Suffice to say, we were impressed with Kogeto’s DOT and the olloclip.  They’re both fantastic options when it comes to capturing images and video with the iPhone 4/s.  But what good does that do you if you own a  Nokia, Android, or god forbid a Windows phone.  Not much from where we stand.

Nipping at the heels of all the aforementioned companies, especially Kogeto, is Tamaggo.  They’ve built a device agnostic camera that can capture a 360 degree image in a single shot.  And unlike the DOT and olloclip which are as only as good as the camera’s they’re attached to (currently limited at 8MP thanks to the iPhone 4s), the Tamaggo 360-imager boasts a 14-megapixel sensor, which is by our accounts unparalleled.

To capture an image with the device, you simple hold it center to what you’re capturing and snap away.  A 2-inch touchscreen allows you to review your handy work as well as tweak the camera’s settings, though we don’t know what those are at this time. Upload the photo to what we assume is their site (containing their proprietary software), and you can navigate the image from left to right and even pan up and down – total field of view will vary with how you hold the camera.

To add to the wow factor, the Tamaggo 360-imager boasts Wifi and Bluetooth, allowing you to wirelessly control the device from afar and hopefully upload images in the field.  The haven’t said how many images the camera can hold, though it would seem that there isn’t a memory card slot.

The Tamaggo 360-imager will go on sale Q2 of 2012 for $200.

Update: Looks like they’re using Kolor‘s software to create the panaroma.

At CES HP revealed the Envy 14, a full size laptop that takes on advanced style changes far beyond what we’ve seen for laptops in the past, while including all of the hardware that laptop users today want. At first glance the Envy 14 is stunning, a stark contrast from anything with an HP logo on it.

The first thing users will notice is the complete glass cover. It looks great, but it’s also a fingerprint magnet. The HP representatives were constantly running between the laptops and wiping them down with cleaning cloth, especially for photography. Germophobes need not apply. A light-up HP logo sits on the top and is similar to the Apple logo on MacBooks, but because of the glass and glossy surface, it looks very crisp and clear. There may be no greater advertisement for HP than Joe consumer sitting in a coffee shop just using the Envy 14. It looks simply stunning.

If you’re afraid of breaking the glass, chances are that you’ll dislodge some of the connectors far before the glass even cracks. The Envy comes with a giant pane of Gorilla Glass, which as you’ll recall is really hard to break. That same glass isn’t only protecting the backside of the screen, it’s built into the palm rest to ensure there’s no wear, like what’s found on the traditional plastic. I asked about that, and was told that indeed after a few years the plastic starts conforming to the palms of users, and that the glass won’t. We’ll have to wait and see if that holds true, but it’s an interesting idea nonetheless.

Along with the everyday components, HP includes the Beats Audio equalizer. This will allow users to get the same audio quality from, say, the HTC Rezound as they do from the laptop. I asked HP representatives whether, like the Rezound, Beats audio only functions in specific applications, and they assured me that it works across the entire OS, acting more as a true equalizer rather than an app-based audio enhancer.

I’m very impressed with the Envy 14, both because it shows that the industry is finally starting to compete in the laptop space on a higher level in both design and functionality. HP is clearly going in the right direction, at least from a design standpoint, an the major departure from the prototypical laptop configuration is a huge step forward. I look forward to seeing how it performs in real life, as well as the public reaction to such a machine. I regularly take my products out for field testing, and often get comments and questions about them. The Envy 14 would be a good one to experiment with.

Razer may have shown off what many consider a game-changer in the world of tablets, but I think equally important is the Razer Blade, a full-fledged 17″ gaming laptop. It’s not revolutionary in any way but one: it looks as slick as can be. It has the same design finesse of an Apple MacBook Pro, but with the parts and specs of a high-end gaming machine. Put it next to a 17″ MacBook Pro and you’d think that Apple now has an evil twin brother, with snakes growing out the top of its head.

You wouldn’t be too far from the truth for thinking that. Razer, who has over the past year broken out of the standard mold of gaming peripherals into actual computers (starting with the Blade) is making waves with the Blade and with what they call Project Fiona. The Blade, however, is stacked, and isn’t for the mass market. It’s for hardcore gamers who want the finest gaming experience you can get when on the go, or at least on a portable machine. While some laptops can compare to the specs that Razer is showing off, nothing can compete with the build quality or design, at least with what I’ve seen of the Blade thus far.

There are two things that really stand out about the Blade besides for the whole “gaming laptop” aspect. First is that the touchpad is completely gone, replaced by what Razer showed off at CES 2011, the Switchblade. That includes ten buttons, each with an LCD display so it can be programmed to show anything (this is intended to work for hotkeys to open applications like Calculator, YouTube, an Internet browser, etc.), and a 3″ LCD display that act as a touchscreen. The main function of this touchscreen is as a mouse, so users can keep one hand on the keyboard and the other hovering over the opposite side of the keyboard. While it seems like an interesting idea, and will keep users from moving their hand back and forth between the mouse and keyboard, I’ll have to try it out long-term to see how it actually plays out. This, of course, means that the rest of the space is open, so there’s no accidentally resting the left hand on the trackpad and messing up your mouse use.

Stock photos used because my CES shots of the Blade are MIA

The second is the rest of those Switchblade features. The LCD panel works both as a mouse and as a secondary screen, utilizing a proprietary system (I think it may be a separate chip powering it, as similar functions have been available in the past, though not on laptops; Razer declined to comment on how exactly it works or where it gets resources from) to allow completely seamless use of the secondary display without interfering with the main computer. So you can play a game while also streaming YouTube video of, say, a walkthrough to get past a tough area in a game. Or switch the LCD to a number pad for when handling taxes (or even use the 10 buttons as a sideways numpad). There’s no limit to what the panel can do, theoretically. It’s unclear if the SDK will limit what can be done. All Razer shared thus far was that any application can be used for the Switchblade system, but that apps require an icon to appear on the buttons. Otherwise it won’t work.

The specs are as high-end as you can image for a gaming laptop. 1080p display, 2.8GHz dual-core i7, 8GB of DDR3 RAM (1333MHz), Nvidia GT 555 (2GB), and a 256GB SSD. It’s less than an inch thick, has one USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI out, and of course the Switchblade system.

A few additional neat features: the keyboard is completely anti-ghosting; I don’t know if that means it connects via PS/2, but it can read all of the keys simultaneously. It’s also completely backlit, and has a similar chiclet design to Apple laptops. The Blade has a 2MP webcam and supports 7.1 audio out.

What’s clear to me is that the Blade isn’t intended to be an on-the-road gaming laptop. The battery is not extremely high dense or extremely powerful; Razer estimates between 1-2 hours of heavy gaming use on a single charge, which is on-par with today’s gaming laptops. So for a flight from LA to San Francisco, it’ll certainly make the trip and then some, but gamers will be carrying around the charging cable. No, the Blade is intended to be more of a desktop replacement that also provides on-the-go gaming, an HD screen, and excellent build so that users can enjoy their computing experience as much as possible.

The Razer Blade is expected to release in February for approximately $3,000.

If you look at anyone’s gamepads, chances are they are the original PS3 or 360 controllers. Not that there’s anything wrong with that; both Sony and Microsoft put thousands of hours of research into making their controllers perfect, and though neither is, both are very solid. But after five and six years respectively, has there really been nothing so much better?

I found one that is, and from what I’ve seen thus far, it is glorious. From Mad Catz, who over the past five years has undergone a complete transformation and introduced a large handful of great products. The MLG Pro Circuit Controller is not only the most customizable gamepad I’ve ever seen, it’s also the toughest. I spent a few minutes just pushing and pressing on it, and it’s as solid as gamepads come.

Customization is a big deal for the Pro Circuit. Every controller ships with two sets of thumbsticks and two d-Pads, all of which are interchangeable and replaceable. They come in two styles, PS3 and 360, so thumbsticks can be concave or convex, and the d-Pad can be full or separate button. Even the faceplate and palm rests can be replaced with different styled plastics, like glossy or a textured plastic coating. Additional styles can be purchased separately online. It even comes with weights, up to 70 grams, that are completely interchangeable.

I spent a little while holding and playing with it, and you may be turned off by the $130 price point, but from what I’ve seen thus far, the MLG Pro Circuit may be the last controller you’ll ever need. One problem that Mad Catz has found is people who play often, people like myself, go through controllers fairly quickly because they wear out, break, have ripped cables…there’s always something. Mad Catz thinks it has fixed all of these problems. The cable is tethered and screws onto the controller, the build is solid, and it’s all completely adjustable.

Of course, it is wired, which is because of the “MLG” part of the controller. Pro gamers don’t want a wireless controller because they’re slightly slower and have some lag, and such controllers are illegal at professional gaming tournaments. While I’d love to see a similar wireless controller, or a build that works both wired and wirelessly, this one is not like that. The other thing to note is that while you can get both thumbstick models, there is a difference between the 360 and PS3 models. For gamers who own both consoles like myself, because of branding and licensing issues, there won’t be one Pro Circuit Controller that works on both consoles. Both models will work on the PC.

The MLG Pro Circuit Controller is available now, though I haven’t found it available anywhere except for the Xbox 360 version on Amazon, for $100. That’s for the controller, two sets of thumbsticks and two d-Pads, a 9′ threaded cable, and a carrying case for all of it. Varying and additional thumbsticks, d-Pads, cables, face plates and other accessories will all vary and will be available later on.

The tablet computer has all but replaced the laptop for many, many people.  Solidifying this notion is iHome with the unveiling of the idM5 at this year’s CES.  What is it?  In short order, a full sized Bluetooth keyboard and speaker system in one.  If you take a closer look you’ll see there are a set of media controls for the iPad (or iPhone or iPod Touch) and a keyboard cover that doubles as a stand to hold your tablet at a comfortable viewing angle.  And last but not least is a USB port for charging up your device, though it won’t support connectivity, just powering up.

We had a chance to get a short hands on with the device.  The keyboard is comfortable and the speakers, which are built into the left and right side of the keyboard, are surprisingly loud.

iHome hasn’t given us a price or launch date, but we expect it to arrive after the start of Q3.

There are a few phone companies that unfortunately only put a few phones out a year, and Sony Ericsson was previously one of them. At least in the US, anyhow. Now Sony has taken full control of the Ericsson brand, that isn’t necessarily likely to change, but Sony did reveal at CES two new handsets, the Xperia S and Xperia Ion. Both are very similar in specs, but the S is the bigger (or rather, slimmer) model to look at.

A 1.5GHz dual core CPU powers both phones, along with 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a 720p display utilizing Sony’s “Bravia Engine”. They also have not one, but two f/2.2 lenses (front and back), which isn’t the fastest in the industry but on par with the best that you can get on high-end smartphones today. The rear shooter is a 12.1MP beast, and on the Xperia S it’ll be the first 12.1MP camera available on a smartphone, the highest resolution available (at least until the HTC Titan II releases very shortly after).

What makes the Xperia S interesting is the design. It’s a 4.3″ display with, from what I’ve seen in my brief hands-on, a stunning display, but more importantly a very sleek, chic design. It’s almost like a mix between the iPhone 4, the Nokia Lumia 900, and the more rounded Samsung Galaxy S II phones, but not quite like any of them at the same time. The touch-sensitive buttons are clearly highlighted by a thin layer of clear, light-shaded plastic. It looks very, very slick. Just look at the image above.

The only difference between the S and Ion is that the Ion is exclusive to AT&T and will release in June, while the S is not exclusive to any company (nor does it have any contracts planned, though it will be a GSM only phone), and will release in March or early April. The screen size is also slightly different; the Ion is 4.5″, while the S is 4.3″, so the S can stand for smaller.

Or perhaps sadly. Like, sadly, both phones will release with Android 2.3.7 installed, and will “eventually” be upgraded to Android 4.0. I spoke with several Sony representatives about the devices, and there are two intrinsically important differentiators about both devices, both of which have to do with the camera. In typical Sony fashion, of course.

The first is how fast the cameras shoot. Shot-to-shot timing is 0.9 seconds. That means you can take a shot, press to take another, and in less than a second the phone will take another picture. In phone photography, that’s the fastest on any phone. What I don’t know, and am looking into, is whether or not bumping up to Android 4.0 will actually speed that up (because Android 4.0 seriously speeds up the camera on the software side). The second is going from standby to shooting, which is an incredible 1.5 seconds. It may not sound important, but as we all know, when there’s something to take a picture of, the moment is now. There’s no time to wait and fiddle about. With these new Xperias, hold down the shutter release and 1.5 seconds later it’ll take the shot. No other phone in the world offers anything quite like that. Some, like WP7 phones, can activate to the camera, but they’ll need to be pressed again to actually take the shot. So it’s very impressive.

Xperia models (excluding the Xperia Play) have in the past been very solid devices, so I’m looking forward to both, though specifically the Xperia S. Both will also be Playstation Certified, so the Play won’t be the only phone capable of playing PS1 games.

It may go without saying that the Samsung Galaxy S II is an incredible phone. Actually, they are incredible phones. They’ve done so well that there are at least five variants available worldwide today, four of which you can purchase in the US. The Galaxy Note is the most different and largest smartphone on the market, just not the US market. Not yet, anyways. That’s going to change very soon.

The Galaxy Note is huge with a 5.3″ 1280×800 display. Powering that is a 2500mAh battery, but don’t expect better battery life than today’s smartphones. The larger screen and faster 1.4GHz processor will drain the battery faster than on smaller devices, but besides for that you get the same basic phone as the Samsung Galaxy II. Same high-powered GPU, same SuperAMOLED display, plus a few extras like a stylus for that massive touchscreen.

I played with the Note briefly, and the first thing that came to mind is that this is the perfect size for people who want a phone and tablet built into one. It’s thin and light, though that big screen has a high enough resolution to view full web pages while still fitting in your pocket. The stylus and drawing functions aren’t everything I want; like the HTC Flyer, you can write on anything, but all it does is create an image of the page. So business people can’t sign PDF documents or do higher-functions, but note-taking and written to typed text is available.

Is the Note a worthy phone? Based solely on my brief hands on and the Galaxy S II and Epic 4G Touch, there’s no reason to doubt the Note’s capabilities. Whether the bigger screen is right for you, and whether it is good enough to replace your current smartphone and tablet remains to be seen. But we’ll find out soon enough.

As of today, I have some of the latest smartphones available. I have the iPhone 4S and Galaxy Nexus. Both are good phones with even better software. But have we reached the point where reporters no longer need to sit at a computer an type up their articles?

At this year’s CES, I tested just that, using both of these devices in all of their glory to cover the show as best I can, without reverting to my laptop. In fact, I even decided to forgo using a full DSLR to boot. The only hardware I have available are the phones and a single Bluetooth headset. No extra batteries or cases, no external keyboards, just the phones and an earpiece.

Do you think it’s possible? Keep an eye on this page because as the days go by I’ll update my findings to see if, in fact, all you need these days is a good smartphone.

Updated 1/13

Now that CES is over and I’m driving back home for the long haul, I have an answer: no, but maybe yes. I faltered within a few hours and reverted to my laptop, but not for the reason I expected. It’s not that I wasn’t capable of covering the show with just my iPhone or Galaxy Nexus. The sole reason I couldn’t possibly cover CES with a smartphone was because of the lack of a keyboard.

It may be obvious, but there’s a reason the keyboard has been around for several hundred years. It’s optimized for putting words down, be it on paper through a typewriter or on a computer. Steve Jobs famously said that it would take a generation to die out for touchscreen-only devices to completely take over, but I disagree. The speed of typing even for seasoned hands on a touchscreen just doesn’t match the speed anyone can get with a physical keyboard, and that’s for a few reasons. The most important one is the feedback we receive from the press of a button. After all, we are human, and require constant physical feedback for our senses to properly work. We don’t need the generation to die out to adjust to touchscreen typing, we need an evolutionary change.

The second problem I started to run into was the limited capabilities of smartphone cameras. For solid photography in relatively poor conditions, you can’t use a smartphone. The iPhone 4S, HTC Vivid, Samsung Epic 4G Touch, and Samsung Galaxy Nexus all have fairly decent cameras (with the Nexus having the worst of the bunch), but with the artificial lighting of the convention center and further low-light conditions within booths, taking decent shots is next to impossible. See my hands-on of the Razer Fiona, which I used my iPhone 4S to shoot instead of my far more powerful Nikon D7000.

Furthermore, for professional grade shots I believe there are two major components to consider nowadays: being able to set manual controls and post processing. None of the smartphones I tested had significant manual controls, if any, for exposure settings, light aperture, color quality, sharpness, etc. The Vivid does, but it would have taken far too long just to make those adjustments prior to the shot to be worthwhile. Even then the ISO would be too low to shoot properly in the darker conditions. As for editing, I think any professional should shoot in RAW for the best possible picture quality (and the simplest editing), and that simply isn’t available on smartphones, and likely won’t be for several years. Heck, it’s only available on the highest-end point and shoot cameras currently.

The final and perhaps most pertinent problem for most users is battery life. None of the phones I used individually would have the battery life to not only remain powered on, but to be constantly connected to the internet, accepting emails every few minutes from PR firms and marketers, all while typing away furiously. I regularly had to recharge my phones or switch between them when one died, and that was just walking about using the phones for calls and emails.

One additional problem I had was that I simply couldn’t type on the keyboard fast enough, with the clarity I needed, to take notes. I carried a pen and paper for notes on products, and with a pen it is easy to write in shorthand or full-form and do so quickly. On any of the smartphones I used the constant problem was that I couldn’t type fast enough without making too many mistakes (and autocorrect putting the wrong words in), nor could I express what I needed for myself for note taking. As someone who has done tremendous note-taking in school (on rare occasion) both by typing and writing, there is a very strong reason why writing notes is better: it’s less rigid. For simply writing, yes, using a laptop is better but if you need to draw a line from one point to another, or have a picture, or any of a million things that can simply be drawn out in a second instead of 5-10 minutes of software manipulation to achieve…paper wins every time.

What does it mean? It means that for smartphones to really take the place of other devices like cameras, laptops, and even the pen, there needs to be a significant jump in the performance of the miniature cameras built into them, some way for typing to be made easier (possibly through voice dictation, though as I discussed with colleagues at the show, that may require a generation to die out before it can be accomplished…why do you think Star Trek characters all needed to be trained theater actors? They knew how to speak well). Battery life may not need the improvements anymore, as we’ve already seen with the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx. However, the combination of these things just makes it highly improbable.

There is one thing I can, and will, do next time, and that is bring a keyboard, and potentially lighting equipment. With a physical keyboard it would be far easier to get articles written and published, and applications like Pages or WordPress make it very easy to add pictures and video. The bigger problem on that front is having a solid data connection (something that can’t be controlled by phones as of yet). But I’ll have to save that for next time.

Eton released the newest addition to product line with its Ruckus Solar Bluetooth portable solar-powered sound system that recharges its batteries with sunlight. The portable speaker system allows users to stream music from any Bluetooth-enable device, so you can take it anywhere you go. Given its solar-powered charging capabilities, the Ruckus makes a great outdoor speaker you’ll want to have when summer hits since you’ll never have to plug it in to charge. You won’t be the only one soaking up some rays with this speaker around.

Its 40-inch-square high efficiency monocrystal solar panel can recharge the internal lithium battery from zero to full in about six hours and if no light is available, the new Ruckus Solar Bluetooth portable solar-powered sound system can also be powered and charged via the provided AC adapter. But that’s not all it can do! It comes with an integrated USB that allows you to keep your smartphone (or any other device) fully charged on the go, too.

It’s also equipped with an E Ink display that’s totally readable in direct sunlight, saves battery power and is virtually indestructible (according to Eton). The Rukus also has two full-range speaker drivers, delivering booming lows and crystal-clear highs. Eton will release the Ruckus Solar is a Bluetooth speaker system around April and will cost about $150.

Altec Lansing didn’t just want to focus on creating a wireless AirPlay speaker for OSK and iOS and decided to make a universal WiFi speaker that can be controlled from a number of devices with its new Live 5000  (MN5000) Wi-Fi All-In-One Speaker System. Users can listen to and control all their favorite music from cloud content or home network in any room

It features two three-inch speakers, two silk dome tweeters, and a four-inch sub with a passive radiator, which are all powered by a tri-amp system. Its Gentile convex curve of the speaker was used for maximum audio clarity and prevents sound waves from canceling each other.

All music is instantly accessed via a downloaded app for your iPhone, Android or desktop and sent to a queue for playback, allowing for users to stream an control content from their existing wireless network to any room in the house. And the free app allows anyone in the household to control the system, no matter what device they have. The app also allows users the ability to browse local and online media sources like Pandora, Rhapsody, SiriusXM and more.

The Altec Lansing LIVE 5000 WiFi Speaker will be available early this summer and will carry a price tag of $499.99

Vizio is bringing the theater to your living room with its new XVT 3D CinemaWide TruLED Smart TV Models that includes the 50-inch XVT3D500CM, the 58-inch XVT3D580CM and the 71-inch. Each model features panoramic 21:9 aspect ratio HDTV, expanding the boundaries of conventional widescreen TVs to set a new standard in 
2560 x 1080 resolution.

Each model has the state-of-the-art passive 3D technology that’s actually used in theaters that coupled with its panoramic display provides movie buffs with the feeling of being at the movies in the comfort of their own home.

The smaller two models use Edge-lit LED backlighting, which exhibit a contrast ratio of 1,000,000 to 1, while the larger flagship model features full array “TruLED” backlighting, resulting in superior black levels and contrast, according to Vizio.

Built-in WiFi and Vizio Internet Apps (V.I.A.) are included in each model, allowing you to do more with your TV than just watch it. The V.I.A. experience makes top online content and services available at the touch of a button, including: Hulu Plus, Facebook, Flickr, Netflix, Rhapsody, Pandora, Twitter, VUDU, and Yahoo! TV Widgets. All also have a premium Bluetooth universal remote control with an integrated QWERTY keyboard for control and navigation.

While many will anticipate the arrival of these new models, Vizio has yet to release price and a launch date on its XVT 3D CinemaWide TruLED Smart TVs.

As the world’s first built-in WiFi action cam, gobandit’s LIVE device allows adrenaline addicts to view, edit and share their videos on social networks like Facebook and YouTube with their smartphone instantly. All your greatest adventures will be captured in full 1080p HD action with the innovative action cam that can record from your helmet, bike or car (to name a few). There’s also a full range of accessories for the LIVE action cam for practically every sport.

LIVE also has the ability to sense your surrounding, record your position, latitude, longitude, acceleration and speed through the cutting-edge 170° degree wide-angle rotating optics, 3-Axis Gyro, 3D accelerometer, barometric altitude sensor and lighting-fast GPS receiver with no less than 5Hz refresh rate. There’s a gobandit studio app to complement the LIVE action cam, which allows users to further customize their videos by adding skins and performance data. The LIVE action cam weighs less than one-third-of-a-pound (0.31 pounds) and measures 4.1 x2.4 x1.3-inches (H x W x D) in size, so it’s compact for any adventure. It’ll be available beginning March and will cost $419.

Ferrari enthusiasts and audiophiles will appreciate Logic3’s new collaboration with the luxury automotive company that features some premium headphones that embodies the design, technology and luxury of the famed Italian automaker. The Scuderia Ferrari Collection takes design cues from the sleek racing lines and iconic chassis features that make Ferrari cars so instantly recognizable and globally adored.

The collection features two noise cancelling models in the: the R300 over-ear headphones, which include active noise cancelling (ANC) technology and the R200 on-ear headphones. Both models feature the exclusive Scuderia Ferrari badge and offer high-quality audio coupled with superior comfort. They will be available beginning this April, with prices starting at $250 for the R200 and $350 for the R300 model.

Both models have ear pads are made from enhanced breathable materials and has an ergonomic 2-way folding design and can easily be stored away in a matching carrying case that’s trimmed in carbon fiber textures. They also include a high efficiency 40mm driver incorporated into a close-back design with ANC Technology, which seals the ear pads to prevent loss of music dynamics and reduces unwanted nose.

Casio showed off its new G-Shock GB-6900 smartwatch at this week’s CES show, which will officially be available on March 16. The smartphone-ready watch is embedded with Bluetooth LE (aka Low Energy that’s standard in Bluetooth 4.0), so it easily synchronizes the time with the phone, as well as shows incoming calls, messages and emails on its small display. Looking like any other G-Shock Watch, the new GB-6900 smartwatch can also set new alarms and silence your phone’s ringer without having to take your phone out of your pocket.

Casio claims that users can expect a battery life of about two years with one conventional CR2032 button battery thanks to its Bluetooth LE feature (it consumes a fraction of the energy of other Bluetooth versions). But not a lot of smartphones have this kind of Bluetooth technology yet, which can be a problem since it’s only compatible with the Medias LTE N-04D and Media PP N-01D Android phones from NEC. The phone is said to retail for about $230.

SOUL by Ludacris may be known for its premium headphones, but they’re expanding their product line with their newest wireless audiophile device, Party in a Box. With enough sonic power deliver the impact of a full home entertainment system, the Party in a Box system is great for any room of your home, dorm room, office and can even provide powerful audio for outdoor parties.

It’s a sleek, yet powerful wireless entertainment system is completely unique in its class with three different built-in formats, including Apple AirPlay for use with iOS devices, advanced Bluetooth streaming capability and a 5.8GHz two-way transceiver that provides CD-quality wireless listening. The two-way transceiver also allows users to sync together multiple PIAB units or other wireless speakers for an expanded sound system.

With eight speakers, Omni-Directional Hybrid system with dual 6.5-inch subwoofers, two 3-inch midrange speakers and four one inch tweeters, the Party in a Box by SOUL delivers both powerful sound and exceptional balance of deep bass and clear mids and highs. Cased in a sleek black surround with aluminum accents provides an extra design element ’cause a complete sound system also has to look good.

The portable system includes a 12V cigarette lighter adapter and high-capacity rechargeable batteries so you can easily take the party anywhere! For outdoor parties, its auxiliary audio input makes Party in a Box the perfect theater audio system option, which allows you to connect it to additional devices for a larger sound system. There’s no specific word on pricing or availability just yet, but it’s gonna be one hell of a party device when it does drop.

Monster’s new Inspiration headphone is breaking new ground in high-fashion and high-performance audio thanks to its trendsetting fashion-forward twist of interchangeable headbands in a variety of colors and materials. Now you can change the headbands to reflect your personal style, mood or a special occasion.

As the company’s first over-ear, noise-canceling headphones, they’re the company’s listening solution for business travelers and “everyone who wants a more powerful, deeper connection to their music.” The Inspiration headphones provide an optimum audio experience with its extreme clarity, deep bass and full power.

They’re available in either a titanium or pearl finish, and there’s a special silver limited edition version available. All units will start shipping this Spring and sell for a retail price of $279.95 a pair. Different headbands will be sold separately (so far there’s eight various styles) and they will sell for $29.95.

GoPro has released its most advanced camera yet with their HD HERO2: Surf Edition that’s both wearable and surfboard mountable. As a great way to capture that big wave, the HD HERO2: Surf Edition camera is waterproof to 197′ (60m) and is capable of capturing professional full 170º wide angle 1080p video and 11 megapixel photos at a rate of 10 photos per second. Other camera specs include: 2X Sharper Professional Glass Lens and f/2.8 Fixed Focus.

Touted as the most versatile camera in the world, it’s all the smallest and lightest. Not only will it allow you to capture your surfing adventures, but it also acts as a great tool to film your style and study how you should improve. The HD HERO2: Surf Edition will retail for $299.99 and includes 2 adhesive surfboard mounts and an FCS-compatible mount for plugging your camera onto the deck of your board as if it were a FCS fin. It’s also compatible with all GoPro expansion accessories and BacPacs, including the Wi-Fi BacPac and Wi-Fi Remote that’s coming out soon.

Olympus has released three new compact cameras to its arsenal of products, the VG-160, VR-340 and Tough TG-320, and all offer point-and-shoot capabilities as well as 720p HD video recording.

The VR-340 model features a3 -inch LCD preview display its backside, a 16-megapixel sensor and a 10x super wide optical zoom lens. There’s also nine Magic Art Filters and one-touch video recording.

The Olympus VG-160 packs a 5x optical zoom and a wide-angle lens, 14-megapixel sensor, HD video, Magic Art Filters and 3-inch LCD screen. Beginners will appreciate the intelligent iAuto mode, while AG Tracking, Shadow Adjustment Technology and Face Detection all enhance the quality of your photos.

Finally, Olympus’ Tough TG-320 is meant for those who plan to use the camera for heavy outdoor use since it features a waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof and dustproof casing. Features include a 14-megapixel sensor, 3.6x wide-angle optical zoom lens, 3D photo mode (it works underwater) and an HDMI port so that you can easily connect it to your TV.

Parrot’s new Zikmu Solo by Starck Speaker builds on Parrot’s Zikmu platform to provide a single unit with a unique design that provides powerful, high quality sound that will fill any room. Designed with the help of some of the best audio experts around and designed by Philippe Starck, the Zikmu Solo is a sleek solution for your audio needs. In the new single unit, new speakers were used and the power is now doubled to 100 W RMS (its frequency range is 30 HZ-20 kHZ). The panel and woofer are now combined via exercising very specific control over all the electrodynamic elements and using a DSP (Digital Signal Processing) system and amps.

It features an iPod/iPhone dock up top, while there are SPDIF and Ethernet ports on the bottom. Treble and mid-range sound reproduced from NXT speakers that are located on the top part of the unit, while bass sounds are reproduced from the bottom of the speaker. There’s also built-in WiFi and Bluetooh, which allows it to be controlled by a companion Mac or Windows app if you don’t care for its remote control. There’s no official release date (however it’s said to drop before the end of 2012) or price yet, but the Zikmu Solo will come in either black, red, or white colors.

News on the Sony Ericsson Smart Watch (which will probably just be the Sony SmartWatch) has been released.  The Android-based watch keeps you discreetly updated on your social life, while also keeping your hands free. Everything is based on your wrist, as the watch allows you to catch up on emails, texts, tweets and more. It has the capability to store up to 255 widgets, most of which will interact with your Android 2.1+ Sony smartphone (they’ve listed the Xperia arc S and Experia S as two compatible phones) via Bluetooth.

Featuring a scratch and splash-proof multi-touch display, users can easily customize their SmartWatch with any 20mm wristband or even use it as a clip. It has an ultra-sleek, ultra-slim and ultra-responsive touch display where you simply tap, swipe or press to access your favorite apps from the Android Market. Price is said to be $149, but no launch date has been revealed yet.