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Consumer Electronics Show 2002 Report

An anonymous reader writes "I've noticed that Target PC posted their report on this year's Consumer Eletronics Show in Las Vegas. Looks like 2002 will be the year of wireless networking and recordable DVD. In the same article they cover Samsung's upcoming portable computer based on the StrongARM 206MHz processor that will be available in 2Q." Many wireless products (including 802.11a), huge LCD displays, and more -- I hope people who were at the show can comment on the things missed in this report, or in The Washington Posts's report.

53 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Yeah .. by hygelic · · Score: 2, Interesting

    and just how many products were shown as "new" products last year?

  2. 802.11a..... by wo1verin3 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    and i just shelled out for 802.11b in the house :(

    I'm more curious about linksys's cable modem/access point/router solution, does it depend on your cable ISP to determine if you can provide your own?

    Also, if anyone has a truckload of those 23.1" lcds..please reply :)

    1. Re:802.11a..... by Holophax · · Score: 3, Informative

      The Linksys box still plugs into your existing cable modem. You connect your cable modem into the Linksys box and it does the rest from there. Same deal as using a FreeBSD or Linux NAT solution. So it doesn't matter who your ISP is since your still using their equpiment.

  3. This is the year of wireless networking? by tony_gardner · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The last five years have all been the year of wireless networking. How about a surprise?

    The year of realising that wireless networking is at best a niche market.

    or maybe

    The year of realising that most people want their old broadband connection back, more than any low speed network.

    Or have these businesses already forgotten the dot com problem of basing your business model on niche markets: there is no room for expansion.

    1. Re:This is the year of wireless networking? by RazzleFrog · · Score: 3, Informative

      I think that wireless networking has great potential in the private sector. I know my boss has 3 kids but broadband to only 1 computer (you do the math). He doesn't want to lay Cat 5 everywhere and he doesn't have even a regular phone jack in every room. Wireless would be an excellent option for him even at the premium cost.

    2. Re:This is the year of wireless networking? by RazzleFrog · · Score: 3, Funny

      What? Your boss doesn't have kids? I have several layers of bosses and hundreds of coworkers. Lots of them have kids. If by niche you mean everybody who has kids and homes that are larger than one bedroom then yes, yes it is a niche market. I personally would like to sell some product to that niche.

    3. Re:This is the year of wireless networking? by Sobrique · · Score: 2, Funny

      That's a really fantastic idea.
      Get a load of muppets broadband enabled, plug in some Wireless access points, and never have to pay for my net access again!
      Thus starts the Evil (tm)[1] scheme to freeload off people with more money than sense, by shipping 'wireless enabled' cable and xDSL modems.
      (Yes, I did (tm) Evil. I am the owner of the universe and thus can do so.)

    4. Re:This is the year of wireless networking? by stripes · · Score: 3, Interesting
      The fact you had to use your bosses kids as an example proves that its a niche market.

      I could use my in-laws as an example (only one computer, but not close to a phone line, they decided to buy an 802.11 base station and card).

      I could use myself, after using 802.11 with a laptop at work a bit I got hooked on not having to sit at my desk to use the net. I could use, um, at least 3 of my friends as an example there too (all for laptop use I think).

      Of corse if everyone were like the people I knew wireless was the technology of the last two years, and has nowhere really to go :-) (at least until we buy more computers)

    5. Re:This is the year of wireless networking? by Sloppy · · Score: 2

      Yeah, but wireless networking may turn out to be the solution to everyone getting their broadband. There's the whole NAN thing, and lack of need for expensive cables/fibers, etc going for it.

      I'll admit I'm probably wrong. Still, the possibility is there. Don't count out wireless yet.

      --
      As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
    6. Re:This is the year of wireless networking? by SilentChris · · Score: 2

      Just plug in 128-bit WEP and use a decent password. Done. No one else will have your connection.

  4. What does CES stand for again? by Zocalo · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Only from the coverage, it looks like Samsung have renamed it from the "Consumer Electronics Show" to "Consumer Electronics? Samsung!".

    At least someone out there has an impressive marketing budget to spend in this year we're all expecting doom and gloom...

    --
    UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
    1. Re:What does CES stand for again? by Quizme2000 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I was at CES this year and while Samsung was there, they only had sales people there (big suprise) and where right across from the MS (CE .NET) booth. Anyway, CES has thousands of exhibitors from Car Audio and Entertainment to Cell Phone Battery manufactures. The Sharp Booth was showing off the Zarus to a very positive crowd reaction and Royal was showing the Li@ux Device they had to a very mild hmmm. With the exception of the Xplode Demo booth and the Super CDs Sony was noticeably absent this year in the main halls, there was maybe 1 or 2 PS2s I saw being used in TV demos. The Coolest addition this year was the Digital Convergence Fashion Show held in the main hall. Though the models didn't er quite know what they where suppossed to do with these gadgets damn did they look good showing them off. I would say that CES has gotten too big, It was really hard to find specific catagoies of products without just walking around until you're back hurts, even with all the books and magizines it was still difficult. BTW the 20ft by 60ft. Blue Screen of Death shown at the Phillips booth Wednesday for 2 hours was cool.

      --
      "Get them before they get....
    2. Re:What does CES stand for again? by Leven+Valera · · Score: 2
      Digital Convergence Fashion Show held in the main hall. Though the models didn't er quite know what they where suppossed to do with these gadgets damn did they look good showing them off.


      Isn't Digital Convergence the same makers of the cuecats, those lovely scanners that look like dildos? If so, that must have been fantastic pr0n. :)
      --
      Woot w00t w007.
    3. Re:What does CES stand for again? by Quizme2000 · · Score: 2

      No, That was the name of the fashion show not the sponser. Palm, Compaq, Samsung, and et al where the hosts. Don't bother responding your keyboard might get sticky

      --
      "Get them before they get....
  5. side note - "for optimal performance..." by sammy+baby · · Score: 5, Funny

    I found the following quote pretty amusing:

    For optimal performance we did not compress the pictures, loading times might be longer for some and click the picture to enlarge.

    Translation: we wanted to tell all our friends we'd been Slashdotted, so we made sure to include an assload of moderate-to-high resolution pics right in the page. We did, however, mess with the aspect ratio of some of the pics to make people think they were looking at super-long TVs displaying female dwarf powerlifters.

  6. Apple at the forefront... by Mac+Nazgul · · Score: 5, Interesting

    And how long has Apple had high-end solutions (they work) for both Wireless connectivity and DVD recording capabilities?
    The PC side is only just getting around to it in consumer machines...

    1. Re:Apple at the forefront... by nzhavok · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yes it's fair to say that apple actually does innovate, the shame is that most people will still stick with PC's because they are too afraid to make the paradigm shift.

      Personally OSX has made it a lot easier for me to make the shift, but really I'm now faced with the choice of; should I pay an extra $500 for OSX vs linux?

      Probably not until they ship a proper mouse by default at least ;-)

      --

      He who defends everything, defends nothing. -- Fredrick The Great
    2. Re:Apple at the forefront... by stripes · · Score: 2
      And how long has Apple had high-end solutions (they work) for both Wireless connectivity and...

      Er, the big deal with Apple wireless is it ain't high end. They were the first with affordable base stations (~$250 when PC ones were far more), and affordable cards ($99 when PC ones were more like $300). Of corse PC base stations are now $200 or a little under, and Apple's have just moved up to $300 (well, and gotten a bit better), and the cards are still $100 (or $47 referb). So all Apple has left is the built in antennas (which totally rock, I like having an antenna I don't have to worry about breaking off when I walk with the laptop).

      and DVD recording capabilities?

      I'm pretty sure Sony had one within a few months of the G4, and it may have been a few months before, similar price though, and Sony's software really does suck huge. iMovie works much better :-)

    3. Re:Apple at the forefront... by clontzman · · Score: 2, Informative
      GF3 has been a BTO PowerMac option for a whole year now (that card was actually DEBUTED on the Mac)

      Not true. Like the Pioneer DVD-R drive, the GeForce3 was ANNOUNCED first on the Mac, but both shipped first on the PC. Compaq had their DVD-R PC shipping well before Apple did, and I could go to the CompUSA and buy a GeForce3 off the shelf before Apple's machines ever shipped.

      Don't believe the hype!

    4. Re:Apple at the forefront... by Bandman · · Score: 2

      Not that I disagree, but it's funny because I can remember when $2000 was considered feasable for a new computer. It hasn't been THAT long ago :)

    5. Re:Apple at the forefront... by Bandman · · Score: 2

      yep. I'm only 22 (as if that's really young considering the age of alot of ppl here...i respect them) but i didn't get into computers till high school...I just remember what my first 486 cost, and that it was a good deal considering what else they were selling at the time.

  7. Re:Microsoft jumps into Flatscreen Monitor market. by benjymous · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, that article mentions the new MS technologies "Mira" and "Freestyle"

    I guess "Hawk" and "Skater" will be following soon...

    --
    Help me! I'm turning into a grapefruit!
  8. nice LCD by f00zbll · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Of all the photos on that review, the LCD's are the most "drool worthy". Wasn't LEP (light emitting polymers) supposed to revolutionize the flat screen industry. I guess everyone will have to wait another 2-5 years for that to pan out and make large cheap screens a reality.

    I'll be ready to trade in my 19" when I can get the same size flat screen for 10% more than what a CRT costs today.

  9. Wearables? by Raleel · · Score: 3, Interesting

    You know, it's funny, but there does not seem to be an expansion of wearables. Lots of personal assistant things, but all that require you to pull it out and look at it and control with a dull plastic implement. DO people feel they need to get even smaller?

    --
    -- Who is the bigger fool? The fool or the fool who follows him? --
    1. Re:Wearables? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Until wearable displays are implanted in the retina and can read your thoughts for their input, I doubt they will be anything more than a small niche market for hardcore geeks and professional mechanics/engineers. Most normal people ("consumers") would prefer using a small handheld box than walking around looking like a borg. Wires and eyeglass-mounted projectors and arm-mounted keyboards just aren't very stylish. I'm not surprised there were far more handheld PDAs than wearables at the Consumer Electronics Show.

  10. Re:LCDs by FastT · · Score: 3, Interesting
    You mean projectors? Yeah, absolutely. Some friends and I watched a couple movies on an InSync projector at work last night. The picture quality was stunning, far better than any TV I'd seen. It was even better than most movie theatres.

    Apparently, at least InFocus is getting on board with marketing to consumers. Check out the InFocus ScreenPlay. Unfortunately, the home models are more expensive than some of the corporate models, but I'm hoping that volume and word of mouth will start to lower prices. At least these companies are finally realizing that they can market to the consumer.

    --

    The only certainty is entropy.
  11. Re:of course... by tommck · · Score: 2, Funny
    they innovate **NOTHING** except the blue screen of death

    Yeah... they just have that cute little frown face when something serious goes wrong (at least that's what the earlier Macs did)

    T

    --
    ---- It puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again. It does this whenever it's told.
  12. m$'s part by jeffy124 · · Score: 3, Funny

    at the show, billy gates did a keynote involving something rather cool for MS. (hard to imagine something like that coming form MS, but oh well) they came up with a flat touchscreen monitor that detaches from it's base and can be carried around the house like a tablet, and a wireless link allows you to keep using your computer.

    http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/ptech/01/08/microsoft .gates.reut/index.html

    --
    The One Rule Of Chess You'll Ever Need: Don't play someone who carries a kit in their bookbag.
    1. Re:m$'s part by jhines0042 · · Score: 2, Funny

      "The opportunities for the consumer electronics, software and media industries have never been greater and this cycle of innovation has the potential to deliver valuable stimulus to the economy," Gates said in his prepared remarks.

      Man, it must be nice to be able to say these kind of things with a straight face.

      --
      42 - So long and thanks for all the fish.
    2. Re:m$'s part by sinistermidget · · Score: 2, Funny

      Great, now I can lose my monitor behind the couch. Whereas you can still grudgingly watch TV without a lost remote, it might get just a little difficult downoading pr0n without a monitor.

    3. Re:m$'s part by Tony.Tang · · Score: 2, Funny

      Dude, it's all about the crontabs. It's the viewing that's gonna be hard.

    4. Re:m$'s part by deebaine · · Score: 2

      Personally, I'm not so impressed. Apple's already been there. I suspect that no matter how over-engineered the joint might be, anybody with a new iMac and a five year-old in the house will soon have a machine with a flat LCD that conveniently detaches from its base for easy portability around the house. Of course, Apple's doesn't have the wireless link yet...

      -db

  13. Samsung Nexio and G.Mate Yopy by leandrod · · Score: 2

    It is a situation analogous to Compaq iPaq and Digital Itsy: the techs learn whatever they need with free software, management kills the transformation of the prototype into a product and instead release a proprietary system. So the enterprise uses free software to learn enough to promote proprietary systems.

    That's why we need the GNU GPL and FDL, but still that's not enough.

    --
    Leandro Guimarães Faria Corcete DUTRA
    DA, DBA, SysAdmin, Data Modeller
    GNU Project, Debian GNU/Lin
  14. Re:Apple at the forefront... DVD-RW v. DVD+RW by nedron · · Score: 3, Informative
    Additionally, Apple was smart and is going with the recordable/rewriteable format (DVD-R/DVD-RW) santioned by the DVD Forum. Many of the PC manufacturers are going for the non-endorsed DVD+RW.

    Heaven only knows why, since manufacturers won't be required to support the format in order to get the DVD logo licensed (unless and until the DVD Forum is persuaded to adopt an additional write/rewrite standard which is highly unikely). Ie., the discs may play in PC drives, but won't necessarily work in licensed players (particularly set top). If I'm only worried about backups, then DVD+RW has a couple of features that help, but if I'm interested in making standard video DVDs that play on the widest possible range of players, then DVD-R and DVD-RW are the way to go.

    DVD-RAM is an even worse proposition, since it is designed for forward compatibility only and concentrates on data storage.

    --


    * As is generally the case, my opinions do not reflect those of my employer.
  15. Gadget confusion by michaeljs · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This may yet be the year of wireless gadgets and DVD burners - but standards are a problem. Until things converge, or someone is boldly declared the winner (DVD-R, DVD+RW or whatever the bloody acronymns are) I'm not sure I'd want to invest in a piece of soon-to-be obsolete equipment. DVD players took ages to take off (years longer than predicted) because of differing DVD disc standards. The same thing could happen with burners.

    RE: Wireless. 3G is still ages away and given that GPRS is only a temporary fixup, I'm not sure how great this year will be.

    Nevertheless, bring on the gadgets.

    1. Re:Gadget confusion by swillden · · Score: 2

      All current DVD writers support only single-layer DVDs, meaning you have a maximum of 4.7GB of data on a disc. Assuming you have high-quality MP3s that's only about 50 hours worth of music. Only? Still sounds pretty cool to me.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
  16. http://www.freenetworks.org/ by Moderation+abuser · · Score: 3, Informative

    HTH, HAND etc.

    --
    Government of the people, by corporate executives, for corporate profits.
  17. ConnectedTV remote + guide + spam filter by SimHacker · · Score: 2, Interesting
    David Levitt and I demonstrated "ConnectedTV" at CES for the first time.

    ConnectedTV is an online service and Palm application that functions as a universal remote control with integrated personalized TV guide, spam filtering and intelligent categorization.

    We designed the ConnectedTV interface so you can hold it in one hand and easily operate it with your thumb or finger. ConnectedTV features pie menus: a fun, fast and reliable selection technique that you can do with your fingers.

    Pie menus are provably much more efficient than old fashioned buttons and pull-down menus. Just as The Sims lets you use pie menus to direct the lives of virtual people, now ConnectedTV lets you easily navigate your own personal entertainment schedule, and control your TV and other devices. Because selecting entertainment should be more like playing a video game than taking the Standardized Aptitude Test.

    More information about ConnectedTV including screen snapshots are available at: http://www.Connected.TV

    -Don

    --
    Take a look and feel free: http://www.PieMenu.com
    1. Re:ConnectedTV remote + guide + spam filter by don_carnage · · Score: 2

      I've read that the IR on the Palm PDAs is not quite strong enough to operate as a standard remote. Is this true?

    2. Re:ConnectedTV remote + guide + spam filter by SimHacker · · Score: 2
      The newer Palms and WinCE Pocket PCs have quite powerful IR, but some of the older ones aren't very powerful, or have the window in an inconvenient location (so you have to tilt it forward to point it at the TV).

      We tested the m505 at CES, and I was able to operate the TV from quite a long distance away. As with any IR control, it also has a lot to do with the angle from which you're facing the TV. Fluorescent lights also cause problems, but most people don't use those in their living room.

      Of course ConectedTV is not limited to IR remote control. More and more handhelds support Bluetooth, 802.11b or have built-in cellular phones. It can be programmed to open URLs, send UDP packets, make XML remote procedure calls, query and control ".NET" services, etc.

      It's also great for indexing all your music and controling your MP3 jukebox or computer. And the fact that you can operate it with one hand makes it great for watching porn.

      ConnectedTV filters out all the channels and shows you don't want to watch, and brings the good ones to your attention, according to your personal preferences. So you can find just what you want, and don't have to put up with all the stupid spam and useless channels.

      If you have a cell phone with a built-in Palm (or WinCE Pocket PC for that matter), and you misplace your remote control behind a couch cushion, you can just call it up and find it by the ring!

      With a wireless RF connection, it's extremely useful for controling all kinds of home automation like lights, air conditioning, home theaters, alarms, security gates, etc. There was such a demand for this at the show, that we're also developing an extremely customizable, general purpose remote control product called "ConnectedHome", that enables you to program your own commands, behaviors, graphical skins and user interfaces.

      For example, one of my hobbies is programming live video processing effects for parties (like interactive screen savers), and I can use it to remotely control all the effect parameters and switch between different modes, without messing up the nice full screen graphics with ugly user interface widgets.

      One important thing about ConnectedTV is that it does not infringe on GemStar's obnoxious on-screen TV guide patent. It's much better to have the TV guide off of the screen and in your hand, so it doesn't distract from what you're currently watching.

      That's one reason it's so inexpensive: just $30/year. TV Guide is $40/year, and it doesn't change the channels or filter spam. While ConnectedTV doesn't waste paper and postage, fill up your mailbox and garbage can, or bring anthrax spores into your living room.

      Once you have a TV guide that you can hold in your hand and pass around, instead of taking over the TV screen, you will never want to go back to the slowly scrolling half-screen channel guide with that loud mouthed fakin' jamacian pseudo psychic.

      -Don

      More info and screen snapshots: http://www.Connected.TV

      --
      Take a look and feel free: http://www.PieMenu.com
    3. Re:ConnectedTV remote + guide + spam filter by don_carnage · · Score: 2

      Thank you! Your post was very informative and to the point.

  18. Extreme Tech's Report by asv108 · · Score: 5, Informative

    You can check out ExtremeTech's report here

  19. Re:PC at the forefront... by flimflam · · Score: 2
    the DVD recorder included in the powermacs and the new imacs is mickey mouse at best.

    Care to elaborate?
    --
    -- It only takes 20 minutes for a liberal to become a conservative thanks to our new outpatient surgical procedure!
  20. Solutions by frunch · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why the hell is everything called a "solution" these days?! A network card isn't a network card, but a "wireless network access solution". Samsung displayed their latest LCD and flat TV solutions! Yamaha had their DVD+RW solution on display as well.

    Jesus! Someday soon a mouse won't be a mouse but a "cursor-moving and activation solution". I liked it better when a monitor was a "monitor" and a flat-panel monitor was an "expensive, cool-looking monitor".

  21. DVD standards by stubob · · Score: 2, Insightful

    In light of last week's statements by Philips that copy-protected cd's are not really cd's, I wonder if this cause the RIAA to begin pushing DVD music formats. We won't really mind region-encoded, can't-play-on-your-computer, enhanced-for-your-pleasure music DVDs (for $30 each), will we?

    I just can't see the RIAA/MPAA sitting idly by as we start burning DVD's full of music rather than piddly CD's.

    --
    Planning to be moderated ± 1: Bad Pun.
  22. Any SACD news? by abischof · · Score: 3, Interesting

    For those not familiar with it, SACD is similar to (and competes with) DVD-Audio, as it uses much more storage space than an ordinary CD in order to garner higher quality (while still just a single disc).

    By all accounts that I've read, SACD sounds significantly better than ordinary CDs, and better than DVD-Audio, even. So, I'm probably going to buy a combination DVD/SACD player within the next few months. Anyhow, has anyone heard any CES announcements on upcoming DVD/SACD players?

    --

    Alex Bischoff
    HTML/CSS coder for hire

  23. Blame marketing by freeweed · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Why the hell is everything called a "solution" these days?!

    Let's face it, the majority of consumer electronics never really take off, and manufacturers know this. In many cases (Commodore Amiga) it's because there IS no market for the product at present. Calling something a 'solution' immediately makes management think that 'well, if there's a solution, there MUST be a problem!'. And the buying spree commences...

    Of course, the honest route of 'our goods are useless and can't sell themselves solely on their own merit' went the way of the Dodo several decades ago. LCD monitors are some of the worst offenders here: sure, some people need every available square inch of desk space. But guess what? Most offices do not. That extra space just ends up turning into a mess of unorganized filing space. So what does every 'modern' secretary have on his/her 3x5(ish) desk? A nice new LCD monitor, to save that precious square foot or so of space! All because we've become convinced that monitors are somehow 'space-wasting'. I guess that explains the slow adoption of PC hardware over the past 20 years :)

    --
    Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
  24. Inherent cost of wireless by SilentChris · · Score: 2
    I'm an ardent fan of wireless communications (practically my whole home network is wireless, I have a wireless connection between an MP3 server in the basement and speakers in my room, my PDA is wireless, and my cell phone [of course] is wireless). I think in terms of space, clutter, and speed (the 802.11b standard does 99.9% what I want it to do) wireless is the future.

    However, as anyone who's ever taken an economics class (or played a RTS) can tell you, resources are everything. I'm wondering if by descreasing the number of wires, and increasing the number of wireless transmissions, we aren't opening up a huge can of radiation. Are we exchanging the resources built-in to wires (wasted space) with the ones built-in to wireless (radiation)? And what happens when we're being bombarded by waves (moreso than even today).

    I'm no physicist or biologist, so either can shoot me down if this is all illogical. But sometimes I wonder if we can ever get away from the "problems" or we just change them into other ones.

  25. Projector story by edremy · · Score: 2

    TV! Bah, the _real_ use for video projectors is playing Doom/Quake/$FPS_OF_CHOICE.


    True story. Back in 1996 I was buying a projector for the chemistry department I worked for. For the first demo of prospective equipment (it was a lot rarer then) for my boss I showed a few images. He told me that the projector was fine but that the demo was a bit dull- I should do something exciting.

    Next time I had Hexen up on a 25' wide screen. Don't exactly know what he thought of it, but we ended up getting the other projector...

    Eric

    --
    "Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
  26. OLED Displays? by Vortran · · Score: 2

    If I had gone to the show, the one thing I would be (and still am) most interested in is OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays.

    Can someone who was there tell me if there was anythihg at the show on OLED displays, and if so what?

    I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of OLED desktop monitors and laptop dislays.

    Vortran out

    --
    Knowledge is like ignorance.. too much can be just as bad as not enough.
  27. Re:LCD's by (H)elix1 · · Score: 2

    Ah, I had thought the same thing till I visited an office in NYC. They just moved into a new building and discovered every time the subway went under their building, the magnetics messed with the standard CRTs. No (visual) effect on LCD's however, so everyone was upgraded way before the price point dropped. Power consumption is lower too - enough that it covers a fair chunk of the difference over a normal CRT. You are right in most cases, however....

  28. Microsoft rips off "Ubiquitous Computing" by SimHacker · · Score: 2
    I saw Bill Gates give the keynote address at CES, and he demonstrated several interesting technologies including wireless web pads, tablets, and ".NET" services.

    What he didn't mention is that Microsoft never invented those things -- they're simply exploiting the "Ubiquitous Computing" research developed by other people at Xerox PARC, MIT Media Lab, and many others places.

    Our product ConnectedTV, which we demonstrated at CES, is also inspired by the same Ubiquitous Computing research, as well as using other proven user interface techniques like pie menus.

    Besides the personalized TV guide and universal remote control, it has many useful home control applications, as well. For an idea of where it's heading, please read some the literature.

    We owe a lot to pioneering researchers like the late Mark Weiser (director of Xerox PARC Computer Science Lab), and visionary writers like the late Philip K Dick. May they forever continue to guide and inspire us from half-life.

    -Don

    "I am Ubik. Before the universe was, I am. I made the suns. I made the worlds. I created the lives and the places they inhabit; I move them here, I put them there. They go as I say, then do as I tell them. I am the word and my name is never spoken, the name which no one knows. I am called Ubik, but that is not my name. I am. I shall always be."

    -Glenn Runciter

    --
    Take a look and feel free: http://www.PieMenu.com
  29. Re:LCD's by freeweed · · Score: 2
    Ok, that has to be the coolest "you need this" hardware story I've ever heard :) Coming from an area with some of the lowest electricity costs in the world (bless Hydroelectricity), the power issue is never much of a point here, but I must admit, you got me on that one!

    --
    Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.