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Nicholas is interviewing Ron Jeremy in about 5 minutes

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 05:23 PM PST

Watch above. End of Transmission.

EDIT: We apologize for getting everyone’s hopes up. Seems that the interview failed to take place.

Review: WristOffice mobile device holder

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 04:25 PM PST

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"I will wear the WristOffice all day today." That was the promise I made to company president Walt Froloff. He was sitting behind Matt, Nicholas, and me in the Sahara's coffee shop this morning and overheard that we were powerful, handsome, world-famous technology bloggers.

He started showing off his $80 WristOffice system, which was born out of an inline skating wristguard. A simple apparatus that you wear around your wrist, holding your phone in place via good old fashioned Velcro – Velcro making all cell phone accessories "universal" by default.

I told him that if he sent me one, I'd take a look at it. "Well I'm not going to just give one to you unless you use it," said Froloff. "Well played," I thought, "This guy means business. He's hungry but not foolish. I like the cut of his jib."

Hence, my promise to wear the WristOffice today. What better place to test it out than CES? After going into my pocket for my phone countless times yesterday, perhaps having it permanently affixed to my wrist will save time and energy.

Against my better judgment, I removed the Mophie protective case from my phone and – something I never thought I'd do in a million years – slapped a Velcro sticker onto the back of my fastidiously clean iPhone.

So without further hoopla, herein lies a running timeline of my day with the WristOffice.

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8:30AM: Walt Froloff talks me into wearing the WristOffice all day. Velcro and stickers abound.

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8:35AM: I initially have the WristOffice facing upwards the same way Walt wears his. After a few minutes, though, I get nervous and turn the apparatus around military-style. Walt says people do that until they get used to it.

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9:03AM: I find that wearing this thing military-style makes typing a little awkward at first since my phone keeps bumping into the edge of my laptop. But the phone can be removed thanks to the magic of Velcro.

9:16AM: People walk up to talk to me and then point at my wrist until I explain to them what's going on.

9:20AM: My left hand is a little cold for some reason. Chalking it up to WristOffice-induced circulation problems, I loosen the straps a bit.

9:45AM: I find that urinating with my cell phone six inches from my wee wee makes me nervous. Instead, I hold my left hand high above my head to avoid splashback and use my right hand to finesse the stream.

10:32AM: It’s starting to feel more natural. I can still tell it’s there but I’m getting used to it for sure. And it’s nice not having to dig into my pockets to try to find my phone.

11:12AM: Phone is on vibrate. Incoming calls feel weird but I haven’t missed a call due to the phone being in my pocket or bag.

2:00PM: Starting to feel a little chafe-y on my skin by now. I can tell it’ll feel like taking off ice skates at the end of the day. I doubt people would just wear this non-stop and I have been wearing it for 5+ hours without adjusting it or taking it off.

2:46PM: Curiosity about this thing is reaching a fever pitch. Everyone keeps asking what the hell’s on my wrist. Itchiness is also reaching a fever pitch.

4:23PM: I’ve now mentioned the WristOffice on CrunchGear’s live stream, Techland.com, and TechVi.

4:32PM: Can’t take it any more. This thing isn’t meant to be worn non-stop for this long. Gave it away live on the CrunchGear CES stream. The lucky winner is MartynMJ.

4:35PM: Ahhhhh… it is indeed just like taking off ice skates.

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WristOffice [WristOffice.info]

Hey, look, it’s Nicholas on TWiT with Leo Laporte

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 04:20 PM PST

“CrunchGear. Always doing great stuff.”

And Jimin helped.

Hands-On: New OtterBox Palm Pre Case

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 04:09 PM PST

The Palm Pre doesn’t really have too many options for cases, but OtterBox is using that for their advantage. OtterBox today announced the new Tandem Series, which features a overmolded design, and also incorporates silicone into the polycarbonate shell for maximum protection.

The first shell attaches to the front of the smartphone and the second shell attaches to the back. Silicone then lines the outside edges of the case and combines with polycarbonate to offer more stability. Once the case is assembled, it allows for complete functionality, even when sliding the screen. I’ve noticed when playing around with the case that it makes it easier to slide the Pre up and down.

Check out the video below for a hands-on look at the Tandem Series.

InColor electronic book… you know, for kids

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 03:59 PM PST

Just in case you wanted to see another ebook reader, here’s a Chinese one for kids. It’s not available here and it’s more of a digital picture frame than anything else, but it was pretty.

Video: EyeController for iPhone/iPod touch + Marvell Plug Computer

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 03:00 PM PST

By request from one of our readers (see, we listen!) I zipped over to Marvell's booth to check out the Plug Computer and got the added bonus of a demonstration of EyeconTroller, an iPhone/iPod touch/computer app that manages media. You can drag and drop media files into various containers, which will play back those particular files on connected household devices – TVs, computers, consoles, etc. Pretty cool stuff.

Eyecon [Eyecontec.com]

Marvell Plug Computer [Marvell.com]

2 new audio/video units from Rain Computers

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 02:46 PM PST

livebook-front-rightAll this CES coverage makes you just want to hear about a different event, doesn’t it? Well, if the more music tech inclined among you are looking forward to the NAMM trade show in one week’s time, keep an eye out for the Rain Computers booth. They will be showing off their new LiveBook Studio laptop and ION Studio rackmount unit, both geared for audio and video editing, and both with plenty of power under the hood.

Not a whole lot separates the LiveBook Studio from any other high end notebook. Different configurations are available, but all include some form of quad-core Intel i7 processor, nVidia GTS 250M video card, and DDR3 RAM. They run anywhere between $1799 and $2099.

ionThe rackmounted ION Studio however, is a force to be reckoned with. The chassis takes up 4 standard audio rack spaces (each being 19″ across). Inside you’ll find the same Intel i7 processor, up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM, whatever video card ocnfiguration you could possibly wish, and in a bit of an odd move, a Windows OS. Albeit, a Windows OS optimized by Rain for A/V work, but I’m not completely sure exactly what that means. Mac OS has long been the operating system of choice for “artsy” folk, but Rain seems to be making a push for Windows users.

The connectivity of this unit is absolutely ridiculous. 10 USB 2.0 ports, 5 FireWire ports, an eSATA port, and 5 PCIe slots. Ah yes, also 1 PCI-X slot. There won’t be a configuration of Pro Tools HD or UAD cards that this beast can’t handle. My current recording setup is a Presonus FireStudio running through a Glyph HDD into my MacBook Pro on a single FireWire 800 port. So if anyone at Rain wants to send me a test unit, I would be most obliged. You can find the ION starting at $2499.

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Parrot’s iPhone-controllable AR.Drone will result in UFO sightings everywhere

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 02:05 PM PST

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The AR.Drone from Parrot is a remote-controlled flying machine that's made of plastic and foam and is about the size of a pizza pan. It's got two on-board cameras that stream video directly to your iPhone with translucent touch controls overlaid atop the video. So you literally see what the drone sees and can make it spin around and go up and down using the onscreen controls. Steering is handled by the iPhone's accelerometer. It's all very, very cool.

Parrot wouldn't budge when it came to pricing and only said it'd be available "sometime this year." We'll post more info as we get it over the coming weeks and months. If you've been following our live video stream from CES, there's video of the AR.Drone in action. More info at Parrot's website, too.

AR.Drone [Parrot]

NSFW: The Ola Vibrator: Squeeze it and it Vibrates

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 12:34 PM PST

And you thought we were going to ignore the AVN. Here's some news from our upcoming AEE 2010 coverage. We present the Ola Vibrator. A totally new design in vibrator, the Ola Vibrator by Minna takes a different approach to pleasure. Hold the base and this squeezable vibrator responds to your grip by vibrating faster, harder, or in whatever pattern you just squeezed. That makes this vibrator amazing for couples use because instead of having one partner simply holding the vibrator, you can have one person squeezing this toy and seeing your reaction based on how hard they squeezed or the pattern in which they squeezed. If you get tired of squeezing, this vibrator incorporates "Rhythm Memory," which records the pattern you just squeezed and replays it until you say stop. Click through for more potentially NSFW images.


MSI Demos Three New PCs at CES

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 12:26 PM PST

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MSI has unveiled three new concept products at CES where the company is trying redefine the way consumers will interact with digital information in their homes.

The first product that was demoed was a 3D all in one PC. MSI has developed the world's first 3D All-in-One PC which comes with wireless 3D glasses, where users can have the ultimate life-like gaming experience and 3D HD movie experience with the computer’s 24-inch display.

The second product is the Sliding Screen all in one PC with LED technology. MSI's new concept PC allows the user to slide the screen up and store the keyboard behind it when not in use, to try to save space. The wireless mouse can also be used as a remote control, and can also be used as an IP-phone, which is pretty neat.

The third produced is a projector PC. The computer is combining a PC, plus a projector, so it is an ultimate two-in-one computer for meeting rooms and conference rooms. You can also attached the computer directly to a wall or screen by using it’s attachable stand, which allows the PC to be rotated 90 degrees to turn any ceiling into an alternative movie experience.

The many faces of web celebrity Daniel Bru

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 12:17 PM PST

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He may have 14 million followers on Twitter but we still have to sign a waiver to have him on the show floor! Presenting a tribute to wee Daniel Brusilovsky, our official CES 2010 CrunchGear mascot. Look for plush dolls at our CG gift shop this April!

Trexta iPhone cases made of leather, wood, and other good stuff

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 12:11 PM PST

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Just a quick gallery of some cool iPhone cases for you all. Trexta is a Turkish company that makes cases for multiple manufacturers.


These cases are made of actual leather and wood and custom molded into the right shape. No pricing but if you see it take at stores it might be a second look.

Razer reinvents the 360 Controller with the Onza

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 12:10 PM PST

RZR_XboxControllerView5_WhtBrgThe boys at Razer are at it again, with the new Onza controller for the 360. They’ve manage to significantly improve on the standard 360 controller by improving the control buttons, adding a tension control, and making it easy to pwn your buddies with a programmable multi-function button.

This is something I’m definitely going to have to review. Razer generally doesn’t create a product unless they are improving on the design, and this is a perfect example of this philosophy. First, they changed up the buttons, and replaced them with their own high quality and tactile style. Then they added a programmable multi-function button on the back, that can be mapped to any of the action buttons, allowing you to set it up as an auto-fire using a selector on the bottom of the controller. The most exciting feature (at least to me, I love to snipe in Halo 3) is the inclusion of a tension control for the analog stick. You can adjust it to make it as tight or slack as you like, just by making a minor adjustment. No word on MSRP or exactly when it’ll be available, but we do know that it will be available worldwide. I’m also going to be reviewing one as soon as it is available.

Razer and Sixense combine to form an actually compelling motion controller for PCs

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 12:05 PM PST

Razer and Sixense’s new motion controller is freakin awesome from CrunchGear on Vimeo.

The motion controller revolution is well underway. It was kicked off by the EyeToy and Wii, and will continue with Project Natal and the Sony wand. But to be honest, I haven’t seen a technology I would trust to swing a sword with until today. Razer is working with a company called Sixense to create a motion controller that works on a principle of magnetic interference instead of accelerometers or cameras, creating a true 1:1 relation between what you do in real life and what appears on the screen. It sounded like a “me too” move to me until I saw them show it off.

Check out the video. I got a more extensive demo from another guy and commentary by Razer’s founder Robert Krakoff. It’s still a brand new technology, and Razer hasn’t set their hand to it yet, instead making sure they can make it a useful device. And I think they will. The 1:1 representation really is very, very accurate, and unlike all the other motion controllers on or off the market, it doesn’t rely at all on line of sight.

The technology uses a magnetic field generated at a certain… frequency, for lack of a better term, which detects the controllers in such a way as their absolute position and orientation can be determined instantaneously. In practice, at least at the moment, there is a lag of about 40 milliseconds and the precision is about 1 mm for position and 1 degree for orientation. That really depends on the RF technology, which Razer spent a lot of time perfecting for the Mamba but has yet to implement in the motion controller. So we’ll see that get a bit better, and of course the controllers themselves will have the usual Razer style.

I’m really, really looking forward to checking these out in a non-trade-show environment. The fact that they’re partnering with Valve means I’ll be able to play some of my favorite games early on, and I think once others see how it’s implemented (seems pretty straightforward, from what Robert told me), we’ll get more mods as well.

Yet Another App Store. This Time, It’s Intel

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 11:32 AM PST

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Intel CEO Paul Otellini at CES announced an app store for applications on netbooks. The store is called AppUp Center, and it’s a place where users can purchase programs that cater to a netbooks' unique screen size and mobility. Intel AppUp center launched today for Windows and will support Moblin-based open source operating systems and a number of runtime environments later this year.

The first set of apps are now available for download, for free or to purchase, and more will be added as they are validated. App categories include entertainment, business, games, education, health and social media. Additionally, Acer, ASUS, Dell and Samsung have announced plans to collaborate with Intel on their own app stores.

According to Intel, by participating in the program, developers gain access to the fast-growing, consumer-centric computing netbook category. In addition, developers gain revenue opportunities from the netbook-installed base, and potentially hundreds of millions of other Intel processor-based computers and devices — should Intel and partner storefronts expand into new market segments.

Intel is also working with partners to bring the app stores to consumers. The partner stores give access to the developer and store services the Intel AppUp center offers. The services include validating and categorizing apps and utilizing a common transaction infrastructure to administer purchases and downloads for these tailored stores.

The RCX4 Star Stryker

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 11:31 AM PST

DigitTronics showed us their ultra fun RCX4 Star Stryker, a flying, hovering X-Wing fighter-clone that costs $399. It lasts about ten minutes on one charge. Anyone want one? They’re $100 off at the show.

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Memorex shows off some Wii stuff, and a seriously nice pocket cam

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 11:30 AM PST

IMG_0513We had a chance to meet with Memorex this morning, and spotted a few cool items for you. Specifically, a charging device for you iProduct, some Wii accessories, and a pretty interesting mini-camcorder with a touch screen.

XtremeMac showed us a combination wall charger and li-ion battery pack. It’s got dual USB ports on the bottom, and has a 1 amp outbput to charge your devices quickly, and a fold out arm which turns it into a viewing stand. MSRP is $79.99, which seems a little steep for a fancy battery pack. Maybe we’ll see it a little cheaper when it actually comes out in 2Q2010.

For the Wii, Memorex has a new racing wheel that ensures that you have access to all your buttons (including the trigger underneath), and supports the MotionPlus. The best part is the price, it comes individually for $9.99, or as a family three pack for $24.99.

The most interesting thing we saw was a new mini-camcorder. It’s got a few features to set it out from the pack; it shoots in full 1080p, the entire back of it is a touch screen, and it will reportedly support an external microphone and there are even rumors of a wireless setup, making this a potentially great camera for video blogging. The new camera should be available this fall, with an MSRP of $169.

We also saw some new iPhone/iPod docks, which are necessarily a new thing, but they are a little different. The design is definitely sleek, and what made me notice them is that the iPhone or iPod is actually protected when it’s docked. We don’t have a lot of information about these products yet, but we’ll let you know the details when we find out more.


Even Brooke Shields is upset with AT&T

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 11:20 AM PST

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Phonescoop grabbed a quick interview with Ms. Blue Lagoon herself, Brooke Shields at the LG booth. While she recited the regular marketing claptrap she had a little bit to say about AT&T and the iPhone:

PS: Why did you get an iPhone?

Brooke: First I got it because it was cool. I felt comfortable with the touch screen. The email was great. Texting was great. I was so happy that I could film my kids and take pictures of them and share them with my husband, The phone was a big problem, though. My time is limited, and when I have a few moments to call my kids, I don’t want the call to drop. That’s what happened with the iPhone.

If Ms. Shields is against you, AT&T, who can be for you?

Congrats to Phonescoop’s Eric Zeman, above, for being allowed to go near women again.

Hands-on with Kodak’s Playsport and Slice Cameras

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 10:59 AM PST

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Kodak showed us their clever little Slice and Playsport cameras. The Slice is a touchscreen point and shoot and the SportPlay is a completely waterproof mini-camcorder. Both aren’t quite ready and will be available in the Spring of this year but both are pretty cool.

The Slice has a large rear screen with touch controls. You slide through photos with your fingers and then tap little icons to set sharing. Dave wrote up the main specs:

The cutely named Slice is a seemingly typical P&S camera, albeit with a 14MP sensor and the previously mentioned touchscreen interface. It'll shoot 720p 30 FPS video, features image stabilization and a lithium ion battery, just like the other cameras in this market segment. Kodak really isn't doing anything new with the Slice, however I will have to admit I do like the look of the little guy. The price may be a bit of a problem though, it's going to MSRP for $350 which might be a bit steep for the casual purchaser. Expect to see the Kodak Slice at your favorite electronics retailer sometime in April 2010.

Video after the jump.


The Playsport shoots at 1080p and has an HDMI out along with an SD card slot for expansion. It is rubberized and the slots are kept safe and dry with little flaps. It will cost $140 Both will be available in April.

The Livestream will be up shortly

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 09:54 AM PST

livestreamThe plan for today is to keep hitting the show floor starting with CES's video game section and a look at the thing Doug is wearing today. After that we're going to head into the show's main hall and hit up some of the bigger company's booths. It should be up shortly. As always, keeping sending your requests to us through the Livestream player or using the Twitter tag #crunchgear.
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