We’re already in line for today’s back-to-back CES 2008 press conference marathon. First up, LG Electronics followed by Pioneer, Toshiba, Panasonic, Sharp and Philips—and that’s all before lunch. Stay tuned for liveblog updates throughout the day.
The Gadget: Linksys’ slightly fancier Windows Media Center Extender, which streams the Windows Vista/XP Media Center interface over the network so you can watch live or recorded TV and downloaded files on TV in HD.
The Price: $US299
galleryPost('linksysmce', 3, 'Linksys 2200'); More »
The new Vudu XL is the higher capacity version of the Vudu download and play video box. This Vudu model can hold 500 standard definition movies for $US999, with 1080p/24 output over HDMI and component with optical and coaxial digital sound. The Vudu XL allows you to rent and download standard- and high-definition movies from “every major US studio and 22 independents.” In fact, the are adding new HD movies by the end of January: More »
The Pitch: D-Link has announced the DSM-210 — a new high res 10-inch LCD photo frame that features a website and a drag-and-drop desktop widget to help users manage their photos and download RSS feeds. It also includes slots for USB and memory cards and Wi-Fi or Ethernet connectivity. Available Q1 of 2008 for $US249. The Catch: Might want to wait for a review to find out if the process is really as easy as they make it seem. More »
The Pitch: D-Link’s PC-On-TV (DPG-1200) player can stream YouTube, Google Video, Veoh and other streaming video sites from your PC to your TV. It can also watch MPEG-4, AVI, or any video content using any video player on your computer to stream over either 802.11g or a 10/100 Ethernet connection. Price: $US199. The Catch: Supporting all these formats means they’re probably capturing an area of your screen (by a VNC-ish proprietary software) and then streaming it to the unit. Not bad, but it requires you to have control of your PC while you’re watching stuff.
The Pitch: A website (www.d-life.com) that lets you register all your compatible D-Link equipment online via 2 product ID numbers in order to manage all that stuff in one interface. Just connect the product to your network and you can change settings via the website. The Catch: This probably won’t make it easier for your mother to manage a home network, but will make things slightly more convenient by merging all your equipment management sites. [D-Life]
newVideoPlayer("celestron2.flv", 475, 376,"gizmodo_ces_2008.png");
Match Made in the Heavens: You saw the Celestron SkyScout a while ago, and now here’s a scope on which to mount it. See galaxies with the SkyScout Scope’s high-power eyepiece, or get your bearings with its included its low-power counterpart. But It’ll Cost Ya: To use this with the excellent $450 Celestron SkyScout spotter, you have to buy one of those, too.
The $US299 telescope, now available, works like a champ with the SkyScout piggybacking on top. . If you have your own telescope, get the SkyScout Connect, that aquaints your own scope with this easy-to-use spotter. [Celestron]
newVideoPlayer("beer_cooler_robot.flv", 475, 376,"gizmodo_ces_2008.png");
The Skinny: No more yelling across the room, ordering the kids to bring you that brewski when you have an RC Cooler from Inter Active Toy. The Catch: It runs on eight C batteries, but they are said to last for six hours of continuous use. We just wish it were rechargeable, with its own little charging garage.
It has a 30-foot range, and can hold a six pack on ice if you’re really thirsty. Might be a great drink trolley for the Gizmodian lair. Check this $US49.99 sobriety transformation device scooting around on its four sturdy wheels, ready to do your bidding as you manipulate its handy remote control. Available this spring. [Interactive Toy]
Oh, poor HD DVD. Toshiba pays big bucks to stamp its name and the HD DVD logo on every journo bag they hand out at CES. But Warner’s bitchslap has sent them home to cut their wrists and cry in the corner, so they’re not even here! Yep, the HD DVD Group has shitcanned their conference. Just how did we get to this sad state of affairs? Let’s review.-> More »
I thought radar detectors were a thing of the 1980s until I spotted Cobra’s sexy new Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne Maximum Performance 12 Band XRS 9950. Even its name says “I drive a long red car very fast for reasons I won’t go into now.” Seriously, the 1.5″ OLED screen on this baby shows you everything from battery voltage to compass heading to where Smokey lies in wait. With an add-on dongle, you can even get locations of red-light cameras. Forget my Volvo daddy-wagon, this makes me want to invest in Chevrolet’s finest.
