Hasta La Gadget!

Canon unveiled a host of new Powershot cameras at CES 2012, including the diminutive new Powershot N, a camera with lots of personality packed into an extremely small frame. The new Powershot N is a small device with instant sharing capabilities, which seems designed to turn the compact camera into an Instagram-style shooter.

The N has Wi-Fi built-in, a flip-up screen, 8x optical zoom and an amazingly small form factor. It’s a unique entry in the compact camera field, something which you won’t often find in this range of devices these days, aside from seeing megazooms and larger sensor compacts. It features a 2.8-inch capacitive touch screen, which tilts for easier controls, and a 28mm wide-angle optical zoom lens.

The Powershot N will retail for $299.99 in April 2013, and come in both black and white varieties.

Canon has also refreshed many of its its other Powershot series cameras, including the ELPH 130 IS, which also has Wi-Fi and the ability to print directly to Canon printers or share images via Camera Window Android or iOS apps. It boasts an ECO mode to conserve battery life, and retails for $199.99 beginning in February. The 130 IS has a 28mm lens with a 16 megapixel sensor.

Canon’s Powershot A2600 also has a 16 megapixel sensor, but with 5x optical zoom. It’s essentially a downmarket version of the 130 IS, with a $149.99 price tag. ECO mode is also included, and is a new feature that Canon seems intent on selling across the range. It should be available in February.

The Powershot A1400 is a 16-megapixel portable shooter with an optical viewfinder, powered by AA batteries and also boasting ECO mode, which makes it a uniquely versatile camera for the frequent traveler. It has IS as does the rest of the new Powershot line, and will retail for $109.99 when it becomes available in February.

Canon’s point-and-shoot line has a clear goal of delivering consumer-friendly features at low price points in a variety of different packages to suit different needs. This is a rapidly changing market, which is being crowded out by smartphone cameras, but we’ll see if Canon’s focus on the basics of what separates point-and-shoots from smartphone cameras can help it continue to impress in this area.

Nvidia has outed its next-gen Tegra 4 mobile CPU at CES. As expected, the chip packs 72  GPU cores, offering a 6x bump on the Tegra 3′s graphics processing performance — to make the most of higher resolution displays — along with the first quad-core ARM Cortex-A15, to boost web browsing speed by 2.6x and deliver improved app performance. Also on board: LTE support.

Nvidia is talking up the computation photography capabilities of the Tegra 4, with automatic support for HDR photos and video, and also its power efficiency — claiming it consumes up to 45 per cent less power than the Tegra 3 in “common use cases”, thanks to features such as a battery saver core for low power during standard use. The Tegra 4 supports up to 14 hours of HD video playback on phones.

Also today at CES, Nvidia has launched an open gaming handheld — dubbed ‘Project Shield‘ — powered by the new Tegra 4 chip. The handheld can download Android games from Google Play and Nvidia’s TegraZone game store, and also wirelessly stream Windows PC STEAM games — provided you have a PC powered by Nvidia GeForce GTX GPUs elsewhere in the home. The use-case here is presumably if you want to flop out on the sofa to play to play PC games, rather than sitting at your desk.

The handheld hardware includes a 5-inch, 1280×720 HD retinal multitouch display, hinged atop the controller:

Nvidia’s releases follow below:

NVIDIA Introduces World’s Fastest Mobile Processor

 

Tegra 4 Features 72 Custom GPU Cores, Quad-Core Cortex-A15 CPU for Superb Performance and Efficiency; LTE Enabled with Optional Chipset

LAS VEGAS—CES—Jan. 6, 2013—NVIDIA today introduced NVIDIA® Tegra® 4 , the world’s fastest mobile processor, with record-setting performance and battery life to flawlessly power smartphones and tablets, gaming devices, auto infotainment and navigation systems, and PCs.

Tegra 4 offers exceptional graphics processing, with lightning-fast web browsing, stunning visuals and new camera capabilities through computational photography.

Previously codenamed “Wayne,” Tegra 4 features 72 custom NVIDIA GeForce™ GPU cores – or six times the GPU horsepower of Tegra 3 – which deliver more realistic gaming experiences and higher resolution displays. It includes the first quad-core application of ARM’s most advanced CPU core, the Cortex-A15, which delivers 2.6x faster web browsing and breakthrough performance for apps.

Tegra 4 also enables worldwide 4G LTE voice and data support through an optional chipset, the fifth-generation NVIDIA Icera® i500 processor. More efficient and 40 percent the size of conventional modems, i500 delivers four times the processing capability of its predecessor.

“Tegra 4 provides enormous processing power and efficiency to power smartphones and tablets, gaming devices, auto systems and PCs,” said Phil Carmack, senior vice president of the Tegra business at NVIDIA. ”Its new capabilities, particularly in the area of computational photography, will help improve a whole range of existing products and lead to the creation of exciting new ones.”

Computational Photography Capability

Among the Tegra 4 processor’s breakthroughs is its Computational Photography Architecture, which automatically delivers high dynamic range (HDR) photos and video by fusing together the processing power of the GPU, CPU and the camera’s image-signal processor.

Its HDR capability captures images, including those taken with a flash, the way they are seen by the human eye – with detail in both bright and dark areas.

Unprecedented Power Efficiency

Designed for maximum energy efficiency, Tegra 4 includes a second-generation battery saver core for low power during standard use, and PRISM 2 Display technology to reduce backlight power while delivering superior visuals.

Tegra 4 consumes up to 45 percent less power than its predecessor, Tegra 3, in common use cases. And it enables up to 14 hours of HD video playback on phones.

Tegra 4 Key Features

• ·         – GeForce GPU with 72 custom cores
• ·         – Quad-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU, plus a 2^nd Generation Battery Saver Core
• ·         – Computational Photography Architecture
• ·         – LTE capability with optional Icera i500 chipset
• ·         – 4K ultra-high-def video support

Useful Links
www.nvidia.com/tegra
www.tegrazone.com

NVIDIA Untethers Gaming with Project SHIELD

 

Gaming Portable for Open Platforms Designed for Gamers
to Play When, Where, How They Want

LAS VEGAS—CES—Jan. 6, 2013—NVIDIA today announced Project SHIELD, a gaming portable for open platforms, designed for gamers who yearn to play when, where and how they want.

Created with the philosophy that gaming should be open and flexible, Project SHIELD flawlessly plays both Android and PC titles. As a pure Android device, it gives access to any game on Google Play. And as a wireless receiver and controller, it can stream games from a PC powered by NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX GPUs, accessing titles on its STEAM game library from anywhere in the home.

“Project SHIELD was created by NVIDIA engineers who love to game and imagined a new way to play,” said Jen-Hsun Huang, co-founder and chief executive officer at NVIDIA. “We were inspired by a vision that the rise of mobile and cloud technologies will free us from our boxes, letting us game anywhere, on any screen. We imagined a device that would do for games what the iPod and Kindle have done for music and books, letting us play in a cool new way. We hope other gamers love SHIELD as much as we do.”

Project SHIELD combines the advanced processing power of NVIDIA Tegra® 4, breakthrough game-speed Wi-Fi technology and stunning HD video and audio built into a console-grade controller. It can be used to play on its own integrated screen or on a big screen, and on the couch or on the go.

 

Tegra 4 at Its Heart

At the core of Project SHIELD is the world’s fastest mobile processor, the new NVIDIA Tegra 4, which delivers enormous power from its custom 72-core GeForce GPU and the first quad-core application of ARM’s most advanced CPU core, the Cortex-A15. These, combined with its battery-saver core and energy-saving PRISM 2 technology, deliver hours of gameplay on a single charge.

Windows and Android Games

Windows and Android are the world’s most successful computing platforms, with massive ecosystems of system and software developers. While not specifically designed for gaming, both open platforms have drawn gamers by the millions. Project SHIELD is designed to allow them to enjoy Android and Windows games in a new, exciting way.

Project SHIELD can instantly download Android games, including Android-optimized titles available on NVIDIA’s TegraZone™ game store, which has already delivered more than 6 million downloads to gamers. It can also be used as a wireless game receiver to a nearby PC equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 GPU or higher.

Console-Grade Controller

Project SHIELD’s ergonomic controller was built for the gamer who wants ultimate control and precision.

Retinal Gaming Display

Brilliant gameplay and video are provided by Project SHIELD’s integrated 5-inch, 1280×720 HD retinal multitouch display, with 294 dpi. Plus, Tegra 4 with Direct Touch technology gives it touch responsiveness that is a more consistent, accurate and smooth-flowing touch input experience than a standard touch device.

Tuned Port, Bass Reflex Portable Speaker System

Deep, rich audio is critical for a great gaming experience. And Project SHIELD provides fidelity and dynamic range never before available on a portable device, through its custom, bass reflex, tuned port audio system – with twice the low-frequency output of high-end laptops.

Project SHIELD can also access Android apps such as Hulu, Netflix and Slacker Radio, so users can enjoy their movies and music anywhere without expensive, clumsy wired or wireless speakers.

 

Support by Leading Industry Analyst

Patrick Moorhead, president and lead analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, said: “The market has waited years for a breakthrough gaming device that offers the flexibility, quality and total enjoyment of Project SHIELD. Few companies other than NVIDIA have the vision, guts and deep gaming experience to have pulled this off.”

Support by Leading Game Developers

Yves Guillemot, co-founder and chief executive officer of Ubisoft, said: “Ubisoft is always excited about new hardware developments, and Project SHIELD promises to bring both mobile and PC gamers a great new gaming experience. Seeing the PC version of Assassin’s Creed III run on the device is a great example of this, and further strengthens Ubisoft’s long-standing relationship with NVIDIA.”

Mark Rein, vice president and co-founder of Epic Games, said: “With Project SHIELD, NVIDIA brings an uncompromising, high-performance console experience to mobile devices. Amazing games including Real Boxing and Hawken, which utilize the latest Unreal Engine technology, look fantastic on Project SHIELD. This is just the beginning, and we’re truly excited to see what more Unreal Engine developers will do with so much horsepower in such a compact gaming device.”

Bill Wagner, chief production officer at Meteor Entertainment, said: “Coming from the openness of a PC platform, we love how accessible Project SHIELD is, and the flexibility it gives gamers everywhere. Project SHIELD gives us the cutting-edge ability to bring a huge free-to-play PC game like Hawken to the handheld gaming audience.”

Support by Broader Industry

“Shadowgun and Dead Trigger showed how Tegra can redefine mobile gaming on Android. Project SHIELD’s performance has allowed us to bring an even better experience with Dead Trigger 2,debuting first on Tegra 4 devices. Our fans are going to love it.”

– Marek Rabas, chief executive officer of MADFINGER Games

“Project SHIELD has changed how we approach mobile game development. Tegra 4 helped us create Bloodsword – a new game debuting with the highest resolution textures, graphics and shading we’ve ever seen on a portable device.”

– Seunghee Do, co-founder at OneQ Soft

“We are very excited to be part of Project SHIELD, and are quite amazed by the gaming potential of this device. Project SHIELD is by far the fastest mobile device we’ve worked on and it lets us put console quality graphics on a handheld device.”

– Stine Waern, chief executive officer at Ravn Studio AS

“Thanks to Project SHIELD’s performance, we’re able to use the same quality textures and shaders in Rochard as on the PC version. We’re super excited to bring Rochard to Project SHIELD, the first time it’s ever been playable on a mobile device.”

– Jan Achrenius, chief executive officer at Recoil Games

“Put simply, Project SHIELD is an amazing leap forward, enabling us to create console-quality visuals previously unthinkable on a mobile platform.”

– Arden Aspinall, chief executive officer and project lead at TickTock Games Ltd.

More information is available at shield.nvidia.com.

About NVIDIA
NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) awakened the world to computer graphics when it invented the GPU in 1999. Today, its processors power a broad range of products from smartphones to supercomputers. NVIDIA’s mobile processors are used in cell phones, tablets and auto infotainment systems. PC gamers rely on GPUs to enjoy spectacularly immersive worlds. Professionals use them to create 3D graphics and visual effects in movies and to design everything from golf clubs to jumbo jets. And researchers utilize GPUs to advance the frontiers of science with high performance computing. The company has more than 5,000 patents issued, allowed or filed, including ones covering ideas essential to modern computing. For more information, see www.nvidia.com.

The Sensus Case is at CES 2013, and it brings touch controls to the iPhone that go way beyond the screen. Touch-sensitive panels on the back (which can detect 10 points of input at once) and sides of the case give it additional capabilities for gaming and apps, akin to what Sony has down with the back panel of the PlayStation Vita mobile console.

The Sensus is made by Minnesota based hardware company Canopy, which wanted to bring something genuinely new to the world of iPhone apps. In hands-on testing, the prototype was amazingly responsive and accurate – and immediately, you get the sense of how the thing can work with not only games, but also with any apps that require menus. The side sliders can act as scrolling mechanisms for quickly paging through options and menus, making it much easier to navigate a number of settings on the fly.

Click to view slideshow.

For gaming, the Sensus’ back panel takes away the pain of having your fingers block a big section of the screen. Plus, it can be used to do different things than the front panel. Of course, to use either, you need an app or game that has it integrated via an API. But Canopy reps said that it’s easy for developers to get on board, and in fact it takes only minutes to get it up and running in the most basic way possible.

The Sensus Case is planned for release summer 2013, and should retail for under $100. The Canopy rep said that the idea is to make sure it’s available for less than a premium case without the touch sensitive features. Another thing the company is really excited about is the potential for what it can do to enable better app controls for users with visual impairments. There’s no question the Sensus is impressive, but what developers ultimately do with it will be what proves its long-term worth.

The Belkin WeMo line is designed to bring Wi-Fi-connected, remote home automation to the masses without expensive, whole home system upgrades. The existing WeMo outlet is a little bulky, but it makes it possible to remotely power on and off any device with a two or three-prong cord. Now, the company is debuting an in-wall switch to make controlling your lighting from an app or the web (via IFTTT) easier.

The WeMo Ligtht Switch is here at CES, and we got a chance to go hands on (well, really, single-finger on). The switch looks like a switch, and should work with essentially any existing light switch in most modern homes. It can be managed from the existing WeMo iOS app that’s available for iPhone and iPad devices, which means you’ll be able to easily add them to your existing WeMo setup.

In practice, the WeMo was a step up and a step forward for Belkin’s line of home automation product, beating out the WeMo outlet and motion detector products in terms of their ability to mesh into your existing home decor. And the switch also works as a physical switch, so that you can still turn it on and off manually. But while it looks at first glance like a rocker-type switch, meaning my first inclination was to tap the top, only hitting the bottom will actually activate the line or turn it off.

The WeMo Light Switch still has a while to go before it hits the market, however; a Belkin representative told me it will hit store shelves this summer and retail for $49.95. Theoretically, it could undergo a slight design tweak between now and then to address that minor user experience issue, and even if the design doesn’t change, it’s an attractive, inexpensive way to add a little remote control to a house with otherwise legacy lighting.

Belkin also says they’re finally addressing customer requests for an Android control app for WeMo systems, with a beta launching soon for devices like the Galaxy S III, and a wide launch planned for sometime around summer as well.

Editor’s note: Ross Rubin is principal analyst at Reticle Research and blogs at Techspressive. Each column will look at crowdfunded products that have either met or missed their funding goals. Follow him on Twitter @rossrubin.

Whether you rocked your New Year’s Eve Gangnam Style, fed your Bieber fever, or just took in a traditional Auld Lang Syne, there was an opportunity to get that music out of your smartphone and share it with the rest of the party. And as long as that party wasn’t larger than, say, a half-dozen people, any number of the more than dozen Bluetooth speakers on the market could help you with that task.

Indeed, despite being a poor vehicle through which to demonstrate audio quality, Kickstarter did its part in 2012 to fund a few such products. These included the stylish Hidden Radio in January, which raised nearly $1 million; Carbon Audio’s silicone-encased, tablet-gripping Zooka in March; and the weather-resistant Turtle Shell from Outdoor Tech in  October. With 2013 barely underway, though, three more Bluetooth speakers have set out not only to amplify tunes but crowdfunding’s unceasing cry for financial support.

Backed: Boombot Rex. What happens when you take a bunch of hip San Francisco product designers and put them into a neon-lit studio from which they can call their tattoo-covered bros? Boombotix, a startuptopia where the world is nothing but tasty surfin’, solderin’ and spearphonin’. The hexagonal Boombox Rex has a similar perforated exterior to the Turtle Shell and is also ruggedized. But while some of the feedback on that earlier weather-resistant project have found its audio quality lacking, the Rex aims to achieve a rich sound by integrating two 36 mm drivers and a small woofer within its frame.

Deep bass requires deep pockets. The more than 1,100 backers eager to encourage the mostly healthy-living, product-development equivalent of The Real World — and perhaps pick up one of the $80 powerhouses — have contributed more than three times the compaign’s $27,000 goal. And that’s with about six days left in the campaign. The Rex is due in March; that is, assuming the team can tear itself away from the lives you wish you had.

Backed: CoverPlay Mojo. The rectangular CoverPlay Mojo may not have as creative a shape as the Rex, but it squarely beats it in at least one dimension: thickness. The 7 mm speaker is such a natural accessory for svelte tablets that CoverPlay has designed a case that can hold both as a $30 accessory. Offering something like it as a stretch goal would have been a nice bonus for the campaign, but the Mojo held on to its own mojo by a margin nearly as slim as the speaker itself, reaching its $30,000 funding goal with less than a grand to spare. Instead, the company introduced a mid-priced reward tier in its last 10 days ($95 as opposed to the $105 previously offered), which helped it get over the edge. Austin Powers may have been able to claim his mojo in less than two hours, but backers are slated to get their Mojos in March.

Whacked: XyloBeats. The last time someone offered something as cute, wooden, and capable of remote audio as the cylindrical Xylobeats was at the end of Terry Fator’s arm at The Mirage. The small “eco-friendly” XyloBeats are roughly as tall as their diameter and are available in six wood finishes. The top end of the rewards included a set of all six for $160.

But the campaign is in its final days with less than 20 percent of its goal reached. It’s difficult to see where the XyloBeats campaign went wrong. The goal was not outlandish at $10,000, and the reward prices were downright cheap – not only by Kickstarter standards but even in comparison to the overall market for Bluetooth speakers. People may have been turned off by needing to add a second unit to achieve stereo, but that was also true for the pricier and more powerful wooden 1Q that raised nearly $200,000 last summer.