CES 2009

(Credit: JVC Mobile Entertainment)

JVC brings in the New Year with not one, not two, but seven new CD receivers for its 2009 mobile entertainment product line.

JVC Mobile's new flagship KD-R900 In-Dash CD Receiver features two Full-Speed USB 2.0 ports (one front and one rear) for connection of an iPod, an iPhone, USB flash memory drives, digital audio players, portable HDD devices, or any two simultaneously. The KD-R900 also features hands-free phone calling and A2DP wireless audio streaming capability via an included USB Bluetooth adapter and high-quality external wired microphone. This adapter operates as a fully-functional receiver, transmitter, and antenna for Bluetooth and plugs into either of the KD-R900's USB ports. Users are given the option of controlling their iPod/iPhone using either the in-dash receiver's controls or the controls on the device itself to make music selections, thanks to a full-speed 2-way iPod control feature. The list of features is rounded out with a front aux input, flip-down detachable faceplate, and an LCD display with variable-color illumination which is capable of over 30,000 customizable colors to match most vehicles' interior illumination hues. The unit is also HD Radio Ready, Satellite Radio Ready, and MP3/WMA compatible. The KD-R900 features a 3-Band Parametric iEQ, wireless remote, MOS-FET 50W x 4, and 5V front, rear, and subwoofer pre-outputs with Subwoofer Control. The receiver is available in March 2009 with an MSRP of $269.95.

At the next level, the KD-R800 CD Receiver features many of the same features as the top-tier KD-R900, with the exception of the full-speed 2-way iPod/iPhone control. The KD-R800 receiver is available in February with an MSRP of $219.95.

JVC will be installing the KD-HDR50 at the Car Tech CES booth.

(Credit: JVC Mobile Entertainment)

The KD-HDR50 CD Receiver distinguishes itself with a built-in HD Radio tuner with Multicasting and iTunes Tagging capability. Of course, like any good iTunes Tagging head unity, the full-speed USB 2.0 iPod control is in full effect. The unit doesn't include, but is compatible with the USB Bluetooth adapter and is Satellite Radio ready. The KD-HDR50 steps up to a 7-band iEQ and is available for shipping in January 2009 at an MSRP of $179.95. Also new for 2009 is the very similar KD-HDR20, which features many of the same features, with the exception of iPod control and iTunes Tagging, which retails for $139.95 and should ship at the same time as the KD-HDR50.

The KD-R600 CD Receiver features a full-speed USB 2.0 connection with 2-way control and charging for iPod/iPhone. The unit is ready for Bluetooth adapter, Satellite Radio ready, HD Radio ready, and has MP3/WMA playback capability for an MSRP of $159.95. The KD-R300 reduces the MSRP to 119.95 at the expense of the integrated iPod control. Finally, the entry level $99.95 KD-R200 is a basic unit which loses the flexibility of adding external modules. All three units feature a 3-band iEQ, wireless remote, MOS-FET 50 watts x 4, and variable-color illumination display (KD-R200 features fixed color illumination).

View the full JVC 2009 CD receiver lineup.

A cell phone and flashlight get charged sitting in this car console.

(Credit: Leggett and Platt)

Imagine dropping your cell phone and MP3 player into a special pocket in the console of your car, and having them automatically charged up. Leggett and Platt, an automotive parts supplier, is using technology from Fulton Innovation that makes this scenario a reality. Fulton's ECouple technology lets devices charge up wirelessly, just by setting them down on a special charging surface. At CES, Leggett and Platt is showing various applications of this technology, including a car console with special pockets to recharge a BlackBerry and a flashlight. The company also has a Bosch power toolbox that automatically charges a wireless drill and saw.

This Bosch toolbox recharges the tools it holds.

(Credit: Leggett and Platt)

Of course, the devices being charged need to have an ECouple element that can receive the power from a charging surface, so you can't currently throw any old device in and have it get charged up. But Leggett and Platt is already releasing some in-car power tool charging boxes for commercial use. The charging surfaces come in three power levels: low is for devices under 5 watts, medium can handle 100 watt charging, and high power charging surfaces can produce kilowatts. These charging surfaces are harmless to touch, and a Leggett and Platt representative assured us there were no dangerous radiation levels.

You won't see this technology in consumer cars any time soon, but it does have promise, as long as device makers integrate the ECouple technology.

Leveraging the style of Gateway's MC Series notebook PC, the new Gateway MD Series notebook line delivers cinematic mobile entertainment and mainstream performance to consumers on a budget. The MD Series sports a 16:9 aspect ratio and high-definition 15.6-inch wide-screen display at a 1,366x768-pixel resolution. With its HDMI 1.3 media connection, it lets consumers connect to a display device for enjoying high-definition video and audio through a single cable. The MD series has the option for dedicated ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 graphics with DirectX 10 support and 512MB of dedicated memory.

In addition, the Gateway MD Series has Illuminated Multimedia Touch Controls give consumers quick, easy access to their digital media. The ambient light sensor adjusts the display brightness according to the external lighting. The integrated 1.3 megapixel Webcam lets consumers take and send video e-mails, make voice over IP call, send still photos, as well as enjoy live videoconferencing. Consumers can connect via 802.11a/b/g Draft N with expanded wireless features.

Available in two colors--burgundy and black--the new notebook line features a sculptured design marked by the cover's distinctive branding stripe flanked by silver accents. Both the burgundy and black feature a textured palm rest and polished keyboard surround.

(Credit: Gateway)

The MD Series platform will offer processors from both Intel and AMD. It can support up to 500GB of storage space and 4GB of DDR2 memory. Plus, the line was developed to support new technologies as they become more widespread, such as Blu-ray optical drives.

The Gateway MD Series will be available in several set configurations, beginning in January 8, 2009. Prices start at $649.

Available in Best Buy soon will be the Gateway MD7801u (in black) priced at $799 and will include these specifications:

• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6400 (2.0GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
• 4,096MB DDR2 SDRAM
• Intel integrated graphics with up to 1,759MB of Dynamic Video Memory
• 15.6-inch High-Definition wide-screen WXGA TFT Display (16:9 aspect ratio and 1,366x768 resolution)
• 500GB 5,400RPM SATA Hard Drive
• 8x multiformat dual layer DVDRW featuring LabelFlash Technology
• 5-in-1 digital media card reader
• Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/Draft N Wireless
• 4 USB ports
• HDMI 1.3 connector and VGA
• 1.3-megapixel integrated Webcam
• 8-Cell lithium ion battery
• Expresscard Type 54 expansion slot
• Dimensions: 1.3-1.7 inches tall x 15.28 inches wide x 10.43 inches deep
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with Service Pack 1

The Gateway MD7818u will also be available at Best Buy in the same configuration listed above in a burgundy chassis. It is also priced at $799.

Dell's done it. HP's done it. Toshiba's done it and so has a slew of other notebook vendors, and finally Gateway comes on board.

Gateway introduces it first notebook PC with a 13.3-inch wide-screen display, hitting the sweet spot display and size for the mobile user. However, with a starting weight of 5.3-pounds, it is a bit heavy for a 13-incher.

The UC series has a round touch pad, black, brushed-aluminum keyboard and palm rest, brushed-aluminum barrel hinges, metallic trim, and rounded edges and corners.

(Credit: Gateway)

Beginning January 8, the Gateway UC Series will be available in several set configurations and prices will begin at $799. Specifications are as follows:

• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6400 (2.0GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
• 13.3-inch Ultrabright wide-screen WXGA TFT display (1280x800)
• 3GB DDR2 667MHz memory
• 250GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M
• Slot-load 8X multiformat dual-layer DVDRW with DVD-RAM
• 4-in-1 Digital Media card reader
• HDMI connector v1.3 and VGA
• 1.3 megapixel integrated Webcam
• 6-Cell lithium ion battery
• Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N Wireless
• 10/100 Ethernet, 56K ITU v.92 ready fax/modem
• 3 USB ports
• Expresscard type 34 expansion slot
• Dimensions: 12.6 inches wide by 9.4 inches deep by 1.5 inches high
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with Service Pack 1

Editors' note: This specific configuration is for the Gateway UC7807u and will be sold at Costco and TigerDirect.com

(Credit: Eclipse)

Eclipse showed off two cool new products at CES 2009, an all-in-one in-dash navigation and media unit, and docking head unit for a TomTom GPS device. The all-in-one AVN726E goes a long way towards turning your old beater into a high-tech machine, with navigation, Bluetooth, and multimedia playback. The AVN4430 works as a compromise between a portable nav unit and an integrated in-dash nav. A TomTom GPS easily docks with the unit, giving you navigation in the car, or you can take the TomTom out and use it in other cars. We also checked out a few other things in the Eclipse booth, including a customized Ford Flex.

See photos of Eclipse's car stereo line-up at CES 2009.

(Credit: SD Association)

Fits there was just SD, then SDHC(high capacity), soon there will be SDXC(extended capacity). The SD Association has announced the next generation SD card specification, the SDXC. This new SDXC specification provides for up to 2TB storage capacity and brings the SD interface speeds up to 104MB per second by the end of 2009, and with a future road map of 300MB per second. Specifications for this new SDXC standard will be released in the first quarter of 2009. The new SDXC specifications make some major jumps in capacity while retaining the standard SD card interface. Their proposed size would allow for lots of portable entertainment with a @TB card capable of holding 100 HD movies, 60 hours of HD recording or up to 17,000 high quality photos. That's a lot of media on a little memory card. Giving handhelds incredible storage capacity. As well as camcorders, that's a lot of high quality HD footage on a little SD card. The new SDXC card specification employs Microsoft's exFAT file system to support its large capacity and compatibility wit broad range of PC's, laptops, handhelds, digital cameras and more. For more info about the SD Association please visit here.

LAS VEGAS--Verizon will soon allow some Fios TV customers to remotely access their DVRs online from a computer or via a Verizon Wireless cell phone, the company is expected to announce Thursday at the Consumer Electronics Show that it.

Using the remote access service, Fios TV subscribers are able to remotely review, change or add recording requests, delete recorded programs, browse and search TV and video-on-demand listings, and set parental controls.

The remote control service can be accessed through the Fios TV Web site or by using downloadable software on select Verizon Wireless handsets, including the LG enV2, LG Voyager and LG Chocolate 2 handsets. Other handsets will get the remote DVR capability in the future, the company said.

The new service is free to subscribers who have the Home Media DVR, which allows subscribers to record a show in one room and watch it in up to six other rooms.

Verizon demonstrated the new service in October at a special press event held at Verizon CIO Shaygan Kheradpir's Manhattan apartment. Cable operators, Comcast, Time Warner, Cox Communications and Advance/Newhouse Communications, had high hopes of offering a similar remote DVR programming service through a joint venture they had formed three years ago with Sprint Nextel. But that initiative never really got off the ground.

Tivo, which essentially invented the DVR market, announced in November that it is launching a cell phone-friendly Web site that will allow users to search programming and set their TiVo DVRs remotely. TiVo Mobile will be a free service available "with any Internet-enabled phone through any network, regardless of carrier," the company said.

In addition to the remote DVR function, Verizon also plans to announce Thursday that it's now offering 100 or more channels of high-definition (HD) television in every market where the TV service is offered.

AMD's new Dragon platform uses components from several AMD product families

(Credit: AMD)

As the only vendor currently producing CPUs, GPUs, and motherboard chipsets, AMD is uniquely positioned to market its entire product line as a unified PC gaming platform. It began this effort last year with its Spider platform (the original Phenom X4, Radeon HD 3000-series CPUs, and its 700-series chipsets), and with today's launch of its new Phenom II desktop chips, AMD also announced its new Dragon platform. Dragon marries Phenom II with the Radeon HD 4800-line of 3D cards and AMD's 790-series chipsets into a complete, AMD-made gaming PC.

The big news with Dragon is really the Phenom II chips. Available as the 3.0GHz Phenom II X4 940 and the 2.8GHz Phenom II X4 920, these new quad-core CPUs are AMD's first 45-nanometer desktop processors, and they finally bring AMD in line with Intel's 45-nano manufacturing process, used in its Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, and Core i7 chips.

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BlueAnt Q1 to be available in Q2 2009.

(Credit: BlueAnt)

One of our favorite Bluetooth headsets for 2008 was the BlueAnt V1, the world's first voice-controlled Bluetooth headset. Well, BlueAnt is certainly not resting on its laurels. It just announced the BlueAnt Q1, a brand-new headset that combines the voice interface technology from the V1 with a stylish gunmetal design.

The new design promises to "virtually eliminate" wind and road noise, handling wind speeds up to 10 miles per hour. It also boasts dual microphone wind noise reduction, echo cancellation, and digital signal processing software for clearer voices. Other features include automatic pairing and reconnection to the phone, automatic volume control, dynamic receive signal frequency equalization, and multipoint technology, which lets you connect to two phones simultaneously. And, of course, it has that BlueGenie voice interface that the V1 has.

The device is quite the looker; slim with a metallic sheen. It measures 2.17 inches by 0.63 inch by 0.27 inch, has up to 4 hours of talk time, and 120 hours of standby time. It will retail for $129.95 and won't be available until the second quarter of 2009.

Here's a cool little product that I can't wait to try out: The Pogoplug. It's a simple and releatively cheap box that plugs into an external hard drive (or flash drive) via USB, and also into you home's Internet connection. Then it puts the hard drive on the Web as well as on your local network. Any computer in your home can access it as a shared drive, and people outside can also connect to it over the Web. It sounds like a very quick and simple way to put a whole bunch of files online for friends to see.

Pogoplug connects your USB drives to the Internet.

Now, it's no great feat for a geek to wire up a PC or a network-attached storage drive for Internet access. What the Pogoplug does is not utterly unique. The company is going for ease of use, though. Instead of having to open ports on your router, or configure a NAS for Web access, with Pogoplug you just go to the company's Web site, enter the identifying code from your device (presumably, it's stamped on it somewhere), and then the Pogoplug servers will set up the routing for you and give you your device's Web address.

You could, also, upload your files to a sharing service like Flickr or YouTube. In comparison, Pogoplug will make the upload faster (it's local), and should also give you more control over your files (if you want to remove them, for example), and who can see them.

One thing I would be concerned about for home users: Many home broadband connections are much slower on the upload than download. People who want to download your raw AVI home movie files from your drive may be limited by the speed that your Pogoplug-attached drive can upload to the Net. If the device streams video this should not be a big issue.

Other promised features inlcude an iPhone interface (for upload as well as viewing), and an open API for developers.

It's not out yet so I haven't tried it; I don't know if it's as easy as it should be, or if the security is appropriate for its target use. But the price is right for this utility: $99 retail. I could really use this, and look forward to trying it when the first units are made available in February.