GadgetReview

Ah, ya, there are like no words to describe how ridiculously stupid this car’s audio system is.  Just hit the video, crank your speakers and you’ll see what kind of mayhem occurs.  And yes, this is still CES stuff.

Last week at CES, Linksys announced their Wireless Home Audio system and to say ‘confusing’, might be an understatement. There are a variety of kits and components to choose from, but what’s really important to understand is that their intention, as complicated as it maybe, is to ‘unwire’ your music.

First up is the Director (DMC250).  This device connects to your tunes over your home’s network, can connect directly to any pair of speakers, includes 50 watts of power per channel and a 3.5-inch color LCD screen.  If you so opt, there is also a ’sold separately’ iPod dock.  Cost: $450

Next is the Player (DMP100).  It plugs into any powered speakers or stereo system and accepts wireless audio from the Director. Cost: $300

The Controller (DMRW1000) is a touchscreen remote that connects with the Director over WiFi and allows you to view and control the music at hand.  It also includes an iPod like ‘thumbwheel’. Cost: $350

Last on the list is the Conductor (DMC350).  It’s similar to the Director, but in place of the amplifier is a built-in CD player and speakers.  It can play or receive wireless streams and thanks to the 7-inch touchscreen you can easily navigate your computer or Rhapsody’s music library. The Conductor is not yet available for purchase. Cost: TBD

Linksys’ Wireless Home Audio component are available here and start at about $300.

You gotta love the names that them military folk come up with. The black, slender shaped boxes is an ‘area denial system’, while the yellow thing is a shotgun outfitted with both a taser for close range combat and taser shotgun bullets for long range combat. We didn’t care so much about the price or availability, but the ‘wow’ factor. Some how I think you’ll agree.

The actual applications of the Spyball are far from practical, but we already knew that since the manufacturer is a toy company. Nonetheless, tweens and teens will enjoy its snooping abilities thanks to the built-in pop out camera that can record video and stills. It can be controlled by accessing the unit via the Internet, or connecting directly with it over ‘ad hoc’ WiFi.

The Spyball will be available this year for an undisclosed price.

What is it: The FlexiCords are your standard cables (HDMI, USB, S-Video, etc), but the cord has been modified to include a malleable wire that holds whatever shape you put in place.

Features: Comes in a variety of lengths, inputs and colors.  Packaging is ‘green’, utilizing soy based ink and recycled cardboard.

Availability: February 2009

Price: Costs about 10% more than a standard cord

What is it: The Power Peg is a ‘kinetic energy charger’.  Place the device in your backpack or on your hip while you walk or run and up to 5 watts is generated, which is enough to power an iPhone or iPod.

Features: Mini USB input, must be in a vertical orientation, they expect to have different sizes

Availability: Latter half of ‘09

Price: $149

The ICE Phone is old news these days, but that didn’t stop the manufacturer from showing up at CES.  They were one of the last booths that we hit up on Sunday and I snapped a boat load of pics of the dummy phone on display.  Although I previously called it vaporware, I’m starting to think otherwise since CES floor space is so damn expensive.

Shuttle saw it fit to unleash their latest desktop PC at CES ‘09 this past weekend.  The X50 is an all-in-one desktop computer with a 15.6-inch 1366×768 touchscreen display.  Specs include a 1.6Ghz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 80GB hard drive, 1.3MP webcam and Intel GMA 950 graphics card.  The all-in-one will launch this March for $500.

[Electronista]

Stupid Palm.  We tried to stop by their ‘booth’ at CES, but come 4pm on Saturday they had already packed up and headed home.  I guess they didn’t think that their struggling company needed more than a few hours of press attention.  Additionally, they couldn’t even bother to place a sign up saying they had gone home and left it up to the semi positive security guard to inform us of the news.  But, who would I be TO not at least post on the device.

So yes, Palm released an all new touchscreen device called the PRE.  It’s running something they call a webOS and from some of the videos I’ve seen it looks pretty slick.  A big advantage over the iPhone is its ability to run more than one application at a time.  Much like the iPhone they’re offering threaded text messages, but have taken a queue from RIM and placed AIM and texts into one application (emails are not included in there) and are launching an app store. At the foot of the phone is a touchpanel that perhaps looks more complicated than its worth, but without a true hands on I can’t really say.  Like all Palm phones they’re is a slide out QWERTY keyboard.  I’m not sure where they got the technology from, but much like Powermat tech we saw, Palm has included a wireless charging stand – called the ‘Touchstone’ -  that uses magnetic induction. No word on price or release date, but rumor says about $399 without a contract and $149 with a contract.  The phone is expected to hit Sprint stores this summer, but another rumor says production will be limited to a few hundred thousand due to screen shortages.

Specs:

• Palm webOS
• 3G EVDO Rev A
• 3.1-inch touchscreen (320×480)
• QWERTY slide out keyboard
• Microsoft Outlook with PUSH for email
• GPS
• Accelerometer
• Media player compatible with a variety of codecs
• WiFi b/g
• Bluetooth
• 8GB on board storage
• micro USB input
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• 2.3×3.9x.67-inch (WxHxT)

Official product page here

The Mindflex from Mattel is one of those toys every adult wants to try. The included headset reads your brain waves and based on your cognitive power it either increases or decreases the built-in fan’s output. The goal of the game? Place the ball through the hoops. The knob on the front of the device controls the location of the fan. Hit the videos for a complete walk through and some solid ‘day 4 CES’ laughs (we had drank a bottle of Jack the night before and just finished an all you can eat buffet).