LG has announced an updated version of its hard drive-equipped Blu-ray player, the LG BD690, allowing you to rip CDs and play Blu-ray movies from the same unit.
Originally posted at CES 2011
Speaking of CES Unveiled (as we will most likely for a little bit longer), the oddest sight of the show (we’re pretty used to Interactive Toy’s duck and shotgun thing by now) might well have been SonoMax’s table. The company was showing off its new Sculpted Eers customized earbuds.
The product comes with what looks like some manner of medical gear. Pop them over your ears, and they will custom fit silicon earbuds for your ears only–the sort of high end treatment you suspect only people like Lady Gaga and Bono get. The whole process takes about four minutes, according to the company. Gearlog was looking into the possibility of getting our own, but the line was too damn long–maybe next year…
According to Sonomax, the custom earbuds offer such advantages as crisper sound, more frequency (including improved bass), a secure fit on your ears, and hearing protection. Perhaps we’ll be able to get our hands on the things when the show floor opens up on Thursday.
No official word yet on when the headphones will be available to the unwashed, non-Gaga masses.
Last night at CES Unveiled (a kickoff show of sorts), a company called Withings was showcasing all manner of health gadgets, including a Wifi scale and an iPhone-based baby monitor. The centerpiece of the company’s booth, however, had to be the company’s Smart Blood Pressure Monitor.
Wrap the band around your arm, like a traditional blood pressure monitor, connect it to your iPhone or iPod touch (actually, the company just says “iOS device,” so I suppose the thing will work with the iPad, as well), and then, with the click of a button, it will send the relevant information to your mobile device.
The company uploads the information and give you your information and where you should be. It will also chart trends in your blood pressure, over time, including time of day trends.
The health gadget is launching this month, for $129.
I know, you’ve always wanted to watch the opening day of Congress, but you just didn’t want to pull yourself away from Facebook. What a predicament. Well, now you can do both.
Yesterday, John Boehner, the incoming House Speaker, announced that beginning at noon on Wednesday (today), you will be able to view a live-stream of the first day of Congress’ new session on Facebook. This is the first time that Congress will be broadcast on the social media site. Facebook users can view the first day’s floor proceedings and Boehner’s first speech as Speaker of the House, and they can make comments as the events happen.
If you want to see Congress make the transition to the GOP-controlled House, go to the “Pledge to America” Facebook page at noon today.
Thanks to a couple of carefully planned slips over in South Korea, hardly anything about LG’s CES 2011 is apt to take you fully by surprise. But if you just so happened to disconnect over the holidays, we’ll break it all down below to ensure you remain firmly in the loop.
For more information on all of the goods here, head on past the break for the full releases. Don’t expect to find any pricing information, though.
Continue reading LG’s CES 2011 HD lineup: SmartTV platform, network Blu-ray players and HDTVs
LG’s CES 2011 HD lineup: SmartTV platform, network Blu-ray players and HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | 
LG | Email this | Comments
Here’s an idea: start a headphone company, and then consult any ‘ole musician for sponsorship. It’s bound to work out well for you. HP has locked arms with Dr. Dre (and The Biebs!), Sleek Audio has done likewise with 50 Cent, Harman AKG has teamed with Quincy Jones, and now, Signeo is looking to Ludacris for a boost in the marketing department. Here at CES, the aforesaid outfit has just launched the cans you see above, aptly titled Soul by Ludacris. As you’d expect, they look mildly similar to the Beats headphone range that has seemingly taken the world by storm, and according to the release after the break, Luda was tightly involved in the construction of them. The Soul brand is debuting with five models in the line: the SL300 noise-cancelling headphones, on-ear SL150 / SL100 models and the SE99 / SE48 earbuds. The whole crew is tweaked to emit fairly intense bass (“without sacrificing the clarity of mids and highs,” mind you), and while no pricing details are being shared just yet, we are told that you can find your own Soul when they hit shelves in “early 2011.” One more look and the full release are after the break.
Continue reading Signeo reveals ‘Soul by Ludacris’ headphone series at CES
Signeo reveals ‘Soul by Ludacris’ headphone series at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Ikea has stopped selling incandescent light bulbs, making it the first major retailer to do so. Though it won’t be the last, as the The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will force all retailers to do the same between 2012 and 2014. Ikea, apparently, is just ahead of the game.
“Ikea is committed to integrating sustainable practices into our range and business practices,” Ikea’s US president Mike Ward said. “As the largest home furnishings store, we are constantly looking at ways to help support our customers with every day environmentally responsible solutions that will improve their lives. Eliminating incandescents is just one simple way for Ikea customers to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gases.”
The store will offer a range of alternatives, including LEDs, CFLs, halogen lamps, and even solar powered lamps, all of which are more energy efficient when compared with traditional incandescent bulbs. The retailer is well known for its environmental initiatives, having experimented with both solar power and geothermal power for some its stores.
Via Engadget
We’re entering the day of the liveblog here at CES with all the major electronics manufacturers finally ready to make their big splash announcements for 2011. LG is almost certain to drop some knowledge on us about its new triumvirate of Android smartphones, while 3DTVs, of both the mobile and supersized variety, are expected to feature strongly as well. Let’s not waste time prognosticating, however — there’s a set of well groomed Korean gentlemen ready to do right by us with a surely awesome presentation. Why keep them waiting? Jump past the break for all the steaming-hot liveblog action.
Continue reading Live from LG’s CES 2011 press event
Live from LG’s CES 2011 press event originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
If you’ve ever spilled coffee on a piece of electronics, maybe a keyboard or even a laptop, spare a thought for the pilot of United Airlines flight 940, outbound from Chicago and heading to Frankfurt. Not long after takeoff the pilot apparently dumped a cup of Joe onto the communications panel in the cockpit and things rapidly went downhill from there. The crew inadvertently sent a code 7500, which indicates that the plane is being hijacked and, as you can imagine, that led to a lot of unwanted attention. It’s not clear whether the equipment malfunctioned and sent the code or the pilot, likely struggling with a scalded lap, fat-fingered things on the panel. Either way, the flight diverted to Toronto and, rather tragically, the passengers were all sent back to Chicago to try again the next day.
Spilled coffee in 777 cockpit leads to inadvertent hijack warning, FAA-mandated sippy cups look likely originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Russian site Gagadget seems to have scored pictures of a phone that matches up perfectly with the teasers Sony Ericsson has placed strategically around the CES show grounds this week — which, in turn, look a whole lot like the Anzu we’ve been seeing leaked for a few months. The site’s saying this bad boy will come to market as the Xperia Arc, so called thanks to a concave backside. The specs, if legit, are decent: 1GHz Qualcomm processor (single-core, it seems), 4.2-inch 854 x 480 display, Gingerbread, 8 megapixel back-illuminated Sony sensor with HD video capture, and a body that measures just 8.7mm at the thinnest point. Sony’s CES press conference is later today, so we might not have long to wait to get all the details on this one; in the meantime, follow the break for a quick promotional video Gagadget seems to have turned up.
[Thanks, SillentTroll]
Continue reading Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc breaks cover, announced at CES this week?
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc breaks cover, announced at CES this week? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Gagadget | Email this | Comments
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
