CES 2004: Digitizing entertainment

Technology companies large and small descend on Las Vegas as competition for a piece of the digital living room heats up. Congressional leaders promise action on tech issues Federal lawmakers are ready to help the technology industry solve its problems--at least some of them. Jan. 10, 2004 Senator wants VoIP to be regulation free U.S. Sen. John Sununu says he's preparing legislation to keep broadband telephone service providers from being "smothered by state and federal regulators." Jan. 10, 2004 Routers, phones dialing in VoIP Major device manufacturers are planning to incorporate Net phone calling technology into their modems and cordless phones, another sign of the growing popularity of this cheaper version of telephone calling. Jan. 10, 2004 It came from CES! reporter's notebook The back alleys of the giant trade show in Las Vegas offer up a wealth of inventive gadgets to satisfying needs you probably never recognized. Jan. 10, 2004 Wi-Fi gear makers make home connections Wi-Fi gear makers introduce new products that will allow home stereos and DVD players to connect to and playback digital media stored on other devices connected to wireless networks. Jan. 10, 2004 Push into living room is a gamble news analysis PC companies are in Las Vegas touting their consumer electronics strategies, but entering a market marked by commoditization and rapidly falling prices may not provide salvation. Jan. 9, 2004 IBM, Real forge digital media deal The companies are aligning digital media technologies to create a system for content owners to sell their assets electronically, in a partnership to rival a common foe: Microsoft. Jan. 9, 2004 And now, a TV that prints still photos Epson introduces a line of televisions that can display still photos and also produce high-quality prints. The New York Times Jan. 9, 2004 Broadcom to give wireless networks zip The company says 802.11g networks will accelerate to 125mbps, paving which could create new opportunities to route high-bandwidth media. Jan. 9, 2004 TiVo debuts new wares, predicts healthy 2004 The TV recording company unveils new products and services, including a method for shifting saved programs to a home computer, to help continue growth of its video-recording service. Jan. 9, 2004 Video loses its chains news.commentary This year, the vision of video throughout and beyond the home took a big step forward. And Microsoft and the PC industry--not traditional electronics brands--stole the show. Jan. 9, 2004 Intel's future: That's home entertainment President Paul Otellini maps out the chipmaker's strategy for getting into home electronics, with entertainment PCs, digital cameras and televisions all part of the plan. Jan. 8, 2004 Fiorina calls for defense of digital rights HP's chief executive declares open season on digital piracy, while also announcing new entertainment products that HP hopes will help make its digital entertainment strategy a reality. Jan. 8, 2004 AMD, Intel put antivirus tech into chips The companies plan to soon release technology that will allow processors to stop many computer attacks before they occur. Jan. 8, 2004 Microsoft gets verbal about voice app The company outlines its strategy for expanding the capabilities and distribution of its Voice Command software, a program that lets people control handheld devices via spoken instructions. Jan. 8, 2004 MSN to include eBay personalized data For the first time, the online auctioneer will offer access to personalized content via Microsoft's MSN Web portal. Jan. 8, 2004 Gateway TVs win starring role in Vegas The PC maker will supply 7,000 TVs to developer Wynn Resorts for a new hotel, a deal that bolsters Gateway's relatively new effort to change itself into a consumer electronics brand. Jan. 8, 2004 Philips, Visa advance wireless pay cards The companies detail plans to further develop an emerging wireless technology that aims to let shoppers pay everywhere they want to pay--without opening their wallets. Jan. 8, 2004 Panasonic gives 'life' to its game plan The electronics maker's president says that "lifestream" is the name of his company's strategy for making products better suited to consumers' needs. Jan. 8, 2004 Dell to expand printer line in 2004 The PC maker plans to work with Fuji Xerox, Kodak and Samsung to increase the number of printing devices it offers. Analysts say to look out for color laser printers. Jan. 8, 2004 Gates shows PC-TV connection update Microsoft's chairman shows new technology for connecting Windows Media Center PCs to TV sets and Xbox game consoles during his CES keynote address. Jan. 8, 2004 Intel throws down the TV gauntlet update The chip giant is making an integral component for expensive televisions--but analysts say it could be a tough uphill climb. Jan. 8, 2004 LG leaps into Blu-ray for high-definition TV The Korean electronics giant unveils a recorder that combines the blue-laser optical disc format with digital video recording, part of a slew of high-definition TV releases at the CES show. Jan. 8, 2004 Sony unveils music store, gadgets at CES The company unveils a slew of new gadgets and throws its hat into the ring for music download services as part of ongoing efforts to meld its content and electronics businesses. Jan. 7, 2004 Flat-panel sets to enhance Samsung visibility Thin, rich and well-connected--vital qualities for young social strivers--may well also be the defining factors for new products at the Consumer Electronics Show. The New York Times Jan. 8, 2004 Philips broadcasts Internet-ready TV The Dutch electronics maker unveils a television set with a wireless connection to the Internet and PCs that lets it play music and view pictures and video from the Web or computers. Jan. 8, 2004 SanDisk beefs up Memory Stick Pro The removable flash memory maker is doubling the capacity of Memory Stick Pro cards and expects pricing to fall more in line with competing Secure Digital cards. Jan. 8, 2004 eMachines' winter desktops cozy up to customers The low-price computer maker is hoping that its offer of four faster desktops will help chase away the winter blues. Jan. 8, 2004 Gates: Convergence is for real newsmaker Microsoft's chairman says digital pieces are finally falling into place to realize one of the tech industry's longest-sought grails. Jan. 7, 2004 Microsoft unveils new MSN update Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates presents a new version of MSN.com and demonstrates a new online video service during his keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Jan. 7, 2004 Toshiba to go from zero to 300,000 in minidrives For now, the Japanese giant has only prototypes of its mini hard drive, but the company hopes to be making 200,000 to 300,000 by the end of the year, executives say. Jan. 7, 2004 Real offers new tech, song store The multimedia company overhauls its audio and video software that supports others' products--even Apple's iTunes songs. Jan. 7, 2004 Hard drive summons up memory power Western Digital introduces a plug-in hard drive that reads eight memory card types, a sign that the external drive market is heating up. Jan. 6, 2004 Companies stack PC games in console boxes A group of electronics companies is working on a game console that will play most popular PC titles, with plans for the first device to be unveiled this week at CES. Jan. 6, 2004 Can Motorola crack flat-screen TVs? The cell phone giant is ready to make the leap into selling flat-screen TVs, but may find it tough to get a foothold with so many big players moving into the market. Jan. 6, 2004 Microsoft previews digital TV update A group of electronics companies is working on a game console that will play most popular PC titles, with plans for the first device to be unveiled this week at CES. Jan. 6, 2004 Cable wiring seen as key to the digital home Vendors and service providers are developing standards to use old coaxial cable to create home networks. Jan. 5, 2004 Computing giants to debut new gear at CES The annual Consumer Electronics Show will feature new gadgets from Microsoft, HP and others. Jan. 5, 2004 Remote workers under the microscope A wireless networking trade group plans to open an observation lab in a Texas mall to collect data on remote workers that could help companies develop new products. Dec. 17, 2004 Sony TV promises entertainment on the go Ernie Block, product specialist, Sony Fiorina: HP to defend against pirates Carly Fiorina, CEO, Hewlett-Packard Philips offers wireless home theater-in-a-box Gerhard Faultner, marketing manager, Philips Fiorina debuts HP-branded iPod Carly Fiorina, CEO, Hewlett-Packard Philips' quest to ease living room eye strain At CES 2004, Philips introduces AmbiLight, a technology that controls background lighting via remote control and together with Pixel Plus 2, promises improved flat-screen picture quality. RCA's answer to the iPod The updated Lyra Jukebox--a 40GB digital music player--allows recording of FM radio and offers secure music downloads. Thin is inThomson unveils a rear projection TV that's less than 7 inches thick and light enough to hang on a wall. Gates shows off portable media device at CES The Portable Media Center plays music, movies, TV shows and other content. Gates promotes MSN Premium The enhanced version of the Internet service features multimedia content and ad-blocking tools. New products on CES 2004 horizon What new product releases to expect at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. An easier HDTV Nearly every major TV manufacturer has announced a full line of integrated HDTVs with built-in tuners. Software and services do the digital dance Big names such as Microsoft, RealNetworks, and Sony rolled out significant new services this week, with a big emphasis on digital audio and video. Are you connected? From what our editors are seeing in Las Vegas, 2004 will usher in faster, cheaper, and easier home networks. OQO device, subnotebooks hit CES Several tiny ultraportables have been released into the wild at CES this week, including Sony's one inch-thick VAIO X505 and the OQO subnotebook/handheld device. Setting new standards at CES Which of the new networking technology standards will make the connected home and networked home entertainment possible? LCDs go the last mile Need more reasons to ditch that old, boxy CRT monitor for a slick, flat LCD? The latest LCDs at this year's show will give you several, including CRT-caliber video. Camcorders you can afford--no, really Those looking for an affordable camcorder will be happy to know that the big camcorder manufacturers are finally speaking your language at this year's CES. Aiwa's surprisingly evolved MP3 player line Aiwa has dabbled in the digital-audio market before, but its new series of MP3 players look like they could be a hit with consumers. Samsung's CES home-theater offerings Samsung trots out a tasty assortment of new TVs, DVD players, DVD recorders, and home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) systems at this year's show. Epson debuts convergence TVs The printer maker steps in the consumer electronics world, unveiling its photo-friendly Livingstations. Spiffier Philips TVs and DVD recorders Philips is sprucing up its line of LCD and plasma sets, adding Wi-Fi and memory-card slots to certain models. Best of CES 2003: where are they now? See what did--and didn't--happen with our top 10 product and technology picks from CES in 2003. CES Gear Envy Vote now! Pick or pan the hottest gear in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show. Photo gallery: shots from the show Not making it to Vegas this year? Explore the floor with our photo gallery.