As you may remember from all the way back at CES 2011, Orbotix presented what was then a whole new concept in remote controlled objects. Was it an RC car? Nope. Was it some sort of flying device? I suppose if you’re going fast enough over a cliff, yes. Was it a robot? I suppose that depends on what you think a robot really is! This is Sphero, the world’s first smartphone-controlled robotic ball. What you’re about to witness is its first final prototype design debut (what a mouthful!) and we’re getting to see it in NYC at the Pepcom Holiday Spectacular this week in Brooklyn, NYC.

This orb device showed its cool face again at Google I/O 2011 with talks of a developer program for the device. You can now access that program which is still in full swing at http://developer.orbotix.com/. There you can download the full API and Mobile SDK codes as well as documentation, sample code, and customizable UIKit. Everything you need to create your own unique app to work with the official Sphero remote-control game ball. I say game ball almost for lack of an adequate name since, as with all seemingly completely original products, one must ask: what is this, really?

Have a look at what Berberian has to show us if there’s one person on the planet whose best qualified to show you the awesome in this device, it’s him.

He’ll be demonstrating on an iDevice you may well recognize and will show you basic controls as well as an app called “Draw and Drive” in which you can draw lines in any combination of shapes and your Sphero will follow the path. And these aren’t the only controller apps you’ll get right at the onset, there’s also games in which you’ll be able to, as Orbotix notes, “Race your friends with Sphero Drive, take a swing down your hallway with Sphero Golf, outrun your cat with KittyCam, or crush virtual zombies in your living room with ZombieBall.”

Berberian also gives us all a closer look at the near-final packaging for the device and some information on the final release – where and when!

Sphero will be available to consumers throughout the USA inside 2011 for an initial price point of $129.99. Each package contains a Sphero orb, an induction charger (you can see these flickering on the tablet behind Berberian,) and multiple free downloadable games (with more on the way, of course!) You can pre-order Sphero from http://www.gosphero.com/ – they’ll start taking credit card orders in November 2011 and will start shipping in December 2011 and they’ll be for sale on a first-come, first-serve basis. You’ll be able to purchase this device in retail (both in the USA and abroad) starting in 2012 – note though that, at least at first, it’ll only be available direct or through Amazon until additional retailers are announced, again, in 2012.

Sound like a good price point to you? You gonna get one? Be sure furthermore to take a peek at our full collection of hands-on videos from the event in our Pepcom Holiday Spectacular 2011 portal!

This call was a live, IMS-based VoLTE call was made by Balaji Raghavachari, manager of technology for Verizon Wireless, and it was received by Sanyogita Shamsunder, also working for Verizon as director of technology. This call was not the first call EVER to work over LTE

This wasn’t the first EVER call over LTE, in fact the initiative to make this process work was launched about a year ago by GSMA, a group who successfully made a VoLTE call sometime between then and now. All phones involved in this process have been running Android 2.2 Froyo because speed love yogurt. Take a peek at the full press release below:

VERIZON WIRELESS ANNOUNCES WORLD’S FIRST SUCCESSFUL VOICE OVER LTE CALL ON A COMMERCIAL LTE NETWORK

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Chief Technology Officer Tony Melone has confirmed that the company’s technologists placed a live, IMS-based VoLTE (Voice over LTE) call over its commercial network on Wednesday morning. This takes VoLTE calling from a lab environment to a commercial network for the first time anywhere on the globe.

The initial call was placed at 9:54 a.m. ET Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011 by Balaji Raghavachari, manager of technology for Verizon Wireless, using a LG Revolution 4G smartphone. The call originated at Verizon headquarters in Basking Ridge, N.J. and was received by Sanyogita Shamsunder, director of technology for Verizon Wireless, who was also on a LG Revolution 4G smartphone in Basking Ridge. The initial call was 33 seconds in duration. During additional calls made that morning, the technologists were able to browse the Web and use other data services while participating in voice calls.

Melone said, “Today is another proof point that the LTE ecosystem is alive, healthy and thriving. VoLTE will quickly become the global standard for delivering voice over LTE networks.”

“The GSMA launched a voice over LTE initiative a year ago with the aim of driving a single, industry-wide solution for voice and messaging services via IP,” said Alex Sinclair, chief technology officer at the GSMA. “We commend Verizon Wireless for helping to make this a reality by conducting the world’s first voice call over a commercial LTE network. The progress made by the GSMA, its members, and in particular Verizon Wireless, to enable this functionality will play a crucial role in driving strong momentum and vast economies of scale for LTE all over the world.”

Subsequent test calls lasted more than 10 minutes. Technologists browsed the Web, participated in chats and downloaded applications from the Android Market™ while on a voice call. The LG Revolution smartphones were running on the Android 2.2 platform.

Verizon Wireless plans to enhance VoLTE with rich communications services and optimize performance on its commercial 4G LTE network during 2011. Commercial services are expected to be available in 2012.

Inside the Video Racer, there’s a small video camera that will be able to capture video at either 30fps, or 60fps. People will have the ability to watch the recorded video either on their TV or PC, thanks to a USB cable. Or, there’s a small LCD screen on the bottom of the vehicle, if you don’t want to have to worry about connecting your toy car to your PC.

Mattel is even including a Hot Wheels video editor, which will allow you to edit features of the videos you record, as well as string them together to make some epic Hot Wheels movies. Mattel plans on releasing the cars in the fall of 2011, and have marked them with a price tag of $60. That includes the USB cable.

[via Pocket-Lint]

The bulk of the fascia is taken up by a broad display – no word on whether it’s a touchscreen or not – which can be used to show icons and widgets; there’s also an optical drive slot and various ports. We can imagine slotting the DSPC under our HDTV, using the big screen for video playback and the onboard display for status and control.

The CES 2011 team obviously liked the DSPC case too; they’ve given Moneual Labs another Innovations award, one of six this year. The Moneual Labs DSPC is expected to go on sale in Q3 2011, priced at around $1,500.

[via OhGizmo!]

InteraXon took some time at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to show off their latest concept design. The idea is that, by connecting a simple headband/headset to a person’s cranium, they’ll be able to control applications, and games, on their iPhone and iPad. The headset is a customized EEG headband, and the game that’s being shown off is a customized version of Zen Bound 2. The underlying “thought-controlling framework” makes it possible for someone to use their brainwaves to control the game.

Like 3D in its current state, to really use the technology we’ll need to be wearing an accessory that, over time or in the process of doing something else, may not be the best bet. However, if you’re someone who’s been waiting to control things with their mind, this is the way to do it. Unfortunately, InteraXon’s idea is just a concept right now, but the company hopes to have it out to the masses before too long.

[via MacStories]

I am not a fan of the style of the Monster offerings but the Sleek by 50 Cent headphones are cool with a design that uses a carbon fiber look and black. The things also promise to sound good. Apparently, while at CES promoting the headphones 50 Cent tweeted something about the headphones and urged followers to buy stock in the company.

Enough of the rappers followers actually did buy stock in the company that it set off a wave of comments because 50 Cent didn’t notify the users in the Tweet that he owned a part in the company as well. Considering his name is on the product, I would think most folks understand the rapper is part of the company. Apparently, the ruckus is because the FTC has stated already that when people associated with company advertise for it they have to disclose their ties.

According to Tom Chernaik, CEO of CMP.LY, “This is a classic example of a shrewd entrepreneur using social media to get the word out about something that they believe in; and in this case, have a personal financial stake in. Unfortunately, without knowing it, by virtue of those Tweets, 50 Cent is now in the crosshairs of a great online debate. The use of social media promotion to raise the share price of a fledgling company is certainly a concern, not necessarily from SEC regulations but, rather, under the FTC Guidelines for Testimonials and Endorsements. The guidelines, updated in late 2009 require endorsers to disclose when they have material connections to the brands and products that they promote. In this example, there certainly seems to be a connection that might come as a surprise to the average reader.”

The device made its presence known at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where the company behind the small robot showed the device off. Karotz is your “smart little bunny,” and it’s filled with features. It has voice recognition and voice control, an integrated web cam, and even an RFID chip inside so that if you lose it somewhere in your home, you’ll be able to find it again.

The rabbit robot will be able to read your friends’ Facebook status messages out loud, give you traffic conditions, horoscopes, and more, all based on your verbal requests. It’s able to do this thanks to the integrated WiFi. The Karotz robot is a media player, too, able to play your music when you request it to. For the $199 price tag, the small robot rabbit isn’t a bad deal, especially if you’re looking for a small robot to spruce up your life. It’s up for pre-order now.

[via GearDiary]

This year’s CES was one of the best. That’s what Ben Bajarin had to say about the show, and I think I’d have to agree with him. The truth is, seeing it from down on the showroom floor, or inside the press conferences, is completely different than reading about it, or even writing about it from a remote location. I’ve covered CES before, but not from the thick of it. It was a new experience, and it was one that I’ll always remember, for sure. But, before I got there, I had heard the horror stories, and took them to heart: limited or no WiFi access at all, bad food, too many people, and horrific traffic. I accepted it as a truth, but let me be honest: I wasn’t expecting what I found.

First and foremost, the traffic and Las Vegas is absurd. I’m not sure what’s happening there, but the drivers are simply insane. Either that, or they just like living life on the edge so much, that they push that way of life to its limits while on the road. I’ve been in a taxi in New York City, Los Angeles, and in Chicago — nothing compares to the crazy things I saw in Vegas. I wouldn’t even get in one of them, had I been given the opportunity. I’ll just go ahead and say this: if you’ve never been to Vegas and you don’t drink or gamble, then you should still go just to watch the traffic. It’s a show in of itself.

And let’s not forget about the pedestrians. They don’t seem to much care about traffic signals, or signs. I can’t even tell you how many times I watched a pack of people just go ahead and cross a busy street, despite the fact that it said no crossing. They just came in droves. And the bigger the initial pack, the longer the trailing line of people was. And, it didn’t matter that the vehicles had the right of way — it’s not like they were just going to run them all down, right there in the crosswalk. So, I watched as traffic got backed up a countless number of times, all because people were brave enough to just do what they wanted.

As for the show itself, it really is huge. Spanning two buildings, with one central hall in between them with even more gagets and devices, and booths, the entire event is one that you can probably see from space. And there are so many people. Trying to catch a break is impossible, because no matter where you are, there’s going to be someone else there. Or someone else walking by. There were plenty of times where I found myself on the fourth our fifth floor of the Venetian hotel, trying to find a WiFi connection that wasn’t being hampered by thousands of other computers. Even if it was quiet for the most part, there was always someone close by.

And there is a lot of walking to be done. While on the showroom floor, you have to move from one booth to another. Constantly on your feet, even for product demonstrations and hands-on, you’re never sitting for long. If you do find a seat in the press room, you’ll find yourself hoarding it like it was food, and you haven’t eaten in days. Especially if you manage to connect to the Internet for longer than five minutes with a quick connection.

And then there’s the food. It’s really hit or miss. Most conferences ended with a table next to the exit with plenty of food in boxes, waiting for the attendees to scramble out and grab one. Soda was certainly on hand in abundance. For me, it wasn’t necessarily about finding food, but finding food I wanted to eat. I found some of the craziest sandwich combinations, most of which I couldn’t even imagine eating on any given day. But, considering how busy I was, getting time to eat was pretty thin, so I managed to eat whatever they put in front of me.

Except seafood.

In the end, a lot of the horror stories are true. There isn’t a constant, reliable WiFi connection anywhere near people; the food is usually terrible; and there certainly is a lot of walking to do. But, was it worth it? Without a doubt. Will I do it again? Without hesitation. Seeing and meeting so many people, all of which are great and integral parts of an industry I love so much is something I would never pass up. Seeing old friends, making new ones, all while getting to play, see, and talk about the latest and greatest in gadgets, phones, and the tech industry in general is something that, for me, I would never think twice about.

So, CES 2012, let’s get this over with, shall we?

R3 Media Network

Editor’s Choice
Is Facebook Shutting Down March 15 2011? [NO, NOT AT ALL]
Swiss Army Knife fits a 256GB Solid State Within [KILLER]
Nexus S Boots and Runs Ubuntu [UUUBUNTU]
Google Goggles 1.3 Released Today, Can Solve Sudoku [Demo Video] [WITH PERSONAL TOUR FROM YOURS TRULY]
Android SMS Bug Reply from Google [BUG SQUISHER]

SlashPhone
Windows Phone 7 Heading to Verizon & Sprint On June 30
TeleFingers Glove Comes With Capacitive of TouchScreen
PlayStation Phone to Feature “PlayStation Pocket” Game Store?
Enegizer Portable Power Travel Kit

Android Community
AppMakr Works for Amateur and Pro Mobile App Designers, Available for Android SOON
BOOX Android eReader Hands-On at CES 2011 from SlashGear
Zombies, NOOO!!!
NOOKcolor Hacked and Given Ubuntu
Hanvon HPad A116 Android Tablet Hands-On via SlashGear
Motorola XOOM Tablet Named Best in Show at CES 2011 [BOSS!]
Android Market now on Logitech Revue via Brute Force Hack
Viliv X7 and X10: Hands On
Android 2.3 Gingerbread Ported to iPhone 3G [Video]
HTC Battery in Android Phone Blocks Bullet!
Motorola i886 for Sprint Available Now for $79.99
Samsung 4G LTE Smartphone Quick Look
Sony Ericsson PlayStation Phone plays Resident Evil 2 on video
New Samsung Galaxy Tabs & dual-core Gingerbread Super AMOLED Plus smartphones next month
MeeGo on Nexus S video demo
Chrysler and Mopar unveil Android app for vehicle info
Successor to the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro smartphone surfaces in leaked pics
Rhapsody bringing on-demand music service to Verizon LTE Android Devices
Motorola ordering 800,000 XOOM tablets for Q1 alone?
Motorola XOOM Wifi-only Version Confirmed by Latin America GM
CES 2011 Complete Android Community Breakdown
Nexus S Gets MeeGo Install [PLUS How-To Included]
Powerful Nokia OMAP4 Android Device Possibly in the Works
Motorola XOOM Tablet Available for Pre-Order at Handtec
US Cellular Rolls out Froyo Update Plan for LG, Samsung, HTC Phones
Verizon Reducing Return Policy to 14 Days?
Dolphin Browser Mini V1.0 for Android Released Today!
Sony Ericsson Xperia PlayStation Phone Spotted Again, Compared to other devices
Motorola Atrix 4G and Laptop Dock Hands-On
MetroPCS Leaks First LTE Android Phone, the Samsung SCH-R910
Amazon Drops Samsung Epic 4G Price to $99
HTC Droid Incredible the One to Stop the Bullet? [UPDATE]
Goodbye, CES 2011 – It’s been fun [COLUMN]
HTC to Ship Around 10 Million 4G Smartphones in 2011
Nexus S Random Reboot Issue Reported to Google, Being Worked On
HTC EVO 4G Video Ad Modified to Add Shift
Two T-Mobile myTouch Devices to get Android 2.2 Froyo by Feb 1st
Google Goggles 1.3 Released Today, Can Solve Sudoku [Demo Video]
HTC Evo Shift 4G Available on Amazon Today: 119.99 Bucks
Nexus S Graphics Drivers for crespo Available for Download Today
Android SMS Bug Reply from Google
Sony Ericsson Dismisses Android 2.4 “Glitch” on Xperia arc
Motorola XOOM Full Details Released, Includes Barometer
Nexus S Boots and Runs Ubuntu
Android 2.4 Ice Cream Coming This Summer
LG Revolution Quick Look [Video]
Motorola i886 for Sprint Available Now for $79.99

SlashGear
T1 Rugged Bluetooth Headset by BlueAnt Hands-On
BlueAnt Stereo Headphones Hands On
BlueAnt Q2 Bluetooth Voice Controlled Headset Hands-On
BlueAnt S3 Compact Voice Answer Car Speakerphone Hands On
GOSCAM Explorer Premium Wireless Inspection Camera Hands On
Garmin Nuvi 3760T Hands On
Gold-Plated Xbox 360 Up for Grabs in Tournament of Champions by The Behemoth
Soultra Solar Powered Sound System Hands-On
BOOX eReader Hands On
Scout PS‐Series Thermal Camera by FLIR Hands-On
MultiTouch Shows Off 32- and 46-Inch Multitouch Displays at CES 2011
CES 2011: One of the Best [ON TIME ANALYSIS]
Sonic Emotion 3D Sound Line Hands-On
Haier Unveils Line of New WiFi-Enabled TVs at CES 2011
Cyber1 MasterPad Hands On
Kodak PlaySport 2 Video Camera Hands-On
Hanvon HPad A116 Hands On
Hanvon TouchPad B20 Hands On
50 Cent Platinum Headphones by Sleek Audio Hands-On
aLOKSAK and OPSAK Bringing Military-Grade Water Protection to Consumers
iTam Tam Trendy Docking Station Hands-On
freedomMIC Bluetooth Mic for iPhone 4 and Flip Video Hands-On
Motorola XOOM Named Best in Show
Samsung’s HMX-H300 Consumer HD Camcorder Hands-On
Sound Egg Bringing HD Surround Sound to Modern Furniture
Samsung’s RF4289 Internet Connected Refrigerator Hands-On
Flir i3 Thermal Camera Hands-On
Energizer Portable Power Travel Kit
Samsung’s 3D Surround Sound Demoed
Samsung Central Station Hands-On
Samsung 9 Series Ultra-Thin Notebook Hands-On
Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series is Not A Tablet, Not Quite A PC
OWC Mercury Aura Pro SSD Unveiled for Earlier MacBook Air Models at CES 2011
Video Games Deserve As Much Respect As Movies
World’s Largest Full HD 3D LED TV Showcased by Samsung
Samsung 3D Glasses Hands On
Viliv Announces X7 and X10 Android Tablets: Hands On
Actiontec MyWirelessTV HDMI Adapters Feature Cavium’s PureVu Processors at CES 2011
Samsung Unveils “Worlds Thinnest 3D Blu-ray Player”
Kingston Outlines USB 3.0 Product Roadmap at CES 2011
Samsung Professional External Hard Drives Offer Up USB 3.0 Connectivity
Verizon iPhone: Why do we care? [COLUMN]
Apple pulls VLC from App Store over open-source DRM dispute
Nintendo 3DS battery only good for 3-5hrs of 3DS titles
JVC 4k2k consumer camcorder “just around the corner”
JVC GS-TD1 Full HD 3D Camcorder hands-on
OCOSMOS OSC9 Tablet PC hands-on
Samsung NX11 Unveiled at CES 2011
T-Mobile UK slashes data bundle, tells users to save video for home broadband
Palm Voice for Verizon Appears on Website, Features LTE
OmniVision OV10810 10MP CMOS shoots 1080p HD & stills simultaneously
Verizon iPhone more expensive predicts analyst, missing the point completely
Nintendo 3DS official accessories pictured
Mindflex Duel pits brain against brain
RIM told to turn off Indonesia mobile porn access or face web block
iPad wireless charger system just as fast as AC adapter
PlayStation Phone caught running PS1 ROMs on video
Samsung promise new Galaxy Tabs & dual-core Super AMOLED Plus phones for MWC 2011
Notion Ink Adam pre-orders suffer minor labeling delay?
McIntosh clock looks like its audio gear and costs as much too
DisplayLink turns iPad into second display for computers
Apple follow AT&T with $49 iPhone 3GS deal
Nintendo defends 3DS, it’s not dangerous it says
CES 2011: All-Star Tablet Round-Up [COLUMN]
netTALK TV WiFi digital video device surfaces
iWatchz shows off new Carbon and Jelly nano watchbands
Bang & Olufsen teams with Intel for future gear
Kevin Rose says iPad 2 is coming soon
Leaked Pics of Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro successor surface
Verizon LTE Android devices to get exclusive Rhapsody streaming with better quality
MySpace job cuts tipped for Tuesday; up to 60% layoffs
PQ Labs shows off MultiTouch screen overlays at CES
iXtreamer goes on sale: iPad dock, HDD streamer & 1080p 7.1ch
Epson outs new line of projectors for education
PlayStation Phone leaks again & gets family reunion
Alienware M18x with twin AMD or NVIDIA GPUs incoming
Motorola XOOM WiFi-only in April; 800k shipments expected Q1
Logitech launches WiDi and Bluetooth speaker adapters; Spotify for Squeezebox
Apple scrapping 10% restocking fee on Verizon iPhone launch day
BlackBerry PlayBook chip confirmed: 1GHz TI OMAP4430
PS3 Jailbreak firmware released [Video]
Verizon iPhone at end of January with unlimited data tip insiders
Nexus S Booted to MeeGo OS
Is Facebook Shutting Down March 15 2011?
Samsung 4G LTE Smartphone Hands-On
Swiss Army Knife fits a 256GB Solid State Within
Tivizen Mobile Digital Telivision for Apple products now available
Motorola ATRIX 4G and Laptop Dock Hands On Demo [Video]
Samsung ST700 and PL170 Point and Shoot Cameras Hands-On
BlueAnt S4 Car Speakerphone Hands On
LG Revolution Hands-On [Video]
Verizon iPhone – An Analysis of the Major Questions [ON TIME ANALYSIS]
Nexus S Boots Ubuntu
Verizon’s Website Shows Apple iOS in Smartphones List
Ready or Not, Here Comes the New Facebook Profile
Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac Works with Zune HD
Gigabyte G1-Killer Series of Gaming Motherboards Unveiled at CES 2011
AMD CEO Resigns, Search Begins for Replacement
Dell Venue Pro in the UK Delayed Until February Due to Software
Intel Paying NVIDIA Technology Licensing Fees of $1.5 BILLION DOLLARS
Apple Has Legal Battle with Nokia Moved to District of Delaware
SlashGear Verizon Event Liveblog: Tuesday Jan 11
Airborne Laser Test Bed to Try and Shoot Down Ballistic Missile as Soon as Tonight
Verizon Tweets from Twitter for iPhone
News Corp’s “The Daily” iPad App Landing January 19th
Silent Hill: Downpour is the Next Installment in the Series
Windows Phone 7 Performance Upgrade Demoed on Video

To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up]

The company has officially announced their brand new G1-Killer Series of gaming motherboards, including the G1.Sniper, G1.Assassin, and G1.Guerilla. Each of the gaming motherboards will be based on the Intel X58 chipset, as well as include the Killer E2100 network solutions. The company says that the latter technology makes the new gaming motherboards the fastest ever created for online gaming.

The system is designed to prioritize traffic within any particular game, while still managing to deliver remarkable control to how your network handles the bandwidth coming in and out. The price for the new gaming motherboards hasn’t been announced yet, nor has the release schedule.

Press Release

Las Vegas, USA – January 5, 2011 – GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards and other computing hardware solutions, today at a press event at CES announced their latest line of dedicated gaming motherboards designated the G1-Killer series, consisting of the G1.Assassin, G1.Sniper and G1.Guerrilla. Based on the Intel® X58 chipset and featuring several state-of-the-art onboard solutions from industry heavy hitters including Creative and Bigfoot Networks, as well as quite a few new and exclusive GIGABYTE features, the GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards are equipped to let gamers unleash total mass gaming destruction.

“GIGABYTE is thrilled to be able to introduce the world’s first motherboard series designed solely for elite gamers,” commented Henry Kao, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at GIGABYTE. “The G1-Killer series features the industry’s most advanced hardware and software solutions from Creative and Bigfoot Networks onboard as well as the top-notch quality and durability users have come to expect from GIGABYTE. So, lock and load gamers, the GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards deliver a gaming experience unlike any other.”

“Intel is very excited to see continued innovation on the Intel® X58 Chipset platform, and congratulates GIGABYTE on their latest high-performance G1-Killer gaming motherboard series”, said Steve R. Peterson, Director of desktop chipset and strategic marketing at Intel Corporation. “These new motherboards, paired with Intel® Core™ i7 Processors Extreme Edition, deliver incredible speed and responsiveness to serious hardcore gamers.”

“Sound Blaster audio technology is a class above any of the integrated chipsets currently on the market, and it’s clear that the PC industry concurs with this,” said Steve Erickson, Vice President and General Manager for Audio and Video at Creative. “When it comes to onboard audio solutions, we’re seeing more and more major motherboard manufacturers like GIGABYTE selecting Sound Blaster technology as their audio enhancement technology of choice, because of the far superior high-definition audio quality it furnishes.”

“In online games, the difference between victory and defeat is measured in fractions of a second,” said Michael Howse, CEO of Bigfoot Networks. “The Killer™ E2100 is the fastest networking solution ever created for online games, with unique technology that automatically prioritizes game traffic while also delivering unparalleled control over how your PC uses network bandwidth. We are pleased to partner with GIGABYTE to deliver superior network performance on the new G1-Killer™ family of gaming motherboards featuring Killer™ E2100 technology.”

Like soldiers about to head out into the line of fire, elite gamers know that the equipment they use can mean the difference between getting the frag, or being fragged. That is why GIGABYTE has strapped some big guns onto the G1-Killer series motherboards designed to heighten gamers’ super human killer instincts and enhance their game play.

4-way CrossFireX™ and 3-way SLI™ Support*

The ability to see clearly through the fog of war can often tip the balance between the winning or losing force. That is why GIGABYTE has equipped the G1-Killer series motherboards to offer utmost graphics flexibility and upgradeability. With multiple GPU support, GIGABYTE G1-Killer motherboards deliver maximum FPS (Frames Per Second), allowing gamers to see more clearly, aim faster, and move more quickly.

Onboard Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Digital Audio Processor (20K2)
Being able to hear where your enemy is located before you see them can put you at a distinct advantage in most gaming situations. That is why GIGABYTE has rigged the G1-Killer series motherboards with the industry’s most advanced audio solutions all onboard; giving you the highest caliber audio experience. GIGABYTE G1-Killer motherboards** are the world’s only gaming motherboards to feature Creative’s top-of-the-line Soundblaster Digital Audio Processor (20K2) onboard with X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity® and EAX® Advanced HD™ 5.0 technologies, allowing you to experience sound in your gaming world exactly as you would in real life.

X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity®
X-Fi is a suite of technologies that deliver premium quality surround sound to your ears, whether it is through headphones, stereo or surround speakers and helps to restore compressed digital audio to pristine audio with stunning clarity.

EAX® Advanced HD™ 5.0
EAX® (Environmental Audio Extension) is a collection of powerful, innovative audio technologies that bring true interactive 3D audio to PC gaming and helps create more ambience within games by more accurately simulating a real-world audio environment.

Dolby® Digital Live
Enjoy audio from your PC through your home theater with Dolby® Digital Live. A real-time encoding technology, Dolby Digital Live converts any audio signal into a Dolby Digital bitstream for transport and playback through a home theater system. With it, your PC can be hooked up to your Dolby Digital-equipped audio/video receiver or digital speaker system via a single digital connection, eliminating the confusion of multiple cables and ensuring the integrity of the audio signal.

DTS™ Connect
DTS Connect is the perfect solution to enhance your entertainment experience using your home theater’s Audio/Video Receiver. DTS Connect is comprised of two DTS technologies including DTS Neo: PC™ which takes 2-channel (stereo) audio and transforms it into a full-bandwidth matrix of your speaker layout (up to 7.1 channels) and DTS Interactive™ which encodes digital audio sources into DTS Digital Surround, which can then stream out to your Audio/Video Receiver using a S/PDIF connection.

Built-in Front Audio Headphone Amplifier
Specially designed for gamers, the GIGABYTE G1-Killer series utilize a high capacity amplifier which is able to drive 150Ω loads, allowing gamers to enjoy a fuller range of dynamic sound with crisper details and less distortion when using high quality professional headphones. The amplifier also features wide band-width, low noise, high slew rate and low distortion, making it ideal for professional audio usage. In addition, GIGABYTE has equipped the G1-Killer motherboards with 4 additional amplifiers onboard for the center/sub woofer, rear speaker, side surround and line out.

Nichicon High-end Audio Capacitors
GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards utilize the highest quality Nichicon MUSE ES series and MW series Bi-Polarized audio capacitors at each channel layout. These professional audio capacitors deliver the highest quality sound resolution and sound expansion to create the most realistic sound effects for professional gamers.

Onboard Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 Game Networking Platform
GIGABYTE is the only motherboard manufacturer to seriously address online gaming network lag issues by implementing the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 Game Networking Platform directly onboard the G1-Killer series motherboards. Utilizing a unique combination of dedicated Network Processing Unit (NPU) and exclusive Game Networking DNA™ technology, the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 Game Networking Platform was designed to give the best online gaming experience possible.

- Killer™ E2100 Dedicated NPU
Dedicated Network Processing Unit (NPU) with 1GB of dedicated DDR2 memory helps offload network traffic from the CPU, freeing it up to do other important computing tasks.

- Game Networking DNA™
Bigfoot Network’s exclusive Game Networking DNA™ software offloads gaming data directly to the NPU by bypassing the Windows Network Stack, delivering tremendous speed benefits which allow you to move quicker, shoot faster and win bigger.

- Up to 10X Faster
Whether you’re playing MMOs or first-person shooters, the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 game networking platform delivers up to 10X faster networking performance for a whole new level of online gaming performance.

- Killer™ Network Manager
Built from the ground up to give unequalled speed, intelligence and control over online game data, the Killer Network Manager shows the health and performance of the G1-Killer series motherboards, and gives gamers the controls to optimize it.

- Killer Network Manager’s Applications Tab uses Bigfoot Network’s exclusive Visual Bandwidth Control™ Technology to enable users to see how much bandwidth they’re using and what applications are using it. Bigfoot’s Advanced Game Detect™ technology will keep the current game at top priority and give it all the bandwidth it needs while users continue to download.

Front Access Control Panel
As part of its box kit, the G1.Assissin motherboard features a convenient Front Access Control Panel that allows quick and easy access to 2 USB 3.0 ports and Power eSATA. The Front Access Control Panel also features a Quick Boost button that allows gamers to instantaneously overclock their system with a single press of a button. Imagine being in the thick of battle and being able to get a super charged on-the-fly performance boost without the need for a system reboot.

SATA 3.0 (6Gbps) and USB 3.0 and 3x USB Power

When you’re behind enemy lines, intelligence data latency can get you killed. That is why GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards provide ultra fast data transfer performance with onboard integration of the latest SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for up to 4 ports (2 front panel, 2 back panel), SATA Revision 3.0 (6Gbps) technologies from Marvell, and an unprecedented 3x USB power boost on all USB ports for the most power hungry USB devices.

Locked and Loaded Heatpipe Design
The GIGABYTE G1-Killer series features a brand new heatpipe that was designed to be as deadly to heat as it looks. By effectively spreading the heat from the critical areas of the motherboard such as the CPU VRM zone and quickly dissipating it, GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards remain cool, even when the battle heats up.

Modeled after the common firearms issued to soldiers deployed to a warzone including pistol, rifle and ammo clip, the Locked and Loaded heatpipe design utilizes a unique fluting technology similar to a rifle barrel fluting, which allows for maximum heat dispersion.

5 Smart Fan Connectors
Further helping to eliminate heat are the 5 strategically placed Smart Fan pin headers which allow for more precise control of system and CPU fans. Equipped with their own individual thermal sensors, the Smart Fans can be easily controlled via GIGABYTE’s EasyTune™ 6 utility as well as in the BIOS.

GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3
GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3 design features 2 ounces of copper for both the Power and Ground layers which dramatically lowers system temperature by delivering a more efficient spreading of heat from critical areas of the motherboard such as the CPU power zone throughout the entire PCB. GIGABYTE’s Ultra Durable™ 3 also lowers the PCB impedance by 50%, which helps to reduce electrical waste and further lowers component temperatures. A 2oz Copper layer design also provides improved signal quality and lower EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), providing better system stability and allowing for greater margins for overclocking.

Maximum CPU Power Delivery
Like the pistons and cylinders of a car engine, the design of the motherboard Voltage Regulator Module (VRM), component quality and number of power phases greatly affects motherboard performance. GIGABYTE engineers were first to realize not only the importance of using the best quality components for this critical area, but also that with more power phases, there can be more power available to your CPU. With their industry-leading power design featuring the new VRD 12 (Voltage Regulator Down) specification, Dual CPU Power and Driver MOSFETs, GIGABYTE G1-Killer motherboards deliver best-in-class system performance and power stability required for elite gaming systems.

Dual CPU Power
GIGABYTE’s proprietary Dual CPU Power Technology allows CPU VRM power phases to split evenly into 2 sets of power engines that operate in tandem. This allows 1 set of power phases to rest while the other is active as opposed to a traditional power design where all the power phases are always active. As such, GIGABYTE Dual CPU Power effectively halves the amount of work done by each set of power phases to significantly increase motherboard durability and reliability.

Driver MOSFETs
By incorporating the MOSFETs and driver IC in accordance with the Intel® Driver MOSFET specification, GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards allow higher power transfer and increased efficiency at higher switching frequencies to satisfy the power requirements of modern processors. Driver MOSFETs also help to reduce VRM real estate requirements for a cleaner, less cluttered CPU zone.

GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ with 3TB+ HDD Support
GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ is a patented technology that automatically recovers BIOS data when the main BIOS has crashed or failed. Featuring 2 physical BIOS ROMs integrated onboard, GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ allows quick and seamless recovery from BIOS damage or failure due to viruses or improper BIOS updating. In addition, GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ now supports booting from hard drives that are 3TB (terabytes) or more without the need for partitioning, and effectively provides future-proofing for higher volume single drive data storage.

R3 Media Network

Editor’s Choice
Scout PS‐Series Thermal Camera by FLIR Hands-On [MUST PEEK]
Motorola XOOM Named Best in Show [EGGSELENT]
Android 2.3 Gingerbread Ported to iPhone 3G [Video] [WEIRD]
Gold-Plated Xbox 360 Up for Grabs in Tournament of Champions by The Behemoth [DO WANT]
aLOKSAK and OPSAK Bringing Military-Grade Water Protection to Consumers [DUNK]
Is Facebook Shutting Down March 15 2011? [NO]
Swiss Army Knife fits a 256GB Solid State Within [SO HARDCORE]

SlashPhone
Windows Phone 7 Heading to Verizon & Sprint On June 30
TeleFingers Glove Comes With Capacitive of TouchScreen
PlayStation Phone to Feature “PlayStation Pocket” Game Store?
Enegizer Portable Power Travel Kit
Windows Phone 7 Heading to Verizon & Sprint On June 30
TeleFingers Glove Comes With Capacitive of TouchScreen

Android Community
AppMakr Works for Amateur and Pro Mobile App Designers, Available for Android SOON
BOOX Android eReader Hands-On at CES 2011 from SlashGear
Zombies, NOOO!!!
NOOKcolor Hacked and Given Ubuntu
Hanvon HPad A116 Android Tablet Hands-On via SlashGear
Motorola XOOM Tablet Named Best in Show at CES 2011 [BOSS!]
Android Market now on Logitech Revue via Brute Force Hack
Viliv X7 and X10: Hands On
Android 2.3 Gingerbread Ported to iPhone 3G [Video]
HTC Battery in Android Phone Blocks Bullet!
Motorola i886 for Sprint Available Now for $79.99
Samsung 4G LTE Smartphone Quick Look
Sony Ericsson PlayStation Phone plays Resident Evil 2 on video
New Samsung Galaxy Tabs & dual-core Gingerbread Super AMOLED Plus smartphones next month
MeeGo on Nexus S video demo
Chrysler and Mopar unveil Android app for vehicle info
Successor to the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro smartphone surfaces in leaked pics
Rhapsody bringing on-demand music service to Verizon LTE Android Devices
Motorola ordering 800,000 XOOM tablets for Q1 alone?
Motorola XOOM Wifi-only Version Confirmed by Latin America GM
CES 2011 Complete Android Community Breakdown
Nexus S Gets MeeGo Install [PLUS How-To Included]
Powerful Nokia OMAP4 Android Device Possibly in the Works
Motorola XOOM Tablet Available for Pre-Order at Handtec
US Cellular Rolls out Froyo Update Plan for LG, Samsung, HTC Phones
Verizon Reducing Return Policy to 14 Days?
Dolphin Browser Mini V1.0 for Android Released Today!
Sony Ericsson Xperia PlayStation Phone Spotted Again, Compared to other devices
Motorola Atrix 4G and Laptop Dock Hands-On

SlashGear
T1 Rugged Bluetooth Headset by BlueAnt Hands-On
BlueAnt Stereo Headphones Hands On
BlueAnt Q2 Bluetooth Voice Controlled Headset Hands-On
BlueAnt S3 Compact Voice Answer Car Speakerphone Hands On
GOSCAM Explorer Premium Wireless Inspection Camera Hands On
Garmin Nuvi 3760T Hands On
Gold-Plated Xbox 360 Up for Grabs in Tournament of Champions by The Behemoth
Soultra Solar Powered Sound System Hands-On
BOOX eReader Hands On
Scout PS‐Series Thermal Camera by FLIR Hands-On
MultiTouch Shows Off 32- and 46-Inch Multitouch Displays at CES 2011
CES 2011: One of the Best [ON TIME ANALYSIS]
Sonic Emotion 3D Sound Line Hands-On
Haier Unveils Line of New WiFi-Enabled TVs at CES 2011
Cyber1 MasterPad Hands On
Kodak PlaySport 2 Video Camera Hands-On
Hanvon HPad A116 Hands On
Hanvon TouchPad B20 Hands On
50 Cent Platinum Headphones by Sleek Audio Hands-On
aLOKSAK and OPSAK Bringing Military-Grade Water Protection to Consumers
iTam Tam Trendy Docking Station Hands-On
freedomMIC Bluetooth Mic for iPhone 4 and Flip Video Hands-On
Motorola XOOM Named Best in Show
Samsung’s HMX-H300 Consumer HD Camcorder Hands-On
Sound Egg Bringing HD Surround Sound to Modern Furniture
Samsung’s RF4289 Internet Connected Refrigerator Hands-On
Flir i3 Thermal Camera Hands-On
Energizer Portable Power Travel Kit
Samsung’s 3D Surround Sound Demoed
Samsung Central Station Hands-On
Samsung 9 Series Ultra-Thin Notebook Hands-On
Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series is Not A Tablet, Not Quite A PC
OWC Mercury Aura Pro SSD Unveiled for Earlier MacBook Air Models at CES 2011
Video Games Deserve As Much Respect As Movies
World’s Largest Full HD 3D LED TV Showcased by Samsung
Samsung 3D Glasses Hands On
Viliv Announces X7 and X10 Android Tablets: Hands On
Actiontec MyWirelessTV HDMI Adapters Feature Cavium’s PureVu Processors at CES 2011
Samsung Unveils “Worlds Thinnest 3D Blu-ray Player”
Kingston Outlines USB 3.0 Product Roadmap at CES 2011
Samsung Professional External Hard Drives Offer Up USB 3.0 Connectivity
Verizon iPhone: Why do we care? [COLUMN]
Apple pulls VLC from App Store over open-source DRM dispute
Nintendo 3DS battery only good for 3-5hrs of 3DS titles
JVC 4k2k consumer camcorder “just around the corner”
JVC GS-TD1 Full HD 3D Camcorder hands-on
OCOSMOS OSC9 Tablet PC hands-on
Samsung NX11 Unveiled at CES 2011
T-Mobile UK slashes data bundle, tells users to save video for home broadband
Palm Voice for Verizon Appears on Website, Features LTE
OmniVision OV10810 10MP CMOS shoots 1080p HD & stills simultaneously
Verizon iPhone more expensive predicts analyst, missing the point completely
Nintendo 3DS official accessories pictured
Mindflex Duel pits brain against brain
RIM told to turn off Indonesia mobile porn access or face web block
iPad wireless charger system just as fast as AC adapter
PlayStation Phone caught running PS1 ROMs on video
Samsung promise new Galaxy Tabs & dual-core Super AMOLED Plus phones for MWC 2011
Notion Ink Adam pre-orders suffer minor labeling delay?
McIntosh clock looks like its audio gear and costs as much too
DisplayLink turns iPad into second display for computers
Apple follow AT&T with $49 iPhone 3GS deal
Nintendo defends 3DS, it’s not dangerous it says
CES 2011: All-Star Tablet Round-Up [COLUMN]
netTALK TV WiFi digital video device surfaces
iWatchz shows off new Carbon and Jelly nano watchbands
Bang & Olufsen teams with Intel for future gear
Kevin Rose says iPad 2 is coming soon
Leaked Pics of Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro successor surface
Verizon LTE Android devices to get exclusive Rhapsody streaming with better quality
MySpace job cuts tipped for Tuesday; up to 60% layoffs
PQ Labs shows off MultiTouch screen overlays at CES
iXtreamer goes on sale: iPad dock, HDD streamer & 1080p 7.1ch
Epson outs new line of projectors for education
PlayStation Phone leaks again & gets family reunion
Alienware M18x with twin AMD or NVIDIA GPUs incoming
Motorola XOOM WiFi-only in April; 800k shipments expected Q1
Logitech launches WiDi and Bluetooth speaker adapters; Spotify for Squeezebox
Apple scrapping 10% restocking fee on Verizon iPhone launch day
BlackBerry PlayBook chip confirmed: 1GHz TI OMAP4430
PS3 Jailbreak firmware released [Video]
Verizon iPhone at end of January with unlimited data tip insiders
Nexus S Booted to MeeGo OS
Is Facebook Shutting Down March 15 2011?
Samsung 4G LTE Smartphone Hands-On
Swiss Army Knife fits a 256GB Solid State Within
Tivizen Mobile Digital Telivision for Apple products now available
Motorola ATRIX 4G and Laptop Dock Hands On Demo [Video]
Samsung ST700 and PL170 Point and Shoot Cameras Hands-On
BlueAnt S4 Car Speakerphone Hands On
LG Revolution Hands-On [Video]
Verizon iPhone – An Analysis of the Major Questions [ON TIME ANALYSIS]
Nexus S Boots Ubuntu

To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up]

One of the major focuses of the device is its ability to serve as a 4G wireless hotspot for up to 8 devices. Bringing 4G to the masses, the Revolution proved to be fast, but only “mid-grade fast.” With our hands-on time with the LG device, we only saw a bit of lag. Maps didn’t render as fast as they did on the Atrix or Samsung 4G LTE Smartphone, which is expected, but it still performed well.

The device features a 1GHz Qualcomm processor, but compared to Samsung’s we were definitely see a bit of a slowdown. Check out our hands-on with the device from the Verizon Press Conference.

We’ve been tracking Notion Ink since late 2009, and this year had the chance to see what’s so exciting about the company’s Adam tablet. The one Android-based slate on show that didn’t have to apologize for running something earlier than Honeycomb, Adam’s key strength is its awesome Eden UI and multitasking system. Our hands-on videos show it best, but considering this tiny start-up has managed to do what has pretty much escaped Microsoft for the past decade, it’s very promising.

Motorola’s XOOM is another slate with great promise, and its debut on Verizon this quarter – along with a 4G model in Q2 – is already getting people excited. Like Adam, the XOOM runs NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 chipset – you can find more about what that means in our Super Phone hub – and while it will be one of the first tablets to give us an official glimpse of Honeycomb, it also packs a few copy-worthy features. For instance, Motorola has designed the XOOM’s modem as modular, so that the 3G version it will launch with can be easily upgraded to a 3G/4G version later on; that will hopefully make international 3G/4G launches more straightforward as well.

T-Mobile has a 4G tablet of its own, in the shape of the HSPA+ capable G-Slate by LG. The most mysterious of the carrier-provided options, there’s not much known about the G-Slate beyond its Android 3.0 OS and 10-inch display. T-Mobile preferred to spend its time talking about the new Dell Streak 7, the long-rumored 7-inch sibling to the original Streak. Unfortunately it won’t be able to take advantage of the full speeds on offer as T-Mobile doubles its HSPA+ network to support up to 42Mbps, being limited to 21Mbps instead, but with Dell’s heft behind it we wouldn’t count it out.

Perhaps our biggest surprise of the show was how strong an option RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook is shaping up to be. A step away from the Android crowds, the PlayBook’s QNX-based OS and dual-core TI OMAP4430 chipset single it out as a very capable contender, with a UI that bridges the larger screen size and the traditional BlackBerry interface well, and lashings of processing grunt on tap. It too will have a 4G option, courtesy of a launch on Sprint’s WiMAX network. Perhaps it was RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis’ enthusiasm rubbing off as he personally demo’d the slate to us, but the PlayBook looks like it could end up part of the iPad’s strongest competition.

RIM BlackBerry PlayBook demo:

While the slate form-factor has been the most common, ASUS and Samsung took a risk and opted for sliders in their tablet ranges. The ASUS Eee Pad Slider and Samsung Sliding PC 7 don’t show much imagination in their names but have enough to differentiate themselves in their hardware, each packing a full QWERTY keyboard for those who want the finger-friendliness of a touchscreen but also want to do some serious text entry. Beyond that similarity, though, the prospects are very different. Samsung opted for an Intel Oak Trail processor and Windows 7, promising full desktop functionality for those who care about it, but running the risk of underwhelming mobile battery life and having to reskin the OS with its own Touch Launcher UI. ASUS, meanwhile, opted for Android 3.0 Honeycomb running on Tegra 2, a far more mobility-friendly decision but potentially lacking the “grown up” software flexibility of the Samsung.

Though hardware has been brimming over with Tegra 2 and other dual-core chipsets, the software side of things has suffered. We asked for intelligent ecosystems, tablets that fit into a more comprehensive system of media, hardware and connectivity, and few delivered. Vizio’s VIA Tablet and Phone look to have come the closest, coupling integration with the company’s smart TVs and cross-device access to things like streaming media and OnLive gaming, but it’s something the big names have failed to deliver on. That’s going to make positioning their devices in the market all the more difficult; Apple gets a lot of criticism for its relatively closed-garden approach, but it also does a very good job at putting the iPad into context with the rest of the iTunes ecosystem. Rivals are going to have to learn to do more than produce lengthy spec sheets if they want mainstream buyers to slot another mobile device into their lives.

There have been a few notable absences at this year’s show, too. HTC continues to get name-checked in the Honeycomb tablet rumors, but failed to show anything more than smartphones at CES 2011. Worse still, the company was overshadowed by Motorola’s ATRIX 4G, with its clever laptop-style docking station. We’ll be looking to MWC 2011 in February to see if HTC can redeem itself there.

Motorola ATRIX 4G demo:

HP and the promised webOS slate was also conspicuous by its absence, and the surprise reveal we’d half-hoped for in the run up to CES failed to materialize. We’re yet to see an attention-grabber like Palm’s Pre debut a few years back, and interest in the company’s smartphone line-up continues to wane. Hopefully something suitably groundbreaking will show up at the HP webOS event on February 9. Microsoft, too, was tipped to be putting greater software emphasis on touch computing, but instead gave the Windows-faithful – both among users and manufacturers – little to smile about. The rumoured Windows 8 preview never transpired, and Windows-on-ARM got more keynote attention by CEO Steve Ballmer. That might have seemed the ideal opportunity to talk UI, but Microsoft didn’t cash in.

The absent spectre looming over all the tablets at CES 2011 was the second-gen iPad. Rivals have had a year to ready their alternatives, but Apple hasn’t been standing still in the meantime; the iPad 2 is rumored to be unveiled as early as this month, and while it may not have the all-singing, all-dancing tech specs of some hardware we’ve seen in the past week, it will have a solid user-base, well-stocked App Store and gobfuls of brand appeal to build upon. Factor in that many of the big-name slates are waiting on Honeycomb, against Apple’s ability to announce a new device and then ship very soon after, and the iPad 2 could well be repeating its predecessor’s sales success imminently. 2011 is most definitely the year of the tablet, but that’s the only certainty in what’s turning out to be a volatile segment.

The big thing that the company has is touchscreen overlays that can be added to an existing display. The overlays are cheaper than buying a full multitouch screen. A 24-inch overlay starts at $449 with the mutli-touch apps and SDK included. The overlay is capable of detecting six fingers at one time and the Plus version can detect 32-fingers at once.

The overlays in 24-inch and 27-inch sizes will ship in January with a smaller 21.5-inch version shipping in late Q1. There are also overlays for other size screens in the works.

WallWizard showed off its new line of motorized wall mounts that have a cool iPhone app for control. The app allows you to control the mount from across the room using your iPhone. Angry Birds hit the PSP and PS3 consoles this week as a mini game. The game offers 63 levels and will land on other game consoles later in the year.

An interesting MID called the OCOSMOS OSC1 landed at CES. The tablet has an Intel Oak Trail processor inside along with a 5-inch touchscreen, a slide out keyboard and it runs Windows 7. I bet there are some of you out there that didn’t wake up on time last weekend thanks to the iPhone alarm bug. That bug was supposed to fix itself on January 3 and didn’t. We still don’t know exactly what caused the alarm issue to start with.

AMD made its cool Fusion APUs official this week. These little gems pack in support for DirectX 11, 1080p HD, and 10 hours of battery life. Angry Birds for Windows Phone 7 won’t launch for months apparently. The game is on most other mobile platforms, is very popular, and has even made its way to some game consoles this week.

The Garmin StreetPilot app for the iPhone landed this week. The app is on the App Store right now for $39.99. The Tesla Model S and BMW vehicles are getting NVIDIA Tegra inside their vehicle infotainment systems. The Tegra chip will run the gauges and the large 12.1-inch touchscreen in the Tesla Model S.

50 Cent is the latest rapper to get in on the branded headphone market, but his set is much cooler than others I have seen. Fity calls his headphones the Sleek by 50 Cent and they have carbon fiber in the design. Asus went official with the EeePad Slider at CES. The tablet runs Android and has a cool slide out keyboard and a 10.1-inch screen.

We laid eyes on the cool Toshiba 3D TV at CES that needs no glasses. This is the sort of TV all people looking to go 3D have been waiting for. Toshiba says the set isn’t ready for the market yet, and we agree, but the tech has some promise. Qualcomm purchased Athros this week for a massive $3.1 billion. the purchase will get Qualcomm into computing, networking, and consumer products in a big way and branch Qualcomm into some new categories.

We spent a bit of hands on time with the Notion Ink Adam at CES. We think the Adam is a very impressive Android tablet and its Eden UI is one of the coolest parts about the tablet. We also ran some benchmarks on the Adam at CES and some Flash testing. We loaded Quadrant Advanced on the Adam, it scored 1,836, and we point out that Froyo isn’t optimized for multithreading so real world performance will be different.

Samsung has unveiled a new Sliding PC 7 Series that looks interesting. The machine is a combination of a notebook and a mobile PC skirting the land between tablet and netbook. It runs Windows 7 and weighs in at 2.2 pounds with up to 64GB of storage, a 10.1-inch screen, and an Atom Z670 CPU at 1.66GHz. What appear to be parts for the Verizon iPhone have been spotted online. The parts could also be for the next iteration of the iPhone, but the Verizon version is more likely if these pics aren’t fake.

Motorola has unveiled the Atrix 4G smartphone at CES hailed as the most powerful smartphone in the world. The thing is very impressive sounding on paper and is the first smartphone to ship with real RAM inside. Apple retail workers learned this week that there were no vacation days coming the last three weeks of January. This usually happens when new gear is coming and the Verizon iPhone is what is expected.

The Apple Mac App Store launched this week with about 1000 apps to start with. The store ended up moving a huge number of apps in the first few days it was available proving the store is very popular. Verizon went official with the HTC ThunderBolt smartphone. The device is the first LTE smartphone in the country and has nice specs like Android 2.2.1, 8GB of storage, and a microSD card slot with a single core 1GHz CPU.

JVC unveiled a cool new 3D camcorder at CES that records 3D in full 1080p resolution. It is the first camcorder for consumers to do 1080p 3D and it will cost you with a retail price a touch under $2000. A Chinese auction site has 50,000 stolen iTunes accounts up for auction with 12 hours of access offered to the accounts for about 15 cents here in the US. The site refuses to pull the auction until it gets an official request from Apple.

We ran into Mike Lazaridis at an event at CES and he whipped out the BlackBerry PlayBook and showed the thing off. We liked the bright and clear screen along with the capacitive controls in the bezel; the thing is pretty darn cool. Steve Jobs took only a buck in salary from Apple in 2010 according to documents filed by Cupertino. The board at Apple also asked for a clear succession policy for Steve is he was unable to continue at CEO of Apple.

Reports are coming in that the iPhone on Verizon may launch on February 3. That makes me wonder if the phone is coming on February 3, why the blocked vacation days for the three weeks in January? The Wall Street Journal has reported that the Verizon iPhone is going to launch on January 11. That fits in with the days workers can’t take off at Apple stores and makes that February 3 date more questionable.

After all the gear was unveiled at CES, the item voted best in show was the Motorola Xoom tablet. I admit the thing looks really cool with its Tegra 2 processor, HDMI output, 10-inch screen, and LTE data access. I want one. Thanks for reading this week’s edition, see you next time!

It will support models iPod Touch models 2nd Generation and above, iPhone 3G/3GS/4, and the iPad. The dongle requires a USB micro AB for recharging and should operate for ~2.5 hours until a needed recharge. Because of the receiver has its own battery, it won’t leech all the power out of your portable device. The Tivizen dongle will be available for $99 within the next few months.

The ATRIX 4G features a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen display, and a dual-core Tegra 2 processor under the hood. It’s running Android 2.2, and while it may not be the latest build of Android, it has plenty of extra features. First and foremost, the laptop dock. The device isn’t a full-featured laptop in any sense of the word. Namely, it’s just a screen (measuring 11.6-inches), a keyboard, and a mouse. It won’t do anything if an ATRIX 4G isn’t plugged into it, at the back of the dock.

Once we plugged the device in, we were escorted through the main features of the set-up. Accessing the phone’s features, like the separate homescreens, and even applications, is easy through the representation of the device on the dock’s display. You can launch and use some applications, like the Browser and even games.

The best part, though, is the usage of Firefox. This isn’t a mobile version of Firefox. It’s the full desktop version. And from what we could see of its usage in the demo, it works really well. The display is crisp, and rendering webpages is quick. Even Flash video loads up quickly, and we watched it play through without interruption.

There are even small flourishes, like window transitions, that making the dock worthwhile. Simply put, we were blown away by the performance a dock of this sort has, especially considering that a smartphone is running the entire show.

As for the ATRIX, it is snappy. Considering that Android 2.2 is the Operating System (OS) of choice, it’s not a deterrent from purchasing this phone at all. As of right now, with this demo as evidence, Motorola’s statement that the ATRIX 4G is the world’s most powerful smartphone may be true. Other features like the fingerprint sensor, which works as both security and the method to power on the device from sleep mode

Of course, the real test will come when we have the first review unit, and we can run the device through all of the necessary benchmarks. Until that day, go ahead and check out the video below, and let us know how you think the ATRIX 4G stacks up.

The new UI is obviously based on cell phone operating systems. Samsung is pushing heavy into the app market on their devices, first with their TV and Samsung Apps UI, and now with the consumer-grade point and shoot interfaces Samsung thinks it’s the best way for users to navigate around software.

On the showroom floor, we saw two of their upcoming devices – the ST700 and PL170. The ST700 boasts a 16 megapixel sensor, dual screens (3-inch touch-screen LCD on the back and 1.8-inch LCD on the front). Hitting the market in March, the device will sell for $279.99.

The PL170 is also a 16 megapixel camera and will be a more entry level camera when compared to the similar ST700. Sporting a 3-inch LCD and 1.5-inch front-facing LCD the device is very slim and lightweight all while feeling like a quality durable product. Also available in March, the PL170 will retail for $199.99.

Note: The PL170 we saw on the showroom floor did not have a front-facing LCD even though the Press Release and info sheet stated it should have. No word yet on whether it was just a prototype unit or the PL170 will just not feature a front-facing screen. But, it lacking a front-facing display would explain the price difference for two seemingly similar cameras.

The S4, much like the S3, is a voice-activated device that makes it easier for drivers to focus on driving, instead of having to worry about their phone. The S4 will also be able to call out who is calling, along with being able to read out text messages aloud. You will be able to listen to music, podcasts, or even turn-by-turn navigation from a GPS application.

What separates the two devices is the S4′s Microsoft BING integration, which gives the speakerphone a leg up with the ability to read out information. Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy for users to connect the S4 to an appropriate device.

The device sports dual microphones allowing for the selective audio cancellation that allows it to reduce background noise. Sporting a rugged design the T1 comes with many features as the Q2 such as the ability to read out text messages if your device supports it, listening to music, GPS turn-by-turn directions and podcasts, and has caller name announcing.

Available now, the BlueAnt T1 is on sale for $79.99.

The Bluetooth stereo headphones feature technology that, when we asked, went nameless that brings some pretty amazing “true to life” audio. The headphones are remarkably lightweight, thanks to the aluminum hardware. The ear-pads are made from leather, which helps with the comfort. The connectors inside the headphones are gold-plated, making sure that you always get high-fidelity sound.

The stereo headphones are designed specifically for Apple’s iPod line-up, as well as the iPhone. They feature a folding design as well, making it easy to carry. The two year replacement warranty is in full swing as well.

The headset was very durable and had an adequate amount of weight to it, without being too heavy, of course. The audio was crystal clear, and even on the showroom floor we could hear the other end of the conversation. Features include the ability to read out text messages if your device is supported, caller name announcement, and wind suppression up to 22mph with Wind Armour Technology.

The headsets are not only for calling. They will allow you to listen to audio from music, podcasts and mobile GPS turn-by-turn directions proving them to be an ultra-versitile headset. Available now, the Q2 retails for around $69.99.

With our hands-on time, the S3 device was pleasantly surprising in its construction. The device will still give you the ability to answer or reject phone calls with just your voice, and it has a simple, one-touch operation that will mean you’ll be able to keep your eyes where it’s important: the road.

It also comes packed with an advanced EQ, which delivers rich audio. When you receive a phone call, the little device announces who is calling, and there’s even a vibration sensor that will automatically connect your BlueAnt S3 Compact with your phone when you get into your car. The company pointed out their two year replacement warranty as well.

While the hands part may be a bit overboard, the Explorer Premium does indeed give you the ability to see things in otherwise inaccessible locations. Whether that’s a pipe, or under a door frame and into the other side, the Explorer Premium can handle it. Featuring a 3.5-inch TFT LCD display (that isn’t a touchscreen), and the ability to use a microSD card to save your recorded video, the Explorer Premium is the perfect gadget for those who need to be able to see into tiny locations.

There’s a USB port on the side, and a video output. And the box comes with the device, the flexible tube, a hook, and a magnet — giving you the ability to hang the camera somewhere where you can easily see it.

Our hands on time with the device confirmed the idea that Garmin’s presence in the GPS navigation market is still a strong one. The company’s new device is certainly responsive, and we were able to find our way through the menus quickly, and without much effort. The 3760T is compact, and lightweight as well — perfect for the holder you’ll be sticking to your windshield.

Being an ultra-rugged and splashproof speaker system, the Soultra XL is ready to handle the elements while you enjoy your music outdoors. The device is powered by a lithium ion battery which is charged by a 72 square inch enhanced monocrystal solar panel.

Sporting 8 speaker drivers (2x tweeters, 2x woofers, and 4x passive radiators) the system was surprising loud all while being incredibly clear. Performance wise we were told that the system will take 5 hours to fully charge in the sun, which would yield 4 hours of playback.

Last year’s Soultra is available now for $200 and is a more compact solution with Aspen Green and Crimson Graphite colors coming soon. The Soultra XL will be shipping the second quarter of this year for an estimated retail of $300.

The BOOX M Series eReader is running Android under the hood, but it looks like it’s Android 1.6 at best. The display measures in at 9.7-inches, and features a Vizplex display. There’s an 800MHz processor, and 4GB of Flash. It features USB 2.0, and there’s a microSD card slot that can be expanded to 32GB. A 3.5mm audio port means you can listen to your music while you’re reading. It has integrated WiFi, but no support for 3G. It has a 1600mAh rechargeable battery inside.

Like all FLIR thermal cameras, the Scout creates images based on heat and not light which will give you a serious advantage out in the wild. Perfect for scouting nocturnal animals in the dark the camera provides detailed images of members of your party, locate lost livestock, or spot downed game.

The body of the device is extremely rugged and you will not have to worry about it being exposed to the elements as it’s advertised as “weathertight.” The device features a built in LED flashlight, internal re-chargable Li-Ion battery, digital e-zoom and will capture images in multiple resolutions. The device will sell for $1,999 and is available now for all outdoor enthusiasts.

The large touchscreen “tables” were designed to be used like Surface, from Microsoft, but this is a lot thinner. What’s better, is that MultiTouch says that they could easily set up a large assortment of the displays, as a wall, and use it to let users interact with a huge, multitouch wall.

We played with it, and it certainly felt responsive. The multi-inputs were fun, in the sense that we got to move images around a large multitouch, interactive table. It’s good to see the technology advancing.

The primary reason I am ready to declare this is simply because mobile devices are one of the hottest topics in the industry. At this year’s CES there have been plenty of exciting and innovative mobile devices announced and demonstrated.

There really is no doubt that we are and probably have been at an inflection point in our industry. I predict that this year the number of worldwide smart phones shipped will surpass the number of desktop and notebook PC’s shipped worldwide. This will be the first time a pocket computer ships in more volume than the traditional desktop and notebook PC we all know and love.

Mobile devices like cell phones and tablets, which are all the rage at this years CES, are devices that have high emotional attachment by consumers. These devices are some of the most personal devices any consumer can own. So it stands to reason that consumers are passionate about them thus generating a ton of excitement about all things mobile.

This years CES delivered on the promise of personal technology. We saw and got to play with the first dual core processor super phones. We saw Google’s Android tablet specific operating system called Honeycomb and it impressed. And with Tablet’s being all the rage we saw half a dozen, and counting, dual core tablets in all their glory.

For a gadget and specifically a mobile gadget freak like me this years CES was extremely exciting. As an industry analyst, all the interesting market developments that make studying this industry gratifying showed up at this years CES.  I even had the privilege to speak this year and keynote a session called Tablets: A New Era of Personal Computing.

My award for most exciting, interesting and cool product of this years CES is the Motorola Atrix 4G and its accessory ecosystem. The Motorola Atrix 4G is a dual core super phone running NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 for a combined processing power of 2.0 ghz. And the coolest thing about this Motorola device is that the phone itself becomes a fully functional desktop and laptop computer with the notebook and desktop dock accessories.

This product opened my eyes to how a mobile pocket-able computer can potentially become the only computing device a consumer like me needs.

Focusing heavily on small clutter-free solutions, Sonic Emotion’s 3D sound technology has been embedded into both the Coby CSMP88 3D Soundbar and the Haier Evoke Series 3D Soundbar with docking station. From what we heard, amidst the loud happenings of CES, the sound was very impressive. Bass was great and the sound was of a quality that would be refreshing for any avid home entertainment fan.

The Coby CSMP88 3D Soundbar is available now for $99 and the Haier Evoke Series 3D Soundbar has yet to be given a release or pricing.

They’ve announced the partnership with Yahoo! at CES 2011, and outlined the plan to incorporate Yahoo! Connected TV into the new sets with built-in WiFi. The new units will be able to access 50,000 TV shows and movies, courtesy of Yahoo! Connected TV’s on-demand feature. It also means that the TVs will have access to Connected’s applications, which include YouTube, CBS, Twitter, and Facebook, amongst others.

The new TVs will also feature Netflix integrated, and the remotes will feature a Netflix button as well for easy access. However, the remotes with the Netflix button will only appear on the remote controls that ship with Haier’s upcoming Web-connected Blu-ray players. As of the time of this writing, the company has not said when the new TVs will be released, nor a price point for any unit.

The device features a huge (for a tablet) 11.6-inch touchscreen display, with a resolution of 1366 x 768. Intel’s Pineview N450-M Hyperthreaded processor, clocked at 1.66GHz. There’s Windows 7 on board, and a ridiculous 2GB of RAM. The company has two sizes for the SSD inside: 32GB or 64GB. They told us that the battery life is estimated to be about 5 hours with a lot of usage. It is surprisingly light, though. It will support Flash player, too — something they wanted us to point out.

Playing chess on the device was smooth enough, but considering the size, despite its light weight, it may take a bit of work to sell it to the masses.

The device will be highly focused on sharing, allowing the user to upload to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Email, and Kodak Gallery with easy image and video formatting. Capturing video in full 1080 and 5MP HD images, the PlaySport will not only be durable, but powerful as well.

The PlaySport 2 will be shipping this spring for about $179.99.

The device has a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen display, with a resolution of 1024x 600. Under the hood, there’s 512M mDDR, and two 2GB of internal memory. There’s a microSD card slot, which can support a card all the way up to 32GB. As for the Operating System, it will run Android 2.2 or 2.3, depending on what you want. Both versions will be heavily customized by Hanvon, though.

There’s a 1.3MP camera on the front of the device, and a 5MP on the back. There’s a microUSB port, and mini-HDMI port. The battery, we were told, will last 6 hours playing video, or 8 hours reading. But, they stressed that these were still estimations. Check out the hands on images below to see the Hanvon HPad A116 up close.

We were told that the device would cost $350 when it goes on sale later this year.

The TouchPad B20 features a 10.1-inch display, and has an Intel Atom Z530 processor clocked at 1.6GHz inside. Windows XP Home Edition 32-bit is pre-installed. The TouchPad B20 also features 1GB DDR2, and a 120GB 1.8-inch SATA hard drive at 4200rpm. There’s a 2MP camera on the back, and no front-facing camera. There’s two USB ports, an earphone and microphone port, and an HDMI port. The whole system is skinned by Hanvon.

Our time with the device was limited, but we could tell that the tablet is light enough, but with Windows on board, and the $899 price tag we were told, there probably won’t be a line growing to get their hands on this device. Check out the hands on images below.

The headphones will be both wireless and wired when you need them to be and will feature the company’s Kleer technology. Being a “Wireless Hybrid” the headphones will come with a wireless jack for cordless streaming, but will also feature a wired cable with microphone if you run out of power.

Music controls are done on the headpieces themselves with one controlling volume while the other controls play/pause features. No word was said on when we can expect these to be available but there was hints at the pair being priced around $350-$400.

The aLOKSAK has been named the “World’s Best Outdoor iPhone Accessory” by the editor of National Geographic Adventure Magazine.

Once a device is put into the bag, the screen remains fully functional. Our hands-on time with the LOKSAK proved that access to the bags was surprisingly easy, just like a normal zip-lock bag. In fact, it’s so easy it was worrisome to us that there would be immense leaking if left underwater for long. However, we were assured by the LOKSAK team that the zipper will not leak, very impressive indeed.

The bags are extremely low-priced and definitely worth the money starting at only $6.49 for the aLOKSAK 5X4″ 3-pack.

Combing superior audio quality with impressive design, the iTam tam is definitely an interesting furniture piece. The dock is compatible with all docking iPod models and boasts 3 independent speakers, 1 subwoofer, and 2 circular placed midrange tweeters.

The design is based off of the 1968 Tamtam stool and can fit in pretty much anywhere with a modern decor. Available now, the stool retails for around $500.

The iPhone microphone will be connected via Bluetooth, and will allow the user to record audio from the mic after pairing.

Scosche was named CES Innovations 2011 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for their Flip freedoomMIC model. This microphone will connect to the Flip UltraHD 2 via USB and will also allow for wireless audio transmission.

Both of the microphones will retail for $99 and are still waiting for approval/certification, but we should expect to see them in March of this year.