AH - New ELECTRONIC and GADGETS

LG seems to be leading the way in combining Bluetooth headsets with other things. The LG Decoy , for example, was one of the first cell phones to have a built-in Bluetooth headset in the back. Now at CES 2009, LG has introduced the LG HBM-800, a Bluetooth headset and speakerphone in one. This isn't new--we've seen this before in this Kyocera Portable Speaker--but we can't think of many others like this one. On its own, the headset is like any other Bluetooth headset. It has dual microphones for echo cancellation and noise suppression, plus it has LG's e-Clip ergonomic earbud on the back. Once you dock the headset into the speakerphone however, the audio automatically transfers to the speakerphone, and you can now use it like you would a Bluetooth speaker. This also works in reverse; when you take the headset out, the audio will transfer to the headset. The speakerphone has a clip on the back so you can easily clip it to your car's visor. This is a great option if ...

Several companies, including Toshiba, are showing off compact DLP pico projectors at the show. This one, the TDP-F10U Mobile LED Projector, may not be the sexiest-looking--or tiniest--of the bunch, but we'll throw it out there for your consideration. The TDP-F10U weighs in at 1.4 pounds and offers SVGA, 800x600 resolution with an 800:1 contrast ratio. It will arrive in March, 2009 with a list price of $599.99. Other companies releasing pico projectors, categorized as "notebook companions," include Acer (K10), Dell (M109S), and BenQ (GP1). All of these offerings in this class weigh just over a pound and cost between $500 and $600. Smaller pico varieties will soon be available, including models from WowWee (Cinemin line), Optoma (PK-101), Samsung (MBP200), and BUGlabs (Bugprojector). These types of picos run in the $300-$400 range.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: an MP3 player is the perfect workout companion. There's nothing like a little music to get you motivated for a sweat session. Of course, some MP3 players even take things a step further by offering other fitness-friendly extras. Such is the case with Haier America's latest Ibiza device, the Trainer. This 2GB player includes a built-in heart-rate monitor, a pedometer, a calorie counter, and a stopwatch. Really, what more could you ask for from a gym-ready gadget? How about an FM tuner, you say? Why yes, there's one of those as well. The Trainer is also compatible with Rhapsody To Go for when you get sick of your same old rotation. Other supported audio formats include MP3, WMA, and WAV. The 10-hour battery life leaves something to be desired, but for an ultracompact fitness-oriented player, it's adequate.

If you're someone doesn't like to pay more than $50 for a pair of headphones, look away, now. If you're someone who doesn't mind throwing down $300 for a pair of cans, you should probably look away, too. But if you've got $1,400 to burn on a sweet pair of headphones, read on because that's what Sennheiser's new HD 800 will retail for when they come out in February. What do you get for $1,400? Well, for starters, the newly designed earcups are finished in Japanese Alcantara, which is a special form of man-made suede that's particularly friendly to the skin and easy to clean. After that, it gets pretty technical. Sennheiser says the 56mm transducer in the HD 800 is "the largest that can currently be found in a dynamic headphone," explaining that the more transducer surface area that vibrates, the purer the headphone sounds at low frequencies. However, the problem with a transducer with a large surface area is that at high frequencies "undesi...

Lock company Schlage is launching Schlage Link, a suite of products to allow over-the-Web control of a home's locks, lights, and thermostats. It also integrates with Webcams. Use your mobile phone as a key. (Credit: Schlage) The new lock is the centerpiece of the system (as we would expect from a lock company). It can be opened by key, with a four-digit code, or through the online and mobile sites. The lock can also alert its owners via a mobile message when it's opened or tampered with (when incorrect codes are entered multiple times in a row). An online control center lets you program the system to turn on lights when someone enters the house or at certain times, to send your phone photos of your doorway when a door opens, and so on. You can enable and disable specific codes as you wish--useful to give service people access only at certain times, for instance. There have been several similar home-control and DIY security syst...

The HSB2351 has an integrated DVD player and subwoofer for $349.99. (Credit: Philips) Philips doesn't have a big presence at CES this year but it does appear to have some noteworthy products, especially when it comes to its new line of home-theater sound bars. The company's announced four new sound-bar packages, each geared to a slightly different target consumer. Here's the rundown of the various products: Model: The HSB2351 *All-in-one sound bar features integrated DVD player and subwoofer with 300 watts of total power *Space-saving sleek design fits easily on an entertainment center or can be mounted on the wall *Dolby Virtual Speaker for theater audio experience and HDMI 1080p with video upscaling *MP3 Link for music playback from portable media players, USB 2.0 for media playback from USB flash drives, and a built-in FM tuner Available in April with a suggested retail price of $349.99 Model: The HSB2313 *Ultra-thin speaker system with wireless subwoofer f...

Smartparts has added two new pocket-size touch-screen digital photo viewers to its current lineup, the 2.4-inch SP24PC and the 3.5-inch SP35PC. These compact digital photo viewers give people the capability to enjoy their favorite photos on the go. Users upload photos by connecting the viewer to their computer via USB cable. Both viewers are compatible with Mac and Windows. The SP24PC can hold up to 50 images in its internal memory, and the SP35PC can hold up to 100 images. They both have a built-in rechargeable battery that automatically charges when the viewer is attached to a computer via USB cable. Both come with a USB cable and a microfiber carrying pouch. They also display the date and time and have an alarm. The credit card-size viewers will be available in March 2009 with a MSRP of $29.99 for the 2.4 inch-SP24PC and a MSRP of $39.99 for the 3.5-inch SP35PC.

This week at CES, Slacker made good on its word and released a version of its mobile, streaming, Internet Radio app for BlackBerry. Slacker Radio for BlackBerry, a free over-the-air download for BlackBerrys running version 4.3 and above, gratifies with crisp album art, intuitive navigation, and all the customized streaming stations you could want. What impressed us most is Slacker's newly added feature--right now just for BlackBerry--that caches songs as they play, allowing you to essentially play back your stations offline. It only works if you've got a microSD card, mind you, but once you're set up, you'll be able to crank tunes in the background while e-mailing and otherwise futzing with your phone.

Philips' flagship BDP7310 Blu-ray player is BD-Live enabled and features DivX and WMV playback. (Credit: Philips) With Funai licensing the Philips brand in 2009, things have gotten a little confusing about just what's going on with Philips home audio and video products. But it appears that all the products that Philips announced at CES 2009--including three new Blu-ray players--are true Philips products. Philips had already planned out its 2009 line and Funai Electric will be taking over the production of that line this year. The three models include the BDP3010 ($229.99), a profile 1.1 model, and two BD-Live capable players, the BDP5010 ($249.99) and the BDP7310 ($299.99). We say capable because the BPD5010 is upgradable to BD-Live, while the BDP7310 will be a Profile 2.0 or Live-enabled out of the box. The BDP7310 also offers DivX and WMV playback. We suspect all of them will carry street prices of less than $200 when they're released this spring. Note: Philips also ann...

While browsing Sony Ericsson's table at a CES press event, I found this cool little accessory that the company announced in Las Vegas. The IM502 is a compact tripod that attaches to your Cyber-shot handset. You can use it to steady your camera phone when taking a self-portrait or a group shot with the timer. It also will come in handy when you just need to hold the shooter completely still. At 1.1 inches by 2.3 inches by 0.4 inch, it folds away for convenient storage or for carrying in a pocket or bag. Of course, since it is a Sony Ericsson product it uses a proprietary connection--it attaches to your charger port--but it is compatible with most newer Cyber-shot and Walkman models. On the downside, you may not be able to use it for shots in a vertical orientation (depending on the phone), but I like it just the same.

The RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router + DSL Modem DGND3300 from Netgear. (Credit: Dong Ngo/CBS Interactive) If you sign up for a DSL Internet service, chances are you will be offered a router and modem combo device. I would normally recommend against this kind of combo deal, as it doesn't provide the flexibility of choosing the right router for the network. That's not to mention that the combo router offered by the service provider tends to be subpar, in both performance and features. It's much more flexible to get just the modem and add a separate wireless router later. Now I am about to change that mentality with what Netgear introduced at CES this year, the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router + DSL Modem DGND3300. It's because the router part of the device offers most of what you would look for in any separate router. The DGND3300 looks basically the same as the WNDR3300 with one exception: instead of a WAN port (that works with cable and DSL modem) it ha...

The G-Fi GPS router is about the size of an iPhone. (Credit: PosiMotion) It's the last day of CES, and I ran into an unusual networking device called G-Fi from PosiMotion. It's the first router I've known that doesn't have the ability to share access to the Internet. Instead, it receives the satellite signals and shares the GPS information to any Wi-Fi-enabled device. According to PosiMotion, other than the lack of support for the Internet, the G-Fi works just like any other wireless router. It allows for creating a Wireless LAN you use to share resources between up to 254 wireless networking computers and devices. Measuring merely 3.08 inches by 2.91 inches by 0.69 inch and weighing about 2.5 ounces, the router is about the size of an iPhone and is battery operated for up to 4 hours. It can be recharged either via a regular included adapter or via a computer's USB port. Considering the size and its niche, the G-Fi is a great device for group travelers or th...