CES 2005: Blast from the past
By CNET staff
10/01/2005
You want to know what is coming down at the Consumer Electronics Show 2005 (Jan 6 to 9) in downtown Las Vegas? We bring you and your armchair along for a ride down the aisle of gadgetry nirvana.
Gizmondo
The product: Gizmondo has taken the wraps off an eponymous portable gaming device that's a Swiss Army Knife among handheld consoles. In addition to being an on-the-go
gaming platform, the Gizmondo delivers wireless text messaging and email, GPS
capabilities, a digital camera, and a portable video player.
The device,
which will be available in retail stores this spring, is meant to go
head-to-head with the PlayStation Portable and the Nintendo DS. The slickly
designed Gizmondo runs on the Microsoft Windows CE.NET 4.2 OS and uses Windows
Media Player for playback of digital audio and video. It includes an SD slot for
storage.
To maximize gaming capabilities, it features the Nvidia GeForce
3D 4500 graphics solution. Gizmondo says that 12 games will be available at
launch; so far, the company has agreements with Electronic Arts, Activision,
Sega, and Microsoft.
For messaging, the Gizmondo employs GSM triband GPRS
for POP3 email service and text messaging. A SIM card will come with the
device, and users will buy messaging minutes under a plan still being hammered
out by the company. The Gizmondo includes a GPS receiver that will enable users
to employ location-aware services and games.
Tech specs include:
- 400MHz Samsung ARM9 processor and 64MB of RAM
- TFT display with 240 x 320 resolution
- Built-in 640 x 320-resolution digital camera
- Battery life rated for 3.5 hours
The price: The Gizmondo will sell for US$399, which is a pretty sweet price
for a feature-packed device.
Archos Portable Media Assistant PMA430
The product: This past summer, Archos, known for making very capable hard drive-based MP3 players, unleashed its breakthrough AV420 portable video gizmo. Now, at CES 2005, the company has revamped this popular model with a ton of innovative new bells and whistles. Christened the PMA430, this gadget boasts a 30GB hard drive and can screen and record movies from TV, DVD, and VCR. You can also connect the PMA430 to wireless networks via its integrated Wi-Fi radio. In addition, the compact player displays digital pictures and runs the Linux OS, which means later open-source software expansion is possible. Key specs include:
- 30GB hard drive
- Integrated Wi-Fi wireless networking
- Color touch-screen LCD
- USB 2.0
The prospects: Given the great appeal of the original AV420 player, the PMA430 holds a lot of promise. Its support for Linux applications and wireless networking makes the device even more alluring. That said, people looking for a simple, bare-bones digital video device may find the robust PMA430 intimidating.
Nyko Technologies MoviePlayer
The product: Nyko Technologies' MoviePlayer may be the ultimate iPod accessory. Consisting of a 3.5-inch full-color LCD, which folds closed like a laptop, and a control panel, the MoviePlayer actually houses an iPod and turns it into a media player. Mac- and Windows-compatible software is capable of converting video, photo, and other media files for use on the MoviePlayer. In addition, a built-in lithium-ion battery adds three additional hours of playtime to the iPod. Designed to match the iPod aesthetic, the innovative MoviePlayer looks to transform an iPod into a media monster. Other features and specs include:
- Transfers, plays, and stores video, TV, and photos utilizing the iPod hard drive
- Works only with iPods that have dock connectors
- iPod slides into its body and connects via the dock connector
- 65,000-color 3.5-inch TFT screen
The prospects: The photos look dandy, but they are computer-aided renderings. But the MoviePlayer makes sense, as it simply harnesses the iPod's basic identity as a portable hard drive. Add some minimalist iPod design flair, a nice big color screen, and some user-friendly controls, and you have a potential hit--a product that has a potential user base in the millions.
|
|
| Feedback | Corrections | Advertise | About CNET Networks | About CNET Asia | Jobs