Filed under: Cell Phones, Editor's Picks, Top Lists, Slideshows, CES 2008 In the beginning, Bluetooth headsets were a bit off-putting. You stuck one in your ear, called a friend on your mobile phone, and watched as people on the street looked on as you had a conversation -- seemingly with yourself. But things have changed drastically since then. These small, wireless gadgets are now ubiquitous, gracing the earlobes of everyone from the guy on the next treadmill to your grandma in her car. So what are the coolest, most innovative we saw at CES that'll find their way to store shelves this year? Take a look at our five favorites:BlueAnt Wireless V1: Forget playing with buttons, checking on blinking lights or messing with your cell phone when you want to make a call. The BlueAnt V1 is the first completely voice controlled Bluetooth headset and it's superneat. With just one button to activate it -- all you do is talk and it will talk right back. Want to call the operator? Just speak and your wish is its command. Speed dial has never been so easy, either. Using advanced Voice Recognition and Voice Synthesis technology, the V1 also has dual microphones and proprietary Voice Isolation Technology, which allows the headset to hear you clearly and provides amazing noise reduction, echo cancellation and even protection from wind. Small and lightweight, the V1 gets up to six hours of talk time or 200 hours of standby with one battery charge. And all this for just $119. (Image by way of MobileWhack.com) Next >>  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell PhonesThe early results are in. No, not for the next presidential primary. It's Thumplay's list of the top mobile phone ringtone downloads thus far for 2008. At $2.99 a pop is it worth it to you? Give them a listen and decide for yourself.DJ Khaled ft. T Pain, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross and PliesI'm So HoodFergieClumsyPlayaz Circle ft. Lil' WayneDuffle Bag BoyShop BoyzParty Like A Rock Star (Totally Dude)The DreamShawty Is Da...(10)J. HolidayBedRihannaHate That I Love You (Rihanna Chorus)Timbaland ft. OneRepublicApologizeRihannaShut Up And DriveSoulja Boy Tell 'EmSoulja Girl Related Links:Ringtones To Help Keep Your New Year's Resolutions Five Annoying Things About iTunes' New Ringtone Service Force Your Ringtones on Friends  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, TV, CES 2008The market for HDTVs is flooded with competing technologies and not to mention perplexing acronyms and abbreviations -- DLP, LCD, OLED, Plasma, SED. Now you can add Laser TV to your list of display technologies to know. Mitsubishi unveiled a 65-inch laser television at an event during this week's CES -- and people at this week's CES show were buzzing about the incredible color and contrast.Mitsubishi isn't revealing details about exactly how it works, but we do know it is based on a rear projection system, meaning that this is never going to be as thin as those sexy OLEDs on display. And who knows what the future holds for big and bulky projection TVs, whose stars are falling almost as quickly as those of HD-DVD. But the laser TV does have a leg up in the image quality department. Apparently, colors were so intense and contrast so dramatic that Greg Adler at PC World described it as "artificial" looking.Pricing isn't available, but Mitsubishi plans to have the displays on the market by fall of 2008.From EngadgetRelated links:Hands-On With Philips' New Dream HD LCD TV Samsung's 31-Inch OLED-TV Makes Jaws Drop Video: Alienware's New Curved, Wrap-Around Display  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Car Tech, Top Lists, Slideshows, CES 2008 Soon it may be easier to list the companies that don't have navigation devices in their roster of products than those who do.If the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show proved anything about the personal navigation category, it's that finding your way from point A to point B is what manufacturer's think will get you to find your way to the store to buy a new GPS device.Garmin and TomTom, the two leading personal navigation device (PND) makers, are certainly looking over their shoulders as major brands such as Sony, Panasonic and Pioneer introduce new devices. Rather than being simply test products for a burgeoning market, the new GPS devices by these major cross-category consumer electronics companies are serious contenders, offer a plethora of the latest features.Nevertheless, even upstart companies such as the one below are adding innovative features into the mix. The result? There has never been a better year to take the plunge and buy yourself a GPS device. If you're in the market for a new GPS device this year, you should take a look at our roundup. We've compiled a list of the most anticipated new navigation devices coming out in 2008, along with release dates. Improved real-time traffic data: No new products at the show, but a continued push to get consumers to pre-order its upcoming product launch. What's special about DASH? It offers real-time traffic data based on the position of other DASH-equipped cars (plus data from a host of other sources). If the product works as promised, the extra bulk of the unit on your windshield won't matter because you'll be getting where you need to go in less time. The DASH Express will cost $599.99. Next >> Related links:Survivor Tech: Gadgets That Can Save Your Life Voice-Activated Voicebox GPS Likes How You Talk Goodyear to Guide Drivers by GPS (Blimp Not Included)  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Computers, iPodAmazon.com has done it. In less than six months since its launch, the amazonmp3 service has gone from nothing to establishing a position as the only place on the web to legally download DRM-free music from every major American music studio. It was just a few weeks ago that Warner signed up, leaving Sony as the odd company out, something we predicted would change quickly. We didn't figure it'd be quite this quick, though, with Sony announcing plans to sell DRM-free music on amazonmp3.DRM is of course the nasty copy protection that comes along much of the music you download online. Lately it's been going out of style faster than trucker hats and corny TV gameshows, but Amazon.com's site is the only place on the web that exclusively sells DRM-free music from in a format that works on every digital music player known to man (the ubiquitous MP3), giving it a strong advantage over Apple's iTunes service. Plus, with many of its tracks available for $.89, ten cents cheaper than iTunes, at this point there's no reason not to check out what Amazon has to offer.From USA TodayRelated Links: Amazon MP3 Store Takes Aim at iTunes Warner Offers Music on Amazon Without Copy Protection Wal-Mart Tells Music Labels to Offer DRM-Free Music 'Or Else'  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/VideoIf we've learned anything in the past week it's that pollsters get it wrong sometimes -- way wrong. So, despite most people calling the high-definition format war for Blu-ray (including ourselves) some still had hope for the underdog format thanks to one thing: porn. Now that advantage seems to be going away, with a few major adult studios pledging to support both formats equally. It's long been held that Sony didn't want adult filth colluding its pristine Blu-ray format, and for that reason the adult film industry embraced the HD-DVD format early on. This reminded many of the VHS vs. Betamax format wars in the 80's, where Sony didn't want porn on its format then either, leaving many nudie aficionados with nowhere to turn but VHS. The rest is history.However, Sony seems to be easing its moral misgivings this time, with Digital Playground and Hustler announcing they will be releasing films in both formats. Yes, the majority of high-def porn is still on HD-DVD (or direct for download online), but surely more will be coming to Sony's format in the very near future, leaving HD-DVD's future looking that much more bleak.From www.t3.comRelated Links: It's Finally Time to Pick Blu-ray Over HD-DVD LG Claims New Hybrid HD Disc Player is Out (But Shelves Are Empty) Dell Goes Sexy With New All-in-One Computer  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, Car Tech, iPod, CES 2008So what can you look forward to in 2008 for your in-car media system? More integration with digital media devices (ie. iPods), better sounding compact speakers, lower prices on those high-end all-in-one units, and technologies to enhance the quality of the sound, not just the volume.More than anything it seems like 2008 will be the year that iPod integration and Bluetooth become standard on all but the lowest-end systems. Every all-in-one system from Kenwood and Pioneer featured the abilities, and almost every standard CD player system provided iPod connectivity. Some of the more basic models have even been fitted with Bluetooth. That means you can say goodbye to those headsets that make you look like a jerk.As for those all-in-one units that combine GPS with audio and video functions, look for prices to continue to take a nosedive. Prices start at $1,000 for units from Kenwood, Pioneer, and Alpine, but we expect by the end of the year prices will fall even further.Meanwhile, Pioneer says it is going back to it roots: sound quality. iPods allow us to carry our entire music collections in our back pocket, but the problem with digital audio is that it's compressed in order to make the file smaller. Pioneer is using a technology they call ASR (Advanced Sound Retrieval) to restore some of the lost frequency range due to compression, and after a demo we were quite impressed.Lastly, as with everything else, thin is in when it comes to car speakers. Just about every company that makes car speakers was showing off shallow subwoofers for those who don't want to gut or mod their car to get amazing bass.%Gallery-13435%Related links:Car Stereos Gone Wild (and More)Volcanic Rock Makes Light and Durable Pioneer Speakers17,000 Watt Car Stereo Turns Car Into Jell-O Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell Phones, iPhoneYou just had to figure this was coming. With phones getting smarter and more advanced, and with the popularity and hype surrounding the iPhone, a virus just had to be in the cards. And that's exactly what been released. But, breathe easy: if you're one of the vast majority of iPhone users who haven't unlocked your phone, you aren't susceptible to a virus -- at least not yet.The virus is what's called a trojan, something that pretends to be something else to get you to install it. According to Macworld UK, this virus pretends to be an update to Erica's iPhone Utilities, a popular suite of tools for those who have unlocked their phone, enabling them to install whatever they like. This means, of course, that if your phone isn't unlocked you couldn't install the app anyway, so no virus worries for you.As viruses go this one isn't a particularly bad one. If you're infected your iPhone will just show the text "shoes" rather frequently. Go to uninstall it, though, and it'll wipe out the installation of many of your system applications. The kicker is: the thing was apparently writtenby an 11-year-old, making us wonder what will happen when a serious malicious developer decides to try his hand at killing some iPhones. From textually.org and Macworld UKRelated Links: Hackers Will Go After iPhone in 2008, Says Network Security Firm iPhone's Web Browser Vulnerable to Hacker Attacks The FBI's Spyware: Is it Watching You?  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: CES 2008Someone here at the Switched has a bit of an obsession, if you hadn't noticed yet. We just can't help but cover every novelty or development in the world of paper shredders. Sadly there was nothing as powerful as this $30,000 shredder on display at CES, but there were a few noteworthy entries into the world of document destruction.Whether they were pretty, paranoid or just plain weird, they made it to our Class of 2008: Paper Shredders Edition gallery. Check it out.%Gallery-13378%Related links:USB Powered Portable Paper ShredderWe Love Things That ShredPet Powered Paper Shredder Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, CES 2008Canon this week introduced a lineup of new consumer camcorders with the moniker "VIXIA". This line includes a dual solid state (no hard drives or moving parts) unit that on the face of it is quite impressive.The HF10 Dual Flash Memory camcorder uses both a 16 gigabyte internal flash drive and a removable SDHC memory card to store your captured video and still images. Flash memory is good because unlike a hard drive, optical disc, or video tape, there are no moving parts in that part of the camcorder mechanism, so it requires less energy and has less chance of failure (with normal use). The internal memory can capture up to six hours of high definition video.The HF10 and another unit, the HF100 (which only has the SDHC card slot), both feature 24p cinema mode for capturing movie-like images and a 30p progressive mode, which is good for capturing fast-motion action like sports.The HV30 HD camcorder introduced here seems almost quaint in that it uses MiniDV cassette tapes, although its predecessor, the HV20, did a nice job with high definition video capture.The HF10 Dual Flash Memory will be available in April for $1,099. The HF100 is also coming in April and will carry an $899 price tag. Finally, the HV30 is coming out in February and will set you back $999.We'll let you know what we think once we get our hands on the set for testing.Related links:New High Speed, High Capacity Memory Cards On The WayWorld's Smallest HD Camcorder from PanasonicA Video Cam No Bigger Than a Pack of Gum!  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Audio/Video, TV, Reviews, Home Video, Televisions, CES 2008Your heroes at Switched came away impressed after our hands-on with Philips' latest high definition (HD) LCD television sets last night. The new sets comprise Philips' 2008 "Design Collection", featuring round-edges surrounded by acrylic framing in all TVs ranging from 19 to 52 inches (diagonal). Forgive us for jumping to the dessert course of the meal, but we think it best to go into detail about the Ultimate Dream TV, the top-of-the-line product from Philip's new 7000 Series that is being hailed as a winner of the 2008 CEA Innovations Award for Design and Engineering. As it's known in technical jargon, this 52PFL7603D model features something called 120 Hz ClearLCD Technology. This screen innovation improves the shadows and detail made up in the ever-important black levels. As far as images and on-screen motion goes, the 7000 Series Dream TV operates at 120 Hz rather than the 60 Hz found in many sets today, an improvement in response time that eliminates most (if not all) streaking. What may be the coolest, though, is the new HD Digital Natural Motion technology that stabilizes moving images and reduces frame stutter.The Dream model also includes an invisible speaker system that pipes great quality sound from the bottom of the TV throughout the acrylic frame and out to you in Ambisound form (that's just Philips elitist way of not saying "virtual surround sound" like everyone else). All of the TVs in the 7000 series offer four HDMI 1.3a inputs with built-in consumer electronics control (CEC), in addition to a picture calibrating feature that offers a convenient series of two image modes instead of making you tweak all of the levels yourself. We thought that was cool, but you hardcore picture-tweaking freaks will most likely be annoyed. At the end of the demo, the gee-whiz Philips rep set up a "shootout" among Sony and Samsung's 2007 HD LCD sets versus Philips' 2007 and new 2008 products. The 2008 Philips easily won due to its great color, smooth motion and high detail. The2007 model was much less dominant, but it still seemed to have better image detail, as we could see the blades of grass on its screen more distinctly than in its competitors'. To be fair, we would have loved to see the three companies go head to head to head on equal footing, but Sony and Samsung weren't around to speak for themselves.The Dream TV comes out in May at a whopping retail price of $2,799, while the cheapest, 42 inch 7000 series option debuts in March at $1,699. The only difference outside of size is that the latter lacks only Ambilight, a feature that provides well-balanced light on the screen and behind the set. Philips also has both a 3000 and 5000 HD LCD series, though they come with fewer bells and whistles as the price goes down.The handy chart below includes release dates and prices for those of you itching to spend some cash on a new HDTV in 2008. Related Links:Philips Wants to get in Touch With Its Feminine SideWorld's Largest TV Measures 150 InchesSony Closing Its Rear-Projection Television Line Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Computers, Peripherals, CES 2008With flavors like marshmallow, kiwi, bubblegum, black cherry and espresso the new line of Fabrik SimpleTech's Signature Mini Drives are ready to be filled up even as they make you salivate. The fashion-forward drives were designed by powerhouse Italian designer Pininfarina (of Ferrari fame) and sport 120, 160, 250 and 320 gigabytes of storage space in a small and stylish form factor.But the real bonus that comes with these drives is the Fabrik Ultimate Backup, which once activated automatically and incrementally backs up your hard drive either locally or externally via a secure server farm for free (up to 2 gigabytes free or $5 per month for unlimited storage).The drives will be available next month and range from $119.99 (120 gigabytes) to $229.99 (320 gigabytes).Related links: Enough Storage Space For Everything? Terabyte Laptop ComingGoogle Offers 250 Gigs of Storage for $500LaCie's New Gold-Covered External Drive Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Cell Phones, Computers, Green Tech, Home Audio, Televisions, CES 2008We've been reporting how Green Technology is making the headlines at this year's Consumer Electronics Showcare. Whether developing atmosphere and energy-friendly cars that run on hydrogen fuel cells or batteries made with no lead, cadmium or mercury, businesses are increasingly becoming eco-conscious as they make new products for the consumer. These sometimes wacky, sometimes futuristic items offer sources of clean, power-conserving energy while minimizing harm to the environment. Check out the gallery for a look at how green things have become.Continue >>%Gallery-13328%Related Links:Green Tech to be a Major Theme at Next Week's Gadget ShowGreenpeace Trying to Clean Up the Gaming IndustryEnergy-Saving Bulbs Causing Migraine Headaches Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

  Filed under: Car Tech, Green Tech We may be half a world away at CES in Las Vegas, but this announcement out of the 9th annual Auto Expo in New Delhi certainly caught our attention. India manufacturer Tata officially unveiled what is now known as the Tata Nano. But whether you call it the Nano, the People's Car, the 1-lakh, or the $2,500 car it's still a feat of engineering.Sure, for $2,500, you're forgoing a lot of comforts and features (no iPod dock or even power steering here). But what it lacks in modern technical amenities it makes up for in value. Despite the low price tag, this little car gets 54 miles to the gallon, and either meets or exceeds safety standards around the globe. Interest note: Now that Tata is bringing automobiles to developing nations, it's looking to expand its reach in the opposite direction and has begun talks with Ford to purchase the luxury Jaguar brand.From EngadgetRelated links:Car Stereos Gone Wild (and More)GM's New Hydrogen Powered Car UnveiledHonda Testing Clean Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments