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Best of CES: The Top Mobile Products at the ShowLAPTOP Magazine's editors scoured the CES show floor to pick the best products in each of 18 mobile categories--and that's no small feat.
The Best of CES winners are…
Notebooks: OQO model 02
An Ultra-Mobile PC we’d actually buy, the one-pound OQO model 02 is faster than the company’s original handheld Windows PC, and it sports a brighter five-inch display and better keyboard. But the killer feature is built-in Sprint EV-DO, which makes it easy to grab your e-mail and surf the Web from virtually anywhere in the U.S.
Notebook Accessories: Asus XG Station
This is the kind of product that makes you ask, "Why didn't I think of that?" The Asus XG Station is an external graphics card station that can transform your thin-and-light laptop into the ultimate gaming machine. Just connect it to your notebook via ExpressCard, hook up a monitor, and you're ready to go. It even features 5.1 surround sound.
Cell Phones: LG VX9400
Boasting an innovative landscape display, the LG VX9400 is the perfect complement to Verizon Wireless’ new V CAST Mobile TV service, delivering broadcast-quality video and near-instant channel changing to mobile phones. We love the dedicated launch button for TV, and it’s a cinch to navigate the program guide.
Cell Phone Accessories: Jabra BT8010
A first for Bluetooth accessories, the Jabra BT8010 is a convertible headset that allows users to seamlessly switch between mono mode (for making calls) and stereo mode (for listening to music). Cell Phone Service: Yahoo Go for Mobile 2.0
You’ve heard of push e-mail. This is push Internet. The very slick Yahoo Go for Mobile 2.0 brings the best of the Web to cell phones via a brilliant carousel interface that lets users quickly cycle through different widgets. The service delivers everything from news and weather to local search and photos.
Portable Audio: SanDisk Sansa Connect
This super-slim MP3 player can create an ever-changing playlist without being connected to your PC. While not the first Wi-Fi-enabled player, the Sansa Connect's sleek, pocket-friendly design and microSD Card expansion make it a winner. Portable Audio Accessories: Creative Xdock Wireless and Creative X-Fi
Creative's Xdock Wireless and X-Fi Wireless Receiver make it easy to cut the cord and pump up your favorite tracks throughout the house. An impressive feature list, outstanding sound, and a bargain price put this speaker dock on the top of our list. Portable Video: iriver W10 When we first saw the iriver W10, with its VoIP capabilities, Wi-Fi positioning system, FM tuner, voice recorder, and huge list of additional features, we knew we had found our favorite new travel companion. Other GPS devices tell you if there’s an incident ahead and may give you an alternate route. The Dash Express, however, tells you how long the delay will be and lets you decide if you want to be rerouted. Camcorders: Sony HDR-UX7
A lot of camcorders were announced this year (including 16 from Sony), but none stood out like the Sony HDR-UX7. This little beauty packs a three-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor that produces 1080i picture quality, optical image stabilization, 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound, and it easily records to DVDs. Cameras: Kodak EasyShare V1003
The megapixel race is over, and there are now several ten-megapixel digicams on the market, but none of the others combine that resolution with features like digital image stabilization for under $250. Projectors: ViewSonic PJ258
Aside from the terrible product name, this is one cool projector. This "Made for iPod" DLP projects the content from your iPod directly to the big screen without a PC. What makes the EV A8000 stand out from the pack is its easy, searchable user interface. You have full access to your PC, including the ability to search for the exact YouTube video you want, right on your computer screen. The market is full of similar products, but at first glance, this one stood out for its wide range of capabilities and ease of use.
Wireless Entertainment: Sling Media SlingCatcher
Everyone is trying to figure out how to move YouTube and other Web-based video from the PC to the TV, but we think this approach is the best one yet. When it launches in the middle of the year, the SlingCatcher will let you stream whatever is on your notebook to the big screen, as well as move your favorite TV/PVR content to other rooms in the house.
VoIP: Philips VoIP841
If you like the idea of using Skype without a PC, but you’re not ready to ditch the landline, pick up this sleek black dual-mode phone. Plug the base into your router and into the wall and you’ll be able to make cheap calls to up to 500 of your contacts. A 65,000-color display, a speakerphone, and DECT 6.0 technology round out the features on this versatile system.
Storage: HP MediaSmart Server The HP MediaSmart Server, in capacities of either 500GB or 1TB, is a well-designed backup solution that lets you stream media and access your files remotely. And HP makes it all easy to do. Software: Microsoft Windows Vista Although it was announced before CES, nothing at the show came close to Microsoft's next OS release. With a great new look and tons of enhanced security, connectivity, entertainment, and search features, we're ready to upgrade. Web Services: Disney.com There's a fun (and safe) new hangout on the Web for kids and 'tweens. Combining social networking, online gaming, video rentals and sales, slick customization options, parental controls, and all of the many elements of the Disney brand (think TV, movies, mobile phones, and theme parks), Disney.com will surely be a hit. Suggested Articles:
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