The Motorola Atrix 4G takes a big step down that road. The Atrix would be a powerhouse based on its smartphone chops alone: a dual-core 1GHz processor running Android 2.2, a GB of RAM, front- and rear-facing cameras, and access to AT&T’s future 4G network. But the phone is a game-changer because of its Laptop and HD Multimedia docking systems. As soon as you plug the phone into either dock, a full-fledged Firefox browser launches, your Android apps scale up in size, and you leave thumb-typing behind. The multimedia dock has three USB ports and an HDMI port, so it can power a living room worth of entertainment gear. And the laptop version makes the phone the center of a mobile system with a nearly full-size keyboard and monitor—and the potential to cut pounds from many a road warrior’s gear.
Samsung's new 9 Series laptop has taken a pretty sweet shot at Apple's thin sliver of a computer. The 13-inch Series 9 is just a tiny bit slimmer at .64 inches, and a few feathers lighter at 2.89 pounds.
But it also packs a far-more impressive Intel i5 processor and 4GB of RAM, plus USB 3 connectors and built-in WiMax and a "Durolumin" alloy shell that Samsung claims is several times stronger than aluminum. Samsung produces much of the memory used in SSDs, so unsurprisingly, the Series 9 has a built in solid-state drive that boots Windows 7 in just 12 seconds. The design also is far sleeker than the Air, the price, however, is less sleek, at $1600.
The classic camera brick has long been in need of a refresh, and Casio delivers a deft twist with this contorting 12-megapixel (1080p for video) shooter. A multitude of hinges enables it to fold, bend, hang from a hook, perch on a table and even flip its 3-inch screen for a well-aimed self-portrait. The price tag: $250
Telescopes that automatically align to their target might seem like they'd bring stargazing to the masses—no more tinkering!—but their reach is somewhat stunted by astronomical price tags and wait times (it can take 10 minutes for them to align themselves). The $700 automatically aligning Celestron SkyProdigy 130 costs half as much as the competition, and zeroes in on its target celestial body in just three minutes. The secret: An onboard camera that detects where in the sky the scope is pointed.
Now, the Bloggie 3D one-ups the entire category, retaining the slim profile and pop-out USB arm, while shooting 3D HD video with two lenses. The display is a 2.4-in. glasses-free 3D screen, which is fun, but the real story here is price. At $250, consumers can dip a toe into the supposed 3D revolution. Even if it fizzles, they'll still have an 8GB pocket camcorder that shoots 2D just fine.
The Nike Plus running system, first released in 2006, has been an innovative running technology from the beginning. In the first edition, a pedometer-like accelerometer embedded in a Nike shoe connected with the iPod Nano to store downloadable stats and give on-the-fly feedback. Later, Nike upgraded the system to be compatible with more iPods, the iPhone as well as a Polar heart rate monitor. There were still downsides: You had to buy a limited selection of Nike shoes that were compatible with the Nike Plus chip, accuracy was lacking and uploading information to your computer (to use Nike’s truly stellar run tracking site) wasn't straightforward.
Thanks to a partnership with GPS heavyweights TomTom, the latest Nike Plus system, announced at CES 2011, has reached its potential. With built-in GPS, the Nike Plus shoes are no longer necessary to track your run (but if you choose, they can act as a backup when you're out of range to get a signal), and thanks to a USB port built into the watch band, downloading your run information requires a simple plug. The functionality is simple (there are only three buttons), the backlit memory LED is crisp with large, easy-to-read letters and the connectivity with the Nike Plus website tracks your running record, congratulates you on PRs and gives friendly reminders that you haven't run all week.
