Motorola Xoom
Motorola’s tablet was perhaps the most anticipated product of the show, and it certainly lived up to expectations. Featuring a 10.1-inch screen (boasting a resolution of 1280x720), a powerful 1GHz processor, dual cameras – and best of all, the first slate-friendly version of Android 3.0, the Xoom showed all the potential of being an iPad killer. Whether it becomes one will depend on the pricing and the final software (the version that was shown in CES was still a buggy beta). Cynics were quick to point out that a new iPad might well be in the market by the time the Xoom is released, but Moto’s new tab seems equipped enough to take it on.
Razer Switchblade
Best known for its computer gaming peripherals, Razer upped the ante at CES by showing off an incredibly compact netbook that’s specifically meant for gamers. The gadget boasts a 7-inch multitouch display, runs Windows 7 and has an amazing transparent keyboard with LCD graphics that not only lets you customise controls for different games, but also transfer onscreen interface elements to it. In effect, you could have icons from, say, World of Warcraft on your keyboard; saving you the need to go to them on the screen using a mouse. PC gaming just got more portable.
Recon Transcend Goggles
We have heard of mobiles, tablets and even the odd notebook running on Google’s smartphone OS, but Recon Instruments added a whole new category to Android gadgetry – goggles. The company – which primarily caters to extreme sportspersons – recently made news with its GPS-enabled eyewear (see pic). But at CES it showed off a prototype that is equipped with a mini LCD. Besides displaying a real-time navigation data, the hi-tech glasses are also equipped with a run counter, speedometer, odometer, thermometer, clock, stopwatch and Bluetooth capability, which lets users connect to their smartphones. Of course, the fact that it runs on Android means that other apps can be developed for it.
Casio Tryx
A 12.0-megapixel camera with a CMOS sensor, HD video recording and a three-inch touchscreen display might not raise many eyebrows, but it was the form factor in which Casio presented these routine specs that grabbed attention at CES. The LCD in the slim Tryx can be swung out and oriented in any way – you can even place it next to the lens to shoot a picture of yourself. The frame holding the display can also be used as a grip or can double up as part of a tripod. The camera comes with HDR technology that actually takes several photographs with different exposures when you press the shutter and then combines them all into a single image. Still, it was the package, rather than the features, that won us over.
Sony 3D televisions without glasses
Televisions that can display 3D images without users having to wear special glasses were very much on display at CES, but of all the companies that flaunted them, Sony came out tops. It unveiled three televisions, including one with an OLED display for better colour. Making the 3D effect possible was something called a lenticular overlay, which on the flip side, also restricted the viewing angle: In simple terms, you will not be able to see 3D content from all angles and would have to sit in a particular place to make the most of the effects. Still, anything is better than those bulky (and expensive) glasses.
Asus Eee Slate
Although most manufacturers at CES were busy showing off tablets that were running Android, Asus pulled a rabbit out of its hat by displaying one running Windows 7. The Eee Slate boasted specs that seemed more from a notebook than a tablet; with a 12.1-inch display, an Intel i5 processor, 4GB RAM, flash storage, web camera, and two USB ports. Users can use it by touch or with a digitizer pen that comes bundled with it. All the features makes it sound like a notebook without a keyboard, and while some might consider it a tad too heavy at 1.2 kgs, its projected price of $999 makes it a very good deal for those wanting the tablet experience without going too far from the familiar Windows environment.
Intel Sandy Bridge processors
This is no gadget, but Intel still managed to draw the attention of the tablet-loving crowd at CES when it introduced its Sandy Bridge processors. The range included dual-core, quad-core, six-core and eight-core chips for notebooks and desktops. And while there were the usual promises of better performance and lesser power consumption, what really grabbed imaginations was the graphic capabilities of the new processors, which many claimed were good enough to match those rendered by some graphics cards. And while ‘Sandy’ will not kill the GPU, it will definitely make high-quality renders more accessible!
Motorola Atrix
When a company calls its product the “world’s most powerful smartphone”, we're more than likely to take the boast with a fist-full of salt. However, Motorola’s Android-based Atrix lived up to that exalted billing; packing in a dual core processor with each core running at 1GHz, the first qHD display seen on a smartphone, a fingerprint reader – and most interestingly, a notebook-like dock, which allows users to work on a bigger screen. Top that off with a multimedia dock that lets you connect the phone to a television and you can see why we are ga-ga over it.
Notion Ink Adam
Ah yes, the jingoists in us are at it again: Notion Ink’s Adam tablet made a formal appearance at the event, dispelling all notions that it was nothing, but vapourware. The indigenous slate went on to win widespread applause for its new LCD technology (that keeps the screen readable even in bright outdoor light), its innovative hardware design (complete with a swivelling camera), and even its radical user interface (which is a far cry from anything seen on any other Android-based device). No wonder we’re big fans of the gadget already. Regardless to say, we can’t wait to get our hands on the Adam as soon as it hits shop shelves here in its home market.
Samsung BD-D7500
Those who thought that only the folks at Cupertino could make sleek-looking gadgets sure got a shock when they saw this Blu-Ray player from Samsung. Easily the world’s thinnest gadget of its type (just 1.1 inches thick), it is pure eye-candy with its sleek metallic accents and smooth finish. Add to that features such as 2D to 3D conversion, Wi-Fi, 1080p upscaling and even a bevy of web apps to add all kinds of functionalities when you go online, and this is easily the best amalgam of beauty and brains seen at the show – this, even though we wish it came with a proper drive instead of the slot-loading mechanism which can be iffy.
Wade hodai nam rep++....
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