CES 2009: Accessories at CES 2009
Brother unveils impressive high-tech sewing machine
One of the more unusual stars of CES 2009 has been the Innovis 6000D Quattro sewing machine from Brother, which incorporates a digital camera and large touchscreen.
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We had a chance to check out the Quattro sewing machine at the CES 2009, and our impressions of this novel device were very positive.
The colour screen measures 4.5x7 inches, and its touchscreen interface lets you access the sewing machine’s menus to change settings. The screen can also display the ‘eye of the needle’, showing the close-up view from a digital camera located next to the needle.
The Quattro has a number of automatic functions to make sewing as easy as possible. For example, the needle can thread itself automatically.
There are more than 600 embroidery designs stored in the Quattro which can be embroidered easily onto clothes, sheets, or other materials. There are even 160 Disney and Pixar designs, letting you automatically stitch pictures of popular cartoon characters.
Most impressively, you can import your own digital photos or designs into the Quattro then reproduce these in thread embroidery.
The Quattro is certainly an impressive machine. However, it is extremely expensive, costing around US$9000 (about £6000).
It is available now in the US, and a European launch is expected in early 2009.
For more on sewing machines, check out our reviews of the John Lewis Mini JL sewing machine and the Singer Confidence 7463 sewing machine. If you're thinking of buying a sewing machine, read out advice guide to buying a sewing machine first.
Samsung MBP500 pocket projector
We tried out the MBP500 pocket video projector from Samsung at the CES 2009 in Las Vegas, and we were quite impressed by this tiny device, which is no bigger than a mobile phone.
The MBP500 can play videos, MP3 music files and pictures, and can display them on its own screen, or project them onto a nearby wall.
The projected display can be as large as 50 inches, and there’s a simple focus adjustment on the side of the device.
We were impressed to see such a large projected display from such a small source, though the effect is easily spoiled by ambient lighting. To get the best out of the MBP500 you’ll need to watch movies in as dark a room as possible, giving a mini cinema experience.
The speakers on the MBP500 are a little underwhelming, though this is no surprise given the size of the device. However, you can connect headphones or even mini speakers.
The MBP500 is also suitable for office-based projections, as it can display Word, Powerpoint and Excel files.
The MBP500 has a Micro SD memory card slot, and it can be linked directly to Samsung mobile phones to project videos and photos stored on them.
Samsung do not yet have confirmation of pricing on the MBP500, but we’ll be keen to take a closer look at this pocket projector when it is released later in 2009.
Kodak displays OLED digital photo frame
Kodak has revealed a high-priced addition to its range of digital photo frames at the 2009 CES show, displaying a 7-inch wireless Kodak OLED frame.
We had a chance to see this at CES 2009, and were impressed by the sharp definition and excellent colour reproduction of the OLED screen.
As with other Organic LED screens, the Kodak OLED is incredibly slim, but it still comes packed with features.
You can wirelessly connect the Kodak OLED to your home network, letting you directly access photo files from your computer, or connect to photo-sharing websites such as Picasa, Facebook, Flickr, or Kodak’s own gallery photo-sharing site.
The photo frame can display RSS feeds for news, weather, sports and stock information, and it can also play MP3 music files.
However, video playback on the screen is slightly disappointing. The Kodak OLED can only play Mpeg 4 movie files, and the video quality isn’t as good as the picture quality we’ve seen in OLED TV sets. Resolution suffers, and colour reproduction is not on a par with that of still photos.
Unfortunately this ultra-modern screen comes at an exceptionally high price. The Kodak OLED is available now for US$999 (around £655), so this is no small investment. No news on UK price or availability as yet.
For reviews of current models, including Best Buys from Toshiba, Kodak and Sony, see our digital photo frame reviews.
Sony flexible OLED screens
Organic LED technology has been making waves since its introduction at CES 2008. At CES 2009, Sony revealed prototype designs of its flexible OLED screens.
OLED screens are incredibly thin, at less than 1mm, and deliver extremely sharp images and vivid colour. To date, we have seen impressively sharp OLED TV screens from Sony, but these new flexible screens could have exciting applications in various consumer electronics.
The models Sony displayed in Las Vegas hinted at the innovations to come. We saw a flexible MP4 player that you can wear on your wrist like a watch. The OLED screen curves to fit your own wrist, allowing you to watch videos as well as listen to music on the go.
Flexible OLED screen for Sony Reader
We also saw a prototype flexible OLED variation of the popular Sony Reader. The original Reader can store hundreds of books in its internal memory, displaying them one page at a time on its ‘digital ink’ screen.
The flexible OLED version of the Reader would effectively work as a bendable digital screen, displaying text but also allowing you to roll the screen as you might a sheet of paper.
Neither of these concept devices was available for trying out at CES, but we did take a look at a bendable OLED display. The clarity of the screen was not as impressive as that of the regular OLED TVs we have seen to date, though there was no apparent degradation to the screen quality as it was flexed.
New enormous capacity memory card
The SD Association has unveiled the next-generation SDXC (eXtended Capacity) memory card at CES 2009.
It’s claimed that the 2 terabyte (2TB) SDXC memory card can store 30 high-definition movies, 60 hours of HD recording or 17,000 fine-grade photos.
Mike Briggs, Which? technology researcher, said, ‘The memory capacity and speed of this card is simply phenomenal. To put it in context, at last year’s CES we were impressed by a new Panasonic SD card with a capacity of 32GB, but this card is 64 times bigger.’
This vast capacity shouldn’t mean reduced performance. According to the Association, the card will work at maximum speeds even when it has achieved its maximum storage capacity.
It can transfer data to and from compatible digital equipment at 104 megabytes a second – over three times faster than the high performance SD cards currently available.
New wireless digital photo frame from HP
HP has announced its first Wi-Fi enabled digital photo frame at CES.
Using its Wi-Fi connection, the HP sd828a1 can grab images from popular websites such as Facebook, MySpace and Flickr. The photo frame will even monitor these sites and alert you when photos have been updated.
This wireless functionality is unusual on a digital photo frame – of the 20 digital photo frames we recently tested, only the eStarling WPF-288 offers anything similar.
'The ability to display photos from websites is a really interesting sounding feature, and with Wi-Fi, you won’t have annoying wires trailing down from your mantelpiece,' says Christopher Christoforou, Which? photographic expert.
The frame itself has an 8-inch 4:3 aspect ratio display with 800×600 resolution. As well as taking images from the internet, you can add them via the USB drive or through the memory-card reader. You can save a selection of your favourite pictures using the 512MBs of internal memory.
The sd828a1 digital photo frame comes with internal speakers, allowing you to play music while you view your photos, and the Wi-Fi connection means you can even listen to internet radio stations.
UK pricing is unknown at present, though HP expects it to hit the shops in summer 2009.
For reviews of current models, including Best Buys from Toshiba, Kodak and Sony, see our digital photo frame reviews.
The Panasonic RP-HJE900 headphones
New Panasonic premium headphones
In addition to a raft of Blu-ray products, Panasonic launched two top-of-the range sets of headphones at CES 2009.
The RP-HJE700 is an in-ear set, which Panasonic says is designed to provide optimum sound and comfort.
The headphones come in black or silver and have a cord slider to prevent tangling. They are scheduled for release in May 2009 with a suggested US retail price of US$129.99 (about £85).
Panasonic also introduced the RP-HJE900, which it claims are the world’s first high-fidelity in-ear headphones made of Zirconia. According to the manufacturer, Zirconia has less resonance than plastic or aluminium, and as a result, the RP-HJE900 headphones deliver ultra-clear sound reproduction with virtually no distortion.
Zirconia is also durable, so the headphones should be scratchproof and ultra-tough.
The RP-HJE900 headphones are available in either black or white. They will go on sale in May 2009, with a suggested US retail price of US$229.99 (about £155).
For more on choosing the best headphones for you, check our Which? reviews of headphones.
To see pics from our time at CES 2009, check out the Which? CES 2009 photo gallery on Flickr.
Novo Minoru 3D Webcam
You can take 3D pictures and video, and even upload the results to YouTube with a new device launched at CES 2009.
The British-designed Minoru 3D Webcam has two bulbous eyes and arms that drape over your monitor.
The design has a purpose beyond just looking cute. The two eyes are roughly the same distance apart as a pair of human eyes, which allows the camera to capture images in three dimensions.
Viewers wear special coloured glasses to see the 3D image. Five pairs come with each webcam.
The Minoru 3D Webcam has attracted a huge amount of attention since it won last year’s Consumer Electronics Association’s Fans' Favourite award.
YouTube compatible
The Minoru can be used to take still pictures or record 3D video for YouTube, and can also be used as a normal 2D webcam.
It’s compatible with Windows Live Messenger, Skype, AOL instant messenger, OoVoo and other video conferencing packages.
It’s available from Amazon.co.uk, Firebox.com and the Minoru 3D website from January 8, for £49.95.
For reviews of nearly 30 other models see our latest webcam report.
Powermat wireless charging
Powermat wireless charger
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A new range of wireless chargers could put an end to the need for tangled wiring and extra power points.
The slim, neat Powermat range, revealed at the CES 2009 event, can charge mobile phones, iPods, laptop computers, digital cameras, mobile games consoles and even rechargeable batteries.
You can charge more than one device at a time, and the only wire you’ll need is the one which connects the Powermat to the mains.
A spokesperson said charging should be as quick with Powermat as with a device’s own wired charger. It charges using magnetic induction to transfer electricity to the device.
To use any of the Powermat range you will need adaptors which fit your devices. Some are specific to certain mobile phone or MP3 player models – Powermat will sell skins which perfectly fit the iPhone or BlackBerry devices, for example.
Additional mini docks for iPods or rechargeable batteries can be bought. Larger 'dongle' devices can be purchased which can be placed on the Powermat and will provide charge to laptop computers.
A range of five Powermat devices is planned for release this year, including a foldable, portable Powermat which comes with a carry case. The range will start from US$99 (about £66.65), and adaptors will cost from US$29 (about £20) each (price conversions correct at January 7 2009).
A European launch is planned for later in the year.
We like the clutter-free idea of the Powermats – they'd be ideal for people who regularly charge more than one electronic device at a time. However, the need for individual adaptors is unfortunate. You can’t simply place a device on the Powermat and let it charge, and buying individual docks, skins and dongles is an extra expense to consider.
Fuji EnviroMax batteries
A range of batteries that safely biodegrade once used has been unveiled at the CES 2009.
Fuji’s EnviroMax battery range is built entirely from recycled materials, and contains no cadmium, mercury or PVC – materials which usually require special disposal methods.
Fuji told Which? that even the packaging for the EnviroMax batteries was made from recycled materials. Fuji said that these non-rechargeable alkaline batteries could hold their own with rival brands in terms of performance.
The aim is to appeal to the growing interest in consumers on green issues. Given this, we were surprised when Fuji told us it had no plans for developing rechargeable batteries in this range.
Instead, you will have to make do with disposing of these batteries as you go, knowing that at least they are safe for the landfill.
For more on choosing the best battery for you, check our Which? reviews of the best chargeable and non-rechargeable batteries.
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