CntrStg and CES 2010
January 6, 2010 by Mike Temporale
Filed under Blog, CES 2010, Featured, News
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Unfortunately and with great regret, we are sad to inform you that we will not be holding CntrStg at CES 2010. However, we will be focusing our efforts and resources at other shows for the 2010 year. Due to several unforseen circumstances including a large reduction in blogger attendance at CES 2010 as well as some last minute pullout of key sponsors, we didn’t feel we could put on the same high quality event for both bloggers and sponsors, that met the same level and caliber of last year’s CntrStg event. Several companies still have interest in interacting with bloggers and we will still be hosting several key community events during CES 2010 so be sure to stay tuned to the CntrStg website, www.cntrstg.com and check your email for details of those events as they unfold.
If you didn’t register for CntrStg last year and wish to be informed of these CntrStg events please send an email to ces2010@cntrstg.com.
Ace Computers @ CntrStg
January 10, 2009 by Steven Hughes
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We had John Samborski from Ace Computers talk about their new AMD powered Maui system which is an affordabe clear QAM enabled Media Center with a built-in Audio Pre-Amp for under $1000.
He gave us a very detailed description of what went into creating a high-end media center computer that is affordable for the average consumer.
They had a very cool new user interface.
![Back of the Maui](../../farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/3185348409_b62b5e191d.jpg)
Back of the Maui
The back of the Maui even allows for hook-up to a pair of stereo speakers. The great thing about this system besides being affordable is the low power draw at the plug, it pulls down 85W on average and it drops to 15W in sleep mode.
They also discussed a really cool device they are also selling to eliminate the vampire draw of power from being plugged in. The device is called HiSaver, which is very cool powerstrip with a motion sensor that has 5 switchable outlets that turn on via a motion sensor that is mounted to your television so can eliminate power when not in use of your A/V equpment to 0. The unit sells for $99. I just found something else I need to buy.
Sling Media @ CntrStg
January 10, 2009 by Steven Hughes
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After our lunch sponsored by ProClip we had MegaZone from Sling Media came in to talk about the new mobile Blackberry client and the iPhone announcement at MacWorld. The iPhone client price has not been set yet and will be in the App Store by the end of the quarter. He also stated that Sling is aiming to be a one box solution to many so people can get their media content anytime, anywhere.
He said they are looking at new clients with the G-phone and new Palm phone that was announced at CES. Currently there It was a great discussion where we had a very open discussion on the future of Sling Media. He probably said more than he should have, but we won’t go into details because we don’t want to get him into trouble.
He also announced that the EchoStar HD DuoDVR SlingLoaded ViP 922 won CNET’s “Best of CES” today, and two of G4’s judging panelists, Attack of the Show host Kevin Pereira and Wired’s Chris Hardwick, both picked EchoStar’s SlingLoaded 922 as their very favorite out of the entire 2009 CES. The EchoStar 922’s unique user interface and remote control were also selected as CES Innovations 2009 Design and Engineering Award honorees prior to the show.
Windows Mobile @ CntrStg
January 10, 2009 by Steven Hughes
Filed under Blog, CES 2009
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Today we have Greg Sullivan, Senior Product Manager for Windows Mobile In the last year there were 20 million sales Windows Mobile devices with 11 phones selling over 1 million each. So Microsoft realizes that one size doesn’t fit all people like choice.
Greg provided a detailed discussion of what was briefly presented at the Microsoft Pre-CES keynote from Steve Balmer.
NetFlix Mobile allows you to manage your NetFlix Queue and to search for movies for download on your PC and Xbox 360.
A nice easy to use User Interface.
![Netflix preview](../../farm4.static.flickr.com/3525/3184835595_c07547c3f6.jpg)
Netflix preview
You even get a small preview video that downloads for viewing to your phone so you can choose to download it or not.
He also covered Microsoft Tag which was introduced at CES as a new barcode for Microsoft products. in order to connect you with the physical world with the online world so special offers can easily be delivered with out repackaging a product and providing product information when some is walking by a product.
All it takes is a quick scan of the box.
So marketers can provide more updated product information directly to the consumer.
Turkey bowling , yes new version of Windows Mobile browser will now have better Flash support in the browser and other improvements for the making a better mobile user experience.
![Pandora Mobile](../../farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3185712114_94bd3bd148.jpg)
Pandora Mobile
He also demonstrated the Pandora client for Windows Mobile that connects to the same PC experience connecting back to services to create
New Facebook applicaition panel on the XPERIA.
He did some quick demonstrations of some new devices and how they are getting easier to use and help make the customer have that great “gadget lust” aka I really like this device feel.
Panoramic stiching on the Touch HD taken from 3 pictures.
He also announced there will be no Microsoft Zune phone, they have no plans to make their own hardware, but can’t expand on what Steve Balmer has already disclosed.
Windows Mobile also offered up a Sony Ericsson XPERIA for give away for one lucky winner.
Video of Scott e-Vest in action at CntrStg
January 10, 2009 by Steven Hughes
Filed under Blog, CES 2009
Our good friends at GottaBeMobile recorded a video of somone who not only shares my gear-lust, but may easily put it to shame, Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com showing off all the gadgets he stuffed in his pockets in his Scott e-Vest.
Here is a quote from Xavier:
I decided to ditch my backpack and wear my gadgets instead. I’ve packed my Scott-E-Vest with my HP Mini 1000 and a couple of dozen gadgets.
Scott E-vest products look to be popular at CntrStg this year, I brought two myself – the Ultimate Hoodie and the SeV Sport Coat.
HP @ CntrStg – Delivering on Digital Entertainment: Industry Report Card
January 9, 2009 by Steven Hughes
Filed under Blog, CES 2009
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In this session Carlos Montalvo the VP of Product Experience at HP, lead roundtable and abstract of the industry report card with a panel of experts in the industry.
The discussion revolved around the connected entertainment and evolution of the digital home and rating the consumer electronics industry and their evolution from the previous CES.
Carlos lead the panel with questions on grading the industry from the previous year to now. The panel consisted of:
Ross Rubin from NPD gave the industry a C.
Terri Walsh from We Got Served gave the industry a C-
Wilson Rothman from Gizmodo gave it a C-
Will Smith from Maximum PC graded the industry a D+.
Richard Doherty from Envisioneering gave the industry a D- .
The group gave a very honest review of digital media industry and what consumers want as well as the take aways from the Consumer Electronic show. The general consensus is that the industry has failed deliver on their promise to consumers, but are trying to get it right like they did when DVD media was delivered.
HP Notebook Teardown @ CntrStg
January 9, 2009 by Steven Hughes
Filed under Blog, CES 2009
During this sessions at CntrStg we had Matt McAndrew from HP come in and provide us with an overview how they have improved their laptops over a few years and showed us the evolution of making a stronger and lighter laptop in the next version based on repair costs that customers experienced making a better laptop and increase the value for the consumer.
Not only was a show and tell it was a highly interactive session with bloggers and their communities for feedback.
They passed around the lids from their older and newer laptop lids with new finishes and added durability and rigidity.
On the back of the lid is an aircraft inspired honey-comb plate is added for torsional rigidity while keeping the notebook as light as possible. Rigid not only on the top and bottom, but also as side impact and on the corners where most impacts from dropping occurs.
Matt talked about their hard drive drop-protection technology that parks the hard drive when its dropped and how it has improved. HP also mentinoed that are looking into opening up a developer SDK so end-users can tap into using the accelerometer for custom applications like taping the side of the display to flip pages, windows, moving the screen up and down to scroll.
He also did a quick example how they test their new Dura finish and tested with steel wool from average usage patterns by consumers on the previous version with out it and the current version with the anodized aluminum durafinish which didn’t scratch at all. Amazing process. On the bottom there is also a new painting surface to reduce the wear and tear occurs from every day sliding and placement on flat worksurfaces.
DuraKeys, (I know my wife would have loved this in her current HP notebook) that a finish on it to reduce the wearing off of letters from the keys. This came directly from feedback given by bloggers and customers This new finish has a 50% increase in resistance to wear.
A mylar film on the back of the keyboard guides the liquid away from the critical components in the laptop that would have expensive repair and replacement costs.
HP also made improvements in battery life and the circuitry to charge the battery to not only extend the battery, but also how fast it charges.
HP has also done some rugged-ablity and reliablity tests with MIL specs via third party testing with a table on their website on what the specs are for each of their laptops.
American Airlines @ CntrStg
January 9, 2009 by Steven Hughes
Filed under Blog, CES 2009
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We know why you fly is the slogan for American Airlines, who are focused on their customer and meeting their needs not only on why people fly, but how they fly.
Billy Sanez addressed and fully engaged with a room full of blogers at CntrStg asking them how they fly and how they can improve their services.
When consumers fly they carry all their gadgets with them and want them for both work and entertainment in their bags.
However they generally limted to the batteries of their devices as well as the extra power they can carry in their bags. Since cloud computing and dependency on internet connection is now coming to the main enterprise in order for people to get work done there is an increasing need to be connected not just by the business traveller, but the average traveller as well.
![Barcode boarding pass on a phone](../../farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/3182470715_bd77cc15b1.jpg)
Barcode boarding pass on a phone
Feedback was taken from around the room on WiFi access, in flight entertainment, power in the seats, Admirals club, and peer input on why they fly -price, comfort, and gaining miles in their AA Advantage program.
![Twittering questions and answers during AA session](../../farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/3182557727_be009d5717.jpg)
Twittering questions and answers during AA session
Not only by bloggers in the room, but by those following their blogs and Twitter feeds.
![](../../farm4.static.flickr.com/3344/3182571341_9916efb086.jpg)
Paul Mooney was one of the winners of a pair round trip tickets courtesy of American Airlines
At the end of this very informative and interactive session two winners were chosen for a pair of roundtrip tickets anywhere in the continental United States.
Adapt-Mobile @ CntrStg
January 9, 2009 by Steven Hughes
Filed under Blog, CES 2009, Featured
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Adapt Mobile a leading accessory company in Europe and Asia has just finished their presentation on the effect of the global economy and how accesories can help companies survive the recession.
Adapt Mobile has several designs that are customized and geared to the latest models of portable consumer electronics that are broken down into three main categories and are aimed to help consumers in their decision and purchasing experience as well as help build the brand of the product:
pX- Phone Experienc for HTC SOny ERicsson, Blackbeery, Palm
mX - Multimedia – Appple,Asus, Acer
gX Gaming Xperiencee NItnetdo Wii
The big hit of their presentation was their Pocket Projector than can project an image from 6″ – 50″ using LCoS optical technology with white LED as the source at 10 Lumens. It has an external 3-in-1 AV jack and can also project images and video from the built-in memory or memory card.
They had a quick contest for a marketing slogan voted on by the audience and gave one away.
HP Mini-Note Giveaway!
January 9, 2009 by Mike Temporale
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We’re giving away an HP Mini-Note again today! There’s no question that HP’s new Mini-Note is an attention getter and we have another one to giveaway today. For today’s giveaway, we’ll need you to do a little more than yesterdays giveaways. This time, Twitter won’t be enough but don’t let that stop you from Tweeting about it.
To qualify for today’s draw we’ll need a picture of you wearing a CntrStg T-Shirt at HP’s booth or, if you’re not going to be at the show floor, you can take a picture of yourself playing with the HP Mini-Note here in CntrStg. Send this picture to us at Events@CntrStg.com . You have until 4:00pm to take that picture and send it to us. We will randomly draw a winner shortly after 4pm and you will need to be here at CntrStg in order to claim your prize. If you don’t have a CntrStg T-Shirt, we’ve got a pile of them here in the suite. So grab one and get those camera’s snapping!
As an aside, we still have lots of other stuff to giveaway and we will be doing impromptu giveaways all day in the CntrStg suite. So don’t be shy, come out and you might win!
Don’t forget to check out today’s schedule of events – http://www.CntrStg.com/Schedule