What is Windows Home Server?

Review of the Disney Netpal Netbook

Andrew Edney

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Jan 17, 2010

Netbooks are not new things, but Asus, in conjunction with Disney have released the Disney Netpal Netbook. Aimed at children (obviously), this is a fairly standard Asus netbook with a number of additions aimed at helping parents protect their children from dangers on the Internet whilst still allowing them to play whatever it is they are allowed to play.

There are two variants – a “magic” blue one for boys and a “princess” pink one for girls.

SPECIFICATIONS

The specifications are shown below :

Operating System	Genuine Windows® XP Home
Display	8.9″ LED-backlit WSVGA screen (1024×600)
Intel CPU & Chipset	Intel® Atom™ N270
Memory	1GB DDR2 SO-DIMM
Hybrid Storage	160GB HDD 10GB Eee Storage* Eee Storage service is complimentary for the first 18 months. Please register account information for 6 months extension (depend on country) Availability is dependent on selected model.
Wireless Data Network	WLAN 802.11b/g/n @2.4GHz Bluetooth2.1 + EDR* *Availability is dependent on selected model.
Camera	0.3M Pixels
Audio	Hi-definition audio CODEC Built-in stereo speakers Analog Mic
Input / Output	1 x VGA port (D-sub 15-pin for external monitor) 3 x USB 2.0 ports 1 x LAN RJ-45 2 x audio jacks: Headphone / Mic-in Card Reader: MMC/ SD(SDHC)
Battery	4200mAh Polymer, 5hrs**
Dimensions	248mm (W) x 173mm (D) x 24~28.7mm (H)
Weight	1.1Kg (with Battery)
Infusion	Princess Pink, Magic Blue

THE PACKAGING

The packaging is very small and neat.

Yes, as you can see above, even the cardboard has the Disney logo on it!

WHATS IN THE BOX?

The box contains the power supply, a DVD, the netbook and some manuals.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NETBOOK

Just as you would expect from any netbook these days, you have the usual assortment of ports.

The addition is the Mickey Mouse webcam and the Disney logo on below the screen.

STARTING IT UP

Kids can dress their desktops with themes inspired by popular characters from Disney and Disney?Pixar including Cars, Club Penguin, Disney Classic Characters, Disney Fairies, Disney Princess, Vintage Mickey Mouse, Toy Story and WALL-E. Hannah Montana and JONAS styles, are also available.

The Disney Netbook provides hours of fun with applications made just for kids—Disney Mix to manage your media, Disney Pix to edit/create photos and Radio Disney that provides live streaming. The Disney Netbook by ASUS also includes a driving game, memory game and photo scrapbook.

The Home Server Show Podcast 72 Out Now

Andrew Edney

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Jan 15, 2010

1

Dave at the guys over at the Home Server Show have released show number 72. This one is again from CES in Las Vegas and again has me on it – honestly, I really did more than just be interviewed on various podcasts 🙂

Here’s what Dave has to say about this weeks show:

The Home Server Show 72

Today’s episode wraps up the interviews that Jim, Chris, and Dave did at CES 2010. You will hear from Mark Pendergrast, Senior Product Manager at Microsoft for Windows Home Server, the Zune team from Microsoft, and from a handful of bloggers and podcasters we met up with at CES. You will also hear an interview with LaCie’s Mike Mihalik about the new server from LaCie. We were even recognized by a listener and managed to corner him for an Interview.

Special thanks goes out to all who participated in these interviews. Andrew Edney, Timothy Daleo, Terry Walsh, Jim Clark, Garry Whittaker, Ian Dixon, and Jose Ortiz as well as all the vendors we spoke with. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you guys, some for the first time, and look forward to doing it again. We had a great time and it will certainly sound that way in some of the audio clips. I hope you enjoy all the hard work that went into this show by Dave, Jim, and Chris.

As usual you can listen to the show by clicking here.

VIA Announce the M’SERV S2100 Mini Server

Andrew Edney

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Jan 14, 2010

0

Today VIA announced a new computer into the current range. Called the M’SERV S2100, it is a very small form factor PC with a 64-bit Nano processor. This would make a perfect home built Windows Home Server, just like their previous Artigo A2000 which we reviewed last year.

Here’s what VIA have to say about the M’SERV S2100:

VIA M’SERV S2100 is a data-oriented 64-bit Mini Server with a large storage capacity, low power consumption and strong network connection. The M’SERV comes equipped with two Gigabit Ethernet that makes this unique mini server system a perfect fit not only for home download applications, but also as a small business/SOHO/personal server that provides ample storage space in an energy-efficient, compact, low-noise system.

Thanks to the VIA Nano processor and its 64-bit architecture and integrated hardware assisted virtualization technology, the VIA M’SERV S2100 is capable of hosting multiple virtual environments. In addition, the VIA VX800 single-chip media system processor provides support for SATA, USB, and a whole host of other essential functions.
The VIA M’SERV S2100 mini server is even smaller than most small form factor (SFF) desktop PCs. Its ultra compact size and whisper quiet operation makes it a perfect server for the home, or any place where space is at a premium or noise is an issue.

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU
VIA Nano processor (1.3+GHz @ 1.6GHz, 64-bit, 1MB, 800MHz FSB)

Chipset
VIA VX800 Unified Digital Media IGP chipset

Memory Support
2 x DDR2 SO-DIMM Sockets

Hard Disk Support
2 x 3.5” SATA-II

Bootable SSD
1 x CompactFlash socket (supports DMA mode)

Operating System Support
Windows® XP, Windows® 7(x86 & x64), Windows® Server 2008 R2, Linux, FreeBSD®

USB Ports
3 x USB 2.0 ports (1 on the front panel)

LAN Port
2 x Gigabit RJ-45 LAN port with LED

Display Port
1 x DB-15 VGA port

Front LED
LAN active, LAN speed, power, HDD active, WLAN active

System Cooler
8 cm low-noise ball-bearing fan

Security Features
Hardware AES engine, EEPROM, TPM (Optional)

Dimensions
10.2” x 5.3” x 4.5” / 259 x 135 x 115 mm (L x W x H)

Power
100~240 V input, 75W AC/DC adapter

No information on availability or pricing yet, but watch this space!

For more information, click here.

The Media Center Show #239 – CES Interviews

Andrew Edney

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Jan 14, 2010

0

Ian over at the Digital Lifestyle.com has just released the Media Center Show podcast number 239, with some additional CES material including a number of interviews. And yes, before you ask, I am on it again 🙂

Here’s what Ian has to say about this weeks show:

Lots of interviews from CES this week. I walked miles to get you a good selection of interviews and this week I have:

Microsoft’s Ben Reed talking Windows Media Center
Avner Ronen from Boxee talking about the new Boxee box and the new version of the software
Jason Ludka from Silicon Dust talking about the new CableCARD HD Homerun and their other tuner devices
Gary Braddock Group Chief Designer from Ford talking about the new Ford Sync software
Julie Jackobson from CE Pro talking what she found interesting at CES
XtreamHD explaining their satellite home media solution
Interviews recorded at the bloggers meetup at CES including TDL Mobile’s Jose Ortiz, Garry Whittaker, Andrew Edney, Dave McCabe, Terry Walsh and others!

I also have email regarding Samsung Q1, Touch screens and Internet TV. The final batch of CES interview will be out next week

As usual, you can click here to listen to it, or why not do what I do and subscribe via iTunes?

CES 2010 – The Roundup

Andrew Edney

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Jan 13, 2010

0

CES is over for another year, and overall I thought it was a great show, although it did seem a little less “showy” than last year.

There were over 110,000 attendees and believe me when I say I could believe it as it was always busy!

I managed to meet up with quite a few people at CES, including our very own Tim Daleo, Home Server Show’s Dave McCabe, Christopher Lux and Jim Collison, the Media Center Show’s Ian Dixon and Garry Whittaker, and We Got Served’s Terry Walsh and Jim Clark.

Sorry that there were not as many posts from the event as we would have hoped, but the wireless connectivity there was awful. Well, awful doesn’t really even begin to cover it, so as a result, I will be doing a lot of posts this week that I couldn’t get out last week – so you are not going mad by reading CES posts this week 🙂

WHAT WAS ON SHOW AT THE SHOW?

As you would expect, there were lots of TV’s on show, including OLED, LCD and of course a whole range of new 3D TV’s.

I would say though that the biggest range on show was actually media streaming devices, including the Boxee Box and many others (I have some posts planned – so watch this space).

HOVERING THINGS AND DRONES

There were a few cool hovering things and drones on display at the show. I’ve already talked about the very cool Parrot AR Drone and shown a video.

For those Star Wars fans out there, there was also an X Wing Fighter hover drone. This was also very cool and was retailing for around $399.

And here’s a little video showing it flying.

HELLO KITTY

As you probably know, we are big Hello Kitty fans here at Using Windows Home Server. And it was no surprise to us to see a huge amount of Hello Kitty merchandise at the show (although you may be wondering just what some of the items had to do with Consumer Electronics). Anyway, some of the more weird and interesting things are shown below:

FINAL THOUGHTS

So, expect a number of posts over the next few days detailing everything I wanted to share but couldn’t!

The Media Center Show #238 – CES 2010 Part 1

Andrew Edney

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Jan 12, 2010

0

Ian Dixon over at the Digital Lifestyle released the Media Center Show podcast number 238, from CES last week.

I am interviewed on the show (outside of the Apple Store in the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas) – and was also interviewed for some upcoming shows as well.

We all had a blast in Vegas at CES!

Here’s what Ian had to say about the show:

This week I am in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show and I have a great collection of interviews for you. In part one of the CES coverage I have pre and post keynote chat from bloggers Andrew Edney, Terry Walsh, Jim Clark, Dave McCabe and Garry Whittker plus interviews from Avermedia talking TV tuners including placeshifting and HD-PVR, D-Link taking about there network products including the new Boxee box.

Garry and I also chat about the first couple of days at CES

More interviews to come on the next show

To listen to the show, click here.

The Home Server Show Podcast 71 at CES

Andrew Edney

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Jan 12, 2010

0

Dave over at the Home Server Show released podcast 71 last week.

The whole show revolves around CES, and I was there with him and the guys at the show, although not for the late night recording of this one 🙂

I was however interviewed for a forthcoming show, plus we did a recording whilst I drove the guys around Vegas after a blogger party (that one’s coming soon)!

Here’s what Dave has to say about show 71:

In today’s episode Jim, Chris, and Dave get together in Vegas and discuss all that we have seen and done at CES. It’s only day one but we have a lot to talk about!

You can listen to it or subscribe to it here.

The Parrot AR Drone

News
Tech

Andrew Edney

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Jan 11, 2010

6

kLast week I saw the Parrot AR Drone in action at CES. I mentioned it in one of my posts last weej.

In fact, this little thing always had people around it, wanting to play with it, and Parrot took it to all the after CES parties for the Press and Bloggers, but also had a number of different areas in CES where people could see it and even have a go.

Here’s what Parrot have to say about the AR Drone:

Parrot, leader in wireless products for mobile phones, is unveiling the first quadricopter using augmented reality: Parrot AR.Drone.

With intuitive mobility and universal use, Parrot AR.Drone is piloted initially with an iPhone™ or iPod touch® and allows you to take a spectacular flying journey. In addition to the pleasure of flying, this unique quadricopter can be part of a large number of video games in the real world.

Streaming video on the iPhone™ or iPod touch® screen enables you to pilot the AR.Drone as if you were sitting in the pilot’s seat; the image processing allows for the integration of real-time special effects of augmented reality…

An unseen mix of captors (wide angle camera and high speed camera, MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanicals Systems), 3 axes accelerometer, 3 axes gyro, ultrasound sensor) associated with a powerful computer makes the piloting easy and accessible even for the youngest or non-technologically savvy person.

Thanks to the accelerometer of the iPhone™ or iPod touch® that detects users’ movements, the AR.Drone is very easy to pilot by leaning the iPhone™ forward to move forward or sidewise to corner and change direction.

On the touch pad of the iPhone™, command buttons also indicate some actions such as rise, down, rotate, move back, move forward… Observing the AR.Drone obey each movement of their hands is an incredible experience for the player.

Parrot AR.Drone: imagination has no limits

Parrot AR.Drone is designed for flying inside and outside.

For flying inside, a hull surrounds the propellers and protects the quadricopter if it hits an obstacle. For outside flights, a shaped hull reduces the area to the wind for better maneuverability of the quadricopter.

Every flight with the AR.Drone will always be a new experience. Outside, the user will have to take into account the changing elements of the real environment, such as the wind, the sunshine, shadowed areas or any obstacles that appear.

Parrot AR.Drone is also offering an unprecedented multi-player possibility.

Thanks to augmented reality, it is possible to recreate an aerial fight between two quadricopters. The worlds of video gaming and radio controlled models collaborate for the first time, simultaneously evolving in both universes.

Developers can sign up for the SDK here http://www.ardrone.org.

Pricing and availability have yet to be formalised, but all I can say is this thing is very cool, and everyone who saw it at CES wants one.

Take a look at this video I took, I particularly like the last few seconds 🙂 Although have to say it really took a beating and was flying a few seconds later – now that’s cool!

CES 2010 live from Las Vegas

Windows Home Server

Timothy Daleo

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Jan 8, 2010

1

Sorry about the chair comment. As I sit on the floor writing this, I get it.

Finally got here and waiting to meet up with Andrew. If anyone else is here and wants to meet up just Tweet me at jpltim.

Lets hope for some good articles to come out of this!

Tim

More Information on the LaCie Windows Home Server

Andrew Edney

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Jan 8, 2010

5

Earlier this week, we reported that LaCie had announced their entrance into the Windows Home Server market. In case you missed that, you can read it here.

Today at CES, I managed to get a hands on closer look at the LaCie 5BIG Backup Server as it was referred to here at CES.

The front of the server is silver, with nothing but a blue circle.

On the back of the server however, this is where the real action is. There are 5 removable drive bays, each one lockable, along with the usual assortment of connectors, including 4 USB sockets and an eSata port. It certainly is different to see the drive bays in the back of a Windows Home Server for a change.

The specifications for the LaCie 5Big Backup Server are as follows:

Atom based 64-bit chipset, with a single core (the new Pinetrail chip)

1GB RAM

5 drive bays (as you can see above)

178 x 220 x 196 mm

It will be sold in the US, Europe, Australia and Asia.

It also contains the Wuala software which is an online P2P backup solution).

One thing I can say for sure, is that if you have 5 drives in the server, the data will be safe – mainly because the thing weighs a tonne!

More information and a full review over the coming months.

Windows Home Server at CES

Andrew Edney

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Jan 8, 2010

0

Here at CES, the only Windows Home Server news has been the announcement from LaCie. Obviously this is very disappointing for those of us waiting for news of Windows Home Server v2 (or Vail as it is known).

Outside of the Central Hall, the Windows Home Server team once again hand Windows Home Server posters up on the columns. Those of you with good memories may remember that the team did this last year as well.

I took some pictures of them for you:

Inside, as usual, Microsoft had a very large exhibition area, only this time Windows Home Server had a very small bit, next to Windows Media Center. In fact, there were no signs at all for Windows Home Server!

The guys were demoing the new LaCie, the Lenovo and the Asus Windows Home Servers.

Lets hope we have some new Windows Home Server news in the not too distant future. As usual we will let you know anything as soon as we can.

LaCie Debuts Extra Small Full HD Media Center at CES – the LaCinema Mini HD

Andrew Edney

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Jan 7, 2010

4

Hot off the heels of their announcement about a new Windows Home Server, LaCie have announced a new Full HD Media Center pc, that is very, and I do mean VERY tiny!

LaCinema Mini HD is available in a 500GB capacity in Europe and will be available worldwide later this quarter through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Reseller+, and LaCie Corner, starting at the suggested retail price of $299.99. For more information, visit www.lacie.com.

Needless to say I want one 🙂

Here is what LaCie has to say about the device:

Amazingly small and stylish, the LaCinema Mini HD provides uncompromising quality, adding stunning 1080p playback through HDMI on your HDTV. No matter the video, music or photo format and resolution, the Mini HD will play it seamlessly with clear sound and the vivid images that you’ve come to expect from HD. It’s compatible with all the most popular video formats on the market, from DivX and MKV, to AVC and H.264, and comes with Dolby Digital surround sound.

It’s easy to play your movie library on your HDTV: Attach the LaCinema Mini HD to your computer via the bus-powered USB 2.0 connection to quickly transfer your movies, then connect it to your TV for instant playback. No other configuration is required. The LaCinema Mini HD also comes with 802.11n WiFi technology to ensure maximized performance for HD movie streaming. Embedded inside an ultra compact design, LaCinema Design, Design by Neil Poulton, will elegantly integrate into your HDTV setup.

Its UPnP^™/DLNA^™ capabilities ensure that the LaCinema Mini HD works in tandem with your home network, connecting easily to your PC or network storage (like a (URL)LaCie Network Space 2) so it’s simple to populate with your media.With one click, you can turn the LaCinema Mini HD into a powerful media server that will allow you to use it as a central location for all of your media. You can even share content with a Playstation®, Xbox®, or other audio or video DLNA player.

With up to 500GB of storage available, you can store your entire digital media library in one location. A user-friendly navigation and remote control have been designed to enhance your entertainment experience. You can even quickly connect a USB storage key to the front of your LaCinema Mini HD to instantly watch movies on your TV.

DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS:

Item Number :
301914KUA

Capacity :
500 GB

Interface :
USB 2.0

Maximum Resolution :
1920 x 1080p

Supported File Systems :
NTFS (Windows®), HFS+ (Mac®), FAT32 (Mac/Windows)

Video Codecs :
AVI, MKV, MOV, DIVX, MPEG, TS, MP4, WMV, DVD-Video (ISO, Video_TS), MPEG1/2/4, DIVX/HD, XVID H.264, VC1

Audio Format :
MP3, WMA, AAC**, MP4, WAV, OGG, FLAC

Subtitles :
SRT, SSA, SUB, SMI, PSB, ASS

Playlist :
PLS, M3U, WPL (Windows Media Player, Winamp compatible)

Photo :
JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF

Output :
HDMI 1.3, Audio Video RCA, Digital Optical Audio

Network Compatibility :
WiFi: 802.11b/g/n
Wired: Ethernet 100Mbps

Dimensions :
118 x 118 x 40 mm / 4.7 x 4.7 x 1.5 in.

Weight :
450 g / 15.9 oz.

System Requirements :
Computer with an Ethernet network adapter
Latest version of Windows® XP, Windows Vista®, Windows 7 / Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 / Linux 2.6
Minimum free disk space: 600MB recommended
Ethernet switch or router

Box Content :
LaCinema Mini HD
External power adapter
Remote control (includes 2 x AAA batteries)
HDMI cable
Composite audio video cable
USB 2.0 cable
Ethernet (network) cable
PV TwonkyMedia Server 5.1

Comments :
*1GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending upon operating environment (typically 10–15% less).
**Supports iTunes-encoded songs. The LaCinema Mini HD cannot be used in violation of any copyright or other IP (Intellectual Property) rights. It may only be used in connection with materials legally owned or licensed to the user and only to the extent such ownership or license rights permit such use.

Warranty :
2-Year Limited Warranty

Speci?cations and appearance are given as guidelines and may change without notice.

Monster Introduce World’s Fastest Powerline Solution- the Powernet 1G

Tech

Andrew Edney

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Jan 7, 2010

4

As you are probably aware, sometimes you cant get a decent wireless signal in your home or office (or here at CES!) and a wired solution just isn’t practical either.

That is where powerline products come in. They use your home’s electrical wiring system as a network enabling you to connect one end to your router and the other end anywhere else in the house and then connect any device to it, thus giving you full network connectivity.

These devices are great, I use some myself at home, and the biggest issue has always been speed – for example, if you want to stream HD quality movies you really need a fast connection, and the devices do not always provide that speed.

This is where the new Powernet 1G product comes in giving a speed of 1 GPS!

These look very interesting and I look forward to getting my hands on them soon!

For the full press release see below:

MONSTER INTRODUCES “POWERNET™ 1G” FEATURING THE WORLD’S
FASTEST POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS DATA TRANSFER SPEED

— New Product Offers Unique “No New Wires” Networking Solution; Provides Speeds Fast

Enough to Reliably Support Multiple 1080p Datastreams –

LAS VEGAS, January 6, 2010 – Monster, the world leader in power conditioning and surge protection products, today introduced the world’s fastest PowerLine Communication (PLC) product with its PowerNet 1G (SRP: $299.95). Monster® PowerNet™ with PLC technology instantly turns a home’s electrical wiring system into a high speed Ethernet network – empowering users to bring a reliable and secure broadband connection into any room at speeds as much as 5X faster than all PLC products currently on the market.

World’s Fastest PLC Data Rates for Smooth Movie Streaming, Glitch-Free Online Gaming, and Network File Data Transfers
The product achieves its unprecedented speed using the advanced Atheros AR7400 chipset, enabling a data throughput of 1 GPS (quintupling the 200mps rates of its closest competitors). At this previously unattainable speed, users of the PowerNet 1G can simultaneously stream and download 1080p content on demand to their Blu-ray Disc™ players, DVRs and TiVo®, network TVs, game consoles, and other devices.

Home Ethernet Networking Speeds Maximized with Monster Proprietary PLC Filter
The Monster PowerNet 1G also features proprietary PLC filters that help prevent added noise on the home’s AC power lines. The result is a cleaner data signal at much higher bandwidths to enable the speeds needed to deliver multiple 1080p file streams simultaneously.

Noel Lee, Head Monster, noted: “At Monster, our goal is to provide products that truly complete the home entertainment and TV watching experience for our customers. These days that means making it easy for people to access the Internet, which has become a primary source for all kinds of entertainment, including games, movies, music and more. According to industry estimates, Internet movie rentals and downloads alone will exceed 2.14 billion by 2010, and more and more home entertainment products, including TVs, now feature built-in Internet. The majority of consumers, however, do not have an Ethernet connection in every room where they may want to access it. Our PowerNet products make it fast and easy to add an Ethernet interface to any room. And with our new high-speed PowerNet 1G, people will be able to enjoy the full power of the Internet so they can maximize all their entertainment opportunities, including 1080p programming, without adding any new wires.”

PowerNet 1G joins Monster’s full line of comprehensive PowerNet products, including the new Digital Life™ PowerNet 350wifi (SRP: $249.95) extender, which provides both wired and wireless 802.11 solutions for connecting consumer electronics devices in a home network, as well as the Monster PowerNet 100 (SRP: $99.95), PowerNet 200 (SRP: $179.95), and PowerNet 300 (SRP: $199.95), empowering consumers to bring the Internet to their home entertainment equipment throughout the house.

Benefits of Monster PowerNet 1G include:

Blazing fast speeds of 1G for multiple 1080p connections to the Internet or streaming high definition audio and video.

All the advantages of a wired home without having to pay contractors for expensive wire pulling and installation.

PLC Clean Power® noise filtering that improves network speed compared to other PLC devices.

About Monster
Monster was founded by Head Monster Noel Lee with a commitment to creating products under the Monster Cable® brand to literally “make music sound better.” Today, Monster has grown and diversified to become the world’s leading manufacturer of connectivity solutions for high-performance audio, video, car audio, computer, console and computer gaming, as well as a leading innovator in the field of iPod® and iPhone™ accessories and professional audio and sound reinforcement. As part of its commitment to improving the music listening experience, Monster worked with Dr. Dre and Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovine to create the Beats™ by Dr. Dre™ headphone line, including the new Heartbeats by Lady Gaga headphones. The company is also continuing to innovate with its own line of Monster brand headphones, including “Turbine Pro™ In-Ear Speakers™,” the first in-ear headphones geared for use by music professionals and audiophiles. Additionally, under its Monster Power® brand, the company is the leading manufacturer of high-performance AC power line conditioning and protection products for audio/video systems.

Explore the world of Monster at http://www.MonsterCable.com

Explore the world of Monster Power® at http://www.MonsterPower.com

CES News Round Up – Day 2 (Sort of)

Andrew Edney

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Jan 7, 2010

0

Well yesterday saw the 2nd day of CES, even though CES doesn’t really start until today when the show itself opens it’s doors.

Yesterday was again a hectic day of press conferences and events (it’s a hard life)!

I met up with Dave McCabe from the Homeserver Show podcast, Terry Walsh from We Got Served, Ian Dixon and Garry Whittaker from The Digital Lifestyle Show podcast and we spent a lot of time going to see different things, and trying desperately to get a working wireless connection (you wouldn’t think it was the worlds largest consumer electronics show, would you)?

A brief round up follows, and again I will post some of the things in much more detail when time permits later in the week 🙂

Toshiba Europe

The morning started with us all heading over to the Toshiba Europe press event, which primarily dealt with some very cool new televisions, including one that frankly can only be described as out of this world, and that goes for the price tag as well.

They also announced the new NB300 and NB305 netbooks, which have a battery life of around 11 hours and look great (I’m currently using an NB200 – so if anyone from Toshiba is reading this, any chance of an upgrade) 🙂

Lenovo

Lenovo were talking a lot about the new smartphone, the LePhone, and also about some of their other new products, including a smartbook that is really thin and runs all day! More on that later in the week.

They also had an entertainment section that had a very small net top PC (with a cool hand held keyboard) and also the Lenovo Windows Home Server (it was very nice to see it there as Windows Home Server news has been very thin on the ground – although its not news as its been out for a while, but you know what I mean!)

The Keynote

I didn’t attend the live keynote in the end, I watched the live webcast instead as I had some other meetings just before it (including the Lenovo press conference).

There was no Windows Home Server news, but there were a few Media Center announcements – why not watch the webcast for yourself by clicking here.

The Digital Experience Show

In the evening there was a 4 hour event called the Digital Experience Show, also known as Pepcom. It was a really great event with a large number of exhibitors talking about their products, doing demos and everyone having a good time (along with loads of food and drink). Completely irrelevant to this post, but the theme was safari and there were loads of stuffed animals, jeeps, and lovely ladies in full body makeup as lions and other animals (and no, before you ask, I am not posting any pictures of them, I thought it best not to take pictures!) 🙂

I will post more later on some of the cool things I saw, and believe me there was a lot to see, including more things from D-Link, Toshiba, HP and many others.