CES Tidbits

Various newsbits from the Consumer Electronics Show: Verizon promises cell phone TV; USB flash drives get more useful; Transmeta promises a fanless media center device, sometime; things you can stick on your iPod; and a tech site offers a photographic overview of day 0 of the convention.

Comments

Day 0?

[Neil Blender]

Oh, now I get it. Nerds.

Microsoft CES Torrent

[mnordstr]

In case you missed Microsoft's less than successfull opening event on Wednesday, hosted by Conan O'Brien and including two full system crashes and other glitches, the torrent is still available on my blog.

Some good laughs in there (not only Conan's perfomance). :)

Re:Microsoft CES Torrent

[Anubis350]

put in UT2004 disc, run the install on linux script (its an executable, just click on it), play game.....

if you need 3d drivers and you're using an nvidia card (which you should if you're using linux) d/l nvidia's drivers, stop X, install, follow instructions to modify your X config, restart X (even easier than windows, don't even need to restart your machine and all instructions are available from nvidia website in great detail).

I don't know why I even try, feeding trolls is so tiresome......

Re:Microsoft CES Torrent

[darc]

Which any programmer is capable of doing. Following instructions is beyond the capability of most users, because well, they don't read the directions. When was the last time you read the manual that came with any product?

Right now, most consumers expect to be able to install the software without reading any of the dialog boxes and just hitting 'next' like mad. Making this more difficult isn't a matter of them not being able to do this, but rather that they lack the drive to actually do it. Changing 3 lines of a text file is pretty archaic and reminds me of CONFIG.SYS and the DOS days.

Comon, we can do better than that.

U3

[HeghmoH]

Flash storage manufacturers SanDisk and M-Systems are slated to announce Friday at CES a new USB standard called U3, which enables users to carry, store and launch applications directly from a USB flash drive without installation.

Do we really need "a new USB standard" to allow apps to run without installation? I've been doing this on my Mac forever. I know that this can work on Windows if you write the program correctly. Why the need for a giant consortium?

Re:U3

[stratjakt]

If you have an autorun.inf file on the media, Windows (if configured to do so) will read it and do what it says.

I know it works with removable USB hard drives, we have various demos setup on usb drives, so all our dopey marketing folk have to do is plug it in to their laptop, and it starts up.

Re:U3

[daves]

From the description in the article, it sounds like there is a sandbox involved.

Re:U3

[b374]

Is that U2's upgrade? Is it for the next black iPod?

Re:U3

[Genady]

Hrm... this seems.... like a potential for evil. I can see this as a virus propagation vector. Just like floppies, but better because you can put a lot larger payload on a thumb drive. Am I the only one who can see a 'Windows XP Root Kit Thumbdrive' surfacing on eBay? Will we be talking about 'Thumb Kiddies' in a few years?

With universities pushing USB flash as the storage medium of choice in their computer labs I think that college IT's job is about to get a bit tougher.

Re:U3

[IWorkForMorons]

It's worse then that. How long do you think it will take before this is the only method of software distribution available? It's got all of the features vendors like...none of this "just copy the software" any more. Don't have the USB drive? Lose it somewhere? Well then you don't have the software anymore. Looks like you'll have to buy a new one. And speaking about "Thumb Kiddies"...think of the new and exciting viruses you'll pick up from pirated drives. Plus all the ones you'll pick up off the net and spread around with you as you travel.

Yeah, this is a little tinhat-ish, but you never know...

Cell phone TV

[nizo]

Great, now people can not only talk on the phone, but also watch tv on their cell phone while they drive.

Re:Cell phone TV

[EnronHaliburton2004]

Well, you can use your Camera Cell Phone to take a picture of them watching their TV Cell Phone (Be sure to get a picture of their License plate), and notify their insurance company.

And I'll use my Video Cell Phone to take a movie of you watching your Camera Cell Phone to watch them ...

Re:Cell phone TV

[JohnGrahamCumming]

Driving. Who cares about driving?

What I'm most worried about is the users of cell phones with TV being allowed on flights. Now I have to spend 5 hours being crushed by the sweaty overweight guy next to me, who's watching King of Queens reruns while giving a play-by-play, complete with guffaws, to his best bud on the other end of the line.

I wonder if I could claim temporary insanity if I were to injure my neighbor in that situation?

John.

Do they have:

[AtariAmarok]

Do they have:

Digital cameras that act as cell phones?

Handheld gameboy clones that play MP3s?

Mp3 players that play videogames?

Cell phones that play MP3's?

Cell phones that play videogames?

Mp3 players that take digital pictures?

Gameboys that make phone calls?

If I left off any of the the ridiculous convergence that makes up so much of tech buzz these days, let me know.

Re:Do they have:

[Speare]

I swear, Brookstone and Sharper Image share this business model: they make a huge grid chart with every geek gadget labeling each row, and every yuppie gadget labeling each column. They then produce a Taiwanese product that implements each intersecting grid. Mix most combinations of golfball-caddy, hammock-pole, grill-fork, lawn-lamp, wine-caddy with phone-minder, address-book, usb-stick, music-player, calculator. Now you get the picture.

How about THINGS YOU CAN STICK YOUR IPOD IN?

[stratjakt]

Like, your ass.

iPod Video Display

[Attar81]

I think that video attachment for the iPod looked pretty cool. I've not seen a HD-based video player that has a clamshell design. It makes a lot of sense (protects the screen and keys and kind of makes double to space for keys and screen)

Re:iPod Video Display

[podperson]

"I've not seen a HD-based video player that has a clamshell design."

I have. It's called an iBook. I'm guessing that it's not much more expensive than an iPod + this piece of junk, has a far better screen, plays DVDs, and has interchangeable batteries.

Nyko's iPod movie player

[Dark Paladin]

I read the press release for this a day or so ago, but didn't know it would be this cool.

My wife and I have been talking about getting a pair of portable DVD players for the kids - or, as I call it, "sanity preservers" so during the 10-12 hour drive to Grandma's house, Dad doesn't kill them after the 6000th "Are we there yet? I'm bored!"

I can take their entire "Angelic Layer" and "Magic Knight Rayearth", rip the DVD's to AVI's and then slap them onto an iPod. 20 GB of data should store about 60 movies (at about 300 MB apiece) - plenty to store an entire season at once, with room left over in case Daddy wants to watch one of "his" movies while Mommy drives for a little while.

No worrying about the DVD disks getting lost in the car or damaged (a problem since the cartoons belong to Daddy who gets very upset when they get scratched), and since the 5 year old is now listening to her own music she can either watch her movie or listen to something.

Very cool idea from Nyko. Depending on the cost, I can see myself snagging one of these things.

Re:Nyko's iPod movie player

[stratjakt]

Of course, if you don't already have an iPod, it would seem an Archos box would make the wiser investment, since you can basically do what you want with it, rather than be limited to certain "allowed" formats.

You can get a portable DVD player designed for kids for about 100 bucks, though. We got our youngest one for christmas. It's not a sexy geek device, the battery is an old NiCad and weighs a ton, and only lasts 4 hours or so. But it works great, and it reads DVD-Rs and VCDs.

80 bucks for the player and pennies per blank disc, and you stay just as sane on a long car trip as with the 500 dollar iPod + 300 dollar "peripheral" (just guessing at what they'd charge, but that sounds right for what is essentially a self-contained media player and usb host, minus the hard drive).

Re:Nyko's iPod movie player

[TrollBridge]

"or, as I call it, 'sanity preservers'

Or as I call it, "the electronic teat".

Re:Nyko's iPod movie player

[Ubergrendle]

My wife and I have been talking about getting a pair of portable DVD players for the kids - or, as I call it, "sanity preservers" so during the 10-12 hour drive to Grandma's house, Dad doesn't kill them after the 6000th "Are we there yet? I'm bored!"

I believe a single Taser is more cost effective than individual DVD players, especially once you get past 2 kids.

Or you can resort to my technique of "NyQuil" in the juice container...

Re:Nyko's iPod movie player

[EnronHaliburton2004]

My wife and I have been talking about getting a pair of portable DVD players for the kids - or, as I call it, "sanity preservers" so during the 10-12 hour drive to Grandma's house, Dad doesn't kill them after the 6000th "Are we there yet? I'm bored!"

My kid is still a baby, so I haven't experienced the "Are we there yet?" years too much. And I'm not trying to be preachy-- I just want to know what other parents do with their kids.

You and I survived these long car rides with books, games, puppets, imagination and long period of staring out the window (a great time for day dreaming and thinking, and I still do it). We didn't have this constant stream of stimulation being pushed at us, and we survived fine.

Are you sure you want to push your kids (and you and your wife) for 10-12 hours? How about getting a hotel somewhere in the middle there. You all need more rest then that, and the drive would be more leasurely-- you could even drive for a few hours, take a break and see some of the sights and get some exercise, and then drive again. You'll also drive much more safer...

Dvd or not, 10-12 hours in a car can't be good for you or your kids.

Re:Nyko's iPod movie player

[EnronHaliburton2004]

I'll bets are off for a 14 hour plane ride.

Have them walk up and down the isle a bunch of times, once you left American Airspace, give them some beer :)

Apps launching from USB

[davidwr]

Gee, we've had apps launching from CDs and before that floppies since, what, before 1980?

Seriously, I wish more vendors would put "try me"/no-install versions of their apps on their distribution media, so I could use my apps without the bother of installing.

Actually, after reading TFA...

[SoTuA]

...I think it should read "things you can stick your ipod into". Although maybe then slashdot would start setting off adult filters...

Wow

[kaedemichi255]

Hot girl at the CES. Notice that she's got a tag on which means she's one of the show attendants. What a great way to market! (I'm so there next year!)

Re:Wow

[The-Dalai-LLama]

I used to work for a company that made memory upgrades. One of the key purchasing agents was a smoking hot little petite blonde who, at the time of this story, was not even old enough to drink.

One year at CES some would-be vendor made a remark about the company having a piece of "fluff" at the booth. She wheeled on him and let fly with a diatribe that showcased her comprehensive knowledge of RAM chips, PCB issues, and our company's component needs and then she let him know, in no uncertain terms, that whether or not we ever purchased a single capacitor from his company would be a decision made by the petite piece of fluff with bubble gum-pink fingernails that he was speaking with at that very moment.

He walked away dazed. I don't think we ever did business with him.

The Dalai LLama

Day 0

[AtariAmarok]

All: Day-0, day-ay-ay-0
All: Bill Gates come and he wanna go home
All: Day, he say day, he say day, he say day,
All: He say day, he say day-ay-ay-o
All: Microsoft come and he wanna go home

Boys: Hack all night on a drink a'rum
Girls: Daylight come and he wanna go home
Boys: Hack manana till thee morning come
Girls: Bill gates come and he wanna go home

Fanless media center?

[Anonymous Coward]

In the /. world, Microsoft's media center is already fanless.

use my dads method:

[geekoid]

me: "Are we there yet? I'm bored!"
dad: "yes, get out."

Re:use my dads method:

[LetterJ]

Yeah. The one time my brother and I were left by the side of the road we learned our lesson on this one.

Threats were not idle in our house. I did go without supper, did have the TV physically taken away and my father was ALWAYS told when he got home.

Of course, I also went to a school with pretty harsh discipline, where the entire male population of the 8th grade was given group detention for 2 weeks.

I definitely never needed any of these lessons taught twice, so I'm a fan.

What it's all about

[buckhead_buddy]

If you take the worlds of television, telecom, games and music, and then remove content, you wind up with the consumer electronics show. Despite what you may be assuming, I think the inteligence level goes up quite a bit once content is removed. I envision telecom devices having fascinating conversations with my sister in Uganda rather than listening to telemarketers. I recall television products replaying some of my favorite cancelled shows rather than endless hours of mind-numbing nonsense.

I find it a bit disheartening that so much of the success of these products will depend on the success or failure of the content. Finally, when I heard Conan's lame double entendres about flacid penises (as in the Microsoft intro) that shook me out of my interest in what was presented at this convention. More and more I'm coming to the conclusion that products that allow the common man to produce content are far more interesting, revolutionary, and important than the evolutionary products shown at the Consumer Electronics Show to allow you to consume the content of others. The products at CES that catch my eye are ones that allow me to create or enojy the creations of others, unfortunately I think I'll see more of that sort of thing at NAB in April than I've seen at CES so far.

Please, tell me that I'm wrong and point out some great consumptive and productive tech that's made its debut.

Re:Konica/Minolta Analysis Suspect

[Ironsides]

Main reason it probably died was due to the body being completely incompatible with previous lenses. Go spend 5K (or more in most cases )on lenses and then tell me you want a body that is incompatible with them.

The image stabilization in teh body, however, if it is compatible with current lenses WILL SELL. Especially to people that can't afford the current auto stabilizing lenses. (like me) Best bet for that is to license it to Nikon and Cannon for theirs and they will make a bloody mint.

"things you can stick on your iPod" article text

[Anonymous Coward]

Couldn't load the article in Camino. To save others the trip to another browser:

Here is the picture of the device. The caption below the picture reads:

Nyko's MoviePlayer promises to transform an iPod into a fully fledged portable media viewer.

Bringing video playback to the iPod
By Jørgen Sundgot, Wednesday 5 January 2005

Beating Apple to the punch, little-known peripheral manufacturer Nyko has unveiled an iPod accessory which enables the popular audio player to play back videos on a 3.5" display.

At the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nyko Technologies has announced the MoviePlayer, an iPod peripheral which gives owners the ability to play back video stored on an iPod on a 3.5" display. Currently at the prototype stage, the company says the accessory is slated for release in the spring 2005, utilizing a portable cradle concept to connect the accessory to an iPod.

The MoviePlayer will connect to the iPod via the dock connector and draw upon its storage capabilities, delivering video playback on a 3.5", 16-bit TFT display as opposed to the small, monochrome display of the iPod itself. The accessory also includes built-in stereo speakers, although whether users will be able to utilize headphones is still unclear.

Offering a dedicated user interface, the MoviePlayer will according to Nyko allow for both music and video playback, as well as photo viewing, using a navigational interface which appears similar to that of the existing iPod scroll wheel. According to the company, included software - compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X - will convert any audio, video or image file to a format compatible with the MoviePlayer.

An additional three hours of playback can be had from the rechargeable Lithium Ion battery of the MoviePlayer, according to Nyko's claims, allowing users to watch "several full-length movies on one charge". To protect the screen when not in use, the MoviePlayer closes clamshell-style, protecting both the accessory itself as well as the connected iPod.

In related news, Nyko Technologies also announced several other iPod accessories, including a button relocator which moves all basic control functions from the face of the player to the top; a speaker dock; add-on, rechargeable battery packs for both the iPod and iPod mini under the iBoost moniker; and more. According to Nyko, all of its products will be launched in early 2005.

Pricing and availability for the Nyko MoviePlayer will be announced closer to launch.

"Fanless Media Center Device"

[Anonymous Coward]

So how IS Ashlee Simpson enjoying CES?

"Auto-run" Features Are a Security Risk

[EXTomar]

I don't care how "nifty" it is but from an IT point of view having any "hot-plug" device used on a computer in the enterprise automatically running things an unvalidated source (the hot-plug device itself) is a security risk. Where did the USB device come from? What does the USB device really do? If a user can't answer some simple questions about this they sure aren't added it to a machine on the network. I will not allow users pluging strange PCI cards into their machines that aren't quite sure what they do. Why should I allow USB to do the same thing?!?

Why are these guys pushing to make this "standard"?? Thanks for more tracking and security headaches guys for the sake of "convience".

Re:Amateur look

[introverted]

Is it just me, or do the display tables look very amateurish?

It's not clearly stated in the article, but my guess is that the photos were taken at the "Pepcom Digital Experience" pre-CES event. Those are just the tables you'll find at any hotel, complete with an inexpensive (but durable) tablecloth and decorative table skirt.

But why are you taking note of tables in the photos? The very first page after the introduction includes a genuine "Booth Babe" and surely she's more interesting than any silly table. :-)

Re:Konica/Minolta Analysis Suspect

[LurkerXXX]

How about getting a gyro unit to hook up to the camera you already have? For $1200 you can get a gyro kit from ken-lab. Expensive, and extra weight, but you can keep using the camera and lenses you already have.

CES rocks this year: there's a pr0n convention too

[Ralph Spoilsport]

I'm not being a troll or anything - my former boss just emailed me - she is now at CES and said that there's some kind of pr0n convention going on at the same time down the road in some other center.

Woo Hoo - I say it's time for some Silicon and Silicone!

Can anyone else confirm this news? If they could co-ordinate the two events they would get Even More Attendees...

RS

I can beat that.

[Rimbo]

Let me tell you about a guy with an MBA from Harvard I know who grew up in Midland, Texas -- aka the Ass End of Nowhere. He was absolutely brilliant, particularly with human relationships.

Now if you spoke to this guy, you'd never believe he graduated from college, much less got through grad school at the finest institution of higher education in the USA. He actually used that to his advantage. I saw him do this time and time again... he'd slip into the backwards Texas drawl, mess up some word or speech on purpose, and then people would think, "Oh, what a stupid hick." Of course, at this point, they were at his mercy, just like the lady and the vendor in the tale you describe.

Only this guy one-upped your gal and then some. He became President of the United States this way.

Twice.