CeBit

CeBit 2006 Booth Babes: Bring Your Own?

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You know we always take a look at the booth babes aspects of trade-shows. The CeBIT in Hannover is not actually known to be a hotspot for scantily clad models in flashy outfits.

I have not been personally at the CeBIT since years and also do not find it necessary to send reporters there. There are just too few globally relevant technology announcements. I only found a handful of CeBIT 2006 booth hostess photos published. Not even Flickr has some. I cannot proof it a 100% but it looks to me the photographers brought their own models. In the photo above from AP (hi-res version on Spiegel) and on the Getty Images photo below (hi-res on BBC News) you see the same 103 inch Panasonic Plasma with different photo models.
The dresses the models wear is also coordinated with the image shown at the TV. This looks like a setup. Anyway if you have been at the CeBIT and focused on the important aspects and made photos of them feel free to email them to me. Read more

Posted on Mon, 13 Mar 2006 03:27:26 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT: Sling Media Announces Support for UMPCs

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Sling Media today announced a customized version of its SlingPlayer software for products based on the Ultra-Mobile PC.

The customized SlingPlayer application leverages the touch screen and resolution of the UMPC OS giving customers full control over their home television source, including the most popular cable boxes, satellite receivers, DVD players and DVRs.
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Posted on Fri, 10 Mar 2006 09:29:28 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT: JBJ UMPC with VIA C7-M-Processor

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With the UMPCs introduced by Asus, Samsung and Founder yesterday, another Origami-PC got sighted on VIA's exhibition booth. It is called “Smart Caddie” and comes from the Japanese manufacturer PBJ. Smart Caddie uses Via’s C7-M CPU ULV with 1GHz, which accordingly to VIA, competes directly with Pentium M (Centrino platform).

The chipset VN800 with integrated S3 graphics and the South Bridge VT8237R also come from VIA. Data is stored on a 2.5” hard drive. Integrated are also WLAN and Bluetooth. Battery life is about 2.5 hours.

Asus, Samsung and Founder use the Intel Celeron M ULV with 900 MHz in their UMPCs. Read more

Posted on Fri, 10 Mar 2006 02:05:46 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT: Toshiba launches Qosmio G30 HD-DVD ready laptop

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Toshiba has started the battle of the high definition DVD war with the launch of its first notebook equipped with the new HD-DVD media standard. HD-DVD is one of two formats trying to replace current DVDs for high-definition content such as movies. Its main backers are Toshiba and NEC and it is competing with Blu-ray Disc, which is backed by a group including Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung Electronics.

Qosmios are Toshiba’s high end AV oriented laptops and come complete with a TV tuner, digital video recorder etc and the G30 packs all these plus a top-end 1-bit digital amplifier (a world first for a PC apparently). It runs using Microsoft’s Windows Media Center Edition 2005. The HD DVD drive means that users can transfer content/data on to disc with a huge capacity of 30 Gigabytes. Read more

Posted on Thu, 9 Mar 2006 08:54:05 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT: Memory Solution's USB Stick Memdrive reads 30 MByte/s

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Among other things, the German based Memory Solution brings along the USB stick Memdrive Premium edition, which is supposed to provide a data transfer rate of over 30 MByte/s in the read mode. The stick would almost exhaust the max transfer rate of the USB-2.0-Interface of approximately 35 MByte/s.

Presumably, the USB stick will be available in the sizes 4, 6 and 8 GB. Memory Solution plans to bring the Memdrive to the market in June. No prices are available yet. Read more

Posted on Thu, 9 Mar 2006 08:13:30 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT: Samsung's Ten Megapixel SCH-B600

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The race around ever more megapixels continues. At the CeBIT, Samsung presented the Photo handy SCH-B600 it ten megapixels. In addition, the B600 has a 3x optical zoom, flash, S-DMB support, Bluetooth, EV-DO, TV-out. Just like last year, when the 7 megapixel model got presented, the handy will be available in the second quarter of 2006 on the Korean market only. It has not price tag yet… Read more

Posted on Thu, 9 Mar 2006 07:50:45 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT: Origami/UMPC revealed

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At the CeBIT, details about Origami/UMPC are finally revealed. Asus shows an Ultra Mobile PC (still nameless), Samsung presents the Q1 and a product from Founder also can be seen.

The UMPC is mini Tablet PC with Touch screen. As operation system, the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 with additional software is used (e.g. a virtual thumb keyboard). The display is about 7” (or smaller) and shows a minimum of 800x480 points. The UMPC weighs approximately 2 pounds and is WiFI- and Bluetooth-enabled.

According to Samsung, the Q1 has 512MB Ram, weighs 780 gram (1.7 pound) and measures 9 x 5.5 x 1-inch. With a battery-life of 3.5 hours, you can play music and videos without booting Windows. As processor, the Celeron M ULC is used plus 40GB harddrive. No details about the Asus PC are known yet, however, it’s supposed to have a Webcam and one of the demo products has a GPS receiver.

THE UMPCs are supposed to come to the market within the next few months for the price of about $800.

Altogether the UMPCs appear to be an interesting concept. Whether it is enough for on-the-road Notebook replacement, will still turn out. Considering the price, it could be an alternative for those of who the PSP screen is too small for surfing.

Two years ago, Sony had already pursued a similar approach with the Vaio U. But Sony never sold the devices in Europe and the series was stopped in the meantime… Read more

Posted on Thu, 9 Mar 2006 04:40:19 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

No Origami News Today - Microsoft to Introduce Origami at CeBit?

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I am actually not sure anymore why the common assumption last week was that Microsoft will reveal the mystery product Origami today. The teaser site has a menu with items named week 1, week 2 and week 3 - go figure.

Today we are at week 2 and the project origami site updated with another meaningless flash animation. At the end it says: find out 3.9.2006.
What does that date tell you? Correct, it is the CeBit 2006 launch date.

The Microsoft Origami is most likely a ultra Portable PC running Windows XP similar in size to a paperback book. Such a device would not be new, just look at the OQO.
Now get this, Intel also has a teaser site up that talks openly says: Ultra Mobile PC coming March 7th. The site is called UMPC (Via GottaBeMobile). Read more

Posted on Thu, 2 Mar 2006 02:37:29 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBit 2006: Chi Mei Optoelectronics 56 inch LCD TV with QuadHDTV Resolution

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Taiwanese Chi Mei Optoelectronics is one of the largest LCD panel supplier. The company is going to display at the CeBit in March its 56 inch LCD panel with a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels. This is four times the resolution of full HDTV, that why it is called QuadHDTV or Quad Full High Definition (QFHD).

Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) challenges the competition not just with size but with resolution on this LCD panel.
A QuadHDTV sure finds its application in science. On the other hand high-resolution digital cameras can fill those pixels as well. I suppose Chi Mei is not going to market the screen by itself and will need to get a Sharp or Sony to OEM it. Read more

Posted on Fri, 24 Feb 2006 03:43:41 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Rollei to Show Linux Media Center MC1 at CeBit 2006

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Rollei known for their classic cameras is venturing int multimedia products these days. Not many details are known yet, but Rollei is supposed to show a Linux Media Center PC at the CeBit 2006.

German publication Heise mentions in a report about a CeBit preview press-event, that Rollei will show the Rollei Media Center MC1 with a 2000 Euro pricetag at the CeBit in Hannover. The Rollei Media Center is also running OpenOffice.

At the Rollei site you find besides cameras now also mp3 players, PVPs and projectors. Some of the MP3 players look familiar. I have the inkling that they Rollei just put their logo on them, as many companies do. Read more

Posted on Tue, 31 Jan 2006 10:09:10 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Motorola Explains Why there was no ROKR at CeBIT

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Reuters run a story where Motorola Executives explain why the Motorola iTunes Music Mobile Phone was not on display at CeBIT.

Motorola says that Apple and them have different ways of launching products. Apple announces a new product and immediatly starts selling it. Motorola says it is on schedule to deliver two iTunes phones this year. One coming in the first half of the year and the other in the second half.
Other reports before assumed that carriers would delay it, because of the iTunes dependency.

We reported about the ROKR the first time in February when Motorola's CEO first dropped the name of the iTunes phone. Then a report at MSNBC indicated that the ROKR would be shown last week, and also reports indicated it will show up at CeBIT.

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Posted on Wed, 16 Mar 2005 11:21:41 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT: Cowon iAudio X5, M5 and A2

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DAPReview has some first hand information and photos of the new Cowon music player X5 and M5 as well as about the Cowon Portable Video Player A2 from CeBIT.

Cowon's iAudio M5 appeared first last October. Now Cowon gets more concrete and actually shows the new players at the CeBIT show in a big booth.
Chinese PConline (via Engadget) as several good photos of the new Cowon players with specification sheets.

The Cowon iAudio X5 should hit stores this year. The M5 has a different display and will come later. It features a color screen and can come in 20GB, 30GB and 60GB storage configurations. Features include USB 2.0, OTG, 1.8 inch TFT color screen, OGG, MP3, WMA and FM Tuner.

The Cowon A2 PMP (photo below) features a 4" 16:9 screen, OTG, TV Recording, WMA, DivX, Xvid, MP3, OGG, USB 2.0 and stereo speakers. The A2 can come in 20GB, 30GB and 60GB HDD configurations.

Visit MP3 Players Rule to find the best MP3 Players on the market.

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Posted on Mon, 14 Mar 2005 10:27:25 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT Video Coverage with Archos PMA430 and Head Camera

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Nicolas Charbonnier (Charbax) from Archosfans walked around CeBIT 2005 with a Archos PMA430 and a headmounted mini video camera connected to the Archos PMP.

He recorded about 3 hours of video footage and published them here via bitorrent. The Videos show products from Siemens, KISS, DivX, Sony, JVC and much more.

This is a great use of the PMA430. The comvu webcasting software for the Axia Smartphones could make this task live and without less effort in publishing the video footage.

Buy the Archos PMA430 at Amazon.com for $759.99.

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Posted on Mon, 14 Mar 2005 06:05:29 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT: 3GB Music SmartPhone Samsung SGH-i300

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Stealing a the show away from the Sony Ericsson Walkman Music Mobile Phone, Samsung presents a Music Mobile phone (SGH-i300) with a built-in 3GB Hard-drive.

Samsung introduced already a 1.5GB HDD phone (SPH-V5400) in September 2004.
The SGH-i300 runs the Microsoft Windows Mobile OS and features a MP3 / WMA / AAC / AAC+ / OGG music Player. Stereo speakers, a 240x320 TFT color screen, stereo speaker, 1.3MP Camera, Digital Power Amp, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth are amongst the Samsung Music Phone features. The SGH-i300 measures 113 x 48 x 20 mm and weighs 130g. The music smartphone should be available in Q3 2005.
More details on Samsung's site (click New Experience of Innovation at CeBIT 2005 link in top right corner).

msmobiles got a fresh report from the CeBIT with hands-on photos and impressions of the SGH-i300. They say the SGH-i300 is stunning and iPods will be soon history.

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Posted on Sun, 13 Mar 2005 08:52:03 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT: 7MP Camera Phone Samsung SCH-V770

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AP Hi-Res Photo on Yahoo To impress the Europeans and Americans Samsung shows off a 7 Mega Pixel Camera Mobile Phone at the CeBIT.

Samsung already announced a 5MP camera phone (SCH-S250) last October in Korea. At the CeBIT the SCH-V770 is one of the highlights as its the World's first 7MP camera phone.

The camera functions include a 3x optical zoom and 5x digital zoom with a 1/1.8" CCD and flash. The phone screen supports QVGA resolution. Other V770 features include an MP3 player, a businesscard reader and 64 polyphonic sound. The SCH-V770 measures 127 x 52 x 27 mm and should hit the Korean market later this year.
More details on LetsGoDigital.

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Posted on Sun, 13 Mar 2005 08:38:21 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT: Super Shuffle Controversy

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Tawainese Luxpro is apparently playing cat and mouse with Apple at the CeBIT. Luxpro exhibits a what they call better iPod Shuffle dubbed Super shuffle.

The Luxpro Super Shuffle front is basically the same as the iPod shuffle. The backside features two sliders that control besides the music player also an FM Tuner and Voice recording. Besides that the player supports WMA with DRM, but no ACC format.

Based on a report on German Heise.de Apple lawyers already acted and Luxpro had the Super Shuffle player removed from the booth. Apparently assuming the Apple lawyers partied hard Friday night and will not show up at the CeBIT show floor on Saturday, Luxpro put the Super Shuffle back on display.
Judging on the amount online coverage the Luxpro Super Shuffle got, I would say this was a great marketing idea. I do not think Apple will ever allow Luxpro to market the Super Shuffle, but Luxpro went from a never heard of to a known music player manufacturer.
More details on Heise (German) and on Luxpro.

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Posted on Sun, 13 Mar 2005 07:53:01 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT: Logitech Sony PSP PlayGear

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Hi-Res Photo on Gear Live Logitech announces at the CeBIT accessories for the Sony PSP.

The products consist of a Logitech PlayGear Pocket case and several audio accessories for the Sony PSP. See description of each new PSP accessory below.

Visit our Sony PSP Center.

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Posted on Sun, 13 Mar 2005 07:32:12 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT: Sony Ericsson ROB-1 Bluetooth Motion Cam

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Sony Ericsson announces at CeBIT the Bluetooth Motion Cam ROB-1.

ROB-1 is a funny little gadget for bluetooth symbian phones. Users can drive the camera ball with their mobile phones around and take 15 frame per second video that can be viewed on the mobile phone. The cute video camera can tilt 70° upwards and 20° downwards. To top it of the ROB-1 rolling camera ball also has headlights for driving and shooting video in the dark.
The Sony Ericsson ROB-1 motion cam will only be available as a limited edition somewhen in Q3 2005.
More details on Sony Ericsson ROB-1 site.

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Posted on Sat, 12 Mar 2005 13:01:56 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Sony Ericsson Walkman Mobile Phone W800 at CeBit

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We reported that Sony Ericsson will launch a Walkman Music Mobile Phone in February. Last week when I was on vacation I missed the Sony Ericsson announcement of the W800 Walkman Mobile Phone. Sony Ericsson will show the W800 at the CeBit show.

The Sony Ericsson W800 Walkman plays MP3 and ACC music files. It has 38MB built-in and comes with a 512M Memorystick DUO. FM-Tuner and special music player are supplied in the W800.

Sony Ericsson has setup a nice site for the products it will show at the CeBit. Besides the W800 the company shows the K750 a 2MP Candy-Bar Camera Phone. Other mobile phones include the K600, Z800, K300 and J300.

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Posted on Wed, 9 Mar 2005 11:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CeBIT 2005

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The largest technology trade-show is opening tonight with an opening ceremony that is streamed live (18:00 CET).

CeBIT expects 510,000 visitors from the 10th to the 16th of March. Anybody can go. It is not like CES, where visitors have to be in the industry or from the press. Although a day-ticket costs a whopping 32/37 Euros.

Question remaining is, will there be interesting announcements in the gadget and consumer electronics area? I4U already reported about several product announcements that are scheduled for CeBIT 2005 (see story links below).
The highlights so fare the new Everio GZ-MC500, iRiver H10 Junior and Sanyo Xacti C5.
The German Press is full with mostly TV on mobile phones, home media networking and VOIP. TV on mobile phones is especially hyped with no end. T-Mobile for instance announced (german) Video On-Demand.
Let hope that there will be some more exciting news than TV on Mobile phones to report about.

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Posted on Wed, 9 Mar 2005 02:31:10 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Samsung 102 inch Plasma TV at CeBit

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Photo: Reuters on Yahoo. We reported about Samsung 102 inch Plasma TV first time in December 2004. Samsung will have this monster Plasma TV also at the CeBit. I already saw it at the CES. It is really a beauty.

Reuters photographers are apparently already running around at the CeBit in Hannover catching a Samsung technician (photo) making the final adjustments on the 102 inch Plasma TV that sure fits in my living room. Samsung also announced a 82 inch LCD TV that also claims size leadership.

More must have Plasma and LCD TVs

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