CES 2007 Coverage

[Just Learnin']

Source: TG Daily (http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/12/13/ces_macworld_preview/)


The Consumer Electronics Show is coming up in a few short weeks (Jan 8-11). It can be a very depressing show because it effectively showcases just how much of the stuff you got over the holidays will soon be obsolete. Apple isn't at CES but won't make its customers sleep well either: The company is expected to announce a bunch of new products during MacWorld (Jan 8-12).

Fortunately, you don't have to go to either show and can watch the blow by blow from the comfort of your own home. The Internet takes away the pressure to run around like crazy while trying to figure out what is, or is not, important.

[Just Learnin']

Source: Reg Hardware (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/28/intel_core2quad_ces_debut/)


Intel will formally launch its already announced four-core Core 2 Quad processor at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in less than two week's time, it has been claimed.

The allegation - made by industry sources cited by IDG - comes as no surprise. Intel announced the quad-core Q6600 chip for mainstream desktops at its Developer Conference last September and pointed to a Q1 2007 introduction. It hinted at an earlier rather than later appearance.

[Just Learnin']

Source: DigiTimes (http://www.digitimes.com/Backgrounders/ArtReview.asp?datePublish=2007/01/02&pages=PR&seq=202&Cat=1)


Asustek Computer will showcase its XG Station, an audio-visual workstation for notebooks at the upcoming 2007 International CES in Las Vegas, according to the company.

The XG Station, equipped with discrete graphics chips, Dolby output and USB 2.0, give users better graphics and audio-visual effects when connected to their notebooks, the company said.

During CES, Asustek will also display its 12-inch W5Fe, a Vista SideShow-supporting notebook, and the G1 and G2 gaming notebooks, both equipped with discrete graphics chips.

[Just Learnin']

Source: TechConnect (http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?shownews=13307&catid=2)


This year's CES (Consumer Electronics Show) will no doubt bring us some new technologies and hardware to look forward to throughout 2007 and one such hype piece will be brought to La Vegas by Patriot. The California-based memory manufacturer will start battling out with the big boys by presenting something that will compete with names like Corsair Dominator, OCZ FlexXLC and Kingston HyperX, a new DDR2 offer that reaches 1302 MHz aka PC2-10100.

The new extreme memory is to take advantage of Nvidia's 680i chipset and will go great with Intel's quad-core CPU's (the Q6600 is set for a January release). As for the price tag or configurations we'll have to wait for the official announcement at CES (January 8-11).

[Just Learnin']

Source: The Tech Lounge (http://www.thetechlounge.com/article/325/Getting+ready+for+CES+2007/)


Get Ready!

2007 marks the 40th anniversary for the Consumer Electronics Showcase (CES), the largest technology convention in North America. This will be the 4th consecutive year of TheTechLounge covering CES. It is no coincidence that 2007 also marks TheTechLounge’s 4th anniversary. The planets and stars are aligning in preparation for this momentous occasion. Okay, so maybe I cranked up the cheese-factor on that one, but our CES 2007 coverage will kick off an exciting and prosperous year for us, or at least that’s the plan.

[Just Learnin']

Source: Hard OCP (http://www.hardocp.com/news.html?news=MjMzMzQsLCxobmV3cywsLDE=)


If you guys thought a 1000W PSU was impressive, you’ll really want to see the Ultra X3 Modular 2000W that will be unveiled at CES in just a few days. Here’s a clip from the press release from Ultra:

Ultra Products, a global leader in technology solutions, today announces that it will unveil the world’s first 2000W ATX Power Supply Unit for the PC at next week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Ultra X3 Modular 2000W PSU has a footprint similar to some competitors’ 1000W units (just 10.25 inches) and is 80% efficient under typical loads.

[Just Learnin']

Source: eWEEK (http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2078680,00.asp)


Looking to capitalize on its first-to-market quad-core processors, Intel plans to announce its Core 2 Quad for commercial PCs at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week, an industry source told eWEEK.

The latest quad-core offering from the Santa Clara, Calif., company will join five other quad-core chips that Intel has already released for servers. Intel has also released the Core 2 Extreme quad-core QX6700 for high-end systems.

The CES show officially kicks off Jan. 8. The industry source, who spoke to eWEEK on the condition of anonymity, said the newest quad-core processor will likely be announced "sometime next week."

[eva2000]

oooooooh quad core goodness is :D

[Just Learnin']

Source: Hard OCP (http://www.hardocp.com/news.html?news=MjMzMzcsLCxobmV3cywsLDE=)


Microsoft Corp. has planned the following press activities for 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), to be held in Las Vegas, Jan. 8–11. Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, will deliver the pre-show 2007 International CES keynote address at 6:30 p.m. PST Sunday, Jan. 7, in the Palazzo Ballroom at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Admission to the keynote address will be granted to accredited members of the media and analysts on a first-come, first-served basis. Reporters and analysts must have their official CES badges and badge holders for admission to the keynote address.

[Just Learnin']

Source: TG Daily (http://www.tgdaily.com/2007/01/03/westinghouse_2160p_tv/)


Pre CES 2007 coverage - Las Vegas (LV) - Don't say we didn't warn you. If you just exchanged your savings account for a shiny new 1080p LCD TV and you are showing it off to your neighbors, be aware that your bragging rights may be fading away by the middle of the year.

Quad HDTVs have been on display here and there in Asia in 2006 and finally will be making it across the Pacific now. Westinghouse is the first company to announce that it will have such a TV on display at its booth. It will be based on LCD technology and come with a 56" panel. According to the company, the TV will use 2160p resolution (3840 x 2160 progessive) and offer "stunning, never-before seen picture reproduction."

[Just Learnin']

Source: DailyTech (http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5581)


Asustek's latest desktop replacement gets leaked early

With CES just around the corner, prepare to be bombarded with countless announcements from notebook manufacturers on their latest and greatest mobile offerings. In the case of Asus, one of their new notebooks destined for Las Vegas has made an early appearance over at Notebook Review.

[Just Learnin']

Source: Legit Reviews (http://www.legitreviews.com/article/439/1/)


Ultra Products Carbon Fiber case
It seems unlikely that of all companies that have talked about producing Carbon Fiber cases, Ultra Products is the first to actually have done it. While not a household a name in the enthusiast niche Ultra is quickly making a name for themselves with likes of their 2000W internal power supply and now their Carbon Fiber cases.

[Just Learnin']

Source: TG Daily (http://www.tgdaily.com/2007/01/08/ces2007_sony_blu-ray/)


If there was one underlying theme at Sony's CES press conference today, it was that Sony desperately asks for the designation as the market leader in high definition.

In addition to touting the format that it helped create, Blu-ray, Sony had a lot to say about 1080p. In the next few years, it expects most of its HDTVs to have full (1080p, 1920x1080 progressive) HD resolution, headlined by today's announcement of a new Bravia 70" LCD HDTV with 1080p, the biggest LCD TV ever made by Sony.

[Just Learnin']

Source: ARS Technica (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070107-8566.html)


Microsoft's chairman then officially unveiled Windows Home Server. Announcing that "the home is personal again," Gates touted Windows Home Server as the ideal solution for homes with multiple PCs and for people that want their data available everywhere, all the time. The software giant worked very closely with HP during the development, and the first Windows Home Server device—the HP MediaSmart Server—will ship from HP some time during the second half of 2007.

Windows Home Server provides automated backup for all PCs connected to the network and can share files from PCs, Zunes, and Xbox 360s. It also provides remote access capability. "You don't need to think about volumes and other devices," said Gates. "It's plug and play—the software automatically sees the new storage and moves the data around."

Along with HP, Intel, AMD, and Quanta are building hardware reference designs for Windows Home Server.

[Just Learnin']

Source: VR Zone (http://www.vr-zone.com/index.php?i=4452)


Marvell 88DE2710 with Quiet Video Processing propels a new era in video quality by enabling a high-quality home-theatre viewing experience. The 88DE2710 converts PC graphics and high-definition (HD) and standard-definition (SD) digital video inputs into HD outputs, including full HD at 1080p with support for multiple frame rates, delivering luxury performance at mainstream price points. Targeted applications include Blu-ray and HD-DVD players and recorders, DTVs, HD set-top boxes, media clients, DTV docks for portable media players, etc.

[Just Learnin']

Source: iTWire (http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/8437/53/)


Getting a seat to hear Bill Gates saying the usual stuff at the CES 2007 opening keynote involves queuing to collect a ticket three hours before Mr Kermit Clone finally hits the stage. Why on earth do most people bother with all the hassle? And did he reveal anything worth noting?

Here's a list of possible reasons why people went through the inconvenience:

(1) His innate charisma
(2) His bulging wallet
(3) Have a secret crush on Steve Ballmer
(4) Hoping Vista will crash during demo
(5) Nothing else to do in Vegas on a Sunday
(6) Forced to attend by hyper-cruel editor
(7) Committed masochist

But let's be realistic. Obviously, (1), (3) and (5) are patently false, and there are better options for masochists in Vegas (Celine Dion or Liberace, for instance). So we'll play the evens and plump for (2), (4) and (6).

[Just Learnin']

Source: TechNewsWorld (http://www.technewsworld.com/story/XQOzS4eDDnRZII/Microsoft-Opens-CES-With-Vista-Kicks-Apple-Butt-and-Has-Fun-Doing-It.xhtml)


Given that Apple is often all about eye candy and a lot of folks love that, having Microsoft -- the command line company -- do Apple one better is certainly fun. Of course, with Apple's response a few hours away, this advantage, such that it is, may be short-lived.

[Just Learnin']

Source: TG Daily (http://www.tgdaily.com/2007/01/09/ces2007_dell_xps710_h2c/)


Dell has updated its XPS enthusiast PC line with a an overclocked quad-core machine and an elaborate cooling system. The H2C Edition puts the price tag of the XPS desktop series deep into Alienware territory.

The big news of the black chassis of the XPS 710 "H2Ceramic" (H2C) Edition houses a unique, two-stage cooling system. According to Dell, a liquid-to-air heat exchanger that works like a car's radiator removes most of the heat from the processor. Then, a fluid chiller removes more heat with ceramic-based thermoelectric cooling (TEC) modules like those used in space shuttles to transfer heat from the sunny side to the cold, dark side in space. Sensor controls help prevent the formation of frost or condensation by helping to keep the processor slightly above ambient room temperature, Dell said.

[Just Learnin']

Source: Wired (http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72433-0.html?tw=wn_technology_11)


The giant Consumer Electronics Show here offers bigger screens, lower prices, and lots more of the same.

That the most significant piece of hardware announced so far at the show is a storage device underscores the message that this year, as always, it is content -- not hardware -- that drives consumer technology. Consumers buy PlayStations and Xboxes for the games they run, not the boxes themselves.

[Snafu]

Day One Show Coverage From Las Vegas

Source: Legit Reviews (http://www.legitreviews.com/article/441/1/)


With CES 2007 running full steam ahead in Las Vegas, Legit Reviews has been running around the show trying to bring you what we think are the highlights of the event for computer enthusiasts. To start out our coverage we bring you Intel with their 4X4 'V8' system that was running a pair of quad-core Intel Xeon processors that brought the total cores in the system to eight.

[Snafu]

Read here: The TechLounge (http://www.thetechlounge.com/list+articles/78/Day+1/)

[Snafu]

Source: VR Zone (http://www.vr-zone.com/index.php?i=4465)


NVIDIA is demonstrating spectacular next-generation DirectX 10 gaming content running on NVIDIA GeForce 8800 graphics processors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. NVIDIA GeForce 8800 graphics processing units (GPUs) and NVIDIA nForce 680-series media and communications processors (MCPs) will demonstrate dozens of cutting edge PC games at the show including Microsoft’s Games for Windows space in the Central Hall, Booth #7144, at CES.

“CES marks another milestone in the march to launch of Windows Vista and highlights NVIDIA’s commitment to support this new operating system that leverages the processing power found in our GPUs,” said Ned Finkle, vice president of strategic marketing at NVIDIA. “From low-priced mainstream GeForce solutions to those found in the ultimate gaming PCs being shown at CES, NVIDIA GPUs are found in a broad range of Vista-Ready PCs that offer consumers a new level of graphics performance and quality.”

[Snafu]

Read the whole interview here: Game Informer (http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200701/N07.0109.1737.15034.htm?Page=2)


GI: What’s your take on Microsoft’s attempt to make Vista a more viable gaming platform?

Carmack: Microsoft has done a spectacular job on the 360 support. The PC, though, is fundamentally pretty different--with a variety of platforms and everything--and I don’t think Microsoft’s gaming initiatives…they’re able to really show their stuff on the 360 and make great value there. So obviously, we like the PC as a game-development platform and it’s still probably our favorite platform, but there are certain things I find more fun to do on the 360. We still very much like the PC, and most of that is due to Microsoft’s general support of making it reasonable to do that there. I’ve never been a big believer in cross-platform games, because there are too many compromises you need to make to design the game to be the same game play on both of them and have co-op play across them and all that. So, that’s not a major direction for me. Some of the tools that they wind up producing aren’t things that we adopt, but they are things that are important to some studios. So, I wouldn’t say Microsoft’s latest gaming initiatives on Vista have had a significant impact on id Software--and they might not even be the best use of Microsoft’s various resources--but they have so many resources they kind of scatter them around, and it’s not a horrible thing to do.

[Snafu]

Source: HardOCP (http://www.hardocp.com/news.html?news=MjM0NDUsLCxobmV3cywsLDE=)


Halo 2 for the PC might be newsworthy enough on its own but, how about Halo 2 for the PC that can game it up with people playing the Xbox version? Check out the hands on preview of the game over at GameSpot.

In terms of geometry, the Windows version of the level looked identical to the Xbox version, but there are a number of graphical improvements in the PC version. For one, the game can run at a much higher resolution than it can on the Xbox. This coupled with the higher-resolution textures make for a cleaner and crisper look to the entire game. Character models also looked a lot better because you can discern a lot more detail on the standard Master Chief character model.

[Just Learnin']

Source: DailyTech (http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5674)


DailyTech's roundup of reviews from around the web for Thursday including CES coverage

[Just Learnin']

Source: Reg Hardware (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/11/sony_develops_oled_tvs/)


CES 2007 Sony this week used the Consumer Electronics Show to demo a pair of large-format widescreen OLED panels it's developing for future TVs. The two displays, bevels included, were just 5mm thick.

The first display is a compact, 11in model with a native resolution of 1,024 x 600. It will be pitched at portable televisions, Sony indicated. It uses eight-bit per channel RGB colour and offers a contrast ratio greater than a million-to-one contrast. Its all-white brightness is 200cdm², peaking at more than 600cdm²

The second display is a larger model. With a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080, the 27in, 16:9 panel will be capable of displaying a 1080 HD image. The bigger screen has the same contrast and brightness as the small model, but it can display colurs defined using ten bits per channel.

[Just Learnin']

Source: DigiTimes (http://digitimes.com/displays/a20070111PD206.html)


In addition to offering support of full high-definition (HD) (1,920x1,080), flat-panel TVs makers now are adding more functions to next-generation TVs at CES 2007 (January 8-11).

Sony is exhibiting LCD TVs that can access Internet and claims all of its LCD TVs will be able to be linked the Internet in the future. Sharp is collaborating with Intel and is showing Viiv-based LCD TVs at the show.

Internet function is just the initial development stage of next-generation TVs; once TV programs and channels are able to provide more digital content, interactive functionality will become the next mainstream feature of TV, according to TV makers.

Samsung Electronics is promoting advanced VSB (A-VSB) digital broadcasting technology, which improves the efficiency of receiving digital signals for TVs and mobile TVs. The company expects A-VSB to be the one of the new digital TV (DTV) standards in North America and has applied to the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC).

The Korea-based company expects to volume produce flat-panel TVs supporting A-VSB standard in 2008, at soonest.

The ATSC standard, which emphasizes high-quality image broadcast, are now adopted by South Korea, Canada, Mexico and the US.

[Just Learnin']

Source: OCIA (http://www.ocia.net/articles/ces2007/oczshuttle/page1.shtml)


First up from OCZ is a 2,000 watt power supply. Yes, you read that correctly... 2,000 watts! While more for show than practicality, the PSU (tentatively named Hyper Xtreme) unit is external, sitting outside of your computer case. The Hyper Xtreme requires two power cords... the catch here being that you can't run both cords on the same electrical circuit.

[Just Learnin']

Source: TechSpot (http://www.techspot.com/news/24074-panasonic-demos-new-liion-battery-at-ces.html)


As the IEEE hammers out new li-ion battery standards and Sony recuperates from the staggering blow delivered by hordes of recalled batteries, Panasonic is busy developing new battery packs, designed to address several concerns. On top of increasing energy density, ultimately leading to longer-lasting batteries, Panasonic is looking to improve heat resistance as well as making the unit safer overall. While the listed 3.6AH figure is less than many existing laptop batteries, with increased density and decreased heat output will come the ability to increase capacity by 20% to 40%, a significant chunk. That could mean an additional hour or more of life on existing laptop models, which can be stretched even further as low power components improve in quality:


The prototype, which is being shown here at CES, reportedly boasts a "20- to 40-percent" increase in capacity by using "an alloy material for the negative electrode instead of a commonly used carbon material" such as graphite carbon. Additionally, energy density per volume is increased to 740 Wh/L, which is 40-percent higher than that of the company's existing product.

Pansonic does not give any firm dates for development, though stated it would be at least a few years before they begin offering it.

[Just Learnin']

Source: TG Daily (http://www.tgdaily.com/2007/01/11/ms_vista_crysis/)


Crysis, the upcoming science-fiction first person shooter PC game, turned heads at E3 2006 last May and again at CES this week. In fact, the buzz is so good around soon-to-be released title that Microsoft officials have pegged Crysis as the must-have PC game that will help drive adoption of Windows Vista. "Crysis is going to be the big one for Vista," said Kevin Unangst, director of global marketing for Microsoft's Games for Windows division. "This is the game that will really show off the improvements in the OS for games."

[Just Learnin']

Hardware Upgrade (http://www.hwupgrade.com/articles/mobile/18/ces-2007-from-oled-technology-to-1-tb-hard-drives_index.html)

BCCHardware (http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=3&id=93&Itemid=79)

CoolTechZone (http://www.cooltechzone.com/Departments/Featured_Story/CES_2007_Coverage_200701112754/)

TweakNews (http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/ces_day_3/)

Hot Hardware (http://www.hothardware.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=921&cid=9)

[Just Learnin']

Source: Reg Hardware (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/12/ces_in_five_mins/)

Reg Hardware CES video reports

[Just Learnin']

Source: TechGage (http://techgage.com/article/asus_at_ces)


ASUS had a great showing at this years CES, so we've compiled our 7 favorite products and deliver them to you. Included is the XG Station, W5Fe Sideshow laptop, P535 phone and Commando motherboard.

[Just Learnin']

Source: PC Perspective (http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=345)


Another January has crept up and now another Consumer Electronics Show is here as well. Since the demise of Comdex, CES has slowly become the show for PC components to be shown to the public and press as well, and this year we saw quite a few of our well known friends in the PC industry there.

And now, in alphabetical order, here is what we saw at this year’s CES:

[Just Learnin']

Source: Virtual-Hideout (http://www.virtual-hideout.net/articles/CES_2007_Part1/index.shtml)


Here in part 1 we have Antec, MSI, CoolIT, Razer, Seagate, Tagan and Patriot Memory. Stay tuned for part 2 with much more from CES 2007!

[Just Learnin']

Source: TechNewsWorld (http://www.technewsworld.com/story/MLuRM0NXO2Edyl/Sleeper-Hits-Among-CES-Gizmos-and-Gadgets.xhtml)


For companies that exhibit at CES, it's all about outdoing what they did last year, and this year was no exception. Take the Canadian company Interactive Toy. A year ago, it debuted a lightweight flying toy helicopter. This year, it added a spy camera on board the tiny flying copter and added the ability to send the spy pictures to a small screen on the handheld control console.

[Just Learnin']

Source: CRN (http://www.crn.com/sections/slideshows/2007/ceschoice/1.jhtml?articleID=196901208)


CRN editors combed the floors of the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show for products that not only pack punch but also offer opportunities for channel partners. Here are some of the best we found.

[Just Learnin']

Source: TG Daily (http://www.tgdaily.com/2007/01/17/hd_dvd_blu_ray_scalars_analysis/)


The high-def age is upon and if you are buying a TV this year anyway, why not buy a HD player as well? And, do you buy HD DVD or Blu-ray, if you are looking for the technology that makes most sense right now? We were looking for clues at CES and found a very convincing answer. Just not the one we expected.

With unbelievable drama both the HD DVD and Blu-ray camp claimed victory at CES, but it quickly became clear that the market was moving on as even supporters started drifting to the next "big thing".

[Just Learnin']

Source: The Tech Zone (http://www.thetechzone.com/?m=show&id=668)


What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas...Unless I take Pictures.

[Just Learnin']

Source: Techgage (http://techgage.com/article/corsair_at_ces_2007)


Corsair doesn't normally announce many products all at once, but at their suite during CES they had some interesting flash products on display, in addition to their killer PC2-10000 kit.

[Just Learnin']

Source: Think Computers (http://www.thinkcomputers.org/index.php?x=articles&id=54)


At this year's CES Zalman showed a product that has to be on my list for one of the coolest products at CES. We know Zalman for CPU coolers and cases, but this product was not in that category at all. It's actually a monitor! Now you may be thinking what I thought, Zalman is making monitors now?! Well let's see what makes this monitor so special and take a look at what else Zalman was showing at CES.

[Just Learnin']

Source: TechPowerUp! (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/CES2007/OCZ)


OCZ started out as a memory manufacturer for enthusiast memory. Recently they have expanded into several other areas like power supplies and cooling. This is what most of the new products at the show were about.

[Just Learnin']

Source: Think Computers (http://www.thinkcomputers.org/index.php?x=articles&id=55)


When you hear the name ASUS you mainly think motherboards, but they make a whole lot of other products too. At this year's CES they showed us a lot of really cool products like laptops, cell phones, GPS units, routers, video cards, and of course new motherboards. So let's see what ASUS has in store for us this year!