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The best of CES, Part 2

Christo van Gemert
By Christo van Gemert, ITWeb journalist
Johannesburg, 10 Jan 2011

Tablets are all the rage

Manufacturers have had a year to fine-tune their plans to build products that'll compete with Apple's iPad. While some have rolled out their tablets before the festive season, we're only now seeing the real influx of iPad competitors from the likes of Huawei, Dell, Motorola and LG.

Dell took to stage and unveiled its Streak 7 tablet. As the name says, it's a seven-inch device, boasting Android and Dell's Stage user interface. Company execs even teased with a 10-inch device, but no details were given other than “coming later this year”.

Motorola also had an exciting number on show, the Xoom.

One or two stands had mock-ups of the next-generation iPad, too. Companies designing accessories for Apple's next toy weren't shy about spilling a few details on the upcoming iPad, and how their products fit into the picture.

Google also came out to play, announcing Android 3.0, codenamed Honeycomb. This version is designed especially for tablets - so there might just be some proper competition for Steve Jobs and co in 2011.

Skype on TVs

Skype announced a version of its software for HDTVs for two big manufacturers: Vizio and Sony. Already available on LG and Panasonic TVs, the VOIP provider's push to invade the lounge is going to help make it more pervasive, as new Internet voice providers enter the fray.

The Skype integration on the TVs won't just be voice, either. Special Web cams will be available to enable video chat.

If buying a whole new TV just to make an Internet call doesn't sound appealing, don't worry: Sony and Panasonic have also got Skype-enabled Blu-ray players on the way.

Wireless audio

With the latest version of its iOS mobile operating system, Apple included AirPlay support for the iPad, iPod touch and iPhone. This tech allows a user to stream video and audio from their phone to an AirPlay-enabled receiver. The first such device, naturally, was an Apple product: the new Apple TV.

Other manufacturers are getting in on the action now. Bang and Olufsen introduced a version of its sexy Zeppelin iPod dock which now boasts AirPlay support. Klipsch and iHome also had AirPlay speakers at their stands.

Home theatre experts Denon and Marantz both announced versions of their home theatre receivers and networked CD players with built-in AirPlay support. Wireless music is about to get way more interesting.

Sexy curves from Sony Ericsson

Sony Ericsson kicked off its CES trip with news of the new Xperia arc - a 4.2-inch smartphone running the latest version of Android, version 2.3. This flagship phone is intended to spearhead the company's 2011 line-up.

The display is a big talking point. SE calls it a Reality Display, no doubt taking aim at the iPhone 4's Retina display. It comes packed with tech from Sony's consumer products: a Bravia engine for richer colours on the display and an eight-megapixel Exmor image sensor for photography. This might be the Android phone fans of the brand have been waiting for.

Goggle-free 3D viewing

Sony's stand has an interesting device: an autostereoscopic portable 3D Blu-ray player. Not content with having high-def movies on the go, Sony's made it 3D capable. And not just any 3D - the kind that doesn't need glasses.

This will go a long way to ensuring you don't look a bit daft while watching your movies on the go, and the display's 720P resolution means they'll be high definition, too. We can't wait to lay our eyes on this.

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