Manage updates with the Download App  CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW: CNET editors cover the Next Big Thing
                 Rio Carbon Pearl: the eminently pocket-size player becomes even more stylish January 4, 2005; 3:30 p.m.  The product: Last year, MP3 innovator Rio made a big splash with its Carbon device, an ultracompact 5GB digital audio player. Now the company has applied a slick new shade to the Carbon, which it calls the Pearl Rio Carbon. Sculpted to slide easily into tight pockets, the Pearl is smaller than Apple's iPod Mini but boasts slightly more storage than the megapopular player. The Pearl also has the same cool features that made the original Carbon compelling, such as a 20-hour rated battery life; support for MP3, WMA, and Audible file formats; and voice recording. Key specs include:
The prospects: Buyers new to the world of digital audio may be drawn to the Pearl Rio Carbon's sleek size and cool reflective silver look. However, it'll be hard for it to compete against the Apple iPod Mini's seductive brand name, especially at the same $249 price. Current iPodders won't find much use for the Pearl, since it lacks support for Apple's AAC file format, the style of music Apple serves up at its massively successful online music store. By Brian Bennett, staff editor, CNET Reviews CES DEBUTS BY BRAND
Altec Lansing  Altec Lansing inMotion iM4Archos Archos Portable Media Assistant PMA430Creative Creative Zen Micro headphonesCreative Zen Micro in new capacitiesiRiver iRiver H10Nike-Philips Nike-Philips PSA Sport lineNyko Technologies Nyko iTop Button Relocator for iPodNyko Technologies MoviePlayerOlympus Olympus M:robe 500 and M:robe 100Oregon Scientific Oregon Scientific MP120Ovideon Ovideon AviahPhilips Philips PSS110 MP3 Personal Surround System
Pioneer Pioneer AirWave XM2GoRCA RCA LYRA A/V Jukebox RD2782Rio Rio Carbon PearlRio CE2100Samsung Samsung YH-820 Micro HDD Jukebox and Photo AlbumSamsung YH-925Samsung YP-T7Sennheiser Sennheiser PXC300Sennheiser RS140 RFSennheiser RS130 RFSoniqCast SoniqCast Aireo 2Sony Sony Network Walkman NW-HD3Toshiba Toshiba Gigabeat MEG-F60 Digital Audio PlayerTruly Truly HD900  CES BUZZ BLOG Our inveterate Buzz-er Molly Wood is on the CES show floor, digging up the stories and the hottest buzz. What's the latest? Take a look at Molly's buzz blog and find out.
 Molly Wood Senior editor NEXT BIG THING AWARD CES is full of cool gadgets, but which ones will you be lining up to buy? Our editors cut through the hype and tell you what products will be the Next Big Thing.
 CNET'S CES BACKSTAGE CREW We gave six regular, everyday CNET users backstage passes to CES 2005. You'll never guess what they discover in their travels through the wonderland of gear and gadgets.
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