Microsoft's 'Extender' for Vista and HDTV reaches reality
Microsoft's Extender for Windows Media Center isn't altogether new. But the extender products announced at CES 2008 -- from Samsung, HP, Linksys, and others -- are a different kettle of fish due to their use of Vista and HDTV.
First rolled out by Bill Gates way back at CES 2004, Microsoft's "Extender for Windows Media Center" finally seems to be approaching full throttle at this year's CES -- now that Samsung, Hewlett-Packard, Cisco-owned Linskys, and other hardware makers are producing extender hardware that works with HDTVs and the streaming media capabilities of Vista PCs.
Live from the Blu-ray press conference
BetaNews reports from the Blu-ray press conference, where the BDA talks up its expected win over HD DVD. But is the format war really over?
5:05pm PT: Press conference is beginning. Blu-ray Disc Association's Andy Parsons is speaking. Parsons heads up the BDA and comes from Pioneer. Other participants include Fox, Lionsgate, Disney and Warner Bros.
SanDisk increases storage of View, Clip music players
The Sansa Clip and Sansa View, two of SanDisk's top selling products, received storage bumps today.
Its Clip is now 4 GB (up from 2 GB), while the Sansa View saw a 16 GB increase to 32 GB. Both products will be available next month, for a price of $79.99 USD for the Clip, and $349.99 USD for the Sansa View.
Broadcom debuts reference design for HD DVD / Blu-ray SoC
Unphased by the recent string of bad news for HD DVD, the company has gone ahead with announcements for dual-format chips for both HD DVD and Blu-ray players.
Broadcom debuted a reference design built around the system-on-a-chip (SoC) design it had announced last year. Broadcom says it would be a 'turnkey solution' for those looking to build either format of player.
D-Link, Netgear team up with BitTorrent
The two companies have joined BitTorrent Device Partners, a licensing program aimed at creating devices that work with the file sharing service.
Both D-Link and Netgear announced products Monday at CES that would allow consumers to use the technology to share their content throughout the home and on the Internet.
Creative goes micro with two new MP3 players
Creative used CES to debut two new low-cost music players with built in speakers on Monday. Added to the company's existing Zen Stone and Zen Stone Plus product lines, both feature 2 GB of capacity at prices of $49.99 and $59.99 respectively.
While the Stone will just include the built-in speaker, the Stone Plus adds quite a few additional features, including a screen, FM radio, voice recording, clock with stopwatch and customizable equalizer settings.
The DivX codec makes a play for set-top boxes
The little codec that could, DivX, announced a series of partnerships today that will use the protocol in set-top boxes for Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).
DivX Inc. (which is not related to the late, lamented DIVX system used by Circuit City to produce degradable DVDs) announced or extended partnerships with Broadcom, D-Link Systems, Jaman.com, and Next New Networks.
Auto makers demonstrate the interactive car
During CES 2008 on Monday, it seemed the idea of automotive electronics finally came unto its own, evolving from cheap accessories into useful, and even potentially productive, components.
But now that CE companies and auto manufacturers such as BMW and Chrysler are working more closely together, the problem they face involves synchronizing their evolutionary stopwatches. Here's the problem: While an electronics trend's lifespan is typically five years, an automotive manufacturer needs it to last longer in order to reap a profit from it, because its product cycles often need to be longer.
Garmin's new GPS device helps athletes train
Even though a number of companies are battling for handheld and in-car GPS technology, only a fraction are putting effort into the athletic sector of the industry. Yes, there is an athletic sector of the global locator industry.
On Sunday before the formal opening of CES 2008, Garmin announced the latest product in its fitness line for athletes who want to know where they are: the Garmin Forerunner 405. The water-resistant watch allows users to monitor total time, speed, distance, heart rate and location while out running, and the information is sent to the owner's computer for analysis and cataloging.
OQO to upgrade its UMPC to include Sprint Xohm WiMAX
You can't run out and buy it yet, but OQO is demonstrating what it said is the first ultra mobile PC (UMPC) to support Sprint's Xohm Mobile WiMAX wireless data system.
Sharon Fisher, BetaNews Senior CES Analyst: WiMAX is a wireless wide-area network built as a complement to the cellular network, so unlike WiFi, it can transmit data up to three miles away, at speeds of from 2 to 5 Mbps. Sprint Nextel showed off its WiMAX capability at last year's CES, and said it expected WiMAX service to be available to 100 million subscribers by this year. The company also said last year it expected to invest $3 billion in its WiMAX network over the next couple of years.
JVC adds iPod integration to LCD HDTVs
Further evidence of Apple's increasing dominance in downloadable media can be found in the latest high-definition displays from one of Japan's leading high-end brands.
Called the Teledock, its port would flip out to allow for the connecting the iPod directly to the TV. The feature would appear on four of JVC's newest models including the 32-inch LT-32P679, 42-inch LT-42P789, 47-inch LT-47P789 and the 52-inch LT-52P789.
DS2 powerline networking goes up against WirelessHD for components
DS2 is one of dozens of vendors showing products at this year's CES for powerline home networking over standard electrical wiring. Some of DS2's competitors are now collaborating together on a new IEEE powerline industry standard. But powerline isn't nearly as quick as WirelessHD, an emerging wireless home networking technology.
Beyond its previous introductions of support for Microsoft Vista and 400 megabits-per-second (Mbps) home networking, DS2 is using the international forum of CES to roll out more features and solutions -- for use in both consumers' residences and on service providers' networks -- that run over standard electronical wiring.
Google, Yahoo in dueling partnerships with GPS makers
It's one of those announcements you just knew was coming: Magellan is partnering with Google to put Google Maps local business links on its Global Positioning System (GPS) units.
This is all part of Magellan's first GPS system to include wireless connectivity. The Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS, as the name implies, includes support for General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) cellular capability.
Toshiba unveils new line of stylish external hard drives
As the demand for stylish hardware increases, manufacturers are stepping up to the plate. The latest external storage line from Toshiba is designed with aesthetics in mind.
Available in colors like Carbon Grey, Hot Rod Red and Gecko Green, Toshiba's goal is to tap into trends currently being reflected in consumer electronics.
Good OS launches new cloud-oriented Linux 'Rocket'
While Linux remains popular among enthusiasts, its adoption among casual PC users lacks the power to really threaten Microsoft Windows. However a small handful of groups still create operating systems designed to make the transition over to Linux a little bit easier and less intimidating.
To that end, the makers of the Good OS distribution are unveiling a Linux version with a hopefully appealing metaphor.
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