Vegas Hosts Annual Gizmo Fest
The stakes are high in Las Vegas this week as consumer electronic manufacturers preview their wares to more than 130,000 trade, press and industry insiders gathered at the world's largest Consumer Electronics Show (CES) opening from Jan. 6-9.
Best Magazine's senior editor David Gregg has a sneak peek on The Early Show of some of the most exciting new products coming to your local electronics store in 2005.
LG Plasma HDTV (with built-in PVR)
While just about every manufacturer has these sleek beauties in its booths, LG Electronics has a novel plasma TV that incorporates a hard drive-based personal video player (like TiVo) in the set. Since most folks are hanging TVs on the wall these days, this innovation will eliminate messy wiring and boxes beneath the set.
Price: $15,000
Available at: www.lge.com
JVC Everio Camecorder
JVC's new Everio is a new type of tapeless video camera, offering applications beyond that of conventional digital video cameras or digital still cameras. Everio comes with a large-capacity, card-type removable hard disk drive termed "Microdrive," making a new world of videography and photography possible. Its small size (tiny enough to fit in the palm of your hand), large capacity, high-quality pictures and reliable portability are the keys to Everio.
Price: $1,100
Available at: www.jvc.com
Samsung Extreme Camcorder
For skiing, snowboarding, biking or any other extreme sport. Rugged rubberized camera goes in the pocket; lens attaches to arm or headband. No moving parts so it won't skip.
Price: $649
Available at: www.samsung.com
Samsung A800 Cellphone
It's the world's first cellphone with a 2-megapixel camera, super bright 2-inch QVGA screen. It has memory card capabilities; it can make mini movies and has a unique built-in scanner (scans documents as large as a business card) that allows you to upload a card directly to its contact manager.
Price: $300
Available at: www.samsung.com
Motorola Ojo Video Conferencing Phone
This Jetsons-style video phone from Motorola works over broadband connection (cable modem, DSL) using new packet data technology for life-like pictures. The stylish and functional device allows users to make IP (internet protocol) video calls and VoIP voice-only calls over a current telephone number.
Features include: Superior image and bandwidth efficiency, high-resolution 16:9 LCD display, state-of-the-art miniature camera, true-to-life video and audio quality, video and voice-only messaging, picture-based caller ID and phonebook. Price: $799
Available at: www.motorola.com/ojo
Olympus M:Robe
This fashionable 20GB personal music player doubles as a digital camera. It has sleek touch screen controls, holds thousand of photos and songs, and has super bright color screen and chrome back. The buzz is that this device will give iPod a run for its money.
Price:$500
Available at: www.olympus.com
Sonos Music System
Mix Steve Jobs with a little Ian Schrager and you have the classically designed Sonos Music System. This stylish network audio system allows you to play and control all your computer's stored digital music files (AAC, WMA, MP3, and WAV) plus Internet and satellite radio throughout the house via wireless or Ethernet connection. Sonos consists of a heavy-duty, 50-watt-per-channel cast aluminum ZonePlayer (amplifier) with built-in wireless, Ethernet connectors, analog speaker inputs, Line-in, Line-out and a subwoofer output. The brain behind the brawn is the Sonos Controller.
This wireless remote allows you to control music from up to 31 different Zone Players. It has an easy-to-navigate track wheel and super-bright LCD screen that displays the music zones, album art and what's playing. It's also software upgradeable. The sound is terrific and the functionality of the controller is amazing. It's art meets technology at its finest. The only drawback is lack of complementary speaker design.
Price: $1,200
Available at: www.sonos.com
Panasonic Oxyride Battery
A car powered by two AA batteries? Can you imagine the results in your digital camera? The Early Show viewers will be the first to see the new power behind future digital electronics. Just two AA-size cells power a mini car for up to 3/4 of a mile with a driver aboard.
Price: $3.99 for a package of four
Available at: www.panasonic.com
CES Factoids:
- CES attracts 2,400 exhibitors from over 110 countries
- Exhibitors contract for 1.4 million square feet of space to show their latest wares
- 120,000 attendees include buyers, manufacturers, analysts, and journalists
- CES is the largest annual event of any kind in America and the largest consumer technology show in the world (measured by square footage)
- Annual sales of consumer electronics now nearing $100 billion mark