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Engadget's Comprehensive CES Coverage

Accell introduces their USB 2.0 to VGA Adapter at CES

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 8:38AM

If you spend any amount of time in front of a computer, you're already sold on the idea of a second monitor -- luckily, there are an ever-increasing number of options out there for you. Looking to give DisplayLink a run for its money, Accell Cables is throwin' down with their UltraVideo USB 2.0 to VGA Adapter. This guy is bus powered, rocks up to UXGA (1600 x 1200) resolution, and the display drivers (available for PC and Mac) support up to four adapters. Listed for $89.99, it will be making the rounds at CES this week.

[Via About Projectors]

The nerdiest SuperSpeed USB 3.0 details yet

by Nilay Patel, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 8:19AM


We've been hearing about SuperSpeed USB 3.0 since CES last year, and now that the spec's been officially released, we're getting way more details at this year's show -- like new power features, which include the elimination of device polling to enable an energy-saving "virtual sleep" mode, more juice for bus-powered devices, and the ability to charge a completely dead device, which USB 2.0 can't do. According to Intel's Jeff Ravencraft, the spec is designed to last for the next five years, with room to pump 25 gigabits per second over a hypothetical optical connection. Sounds sexy -- we'll see how well this stuff demos when the doors open.

Navigon teams with Rand McNally to put a little travel in your PND

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 8:00AM


Not that we haven't seen navigator manufacturers partner up with travel companies before, but it's still pretty rare to hear of a PND maker looking out for the travelers and not just the completely lost crowd. Here at CES, Navigon has just announced a partnership with Rand McNally (the first of its kind, we hear), which will result in Scenic Routers and City Guides from the aforesaid firm being available on Navigon devices. The guides will provide over 250 scenic routers and pre-planned trips across all 50 states (we're guessing the Road To Hana made the cut?) and Canada, and there's also information on the best attractions and landmarks in more than 1,400 US / Canadian cities. The new data packs will be available on select Navigon units as well as in retail outlets and Navigon.com this Spring for $19.99 each.

Eye-Fi taking the next logical step: WiFi video uploads to YouTube

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 8:00AM


If you thought Eye-Fi was a great invention already, then boy, do we have a treat for you. Here at CES, the outfit made famous for pumping out delightfully simple WiFi SD cards for wireless image uploading is taking the next logical step by embracing video. It's currently developing a system that will enable its WiFi SD cards to upload videos directly to YouTube, and if you reckoned the first iteration would be stuck at standard-def, you reckoned wrong. In fact, it's being designed from the ground-up to handle HD uploads from cameras like Nikon's D90, but there's no word yet on how soon the technology will be ready. The big question from us? Will this require an all new card, or can the video functionality be added to existing models? Check the full release after the break.

Continue reading Eye-Fi taking the next logical step: WiFi video uploads to YouTube

Shure wants to bring microphones to your USB port

by Steven Kim, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 7:48AM

Shure PG27USB, PG42USB and X2u
Whether you choose a direct USB microphone or you're an audio-specialist XLR type, Shure has you covered on getting that audio routed to your computer's USB port. The PG27USB and PG42USB are direct-to-USB condenser microphones with a cardiod pickup pattern -- pick the $199 PG27USB for a flat response or the $249 PG42USB if vocals are your thing. Like we've seen from other devices, the $129 X2u will marry your favorite XLR-type mic to your USB port with zero-latency, phantom power and headphone monitoring. The Shure name is well-trusted in microphones, but check the full details after the break if you're still not, um, sure.

Continue reading Shure wants to bring microphones to your USB port

iVoice debuts Diamond-X dual mic Bluetooth headset

by Ross Miller, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 7:20AM

Sure, it's not as thin as the Bluetrek Metal or as eye-catching as the Swarovski crystal-infused Shimmer Kit, but iVoice's Diamond-X Bluetooth headset is sporting some very nice features, including noise-canceling dual microphones and the ability to report the callers' name from a phonebook. As for the other stats, we've got 5.5 hours of talk time and 200 standby. The Jury's still out on how convincingly it can tell us when our friend Slartibartfast gives us a ring, but for one Benjamin Franklin, you can find out for yourself later this month.

Microsoft exec predicts Sony will be forced to cut PS3 prices

by Nilay Patel, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 7:11AM

After a couple weeks in which the 360 posted better sales numbers than the PS3 and it was revealed that Sony inadvertently funded Microsoft's next-gen development efforts, you'd think Microsoft execs would be getting a little cocky, but it sounds instead like they're expecting a renewed offensive from Sony based on price. That's direct from the 360's director of product management Aaron Greenberg, who told Edge that MS "absolutely expects" a PS3 price cut in the next few months, and that the team is "frankly surprised it's taken this long." Of course, we've been hearing tons of PS3 pricing speculation from all corners lately with no change to that $399 MSRP, so we'll see how it goes.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

NewerTech's Voyager Q converts SATA HDDs into hot-swappable external drives

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 6:41AM


Man, talk about a hasty refresh cycle. NewerTech just unleashed its original Voyager in early December, and barely a month later we're being treated to the Voyager Q. Delivered at Macworld today, the quad interface device (USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire 400 and FireWire 800) sports a sleek, glossy exterior, hinged flaps to cover the gaps when your internal HDDs are being used internally and support for hot-swapping, too. Both 2.5- and 3.5-inch SATA I / II drives are supported, and yes, both OS X and Windows platforms are fully supported. If you've finally lost the inability to avoid procuring one of these type units, you can get the Voyager Q on its way to you this moment for $99.95.

Toshiba adds 500GB external hard drive to their line

by Laura June, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 6:23AM


Toshiba's added to the ever-expanding offering of 500GB external drives with its newly released HDDR500E03X. The USB 2.0, 2.5-incher is on offer in a totally sweet array of colors, and comes pre-loaded with NTI Shadow backup software. It's available now for somehwere in the vicinity of $140.

[Via PC World]

VTech's new DECT 6.0 telephones are too swank for grandma

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 5:58AM


VTech's not stopping with just a WiFi radio here at CES -- oh no, it's also introducing a snazzy new DECT line of telephones. Starting with the flagship LS6245, we've got a slim, stylish handset that packs both DECT 6.0 technology and Bluetooth, enabling one person to be on the main handset while a BT-enabled phone taps in as well. The entire lineup features touch sensitive buttons, caller ID, speakerphone, selectable ring tones and a 50-name / number phonebook directory, with the V.Style LS6215 even offering touch tech in the base unit. Each member of the '09 line is priced under $100, and the whole crew should be available for budding seniors in the first half of '09.

Gallery: VTech's new DECT 6.0 telephones are too swank for grandma

Elgato refreshes its EyeTV Hybrid tuner

by Steven Kim, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 5:15AM

Elgato EyeTV Hybrid USB tuner
It's been almost a year since Elgato refreshed its EyeTV Hybrid tuner, and while the addition of better reception and a FM radio tuner aren't earth-shattering, it's awfully hard to complain about how much the company has crammed into the Cear-QAM 1080i-tuning USB stick aimed at Mac users. The $150 dongle includes a year-long subscription to TV Guide for your scheduling convenience, but you'll have to fork over $20 per year for the service after that. There will be a new 3.1 version of EyeTV available later this month, but you can pick up the fresh hardware right now.

Pandigital intros PanTouch Clear photo frames

by Laura June, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 4:44AM

Pandigital's just announced two new digital photo frames (we like to think you can never have enough of 'em!) -- the PanTouch Clear -- which comes in both 7 and 8-inch models. The company's pushing the "floating" image theme with this pair, which boast an 800 x 600 resolution, a 4:3 aspect ratio, 6-in-1 card reader, and touchscreen interface. No word on when they're going to be available, but the 7-incher will run $119, with the 8-inch model going for $139.99.

Pioneer's TAD shows off a new Blu-ray audio format at CES

by Steven Kim, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 4:24AM

TAD and Sheffield Labs
Technical Audio Devices (TAD), a subsidiary of Pioneer, has a little something to show audiophiles that may lure them away from their CD transports yet -- a new 2-channel audio format for Blu-ray discs that it unapologetically claims "rivals 2-channel analog sound." We're not sure if that means reel-to-reel or vinyl is in the crosshairs, but the company is putting its apparently-unnamed format up for demo at CES. The demos are being hosted by none other than audiophile classic Sheffield Labs recording engineers Bill Schnee and Doug Sax, who have picked out some choice cuts to be played on pro-level TAD Compact Reference monitors and associated electronics; no word on if whiskey is part of the demo.

SanDisk slotRadio player comes with jam-packed card: like NOW, but infinitely worse

by Darren Murph, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 4:15AM

Oh, heaven help us all. Just when we thought SanDisk had taken a hint and stopped promoting its slotMusic initiative entirely, in flies this. Quite honestly, we weren't aware that it could get any worse, but this friends, is worse. The Sansa slotRadio player includes a fairly intriguing 1.5-inch OLED display, a useful FM tuner and a slotRadio card with 1,000 hits that were "handpicked from the Billboard charts." Oh, and we hope you dig 'em (all of 'em), because there's no way to remove or alter them. For real. The device itself is expected to ship to three or four suckers early this year for $99.99, and additional 1,000 song, genre-specific slotRadio cards will be offered up separately at $39.99 apiece. And we thought the NOW That's What I Call Music! theme was a train wreck -- way to show 'em what a real disaster looks like, SanDisk.

[Via OLED-Display]

Griffin freaks out on the accessory tip

by Nilay Patel, posted Jan 7th 2009 at 4:01AM


Tons of little accessories from Griffin today -- here's a quick breakdown, pictures in the gallery!

  • SmartTalk Bluetooth headset: dual-mic headset featuring STEPvoice "acoustic voice separation" technology to kill background and wind noise, and features voice feedback during pairing. $100, now shipping, or wait until February to buy it in a bundle with the PowerJolt car charger for $120.
  • TuneBuds Fit: In-ear headphones with 10mm drivers in an "anatomically correct" aluminum curved design. Sure, okay. They'll be $50 in February.
  • Noise-reducing auxiliary audio cable: Car-oriented headphone cable with an inline dual-element noise filter to eliminate hum from vehicle electrical systems. If you need this -- you know if you do, trust us -- it'll be well worth the $20 in February.
  • SmartShare USB: Sure, lots of people could use this $20 two-port USB hub with a unique splitter-like design, but Griffin's targeting it at MacBook Air owners, because let's face it -- it's fun to point out how limited the MacBook Air is.
  • PowerBlock Reserve: Adds a removable battery to the popular PowerBlock USB charger that allows it to charge your iPod / iPhone away from an outlet. A little steep at $40, but the battery is held in place magnetically for extra awesomeness.
  • PowerJolt Reserve: Same deal as the PowerBlock, but in an iPod / iPhone car charger package.
  • Charge Converter FireWire to USB: We're still unclear as to why all these iPhone 3G FireWire charging adapters are all so expensive, but $30 will get you Griffin's take on the idea sometime later this month.

Gallery: Griffin 2009 accessory lineup

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