Consumer Electronics Show
CES 2004 - Hot New Products and Technology
Sony QRIO Robots
The company demonstrated the amazing QRIO robots at CES. QRIO or "Quest for Curiosity" is the most impressive demonstration of technology that we have seen in a long time. It is a little scary how life-like the 2ft-tall robots acted on stage. Unfortunately, it will be a while before we see any consumer robots with this much sophistication for our home or office.
Samsung 80" Plasma HD
High Definition TV
You need High Definition Plasma hanging on your wall if you want the best home theater TV. Samsung displayed the Largest High Definition Plasma TV in the World - 80". It was a concept TV that is not for sale yet. The screen was a big hit at the show and it gave us a glimpse into the future. Wow!
Logitech diNovo Keyboards
This is the perfect Executive Keyboard for the office or home. We loved the look and feel when we tested it at the show. The keyboards use Bluetooth wireless technology to communicate with a PC. You want one for your own office. It would also make a great award for a top performer in your company. It is available now. MSRP is $249.
Prismiq
Multimedia Player Recorder
The Prismiq
MediaPlayer/Recorder
connects your PC
with your home stereo / home theater.
The diskless digital video recorder (DVR) and networked set-top box leverages home computers and the home network to record TV shows, pause live TV, access PC media, surf the web and chat, and provide broadband services.
You can watch DVD videos,
listen to MP3 music, view digital photos, browse the internet
and watch streaming video from your living room or any room
of the house. It uses existing wired and wireless home networks.
Ships in Q2 2004. Retail $300. There is no monthly fee to use this product.
GN Netcom Dual-Use
Bluetooth headset
You can wear one "very cool" wireless headset that works with two phones at once. If your mobile phone is bluetooth
enabled, you can use this headset with any office or home phone. The GN 6110 Dual-use wireless Bluetooth headset is light-weight
(1 oz) and very stylish.
You definitely want one for yourself or to award a top performer. MSRP $299 It will be available in March 2004. Also look for their new GN 6210 due out the end of Q2 in 2004. More info later.
Creative Zen Portable Media Player (PMP)
Creative won the TechTV Award for their new Zen Portable Media Player. When you are on the go bring your
recorded TV shows, downloaded videos, home movies, music, and photos along with you.
The Zen PMP can play Windows Media Video, Windows Media Audio, Windows Media Image, MP3, JPEG and TIFF files. MSRP $499 for the 20GB version due the 2nd half of 2004. Larger 30GB and 40GB models are also being considered.
Creative ProdikeysT DM
Creative showed off their new Prodikeys DM dual keyboard
equipped with a regular PC keyboard, 37 touch-sensitive music keys and accessible music controls. Play with 128 Different Realistic Instrument Sounds and 100 Rhythms for Accompaniment.
If you play the piano or like to create electronic music, this is a great add-on to your PC. MSRP $99 and is shipping now.
Ostia Smart Navigator
Smart Navigator is an exciting new Global Positioning System (GPS) Web-based Service for Pocket PC devices using the Ostia Navigation Mapping Software. PHaros won a CES Award for the new web-service. The Smart Navigator web service adds real-time traffic information and points-of-interest, including hotels, gas stations, banks/ATMS, etc. to your map. You can use this web-service for a small monthly fee if your PDA has WiFi wireless capability. You should check out this product If you are looking for a GPS system for driving, walking or hiking.
TMO "Oven of the Future"
TMIO has been working on this Oven technology for the last few years. It won a CES Innovations Award this year. Here is how it works. You leave your meal in the Intelligent Oven and have it set to refrigerator mode. You can pre-program the oven to cook in advance or you can log-on to the internet site by PC or mobile phone later in the day to start the cooking process. The food is done when you arrive home. If you are late, the oven can be programmed to turn off and go back to refrigerator mode which keeps the food from spoiling. Very Cool. Look for this product in 2005.
|
 |
Samsung Wireless HD LCD TV
Samsung was demonstrating a new wireless High Definition LCD TV. The LTP159s has a base-station that is plugged into your cable or satellite outlet. The TV connects wirelessly with an 802.11a WiFi 5.8 GHz signal. You can watch the TV up to 100 feet from the base station. They estimate 4 hours of TV watching time with the rechargeable battery. The Samsung LTP159s 15" TV will be available in Q3. Other manufacturers will have competitive products out for the 2004 holiday season.
DirecTV HD DVR
DirecTV demonstrated the latest High Definition (HD) receiver with Tivo technology. The 250 GB unit records in HD (for 30 hours) and digital video (for 200 hours). Hughes manufactures the unit. It is due out in the Spring of 2004. MSRP is estimated at $999.
Sanyo Fisher CameraCorder
The 'super" light-weight FVD-C1 still camera and camcorder can digitally record for 30 minutes in DVD quality and 80 minutes in VHS quality or up to 490 3.2 megapixel still shots. It ships with a 512 MB SD card for storage. The world's lightest high resolution camcorder is simple to use. The camera is so small that it fits into the palm of your hand.Available at Sears Stores now. MSRP is $899
SamSung YH-999
Portable
Multimedia Player
The hot new Samsung YH-999 is a Portable MultiMedia Player (PMP). It is the smallest, compact PMP at this time. The Player has a 3.5 inch TFT LCD screen, a 20 GB disc, an IR remote and is shipping in Q2 of 2004. It plays movies, pictures and music. The PMP looks and feels great. Estimated Price: $499. Available by Q4 of 2004.
Samsung DLP HD TVs
If you are looking for a new High Definition TV this year and have sticker shock from the Plasma prices, you may want to consider buying DLP technology for now. We were very surprised and impressed with the hot NEW DLP technology TVs. The Samsung TV sizes range from 46 inch to 61 inch. You get a High Definition TV at a better price-performance than Plasma or LCD TV technology. Then again...if you have the budget, go for the Plasma TV. You can't beat it.
Bang & Olufsen Speakers
The Bang & Olufsen (B&O) speakers are truly outstanding. They look like a couple of UFOs that have landed in your room. If you are looking for top-of-the-line speakers, you should check-out these babies. They cost $16,000 and are shipping now.
Wurlitzer Digital Jukebox
Gibson Audio, which owns Wurlitzer won a "Best of Audio Award" at the show for this wonderful product. They have a fun design with a 3.5" Wireless Color Touch-screen Remote (WiFi 802.11b) to conduct the digital music in you home or office. It is due out in the Fall of 2004. Estimated price is targeted at $1,899.
SanDisk Cruzer Micro
There are zillions of USB Flash Drives on the market. 2.5 million were sold in the 1st 10 months of 2003. The SanDisk Cruzer Micro has a few features we really liked. It has an advanced password-based file security application that can be downloaded. This is a must for any business executive using a flash drive. It has an Ultra-thin profile that takes very little space and fits into most small USB slots. The Cruzer uses the standard USB 2.0 standard and is backward compatible. The Micro has a very "Cool" look with a
Brilliant blue LED
and fits easily on a key chain so you don't loose it. The Cruzer is also "plug and play" with the Mac and PC. Cruzer Micro, which is expected to ship in February 2004, will be priced at $64.99, $89.99 and $159.99 for the respective 128, 256 and 512MB capacities.
LG Electronics Blu-ray DVD Recorder & DVR
LG Electronics, the parent company of Zenith, is the 1st manufacturer to introduce a Blu-ray, HDTV DVD recorder and DVR in the United States. The LGXBG420 will have a 200 gigabyte hard drive Digital Video Recorder and a Blu-ray DVD Recorder combined. High Definition TVs will require this new optical disc format DVD Recorder technology. Blu-ray technology is important to anyone buying an HDTV in the next 12-24 months. Look for this product in the stores during Q3 of 2004.
Click here to see MORE HOT CES 2004 products
Top of Page
|
