The Learning Series consists of two designs: Intel-powered clamshell classmate PC and Intel-powered convertible classmate PC. Clamshell classmate PCs have a sturdy, durable drop-proof construction design. They are easy to maneuver since they are lightweight and have a carrying handle. Clamshell classmate PCs also have traditional laptop form factor and include water-resistant keyboards.

The convertible classmate PC includes all that the clamshell has to offer but has a convertible tablet with touchscreen as well. The screen actually swivels 180 degrees. The convertible classmate PC runs on Intel’s Atom processor just as the clamshell does. Another special feature of the convertible classmate PC is called “palm rejection” because users can rest their hand on the touchscreen while the PC is in tablet mode and the screen will not acknowledge the palm’s pressure. Both classmate PCs are equipped with built-in cameras.

As part of its Learning Series, Intel revealed its initiative of working with vendors worldwide to make sure there are educational software, hardware, and services in various countries. Intel plans to work with local developers to create customized versions of the Classmate PC for specific local needs.

Lila Ibrahim, General Manager of Intel’s emerging-markets platform group said this about the effort:

“Our involvement with software and hardware developers ensures that the Intel Learning Series is culturally relevant, sustainable and supports local economies. Through the Intel Learning Series, we are gathering the great minds and experiences of the IT industry to create a fun and rewarding environment for the students to learn and develop the skills they need in the 21st century.”

Both Classmate PCs are available now. For more information on the product, visit www.classmatepc.com.

SlingCatcher allows users to project video onto a TV through its on-screen interface. Sling Media’s Slingbox takes content and streams it onto your PC, Mac, or mobile device. Slingbox owners can use a SlingCatcher to access live TV and DVR content from another TV in the house or from the road.

SlingCatcher also lets users take Internet video from their PC or personal media from their USB hard drive and put it onto the TV screen. SlingCatcher does not lock users into a content deal with specific providers as does Apple TV and Netflix Player.

On the front of the SlingCatcher are two LED indicators for power and network connectivity. The back of the device has many input connections including HDMI, component, composite, and S-video. Also along the back are two USB sockets and an Ethernet port.

Improvements to the SlingCatcher include HD streaming from Slingbox PRO-HD and network file streaming. Resolution has been bumped up to 720p and 1,080i. SlingCatcher is currently available and is priced at $299.

The technology is essentially a wireless driver and software update to Intel’s Centrino 2 processor-based laptops. It allows the computer’s built-in wireless networking chip produce a separate WiFi Personal Area Network (PAN). The software can connect to up to eight different WiFi devices without the need of an access point because the laptop becomes the access point.

The dual interface works with Intel’s 5100 WiFi Link and Intel’s 5300 WiFi Link adapters as well as existing antennas to manage both Wireless Local Area Network (LAN) and WiFi PAN simultaneously.

My WiFi permits a connection to photo frames, cameras, and printers. Intel has also tested the software with the Zune and iPhone. The technology is very accommodating since users can carry on two (or eight) tasks at once. My WiFi is expected to be available for download by the second quarter of this year.

The first factor is picture quality. The picture is crystal clear and contains vibrant colors. The contrast ratio is said to attain “un-reachable mega-contrast ratios.” The second component is the networking capabilities the series is equipped with. Samsung and Yahoo have partnered and produced a widget-based technology called “Internet@TV – Content Service” to bring Web content to TVs. Consumers can access Yahoo, Flickr, eBay, and many more properties.

The third component is the design aspect. Samsung designed the series to be extremely thin (around 1-inch) and very lightweight. Also as part of the design, the TVs include a wall-mount solution that makes mounting a TV as easy as hanging a picture.

Also previewed in this video are the LCD Series, Plasma Series, and the Wall-Mountable Blu-ray Player. Like the LED Series, both the LCD Series and the Plasma Series include 240Hz technology to eliminate motion blur, the Internet capabilities with Yahoo, and conservation of 40 percent more energy than traditional LCD TVs.

To go along with all these TVs, Samsung also announced the world’s first Wall-Mountable Blu-ray Player. The device has 1GB of onboard memory, built-in Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, and 802.11n WiFi. The 1.5-inch model also has a slot-loading disc drive on the side and streams Netflix and Pandora.

Samsung took home 46 CES Innovations Awards for its 2009 offerings. The new Samsung products will be available during the first half of this year and prices have not yet been announced.

The device connects to a PC by plugging into a wireless USB key thus giving users computer navigation capabilities in a 3-D space. As a gaming device, it can be used like a classic Wii remote or similar to a gun complete with a trigger underneath for games in which you shoot things.

The device offers four modes of play in a single controller. Also, the gadget can be held on either end and the controls operate just as they would for games such as Mario Cart. Equipped with a Software Developer Kit (SDK), the CyWee Z allows users to configure their personal PC or online games to their liking. The remote cannot however, be used with a Wii or any console games.

The company is striving to make the digital experience more real and interactive. The controller comes with three PC games including Virtual Tennis 3 from SEGA, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 by EA Sports, and Crashday by Atari. The product is currently retailing in the U.S. for $120.

The 2.5-inch hard drive includes 100 percent platform independent security meaning that the individual device controls all security and authentication measures without any interaction from a host computer. Also, the hard drive contains hardware based AES encryption, brute force attack detect, self-destruct response and a panic mode self-destruct function.

The device is both MAC and PC compatible and does not require drivers, software, pop-up password entry screens, or set-up to operate. It features USB interface and power and USB Malware Detection.

Incidentally, Data Locker was honored at CES 2009 for its products by winning a CES Innovations award. Prices for the drives range from $139 to $399, depending on the model. For more information on Data Locker’s encrypted portable hard drives, visit their site.

When the remote is connected to the Web, pre-programmed modules allow instant access to customized news, sports, weather, and stocks. Instead of buying a media PC, know that any PC with iTunes and Windows Media Player can be connected to your audio system and act as a high-powered music server. The remote has a 4.3-inch color and animated screen and stays lit from up to 99 seconds. The MX-6000 costs $1,500.

The next product is the PSX-2. The device works with the MX-6000 and acts as a personal server. Known as an iPod accessory, the device is compatible with any universal remote and allows users to navigate anywhere on an iPod with one press of a button.

Included in the package is a docking station that connects directly to the TV, which enables users to browse songs and videos without an iPod-friendly controller. The PSX-2 will be available in March and the expected price is $400.

The MX-980 is another URC product that is so flexible that it can control almost everything. It is recommended that it be paired with URC’s MSC-400 base in order to enable macro capability, relay controls, and video and voltage sensors. The open programming design of the remote allows users to easily modify and customize the device. Important features include a brightly colored LCD display, loudspeaker, and Narrow Band RF capability.

The MX-980 is programmable with any Windows-compatible laptop or desktop PC with a USB port. The device includes a rechargeable lithium ion battery that typically runs for 3 days on a charge. The cost of the MX-980 is $600.

A WebAround is a round, collapsible webcam backdrop designed to give webcam users more privacy. It is simple and portable and makes webcam users feel more comfortable about their surroundings. A WebAround is 40 inches in diameter and about 15 inches when folded. It is made of a lightweight nylon material.

Maybe you work from home and would prefer the rest of the office didn’t see your messy house. Or, maybe you have to use your webcam while you’re traveling and in a restaurant or something and need a backdrop to block out the environment. Another scenario could be that you simply want privacy and consistency with your background.

The WebAround is available in Grey, Emerald Green, and Ocean Blue. Each WebAround is $29.95 and can be ordered from their site.

Most lighting control systems require entire-home installation systems, which comes with high costs. URC’s new lighting products bring a low-cost but high-quality offer to the table. The line features RF dimmers, RF switchers, and RF lamp dimmers.

The products are designed for native control by wireless URC remotes meaning that no interface is needed for usage with URC remotes since they control the dimmers and switches directly through radio frequencies. One dimmer and one URC remote is all you need for your lighting system.

In this video from CES 2009, Hank Eisengrein explains how the product combines the convenience of Lutron and the reliability of Universal Remote Control to produce a must-have product.

The device includes LED indicator lights and comes in 28 designer colors and finishes. Universal Remote Control Lighting is available exclusively from URC and prices start at $159.

The lawn-mowing robot developed by RoboLabs, operates a 3-blade mulching system and weighs 17 pounds. SmartMow moves in a circular pattern within an installed perimeter wire to cut the grass.

It operates on a lithium ion battery that maintains its charge for 2-3 hours and covers about 3,230 square feet. When the robot runs out of charge, it automatically re-docks and recharges and then gets back to cutting the grass. For tough to reach areas, the robo-mower operates with a remote control.

SmartMow provides special safety and security measures. The robot can be turned on but has to be activated by swiping a smart card in order to run. This measure reassures child safety and theft security.

SmartMow is accepting pre-orders now with a special offer of 25 percent off the retail price of $750. For more information on the product, visit www.smartmow.com.

The processor offers high performance because it has a combination of Intel Turbo Boost technology and 8 processing threads with Intel Hyper-Threading technology, which maximizes performance to match a user’s workload. Each Core i7 processor includes an 8 MB level 3 cache and 3 channels of DDR3 1066 producing the best memory performance of any desktop platform. The processor also delivers maximum performance of 3-D games and images.

Intel Centrino 2 Processor technology allows users to multitask since it creates a new experience in mobile processing performance. It contains a minimum of 3MB smart cache and 1066 Front Side Bus, which increases performance up to 50 percent. The Centrino processor technology promises up to 90 percent faster HD video encoding.

The processor technology offers the longest battery life possible allowing users to watch an entire Blue-Ray movie on just 1 charge. Also, since the processor technology is integrated with WiFi, it offers 5 times the speed when connecting wirelessly to a Wireless N home network.

The Intel Atom Processor is Intel’s smallest chip said to be about the size of a grain of rice. It is built with the world’s smallest transistors and designed for mobile Internet devices. Although the Atom processor is small, it allows for full Internet capabilities.

The processor includes many threads to ensure high performance and more system responsiveness. According to Intel’s website, the Intel Atom processor allows users to “stay in touch on-the-go, connect to business and enjoy entertainment, remain connected affordably with a new series of MIDs, netbooks and nettops, and so much more.”

For more information on this new technology, visit www.intel.com.

The player incorporates the latest video, audio, and wireless technologies to allow users to play TV Blue-Ray quality up to 1080p digital video, high-resolution digital photos, MP3s, and recorded television shows from their PCs or storage on their network. Internet content such as YouTube, Flickr, Internet radio, RSS feeds and podcasts can also be streamed on the device. The player also instantly finds all the digital media files on the home network and organizes them into an easily accessible library.

The player works simultaneously with Windows, Mac, and Linux computers as well as Network Attached Storage (NAS) such as Netgear’s ReadyNAS storage solutions. According to Netgear’s press release, it supports the following file formats:

- Video formats: AVI, DivX, Xvid WMV, MOV, M4V, MP4, VOB, MPG, MP1, MP2, MP4, ISO, IFO, MKV, TS and M2TS

- Audio formats: MP1, MP2, MP3, WMA, WMA-Pro, AAC, FLAC, AIFF, WAV, LPCM, Dolby AC3 5.1 stereo downmix, Dolby AC3 5.1 passthrough, DTS 5.1 passthrough, Dolby TrueHD Downmix, Dolby+ Passthrough and DTS-HD Master Audio passthrough

- Subtitle formats: SUB, SRT, SMI, SAMI, TXT and DVD Subpicture

- Video codecs: MP1, MP2, MP4, Xvid, VC-1/WMV-9, H.264 and OpenDivX

The Digital Entertainer Elite includes a HDMI port, wireless-N, and 2 USB ports for an iPod, flash drive, or other USB device. Several Netgear Digital Entertainer Elite units can work together in one household. Using a “Follow Me” option, users can pause a video in one room and continue playing it in another room.

The Netgear Digital Entertainer Elite is expected to be available in February for a retail price of $399.

One new product that made a hit at CES was the GPH-120. This hybrid system includes a complete gaming and home theater Motion system that has 2 robotic motion actuators built into a gaming seat. It delivers real-time responsiveness to onscreen actions including pitch, roll, and virtual heave. The GPH-120 is designed to endure hour-after-hour of intense usage and the suggested retail price in the U.S. is $2,999.

Another product featured at CES was the GP Pro 200. This high-end gaming product allows users to “practically smell the acidity of burnt rubber; hear the piercing squeal of soft racing tires, and now feel the vibration and torque of a powerful engine in full throttle as it tears up the race course.” The GP Pro 200 has a racecar-style seat with a tilting support tray for a keyboard or steering wheel.

In this video, Guy Marcoux of D-Box Technologies explains how the Motion Code technology works. D-Box designers actually sit down and watch a movie and encode motion frame-by-frame. The motion is based upon visuals from the screen as well as motion vibrations based upon what is heard. The combined effort helps to produce a realistic motion experience.

D-Box announced a licensing agreement with several studios including Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios, Sony Pictures, Fox Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, and Blue Underground. This agreement permits the studios to embed D-Box Motion Code on selected Blue-ray disc releases. Also, the company expects the Motion Code to be in commercial movie theaters soon.

First on the list is the iPhone 3G Defender Case. This case has 3 layers of protection beginning with a thin, clear membrane to cover the Touch Screen and help prevent scratches. Next is a Polycarbonate shell that snaps together over the device. Thirdly, there is a Silicone skin that wraps over the entire device and provides the third layer of protection.

Second is the iPod Touch 2nd Generation Impact Case. This skin is a bit more rugged than other cases, but has open access to Touch Screen, headphone jack and sync/charge terminal. The inner corners of the case are designed to drive the impact away from your device.

The 2 newest cases to add to the Defender Series are the BlackBerry Storm and the BlackBerry Curve Push to Talk. The BlackBerry Storm Defender Case also has the 3 layers of protection that was mentioned for the iPhone 3G Defender Case. This case is slim and stylish.

The BlackBerry Curve 8350i (with Push to Talk) Defender Case enables complete usability of the trackball, keyboard, camera, and Push to Talk features. The sound is transmitted through the case by acoustical vents. All these mentioned cases still provide complete access to all ports and features while also supplying the ultimate protection.

To get pricing information and availability for these products, check out www.otterbox.com.

The first device is the Nokia 1006. Although the video refers to the device as 1009, the correct name is 1006. This phone is the latest CDMA device offered for AWS carriers. It is lightweight and has a unique curved design that fits comfortably into your hand. The Nokia 1006 would be an ideal first-time mobile device.

The Nokia 7510 is another new device that allows for special customization and functionality. The phone is equipped with “magical lights” that are sure to add some style. This device comes with multiple colored skins for users to easily interchange and has a 2.0 megapixel camera. T-Mobile will be the exclusive carrier of the Nokia 7510 for the U.S. launch.

Drawing a lot of attention from consumers, the Nokia E63 will soon be available to the U.S. market. This device is great for texting with its QWERTY keypad. Other special features of the product include 3G network speeds, Symbian S60 3rd Edition operating system, and WiFi capabilities.

As an accessory to these new mobile devices, Nokia introduces the Bluetooth Headset BH-904. The headset comes with 2 mics and is capable of separating a user’s voice from ambient sound. Another really neat feature on this accessory is that it can be connected to 2 devices simultaneously. Also, the headset offers 5 hours of talk time after only 15 minutes of charge.

The last product to discuss is the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music. This is a full touch device with 8 GB of storage. The device also includes a 3.2-inch widescreen display and 16:9 aspect ratio. The speakers are surround sound to offer a good quality sound.

For more information on the latest Nokia products, visit their site: www.nokia.com.