CES Tidbits 215
Various newsbits from the Consumer Electronics Show: Verizon promises cell phone TV; USB flash drives get more useful; Transmeta promises a fanless media center device, sometime; things you can stick on your iPod; and a tech site offers a photographic overview of day 0 of the convention.
Day 0? (Score:5, Funny)
Day 0 (Score:5, Funny)
All: Bill Gates come and he wanna go home
All: Day, he say day, he say day, he say day,
All: He say day, he say day-ay-ay-o
All: Microsoft come and he wanna go home
Boys: Hack all night on a drink a'rum
Girls: Daylight come and he wanna go home
Boys: Hack manana till thee morning come
Girls: Bill gates come and he wanna go home
Re:Day 0 (Score:2)
Not bad, really. But you forgot the thing about the commies.
Re:Day 0 (Score:2)
' Bill Gates Come and say-a commie go home '.
Re:Day 0? (Score:2)
Re:Day 0? (Score:2)
Nerds.
I know nerds when I see them, and this [thetechlounge.com] ain't no nerd! Oo-la-la. I love Vegas.
Microsoft CES Torrent (Score:5, Interesting)
Some good laughs in there (not only Conan's perfomance).
Re:Microsoft CES Torrent (Score:2)
Gates Faces Down Blue Screen of Death [tvtechnology.com]
yep. it happened AGAIN
or about 1hr13 into the clip from parent's blog
Re:Microsoft CES Torrent (Score:3, Insightful)
if you need 3d drivers and you're using an nvidia card (which you should if you're using linux) d/l nvidia's drivers, stop X, install, follow instructions to modify your X config, restart X (even easier than windows, don't even need to restart your machine and all instructions are available from nvidia website in great detail).
I don't know why I even try, feeding trolls is so tiresome......
Re:Microsoft CES Torrent (Score:2)
Re:Microsoft CES Torrent (Score:3, Insightful)
Right now, most consumers expect to be able to install the software without reading any of the dialog boxes and just hitting 'next' like mad. Making this more difficult isn't a matter of them not being able to do this, but rather that they lack the drive to actually do it. Changing 3 lines
U3 (Score:5, Interesting)
Do we really need "a new USB standard" to allow apps to run without installation? I've been doing this on my Mac forever. I know that this can work on Windows if you write the program correctly. Why the need for a giant consortium?
Re:U3 (Score:5, Informative)
I know it works with removable USB hard drives, we have various demos setup on usb drives, so all our dopey marketing folk have to do is plug it in to their laptop, and it starts up.
Re:U3 (Score:3, Informative)
Autorun anybody (Score:2)
What's the market for this anyway. Am i going to have to carry one dongle for each application?
Surely it'd be better to work on a standard for applications that run from removable media... require that they run from a single exe file and create some sort of sub-registry on the removable device - that'd make it easy for people to handroll their own usb functionality.
Re:Autorun anybody (Score:2)
What about (assuming the usb is big and fast enough) hosting an MMO client? Aren't people perennially complaining about griefers? If you could uniquely identify the key chain and it was required for game play, then you could ban the device if someone misbehaved badly enough. They'd have to buy another device to get back on and at say $50 a pop being a griefer would become an expensive proposition very quickly.
Plus it'd be pretty cool to take your "Dark Age of Evercra
Re:Autorun anybody (Score:2)
Re:Autorun anybody (Score:2)
Re:Autorun anybody (Score:2)
Re:U3 (Score:2, Funny)
Re:U3 (Score:3, Interesting)
With universities pushing USB flash as the storage medium of choice in their computer labs I think that college IT's job is about to get a bit tougher.
Re:U3 (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:U3 (Score:2)
Re:U3 (Score:2)
Re:U3 (Score:2)
Cell phone TV (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Cell phone TV (Score:3, Funny)
And I'll use my Video Cell Phone to take a movie of you watching your Camera Cell Phone to watch them
Re:Cell phone TV (Score:3, Funny)
What I'm most worried about is the users of cell phones with TV being allowed on flights. Now I have to spend 5 hours being crushed by the sweaty overweight guy next to me, who's watching King of Queens reruns while giving a play-by-play, complete with guffaws, to his best bud on the other end of the line.
I wonder if I could claim temporary insanity if I were to injure my neighbor in that situation?
John.
Re:Cell phone TV (Score:2)
Why 6 through 10? Who really expects this to not suck enough for anyone to really be clamoring for it in the first place?
Re:Cell phone TV (Score:2)
Even if Verizon hands their version out for free, I doubt we'll see this take off here. The typical Japanese appetite for latest, hottest gadgetry far outstrips the typical American appetite.
However, that said, I'd love to be proven wrong on both counts. I just think I will anytime soon.
Re:Cell phone TV (Score:2)
Grand-parent wrote: They're simply a cell phone with an integrated TV tuner
Does their 'wireless phone infrastructure' have anything to do with receiving a TV signal? Surely it has more to do with their wireless television infratructure.
Re:Cell phone TV (Score:2)
I could see this making sense in Japan both ways and likewise failing both ways here in the US. Firstly, I wonder how much appeal the four networks have around here for most people. Timeshifted viewing, unedited (HBO-style, if you will) content
Re:Cell phone TV (Score:2)
Anyways, a seperate TV Tuner is not impressive. Streaming over the network however is, as you mentioned a cool thing. Another post somewhere in this discussion pointed out that in Spain you can watch CNN live on your 3G phone. I'm in the UK, and we have several 3G networks, who are keen to provide goals (football/soccer) as they happen but no talk of TV (yet).
Re:Cell phone TV (Score:2)
Wooo - Cell phone TV - wave of the future .... (Score:2)
Still seems like a hokey idea to me - I understand that cell towers work a lot like cable qams so multicasting to people in unused bandwidth makes a lot of sense (I don't know if it really works this way - just guessing) - but I honestly think that the market for this is tiny (mayb
Amateur look (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
yawn - except the hot girls (Score:2)
I for one was pretty bored. There was really nothing new at the show. No exciting new technology. This year seems to be rehashes of existing technology in various cute packages.
Take time to get your picture taken with all the cute girls working at various exhibits. That's about the only thing worth doing at this years CES. I especially liked a
Do they have: (Score:5, Funny)
Digital cameras that act as cell phones?
Handheld gameboy clones that play MP3s?
Mp3 players that play videogames?
Cell phones that play MP3's?
Cell phones that play videogames?
Mp3 players that take digital pictures?
Gameboys that make phone calls?
If I left off any of the the ridiculous convergence that makes up so much of tech buzz these days, let me know.
Re:Do they have: (Score:2)
2. Nokia N-Gage
3. iPod has breakout
4. Some motorolla phones do this
5. Nokia N-Gage again
6. Not that I know of
7. Well, Nokia N-Gage.
I'd also like to mention that the Game Boy Camera acts as a Gameboy that takes digital pictures.
Re:Do they have: (Score:2)
Re:Do they have: (Score:2)
1. Me neither. Bad since most new cell phones have a built-in camera, and since there's already 3 megapixel cam/cell phones available (with 4 MP just around the corner [pcworld.com]) with storage becoming increasingly cheaper, I think it's only a matter of time before we cross from "cell phone with a camera gizzmo" into "full fledged digital camera that also t
Re:Do they have: (Score:2)
It's going to be a damned long time before anybody beats HP out in the convergence field. (For those who don't know, I'm talking about the high end of the 4000 and 6000 series that actually came out *before* CES). Oh yeah, and thanks to Familiar Linux and/or the various 8088 emulators out for
Re:Do they have: (Score:2)
Now is not the time for time. (Score:2)
They were working on it, but it got complicated when it was revealed that SCO had filed an patent on the hours from 02:00 - 11:00 AM.
Re:Do they have: (Score:2)
Yeah, you forgot the flashlight, heartrate monitor, and tire pressure guage with digital voice.
Then we have convergence!
Re:Do they have: (Score:2)
Not only that (Score:2)
Re:Do they have: (Score:2)
Also, WTF did that idiot on their web site do to his teeth?
Re:Do they have: (Score:4, Funny)
Don't even respond (Score:2)
How about THINGS YOU CAN STICK YOUR IPOD IN? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:How about THINGS YOU CAN STICK YOUR IPOD IN? (Score:2)
iPod Video Display (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:iPod Video Display (Score:3, Informative)
I have. It's called an iBook. I'm guessing that it's not much more expensive than an iPod + this piece of junk, has a far better screen, plays DVDs, and has interchangeable batteries.
Nyko's iPod movie player (Score:3, Interesting)
My wife and I have been talking about getting a pair of portable DVD players for the kids - or, as I call it, "sanity preservers" so during the 10-12 hour drive to Grandma's house, Dad doesn't kill them after the 6000th "Are we there yet? I'm bored!"
I can take their entire "Angelic Layer" and "Magic Knight Rayearth", rip the DVD's to AVI's and then slap them onto an iPod. 20 GB of data should store about 60 movies (at about 300 MB apiece) - plenty to store an entire season at once, with room left over in case Daddy wants to watch one of "his" movies while Mommy drives for a little while.
No worrying about the DVD disks getting lost in the car or damaged (a problem since the cartoons belong to Daddy who gets very upset when they get scratched), and since the 5 year old is now listening to her own music she can either watch her movie or listen to something.
Very cool idea from Nyko. Depending on the cost, I can see myself snagging one of these things.
Re:Nyko's iPod movie player (Score:2)
Actually, for said purpose there are better products, like the DVD players designed to be strapped to the back of the headrest, and run on the cigarrette lighter plug.
Re:Nyko's iPod movie player (Score:2, Insightful)
You can get a portable DVD player designed for kids for about 100 bucks, though. We got our youngest one for christmas. It's not a sexy geek device, the battery is an old NiCad and weighs a ton, and only lasts 4 hours or so. But it works great, and it reads DVD-Rs and VCDs.
80 bucks for the playe
Re:Nyko's iPod movie player (Score:2, Funny)
Or as I call it, "the electronic teat".
Re:Nyko's iPod movie player (Score:2)
Or as I call it, "the electronic teat".
Makes one wonder if the two are related.
Re:Nyko's iPod movie player (Score:3, Funny)
I believe a single Taser is more cost effective than individual DVD players, especially once you get past 2 kids.
Or you can resort to my technique of "NyQuil" in the juice container...
use my dads method: (Score:4, Funny)
dad: "yes, get out."
Re:use my dads method: (Score:2, Interesting)
Threats were not idle in our house. I did go without supper, did have the TV physically taken away and my father was ALWAYS told when he got home.
Of course, I also went to a school with pretty harsh discipline, where the entire male population of the 8th grade was given group detention for 2 weeks.
I definitely never needed any of these lessons taught twice, so I'm a fan.
Re:Nyko's iPod movie player (Score:3, Insightful)
My kid is still a baby, so I haven't experienced the "Are we there yet?" years too much. And I'm not trying to be preachy-- I just want to know what other parents do with their kids.
You and I survived these long car rides with books, games, puppets, imaginati
Re:Nyko's iPod movie player (Score:2)
Well, I did that too, except for trips to the beach. Then we had that nice, long, winding road through the coast range which did not necessarily make reading while the car was in motion a good idea (motion sickness anyone?)
Then ag
Re:Nyko's iPod movie player (Score:2)
Most of my long drives involve the Coastal Range (in California, looks like you are up in Oregon). There is still a ton of stuff to look at... mountains, trees, seaside towns... call me crazy, but watching these things go by kept me occupied for hours... "how do these people live way out here", "look at that beautiful mountain", "I wanna
Re:Nyko's iPod movie player (Score:2)
I built a stand that fits between the front seats in our van. It provides a stable platform for either a laptop or a flat screen (15" is nice) monitor fed by a Viewsonic video-to-VGA [viewsonic.com] converter (broadcast reception comes for free.) We can pipe video tapes in through a portable VCR. The 4-year-old is fully entertained, and typically doesn't complain
Re:Nyko's iPod movie player (Score:3, Informative)
Have them walk up and down the isle a bunch of times, once you left American Airspace, give them some beer
Apps launching from USB (Score:3, Funny)
Seriously, I wish more vendors would put "try me"/no-install versions of their apps on their distribution media, so I could use my apps without the bother of installing.
Re:Apps launching from USB (Score:2)
Non-Linux Live CDs are out there (Score:2)
Heck, I think the old Mac OS 9 and earlier install CDs were "live."
About the only common home-computer OS I haven't seen one for is MS-Windows NT and 9x/ME.
Actually, after reading TFA... (Score:3, Funny)
Wow (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Wow (Score:5, Interesting)
I used to work for a company that made memory upgrades. One of the key purchasing agents was a smoking hot little petite blonde who, at the time of this story, was not even old enough to drink.
One year at CES some would-be vendor made a remark about the company having a piece of "fluff" at the booth. She wheeled on him and let fly with a diatribe that showcased her comprehensive knowledge of RAM chips, PCB issues, and our company's component needs and then she let him know, in no uncertain terms, that whether or not we ever purchased a single capacitor from his company would be a decision made by the petite piece of fluff with bubble gum-pink fingernails that he was speaking with at that very moment.
He walked away dazed. I don't think we ever did business with him.
The Dalai LLama
I can beat that. (Score:5, Funny)
Now if you spoke to this guy, you'd never believe he graduated from college, much less got through grad school at the finest institution of higher education in the USA. He actually used that to his advantage. I saw him do this time and time again... he'd slip into the backwards Texas drawl, mess up some word or speech on purpose, and then people would think, "Oh, what a stupid hick." Of course, at this point, they were at his mercy, just like the lady and the vendor in the tale you describe.
Only this guy one-upped your gal and then some. He became President of the United States this way.
Twice.
Re:Wow (Score:2)
But check out this image from the after party [thetechlounge.com]... there's a whole little group of them, what's up with *that*?!?
Wait a minute... (Score:2)
Also, did anyone else find the list of coming attractions to be a bit underwhelming?
--
Was it the sheep climbing onto the altar, or the cattle lowing to be slain,
or the Son of God hanging dead and bloodied on a cross that told me this was a world condemned, but loved and bought with blood.
Re:Wait a minute... (Score:2)
Also, did anyone else find the list of coming attractions to be a bit underwhelming?
Actually, it's likely that it all seems a bit underwhelming because most of it are actually *real* products which, most likely, *will* ship. Which means it's actually all kinda boring because it's just updates of stuff we've already seen, or stuff we knew was comming.
I've seen at least one other article today with such analysis; things that once were "this will happen
Fanless media center? (Score:5, Funny)
Konica/Minolta Analysis Suspect (Score:2)
These guys seem to think that it's smart for K/M to put their image stabilization technology inside the camera body instead of the lenses [thetechlounge.com] since it'll make the lenses less expensive. Nice thought.
I would point them to the lesson Contax learned when they put autofocus inside the camera body for the 35mm SLRs (the film plane moved back and forth in a mechanical box inside the camera to achieve focus). It was a great solution and allowed full autofocus with all of those great Contax lenses. It also died
Re:Konica/Minolta Analysis Suspect (Score:2)
Re:Konica/Minolta Analysis Suspect (Score:3, Insightful)
The image stabilization in teh body, however, if it is compatible with current lenses WILL SELL. Especially to people that can't afford the current auto stabilizing lenses. (like me) Best bet for that is to license it to Nikon and Cannon for theirs and they will make a bloody mint.
Re:Konica/Minolta Analysis Suspect (Score:3, Funny)
What it's all about (Score:4, Insightful)
I find it a bit disheartening that so much of the success of these products will depend on the success or failure of the content. Finally, when I heard Conan's lame double entendres about flacid penises (as in the Microsoft intro) that shook me out of my interest in what was presented at this convention. More and more I'm coming to the conclusion that products that allow the common man to produce content are far more interesting, revolutionary, and important than the evolutionary products shown at the Consumer Electronics Show to allow you to consume the content of others. The products at CES that catch my eye are ones that allow me to create or enojy the creations of others, unfortunately I think I'll see more of that sort of thing at NAB in April than I've seen at CES so far.
Please, tell me that I'm wrong and point out some great consumptive and productive tech that's made its debut.
U3 (Score:2)
In other news... (Score:2)
"things you can stick on your iPod" article text (Score:2, Informative)
Here [infosyncworld.net] is the picture of the device. The caption below the picture reads:
Nyko's MoviePlayer promises to transform an iPod into a fully fledged portable media viewer.
Bringing video playback to the iPod
By Jørgen Sundgot, Wednesday 5 January 2005
Beating Apple to the punch, little-known peripheral manufacturer Nyko has unveiled an iPod accessory which enables the popular audio player to play back videos on a 3.5"
"Fanless Media Center Device" (Score:2, Funny)
"Auto-run" Features Are a Security Risk (Score:3, Insightful)
Why are these guys pushing to make this "standard"?? Thanks for more tracking and security headaches guys for the sake of "convience".
Re:"Auto-run" Features Are a Security Risk (Score:2)
pornphone (Score:2)
Disadvantages: only for people who like really tiny naked people (naked Thumbalina anyone?)
Cat Swartz's CES coverage for Engadget (Score:2)
how about Cat Swartz's coverage at CES [weblogsinc.com] for engadget [engadget.com]. just watch how Kevin Rose of G4TechTV drools all over her 30 seconds into the clip
USB Drives and TV Shows (Score:2)
a) Had a huge amount of data (50GB? A terabyte? I don't remember, but it was ridiculous) (cough)
b) Had USB *and* firewire (cough)
c) Had *serious* encryption, yet they broke it in an afternoon (cough, cough, bird flipped at screen)
Why must you insult our intelligence? Bad enough they have to scroll through fingerprints on-screen, and show web pages ap
Re:USB Drives and TV Shows (Score:2)
I have a huge (PC-card style) 128KB card in my HP48 that cost me about a dollar a KB when I bought it in high school. Local computer shops sell 1 GB SD cards for somewhere around $80-$90. It wasn't *that* long ago that I was hearing about 1GB hard drives and imagining how I'd use all that space.
It was just yesterday I saw a 512MB SD card that folds to reveal a USB port.
I'm not insulted by fiction showing sm
Bowie at CES (Score:2)
What's David Bowie doing with that geek playing pocket pool?
CES rocks this year: there's a pr0n convention too (Score:4, Interesting)
Woo Hoo - I say it's time for some Silicon and Silicone!
Can anyone else confirm this news? If they could co-ordinate the two events they would get Even More Attendees...
RS
Re:CES rocks this year: there's a pr0n convention (Score:2)
You know what else is at CES? (Score:2)
HardWear (Score:2)
Re:Vaporware (Score:2)