio component stores voice commands, environment sound with music equalization in up to eight frequency ranges, volume control, among others.

The four cameras can be programmed to react to different events like start a recording when the driver slams on the brakes. So not only do you get to watch as you slide your car through the garage door after locking the wheels up on an icy driveway in person, but you get to enjoy it with the rest of the family over and over again. Won’t that be fun?

Here are the technical specs from the MaxTrack website:

At less than 2” tall, this baby could be installed just about anyplace in the vehicle. I would imagine it could also be adapted for motorcycles (Imagine Dennis Hopper’s “Billy” riding a Harley that’s smarter than he is).

Maxtrack Industrial Ltd. Will be in booth: North 1023 at CES 2010.

You can visit their website Maxtrack.com.br.

The Archerfish Intelligent Monitor

Archerfish has added smart technology to your nanny camera. It goes beyond simple motion capture with an intelligent system that you can program for specific events. When the event occurs, you can have it notify you remotely via email, still image or live video.

It’s an amazing system that can control up to four video surveillance cameras at one time and be programmed from anywhere with any internet connected PC or netbook. You can tell the cameras to look for certain people or cars and send a notice to your cell phone if they approach your house. Other things it can keep tabs on for you are waiting for that package you ordered to arrive or if someone is messing with your liquor cabinet.

Home security systems have come a long ways. It’s nice to know that if Big Brother is going to be watching, you can control what he sees.

Archerfish will be in booth South 1 21934,South 1 21936 and their website is MyArcherfish.com

Noise canceling headphones have been around for some time, but now we are starting to see the same technology applied to noise canceling headphones earbuds. Everyone is familiar with Bose  QuietComfort® headphones, but carrying around a set of bulky over-the-ear headphones in order to listen to your iPod is not really possible. There are two new alternatives that show a lot of promise.

Bose Noise Cancelling Earbud Headphones

First, Bose has come out with their own option for portable media devices called, surprisingly enough, Bose® in-ear headphones. I’m sure that given Bose’s background and quality that this product delivers everything it promises, however, specs aren’t available for these ear buds and Bose doesn’t plan to exhibit at CES 2010. (Why? Beats the heck out of me.)

Bose In-ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

I can’t imagine the reasoning behind not releasing the specs on the headphones, especially for a set of headphones that will cost you $99.95 (SRP).

Fortunately, there is an alternative that WILL be at CES 2010.

Audio-Technica U.S., Inc. (Booth: South 1 21840) has come out with their own noise canceling earbud headphones, the ATH-ANC3 QuietPoint® Active Noise-Canceling In-Ear Headphones. Audio-Technica has released their specs and they look great. Like the Bose headphones, they use active noise-canceling to reduce external noise by 80% (up to 20 dB). Pretty impressive for a small fit-in-your-ear set of headphones. They do run a bit more than the Bose set, at $169.95 (SRP), but the increased price brings some great added features. The one that caught my eye was a monitor button that lets you turn the noise-canceling off so you can hear someone trying to talk to you without taking the buds out of your ears.

Quietpoint Active Noise Canceling Earbud Headphones From Audio-Technica

Here are the specs for the ATH-ANC3 QuietPoint® Active Noise-Canceling In-Ear Headphones:

Specifications measured with headphones in active mode.

2010 is going to see a HUGE change in home entertainment. According to Alfred Poor, an analyst with GigaOM Pro, there will be between 28 to 46 million 3D ready TVs in homes by 2013. Many of the new sets are being introduced at CES 2010.

Companies like JVC USA Professional Products (Booth: NorthMtgRm N234) and Panasonic (Booth: Central 9405) have already announced that they will introduce new products at the upcoming CES. The technology has progressed far beyond the early days of 3D in theaters (remember the old red and blue glasses?) and is ready to start moving into the livingroom.

There are even companies like Nagravision Kudelski Group (Booth: Venetian Toscana 3601,Venetian Toscana 3602,Venetian Toscana 3603) that are planning guides to 3D sources. The NAGRA Media GUIDE for 3D allows consumers to view and purchase 3D VOD content.

While some 3D sets were shown at last year’s CES, (see 3D is coming to a living room near you), Panasonic and others have announced that sets will be available to the public in 2010.

People flocked to see the 3D film 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.' From Sony Pictures Animation

It’s been a while since we’ve seen boom boxes on the street, but that can change with Altec Lansing’s new toy. The Mix Digital Boombox will be shown at CES 2010 and can accommodate up to three mobile devices at one time and allows you to control the playlist from an infrared carabineer style remote that clips to your belt loop.

The company, which previously specialized in computer speaker systems, has branched out to deliver the audiophile one of the best means to take your music library with you since the introduction of the iPod.

The sound is delivered by five active speakers, two 1” horn-loaded polypropylene tweeters, two 3” mid range drivers, one 5.25” subwoofer and a 5.25” passive radiator. The system also features Advanced audio Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for a crisp sound.

The only drawback I could find is that it takes eight D cell batteries (I hate those things) to power it on the run. However, the Mix will run for 30 continuous hours before you need a bank loan to replace the batteries. There is an AC adapter included to save on battery life when power is available.

There are a ton of features on the Mix, like a 7 band equalizer, digital FM tuner and it even pauses your music when a call comes in through your iPhone. One thing I especially liked, although it’s not a selling point, is that Altec Lansing not only posted a pdf spec sheet on their site, but also made the user’s manual available for download so you can see everything you need before you decide to buy.

For everything you get, including Altec Lansing’s quality, it’s moderately priced at $299.

Altec Lansing will be at CES 2010 at  Booth: South 1 21919

Powermat has released a new way to charge your toys without all those wires. The charging mat lets you lay your iPod, iPhone or other mobile device directly on the pad and it charges without having to plug the device into your computer or wall adapter.

It wirelessly charges up to 3 Powermat-enabled devices simultaneously (plus one USB power port). Works with all Powermat receivers. Universal Powercube with 8 tips is included to enable you to charge hundreds of different devices.
Includes:

* Home & Office Mat
* Universal, international power supply (Energy Star level 5, 100-240V) with built-in cord management
* Powercube Universal Receiver with 8 tips

There is also a travel model that folds into a managable size that slips easily into your briefcase or suitcase.

Powermat will be in booth: Central 8253 at the 2010 CES

NEXTO is releasing a portable video storage device videographers to store hundreds of hours of video footage. NEXTO Video Storage is battery-powered and can store up to 2 Terabytes of raw footage in the palm of your hand.

NEXTO Video Storage has been optimized for use with pro HD camcorders, including the Sony PMW-EX1 and EX-3 which use the Sony SxS memory cards, as well as the Panasonic HVX200 which uses the P2 memory cards.

NEXTO Video Storage features USB-OTG compatibility so you can backup anywhere without a computer. With its patented X-Copy technology, and bit by bit image verification, Nexto Video Storage offers the fastest & most reliable video backup on the market today.

So much for dragging my laptop around everywhere I shoot!

NEXTO will be in Booth: South 3 31950

I was more than a little intrigued by Acousticom’s Sound Egg. A few years ago I had the opportunity to sit in a chair carved out of a solid piece of burl wood at It’s A Burl in southern Oregon. There was a stereo sitting across the room pointed directly at the chair. The effect was amazing. A cheezy little stereo projected into the chair made it sound like I was in a perfectly balanced auditorium.

I can’t imagine what Acousticom has done with the basic design. They have taken the retro-sixties chair and moved it into the 21st century. I expect that the effect will be much improved over the low-tech wooden chair I sat in.

Since I haven’t had the chance to try the Sound Egg out for myself, yet, I thought I’d reprint a letter from Acousticom’s President, Mark Cochran.

Needless to say, Acousticom, located in booth: South 2 25815 at the 2010 CES will be one of my first stops. (I just have to figure out how I’m going to convince my wife how the Sound Egg will blend with the rest of the furniture in our 100 year old victorian house.)

Randy

____________________________________________________________

Message from the President,

Hi everybody,

I’m so excited about our release of the Sound Egg. It’s been my 20 year engineering passion to re-create the audio Egg chair! It is a 5.1 surround sound Egg pod that will allow you to hear movies, music; play video games like you have never heard them before. Music is so powerful with heartfelt bass and crisp highs that will literally move you.

Watching Movies are so incredible with the 5.1 surround sound speakers. You are put in the middle of the action and when the building explodes in your favorite action flick; well let’s just say it’s better than the real movie theaters! If you’re an Xbox gamer then you will never wear a headset again!

The Sound Egg has many other uses in the audio testing field. We use it for demonstrating how well Acousticom’s Active Noise Headset and Microphones work at a shows and events. You can put the customer in a high noise field of recorded aircraft, tank, fire truck or any audio signal you want. They can hear how well the ANR circuitry cuts out the low frequency noise and if you have the headset connected to an intercom the customer can also evaluate the noise canceling Microphone on the headset.

It is a very powerfully demonstration tool. There are a variety of applications and you will be impressed! So visit www.soundegg.com for product details. This is truly a gift for the whole family.

Mark Cochran
Pres./Engr.
Acousticom corp.