The Asus ET2700 all-in-one joins growing roster of 27-inch all-in-ones

Now I'm starting to wonder what it

means for the vendors who have not

announced a 27-inch all-in-one.

Asus joins

HP, Vizio, and Lenovo in introducing a

Windows all-in-one with a new large

screen display at CES. The ET2700 will

appear this month at Best Buy with a

27-inch, 1,920x 1080 display built-in.

Like HP's Omni 27, also available now,

the Asus model is not a touch screen.

Asus told me at its booth that it will

add touch in a mid-year update. I've

asked for pricing information, and will

update when I have it.

The screen size is really the only

significant news for this system. The

Core i5 CPU and GeForce 540M

graphics chip should come as no

surprise, and the array of ports--USB

3.0, HDMI in, eSATA--is in keeping with

its competition.

I'd only note that the design of the

ET2700, with its edge-to-edge glass and

pedal-style support foot, joins Lenovo

in borrowing liberally from Apple's

iMac design language. A vendor copying

Apple is also not especially newsworthy,

but at least the trend remains healthy

Rudz

PlayStation-Certified Sony Xperia S Breaks Cover

Not content to pull back the curtains

on just one handset today, news of

Sony’s new Xperia S handset has

started to make round ahead of

Sony’s big Las Vegas press conference.

Gone is the “Ericsson” moniker, but

the Sony handset is nothing to sneeze

at. The Xperia S packs a 1.5 GHz dual-

core processor (what is it with 1.5GHz

processors today?), a 12-megapixel

camera capable of recording in 1080p,

and an NFC chip. It’ s slated to be

available in both black and silver when

it launches, and while I’m a fan of

bright orange, I imagine most people

won’t have an issue with the color

scheme.

Sadly, for a phone that’s supposedly

launching in Q1 2012, it only runs

Android 2.3 Gingerbread, though we

know Sony is already working on Ice

Cream Sandwich updates for most of

their more modern handsets.

The gamers among you will be

interested to know that the Xperia S is

also PlayStation-certified, so it’s fully

compatible with the PlayStation Suite

and all of the nifty games that it affords access to.

Users will have to be pretty judicious

with which games they install though

— it will only come with 16 or 32 GB of

storage depending on the model they

choose.

Rudz

CES: Lenovo unveils Yoga IdeaPad laptop-tablet hybrid to run Windows 8

Firm promises four functions from

single piece of hardware

Lenovo has unveiled a new multi-form

device that it claims can be used as an

ultrabook, tablet and a display stand

that will run Windows 8 when it is

launched later this year by Microsoft.

The Yoga is the latest product in the

firm's IdeaPad range and Lenovo said

it could be used in four distinct ways:

as a laptop, a tablet – by folding the

screen down over the keyboard – a

stand, or as a 'tent' (see picture), which

takes advantage of the device's hinges.

The device has a 13.3in screen and

comes with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD

and has a battery life that can last up

to eight hours, according to the firm. It

is also 16.9mm thick and weighs

1.47kg.

Lenovo chief executive, Yang Yuanqing,

said the firm had produced the

product to meet what it believes is a

clear gap in the market for devices that

can appeal to the demand from end-

users for a multitude of device formats.

"It is clear to us that consumers want

four screens: mobile devices, tablets,

notebooks and smart TVs and they

want them to work together

seamlessly, anytime, anywhere," he

said.

"The IdeaPad Yoga multi- mode

notebook redefines the convergence

and convertible user experience by

bringing together the best of traditional

PCs, with the best of tablets and more. "

The device is set to launch in the

second half of 2012, although this will

depend on the availability of Windows

8 , with pricing set to start from around

$1, 199.

The firm will be hoping to replicate the

success of rival Asus whose Eee Pad

Transformer device, which allows a

keyboard to be attached and removed

from a tablet, was one of the surprise

hits of 2011.

Lenovo is just one of many vendors to

unveil new products at the show in Las

Vegas, with Samsung announcing

several new laptops and Intel

promoting the latest ultrabook devices

as an important new area of the

market .

Rudz

Get a Logitech Bluetooth speaker for $59.99

I'm a big fan of Bluetooth speakers. Plunk one down just about anywhere and you can wirelessly stream tunes from your smartphone,tablet, laptop, etc. I have one of those Jawbone Jamboxes, and it's proven a great little accessory.

But pricey; it lists for around $200. Here's a much more affordable alternative: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Best Buy has the Logitech Wireless Speaker for $59.99 shipped (plus sales tax where applicable).

Although Best Buy's product page indicates this is "for Apple iPad," the Wireless Speaker can pair with any device that supports A2DP, a.k.a. stereo Bluetooth. That means it'll work with aniPhone or Android phone, as well as many tablets and laptops. It also has a 3.5mm input jack, so it's also compatible with non-Bluetooth devices.

Of course, wireless is where it's at. And because the LWS relies on Bluetooth rather than a Wi-Fi network, it can literally work anywhere--unlike certain other wireless-speaker technologies (cough, AirPlay, cough).

Indeed, the gizmo comes with a rechargeable battery (which Logitech says is good for up to 10 hours), so you can take it to the park, the beach, or wherever. To that end, Logitech supplies a carrying case.

Much as I like using a speaker like this for music, it's particularly great alongside my tablet when I'm watching movies or TV shows. Needless to say, it's a huge improvement over any built-in speakers.

I can't comment on the Logitech's overall audio quality, as I haven't heard one firsthand (firstear?). But the handful of user reviews are exceedingly positive (except for the one about the unit that died--but, thankfully, Logitech backs the Wireless Speaker with a two-year warranty).

Uh, oh...I've just about talked myself into buying one of these, even though I don't really need another Bluetooth speaker. Must... fight... cheap-deal urge!

Bonus deal: Speaking of Bluetooth goodies, 1SaleADay has the refurbished Jawbone ICON Bluetooth headset for $19.99, plus $5 for shipping. It comes in your choice of styles (Hero, Denim, Thinker) and includes a 90-day warranty. CNET's rating on this, er, iconic headset, which sells new for $99(!): excellent.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus has a Sprint advantage

Verizon's LG Spectrum goes HD all the way (hands-on)

The LG Spectrum on Verizon

LAS VEGAS--I'm starting to think that LG has a thing for HD, and I'm not complaining.

Not long after launching the LG Nitro HD, LG and Verizon announced the LG Spectrum, one of two new smartphones to inaugurate Sprint's all-new 4G LTE lineup.

Although I didn't have as long as I would have liked to acquaint myself with the Android 2.3 Gingerbread phone (eventually upgradeable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, I immediately liked it. In fact, I can say I clicked with it even more than the pretty lofty Nitro HD.

The shape subscribes to the school of simple, clean lines in a way that's similar to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Something about it is easy on the eye and the hand, like a good scoop of vanilla ice cream.

So you want another Revolution? Check out Verizon's LG Spectrum 4G LTE (photos)

1-2 of 6

Scroll LeftScroll Right

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The specs on this phone are nice as well. It has a large, 4.5-inch HD display. (That's 720p HD, by the way, with in-plane switching.) There's also a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p video capture, and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera.

LG and Verizon are proud of the phone's HD screen, and with good reason. And what better way to show off the high pixel density than with some HD-specific apps. Netflix HD is one new one, debuting on the Spectrum, and ESPN Sports Center HD is another. Both will automatically load up high-definition videos when available.

Unfortunately, the test unit wasn't hooked up to the network, so we'll have to revisit the Spectrum for those tests.

Verizon will begin selling its latest LG LTE sweetheart starting January 19 for $199.99 with a new, two-year contract.

A new beginning?

Scroll RightScroll Left

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Is this Sony's next-generation tablet, or merely a concept? Visitors at Sony's CES booth seemingly had more questions than answers while viewing this prototype PC behind a glass enclosure. The oval shape was visually striking, but it was rather disappointing to see so much wasted space wasted on the bezel surrounding the screen. The illuminated Sony logo is a nice touch.

Intel plays smartphone, tablet catch-up at CES 2012

Intel president and chief executive Paul Otellini talks about the company's smartphone and tablet plans at CES 2012.

(Credit: James Martin)

LAS VEGAS--Intel made the case tonight that it didn't miss a step in the smartphone and tablet game, instead offering that computing has become device-agnostic.

Nonetheless, Intel spent the majority of its focus on smartphones and tablets, announcing deals that should spur more Atom-powered mobile devices in the near future.

On the smartphone front, that amounts to a reference design for a phone with a 4.03-inch LCD, two cameras (including one at 8 megapixels), and one of Intel's low-power Z2460 processors. The company hopes it will cut down the time and money it takes OEMs to get new phones out the door.

Intel's Otellini shows off phones, computers... and will.i.am

1-2 of 9

Scroll LeftScroll Right

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The first such phone running an Intel mobile chip is Lenovo's K800, due in the second quarter of this year. Liu Jun, Lenovo senior vice president and president of mobile Internet and digital home, took to the stage to announce the phone, saying the move is just the first of many, and represents a heavy investment by the company into the mobile space.

Joining Lenovo was Motorola, which--with Intel--announced the beginning of a multi-year, multi-device deal that will bring new Intel-powered Motorola devices to market later this year. No models or features were announced, but Motorola says it plans to use Intel chips in both smartphones and tablets.

Intel spent the rest of its time on stage focusing on notebooks, including demos of computers using its upcoming Ivy Bridge chips. However the real focus fell on ultrabooks, the thin and light notebooks whose definition has begun to blur as manufacturers have expanded to 14- and 15-inch models while retaining the marketing moniker.

Dell effectively tried to get that trend back on track, joining Intel on stage to show off the XPS 13, a 13-inch so-called ultrabook that the company will begin selling next month. Among its features are 9-hour battery life, aluminum and carbon fiber construction, use of Corning's Gorilla Glass, and what Dell claims to be 15 percent less size than competing 13-inch models.

And an Intel keynote would not be complete without a celebrity appearance. Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas fame came on to promote an Intel-sponsored "Ultrabook Project," that has the musician travelling to 12 countries and working with local artists to produce 12 songs and work on philanthropic efforts.