Archive for the ‘CES’ Category

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

Blaupunkt and miRoamer have joined forces to bring the internet to your car.

The Hamburg is a smaller Internet radio head unit. (Credit: Blaupunkt)

The choices of stations on the internet are unlimited, making it the best place to get the biggest variety of music, news and talk. However, listening in your car has been limited to local stations, CDs or satellite radio that plays the same loop over and over and did I mention… over?

Blaupunkt has added its sound quality to miRoamer’s internet streaming to make the internet available in your car. Arguably, there are already ways to get internet radio to the car, mostly available to the tech savvy tinkerer, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone team up with a giant like Blaupunkt for a quality “plug and play” system.

The Blaupunkt New Jersey integrates Internet radio stations. (Credit: Blaupunkt)

There are a couple of drawbacks inherent with internet radio, however. Driving down the road with a mouse in your right hand and a keyboard on your lap is probably not the brightest thing to do. Blaupunkt worked around this by having you create a list of bookmarks on your computer which are downloaded to the car player and show up as presets on your car stereo. This limits the number of stations you can take with you, but all the presets can be changed (when you get back to your computer).

Another limitation is that you must have a bluetooth capable phone with a data plan. Not much of a problem, but you need to make sure that your data plan is unlimited! A no-brainer, for sure, but if you forget this little detail your first month phone bill will be a shock. I’d be willing to bet that the second month you have internet radio in your car, your data plan will definitely be unlimited.

I see this move by Blaupunkt to be the start of a new era in music broadcasting. Just as I expect streaming video over the internet to eclipse satellite and cable broadcasting, internet radio, with its unlimited variety will eventually be the method of choice for most listeners.

Amulet Remote from Amulet Devices

While getting ready for the upcoming 2010 CES, I decided to go back over some of the gadgets that caught my eye at the 2009 CES. One of the standouts was Amulet Remote. This one sets itself apart a bit from the collection of remotes next to my Lazy-Boy. This one listens when I talk. I don’t have to search around for the right remote to change the channel or turn the volume up. Sitting next to my chair, it easily picks up my voice commands and mutes that ShamWow guy.

Another plus to this little baby is the integration with Windows Media Player. I can call out a song or artist I want to hear and it starts playing. This is great except for the differences in my wife’s music tastes and mine. I lean towards Michael Martin Murphy and Don Edwards and she can’t stand it. Many times there has been a shouting match with me yelling “Play Riders In The Sky” and she shouts back “Play Andrea Bocelli”. It almost brings my livingroom computer to tears.

All in all, though, the Amulet Remote from the Irish company Amulet Devices is a great little gadget. I just wish my wife responded as well.

We call the Psyko 5.1 PC Gaming Headset System ”The Perfect Room™” because they deliver the audio experience of the perfect room. That audio experience lets you hear where every sound comes from. They improve your positional awareness and your reaction time for improved game play. There is no DSP (Digital Signal Processing) to alter the sound, and no latency. They put you into the sweet spot. You simply hear more and play better.

This is a quantum leap in headphone technology. The Psyko 5.1 PC Gaming Headset System create 3D sound, in exactly the same way a room system does – with 5 speakers plus the subwoofer positioned accurately around you. You hear precisely where every sound originates, the way you are supposed to. You get naturally immersive sound with no hassles, no latency, and no limits to where and when you want to play. It’s really is the perfect room in headphone form.

Each year, CNET, in partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), produces the Best of CES awards at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The CNET editorial team recognizes the best new products at the show with awards in nine categories, an overall Best of Show award, and the People’s Voice award that’s selected by the CNET online audience.

Award categories*:

* Digital photo and video
* Car tech and GPS
* Cell phones and smartphones
* Computers and hardware
* Gaming
* Green
* Home theater
* MP3 and video players
* Televisions

*CNET reserves the right to exercise editorial discretion when categorizing product submissions.
Awards criteria

CNET editors will name the Best of CES 2010 award finalists and winners based on the following:

* Product must be new, in that it will not be released before December 1, 2009. Prototypes, reference designs, or products that represent a proof of concept will not be considered.
* Product must be on exhibit at the 2010 International CES in Las Vegas.
* Product demonstrates its potential to:
o Pioneer a new category, establish an emerging category, or take an existing category to a new level.
o Excite people with its style, innovation, usefulness, ease of use, or capability to entertain.
o Endow its owner with a certain cachet, the “cool” factor.
o Make its way into everyday life.

Submissions
Submissions are now open for Best of CES 2010. There is no fee to submit a product for consideration.

Submit now! Submissions close on December 11, 2009.

Submit