The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show is history, but plenty of the products on display at the show are still generating plenty of buzz. Much of the talk surrounds all of the 3-D products that were on display at the show — everything from HDTVs and Blu-ray players to home theater systems and camcorders. While it seems like 2010 may be the year we actually see 3-D in our homes, I’m not sold on it myself; I’m not sure I want to wear those glasses at all…even in the privacy of my living room.
But that doesn’t mean I’m writing off the products from CES entirely. Here are five devices that were on display at CES that I’m hoping to get my hands on, and soon.
HTC HD2
I know Windows Mobile phones are yesterday’s news. But, to be honest, it’s not the phone features of HTC HD2 smartphone that have me so interested; it’s the phone’s 4.3-inch screen. I loved the roomy 3.7-inch screen on the Motorola Droid, so I can’t wait to check out this one. I’m often watching video on or capturing video with my phone, and I sometimes find myself squinting at the 3.5-inch display. An upgrade to a 4.3-inch screen would be welcome. But, we don’t yet know which carrier will offer the HTC HD2 in the U.S.; that could make a real difference in what kind of video services it offers — and could make or break this phone as a mobile video device.
Tivit
Now the Tivit would make a killer accessory for the HTC HD2 — if only this portable TV receiver worked with Windows Mobile phones. Alas, the Tivit, made by a company called Valups, compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch, BlackBerry phones with Wi-Fi, and some Android phones. The Tivit uses the Mobile DTV standard and, after you download the necessary viewing software on your phone, broadcasts Mobile DTV channels to your phone.
Vizio TVs
Vizio is known for making budget-friendly HDTVs, and the company had a presence at CES, both on and off the show floor. One of my former colleagues from PC World visited Vizio at CES and got a peek at some pretty cool sounding products — they’re so cool, in fact, that I’m putting two of them on this list.
One is the XVT Pro series of HDTVs. These feature built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity; support for Vizio’s own line of apps and Yahoo Widgets (so I can access ZeeVee’s Zinc app on my TV); support for Wireless HD; and — best of all — Bluetooth remotes with slide-out keyboards.
That’s for when I’m at home. When I’m on the go, I’ll take one of Vizio’s portable televisions — either the 9- or 10-inch model, which the company says are among the first to receive broadcasts using the new ATSC mobile TV standard.
Intel Wireless Display
I spend a lot of time testing various devices that let you take the video content stored on your PC and view it on your TV. So, naturally, I spend a lot of time messing with cables, struggling through confusing set up menus, and swearing at the TV. But Intel’s Wireless Display technology promises to help clean up my cable clutter…and my vocabulary.
To use Intel Wireless Display, you’ll need a compatible laptop — meaning one that’s has one of Intel’s new processors, its HD graphics, and its wireless technology. You’ll also need an adapter to connect to the TV, and a TV that has HDMI or component A/V inputs. Once you have all the parts, the content on your PC is sent to your TV wirelessly.
Lenovo IdeaPad U1
Tablet PCs were big news at CES this year, but I’m not entirely sold on the idea of an all-touch-screen PC. That’s why I like the idea behind the Lenovo IdeaPad U1. This device is a hybrid netbook/tablet; when you need to type, you can use the built-in keyboard. But, should you want to ditch the keyboard to, say curl up on the couch and watch a movie, you can just pick up the detachable display and go. Perfect for indecisive folks like me.
