GeekSugar

HP Envy 14 Spectre Gets Priced at $1,400

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:47:38 PST

The HP Envy 14 Spectre was arguably the most fetching ultrabook at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, and we finally know how much damage it will do to our bank accounts. The HP Envy 14 Spectre will be available Feb. 17 and priced at $1,400 to start.

The base model Spectre comes stocked with a 14-inch HD+ Radiance Infinity LED-backlit display and backlit keyboard, a 128GB SSD hard drive, Bluetooth connectivity, a TrueVision HD webcam, Gorilla Glass top fused to a black-and-silver aluminum body, and 9.5 hours of battery life. Supported ports include mini-DisplayPort, HDMI, USB 3.0, and an SD/MultiMediaCard reader. HP also developed HP CoolSense, which keeps your machine running cool even after long hours of use, so you won't suffer from the dreaded laptop burn on your legs.

What do you think of the HP Envy 14 Spectre - worth the price tag at first glance?

Will You Buy the Nokia Lumia 900?

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:59:28 PST

We heard rumblings of a March 11 release date for the Nokia Lumia 900 on the floor at CES, but according to leaked documents handed over to BGR, the date might actually be closer to March 18. What's even more exciting? The docs indicate a $100 price tag.

The Nokia Lumia 900 was easily the most talked-about gadget at CES this year, coming with a sleek blue or black bod and Windows Phone 7 Mango. And with a price tag that small, Nokia could have a massive hit on its hands. Tell us - would you buy the Nokia Lumia 900?

6 CES Gadgets We Didn't Know We Needed

GeekSugar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:59:42 PST

CES is the gadget addict's Disneyland, with miles of shiny new technology you never knew was always needed in your life. A refrigerator that keeps your health goals in mind, the crispest TV display ever seen, and a phone that will never need to be soaked in rice again after a water encounter - these six electronics and accessories are the new must haves we didn't know we were missing.

GE Brings Affordability to Power Cameras

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:12:00 PST

With the amount of professional-grade DSLR cameras on the market today, the only thing stopping you from capturing vacation shots worthy of National Geographic is the prohibitive price point. Traditionally these powerful cameras cost close to $1,000 and more, but after this year's CES, GE hopes to make high-performing digital cameras an affordable option.

At the show, the company better known for its household appliances, unveiled a line of bridge cameras that include pro-level features for under $200. Check out specs and images for the new line of cameras in the gallery.

Source: GE

Watch Out, Siri: Vlingo May Beat You to the TV

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:10:13 PST

Steve Jobs said he "cracked the code" on TVs, which led analysts to believe that there will soon be a voice-controlled Apple TV set on the horizon. Only thing is - Vlingo may beat Apple to the punch.

Seen at the Consumer Electronics Show last week, Vlingo (most known for its voice recognition software on the Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows, and other smartphone platforms) had a video demo of what its software will soon be able to do on the big screen, thanks to app platforms being stocked in so many "smart" TVs in 2012. It's very Siri-like, as you use your voice to control channel changes, DVR recordings, messages, social media, and more. Imagine Siri partnered with your Xbox Kinect, and you start to get an idea of how it would work. I only wish there had been a live demo to try out, but Vlingo has me very excited for the future of TV. Well, that and the amazing LG 55-inch OLED TV.

See what Vlingo's onscreen action really looks like from the screencaps in the gallery!

13 New CES Smartphones You Should Know About

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:50:48 PST

There were a number of smartphones introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show this year, ranging from large and powerful to sleek and sexy. Which will you choose? Get to know each of them a little better here.

Coming Soon: A Smarter Credit Card In Your Wallet

Kelly Schwarze — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:29:13 PST

Gear up for a smarter wallet, thanks to hi-tech advancements coming to the traditionally archaic pieces of plastic called credit cards. CES exhibitor Dynamics is the company looking to revolutionize the cash-less way we pay for goods. Packing computer brains into the same size and thickness as a regular credit card, the Dynamics card gives customers a range of financial options with the push of a button.

Introduced in 2011, Dynamics and Citi teamed up to create a redemption card that allows customers to select whether they want to pay with regular funds or with their account's accrued reward points.

The card that may prove most useful is the multi-account, letting a user opt to pay with a checking or savings account with the same card. Press the button for the account of choice, which will have a light indicator, and then (too easily for those on a budget!) make a purchase from the appropriate account. For those more concerned with their money's security, Dynamics is also working on a card that will have all account information hidden and only accessible with the entry of a secret code on the credit card itself.

We hope to see announcements of these cards' mainstream use in the coming year. A smart and secure credit card? This may have been the most useful demo at CES!

Source: Dynamics

iDapt Aims to Be the Only Charger Dock You'll Ever Need

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:55:42 PST

Charging stations and docks are fab because they can manage your cable clutter and save you precious outlet space, while keeping multiple gadgets juiced. The downside is regular docks and stations can sometimes get bulky to make room for a hidden power strip and multiple charging cords. Sure, they keep things tidy, but who wants a breadbox sitting in their entryway?

For those who want to cut down on clutter and maximize usable space, there's the iDapt line of chargers. Coming in two ($40), three ($50), or four ($60) port styles, the iDapt uses a patented interchangeable tip system so you can customize which gadgets you charge, and eliminate the need for charging cables altogether. The charging tips are small, inexpensive (charging tips are only $10 each), and can be inserted into any available port on the iDapt charging dock. With over 4,500 compatible tips, you're covered no matter which gadget you own, even when you upgrade or switch devices in the future. This includes phones, tablets, gaming devices, and more. There's even a USB connector on the side so you can charge your tablet, camera, or other USB-compatible devices. Learn more about the iDapt, and take a closer look at the system in the fresh-from-CES-pics in the gallery!

Catch Up With Our 2012 CES Coverage So Far

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:50:44 PST

We've left Las Vegas, but that doesn't mean we're done with CES. Missed any news, releases, or photos? Catch up with all of our CES coverage so far, and stay tuned for lots more gadget goodness!

Cameras

Polaroid adds WiFi to its new SC1630 Smart Camera.
Speaking of WiFi, the Sony Bloggie Live can livestream your videos with a connection.
Like Instagram? You'll love the new Panasonic Lumix GX1 that has photo filters, tilt-shift tools, and scene selections built in for easy photo editing. Just like Instagram.
Samsung helps you get the perfect self-portrait with the WiFi-enabled DV300F.

Tablets and Ultrabooks

The Samsung Galaxy Note: is it a tablet or is it a phone?
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 is slim and sleek.
We're drooling over the Gorilla Glass-backed HP Envy 14 Spectre ultrabook.
Acer is banking on ultrabooks in 2012 and beyond. They rolled out two new Timeline ultrabooks along with the world's thinnest ultrabook, the S5.

Smartphones

We're looking forward to the Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone.
The LG Spectrum is the perfect phone for streaming-video lovers.
Sprint is getting two new 4G LTE phones soon: the Galaxy Nexus and LG Viper.
AT&T adds a whopping eight new Android and Windows Phone smartphones to its 2012 lineup.
Huawei hopes to break into the US mobile market with the Ascend PS 1: the world's thinnest smartphone.

See the latest on TVs, headphones, trends, celebrities, and more after the break.

What CES Is Like For a Woman: 2012 Edition

GeekSugar — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:18:26 PST

Although being female in the tech industry isn't unusual, we're certainly outnumbered. At a large industry event like CES, there are perks and disadvantages to being a part of the underrepresented gender, so you definitely walk away with a solid pro/con list after the event. The best part was networking with other savvy ladies in technology, which made the con list - spoiler: it's pretty short - worth all the trouble.

Pro: Respect from our fellow journalists and bloggers - While we overheard some unfortunate comments about women in the tech industry last year, 2012 was all about saying hello, getting to know our favorite writers, and even sparking new friendships throughout the week.
Pro: Instant bonding with your female ilk - Both during the conference and at networking events, we were able to instantly bond with our female brethren. It was so nice to see so many smart, successful women in the industry, and meeting them was one of the conference's major highlights.
Pro: No bathroom lines. - I waxed poetic about this one already, but I can't talk enough about how refreshing it was to enjoy a line-free trip to the restroom with plenty of sink and mirror space.
Pro: Fewer booth babes on the show floor - Correct me if I'm wrong, but I didn't see as many booth babes as I have in years' past. Don't get me wrong, they're still there, but I think it's becoming a wider-known fact that if you need a female with her boobs popping out of her shirt to attract attention to your booth, it means your product probably sucks. Let's hope this is a trend that sticks.

Hear about what we didn't like about our time at CES this year after the break.