Ion Book Saver hands-on

Treading on the brink of being another CES crapgadget, here’s Ion Audio‘s venture into the book-digitizing business. The Book Saver promises one-second color scans of both pages of a book and comes with OCR software and the ability to export to PDF or JPEG formats. Plans aren’t quite finalized and the unit before us wasn’t functional, but a 2GB SD card is expected to be included while there’s also a USB connection to hook up straight to your PC or Mac. The big problem here is that there’s no automation for page turning, and worse yet, you’ll need to lift the entire, somewhat fragile, scanner in order to flip to the next page. That’s done using that fetching Wiimote KIRF up at the front of the device and there are a pair of cameras embedded in the bottom of the overarching plastic casing. MSRP is set at $149 and availability is coming in June at places like Barnes & Noble, Staples, and Office Depot … you know, in case you actually want one.

Ion Book Saver hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 22:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JVC shows off prototype 50-inch 21:9 full HD 3D TV, says it could hit US later this year

When the Philips’ 56-inch 21:9 3D TV was released in Europe with no US ship date in sight, darkness fell over our home theater world. Then, Vizio announced its own 21:9 3D TV and we knew it was all going to be ok. They say when it rains it pours though, and now it’s looking like JVC will release its own 50-inch 21:9 full HD 3D TV in the US sometime in the third quarter of 2011. Other details are scarce, but JVC’s talkative CES booth attendant also mentioned the TV might be sold in varying sizes and might feature internet connectivity. The possibility of internet connectivity was also supported by a few screens teasing an integrated information bar, which appeared on the left-hand side of the screen without blocking HD content. Needless to say, we’ll be keeping a close eye on this TV as more news emerges, and in the meantime bide our time dreaming of the ultra-wide CinemaScope-style movies we could be viewing in late 2011. Oh and if you’re curious that’s JVC’s newly-announced TH-BC3 soundbar positioned right below it carrying a sweet paper iPhone 4.

JVC shows off prototype 50-inch 21:9 full HD 3D TV, says it could hit US later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 22:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SQ Blaster Pro is a WiFi, Z-Wave, and IR blaster home automation powerhouse

We’ve seen plenty of IR blasters around the Engadget trailer but few, if any, include WiFi and Z-Wave home automation radios. But that’s exactly what the boys over at Square Connect have planned as a followup to their existing SQ Blaster product. A trick that lets you control your home theater equipment, window coverings, lights, and HVAC systems from the company’s own SQ Remote iPhone app. At least that’s the plan when it ships sometime around Q2, possibly touting WiFi Direct capability and Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). The device above is a non-working prototype that just happens to look nice with the Apple TV. It features cutouts for a USB port (power and setup), IR extenders, built-in blasters, and removable antenna. Working models are already in field testing with shipments expected to land in the homes of consumers sometime in Q2.

SQ Blaster Pro is a WiFi, Z-Wave, and IR blaster home automation powerhouse originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG 3D smartphone display eyes-on (video)

You can’t have all this 3D stuff happening on the home entertainment front without it trickling down to smartphones, right? Sharp’s already planning to bring its autostereoscopic wares to US shores at some point during 2011 and today LG’s busy showing off a prototype of its own, right here at CES. It’s a 4.3-inch panel, pumping out glasses-free 3D (using the parallax barrier method) and is presently embedded in an enormous demo box, but the ultimate goal is to have it in media-centric handsets. To be honest, yes, there’s some glasses-free 3D effect going on, but for the most part we just noticed the two frames splitting and didn’t find the video before us enhanced in any major way. The best parts might even have been the ones that didn’t have any 3D-ification applied to them — the display on show is certainly a lucid and bright one. Skip past the break to see what we’re talking about.

Continue reading LG 3D smartphone display eyes-on (video)

LG 3D smartphone display eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ocosmos O-Bar Smart TV / Google TV controller hands-on at CES 2011

Ocosmos wasn’t only showing off a new duo of Windows 7 handheld gaming machine here at CES, but also a newfangled remote in its O-Bar line. This guy is an ultraslim Bluetooth remote, designed to control set-top boxes, game consoles and connected HDTVs. Details were a little unclear (to say the least) on how exactly it would all work, but apparently the company’s supremely interested in licensing out the technology underneath of it for use in other remotes. We get the impression that El Goog doesn’t know about that Google TV logo there on the bottom, and folks at the booth noted that this was just a mockup for demonstration purposes. The goal here would be to place a virtual keyboard on the capacitive display, then enabling couch dwellers to bang out searches for shows on their set. For reasons unknown, there are also a pair of shoulder buttons at the top, possibly for embedded games. This one’s expected to ship later in the year for an undisclosed amount, presumably sans the Google branding.

Ocosmos O-Bar Smart TV / Google TV controller hands-on at CES 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ocosmos showcases next-gen OCS1 Windows 7 handhelds at CES 2011 (video)

So, here’s an interesting tale. That render that Ocosmos teased us with at the front-end of this week? The version with the slide-out QWERTY keyboard has been nixed, so those hoping and praying for a release date on that one can keep right on dreaming. But the other units are mighty real, and the company swears up and down it’s on track to ship ’em both, despite not having a functioning unit here at CES. The OCS1U will be based on Intel’s Oak Trail platform (1.5GHz), and if all goes well, it’ll ship in the first half of this year. The device be based around Windows 7, and will be “priced competitively” compared to the iPad — so, in other words, around $500 or so.

Other specifications will include 802.11b/g/n WiFi, optional 3G, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, a 5-inch capacitive touch panel (1024 x 600), a 32GB / 64GB SSD, microSD card slot, HDMI / USB ports, an inbuilt accelerometer and front (1.3 megapixel) / rear (3 megapixel) cameras. Furthermore, both of the joystick pads — which flank the screen on the left and right — will be totally customizable, so they can do one thing while in a game and another while handling Office duties. The OCS1E is a screen-only affair, with the same internal configuration. In order to add joysticks to this one, you’ll need either a magnetic dock or a folio case, both of which have Bluetooth joystick pads embedded. This guy’s expected to ship at the end of this year or in early 2012, but it’s obviously too early to estimate pricing. Take a closer look in the gallery below and the video just past the break.

Continue reading Ocosmos showcases next-gen OCS1 Windows 7 handhelds at CES 2011 (video)

Ocosmos showcases next-gen OCS1 Windows 7 handhelds at CES 2011 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 11:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What Using Casio’s Wireless Watch of the Future Is Like [Watches]

Well, it’s definitely a prototype. But after a proper groping, we’re more excited than ever about Casio’s new Bluetooth watch of the future. More »

Razer Switchblade preview: 3G, Intel Oak Trail, almost definitely going on sale

Whoa, Nelly! We just made a beeline to Razer’s booth here on the CES show floor, and were presented with a fairly technical talk surrounding the newly launched Switchblade. While officially deemed a concept, we came away with a serious impression that Razer’s not investing loads of time and money on this just for kicks. In other words, we’d cautiously expect to see this thing on sale at some point next year — but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. We spent a good half-hour toying with this Windows 7-based mini netbook, and we came away seriously impressed by what’s happening here. Head on past the break for more of our impressions.

Continue reading Razer Switchblade preview: 3G, Intel Oak Trail, almost definitely going on sale

Razer Switchblade preview: 3G, Intel Oak Trail, almost definitely going on sale originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer Switchblade: 7-inch pocket gaming concept blows our minds six ways from Sunday

The most beautiful thing to come out of CES 2011? The show ain’t over yet, but we’re unafraid to say that Razer‘s Switchblade is the device to beat. Before you go getting your hopes up, we have to (regretfully) point out that this here gaming handheld is but a concept, but considering that Toshiba’s Libretto W105 made it to store shelves (if but for a moment), we’re hoping and praying that the Switchblade can also find its way to a production line. Little is known about the device itself, but Razer has imagined it using a pair of 7-inch multitouch displays as well as a layer of tactile, dynamic keys on the lower screen. Much like the Optimus Maximus of yesteryear, this keyboard would enable gamers to place different screens underneath depending on title, and even within a game, you could imagine the keys shifting to account for different POVs, levels, scenarios, etc. Internally, the concept is based around an Intel Atom processor, but there’s no word on what kind of GPU would work alongside of it. Sadly, Razer’s unwilling to talk pie-in-the-sky details when it comes to price and release, but if four million comments show up below begging and pleading for the company to take this commercial…

Update: Just to be clear, the keyboard on the bottom is a full-on LCD , but covered with physical keys. In contrast, the W105 had a flat touchpanel on the bottom.

Continue reading Razer Switchblade: 7-inch pocket gaming concept blows our minds six ways from Sunday

Razer Switchblade: 7-inch pocket gaming concept blows our minds six ways from Sunday originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s prototype glasses-free 3D portable Blu-ray player hands-on

There’s not much to say here, since Sony wasn’t letting us do much with its prototype glasses-free 3D portable Blu-ray player except adjust the screen angle, but we will say that the 10.1-inch 1366 x 768 parallax 3D display looked quite nice and the 3D effect was solid once we got situated. Of course, it’s just a prototype, so there’s no word on price, availability, or even whether this thing will ever get made, but hey — there it is. One more pic after the break.

Continue reading Sony’s prototype glasses-free 3D portable Blu-ray player hands-on

Sony’s prototype glasses-free 3D portable Blu-ray player hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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