Sony XBR goes over edge with full-array local dimming

David Katzmaier — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:35:00 PDT

The Sony XBR-HX909 series of LED-based LCD TVs offers local dimming in a full array, as opposed to edge-lit, design.

Sony integrates 3D, Wi-Fi in flagship LED-based LCD

David Katzmaier — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:35:00 PDT

The Sony XBR-LX900 series offers the company's best assortment of features and comes with 3D glasses as well as built-in Wi-Fi for its interactive features.

See the coolest audio from CES 2010

Steve Guttenberg — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:08:00 PST

After you've looked at a picture of an LCD, well, you've seen 'em all. Audio gear comes in a vast range of sizes and shapes. The best of it looks amazing, here's a nice selection of stellar audio that debuted at CES 2010.

Originally posted at The Audiophiliac

Top 5 CES trends

Tom Merritt — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:42:00 PST

We count down the tech trends we saw at CES 2010.

Originally posted at CNET TV

The Real Deal 193: Road Test - CES edition (podcast)

Tom Merritt — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:40:00 PST

Tom and Rafe discuss the gear they used to cover the consumer electronics show and how well it fared.

Ep. 193: Road Test - CES edition

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Episode 193
Tech we used to cover CES – how did it hold up?

Rafe…
Tech is really getting simple. Used to have to lay out a war kit for covering a show. Now, standard hardware and software does it.
Macbook
Sprint EVDO card (never used)
Nikon D50, S400 flash, 18-200 lens
Flip camera

The double-wide trailer with our hard-wired connection

Evernote
iMovie – Great!!

To stay in touch:
Foursquare
Twitter
iPhone charge issues

Timbuk2 Commute.

Virgin America airlines – free wifi!

Other tools I like: CoverItLive, WordPress iPhone app.

Tom
Laptop – MacBook Pro – issues with screen output onto big screens. Otherwise.fine. battery life adequate.
iPhone
MiFi – keeping it turned off is a challenge. Needed it once and battery was drained.
Kensington iPhone Battery – Life saver. Not as elegant as Mophie Juice Pack.
Logitech MX wireless mouse – Perfect.

CALLS

Darren from Hak5 (http://www.hak5.org/) called in with the gear he used at CES

asus ul30a-x5
http://www.amazon.com/UL30A-X5-Light-13-3-Inch-Black-Laptop/dp/B002P3KMVC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1263503727&sr=8-1-catcorr

sima sl-20lx
http://www.amazon.com/Sima-SL-20LX-Ultra-Bright-Silver/dp/B000WKW69Q

kata r-103
http://www.amazon.com/Kata-KT-R-103-GDC-Rucksack/dp/B0009PYV6K

E-MAIL QUESTIONS

Hi Tom and Rafe!
I have an older desktop PC that runs Windows XP. I was wondering, how do I load Chrome OS (beta) on a flash drive, and then boot the computer from the flash drive? Is it possible that I could make is so that when the flash drive is plugged in, it will boot up Chrome OS, but when the flash drive isn’t plugged in, it will boot up the regular Windows XP? Also, could I get it to fit on a 2 GB flash drive? Also, I’m not super tech savvy so you know any simple tutorials I could use to do this?

Thanks so much! You guys are the best!
-George B.

Answer: Use this tutorial to make the USB drive. http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/download-google-chrome-os-and-run-on-a-real-computer/ You can set BIOS to boot in order by preference.

****************

After it received rave reviews at cnet and, um, from Leo Laporte, I
recently installed Microsoft Security Essentials. It told me to
uninstall all my other security software, which I ignored, except for
one antispyware program, which had been annoying and I was not sorry
to see go. Now there is a new version of AVG Anti-Virus available. I
have had the free version of this on my computer for longer than I can
remember, and I have admired how light it was compared with, say,
Norton, and how free it was. I feel a little guilty about uninstalling
it, but the new version won’t install as long as I have Microsoft
Security Essentials installed as well. Should I say goodbye to my
free, shareware protector of the past and let the big corporate
program take care of me in the future? And does this mean that I’m
growing up?

Thanks for any advice
and Love. The. Show.

Christopher
The Administrative Law Judge in New York.

Answer:
Just stick with MSE.

****************

Hey Tom and Rafe,

I am planning on getting a sling player to stream my TV on my pc , iphone, ect. Here’s is my problem. I have my router from verizon connected via COAX cable. This router has to stay in my room on the second floor because I had linked up the router with the printers. So what I want to do is basically connect the sling box downstairs to the router via Wifi since the slingbox doesn’t include wifi built-in. I checked out the slinglink but it is I think too expensive for what it does. Is there any other alternate way to connect the slingbox via wifi?

Thanks. Calvin

Answer: There’s another solution, but it’s not much less expensive: Powerline networking. I’ve used it and it was reliable in my house. Costs about the same. Example product: http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-85Mbps-Powerline-Network-Adapter/dp/B001AZUTCS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1263334437&sr=1-2

Next time: All-questions! Send your questions to realdeal@cnet.com or call in live at 4 p.m. Eastern, 1 p.m. Pacific at 888-900-CNET (2638)

Originally posted at The Real Deal Podcast

NFL, here's your 2010 tech resolution: Make games easier to access on the Internet

Scott Stein — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:22:00 PST

After a season of staying glued to the TV for this year's NFL games, here's to hoping next season gets a lot more Internet-enabled.

FlipSync keeps iPod cable in reach

Donald Bell — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:22:00 PST

Senior Editor Donald Bell confesses that the product he wanted most from CES 2010 was a $20 iPod cable from Scosche called the FlipSync.

Transformers memory sticks, mice--so corny they're cool

Scott Stein — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:43:00 PST

For some weird reason, we'd love to have these on our desk.

Indoor skeet shooting: Target practice, broken vases

Juniper Foo — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:32:00 PST

Skeet shooting is not something you'd want to try right smack in your living room. But that hasn't stopped Interative Toy Concepts from developing a skeet shooter game designed to be an indoor toy.

Take wireless charging on the go

Kent German — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:48:00 PST

The Portable WildCharge Pad charges one cell phone at a time without wires.

CES 2010 - CES news & blogs