FROM APPLETELL - Geotagging became an official part of iPhoto ‘09 as Apple announced its new “Places” feature. Users will either be able to tag the location of the photo manually, or, if using a camera that has GPS capabilities (like, say, an iPhone), the data will be added automatically. From there, iPhoto… MORE »

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Section: Video, Accessories, HDTV, Computers, Networking, Trade Shows, CES

With the evolution of Hi-Def, the tech world has been searching for an answer to the HDMI cable issue.  Granted you can hook your computer directly to your HDTV in many cases, but a lot of people have their television in one room and their computer in another.  Well Calvium networks and Celeno communications are collaborating to bring you a whole-home full wireless HD solution.

Meeting a demand like standards based Wi-Fi solutions for HD is no small order.  But with Celeno’s OptimizAIR Wi-Fi HD home networking technology combined with Cavium’s “Super Low Latency” H.264 codec technology, the two have come together to meet capacity demands as well as reach and latency requirements for a whole-home, full wireless HD streaming video experience.

If you couple this with the push for digital television in the U.S. users will now be able to nearly do away with traditional cable, using their computer as their total media source for television, music, movies, and more.  And you can have it all in HD.

According to Lars Herlitz, GM Multimedia group Cavium Networks, “Leveraging standards based, Wi-Fi technology is key for interoperability in multi-device and multi-room use cases.  Celeno OptimizAIR Wi-Fi technology offers extra range while maintaining reliable bandwidth and special interference immunity. This will enable CE manufacturers to provide wireless display connectivity with best-of-breed video quality and practically zero latency at an extremely attractive price points.”

This all adds up to Multi-room DVR and Connected TV services, televisions with 802.11n Wi-Fi technology, and digital home networks that accommodate future plug & play of any Wi-Fi enabled TV screen.

The future of television, Hi-Def, and computers is changing and we all get to enjoy the great benefits of beautiful, streaming video in a Wi-Fi world.  No more having to figure out how to hide all those cables, just clean, pure HD. 

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Section: Imaging, Camcorders, Trade Shows, CES

So aside from the new Z980 camera which Kodak is set to announced during the CES 2009, it is also launching the pocketable Zx1 HD video recorder. 

If you would recall, this is Kodak’s second entry into the pocketable camcorder market,  the first one being the Zi6 which we already reviewed.  This time around, Kodak has reduced the size of the camcorder’s LCD screen to 2.0-inch compared to the Zi6’s slight bigger 2.4-inch screen and also added a water-resistant feature to make the camcorder in tune with the moniker - “go anywhere” pocketable device.

The Kodak Zx1 camcorder will let you capture 720P HD video at 60 or 30 fps and comes with a built-in software that makes it easy to edit and share videos to your friends and family via popular video uploading site YouTube or even other social networking sites that accept video content for sharing.  Kodak has also made the Zx1 weather-resistant that can withstand splashes, dirt and other environmental extremities. 

In addition, the Zx1 is also capable of capturing high-quality video regardless of whether you are in a bright or low light environment.  To allow you to watch your video on your HDTV, Kodak threw in a nice HDMI cable for easy HDTV playback.  And to enhance your video recording the Zx1 also comes with a microphone capable of capturing crisp and clear audio.  Finally, you may also opt to get an optional remote control to operate the Zx1 camcorder when mounted on a tripod.

The Kodak Zx1 is slated for a Spring 2009 release and will retail for a reasonable price of $149.95 in black, red, pink, blue and yellow colors.

Read [Business Wire]

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Section: Trade Shows, CeBIT

Not only do you get to wander amidst displays of all of the latest in gadgety goodness at CES 2009, you also get to hob-nob with some very big names.  We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.  (Heads up for those that somehow did miss the itinerary…it’s all going down in Las Vegas.)

They’ve got it all.  Musicians, sports icons, TV stars…the 2009 International CES will be THE place to be January 8-11th.  As most people know, CES is the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, and they are making it very worth the while of those in attendance.
It all starts a day before the show floor officially opens, on Wednesday, January 7th, with Soulja Boy Tell’Em at the Billboard Digital Music Live! Conference Session in the LVCC.  Soulja Boy has managed to use the Internet to rise to a wicked fast stardom.  Implementing YouTube, ranking in ringtone sales, he definitely has his finger in the online and musical pie.  He’ll be talking about his strategies for it all along with his manager and producer at 10:55 a.m.  Later the same day, Akron and Rio Caraeff will together talk about how “art meets commerce in the digital age”.

Then we have TV coverage of course.  NBC Universal is back as the Official Broadcaster Partner of CES, and will be broadcasting live right from the show floor.  They’ll have The Today Show, the NBC Evening News, Access Hollywood, and CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo on hand for coverage. 

Of course, not to be pushed out of the fun, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is also showing their face in quite a unique way.  To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the gameshow Jeopardy!, SPT is going to be filming daily episodes of Celebrity Jeopardy! on a specially built set right there on the CES show floor.  You’ll also see Dr. Oz, who is a frequent flyer on the Oprah Winrey Show, on hand in the SPT booth to promote his brand spanking new syndicated talk show.  I’m thinking Vegas should give him something to talk about indeed.

The show floor officially opens on January 8th, and thats when the schmoozing with the stars really gets going.  SHARP (the official HDTV of Major League Baseball) is going to have a just about enough MLB all-stars in their booth to form a team.  Just to name a few, they will have Prince Fielder of the Brewers, David Ortiz with the Red Sox, Mets pitcher John Maine, and 2006 Rookie of the Year and 2008 All Star and Silver Slugger Hanley Ramirez.

Baseball not your thing?  More into the Indy Car scene?  You’re still in luck.  For you, Sarah Fisher, Indy 500 driver zooms into the SimCraft Booth on Thursday. Then later they have Akon popping in to promote SanDisk, and still later that evening, Will.I.am with the Black Eyed Peas will be at the Awards Ceremony at the Venetian in the Bellini Ballroom at 7:00.

If you are on the invitation only list, there is a Monster Cable concert at the Paris Hotel, where Diana Ross headlines at 9:00 p.m. Friday night.

There is also a trio of NBA Hall of Famers bringing their game to the Haier America booth.  Clyde “The Glyde” Drexler, “The Chief” Robert Parish, and “Big Red Head” Bill Walton will be on the floor all three days at the LVCC.

And for the gamers out there, be sure to check out the Creative Labs booth in the LVCC South Hall each day.  Fatal1ty Wendell will be there taking on gamers every day of CES.  Fatal1ty become known to gamers in a big way due to his two seasons as commentator on DirecTV’s Championship Gaming Series.

So, there definitely seems to be something for everyone at the 2009 International CES.  Go crazy and live it up!  Because after all….what happens in Vegas…well, you know.

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Section: Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile

HTC doesn’t want to be left behind in the CES 2009 frenzy and so the company is announcing the new HTC S743 slider phone featuring a 12-key keypad and a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard.  Upon seeing the S743, loyal fans and users of HTC mobile phones would immediately notice the S743’s striking resemblance to the previously released Touch Diamond phone.  Well, that’s because both phones sport what HTC calls as a “faceted design.“ 

Design-wise, the HTC S743 features a slim and small form factor enough to fit into the palm of the hand.  Surprisingly, despite its slim form factor, HTC was able to fit in a 2.4-inch QVGA display into the phone which may be good enough for a pleasurable e-mail reading and Internet browsing experience.

And since users are most likely to use this device for mobile computing, HTC was kind enough to make the S743 support high-speed HSDPA networks at 850/1900 MHz.  The HTC S743 runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 which give users quick access not only to their Microsoft Exchange account, but to POP3 and IMAP4 email accounts as well.  Additionally, the HTC S743 also features SMS, MMS, and Instant Messaging functionality.

Although final release date for the S743 phone is not yet available, HTC said that this smartphone will be made available through various mobile carriers and will not be exclusive to one carrier only.  This is to give HTC fans a choice of which network they would want to run on the HTC S743.

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