For the sports fanatics out there comes the new Versus Scoreboard. Yes.. this is indeed a boombox crossed with an electronics scoreboard system. Great for use at sporting events, at home with family or friends, or at personal sporting events where you want to show the score as well as offer up a few taunts to opposing friends/team members. The boombox (featuring MP3 playback) comes with a digital scoreboard, a time keeping device, and special audio effects that bring the “feel of the stadium home”.

The full summary of features includes:

• Home and guest score counter
• Period tracker
• Countdown timer and buzzer
• RF remote controller
• A/C and Battery operated
• Customizable faceplates
• USB port for playing MP3s on flash drives
• Analog line-in 3.5 mm jack
• User-controlled crowd noises and taunt effects
• Two 10 watt speakers
• Versus microphone
• Customizable team-specific chants

The Versus Scoreboard will be available this month. You can pre-order it now for $179.99.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Versus Scoreboard, Boombox

NAD Electronics will be introducing two new A/V receivers at CES 2009 – the T 747 and T 737. Here’s the lowdown on the new receivers.

The T 747 A/V Receiver features the following:

• Up to 60 watts per channel (7 channels)
• Includes the newest lossless audio CODECs from Dolby and DTS including TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio
• Auto Calibration function for easy speaker set-up
• AM/FM tuners with 50 station presets
• XM or DAB Ready sockets
• Supports NAD optional IPD 1 and IPD 2 Docks for iPods
• Supports 1080p
• 4 HDMI inputs with repeater function
• Video upscaler thanks to Faroudja DCDi technology
• Second independent A/V zone
• Two remote controls included
• Available this month for $1299.

The T 737 A/V receiver features the following:

• Virtual inputs allows each user to customize setup
• Speaker setups, levels, tone controls and surround modes can be customized
• 40 watts per channel (seven channels)
• Three surround modes cater to multi-channel DVDs with support for Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES
• Auto Calibration function for easy speaker setup
• AM/FM tuner with 50 station presets
• XM or DAB Ready sockets
• Supports NAD optional IPD 1 and IPD 2 Docks for iPods
• Composite, S-Video, Component, HDMI inputs
• Uses less than one watt for standby power consumpton
• Available in February for $799

Technorati Tags: NAD Electronics, T 747 A/V Receiver, T 737 A/V receiver

Yes apparently people still make CD players. Koetsu USA is announcing a new CD player for CES 2009 in the form of the Stibbert Tube CD Player – the world’s only CD player isolated from vibration through the use of spring suspension. The Stibbert Tube CD Player uses a double chassis “completely isolated by four conical springs.” The chassis is made of a high density steel allow treated with a diamagnetic black polyvinyl paint. Other features found on the Stibbert Tube CD Player include:

• Dual Speed technology “enables the transport to achieve the best sonic performance by reducing its voltage and speed to the lowest possible levels”
• Zero Clock eliminates jitter and clock errors and includes a digital output filter
• Electro Power voltage supply “improves audio performance through an innovative current generator that cleans up the signal going to the analog stage”
• Analog output stage based on two 6922 tubes

The Stibbert CD Player is available for a mere $5030 – cheap huh? Stay tuned for additional pics and info from CES 2009.

Technorati Tags: Stibbert CD Player, Koetsu USA

Lenovo is getting thin for the New Year. The company announces four new additions to their Idea brand of PCs including three new notebooks and one super slim all-in-one PC system. Here’s the lowdown starting with the all-in-one desktop PC – the IdeaCentre A600.

The new IdeaCentre A600 is Lenovo first all-in-one desktop PC ever as well as one of the thinnest systems out there – with the slimmest point measuring a mere one inch thin. Features of the A600 include:

• 21.5 inch frameless display
• 16:9 aspect ratio with support for 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution movie playback
• Integrated speaker system includes bass sub-woofer and Dolby Home Theatre audio certification
• Optional Blu-ray player
• Digital TV tuner
• Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• Optional ATI Radeon graphics
• Up to 4GB of RAM
• Up to 1TB of HDD space
• Wi-Fi networking
• 6 in 1 media card reader
• side-mounted USB and FireWire ports with additional ports in the rear
• Features VeriFace facial recognition technology

The A600 can be purchased with a unique optional 4 in 1 remote controller with features such as:

• “Motion drive” allowing users the ability to play games with the remote
• Ability to be used as  a VoIP handset to make and receive phone calls over the Internet
• ability to be used as a media center/TV remote
• “Air mouse” – allowing it to control on-screen cursor

The IdeaCentre A600 will have an MSRP starting at $999 with availability beginning in April. Sorry – no picture as of yet but this may change tomorrow.

On the notebook front, there are three new IdeaPad Y Series systems – the Y650, Y550, and T450. All three systems feature the same “modern soft black design with interlocked hexagon pattern on the top cover along with a discrete copper accent around the perimeter of the laptop.” The Y650 also happens to be one of the thinnest and lightest 16 inch notebooks out on the market – lighter than many other 15 inch notebooks.

Common features of the three new IdeaPad Y Series systems include:

• 16:9 format glossy widescreen panel
• Optional NVIDIA graphics
• Dolby Home Theater surround sound
• Lenovo OneKey Theater software for enhancing audio and visual experience
• Lenovo Desktop Navigator allowing users to toggle between shortcuts, files, and other frequently used programs by placing their finger along the touch-sensitive slide bar
• multi-touch touchpad
• Latest Intel processors
• Wi-Fi Networking
• Optional Bluetooth
• VeriFace facial recognition technology
• Lenovo OneKey Rescue System
• Up to 500GB hard drive space
• Up to 4GB of DDR3 memory

In addition, the Y650 features JBL speakers and an ambient light sensor.

The Y650 has a 16 inch display, the Y550 a 15.6 inch display, and the Y450 a 14 inch display. The new notebooks will be available in March with the MSRP for the Y650 at $1199, the Y550 at $829, and the Y450 at $829.

Technorati Tags: Lenovo, IdeaCentre A600 all-in-one PC, IdeaPad Y650, IdeaPad Y550, IdeaPad Y450

Not only are we days away from CES 2009, but we’re also days away from Macword 2009 – the last Macworld being attended by Apple. The latest rumors being reported by AppleInsider have Apple introducing an updated 17 inch MacBook Pro and a Mac mini with NVIDIA chipsets inside.

The updated 17 inch MacBook Pro will come with the new unibody aluminum design found in the 13 inch MacBooks and the 15 inch MacBook Pros. More importantly, it appears the new notebook will feature a non-replaceable battery. To compensate for this, the new model will supposedly offer a longer-lasting battery but no word on actual stats.

Now on the Mac mini side which seriously has been in need of an update for quite some time, the rumors indicate that Apple will be adopting the NVIDIA MCP79 platform. In addition, the new mini will feature both a Mini DisplayPort and a Mini-DVI connector. Other rumored features include a FireWire 800 port, and a fifth USB port.

Technorati Tags: Apple Macworld rumor, MacBook Pro, Mac mini

You’ve seen them in use by the paranormal investigators of “Ghost Hunters” – now you can use them too for home security. FLIR Systems will be rolling out two new thermal dome cameras at CES 2009 – the VSR-6 and the D-19. Thermal cameras are great for all hours of the day but are especially useful for low light conditions where typical video cameras often provide grainy footage.

The VSR-6 features:

• 50 degree field of view
• 6.3 mm lens
• Digital Detail Enhancement for optical image quality
• NTSC or PAL composite video out for network integration

The D-19 (part of the D series) features:

• 19 mm configuration
• Uncooled thermal camera
• Easy integration into existing security and safety camera networks
• Pelco D compatible

Technorati Tags: FLIR Systems, VSR-6, D-19 Thermal Dome Camera

Sakar International is introducing several new digital, underwater, and video cameras at next week’s CES 2009. These are Sakar’s first Vivitar branded products since the company purchased Vivitar in 2008.  The new products are as follows:

Vivitar V8400P Underwater digital camera

• 8.1 megapixel resolution
• Waterproof at depths up to 30 feet
• 8x digital zoom
• 2.4 inch LCD
• 32 internal memory
• SD memory card
• Shockproof
• MSRP of $129.95

Vivitar DVR840XHD Camcorder

• 5 megapixel video camera
• 5x optical zoom
• 3 inch TFT display
• Weighs 14 oz
• SD memory card
• Image stabilization
• MP3/MP4 player
• Voice recorder
• MSRP of $249.95

Vivitar V8025 Digital Camera

• 8 megapixel touch-screen camera
• 8x digital zoom
• 2.4 inch LCD
• super-slim design
• SD memory card
• Measures 3 x 2.25 x 0.5 inches
• Image stabilization
• Face/smile detection
• Pictbridge ready
• MSRP of $99

Stay tuned for pictures at CES 2009

Technorati Tags: Sakar International, Vivitar, Vivitar V8400P Underwater 8.1MP Digital Camera, Vivitar DVR840XHD Camcorder, Vivitar V8025 Digital Camera

LaptopMag has the inside scoop on a new concept laptop system from HP’s Voodoo PC division called the “Firefly”. This laptop is certainly a gamers delight as it features an Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad Core processor, 4GB of RAM, and dual ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870 GPUs. Yet what really sets the system apart is the dual display concept. First, you get a sweet 17 inch, 1920 x 1200 resolution display – perfect for fragging your enemies. While you’re fraggin away, you can also check your email, surf the web, or do whatever you want using the secondary 4.3 inch 800 x 480 resolution display that resides right below the larger one. Yes, calling it a laptop might be a bit of a stretch as it weighs in at 13 lbs but then again, the Firefly is a concept system and we definitely like it. Hope to check it out at CES 2009.

[Check it out via Ubergizmo]

Technorati Tags: HP, Voodoo PC, Firefly concept laptop, dual display

Need a microSD reader you say? How about the “tiniest microSD reader on the market?” That’s what A-DATA has with the microReader Version 2. Simply plug in your microSD card into the microReader and then plug it into an available USB port on your PC. The reader measures 38 x 15.3 x 8.6 mm, supports USB 2.0, and supports microSD, microSDHC, and TransFlash for SD 1.1 and 2.0.

Technorati Tags: A-DATA, microReader Version 2, microSD card reader

Now here’s something interesting in the computer bags/cases department. A company called “Cocoon Innovations” will be introducing a new lineup of bags next week at CES 2009 called the “Cocoon” Collection. The collection will feature a complete lineup of laptop computer bags, totes, portfolios, and accessories for the digital lifestyle.

What makes the bags unique is a propriety feature on the interior of each bag called the “The Grid”. The Grid is a proprietary “universal, elastic organization system” for “customized digital device storage.”. I’m guessing it’s some sort of stretchable durable plastic that molds to the device – but it’s simply a guess.

We’ll find out more about the collection next week - In the meantime, enjoy some of the pictures from the collection.

Technorati Tags: Cocoon Innovations, Cocoon Collection, Laptop Bags/cases