Alienware Curved Monitor

Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

OK, this monitor was pretty cool… available mid 2008 from Alienware / Dell for amount to be determined. Very high rez.

Dreamflyer

Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

The Dreamflyer won an innovation award for it’s clever use of flight simulator technology which is combined with plane-like controls that control the screen output. ie a a More fully immersive simulation than using a mouse and keyboard or other controller. The D-Box seemed like a stronger simulation experience, but runs many times the cost of the Dreamflyer which, at under $3000, seems to have a better chance of reaching a mass market, though still the high-end, of the gaming market.

CNET at CES 2008

Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

Several media places are broadcasting from CES. I was hoping to find Donny Deutsch’s Road to CES Program but the place is so huge it is hard to plan your visits with any precision. Today for example I headed to the Venetian Sands venue and won’t even go the the Convention Center today. Each of the Exhibit halls here – and there are something like a dozen of them – would be a spectacular showing for even a major conference. There are 2700 exhibitors here showing everything from Lawn mowing robots to total immersion gaming glasses to TVs to phone to cars with the latest navigation and audio to an actual (manufactured) home that Microsoft built over at the Convention Center with the latest home technologies.

Bill Gates: Guitar Hero!

Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

At the CES Keynote – Bill Gates’ last after some 8 years in a row – he introduced a handful of new Microsoft innovations, but the highlight of the show was a very uncharacteristically self-deprecating video that featured dozens of celebrities “talking” to Bill about his post Microsoft plans. From Hilary Clinton to Bono, Bill’s rejection list grew. The video was a real crowd pleaser in an otherwise pretty unabashed Microsoft marketing pitch. At the end of the talk Gate’s engaged in a Guitar Hero competition where his opponent, MS’s chief of gaming tech, brought in the champion at Guitar Hero. Bill countered with a visit from Slash himself to close the keynote.

Franklin Paul at Reuters has good coverage of the CES Press Conference where HD-DVD is trying to dispel the rumors of impending doom:  http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2008/01/06/toshiba-defiant-says-hd-dvd-down-not-out/

So far the Blu-Ray smackdown of HD-DVD is probably the big story at CES, though it’s not clear to me that all the early rumors of people leaving and cancelled events were true, not to mention the rumor of an estimated 500MM payment from SONY to Warner.

You have new Picture Mail!

Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

I haven’t been in this one yet, but the Venetian venue is really impressive – lots of PCs, TV, and comfort. I’d love to know the decisions involved in encouraging bloggers. It’s very smart marketing for CES to have a lot fo buzz, but they got that anyway from mainstream press. I’m hoping Scoble has some insider info about the decision to be so “inclusive” for bloggers.

Interestingly the badges are a different color – white – and they don’t scan them for the sessions. Maybe it’s a glitch, because it would be good info for CES to have regarding blogs / press and attendance.

You have new Picture Mail!

Originally uploaded by JoeDuck.

CES 2008 has begun but most of the exhibits are now in the frantic construction stage before the Exhibit halls open tomorrow morning. It’s been fun walking around without any responsibilities to set up these *huge* display areas.

McCarran Airport Baggage Claim

Originally uploaded by JoeDuck.

Nice smooth trip to Las Vegas yesterday. The flight from Medford is now just a single regional jet and you are in Las Vegas in no time!

After several baby Jesus statue thefts over the years, a woman in Florida decided to outfit a nativity scene with GPS tracking located in the statues.  Baby Jesus was nabbed again, but this time police could use the GPS to track the perpetrator to the house across from the crime scene and the nativity scene.

An 18 year old woman was booked on theft charges.

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