NWA-PCUG Newsletter Article, March 2011
Incredible, Spectacular, Amazing…
and of course, Innovative

By Lou Torraca, President,
The TUG MOAA Computer User Group, Hawaii

http://www.the-tug.org
Af06hi (at) gmail.com (click to email author)

By the time u read this, I should be in Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) where oohs and aahs are regularly heard as thousands of new electronic goodies are unveiled. So, to tweak your curiosity about all this, I have listed a handful of new products that have been chosen as Innovation Award winners I will hopefully see in person while I’m at the show.

The Innovations Design and Engineering Awards program, sponsored by PCWorld recognizes the most innovative consumer electronics (CE) products in the industry's hottest product categories. Innovations has become a hallmark for the best designed products in consumer technology.

Without further ado, the winners are:

HP Photosmart eStation All-in-One Printer C510

Overview
Combine full Web browsing with high-performance printing, faxing without a phone line, copying and scanning. The detachable, 7-inch, full-color touchscreen doubles as a wireless digital companion and control panel for remote printing.

Features
* Full Web browsing from a detachable touchscreen.
* Tap into your online world-browse the Web, access news and weather updates, e-mail and more.
* Download and print from the Web-documents, photos and more-using a handy, wireless touchscreen.
* Browse the latest e-book bestsellers or old favorites, using the wireless touchscreen.
* Use apps to print from the Web without using a PC.
* Use customized apps to quickly get the prints you want from the Web.
* Access and print, using apps for Yahoo!, Facebook, and Snapfish.
* Get fun and useful templates for calendars, games and more, using HP Quick Forms.
* Wireless all-in-one functionality, plus HP ePrint.
* Print at your convenience-whether it's from across town or across the room-using HP ePrint.
* Print and share from multiple PCs, and stay connected, using integrated wireless networking.
* Count on affordable, individual inks for long-lasting photos, and get a great value for frequent printing.
* Have more fun with your photos with HP Photo Creations software and tools to make photo printing easy.
* Save energy and conserve resources.
* Save time and paper by printing two-sided documents automatically.
* Save energy with the ENERGY STAR, qualified HP Photosmart eStation.
* Reduce packaging waste-the HP Photosmart eStation is shipped in an innovative, reusable bag.
* Get free, easy recycling-cartridges returned through HP Planet Partners are recycled response.

KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera
It’s small enough to fit in your pocket, but why would you ever want to put it there? Whether out on the town or just hanging with friends, the KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera captures every experience in stunning 1080p HD video.

Stay in focus while you’re on the move with integrated image stabilization. Then kick back and watch all the action on your HDTV or share your scene on Facebook or YouTube with a flick of the built-in USB arm. The Zi8 has all you need to define yourself in high definition Catch life as it happens. * Capture HD quality 1080p video with 16:9 aspect ratio
* Plenty of room for more-record up to 10 hours of HD video with the expandable SD/SDHC card slot that can hold up to 32 GB[1]
* Make audio awesome-the external microphone jack lets you record in stereo
* Get a new perspective-take amazing 5 MP 16:9 widescreen HD still pictures.

Sleek Audio's SA7 earphones
The SA7, by Sleek Audio, sets a new standard for mobile audio performance through advanced design technology. A milled aluminum core houses a first-of-its kind custom tuned dual armature driver configuration. The drivers are encased in a layer of silicone, further protected by military-grade carbon fiber sidings and held together with a titanium hexagonal fastener. Yet the groundbreaking construction of this earphone is just one aspect of the technology it employs. The drivers are tuned by Sleek’s acoustic engineers to offer striking clarity with brilliant highs, strong mids and accurate, powerful bass. To enhance the audio experience even further, the SA7 boasts Sleek’s acclaimed VQ ™ Tuning system, allowing you to acoustically tune your music to match your individual sonic preference. No detail of music is lost regardless of where you choose to listen with the SA7. ESC (Environmental Sound Control) blocks more than double the ambient noise of larger, “noise cancelling” earphones allowing you to escape into your music. As part of Sleek’s Signature series, the SA7 also offers Wireless Hybrid Technology, giving you the ability to go from wired, to wireless and back again using Kleer lossless technology.

Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc player, powered by Google TV Television, meet internet.
Access more entertainment than ever. Search the entire web, TV listings and apps to find exactly what you're looking for. Watch TV, browse the internet, or do both at the same time on the same screen. Plus, finding your favorite content is a breeze thanks to the included, intuitive handheld keypad with mouse. Now you can watch the game while tracking your fantasy team, tweet about the TV show you're watching, or update your Facebook status while viewing TV.

Google TV delivers a new experience by bringing the TV and internet together. Using your existing cable or satellite service and at no additional cost, Google TV gives you access to more entertainment options and simplifies the process of finding what you’re looking. Plus, you can enjoy both TV and web content at the same time, on the same screen.

Kenmore Elite® Dishwasher with Interactive Color LCD Controls These Kenmore Elite® high-efficiency dishwashers feature 360° PowerWash™ technology. This innovative spray arm reaches into corners to blast dishes from all angles, getting every last one sparkling clean. These dishwashers also include TurboZone™ with Rotating Spray Jets, an exclusive option that power cleans stuck on foods to eliminate the need to presoak dishes. The a color-touch LCD display puts important information at your fingertips and allows you to stay in control. * Get your dishes done in a hurry - The 1-Hour Wash cycle will quickly clean dishes when you most need them
* Wash oversized items with ease - The premium, adjustable upper rack with fold-down tines can be raised, lowered, or even removed to wash dishes of all sizes
* Save on your energy bills - These dishwashers are ENERGY STAR® qualified and are 38.9% more efficient than dishwashers with a standard energy rating
* Conserve water and energy without sacrificing performance - The high-efficiency Ultra Wash® HE wash system saves water and energy while effectively cleaning the dirtiest dishes
* Take the guesswork out of choosing the right cycle - With the touch of a button, SmartWash™ HE chooses the right cycle and automatically adjusts water levels and temperatures to ensure optimal cleaning
* Save effort with TurboZone rotating spray jets - TurboZone provides a concentrated wash to dishes placed in the back of the rack and eliminates the need to pre-soak dishes
* Get every last dish sparkling clean - 360° PowerWash technology features an innovative spray arm that blasts dishes from all angles and reaches deep into the corners of the dishwasher to clean every dish
* Get the best drying results for each load - With the touch of a button, SmartDry automatically adjusts dry time, heat and energy to match the selected wash cycle for optimized drying performance.

Audiovox MultiView Cam with Pedestrian Warning
We can put a man on the moon, but we've yet to build a car without blind spots. Audiovox's MultiView Cam with Pedestrian Warning goes several steps further than your average car rear-view camera system, offering a 180-degree lens and low-light capabilities that help you see what's coming from side angles when you're backing up. The system even gives audio alerts to let you know if a car, bike, or pedestrian is approaching from the rear sides of your car.

The Jabra STONE2 Bluetooth wireless headset takes the incredible ease-of-use of the original STONE to exciting new levels. To start with, there is now no need to even touch the headset to answer or reject a call - you just use your voice. The headset tells you each caller’s number and you then simply say yes if you want to accept the call, and no if you don’t.

You don’t have to look at the Jabra STONE2 headset to check battery level or the strength of the connection with your mobile phone. It will tell you just what you need to know via voice alerts.

The Jabra STONE2 wireless handset also puts extra power in the palm of your hand. Its portable charger enables you to fast charge on the go up to 3 times - and each charge takes only 20 minutes. You get up to 10 full hours of wireless talk time in a charger that slips easily into your pocket or bag.

With the Jabra STONE2 everything sounds great. Dual mic technology eliminates background noise and maintains the natural sound of your voice. You will feel comfortable too. The lightness of the headset, its curved shape and personalized eargels, will make every conversation a pleasure.

With the Jabra STONE2 you have new opportunities. You can take talk much further.

HomePlug AV with ClearPath is a breakthrough home networking technology that enables unprecedented, carrier-class streaming of HD video, voice, and data over existing powerlines in the home. Sigma’s chipset uses all three wires - phase, neutral, and ground to deliver improved performance and up to twice the throughput. It is the only MIMO (multiple in, multiple out) solution available over powerline. Sigma’s HomePlug AV with ClearPath gives substantially better coverage, throughput, and the ability to deliver HD where it is not possible today. Both ClearPath and MIMO over powerline are Sigma patented technologies.

As you can see, there are lots of electronic goodies, so stay tuned as I will give you a rundown in my next several columns on a lot of the ones I will be seeing during my visit at the CES from 4 to 9 January. Hope you had fun during the holidays, and are taking some time to wind-down and get back to a normal schedule.

Aloha, Lou
You can read Lou’s monthly column at http://www.aroundhawaii.com/technology_in_plain_english.html http://bit.ly/f3TQ5t

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