By Terry Currier
The 2007 International CES®, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow. This global event featured 2700 exhibitors, 140,000 attendees and 1.7 million net square feet of space. Exhibits at three major venues: the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Sands/Venetian and the Hilton hotel. www.CESweb.org
Consumer Electronic Show 2007- Report #1 - Companies A - C
Consumer Electronic Show 2007- Report #2 - Companies D - L
Consumer Electronic Show 2007- Report #4 - Companies S- Z
Microsoft www.microsoft.com
Vista of course was
everywhere. On the big screens they were showing how wonderful it is, and their
partners in the booth were showing products that work with it. Users can take
full advantage of all the digital lifestyle has to offer with Windows Ultimate
Extras, cutting-edge programs that provide a richer computing experience
exclusively for users of Windows Vista Ultimate. For example, Windows
DreamScene™ transforms the desktop from the familiar static background
wallpaper into a full-motion, personal video canvas. In addition to the new and
improved in-box Windows Vista games, Windows Vista Ultimate customers can play
exclusive games, such as Hold ’em, the Windows Version of poker’s most popular
variant, “Texas Hold ’em”.
Mobility Electronics
- MAGMA www.magma.com
Markets Magma PCI Express expansion solutions for laptop and
desktop computers. The newest products, Magma™ ExpressBox1 and ExpressBox1 Pro,
provide a PCI Express slot in an external box for laptop computers. Many types
of PCI Express cards can be used ranging from graphics, test & measurement,
data-acquisition, audio, video, FibreChannel, SATA and more. Users are able to
turn a standard laptop into a powerful gaming system, or audio and video
editing workstation by simply adding the
right card and then plugging the
device into their laptop.
MSI http://live.msi.com.tw
Although not really for everyone the HATO – (Heartbeat
Audition Transceiver On-the-Go) notebook is designed to monitor the patient’s
electrocardiogram record and to enable online access to doctor who can view the
results anytime in the hospital. It can record and store ECG signal of
professional quality level. Patients can self administer most tests. Visit MSI
for a virtual tour at the above web address.
Navman www.navman.com
Unveiled a new generation of portable, in-vehicle navigation devices, the N40i
and N60i. NavPix™ lets you identify destinations as
pictures, rather than just names, letting you define your world as you see it,
users simply select a picture, touch and drive.
In addition both the N40i and N60i also
contain an integrated 1.3 megapixel camera, allowing users to easily compile
their own NavPix library. With the push of a button, digital images, coded with
the exact latitude and longitude of the location, are added to the device.
NavPix images loaded on either N-Series device can be edited with labels and
additional destination information. Users can also upload their custom, geo-stamped
photos to the Navman website to share with other NavPix users around the world.
Both give turn-by-turn voice guidance along with detailed street maps with the Navman
N40i displayed on a 3.5-inch color
screen, the N460i has a 4.3-inch screen. In addition to NavPix, destinations
can be entered manually by entering the street address, intersection, zip code
or by selecting from the extensive list of Points Of Interest (POIs). With
preloaded Tele Atlas map data for all of North America,
convenient dedicated buttons to locate nearest gas stations and parking
facilities. The N40i will be priced at U.S. $4500, while the N60i will
be priced at U.S. $600.
Nero www.nero.com
Showcased their latest technology to bring all of the digital media hubs
together. Their cornerstone approach to liquid media within the digital home
and on the go is the Nero Digital™ platform which consists of Nero Digital
codecs, software solutions and DRM and copy protection mechanisms. Based on
industry standards MPEG-4 Video and MPEG-4 Audio compression technologies.
Nero 7 Ultra Edition Enhanced delivers the home, portable
and mobile solutions to the consumer. The Nero Mobile application enables users to efficiently
transfer audio and video files from PCs to mobile phones, PDAs and other
portable devices, transforming them into mobile media centers. Nero MediaHome enables the
streaming of live TV and other content throughout the house from Windows Media
Center Edition PCs to Xbox 360™ game consoles. Nero Home Integrates TV time-shifting & TV Recording.
NETGEAR www.netgear.com
The Digital Entertainer HD (EVA8000) is a set-top digital media receiver that
can automatically discover HD movies, TV shows, music files, and personal
photos on a home network, across multiple PCs. It organizes these into a single
media library than can then be displayed on a TV without the need for media server
software running on the computer. They also held workshops on :
NETGEAR’s Skype WiFi Phone is the world’s first wireless
Internet phone that can make free calls to other Skype users anywhere in the
world, anytime you have WiFi access, without a PC. All of your contacts are
shown right on the phone’s color display so you will know exactly who is
online. 
Norcent www.norcent.net
Introduce its two newest HD plasma televisions the models, 50” PT-5045HD and 42” PT-4246HD, offer superior HD image detail and clarity. With 1366 x 768 resolution (PT-5045HD) and 1024 x 768 resolution (PT-4246HD), these sets deliver a High Definition viewing experience through an integrated digital tuner. Both feature built-in ATSC and NTSC tuners; the 42” model also includes a Clear-QAM tuner. Input versatility is another outstanding component of these units. Both include an HDMI input for uncompressed, crystal-clear digital video and high-resolution, multichannel digital audio. Since input is via a single cable, HDMI greatly reduces wiring hassles. Each also has component video, S-video (rear and side), composite video (rear and side), and PC with audio inputs.
3D digital comb filter provides accurate color processing in both models, while high brightness rates of 1000 cd/m2 (50”) and 1200 cd/m2 (42”) along with 10,000:1 and 8,000:1 contrast ratios respectively assure clear, crisp images, even in well lit rooms. Other common features include 160-degree side-to-side viewing; 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i signal compatibility; trilingual (English, French, Spanish) on-screen menu; convenient sleep timer; and parental control.SRS audio enhancement, found in both models, creates a virtual surround-sound experience using the unit’s internal speakers. The 42” PT-4246HD has an estimated street price of $1200 and is available now. 50” PT-5045HD has an estimated street price of $1900 and will be available in February 2007.
Neurok Optics www.iz3d.com
Designer, developer, and marketer of advanced 3D visualization systems previewed
a new iZ3D brand 22" widescreen 3D LCD monitor at CES 2007. Designed to
replace a standard two-dimensional monitor, it offers commercial-grade image
quality and display brightness, while supporting long-term viewing without
causing fatigue or eyestrain.
The advanced 22” widescreen iZ3D video monitor displays impressive into and
out-of-screen 3D images with passive polarized glasses in a variety of new
styles. Its advanced technology is compatible with popular applications, and
users can easily switch between 3D and 2D viewing.
All popular brands of current PC’s equipped with a dual output video card will
power the monitor. Smart capabilities allow it to be used for regular 2D office
tasks as well as 3D viewing. Specifications include: 1680 x 1050 resolution; up
to 170-degree viewing angle; 5 ms response time; 600:1 contrast ratio; and
16.7-million colors.
NewSoft America
www.newsoftinc.com
With the WMS 100 Image or WMS 200 Video users can wirelessly connect
to a single projector to display up to four different presentations on the same
screen, simultaneously. With the Presto! WMS 2.5 sending software it uses
802.11 a/b/g standard Wi-Fi technology incorporated into a hardware receiver
and Presto! WMS 2.5 sending software. The presentation has a frame transfer
rate of 15fps.
Novint Technologies www.novint.com
The Falcon is the first high-fidelity, three dimensional interactive
touch device for the home PC, allowing users to feel weight, shape, texture,
dimension, dynamics, 3D motion and force effects when playing enabled games.
Replacing a computer mouse or joystick, users hold onto the interchangeable
handle, or "Grip", - letting users feel their interactions and
control a game more naturally and intuitively.
Optoma www.optomausa.com
With a outstanding 6000:1 contrast ratio the Optoma HD73 features a DarkChip3
DLP DMD chipset from Texas Instruments and with Optoma’s proprietary ImageAI
technology. It also supports dual digital inputs for multiple digital
high-definition source connections. With 1300 lumens and a native 16:10 aspect
ratio, support for 4:3 and 16:9, digital horizontal and vertical keystone
correction, and is quiet at 27dB. Suggested price is $1,999. The TX773 puts
3,500 ANSI lumens with a 1,024 x 768 resolution, and DVI / VGA inputs. Priced
at $2,499.
OQO www.oqo.com
Bill Gates showcased OQO's next generation ultra-mobile PC, the model 02, in
his keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Weighing a mere one pound and
small enough to fit in a pocket, the model 02 is the world's smallest Windows
Vista capable computer. Redesigned from the ground up, the model 02 features a
new ergonomic backlit keyboard and capacitive TouchScrollers™ for easy input
and navigation. The model 02 incorporates complete wireless connectivity -
including EV-DO Wireless WAN, WiFi, and Bluetooth - ensuring the user has high
speed and uncompromised access to the internet, email, and networked
applications.
With prices starting at just $1,499, the model 02 lineup can be customized to
fit the needs of each user or organization. The model 02 is available with a
1.5GHz processor, 60GB hard disk drive, 1GB of RAM, and integrated mobile
broadband data capability. Comes with an integrated optical drive, audio jack:
3.5mm line out/line in, video out: HDMI and VGA, 10/100Base-T Ethernet, and USB
2.0 ports: 2 rear + 1 front. 
Otter Products www.otterbox.com
Designs and products rugged cases to safeguard technology
and valuables. With a complete line of waterproof, drop-resistant, interactive
cases. Cases available for Apple iPods, Palm Treo, RIM Blackberry, laptops,
PDAs, Tablet PCs, GPS, cigars, Zippo lighters and more. All products carry a
100 percent guarantee.
Pantone www.pantone.com
huey™ is an easy-to-use
monitor calibration tool designed for digital photo enthusiasts, gamers and any
computer user wanting absolute color and clarity. About the size of a small
marker it is the first monitor calibration device to continually adjust the monitor
as room lighting changes. In less than five minutes, huey can calibrate a
user’s monitor and adjust it based on their primary viewing activity – viewing
photos, playing games, creating graphics or browsing the Web with a $89 price
tag.
The Eye-One Display LT ($169) features more advanced
controls than huey. Eye-One Display 2 ($249) includes all the features of
Eye-One Display LT and also provides unlimited control and customization
capabilities over the gamma and whitepoint settings. Its lightweight, sleek
design comes with an ambient light head that easily snaps onto the device.
Photodex www.photodex.com
ProShow Gold 3.0 is a slide show creation
software for consumers. The program makes it easy to turn ordinary digital
photos into a slide show masterpiece. Motion effects, like pan, zoom and
rotate, make still photos come to life. Users can edit their photos, videos and
music directly. Users can add an unlimited number of layers to any slide in
their shows. Each layer has its own combination of motion effects allowing
users to create unique photo montages, video overlay compositions, and more.
One-click photo correction, red-eye removal and a built-in cropping and
rotation tool bypass the photo-preprocessing step completely.
It has a refreshed user
interface featuring a waveform in the soundtrack bar, a new slide options
dialog and a favorites pane. Users can toggle between the normal Slide List
view and Timeline view, simplifying precise matching of audio to the slide
show. Important folders are close at hand with the new, customizable favorites
pane. Slide shows can now be output to Adobe® Flash®, Windows Media Video (WMV), HD
Video and QuickTime®, in addition to the standard DVD and CD disc formats. Available
from Photodex Corporation in both electronic ($70) and boxed ($80) versions. A
15-day, free trial version is available from Photodex.com for download.
PlanOn Systems
Solutions www.planon.com
Debuted the new and improved DocuPen R700+. The DocuPen R700+ is a portable,
full-page scanner that is about the size of a pen and weighs only 1.75 ounces.
Completely PC independent, and comes equipped with built-in processor,
rechargeable Lithium Ion battery, and 4 MB on-board flash memory, offering the
user the ability to store up to 200 scanned documents.
As a bonus, the DocuPen R700+ package includes Nuance’s PaperPort OCR (Optical
Character Recognition) software to manage 
scanned documents and connect to
programs such as Outlook, WinFax, Notepad, Adobe Photoshop, Acrobat, Microsoft
Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Available for MSRP of $200.
They also have a portable color scanning solution with the DocuPen RC800, which
offers the ability to scan in B&W, Grayscale, and up to 24 bit Color. A pocket-sized
color scanner that scans at higher color resolutions, offers three new mobile
accessories including a mobile charger that extends DocuPen runtime to 24 hours
of continuous use per charge, and can be purchased in an all-in-one DocuPen
Executive Kit to provide a complete scanning solution for the road. It has a
built-in processor, an 8 MB on-board flash memory, and a memory slot that
allows the user to add MicroSD memory cards for almost unlimited scanning
capacity. It is powered by a Li-Ion rechargeable battery making it completely
PC-independent, weighs just 1.75 oz, and is slightly larger than a pen.
A Universal Mobile Charger (UMC) that fully charges the DocuPen in just 15
minutes from any AC power outlet to provide 24 hours of continuous use. Accessories
can be purchased individually or as part of an Executive Kit that aggregates
all components necessary for portable scanning into a single aluminum box. The
DocuPen RC800, MSRP is $300, and the RC800
Executive Kit MSRP is $400.
PNY www.pny.com
USB Flash Drives: complete line of Attaché USB 2.0 flash drives available
in a variety of capacities and form factors: 
Pyramat www.pyramat.com
Manufactures and distributes multi-sensory furniture for gaming and
entertainment enthusiasts. Using Audio Response Technology, Pyramat delivers
ergonomically designed chairs that enable users to feel audio sensation from
video games, movies and music.
Razer www.razerzone.com
Designs, engineers and markets cutting-edge gaming peripherals that
provide professional computer gamers with the competitive edge through a
combination of technology, innovation and design.
ReCellular www.recellular.com
A recycler and reseller of used cell phones and accessories. In
2007, ReCellular will: collect an estimated 4 million cell phones donated
through charity fundraising, corporate partners and individual consumers; raise
more than $5 million for national and local charities through the Cell Phone
Donation Program; refurbish and resell an estimated $2.5 million in handsets,
offering companies near-new handsets for resale around the world; and recycle
an estimated 1 million pounds of unsalvageable cell phones and accessories.
Ritek www.ritekusa.com
This was one of my favorite things at CES. The Yego is a flash drive and USB
hub. A unique, multi-function USB flash drive featuring two additional USB
ports. This allows the user to connect more USB devices and expand their
computer’s capabilities. The YEGO features true Plug & Play technology, is
USB 2.0 compliant, transfers data up to 480Mbps and is powered via USB port.
Bright, tie-style LED lights indicate usage status. The YEGO USB Drive is available in five
bright colors and capacities ranging from 1GB
up to 4GB.
ATSC USB-powered dongle , which is the unit, the first external HDTV device to
interface with USB 2.0, allows both analog and digital video and audio signals
to be received by and shown on PCs and laptops. It is applicable anywhere the
ATSC standard is followed. Compact, and easy-to-transport.
The new SDHC 2.0 card initially will be available in 4GB and 8GB capacity
sizes. The 4GB SDHC card has a Speed Class rating of Class 2 and Class 6, the
8GB a Class 6. Conforming to the latest SDA 2.0 specification, it also fully
supports the Speed Class specification. Meeting these two new standards ensures
stable product quality and excellent performance. The RIDATA SDHC card offers
the best combination of large capacity and high-speed performance of any SD
memory card currently being sold
Membership in WINNERS is $20 annually for individuals with $5 for each additional family member. The newsletter is emailed to the members in PDF format.
 |
Winners is a member of the Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG) is an international, platform-independent, nonprofit corporation (incorporated in Washington, DC) devoted to helping user groups throughout the world. Almost 400 user groups are members of APCUG. http://www.apcug.net/ |