Snowboarders, skiers, mountainbikers, sky divers, hunters – if you want to show off your latest adventures to your friends and enemies, then Contour’s new bullet cam is the way to do it. Andy gets the deets from Marie at Contour.

The Contour+ was launched back in spring 2011 and quickly gained a following among the extreme sports crowd for the great video quality but at $499, it’s a little pricey, even if it does come with GPS, Bluetooth and an excellent lens.

The new ContourRoam arrived in the autumn and is a more affordable $199. It doesn’t have all the features of its more expensive sibling but it does have the 170 degree wide angle lens and it’s very easy to use with a simple on-off slider switch suitable for gloves or cold hands. Battery life is around 3 hours.

In the video, Marie claims that the camera doesn’t support microSD cards, but all the literature on Contour’s website suggests otherwise. There’s some great video footage on the site, too.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDR News and RV News Net.

The Ivee Digit alarm clock looks like an ordinary bedside LCD or LED alarm clock…but would it be at CES if it was just that? Andy and Courtney finds out what makes Ivee tick.

The Ivee Digit understands natural language and can respond to 35 voice commands and speaks the date, time and temperature. The big sister, Flex, includes a radio as well. You can tell Digit to set the alarm, tell you the time or snooze for another five minutes as you roll over for more ZZzzs.

Here’s a typical conversation with Ivee.

You: Hello Ivee
Ivee: Say a command
You: Set alarm 1
Ivee: Please tell me the alarm time
You: Seven o’clock am
Ivee: Alarm 1 is set to 7:00 am

Aside from the novelty value, it’s great for people who are short-sighted.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDR News and RV News Net.

One time there was a very popular comic strip in the 1930 of a detective known as Dick Tracy, one of the coolest gadgets that Dick Tracy had was a watch that was also a phone. Now over eighty years later the Dick Tracy watch has become a reality in the Burg line of watches.

The Burg Watches come in a sports and a children models. The basic Burg Watch will just make phone calls and do SMS messages. With the high end models you can make phone calls, send SMS messages, play music, take pictures and organize your data. It has 3.2 mb of memory and a USB connection. You can also record calls, and view images. The background can be changed to any photo you have on file on the watch. They do not connect to social networks, such as Twitter or Facebook at this time, but the company hopes the new models coming out in April will. You change from a regular watch to a phone by turning the dial. To access the menu on the higher end watches you simply push a button on the side of the watch. To get access to a specific section of a menu you simply tap on that section. These are stand alone phones and can be used with a Bluetooth headset.

I didn’t see any price I the Web site but there was one model available on Amazon for a little over $60.00. These would be great for a someone like a child who needs to have a phone with them, but is constantly losing theirs. The watches also have GPS in them so you can keep track of them easily.

Interviewed by Allante Sparks Host of F5 Live

I’m Watch is the worlds first smart phone on your wrist. It tethers to your smart phone by Bluetooth. Now almost everything you do on your smartphone you can do on your wrist. No need to mess around in your purse or briefcase looking for your phone when you get a call. Simply tap on your watch and start to talk. The I’m Watch is based on Android 1.6, it has 128 mb of ram and 4 GBs  of memory.

With normal use it will last about 8 hours. You can fit three applications on the main screen and you get to choose which ones. To get to the other applications you simply swipe to go into the library. Right now the applications available for the watch include; phone, address book, notifications, weather forecast, i’music, i’mage, appointments, multitasking, i’moticons, i’m Tweet and news just to name a few. There is a headphone and microphone jack on the side and also built-in speakers. The SDK has been released to developers so anyone can create an application for the I’m Watch. If you are a developer and are interested you can go to their developer Web site. It has a 1.54 inch display with 240×240 pixel resolution.

The watch comes in [three models starting at $49.00] six models starting at $329.00.  They are currently taking preorders and the watches should ship in about a month. They hope to have them in retail stores within the year. I’m Watch was an Innovation Winner at CES this year. It looks like a stylish watch and a cool concept, can’t wait to see how they work in the real world.

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

Sennheiser is one of the big names in headphones, so it’s not unsurprising that a few of the latest models were released at CES. Nick hears the latest for sound buffs from Eric.

First up are the HD 700s, an open headset approaching reference standard. With a wide soundstage, angled transducers give it a sound experience similar to listening to a speaker array; other features are designed keep the sound as pure as possible. These headphones are aimed at audiophiles who want to hear every nuance of the recording. Pricey at around $1000.

Next are the HD 800s, a futuristic-looking headset that takes audio purity and quality to an amazing level. Every detail has a purpose in the design, giving unparalleled acoustic reproduction for the total audio purist. Even more pricey at around $1500.

And finally, the Sennheiser Amperior brings the world-famous HD 25s to portable devices by optimising the impedance to give superior sound from a smaller unit. Suitable for all MP3 players, Apple iPods and iPhones, the Amperior comes with an inline remote and mic. Available from March for around $350.

Interview by Nick DiMeo of F5 Live.

There are a lot of Wi-Fi Internet radios around, many offer tons of options and stations to pick from. However most consumers have around four favorite stations they keep returning to again and again. Armour Home Electronics took this idea and produced the Q2 Radio.

The Q2 Radio is cube shaped and on each side is a preset radio station. You preset your choices by downloading the software from the Web and entering your access code. Once you have been identified you can then drag and drop your favorite stations. You can preset up to four stations one for each side of the cube. To change which preset station you are listening to you simply twist the cube until the station you want is at the top. To decrease or increase the volume start to tip the cube up or down. If you want to mute it turn it on its face. The Q2 Radio produces mono sound, but if you connect headphones you can listen in stereo. The Q2 Radio can run off of any Wi-Fi or mobile hot spot. It comes in multiple choice of colors. Q2 Radio is currently being launched in the United States. You can find more information on price and availability at the Q2 Radio Website.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin, of SDR News

Have you ever forgotten a charger at a hotel or coffee shop, my bet is you have at least once in your life. Buying new chargers can get expensive if you do it enough. There is not only the expense to you as an individual but also to the businesses who have to dispose of the chargers and to the environment. Most chargers will continue to draw power even if nothing is plugged into them, this is known as vampire power, which is an additional cost.

Perch has developed a product that will help solve this problem. It is called the Perch Alarm. The Perch alarm is simple to use, you simply plug the charger into the Perch Alarm and then both into the outlet. Connect your device and you are charging as normal. When you are ready to leave if you try to disconnect the device and leave the charger behind, you will hear a chirping sound reminding you to take the charger with you. There is a home mode so you can turn the alarm off. Perch was a semifinalist of the Last Gadget Standing Award at CES 2012. They hope to release the product within 60 days and will be $9.95 one-third the cost of a replacement charger which cost around $29.95.

I really like the concept behind this product, but I do see a couple of problems with it. One of the problems with this devices is it another thing for people to carry and people complain enough already about the stuff they have to carry with them. Another problem is its size, it is actually fairly large, hopefully they can get it down to a smaller size, so it doesn’t take as much room up. Despite these complaints, I think the Perch Alarm is a great idea.

Interview by Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

You are on the road and you need to scan a document, your options are limited you could go to the local Staples or office store and get them to scan the document, or borrow the scanner of the business you are visiting. Neither are very convenient and the first option can get expensive. Hovercam to the rescue.

Hovercam has produced a line of cameras with CMOS technology built-in. The Hovercam cameras are shaped like telescopes and fold down to the point they can fit into a briefcase or in the case of the HoverCam T3 Document a large pocket. The HoverCam T3 Document Camera, is the smallest version and is made to scan 8×10 documents. It has a 3 megapixel camera with a 200 dpi scanner. It folds down to the size of a large pen. For larger 11×14 documents the Hovercam T5 Scanner and Document Camera is available. It has a 5 megapixel camera and folds down to only 12 inches tall. They even have a model made for the visually impaired the Hovercam T5-V. The included software has automatic gesture recognition, so when you turn a page it will automatically take a new picture. This is great for scanning books or magazine. If you do a lot of scanning and want something better, take a look at Hovercam.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

Andy talks to Jim from DeLorme about the new inReach two-way satellite communicator, perfect for those really out of the way places.

The DeLorme inReach is a tracking and communication device that uses a satellite radio link to transmit text and GPS location data, rather than the mobile phone network. Owners can communicate via text message from anywhere on the planet, not just those areas with mobile phone coverage, and it’s ideal for hikers and extreme sports enthusiasts who might have an emergency far from a phone signal (or simply want to reassure family that they’re ok.)

The inReach has two modes of operation, one where you use the control unit directly, the other where an Android smartphone app talks to the control unit via Bluetooth. The app is needed for two-way text messaging, mainly as the control unit doesn’t have a keyboard, but there is a dedicated SOS button on the control unit for emergencies. Other smartphones may be supported later.

The inReach costs $250 and a monthly subscription is required for service priced at $9.95 per month. The units are available now.

The inReach is impact-resistant, waterproof, floats and weighs 8oz. Battery life is 60 hours on a pair of lithium AAs. Overall, it’s an ideal emergency backup device but please note, gadgets like this are not a substitute for proper planning, preparation and equipment. Always tell someone your plan and expected return time.

Interview by Andy McCaskey of SDR News.

Contour came by the TPN.TV booth at CES this year and showed some great action sports cameras; the Contour Roam, the Contour GPS and the Contour Plus. Theses cameras are great for filming while hiking, snow boarding, biking, skiing and other action sports. They all use a micro sd card up to 32 Gb. You can get up to eight hours of video at 1080p and up to twelve hours at 780p. They all take removable lithium batteries which run for about three hours of video taping . They also adjust the white balance and the exposure to create crisp clear videos. These cameras are waterproof up to 1 meter. With the water proof case you can go down to 60 meters, great for scuba diving or snorkeling. All three cameras can connect by USB cable. Both the Contour Roam and the Contour GPS have an internal microphone only.

The Contour Plus includes the internal microphone but it also has a mic cable out jack, this along with the ability to connect a HDMI cable adds live streaming capability. Now you can live stream your adventures directly to Ustream using the Cerevo Live Shell. Now instead of telling other people about your adventures, they can watch them as they are happening. You can control the camera on the Contour GPS and Contour Plus thru the Contour Mobile App on the iPhone or an Android phone The Contour GPS and the Contour Plus both have GPS included so now you can map your adventures. The Contour Roam at $199 is the newest phone and should be available soon. The Contour GPS and the Contour Plus are available now and are $299 and $499 respectively. Not only does Contour offer great action cameras but they also have some great mounts, including ones that allow you to mount camera directly to your helmet, pole, roll bar, surfboard and many other objects. So if you are into adventure sports and filming, Contour has everything you need and want.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Don Baine The Gadget Professor of Geek News Central

Lenspen have a long history of products in the photography market and they’ve brought their expertise of lens cleaning to the mobile gadget space. Their client list reads like a who’s who of the photography market with Nikon, Canon and Sony all producing OEM-branded version of Lenspen’s lens cleaning tools. Todd and Don chat with Peter from Lenspen to get an update on the latest products.

Last year, Lenspen introduced the first SideKick and since then the product line has been expanded with new colours and new packaging. The SideKick is a matchbox-sized sprung-loaded carbon pad that is wiped over the screen and completely removes fingerprints from tablet and smartphone screens. Using a carbon-based technology, the SideKick absorbs oils without any abrasion leaving a perfectly cleaning screen. It then closes up to keep all the carbon inside and one cartridge will do 300-400 cleanings before needing to be replaced. The SideKick is available online and in retail stores from $14.99 for a single SideKick. Other package combinations are available.

Lenspen also has specific cleaning products for LCD monitors and screens, such as the Laptop-Pro, that removes both dust and fingerprints.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Don Baine, the Gadget Professor for the TechPodcast Network.

There are some products that are shown at CES that are just cool and everyone who is a kid at heart just wants, the AR. Drone by Parrot is one of those gadgets. This year at CES 2012 they introduced AR. Drone Mark 2. The Mark 2 (aka AR. Drone 2.0) is controlled by a smart phone or tablet. It has a one button launch. Once it is launched it will sit and hove till the next command. The AR. Drone Mark 2 can fly up to 150 feet in the air, or as far as wi-fi will allow.  AR. Drone Mark 2 has stabilization and pressure sensor technology built into it. On the front is an HD camera and a standard def camera on the bottom. You can stream and record the video back to the phone via wi-fi. The video can then be uploaded to your favorite social site, including YouTube and Facebook.

It come with two hulls one for in home use and one for outdoor use. It is built to take some crashes, but if something breaks you can get replacement parts are on-line. The AR. Drone Mark 2 should be available according to Peter George of Parrot in the second quarter of 2012 for about $299.00

Once you are finished playing with the AR. Drone Mark 2, you may want to relax with a little music and some quiet time, well Parrot has you covered there too. They are introducing a pair of stereo cordless headsets that are noise canceling called the Parrot Zik . They work over either Bluetooth or the included cord. They run on a chargeable battery and give about 5 hours of listening pleasure. Once the battery runs down you can continue listening by connecting the cord. What makes the Parrot Zik headphones stand out besides the great style by French designer Philippe Starck are the controls on the headphones. There is a sensitive touchpad on the headphone which allows you to skip back and forth thru tracks by swiping right or left and control volume by swiping up and down. The headphones fold down flat to fit into a small carrying case. There is no price or launch date at this time, but they should be available sometime in 2012 at various retailers. All together Parrot introduced seven new products at CES 2012, including three additional products in the car environment and the asteroid marketplace.   You can take a look at all of them at their Web site Parrot.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of [Geek News Central](http://www.geeknewscentral.com ) and Don Baine The Gadget Professor of Geek News Central

If you are a businessman or women you know how important it is to have your cloths wrinkle free and smelling fresh. You also know how expensive dry cleaning can get. LG may have an answer for you, the LG Styler. The LG Styler is about the size of a storage wardrobe. The cloths hang from a rack and steam is used to gently remove wrinkles and odors. There are no harsh chemicals involved. It takes about thirty-nine minutes to steam and dry a shirt.

Right now the LG Styler is only available in S. Korea and Japan, but they hope to have it available in the U.S for around $2,000 by the end of the year. At this point LG is looking at selling the Styler not only to individuals, but also to high end hotels and other companies that cater to the business travellers. Wouldn’t it be nice to get to a hotel room, unpack and place your shirts in the LG Styler and then in less then 40 minutes you are ready to go. Your cloths smell fresh and are wrinkle free. The LG Styler isn’t supposed to replace dry cleaning, but it might keep your cloths ready to wear between dry cleanings.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central

If you live in the city or suburbs and are looking for a vehicle that you could ride to work and have fun doing it, then you may want to take a look at the Trikke. As the word indicates the Trikke is a three-wheeled electric vehicle.  Because it has three wheels it is very stable and easy to ride. You simply turn the throttle and go. You can lean into the curves and the wheels never leave the ground. It folds up so you can easily fit it in the back of a car or carry it into the office. A Trikke weights between 35 and 48 pounds (with battery) depending on the model, so you are probably not going to want to carry it far. You can plug it into any outlet to recharge it. A battery takes about three hours to fully recharge.  On a fully charged battery a Trikke will go from 10 to 24 miles depending on model and weight of the rider.  You can reach speeds up to 17 miles per hour.

Trikkes are available in different colors and models and the prices range from $1300 to $2200 depending on the model. If you are a skier a Trikke would be a great way to keep in shape for the skiing season. You use the same muscle and movements on a Trikke that you do for skiing and it is low impact.  Easier to ride than a bike and a lot better on the bottom.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central

G-Form is best know for its protective gear for high adrenaline sports but using this know-how, it’s protecting something much more precious – your expensive tablet with its Extreme range of cases. If you think this is gimmick, these guys dropped an iPad in an Extreme Portfolio from a weather balloon at 100,000+ feet….and it survived.

Todd talks to Rick Garrard to find out more about the high altitude drop and gets a demonstration of what happens when an 8 lb bowling ball lands on a packet of chocolate M&Ms covered with G-Form’s Extreme protection. Mmm, chocolate.

The Extreme cases and sleeves are on-sale now from $34.95 upwards for the iPad and Kindle Fire (or 10″ and 7″ tablets).

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

Zagg’s protective films are popular “first purchases” for new smartphone owners and at CES 2012, Zagg shows off their latest protection mechanism. Todd chats to Bill from Zagg to find out what it protects against.

The adage is that water and electricity don’t mix, and by extension, water and mobile devices don’t mix well either. Zagg hopes to change that with a new nanotech-based coating, HZO, that repels water so effectively that a dunk in the drink will have no effect on the device.

The HZO coating is applied during the manufacturing process so that every component is properly treated and waterproofed. There’s no physical skin or cover as the water-repellency is at the molecular level. Almost any device can be waterproofed – smartphones, tablets, MP3 players, headphones, but it has to be done during manufacture, not by the end-user.

Zagg is currently in negotiation with major OEMs so expect water-repellent devices to hit the market in 12-18 months and if you want to see an iPhone working underwater, then watch the video.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

Lethal Protection is the name of the company but it’s not a clue as to the product. It’s not a bullet-proof vest, it’s not ferocious guard dog but what is it? Todd finds out what it is from Melissa of Lethal Protection.

Winner of a CES Innovation Award, it’s called the Life-Phorm Pro and it’s an one-size-fits-all gadget positioning device. Only it’s weird…very weird…but in a cool way. Think GorillaPod but scary and it’s not just for cameras – tablets and smartphones fit on just as well.

The flexible six legs allow myriad standing, gripping and hanging positions, all the while keeping your gear off the floor. The Pro version is made from aluminum and carbon fiber, weighing in at only 8oz.

Lethal Protection is setting up manufacturing and production of the Life-Phorm Pro and it’s expected to ship in April of this year. The Pro version will run $149 and the basic version will be $69.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

Leave it to Fisher Price maker of great toys for kids and the kids in all of us to make a DVR that is kid friendly. That is what they were showing at CES 2012 the Kid-Tough® DVR.

The Kid-Tough® DVR is made for 3-5 year olds. It is rugged and easy to use. There is a touch screen kids can use to scan through the available videos. When they are ready to play a video just tap on the screen and it will start playing. They can also fast forward or rewind through a video. To record a video you just place the DVR into its dock which sits between your cable box and the TV, set the record time and hit record.

The Kid-Tough® DVR will be available around June-July. It will be approximately $150.00 and include the DVR, headphones, docking station, a car charger and a case. If you have a small child and take a lot of car trips this is worth a look

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central

Dan from Powerbag shows off the latest in geek fashion, a messenger bag that has a built-in battery and charging system. Up to four different devices can be charged in the bag at the same time. Included are a selection of charging tips, including the Apple connector and USB variants. The battery capacity should charge a smartphone several times, or a tablet once.

Available now for $139 to $249 for a rolling bag with a bigger battery.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast network.

Anyone who has multiple iOS devices has run into this problem you have multiple devices to charge and only one outlet. That is where XtremeMac comes to the rescue. XtremeMac a leading designer and manufacturer of accessories and audio solutions for Apple Devices. XtremeMac is celebrating it’s 10th year anniversary, it was founded in 2001 the same year Apple introduced the first iPod. Since that time XtremeMac has been making innovative solutions to protect, power and play Apple devices. The brand also makes award-winning cases and speaker docks.

This year at CES 2012 XtremeMac won a Best in Show award from iLounge for it’s newest charging dock innovations. XtremeMac is offering three new charging docks, the InCharge Duo Plus, InCharge X3 and InCharge X5. All three mult-dock chargers provide 10 watts per dock for quick and efficient simultaneous charging of any combination of iPod, iPhone or iPad. The Incharge Duo Plus allows you to charge two iOs devices at once through one socket. The InCharge X3 charges up to three iOs devices and the InCharge X5 can charge up to five iOs devices. All three charging are adjustable to make them case friendly. They have rubber feet to provide a stable platform and bi-color LED charging status indicators. XtremeMac can be found on Facebook and Twitter.   All three will be available in Q1 2012, pricing is unknown at this time.

If you are looking for a good digital recorder you maybe in luck. Olympus the market leader in portable digital recording and dictation devices, is introducing three new lines of digital recorders, the WS series, the VN-702PC and the DP-201.

The WS series consist of WS-803, the WS-802 and the WS-801. The WS-801 will be approximately $79.00. It will have 2 GB of internal memory for over 514 hours of recording time. There is a calendar search function included, so you can search for recordings by date. It runs on AAA alkaline batteries, The WS-802 will be approximately $99.00. It will also have the Calendar search feature. It will have 4 GB of internal memory for 1,016 hours of recording. It will run on AAA NI-MH rechargeable batteries. It will record in PCM format along with MP3 and WMA. It will comes with stereo headphones and a USB cable. The WS-803 will run approximately $149.00. It will have 8GB of internal memory for up to 2,043 hours of recording time. There are two recording levels auto and manual. In manual mode the sound level is set thru on-screen commands. There is the ability to listen and record radio through the built-in FM tuner. Like the WS-801 and WS-802 the WS-803 has the calendar search feature. It will run on AAA NI-MH batteries. Both the WS-802 and WS 803 will have voice playback, voice balancer, file move, voice changer and noise cancellation. Voice playback allows the user to skip the non-voice portions of a recording and only playback parts with recorded voices, making it easier to transcribe files. Noise cancellation helps to eliminate constant background noises. The voice balancer, will adjust voice levels to compensate for distance. Perfect for interviews where one voice maybe louder than the other, due to the distance from the microphone. The Voice Changer allows users to alter the pitch of a voice. File Move allows users to transfer files from internal memory to external SD cards. All three of the WS series have two internal low noise directional condenser microphones, 1.43 inch backlit LCD screen and Micro SD slot for an additional 32 GB of memory.

The DP-201 recorder has 2GB of memory with over 200 hours of standard recording and 98 hours of HQ recording. It has the simplicity of an analog recorder in a digital format. It will run on two AAA batteries for over 80 hours of recording time. The Play, Stop and Record buttons are color coded and easily accessible. The erase button is also clearly marked to prevent accidental erasing. There is a large front speaker and volume control. There is a Playback speed control with rewind and fast forward option. It has a four language display English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. It will run around $34.99.

The VN-702PC recorder will run $59.99. It has a monaural omni directional condenser microphone. It records in both MP3 and WMA format. It has 2GB of internal memory. There is a Micro SD slot for an additional 32 GB of memory. There is also a calendar search feature. There is a 1.61 baclit screen. Included with the recorder is a case a one AAA alkaline battery and USB cable. It has a built-in stand which makes it great for recording lectures.

The WS series, the DP-201 and the VN-702 PC recorder will be available in March 2012. I’ve been looking for a good digital recorder so I am interested in picking one up and trying it.

 My mother is 83, she is physically healthy, but she is in the on set of dementia. She lives alone and the closes relative to her is my brother, who is 30-40 minutes away. She has no interest in computers or having a wireless network to be setup in her house. However, because of her age and dementia it would be nice to be able to monitor her health and to remind her to go to her appointments. This is where Health Measures by Independa may come in.

The Health Measures doesn’t require any cellular coverage, broadband service or wireless devices in the home. It will work through landline or mobile phones. It requires no-hardware, no-installation and is a low-cost alternative to complement Independa’s Artemiss solution. It records weight, blood pressure, glucose level, temperature, pulse and heart rate among other health related information. The information is collected and then merged with other information that is already in the system to provide a comprehensive biometric report. The information is then presented on the Independa Caregive App. The caregiver can then use that information to remind the patient to take medication, exercise and to go to medical appointments. Allowing the elderly to stay in their homes longer, safer and more comfortable. If a patient is required to be hospitalized and then is released, the most dangerous period that require a return to the hospital usually happens within the first three days after discharge. Health Measures can help provide the information to hospitals or caregivers that can help prevent readmission.

The Health Measures system will become available in February after a month of testing.  It requires no-hardware, no-installation and is a  low-cost alternative to complement Independa’s Artemiss solution. Independa CEO said it the best when he said:

“We have designed Health Measures to help mitigate expensive and often debilitating conditions that commonly arise during transitions in care,” said Independa CEO Kian Saneii. “Our new service will enable hospitals, other caregiving organizations and family caregivers to begin monitoring a care recipient’s biotelemetry as soon as the person returns to their residence. Professional and family caregivers will receive timely information, avoiding the need for time-consuming and costly routine home visits.”

Sony‘s CES focus this year is on electronics, content and network services combining to deliver high quality entertainment anytime and anywhere. Supported by a slew of product announcements, new connected devices range from TVs, Blu-ray players and A/V receivers through to tablets, smartphones and PCs and on to camcorders and mobile music players. Sony is combining these with online services for music, video and game delivery, creating a great user experience (as they say). TVs, PCs, smartphones and tablets are key to this experience as the four main devices used for entertainment.

“Sony is committed to designing technologies for every aspect of consumer entertainment – in or out of the home, on the go, in the air, at work, at play, or wherever life takes you,” said Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation. “When these products are combined with Sony Entertainment Network (SEN), which offers innovative services like Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited, as well as PlayStation Network, the user experience is truly unmatched and only made possible by a company like Sony.”

The Bravia TV line has been expanded in all three areas; entry level BX, step-up EX and flagship HX. Brightness and contrast levels have been increased and picture quality improved with Sony’s X-Reality and Motionflow video technologies. In particular the latter helps to reduce blur caused by rapid camera movements which is often a problem with LCD screens. Sony is sticking with the Google TV platform with a new network player and Blu-ray player featuring Google TV. Certain Bravia models will link seamlessly to these devices to provide Google TV features directly on the TV.

Sony’s Vaio range of computers will continue to be updated with more entertainment feature and new designs that fit with consumers’ needs and increasing mobility. At CES, Sony will be demonstrating new technologies and prototypes for a range of technologies including glasses-free 3D.

In the smartphone space, the Xperia brand has done reasonably well, but increasing the smartphone share in North America is now one of Sony’s highest priorities. Sony Ericsson will be subsumed into Sony Mobile Communications and all new phones will carry Sony branding. The latest addition to the Xperia line-up is the Xperia ion, Sony’s first LTE smartphone coming with an HD 720p display and aluminium body. Also new is the Xperia S which comes with 3D image capture.

On the imaging front, no less than 13 new Handycam camcorders are being unveiled. A new image stabilisation system called Balanced Optical Steady Shot has been developed that controls the complete optical path from lens to sensor as a single floating unit. This reduces handshake blur by up to 13 times compared to the previous models. There’s a new camcorder model with a built-in video projector that has improved brightness and enhanced audio. The trusty Bloggie range now has a “Live” model which will live stream HD video over a Wi-Fi connection and there’s an unboxing over at sister channel TPN.tv. Of course, Sony has a bunch of new Cybershot digital still cameras.

Finally, it wouldn’t be CES if Sony didn’t announce a Walkman or two. The new Z series of MP3 players comes with an application interface and connectivity to both Sony’s Music Unlimited and the Android Market. Content can be played from Z series devices either wirelessly using DLNA or via HDMI to Bravia TVs. To further improve the audio experience, no less than eleven new Balanced Armature earbud-style headphones are now available as well.

That’s it – a quick overview of the products on show at CES by Sony and they all look like fun.

Treehouse Labs has been working hard on its BiKN Technology Platform and the first consumer product based on the technology has now been announced. BiKN for iPhone uses a smart case, the myBiKN app and small, clip-on tags to help people find the things they tagged from their phone or page their phone from one of the tags. If you are wondering, BiKN is pronounced “beacon”.

The app and tags can be used for different functions, such as Find, Leash and Page. The Find mode shows a visual meter and audio signal on the iPhone that helps locate the missing item. The Leash feature enables the user to control how far a tagged item can be separated from the smart case before an alarm sounds on both the iPhone and tag. Sounds handy for keeping track of wayward children! The Page function can sound an alert on one or more tags.

“In creating BiKN we asked, ‘why can’t your phone case protect more than just your phone?’. BiKN is essentially a wireless network for your stuff with both a head – our smart case – and a heart – the myBiKN app.” said John Howard, Founder & CEO of Treehouse Labs. “It’s not just an alarm or a tether. BiKN enables your iPhone to keep up with your stuff and your stuff to page your phone. Even if it is dead or turned off.”

BiKN for iPhone is a CES 2012 Design Innovation and Engineering Award Honoree (.pdf) and GNC will be chatting with Treehouse Labs at CES.

Today’s smartphones are energy-sucking devices that can rarely go for a day or two without charging. I fondly remember my Nokia 6210 that could go a business week without needing a charge, but enough of the reminiscing.

If you do have a thirsty smartphone (or you get one for Christmas) and you find that the battery lets you down, you might be interested in Mugen Power Batteries, suppliers of replacement batteries for smartphones and other devices. Typically, a Mugen battery will offer an extra 10%-25% over the OEM battery of the same size. Take the battery for the HTC Wildfire S - the OEM is 1250 mAh but the Mugen version is 1500 mAh, giving an extra 22% more juice.

If you really need much more power, Mugen also sells batteries so big that you need a new back cover to fit it in. For the Samsung Galaxy S II, Mugen offers a 3200 mAh battery which nearly doubles the energy of the stock battery (1650 mAh), but the battery size increases too and a new back cover is needed. If you value talk time over aesthetics, it’s the only way to go.

Even Apple products are catered for, though as the iPhones et al don’t have user-replaceable batteries, the additional power has to come from an external unit.

Mugen are fairly well-known if you follow any of the main smartphone forums, and there are other vendors out there, but they seem to have the widest range with a good reputation, so if you need more power for your smartphone, check them out.

Since the finger became the input device of choice, I’ve spent more time polishing my smartphone and tablet than I care to admit. I usually use whatever is handy but I know that this isn’t always a good idea – cotton can be more abrasive than you think and there’s nothing worse than a grain of sand caught in the weave. Toddy Gear have the solution to this problem with microfibre smart-cloths designed to keep your gadgets smudge free without liquids and in dozens of brilliant patterns. And they are brilliant patterns.

They’re also reasonably priced with most single cloths at $10 and there’s currently a “3-for-2″ offer on in the on-line store. Toddy Cloths available from Best Buy and Target retail stores. Regrettably, it doesn’t look like the Toddy Cloth is currently available in the UK, otherwise I’d be popping out to get one.

Our Todd will be chatting with their Todd at next month’s CES in Las Vegas. Watch this space.

The theft of mobile electronic devices has become increasingly attractive as the value of gadgets rises and the economy falls. A particularly easy way to steal is to simply open likely-looking backpacks and rucksacks while they’re being worn and remove the gadgetry without the owner noticing. Sometimes the pack can be unzipped quietly, other times it’s cut open with a knife or scissors. A skilled thief can do this while someone is walking along but more commonly it happens on trains and buses.

To defend against this thievery, Canadian firm Vivick will debut their new line of anti-theft backpacks at CES in January, comprising three bags constructed from an anti-slash military-grade gauge nylon with a combination lock built into the zipper tab. Each model is designed to look good while being sturdy and durable, and the carry straps are also strengthened.

Rifling through my satchel this morning, I found a laptop, a tablet, an MP3 player and a somewhat old smartphone (Palm Treo Pro). Even with this last item, the total value of the technology exceeds £1000 (or $1500), so this isn’t a purely theoretical risk.

Vivick is known for its professional electronic designs, having worked for Apple, Sony, Samsung and Dell to create accessories for their own product lines. Vivick has also worked with Aston Martin and Ferrari on interior automotive accessories. Based on these credentials, I’ll be very interested to see what they come up with at CES.

Sennheiser today announced that it would be presenting its latest in-ear headphones, the IE 60 and IE 80, at CES in January. Extending the Professional line, the new models build on Sennheiser’s experience in the music business and are aimed at audio enthusiasts who want the best possible sound quality from MP3 players and smartphones.

“The IE 60 and IE 80 ear-canal phones are ideal for discerning listeners who want to hear music with the finest possible detail,” explained Eric Palonen, senior product specialist for Sennheiser’s consumer electronics division. “Based on the huge success of our earlier models and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our customers, we developed new models that have an even more innovative design.”

The IE 60 has passive noise attenuation of up to 20 dB, with a frequency response of 10 to 18,000 Hz, tuned to deliver modern rock and pop. The IE 80 provides a frequency response of 10 to 20,000 Hz with a passive noise attenuation of up to 26 dB, but its special feature is a unique sound tuning function. By using a miniature rotating control, the user is able to increase or reduce the bass response to suit the music being played.

The IE 60 and IE 80 are available now for MSRPs of $250 and $450 respective, though you can find them online for about half of that. Still, serious prices for serious sound. The full spec sheets (.pdf) are here and here, respectively.

Olympus has announced the latest addition to its popular LS series of digital recorders with the addition of the LS-100 linear PCM audio recorder. Aimed at musicians and audio enthusiasts, it comes with a combination of professional interconnects, high quality sound recording, multitracking and extra features in a convenient pocket size.

It’s an impressive little device with a matching list of features

- two internal 90-degree directional stereo condenser microphones with a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz and capable of capturing sound pressure levels up to 140 dB (which is about as loud as you’d really want to get).

- uncompressed 24 bit/96 kHz Linear PCM digital recording saved to the internal 4GB memory or on SD (up to 2GB) / SDHC (up to 32GB) / SDXC (up to 64GB) cards.

- separate audio and system circuitry to keep the signal clean.

- low cut filter at either 100 Hz or 300 Hz to eliminate low frequency background noise.

- two quarter-inch XLR / standard phone combo jacks, supporting phantom power at 48/24 volts to power high-quality external microphones.

- 8 track multitracking, with independent volume and pan control.

- tuner and metronome.

- Lissajous measurement which shows the phase difference betweenthe left and right mics.

- direct CD mastering.

- 2″ LCD screen and all-metal body.

“The Olympus LS series has been a favourite of musicians, artists and music lovers, and the LS-100 is an evolution in this series designed with the working musician, specifically, in mind,” said Amy Leslie, Sr. Marketing & Business Development Manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “For songwriting sessions, band rehearsals, live performances, broadcasting, or really anything that requires the highest quality of audio recording, the LS-100 is an ideal, all-encompassing recording solution.”

Nevermind all that, it just looks cool. Full details on the LS-100 are here and it will be available from all good stores in February 2012 for $399.

Do you have a buddy photographer in the family or perhaps the next Steven Spielberg and are looking for a still or video camera for them for the holidays. Take a look at the Vivitar’s ViviCam VT135 or the Vivitar 790HD. The Vivitar ViviCam VT135 is a high-definition, 3D digital camera. It has 12.1 megapixel and 5x zoom. You can preview what you took in its 2.7” preview screen. It is HDMI compatible and operates with a lithium battery. I know what your thinking I can’t afford that, its got to be hundreds of dollar. Besides I know my kid the more expensive it is the more likely they are to break it within a week. How does $99.00 sounds to you, that’s right the Vivitar ViviCam VT135 is only $99 SRP. For $99.00 you can give a gift that will allow your kid or favorite adult to take beautiful pictures in 3D

If you have a budding Spielberg then you may want to take a look at the DVR 790HD. It is 5.1 megapixel, 3D video camera. with 4x zoom. You have the ability to shoot and view all the action in 3D on a 2.7” preview screen. It also is HDMI compatible and operates with a lithium battery. Again it is available for $99. Vivitar the maker of both these cameras has been around for over 70 years and is constantly innovating and developing ways to create a rich heritage of photographic products. You can find these cameras and other Vivitar products at select Target stores near you and online.