ces 2009

LAS VEGAS--Jabra announced a brand-new Bluetooth headset at CES 2010, dubbed the Jabra Extreme. It's named after Jabra's new noise-canceling technology called Noise Blackout Extreme, and it has dual microphone noise cancellation, automatic volume control, background noise reduction, acoustic shock protection, and an overall improvement in call quality.

The Extreme also features multipoint technology, A2DP music streaming, and new "ultimate-fit" ear gels that promise long-lasting comfort. It has a talk time of 5.5 hours. The Extreme will launch this month at Best Buy and BestBuy.com for $79.

At the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (January 5-9), CNET editors will be choosing the Best of Show finalists and winners that will set the trends for the new year. But that begs the question: How well did we do last year?

It's a perfect excuse to look back at the picks from the most recent show, January 2009. We've gone to the archives and highlighted the winners in 10 categories--including our overall Best of Show. See which picks were right on the money, which were soon eclipsed by newer and better products later in the … Read more

It's been two weeks since I returned from the GSMA World Congress, but memories of the event are still fresh in my mind. As the largest cell phone trade show in the world, GSMA had enough to keep Bonnie and I occupied. But like this year's CES, the show wasn't quite as insane as it was in 2009.

Though the exhibits were just as elaborate, and the show grounds were just as massive, both shows were quieter on a couple of levels. First off, there were noticeably fewer people in attendance. At CES, for example, it was … Read more

Once in a while you get something and like it so much you wonder why you hadn't gotten it a long time ago. Or, as in my case, why you didn't use it.

This happened back during CES. I was given a headset from iHarmonix, the Platinum i-Series, as a freebie. I didn't have a chance to really use it until just now and asked myself why I waited so long.

The headset's sound is much better than that of Apple's OEM included with the iPhone. For the first time, I can enjoy the bass and really control the multifunction button (that ends calls as well as controls music playback), thanks to its round shape and larger size. The iPhone's included headset has a very tiny button that's hard to press on. It was almost impossible for me to make a successful jump to a previous track.

What I like best, however, is the fact that the Platinum i-Series is black instead of having the same white color as Apple's headset. Now I can blend in without people looking at me and thinking, "Oh I know, you got an iPhone, all right."… Read more

I've never been a fan of cord clutter. I switched to a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard in my office, and I've delighted in the clean look ever since. Cord clutter may be annoying in the office, but it's downright dangerous in the kitchen. The kitchen--that place where I spill, where my kids come barreling through at top speed, where tangled cords are truly an accident waiting to happen.

Cordless technology for the kitchen is a great idea, but one that doesn't get as much press, perhaps, as wireless peripherals for the office. Until now.

At the … Read more

We've seen Netbook components used in small desktops. Heck, we've even come across desktop-grade performance in mini-laptops. But this may be the first time a Netbook has been cramped into a keyboard meant to replace a desktop.

Details on the exact specifications of the product are vague, but the Eee PC Keyboard is a full-size input device that is likely based on the Atom chipset. Though it has a small 5-inch touch screen on the right, we suspect its role is more of a secondary display as this system is meant to be hooked up to external screens … Read more

Two of the most confusing letters thrown around in reference to LCD and TVs these days are "H" and "z." The confusion will just continue to mount this year, as numerous manufacturers announced 240Hz displays at CES, doubling the 120Hz spec in an attempt to lure buyers. But is it twice as nice?

Until proven otherwise, I'm saying no, 240Hz is not worth waiting for.

Before I get into why, it's probably worth writing a few sentences to sketch out what all these numbers mean. Standard LCD and plasma TVs refresh the screen 60 times per second, or 60Hz, which is plenty fast enough to eliminate flicker and create the illusion of motion from a series of still images. In fact, most sources sent to your display arrive at the nominal rate of 30 frames per second, and each frame is repeated once by the television to achieve 60 total fps.

The problem is that with LCD, some viewers can perceive motion blur in fast-moving objects on standard 60Hz models (motion blur like this isn't an issue with plasma or other display types, whether 60Hz or otherwise, because they use different methods to create the illusion of motion). To reduce blurring, most 120Hz LCD displays use interpolation--called MEMC for "motion estimation-motion compensation"--to create a new frame between each of the original frames, so there's one interpolated frame for every true frame. An interpolated frame is composed of the processor's best guess as to what should be there, based on the contents of each of the true frames. … Read more

Big thanks and confusion goes out to listener PacGamer for today's show title. The answer is somewhere in today's show, but it's hidden between a gulch and a burrito. Listen in for a story about Jeff's brother's upchuck reflex to The 404, a magical iPhone application, our best Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker impressions, and more!

I'll start this post by joining the masses in demanding people to stop hating on Chipotle! They're not supposed to taste like an "authentic" taqueria burrito--in fact, I usually skip the burrito altogether and order the burrito bowl, and now I can do it on their new iPhone application. I'm a little scared to use it, though, especially with that "extra filling" button staring my stomach in the face. Sure, you'll probably curse the company in the privacy of your bathroom after the meal, but the app also includes a special "Pepto Bismol delivery" button free of charge!

Last year, appliance manufacturer Haier America surprised me by producing its very first MP3 player. More specifically, I was confounded by the fact that the company actually made a decent one that offered a variety of compelling features most mainstream MP3 player companies had overlooked (wireless podcast updating, for example).

Now, Haier is updating its Rhapsody Ibiza line with--get this--the Mini and the Touch. Those certainly aren't the most original names (in fact, the words "blatant rip-off" come to mind), but to Haier's credit, the new players look nothing like the iPods of the same name.

First up is the Rhapsody Ibiza Mini, which will replace the current flash-based Ibiza Rhapsody. This pocketable player measures just 3.5 inches by 2 inches by 0.4 inch and features a 2.2-inch color QVGA screen dominating its face. Just below is a four-way directional pad composed of tactile controls for main navigation. Around the edges of the device, you'll find a dedicated volume rocker, a power button, and a Wi-Fi connect key.… Read more