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We’ve just returned to our hotel room after CES Unveiled, a sneak peek intended to highlight the best of show. Tthe urge to be downbeat is strong: there wasn’t a lot of spectacular stuff on display. Hard times call for austerity, folks. These things are frivolous luxuries, right? Right.

Highlights included a convertible tablet netbook from Asus, an ultra-realistic Guitar Hero game controller from Logitech, and a handset from Krone that converts English to sign language. Then there were many tables of nothing much memorable.

Xeni and Joel took up the slack, recording footage for Boing Boing Video. In a brief face-to-face interview, Joel convinced Consumer Electronics Association CEO Gary Shapiro to anoint him the Official King of CES. Shapiro smiled and extended his hand like a sword, gently dubbing him on the shoulder.

It seemed almost plaintive, but why shouldn’t he play along? He was promoting the show, his life’s work.

When we filtered out of the hotel, long rows of taxis waited to take us back to our pad: a rare convenience during CES week.

It’d be easy to write the same “recession-hit CES” story that you’ll find elsewhere. It’d be easy to take gleeful pleasure in charting the show’s decline. The fact that this would be so much fun, to writer and reader alike, is not a good thing.

We shouldn’t enjoy it when the things we love aren’t popular. And what the consumer electronics industry sells isn’t very popular right now.

In fat times there’s an authority that comes from being in the position of attack, of all-out criticism. Gadget blogging’s always been laden with snark; its the internet’s motherlode of the stuff.

It won’t stop, either: it’s our fluent language, a fair response to the subordination of innovation to business. But when tens of thousands of jobs will likely be lost in the coming months, what’s the point in kicking the trade when it’s down?

It’s time to have a little hope, and to find things to be positive about.

A year ago, an expensive gizmo that does nothing more complicated than display a picture of someone’s hands could easily have been mocked or ignored. This device, however, permits communication between a frustrated parent and a disabled child. It’s the application of technology to solve a problem. Its value transcends its specifications.

It works, it’s wonderful, and it’s yours, for $200.

Just a luxury, right?

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The company confirmed the Android phone today but declined to offer additional details. Earlier this month, Garmin joined the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium that supports Android.

Meanwhile, Garmin’s GPS-centered nüvifone, which was first announced in January this year, has seen multiple delays. The device is not scheduled to release till “the first quarter of 2009.”

Garmin, however, made it clear that despite speculation to the contrary the nüvifone and its Android-powered handset are two different devices. The nüvifone will run a modified version of Linux as its operating system, it said.

Check out this video of the nüvifone at the Mobile World Congress

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Moto Z9 is equipped with 3G connectivity, which means you will always be online. This phone also comes with the Opera Mini 8 browser, which is better than any other mobile browser out now.

For the media lovers, its new Video Share feature let you send stream videos to your friend’s mobile straight from your mobile. This phone comes with Windows Media Player 11, which ensures no trouble playing your audio or video files.

The Moto Z9 comes up with the latest award winning Crystal Talk Technology, which promises you will be heard in the noisiest place. This mobile also equipped with a 2MP camera with flash, an expandable memory option by microSD card, and Motorola Synergy OS.

Moto Z9 is available on the AT&T network for $249.99 with two years service agreement.

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Windows and Dell have joined (RED) to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. When you buy a Dell (PRODUCT) RED PC with Windows Vista Ultimate (PRODUCT) RED, Windows and Dell will jointly contribute $50 or $80, depending on the product, to The Global Fund. With Windows Vista Ultimate (PRODUCT) RED, these aren’t just the ultimate PCs, they’re a powerful way to improve lives
Click here to know more.

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By William C. Montgomery | The Truth About Cars | Results after the jump.

America v Germany: 1st Place - 2008 BMW 335i continued »

2nd Place: 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Hardtop

“Screw you, Steve McQueen and your fancy Mustang! I wanna ‘Vette!” I shouted (to no one) while tearing a rift in the space-time continuum through the peaceful pastoral Texas countryside. Clearly, I was imbibing heartily from a bottle of Chateau Corvette, vintage 2008. But I forgot myself. And my objectivity. I was there to perform a head-to-head comparison between said ’08 Chevy hardtop and an ’08 BMW 335i. Unlikely rivals, to be sure. But both are answers to the same question spoken in the quintessential voice of their respective source countries, America and Germany. Both are powerful sports cars designed to appeal to aging upper middle class drivers that can afford to treat themselves to something sporty and nice, just not too expensive. In this case, both cars were available at CarMax for just under $40K.

America v Germany: 2nd Place - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette continued »

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The best creations will be used as graphics for a series of T-shirts and accessories to be showcased during Milan Fashion Week in February. You’ve got till 30 January 2009 to focus your ideas, create them and send them in! The jury will select three original and unpublished concepts (such as pictures, composites, wall-paintings, stickers, graphics, banner, sculpture) representing in a young and creative way the logo “C’N'C PLUG GENERATION”.

Prizes
1st - 1000€
2nd - an iPhone
3rd - an iPhone

+ your winning T-shirts and accessories logo will be presented during Milan Fashion Week this February 2009!

Rules
Read the rules ->herehere

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Update with analysts comments and stock performance.

Shares of Apple rose as much as 5.63 percent in late morning trading Monday, following an announcement by co-founder Steve Jobs that he would remain as CEO while undergoing hormone therapy treatment.

Jobs’ disclosure of a hormone imbalance as the reason for his health decline and that he would remain as CEO while recovering from therapy treatments propelled shares of Apple to as high as $95.86 during intraday trading.

That bump to the stock not only came on a day that the Dow Jones Industries were in the red, but also returned Apple’s shares to a level where they were trading two weeks ago, when the computer maker stunned Wall Street with its Macworld news.

In mid-December, Apple announced Jobs would forgo his keynote speech at Macworld and that the company would not participate in future Macworld events, renewing rumors and speculation that the high-profile CEO was gravely ill. Apple’s stock fell from $95.43 a share to $89.16 a share following that announcement. And over the two-week period, the computer maker’s shares dipped as low as $84.55 a share.

Investors apparently appreciated the update Jobs provided on his health, said analyst Shaw Wu, an analyst with Kaufman Bros.

“Investors wanted more transparency and I think the announcement was a lot better than what people feared,” Wu said.

He added, however, the announcement by Jobs and Apple was not a total surprise, given the CEO had previously undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer and that his gaunt appearance over the past year had raised investors concerns, while the company and the founder provided very little information about his health.

Click here for more Macworld Expo coverage from CNET News.

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Everyone has this person in the family, ussually male, you never know what to get him. He isnt interested in many things. Tools are ussually the only option but this guy has everything already. Here are 3 things that are fairly new that you can get for this guy.

The first item is the Black & Decker automatic wrench. I was at my local Home Depot a few weeks ago and ran across this wrench. Its pretty cool, an adjustable wrench that opens and closes by pushing a button. You know most of these style wrenches has the little gear like wheel that you turn with your thumb to adjust the size to fit the nut or bold your are trying to tighten or loosen. This takes that step out of it. At that moment, I started to buy 3 of them, one for myself, one for my dad and one for my father in-law. Figured Id wait to see if I can find it cheaper online, and I did.

Amazon has them for $23,99

The second item on this list couldve been on yesterdays list. Talk about lazy, this item is almost embarrassingly lazy. Black & Decker’s Cordless Power Scissors. These are scissors that automatically cut whatever it is you are trying to cut with the touch of a button. Yea there are some benifits to using these scissors (other than too lazy to operate a pair a scissors yourself). Being that these are motorized, you can cut through things that normally give you trouble with a regular pair of scissors…IE that annoying electronics packaging. The reason why this couldve been on yesterdays list is the price

Amazon has them for $14.14

Last but not least is this handy cordless saw…also from Black & Decker (Im not getting paid for this…honestly). Its a little smaller than most saws of this type so its not meant to cut anything too big. For small quick jobs, this saw is good to have. It comes with a wood cutting blade and a metal cutting blade.

Amazon has it for $26.99

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Rochester, NY – January 5th, 2009 – Vuzix Corporation is thrilled to announce a ground-breaking addition to the video eyewear market: the Wrap 920AV. As the demand for mobile access to digital entertainment and information skyrockets, Vuzix has once again pushed the envelope. This portable big screen solution with Vuzix’ proprietary Quantum optics technology allows for a “see-thru” video experience in the form of a functional pair of sunglasses and is upgradeable with optional accessories. The stylish Wrap 920AV functions with any media playing device with a video output and projects a virtual 60-inch screen, as viewed from 9-feet. The state-of-the-art lens technology also allows users for the first time to view 3D video content while seeing and interacting with the real world. This incredible blend of reality and computer generated content will transform the world of portable video while opening up the consumer to previously impossible “location aware” applications. An optional 6-Degree of Freedom tracking sensor and/or Stereo Camera Pair will enable users to upgrade their Wrap 920AV to experience virtual, augmented and mixed reality environments. “The Wrap 920AV will not just change the portable video industry, but how consumers view and interact with information,” said Vuzix CEO Paul Travers. “From watching a Civil War video reproduction battle reenactment on the actual battleground to walking through the streets of New York City with an animated virtual tour guide, the possibilities are endless,” added Travers. “As listed in 2008 at the Gartner Emerging Trends and Technologies Roadshow, Augmented Reality promises a paradigm shift in how consumers interact with news, entertainment and information,” said Vuzix Consumer Division Product Manager Ron Haidenger. “The Wrap 920AV is the first product at a consumer price point to deliver this game changing technology to the masses,” added Haidenger. Additionally, Vuzix will be offering low cost optional prescription lens inserts to provide the perfect solution for consumers wearing prescription eyeglasses. A patent pending electronic Inter-Pupillary Distance system enables eye separation adjustment, ensuring that all users will have an optimal viewing experience. Amazingly, the entire system weighs less than 3 ounces. The Wrap 920AV’s features include: • Virtual 60-inch screen viewed from 9-feet • 2D and 3D video formats • Quantum Optics Technology • Twin high-resolution AMLCD displays • Ultra low power electronics • High-quality noise-isolating and removable comfort fit earphones • Up to 6 hours of battery life on two AA batteries • On screen display settings control • For use with or without eyeglasses • Optional prescription lens inserts • Optional Bluetooth 6-Degree of Freedom head tracking system • Optional USB-powered Stereo Camera Pair Compatible devices include: • All iPod/iPhone models with video output • Portable media players • Video cameras • Cellular phones with video output • Console video game systems • Digital cameras • DVD players • PCs & laptops with S-Video

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I have to give it to the Vestalife Firefly iPod Speaker Dock, it has an intriguing design and shape. The all-in-one iPhone and iPod compatible dock has much to offer in a little package. Not only is it iPhone 3G compatible, but it also has a built-in subwoofer and amplifier. I dig this little thing quite a bit.

In addition to the subwoofer and amplifier, the Vestalife Firefly also has a remote, fully rechargeable lithium-ion battery, auto shut-off, auxiliary input for other MP3 players, touch volume controls, and both audio and video out. All of those goodies are packed into a compact little ball of sound power.

The product will be official announced, complete with price, at CES 2009 (January 8 - 11). If the Firefly comes in at under $150 I think it is a must-buy.

via UberGizmo

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Every year at CES someone is showing off a pair of portable video glasses, the mythical mirrorshades, and every year they’re a bit crap. The Vuzix Wrap 920AV are the latest contenders, putting a virtual 60-inch screen (at a 9-foot simulated view distance) front and center.

If they manage more than a VGA output I’ll be shocked (the “supports a PC via S-Video” bit in the press release is ominous), but it’s the other, optional aspects I find the most intriguing: dual display for 3D augmented reality overlays; Bluetooth 3-axis head tracking (which clips on, I suspect); USB-powered stereo cameras; and custom prescription lens inserts.

They are, without a doubt, mega-nerdy. Still, for you, I will give them a whirl. No price is yet set, but a similar product from Vuzix is $350.

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I have little doubt that the rumours that surfaced over the weekend owe more to that yearning than any factual reality. First off, a site called CellPhone Signal posted a specs list for a “G2″ that seems plausible, but tacked on a deeply unrealistic release date of January 26th.

The specs list included a 5-megapixel camera, removal of the QWERTY keyboard, a memory card slot, and a VGA camera for video calling. Boy Genius Report confirmed the specs with a different source, but that source claims a much-more-likely release date of April. To add to the frenzy, BGR also mentioned a possible G3 coming “not that far after the G2″.

So where does all that leave us? We have the rumour that the G1 will be followed up by a G2 and G3. I’d rank that one as likely. We have a plausible specs list for the G2, which basically reads like a touchscreen Nokia N95. Lastly, we have a rather implausible release date of Jan 29th, and a more likely one of ‘April’.

I’m sure that T-Mo and Google will follow up the G1, and that they’ve learnt something from the release of the device. I’m sorry to hear that they might be dropping the QWERTY keyboard, though - it was one of the features that G1 users liked over the iPhone.

As for the software, well, Android is constantly improving, thanks to its community of app developers. Although the Android Market’s a little spammier than the iPhone App Store, there’s a bunch of stuff available there that you can’t get on Apple’s flagship product.

GoogleWatch has an interesting analysis of whether a rapid launch of the G2 would be a good business move for the companies or not. The site concludes that, on balance, the April timeline will prove to be the ‘killer strategy’ if tied into a good video calling app.

One thing’s for certain - we’ve not see the last of Google and Android. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Android takes a commanding share of the smartphone market in 2009. It’ll depend largely on what happens with the iPhone - and most analysts are only expecting an incremental upgrade. That leaves the door wide open, but will consumers bolt? We’ll have to wait and see.

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