AMD had an OLPC laptop on hand to showcase the fact that its Geode processor powers the device designed for emerging markets. Navigating via the symbol-based interface proved difficult at first, but the laptop was solidly built and easy to use. We managed to take a picture with the built-in camera and share it, although the laptop became quite sluggish -- almost unusable -- when many applications were launched.

Continue reading →

Charges that Comcast intentionally throttled the traffic of BitTorrent users for anti-competitive reasons, has apparently prompted the Commission to formally investigate the nation's largest CATV provider, its chairman said at CES yesterday.

The US Federal Communications Commission acknowledged on Wednesday that it has agreed to requests from citizens' rights and consumers' groups to investigate whether Comcast may be interfering with the rights of its subscribers by throttling their transfer speeds when they're suspected of trading files.

Continue reading →

Most music listeners are accustomed to having to share ear buds with a buddy to listen to other tunes, at least up until the point where somebody bothers to invent some kind of loud speaker system. But a company called Jook Inc. has developed a way for multiple earbud-wearing practitioners of the digital life to share music through a kind of broadcasting technology.

Jook's technology allows users to wirelessly transmit their music to people within a range of ten meters. A click of a button connected to the headphones will let users begin or stop broadcasting music, with a little emblem lighting up when transmission is taking place.

Continue reading →

With digital rights management provisions being stripped from audio files now by all four leading music publishers, some of the digital music industry's leaders took time at CES today to evaluate the extent to which that loss could lead to gains.

In a sort of "what we have learned and where are we going" session, the panelists discussed the impact that DRM has had on digital music, its profits, and its availability, and where the consumption of music is going.

Continue reading →

This year at CES, almost every booth has a section dedicated to devices designed with aesthetics in mind. Microsoft has become a big proponent of this new fashion-device movement with a dedicated team working with OEMs to develop fashionable hardware.

At any Starbucks, it's not uncommon to see people with their laptops finishing homework, or catching up on e-mails. As it leaves the confines of the office or home, the computer is no longer just a utilitarian device, and now makes a statement about its owner.

Continue reading →

At an all-day Billboard Magazine event, the day's first speakers argued that background music has the potential to do more for an artist's popularity than major label promotions, radio, and dedicated video airplay.

Billboard Magazine hosted today an all-day event consisting of discussions with prominent figures in the music industry, marking the first time digital music content providers have had their own forum at CES.

Continue reading →

With Blu-ray Profile 2.0 bringing Internet connectivity to all future players, the format is looking at interactivity to convince customers to make the switch. Blu-ray's focus on interactive features is also a response to HD DVD, which has long offered advanced Web-enabled capabilities through the format's HDi layer.

"Now we're ready for the next phase: the phase to really fulfill the promise of Blu-ray technology. That's really to start to develop the interactivity," said David Bishop, President Worldwide for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, during Monday's Blu-ray press conference. "We'll really get the chance to use our creative juices moving forward. You'll see multiplayer gaming, ringtones that can be delivered to the consumer."

Continue reading →

According to US Trade Representative Susan Schwab, the US is now considering taking action with the WTO over existing and proposed European tariffs on LCDs, set top boxes, and MFDs.

In front of an audience comprised of marketers clearly interested in selling their more of their products into international markets, speakers at this week's CES show have spoken out strongly in favor of the types of trade agreements that can enable such markets to prosper.

Continue reading →

Scott Fulton, BetaNews: From our Deja Vu All Over Again Dept., here's a topic that's a major CES issue this week and it's definitely a rerun from last year. It's the DTV transition, which is still on schedule for next year, except now some of the major retailers involved in getting new DTV broadcast converter boxes distributed, are worried that the US government won't be able to pull this off.

Sharon Fisher, who had more on this last year, has more on it this year.

Continue reading →

While Panasonic went even bigger with its 150-inch plasma TV, Hitachi went small, showcasing a lineup of 1.5-inch thick LCDs. An 11-foot wide plasma may impress, but consumers can actually take advantage of Hitachi's ultra-thin displays.

The theme of this year's CES is shaping up to be one of design rather than power. Pioneer and Panasonic are also showing off ultra-thin displays, but only Hitachi's will go one sale in the near future in 32-inch, 37-inch and 42-inch sizes.

Continue reading →

Microsoft's Surface experimental touch interface was on display at CES and the hordes of gawkers made it hard to get up close. The company was demoing working with photos and drawing using the Surface UI, which could be integrated into a table or placed on a wall. When will consumers actually see such technology? Not anytime soon.

Continue reading →

Both Sony and Panasonic are showing off their next-gen Blu-ray players that support Profile 2.0, but only Panasonic has its product nearly ready.

The Blu-ray Disc Association has promised that 2008 will be the year for interactivity coming to the format, and the hardware vendors supporting the standard are pushing forward with player upgrades to support it.

Continue reading →

Want to upload photos from a T-Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot at the airport, your hotel, or Starbucks? Then at CES, Panasonic has announced a digital camera for you.

It seems like T-Mobile WiFi HotSpots are just about everywhere these days, whether it's Starbucks, your local bookstore, or the airport or hotel. At CES this week, Panasonic rolled out a Lumix camera that will let you send photos wirelessly from any of these hotspots to Google's Picasa Web Albums photo sharing service.

Continue reading →

As ironic as this might sound for a document imaging company, Xerox Corp. is attempting to revamp its own image this week by launching a new logo and a friendlier, more colorful look across all of its marketing materials.

Although the changes wrought by the multimillion dollar rebranding initiative might seem superfical to some, other observers think an image overhaul is truly needed to help the "human" qualities of Xerox -- and its long-time spirit of innovation -- shine through, especially to consumers and small businesses.

Continue reading →

Despite Sprint's financial trouble, its current WiMAX efforts appear promising, according to one In-Stat analyst.

In addition to product and service announcements made earlier this week, the company said its Xohm service would be commercially launched in its three test cities by April. "That's a little bit faster than I thought," said Daryl Schoolar, senior analyst of the networking group for In-Stat.

Continue reading →