2010 CES

LAS VEGAS--The connected car is a big theme at CES, but most companies rely on a user's mobile phone for an in-car data connection. However, this is not so with Alcatel-Lucent, which demonstrated a heavily modified Toyota Prius with its own LTE data connection. This broadband connection enables many in-care functions, including vehicle-to-vehicle communication, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and various Internet applications including our old friend Pandora.

LTE, or Long Term Evolution, is a term for a 4G wireless network being implemented by Alcatel-Lucent for Verizon. Although data speeds vary greatly depending on conditions, according to Alcatel-Lucent, LTE's … Read more

LAS VEGAS--We all know of ViewSonic's display pedigree, but in this business, it pays to branch out. ViewSonic recently dipped its toe into the personal media player waters, or what it calls MovieBooks, and are continuing to support the format at CES 2010 with the debut of two new MovieBooks.

First, the VPD550T features a 5-inch 800x480-pixel high-resolution LCD touch screen, and can output video in 1080p to a supported source. The device, which includes 8GB of storage space, also supports the playing of music and viewing of photos. This is in addition to digital book support and voice … Read more

LAS VEGAS--As I said before, in the current economy it pays, hopefully, to branch out. While AOC has been primarily a computer monitor focused company, it did release the M222A all-in-one desktop last year. This week at CES, the company showed off its new all-in-one offering, the M92 series and a follow up to the M222A, the M222T.

The M92 is a 19-inch all-in-one PC with an integrated Intel Atom N270 processor, built-in Webcam, and speakers. It also comes with a 4-in-1 card reader, four USB ports, and Super Multi DVD.

The M222T has an ungraded CPU (Intel T4200 versus … Read more

LAS VEGAS--A few months back, I reviewed the AOC V22 Verfino monitor. While it lacked a DVI input and ergonomic features, I gave it points for its good performance, thin design, and useful extras.

It's too early to say whether AOC's V22 follow up, the E2237Fwh will live up to its predecessor--that will be determined when I get a review unit--hopefully in a few weeks. Unfortunately, AOC didn't increase the number DVI ports on the E2237Fwh from the zero found on the V22. Its sole video connection is HDMI, as it was with the V22.

Also announced … Read more

Moto Development Labs devised a simple method of analyzing capacitive touch screens using drawing programs. They put the iPhone, the Nexus One, the Droid, and the Droid Eris through the paces and proved not all touch screens are created equal.

Using only your fingers and a drawing app, Moto shows how you can test out the accuracy of your smartphone's touch screen. The test is simple: draw some slow, steady lines across the screen with your finger. If they're smooth and straight, your touch screen is tracking with relative accuracy. If they're wavy or jagged, your phone … Read more

Once an Apple engineer, Andy Rubin went on to co-found mobile computing outfits Danger and Android. He sold the former to Microsoft and the latter to Google, where he is now vice president of engineering. He's also the guy quarterbacking development of Google's Android mobile operating system and the Nexus One--the smartphone with which Google hopes to fundamentally change the way people buy cell phones.

In conversation with All Things Digital's Walt Mossberg Friday, Rubin talked about the mobile space, Google's plan for an enterprise version of the Nexus One, and its vision for the … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Anchoring a corner of British high-end audio company Bower & Wilkin's booth at CES sat a 2010 Jaguar XJ, a probably unexpected adornment for a company traditionally focused on home audio. The new XJ showed off Bower & Wilkin's latest effort in the area of luxury automotive audio.

This 1,200-watt system is comprised of 20 speakers getting audio through 15 channels--an impressive array. It uses just about every digital-signal-processing trick in the book, including Audyssey MultEQ XT, designed to equalize the audio experience for all seating positions, Dolby's Pro Logic IIx, and DTS Neo:6, … Read more

LAS VEGAS--This year's CES sported an expanded showcase for green-oriented gadgets. But arguably the more significant eco-action was tucked away in the booths of the consumer electronics industry's behemoths.

Behind the barrage of wall-to-wall TVs and mobile devices, you can find "eco-products" from familiar suppliers, such as Panasonic, Sanyo, Toshiba, Philips, and LG. In the technology-themed areas, such as the wireless Zigbee zone, there were displays for managing home energy or more fuel-efficient driving.

Green technologies are clearly still on the periphery of the sprawling consumer electronics business, but brand name manufacturers say they are innovating … Read more

Escort, a name typically associated with high-end radar detectors, showcased a pair of security solutions for car at CES 2010. The Entourage PS and CIS are GPS tracking devices that allow users to keep tabs on their wheels from anywhere in the world via the Internet.

The Entourage PS is a portable device that can be tossed in the glove compartment or in the trunk for simple, no-install tracking. The PS charges at home or via your car's 12-volt power outlet and can continuously broadcast its location for up to 10 days thanks to an internal battery. The PS … Read more