CES 2007: Day two

The Eos system consists of an iPod dock/base station with integrated speakers and a subwoofer, and separate Wi-Fi speakers. The base station can transmit audio to as many as four wireless speakers; each speaker has a removable power supply so that you can mount it directly on a power outlet or place it on any surface like a bookshelf system.

Creative Labs is delivering a wireless home audio solution for the Apple iPod in the form of two products: the Xdock Wireless and the X-Fi Wireless Receiver. On the surface, the Xdock Wireless is an iPod dock with some better-than-average features, including composite and S-Video output (for photo and video playback on a TV) and optical digital audio output. But what sets the Xdock apart from other iPod docks is that it includes a wireless transmitter that can stream the iPod's music to any number of X-Fi Wireless Receivers (sold separately). Attach one or more X-Fis to stereo or boombox systems throughout the house--say, in the bedroom or the kitchen--and you can listen to the playlist on your living room iPod that's plugged into the Xdock.

In 2007, the company formerly known for its instant cameras will release three MP3 and portable media players, including one with a 4.3-inch wide touch-screen and two with Wi-Fi. The first player, the MPA-20011 (due it March, $99.99 list price) is a 1GB model that can be expanded to up to 4GB with a micro SD card. The 20011 is slightly bigger than a Nano but sports a non-Nano-like 2.2-inch color screen. It plays MP3 and WMA audio files, MPEG-4 and WMV videos, displays JPEGs, includes an FM player and voice recorder, and runs for 25 hours on a single charge of its lithium ion battery.

The Dell XPS 710 H2C, to be officially announced at CES tomorrow, isn't fundamentally that different from the old, vanilla XPS 710, but two important factors make it stand out. Thanks in part to an internally developed, hybrid liquid-cooling rig, the XPS 710 H2C will be the first desktop ever from Dell to ship with a factory-overclocked, fully warrantied CPU. The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700's stock 2.6GHz will ship to customers at 3.2GHz. The XPS 710 H2C is also notable for its price. At $5,200 for the core configuration, it's roughly $1,500 less expensive than similar over-the-top gamer PCs.

Shure dropped some new sound-isolating earphones, dubbed the SE series, onto the masses. The company redesigned its popular E series and gave the models spiffy new looks as well as new, more confusing names. The SE210 ($149.99), the SE310 ($249.99), the SE420 ($349.99), and the SE530 ($449.99) are updates to the E2c, the E3c, the E4c, and the E500PTH, respectively, and they all offer far better sound than those garbage earbuds that came with your MP3 player.

Do you have trouble sitting still? Or perhaps you host an overly active Webcam show. If so, Creative's Live Cam Optia AF might give your Webcam broadcasts a bit more clarity and focus. Creative is calling it the world's first plug-and-play autofocus Webcam. The autofocus feature works quickly and quietly, and the bundled software includes your typical face-tracking video effects (look, I'm wearing a funny hat!), plus some really fun audio effects.

Yesterday at CES, ViewSonic announced the ViewDock projector, which features a built-in iPod dock. According to ViewSonic's press release, iPod users are "three times as likely to download video clips, movies and Web casts to their computers"--the company is obviously interested in capitalizing on this fact. ViewSonic asserts that the ViewDock is great for on-the-go sharing, but at 3-plus pounds and roughly 12 x 10 x 5 inches (my estimate), it's not really all that portable. The ViewDock is due out in Q1 of 2007 and is a premium-priced "accessory" at $999.

The eagerly expected OQO model 02 keeps the original OQO's sliding screen design but adds upgraded specs; a new, ergonomic, backlit keyboard; and options for every flavor of wireless connectivity out there. The OQO2 uses a VIA processor, up to 1.5GHz, and can hold up to 60GB of data on its shock-mounted hard drive, along with 1GB of RAM and an 800x480 display. We especially liked the built-in HDMI port for outputting to an external monitor.

iRiver is showing off a few new products at CES, but the coolest among them is the W10, a Wi-Fi-capable portable media player with a 3-inch, 480 x 272-pixel touch-screen LCD. In addition to 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB of internal flash memory, this hottie will sport a MiniSD slot for expandable storage. It runs on Windows CE and supports plenty of different audio and video formats (MPEG-4 SP, WMV9, MP3, WMA, AAC, and H.264).

The R2-D2 DVD Projector is a 480p home theater projector that looks just like the beloved robot. The 20-inch-tall projector features built-in speakers, an iPod dock, a memory card slot, and even an FM transmitter to broadcast audio around the house. Best of all, the projector moves just like R2-D2. Using a Millenium Falcon-shaped remote control, the projector can be piloted around the home with is three wheeled legs. Built-in safety sensors help prevent the droid from taking spills or bumping into objects. Most importantly, it sounds just like R2-D2, with 11 different beeps, boops, and whistles randomly playing when it's in motion.

The Consumer Electronics Association, hosts of CES, announced the launch of mygreenelectronics.org, a site dedicated to educating consumers about the responsible use, reuse, and recycling of electronics. You can search for a recycler by zip code and can search for greener products by category.