Keyboards are probably the last thing you'd expect to have a "gaming" variety with a couple of extra features, but Logitech started it a while ago and now Microsoft has one of their own as well.  The Reclusa, shown above, was designed in cooperation with Razer, another company known to dabble in the market of specialized gaming products.

The Reclusa has everything you'd expect from a keyboard and much, much more (which could be a good or bad thing).  Blue LED backlighting gives it a neat glow that just might keep your fellow gamers distracted enough to let you win the game.  It also features Razer's Hyperesponse technology for reduced lag in trasmitting commands to the computer.  Two USB ports give you easy access for all sorts of devices.  Two jog dials and six programmable buttons finish off the keyboard, along with a padded wrist rest.

The Reclusa will be available in the spring and will set you back $70.  But seriously, if you think this is the one thing standing between you and ownage on Counter-Strike, you need to lower your expectations a little.

With all these companies showing off new computer and electronics items at CES, you're bound to find something out of the ordinary.  Here's a car accessory no one needs, but plenty of people will buy anyway: a programmable license plate holder.  The frame houses an LED that can be wirelessly configured to display whatever message the user programs into it.  Now you can send obscene messages to that annoying tailgater behind you...or just a nice message to everyone, but what fun is that?

Other devices Roadmaster showed off at CES include several rearview mirrors with displays that provide the driver with information (such as the number of a caller on your cell phone) and several different models of setups to allow you to see to the rear using a mounted camera and a wireless video feed to a screen the driver can see.

Microsoft partnered with Razer to bring us the Habu Mouse last year. And now, they again paired up to work on a gaming keyboard, the Reclusa, which pretty much resembles Razer's own Tarantula but is priced way lower than the former ($70 against $130). The Reclusa is expected to arrive in Q2 2007.

Much like the Tarantula, the keyboard features ambient blue LED backlighting, "Hyperesponse Gaming Key Action" for "minimal latency", 12 programmable buttons, and two gold-plated USB ports.

There are two 360 degree jog-dials and four bumper buttons for faster control and optimized gameplay and six hot keys which are programmable. A proprietary technology, On-The-Fly Gaming Detection, allows gamers to automatically switch to the appropriate profile when a particular game is launched.

“We are excited to partner with Razer to develop Reclusa and deliver on the keyboard needs of an estimated 200 million PC gamers worldwide,” said Bill Jukes, product marketing manager for Microsoft Hardware at Microsoft. “The new keyboard builds upon our joint commitment to provide the most advanced features and comfortable implementation to the gaming community.”

Since the world can't decide between Blu-ray and HD-DVD, some companies have started to introduce compromises.  The latest is a dual-format player by LG, accordingly named the Super Multi Blue BH100.  The player has two slots, one for Blu-ray discs and one for HD-DVD discs.  All of the usual features, including 1080p support for both formats, are included in the player.  Upcoming Blu-ray discs encoded in H.264 will also be supported.

More information should be available soon, but for now this seems to be a good alternative to buying both a Blu-ray and an HD-DVD player.  And with a tentative $1,200 price tag, it's a lot cheaper than buying both.

Warner Bros. will be making some of its films available on "Total Hi Def" DVDs, which are, ingeniously, HD DVD on one side and Blu-ray on the other.

The combo discs are the same size as always but contain both single and dual layers for both formats. A Total Hi Def DVD can have 15GB or 30GB on the HD DVD side and 25GB or 50GB on the Blu-ray side.

The Total Hi Def DVDs will begin appearing some time after July, in conjunction with normal movie-to-DVD release schedules, Warner Bros. said at CES.

The company had no hesitation in explaining why it's straddling fences when it comes to the HD wars. In a statement, Warner Bros. said flat out that the format wars have resulted in slower adoption of HD technology, because no customer wants to be the one to invest in the losing side.

With a combo solution, no matter who ends up being the B-side of the record, Warner Bros. covered. No word yet on price.

SOURCE URL: crave

The new Windows Home Server, unveiled yesterday at CES, is a software platform designed to help families with multiple PCs connect their home computers, digital devices and printers, in order to easily store, protect and share their photos, music, videos and documents.

Users of the Windows Home Server will be able to automatically back up every Windows Vista or Windows XP-based computer in the home and completely restore a PC to an earlier time. This will help families to easily solve problems with their home PCs.

This cylindrical, glowing device shown above is Microsoft's working version but the design isn't confirmed yet. It is basically an easy to use, plug 'n play server for the family. You can share all your movies, pictures, music, files, etc. with up to 10 users wirelessly and can access your files anywhere in the world via a free personalized domain.

The device is supposed have internal drives, but the storage capacity differs. Microsoft is actually using these as OEM devices and customizing them to different manufacturers needs. HP is releasing their version in Q2 this year with a storage capacity between 500GB and 1TB. There’s also four USB ports and three extra drive bays in case you pirate you run out of storage. The device is expected to cost around $500.

SOURCE URL: CrunchGear

Nokia's unveiled the new N800 Internet Tablet yesterday at the International CES. This new device is an upgrade to the existing N770 Internet Tablet. It is beautiful and packs quite a lot of punch into a small machine (only 7.27 ounces).

The high resolution widescreen color display (800x480 pixels) is large enough to be easy on the eyes, and for $400 it offers nearly everything you'd get from a laptop, making it a worthwhile investment. There's also a handy camera for video conferencing. Conveniently for your thumbs, and for the sake of efficiency, a full screen finger keyboard is available by rubbing your thumb over the screen.

Among the most impressive features, unsurprising though it may be, is the docking device for your car, turning the N800 into a personal navigation device. With internet calling using WiFi and plenty of space for additional memory cards, the N800 is a standout at a show full of interesting new products.

Read on for more on the N800...

Hold your breath guys! This is the start of a a new breed of High Definition Disk Players and possible the end of the HD Format war! LG Electronics just announced that it will debut the first ever Blu Ray/HD-DVD Combo Player at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held January 8-11 in Las Vegas.

The world's first dual-format high-definition disc player will be capable of playing both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD content. The player will be released in the US in early 2007. The Company already announced their plans for a combo player in early 2006 but later said that the plans for such a player are shelved. But now again, here it is making news and this time its for real.

The price and availability of this product will be announced at the CES next week. So lets hope this player can end the HD Format Wars and won't cost us a fortune to buy. Stay with us for more updates on this product and other news from Vegas.

Thanko released an updated version of their popular hand-warming mouse. All the specs remain the same and Thanko gave the mouse a facelift. If you are wondering what this is all about, this cool (!!?!) little gadget is a 800dpi mouse which can warm up to a temperature of 45C and keep your hand warm. You just switch on the warming function and thats it - you can happily keep working in a chilled place.

Here is a list of features as seen on Thanko's web:

• Quickly reaches stable temperature (at 45+/-1°C) for warming your hand
• Hand warmer + optical mouse combo with high resolution to 800dpi
• Made of safety material to avoiding damaging mouse component
• Perfect for use in winter and/or cold working place
• Device temperature remains about 45°C On/off switch for warming function
• Plug-and-play — no driver required
• Supports Windows NT/2000/Me/XP
• Electric current: 400MA+/-20MA
• Dimensions: 121mm x 65mm
• Scroll without scrollbars
• Cable length: 140cm
• Comfortable shape
• Ergonomic design
• Weight: 97g

PRODUCT URL: USB Warmer Mouse II (US$23.00)

Hava Wireless HD is a new product from the Indian startup, Snappy Monsoon Multimedia Inc. Hava Wireless HD targets the customers who want to watch their favourite TV shows at their own sweet time. Hava Wireless HD TV helps to pass video content from your television to multiple PCs or monitors in the house. With an internet connection one can send the video content to any remote location across the world. This device would act just like a TV remote and user can control the content, where ever be the location.

This Hava Wireless HD competes with similar devices like TIVO and Slingbox which helps consumers to watch TV programs at their own scheduled time. TIVO and Slingbox are products that has created a revolution in US, which lets people watch their favourite shows when ever and wherever they want. The users of TIVO and Slingbox need not be concerned about the time at which their favourite TV show is aired. The user can attend his/her vital meeting and yet watch the program later. They can travel across to any other place and yet not miss the program.

The advantage of Hava Wireless HD TV is completely wireless and can be viewed on any Wi-Fi enabled device. Also this device allows multiple users to view content simultaneously. In US and Canada, Pinnacle sells these products as PCTV ToGo and in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand it will be sold under the Aeris brand.

PRODUCT URL: Hava Wireless HD