[CES 2009] The new version of the Logitech Harmony 1000 universal remote wins CES Best of Innovation Award in Home Entertainement, the second time for the Harmony line. One knows how hard the universal remote business is and I am not sure if this is the ultimate solution yet. But Logitech always comes up with very good looking designs and from the photo I can tell that this version looks even sexier than the previous one. It offers a 3.5 inch customizable touch screen that allows users to configure the commands they want, where they want them. The RF wireless technology allows to control the device even when they are out of sight and more than 225,000 devices from 5,000 brands are supported.

Many of us don't even pay attention anymore, but having 64GB in a USB key is actually really cool. Sandisk is taking advantage of this extra capacity to build a new product with the Sandisk Ultra Backup. The idea is that a dumb 64GB drive is much less useful than one with embedded software that can sweep a specific location in your computer and backup + encrypt all the files using an AES* encryption. The Ultra Backup comes in 8GB ($40) to 64GB ($200) capacity.

*AES is an algorithm widely used in the computing, the banking industry and even the military. Even with tremendous computing power, it should take decades or much more to decrypt something.

Previously Google offered only a Windows version of Picasa and placated Mac users with a standalone Picasa Web Albums uploader and an iPhoto plugin. Picasa and Mac lovers can now rejoice as the Mac release finally provides the advanced sharing and sync features of Picasa to the Mac OS X users and the release provides the “it-slices-and-dices” feature list that covers everything from color balance to collages.

Picasa for the Mac works like other platforms by offering some great trademark features including non-destructive editing, and the ability to keep track of photos anywhere on your hard drive, then automatically account for new images as you add them. This last feature finally tackles an issue I have had with iPhoto!

To run Picasa, you’ll need an Intel-based Mac running Mac OS X 10.4 and above.

Posted in Cameras and Photo, Software

These cardioid microphones, announced Tuesday at Macworld and to be displayed later this week at CES, can be directed to pick up sound from a specific source to provide some natural sound isolation -- unlike omnidirectional mics, which pick up sound from all directions. And these are condensor mics, meaning that they require power from the computer but are more sensitive than mics that don't (that's why you'll find condenser mics in recording studios worldwide).

Shure says these mics have zero latency. A helpful monitor mix control lets you hear what's being recorded in real time as it sounds in the rest of the mix, in order to make mic placement, mixing level, EQ, and other adjustments. Meanwhile, an integrated preamp controls the volume of the signal in your monitor headphones.

Shure's new line of USB microphones contains two models. The Shure PG27USB ($200 retail, pictured) "features a flat, neutral frequency response for natural reproduction of a wide variety of instrument and vocal sound sources." If you're looking for a USB replacement for the trusty, versatile Shure SM57, this sounds like it. Choose this one if you want to use it to record anything and have it sound decent.

The other model in the line, the PG42USB ($250 retail), "was specifically engineered to reproduce the subtle nuances of lead vocals" with a larger diaphragm (for increased sensitivity), a low-cut filter for cutting out hums and other noise, and an external shock-mount.

If you already have one or more favorite microphones, Shure has you covered with the X2u XLR-to-USB Adapter ($130 retail), which adds the same features included with the above two models to any mic with a standard XLR connection. The X2u includes phantom power for use with condenser mics.

See Also:

• Wired.com Covers CES 2009
• Sony Announces Stereo 'Walkman' Mic with Features of Yesteryear
• A USB Microphone with Studio-Quality Specs
• Video: Got Two Cassette Decks and No Microphone

Guess what else Steve Wozniak is doing besides playing Segway polo?

He's endorsing a new product called the ModBook Pro. As its name implies, the device is a MacBook Pro modified into a tablet.

At Macworld Expo, Wozniak said he joined the advisory board to weigh in on development of the device. He said he felt compelled to join the mod company Axiotron because the CEO was so "friendly with approaching" him.

Wired.com asked Wozniak if there were any other Apple products he would modify.

"I have a million ideas for Apple products I would change, but I can't tell you what specifically, because you guys will make it sound like I'm putting Apple down," Wozniak said. "But it's clear touchscreens are going to be big in Apple's future. That's my prediction at least."

Of course, he was referring to when media outlets quoted him saying the ipod would one day "die out."

Wozniak's recommendation for Axiotron was to incorporate the use of an interface called QuickScript for the device's handwriting recognition. The software also enables a user to use the stylus to write the name of an app that he or she wishes to launch. (For example, with the launch mode selected, writing "Chess" launches the Chess app.)

Axiotron is selling the ModBook Pro for $5,000. Owners of a 15-inch unibody MacBook Pro can send their notebook to Axiotron to be modified for $3,050. (There's a special Macworld discount -- $2,600 for the mod service until Jan. 12). Macworld has a hands-on video demonstrating the ModBook Pro.

Axiotron is a familiar company at Macworld Expo. At past Macworld events, the company showed off its ModBook (right) -- a MacBook modified into a tablet.

To modify the MacBook Pro into a tablet, Axiotron installed a touch screen and slightly moved around the computer's guts to fit in a custom enclosure. Andreas Haas, Axiotron's CEO, said the new MacBook Pros' unibody makes the mod process very easy.

Easy, huh? Does that mean Apple's new unibody enclosures will open doors to all sorts of crazy MacBook mods in the near future?

We're going to guess no: The darn things are too expensive for the average geek to mess around with, unlike netbooks.

Photos: James Merithew/Wired.com

With gaming keyboards, everyone likes something different.  Personally, I hate the ones that have the gaming portion detached from the rest of the keyboard.  However, I’m a bit biased, because I actually found the keyboard that works best for me.  Well Logitech is releasing a new gaming keyboard within their G-series product line.  It will be at this year’s CES, which also means it’s not going to be sold just yet.

The G19 keyboard of course offers keys that light up (which seems to be a requirement among gaming keyboards).  It also has a tiltable 320 x 240 pixel color GamePanel LCD.  It can display details about the game you’re playing, and will work with over 60 different games (which includes World of Warcraft).  It can also display pictures, videos, void data and computer details.  The keyboard itself has 12 different programmable keys with three different macros per key.  It also has two USB ports built into it.  They will also be releasing the G35 Surround Sound Headset and the G9x Laser Mouse.  The keyboard will be out in March and will be sold for $200.

Source: Kotaku

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HP has expanded it’s Planet Partners Recycling program and added a buyback element to it. The new program dubbed the HP Consumer Buyback and Planet Partners Recycling Program, will buy back any brand of PC, monitor, printer, digital camera, or which still has some sort of value, rather than simply recycle the e-waste it receives. And it’s a lot. To date, HP has recycled close to one billion pounds of computer waste and hopes that the new buy back program will double that figure by 2010. Here’s how it works.

Users looking to cash in on their old gadgets go to the HP Quote site and choose the specs of the gadgets they want to unload from the pull down menus. Tell HP the quantity and it’s condition and receive a free quote. If specs are not available for your particular item, merely choose the “other” option and a form will popup asking for details on processor, hard drive, video card, RAM, etc. Then the quote will be generated based on those figures. It is important to note, however, that HP does not give the user the choice of cashing in and shipping it for a song. Users must accept either standard or premium shipping and that cost is deducted from the total offer HP is making for your tech.

When I tested it on an old IBM Celeron laptop, it quoted me $112 for it minus $23 shipping – making my final cash quote at almost $90. There’s also a trade in element which will allow users to apply the quote towards an HP product, or, if your technology has no value and is an HP product, they will still recycle it for you or point you to a worthy charity to donate it.

HP may not offer top dollar or give you what you think you can get on eBay, but given the state of the economy, every little bit helps. And it’s a pretty good option for selling stuff lying around and fighting eWaste at the same time.

Hat Tip – C’Net

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Games have definitely changed over time.  Even from just ten years back, most would never imagine something like the MindFlex game by Mattel.  The game looks more like something you would see in a lab to test for some psychic ability.  In reality though, it’s just a toy for kids ages eight and up.  Although I give it a week after this comes out that some kid gets his pet rat stuck in the obstacle course.  That or their brother will, because everyone knows it’s always the brothers that are the evil ones, never sisters.

In order to get the ball through the obstacle course, you need to be wearing the headset which is full of sensors.  The headset then measures your brainwave activity.  Using mental concentration, the gamer guides the ball through the obstacle course which is customizable.  Of course I’m sure a great deal of people will be suspicious as to how well a product like this would work and understandably so.  I imagine it’s just one of those things you’d have to give it a try to find out.  It will be available this fall for $79.99.  At that price, hopefully it won’t end up being one of those games your kids play twice then bury at the bottom of their closet.

Source: Ubergizmo

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[CES 2009] These are times where pockets are slim, and the same applies to Blu-ray players as Samsung will be parading its latest Blu-ray player at CES 2009 that measures a mere 39mm thin. Apart from its apparently lack of thickness, very little else is known about this player, including the two most important ones most people look for - the price and the release date. It will come in a fingerprint-attracting piano black finish though, and being that slim, it ought to fit in nicely with your new flat screen TV with ease.

Here is a little more information on this particular computer.

• RCA Spectra 70 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The RCA Spectra 70 was a line of electronic data processing (EDP) equipment manufactured by the Radio Corporation of America’s computer division beginning in April 1965. The Spectra 70 line included several CPU models, various configurations of core memory, mass-storage devices, terminal equipment, and a variety of specialized interface equipment.

The system architecture and instruction-set were largely compatible with the non-privileged instruction-set of the IBM System/360. While this degree of compatibility made some interchange of programs and data possible, differences in the operating system software precluded transparent movement of programs between the two systems.

Michael found these PDFs of the RCA Spectra70 Brochures:

• RCA Spectra70 Brochure - 1965
• RCA Spectra70 Brochure - 1968

If you notice, the 1965 brochure doesn’t mention a Salt Lake City office, but the 1968 brochure does. Considering that RCA stopped selling the Spectra70 in 1970, I suspect these photos are from the opening of the Salt Lake City office. There were few companies in Utah who would be so proud of their computer back then: Evans and Sutherland or maybe the U of U.

More photos after the break: