2012

Nokia's CES signage remains coy, for now

At this point, Nokia has little to hide.

Rumors, leaks, and an anonymous confirmation from two New York Times sources has let the Nokia Lumia 900 "Ace" come rushing out of the bag.

In truth, the proverbial bag was pretty wide open anyway. The global release of the Lumia 800 at Nokia World last fall set the expectation of a CES announcement for the U.S. version; its absence at this show would result in shock and disappointment.… Read more

Samsung Galaxy Note megaphone a sure thing for CES 2012

Big phone or small tablet? That's the question we originally asked of the Samsung Galaxy Note when we first beheld it last September. If you believe the signage festooning the entrance to the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, Samsung isn't quite sure, either.

Even if a strip missing from the giant poster leaves a gap in the name of the Android device, it's clear from the branding of the phone/tablet hybrid, and from the hardware design itself, that this is none other than the fabled device introduced in Europe earlier this year. Rumor … Read more

Bluetooth 4.0-powered Cobra Tag G5 needs only biannual recharges

LAS VEGAS--As helpful as the original Cobra Tag was for a forgetful guy like me, it had one fatal flaw: I kept forgetting to recharge the darn thing!

The new Cobra Tag G5, set to be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, now only needs charging twice per year. Cobra is claiming more than six months of monitoring between recharges of the new Tag G5 thanks to its implementation of Bluetooth 4.0 technology. However, in order to achieve this astronomic battery life, the phone the Tag G5 is paired with will also need to support Bluetooth … Read more

Motorola prepping wireless power tech for smartphones?

Motorola just released a brief video that cryptically hints at a new wireless power solution the company may announce at CES 2012. … Read more

$100 OLPC tablet to debut at CES

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) will show a $100 tablet at CES, a follow-on to the organization's low-cost laptop, which has been distributed to over 2 million children globally.

OLPC's mission is to provide one connected laptop or tablet to children who have little or no access to education because of insufficient resources.

"We're proud to introduce the XO 3.0 tablet, showcasing the design, durability and performance features that make it a natural successor for our current laptops, which have been distributed to more than 2.4 million children in 42 countries and in 25 languages," said Edward McNierney, chief technology officer of One Laptop per Child, in a statement. … Read more

Vizio jumps into the laptop and desktop game

A slate of laptops and desktops from TV-maker Vizio was reportedly expected at CES 2012, and now it looks like that news has dropped a little early.

Update: We've updated the gallery below with new official product shots from Vizio. The company also says the current names of the systems are as follows: 24-inch All-in-One PC, 27-inch All-in-One PC, 14-inch Thin + Light Notebook, 15.6-inch Thin + Light Notebook, 15.6-inch Notebook.

The Verge notes a Financial Times story detailing the basics of this new PC lineup. According to FT.com:

[Vizio] will be showing two Windows 7 all-in-one PCs and three notebooks at CES, notable for sleek, aluminium-styled designs that pay due homage to Apple's MacBook and iMac products.

Few details on the actual systems or specs are available, but the systems are said to be targeting a May 2012 release in North America. The systems mentioned include 24-inch and 27-inch all-in-one PCs, each with a subwoofer in its audio system, a media remote, and a matching wireless keyboard and mouse.

Three laptops are planned. Two are ultrabook-style thin systems, with 14- and 15.6-inch screens. The third is a 15.6-inch performance system. … Read more

Recycled bottles from CES to end up in Ford Focus Electric

When electric Ford Focuses start rolling off the assembly line in March, some vehicles will incorporate recycled plastic bottles tossed away at CES.

The new EV will use Repreve seating material made by Unifi. Repreve is a blend of post-industrial fiber waste and post-consumer waste such as the plastic water bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Each electric Focus will have the equivalent of 22 plastic bottles in its interior, and the strategy is expected to divert 2 million post-consumer plastic bottles from landfills.

If you're attending either the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas or the 2012 … Read more

LG Spectrum expected to arrive January 19

The full set of hardware details for the Android-powered LG Spectrum has surfaced ahead of a rumored January 19 launch.

Droid Life has obtained leaked information that shows that Verizon could be readying CES announcements for the successor to the LG Revolution.

Hardware for the Spectrum indicates that it will be the carrier's strongest Android phone to date with a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1GB RAM, and a 4.5-inch HD display. Rounding things out are an 8-megapixel camera, 4GB internal storage, a preinstalled 16GB microSD, and 4G LTE connectivity.

In terms of software, the LG Spectrum will run … Read more

Magellan switches it up with GPS watches

Magellan isn't afraid to get a little sweaty, as the GPS manufacturer is getting into the fitness tech game.

Known for its in-car navigation systems, today Magellan introduced its first pair of GPS fitness watches for runners, cyclers, swimmers, and triathletes. The Switch and Switch Up will be on display at CES 2012, with expected availability for spring 2012.

The Switch is designed primarily for runners, according to Magellan, and offers a 1.26-inch monochrome display, a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, and embedded ANT+ technology, so you can connect to third-party heart-rate monitors, foot pods, bike sensors, and so forth. … Read more