More from CES: new Pocket PCs, storage cards, digital cameras, wireless headsets, and more.
I recently attended CES in Las Vegas, the "show of shows" for the consumer electronics industry. As a physician and medical editor, I am continually searching for the ultimate new technologies to enhance my life and my medical practice. I found plenty of these at CES—here are some of the best of CES!
Most innovative new device: Gizmondo
Gizmondo (http://www.gizmondo.com/unit/) is a handheld portable gaming device, wireless e-mailer and text messenger, portable video player, and 640x480 digital camera. For messaging, the Gizmondo employs GSM tri-band GPRS for POP3 e-mail service. A SIM card will come with the device, and users will buy messaging minutes from a yet to be determined carrier. It also sports a GPS module, complete with maps! It doesn't look like a Pocket PC, but, like a Pocket PC, it's based on the CE.NET 4.2 OS and uses Windows Media Player for playback of digital audio and video.
Gizmondo
Gizmondo is meant to go head-to-head with the PlayStation Portable and the Nintendo DS. The device has 64 MB of RAM and even includes an SD slot for additional storage. Gizmondo says that 12 games will be available at launch; so far, the company has agreements with Electronic Arts, Activision, Sega, and Microsoft.
The device should already be available in the UK, and should make it to U.S. retail stores sometime this spring with a suggested MSRP of $399.99. Gizmondo may be the first of the next generation all-in-one devices!
Best new all-in-one Pocket PC
The new IQue M5 Pocket PC is the first Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC to be introduced from Garmin (http://www.garmin.com/products/iQueM5/). It probably comes as no surprise that one of the premier GPS companies would integrate a GPS receiver and mapping software into their device, but there's a lot more about the M5 that is nice. Note that it is not a re-branded version of a similar device from MiTAC.
Garmin iQue M5 Pocket PC
Best storage design: SanDisk SD/USB combo card
SanDisk's (http://www.sandisk.com) new 512 MB and 1GB SD/USB cards have a unique hinge that allows these cards to load into a computer's USB slot for upload and download of images and files. One end of the card has a USB 2.0 interface, , while the other end has a Secure Digital interface, thus making it compatible with many digital cameras and Pocket PCs. SanDisk expects to start shipping these nifty cards near the end of the first quarter of 2005. Prices have yet to be announced.
SanDisk SD/USB combo card
Best new concept camera: Kodak EasyShare One Zoom
The EasyShare One Zoom (http://www.kodak.com/go/EasyShare) is Kodak's new picture-sharing digital camera. With an optional wireless LAN card and 256 MB of internal memory, the EasyShare-One can store 1,500 Pictures and send them to Kodak's EasyShare network for viewing on distant computers anywhere in the world!
EasyShare One Zoom wireless digital camera.
Best new Smart Watch:
The new Suunto X6hr Smart Watch (http://www.suunto.com) includes a built-in wireless heart rate monitor with interval timers and training manager software. Linking the watch to your PC via USB using the included software allows you to maintain an advanced training diary with session analysis. It also has MSN Direct-driven features like a changeable watch face and automatic time/date update.
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