The Consumer Electronics Show is an annual gathering of companies unveiling their latest techno-gadgets for all consumers to enjoy. With 140,000 visitors and 2,700 exhibitors in the flashiest place on the planet, Las Vegas, it’s nothing less than a 4-day long spectacle, a giant toy room and a zoo full of the latest and greatest.

Here are some of the most interesting highlights:

1. Earbuds that Monitor Heart Rate:

Gym fanatics and runners are going to love this one. Instead of having to deal with all the extra weight and wires that come with carrying a heart rate monitor around the chest or arm, plus an iPod tucked into an arm strap with headphones, a company called Valencell demoed some of their 2-in-1 earbuds this year. The earbuds would monitor heart rate without the need for additional equipment. Talk about being light on your feet! And cyclists note: only one earbud is needed to check pulse, so you can still listen for traffic. Let’s hope the demo went over well so we can see these available for purchase soon.

2. Microphone USB:

As gadgets get more and more streamlined, here’s one to add to the list. Rather than using recording technology and then transferring it over to the computer, Blue Microphones propose using their handy dandy microphone USB. It plugs right into the computer so you can record and then plug in with one single motion. The company touts the Tiki device as having as-good human voice recognition through voice isolation and noise-cancelling technologies. Tiki goes for $59 on the consumer marketplace.

3. A Projector for iPhone Photos and Video:

Epson, the leader in printing technologies, now adds iPhone projectors to its long list of technological advancements. White it’s great to look at photos and watch videos wherever you are by powering up the iPhone or other Apple devices, it’s even better to watch them in full big screen glory. Now you can share photos and videos with friends by popping your iPhone into the Epson MultiPlex, which has a dock for Apple products and can also be connected to any laptop or Blu-ray player. Then you just need to find a nice big white surface, and voila! Instant projection of your favorite media. These bad boys retail between $599 and $699.

As technology continues to move forward at a relentless pace, new gadgets arise and some old ones fade away. To conclude 2011, let’s recap some of the major topics from the GotMedia blog in the past year as we anticipate all the fascinating advancements of 2012:

• Recordable Blu-ray: Verbatim announced a new nationwide supply of rewritable double layer blu-ray discs.
  • The wrap up: Whoever said Blu-ray would fade into obscurity was wrong. Even though DVD is still the primary form of media-watching technology, Blu-ray fans know the advantages of watching films on Blu-ray: higher quality audio and video, 3-D imaging, high definition compatibility, gaming, Internet connectivity and all sorts of extras. When you can record films onto your own Blu-ray discs, it’s even better.

• The tiniest USB device ever: In August 2011, Verbatim released the smallest USB thumb drives the world has ever known. More aptly called “penny drives” because they are roughly the size and thickness of a penny, the Verbatim Tuff’N’Tiny are water resistant, durable and guaranteed to last a lifetime.
  • The wrap up: Technology keeps getting tinier and tinier! These Tuff’N’Tiny USB devices are the answer to any tech geek who misplaces things because it fits neatly onto a keychain – just don’t lose the keys. You never know when you’ll need to transfer files on a dime.

• The rise of archival discs: This year, the holographic discs touted to last thousands of years gained more prominence. The Millenial Archival M-disc is at the forefront of the game, with a tagline of “Write Once, Read Forever.”
  • The wrap up: Do we really need data discs to last for 3,000 years? Who knows what Earth will be like then? But still, the idea of permanence is fascinating. And these discs have been proven to be virtually indestructible.

• New devices revealed at Korea’s Electronic Show: The 42nd annual Korean technological convention featured major names like Samsung, LG, Mach and Taiyo Yuden all showcasing their new gadgets for the theme “Be Smart,” which focused on smartphone technology.
  • The wrap up: Who knows all that 2012 will have in store, but smartphones getting even smarter is a sure thing on the list. Some of the wild devices revealed were “smart” vacuum cleaners, “smart” washing machines and “smart” fridges that do the shopping themselves. Here we come, Jetsons!

• Moverio revealed the world’s first 3-D mounted head display: Powered by Android technology, this crazy little device is essentially a headband that allows the user to see two fields of vision at the same time, whatever is in front of him and a streaming 3-D video in surround vision and sound.
  • The wrap up: Seeing double isn’t just for drunk Uncle Harry anymore, but the question is: will it confuse the brain, or pave new pathways for even greater multi-tasking? With the world’s information overdrive hitting full speed, let’s hope it’s the latter.

We also covered important how-to’s like:

• How to choose a conversion cable
• How to compare DVD media
• How to choose the right media for different projects
• How to prep master discs
• How to utilize technology to master any presentation
• How to determine the right printer

Some of the other topics touched upon include:

• Lightscribe disc labeling
• Trends in disc packaging and disposal
• The issue of piracy under federal law
• New printers and label makers from Epson
• Faster disc reproduction technology
• Verbatim pocket CDs
• The Android iPrint app
• A consideration of DVD vs. Blu-ray
• Easy to make holiday gift ideas

So as you can see, we’ve had a busy year in 2011. Stay tuned for more great media news updates and techie information in 2012!

So it’s a few days before Christmas (and the middle of Hannukah), and you still haven’t figured out the “wow” gift for dad, husband, brother or boyfriend. You know he’s just as mesmerized by his techie gadgets as the kids are by their talking toys, and you want to get him something that’ll really give him a kick. Here’s a great stocking stuffer idea for those last-minute shoppers.

He’ll probably be a little confused at first, then as it slowly dawns on him what a cool little thing this is, you’ll watch his eyes light up:

It’s not just a wallet, it’s a wallet drive by Verbatim. Shaped exactly like a black leather wallet with red “stitching,” following the look to the tee, it’s actually an external hard drive with 640 GB of storage. Measuring in at only 4.5 in. by 3.5 in., with a clever design to amuse and almost unbelievably fast write times, this one is sure to be a keeper. With one review[1] clocking a 6.5 GB transfer in at just under three minutes, it doesn’t seem like this drive is going to be testing anyone’s patience.

This clever little hard drive is backed by a seven year warranty and includes a short USB 2 cable. Super easy to use (you just plug it in and go), it won’t be fooling anyone with technical tricks – the only trick is its cover design, and that’s a fun one. While it officially retails at around $193, Amazon and other big stores chop the price down to around $100. For a stylish, sleek and fast hard drive with a lot of storage, that’s a pretty good price. And the chuckle in his eyes when he sees it? Priceless.

[1]http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/review/verbatims_wallet_drive_puts_640gb_in_your_pocket/?utm_campaign=feature

Every year it seems like the Black Friday madness gets crazier and crazier. Since the U.S. economy took a nosedive in 2008, holiday shoppers may be on an even more constrained budget than usual, making the drop-down prices of Black Friday even more appealing. What are the crowds like this year?

While the economy is still struggling after the crash of 2008, Black Friday sales are expected to rise 2.8% from last year, as 150 million people try and snag the best soon-to-be-expired bargains.[1] Since the U.S. Census Bureau currently calculates the U.S. population to be 312 million[2], that means about half the country will be partaking in the mad holiday dash, and to the tune of roughly $465 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.[3] This year, even Apple, a company infamous for never having any deals, offered certain meager holiday discounts.

2011 is a year of many firsts – it marks the first year that many retail stores across the country opened their doors at midnight, instead of opening early in the morning as usual, while some stores simply never closed. How soon until people forego their Thanksgiving meal altogether in order to wait in line for a half-priced toy?

The term Black Friday was supposedly coined in the 1960s after Philadelphia police officers had to deal with massive traffic jams on the weekend after Thanksgiving, but the term solidified in the 1980s, when the popular theory became that people were taking their checkbooks out of the red and into the black.

Black Friday could have another meaning as well. The ferocity and violence that possess many consumers on the Friday after Thanksgiving has given many a crazed shopper a black eye – or worse. Perhaps the worst case of shopping violence occurred in 2008, when a retail worker at Wal-Mart, 34-year old Jdimytai Damour (weighing in at 270 pounds, 6 feet 5 inches), was trampled to death by the savings-hungry mob.[4] Has the economic meltdown taught the U.S. consumer base nothing about balancing our bank accounts, other than to become more and more vicious?

Half the country is out shopping ‘til they start dropping, but is it really worth it? Some truly think so, and for families on a budget, this may be the one day of the year when they feel they actually have a chance to buy Timmy the video game system he really wanted or embellish the home with a new TV. Some people have even been reported to have started waiting in line for Black Friday deals since Monday.

There may be solid reasons for struggling families to endure the biting cold and banality of waiting in line for days, just to grab a limited-time only deal, but there may also be other ways to save the pocketbook while ensuring a happy holiday season.

In 2005, Cyber Monday was born. Whether it is complementary or competitive with Black Friday, Cyber Monday marks another holiday bargain-busting day, this time bringing Internet retailers into the mix. Cyber Monday refers to the Monday after Thanksgiving when most people return to work, and when a massive number of Internet retailers offer their special holiday deals.

The advantage of Cyber Monday is that no one risks serious injury, no one has to wait in line for days, and no one is wearily shopping up and down the aisles at 3 in the morning, a time when some bad shopping decisions might be made. Cyber Monday allows shoppers to browse deals from the comfort of their home or office, and while there may be a limited amount of items or an expiration date to the deals, the stressful frenzy is not nearly as present.

So far, the Internet hasn’t seemed to change things too much on Black Friday, since this year already shows 150 million people out shopping, but it is nice to know that some great deals can be found online without having to battle through barbarous crowds.

For those out there who still boggle over what Blu-Ray actually means, this short little VS. battle will help clarify some of the main features of a Blu-Ray disc, compared side by side to the familiar DVD. Price, picture, sound, accessibility and future changes to technology will all be taken into account to give a fairly full picture of which disc trumps the other in which ways. The true winner is whichever one you decide to buy.

For those with a “classic DVD” collection, the thought of Blu-Ray may be as foreign as eating upside down. Why bother upgrading when I can let my classic DVD library augment my classic vinyl collection? I already have it, so why would I switch over to something new?

But for those sitting on the edge of their seats anticipating the best and brightest new gadgets to hit the market, a Blu-ray player is probably already a permanent fixture within the HDTV home entertainment system. Owning a Blu-Ray system doesn’t mean DVDs are dinosaurs, but it does mean that Blu-Ray will be able to do certain things DVDs cannot.

Let’s take a look at the differences:

VS.

Affordability

DVD: A physical DVD now costs around $10 to $15 a pop, sometimes even less for “bargain” films (which are usually a bad idea in the first place, but oh so tempting at $6.99). DVD players are so common these days that any number of them will go for under $50.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: Films on Blu-Ray typically cost about $10 more than its counterpart in DVD. So that’s more like $20 to $25 per movie, a significant increase. That’s a quarter of a Benjamin. And in order to play that sucker, you must have a Blu-Ray player, which costs around $250-$300, though they can go up into the thousands.

Winner: DVD

Picture Quality

DVD: We all know what a DVD picture looks like. Pretty good, much better than VHS, right? No more fuzzy skipping or snow. The picture is fairly clear at 420p sharpness.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: At 1080p, Blu-Ray picture is more than twice as sharp as DVD. The higher pixel number means that two and a half times more information is being shown on the screen, giving a sharper, cleaner, more detailed picture. As most films are being shot in High Definition digital, the higher quality appears much more obviously on the screen.

Winner: Blu-Ray

Audio Quality

DVD: The DVD sound is as good as can be… for 1995. For typical singe television, the DVD sound is fine, matching the picture quality. No complaints.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: With a home entertainment system, Blu-Ray discs provide stunning sound, most equipped with 7.1 channel surround sound. This means the Blu-Ray disc was built with the capability to distribute its sound through various different channels, i.e. the many speakers surrounding a home theater. The sound comes from all around, specifically the way the movie was made, mimicking true theaters.

Winner: Blu-Ray

Content Selection

DVD: Pretty much anything you want to watch comes on DVD. VHS? Not so much. Basically, every movie ever made has been converted from VHS or its original version to DVD. DVD is the standard for all movies, and you will be hard pressed to find a movie that does not have a DVD form. Plus, your movie collection is probably already in DVD form in the first place.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: Simply put, there’s no guarantee that the movie you want will be made on Blu-Ray. Because Blu-Ray serves a smaller consumer base, only the really popular or in demand movies will be converted to Blu-Ray.

Winner: DVD

Ease of use

DVD: Most people are familiar with the way DVD players work. They’re not that different from the old VHS players, and they’ve been around so long that the technology is reliable. Play, pause, stop, skip ahead, skip backwards, eject. It’s easy, simple and the hook ups are usually straightforward.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: Since Blu-Ray is a still-developing technology, there are sometimes kink in playback, skipping or longer load times. The newer technology means the first few generations are not as reliable as tried-and-true DVDs.

Winner: DVD

Extra Features

DVD: As most people know, DVDs offer many more features than the ancient VHS, such as scene selection, deleted scenes, director’s commentary, trailers etc. The main menu offers some extra goodies after the movie is over.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: Blu-Ray goes a few steps further. On top of all the extra features that DVD offers, Blu-Ray allows the user to bookmark favorite scenes and access the menu without leaving the current scene. There is better capacity for special features like commentary, animated menus and pop-up tracks. Plus, BD-Live allows the user to access the Internet straight from the screen and even play video games associated with the film. The Blu-Ray system can act as a multi-purpose Internet and gaming console, and it is a great piece for a thoroughly constructed home entertainment system.

Winner: Blu-Ray

Playback Capacity

DVD: Typical DVDs hold between 5 and 10 GB of data, or enough for one film and extras. DVD players can play CDs and DVDs.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: Blu-Ray discs are made with technology much newer than DVD, and as we know, things keep getting smaller, faster and full of more room for data. Dual layer Blu-Ray discs can generally hold about 50 GB of data, or 5-10 times as much as DVD. Blu-Ray discs are also smaller, easier on packing and less cumbersome. Furthermore, a Blu-Ray player can play all media types: CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray.

Winner: Blu-Ray

Outlook for the Future

DVD: DVDs have been around for a decade now, and they are still going strong. Most films come in DVD format, and it’s much easier to build up a DVD collection than trying to begin anew with Blu-Ray. As technology advances, media will either eventually move to a mostly digital format or there will be something even better to replace Blu-Ray. In that respect, it makes more sense to stick with the DVD system until the next widespread format takes over.

Vs.

Blu-Ray: Blu-Ray is technologically superior to DVD, but what happens when movies become completely digital, or a new format hits the mainstream market? Blu-Ray may be a treat for the time being, but plainly put, it’s a niche market and probably will not become widespread. The majority of people will be looking back on today fondly remembering the days of DVD, not Blu-Ray. Once all media becomes digital, both DVD and Blu-Ray will be obsolete. So why not just stick with DVD until then? Blu-Ray may just be a minor stopping point before the next big wave.

Winner: DVD

Who will triumph in the battle between DVD and Blu-Ray?

Final Tally

DVD wins: 4

Blu-Ray wins: 4

Well, there you have it. Each media format comes with its pros and cons, evening out so that the real winner is the one that fits you best. DVD is more affordable, more reliable, has a greater selection and makes more sense to hang onto until the next technological revolution. Blu-Ray has picture and audio quality that is significantly superior to DVD, a greater selection of features and the capacity to store much more data on the disc. Hopefully this side-by-side comparison laid out some of the major advantages and disadvantages to each. Now it’s just up to you to pick your poison.

Epson printers are, hands down, some of the best printers on the market, and they are world renowned for their simple, sleek and multi-function printing products. Espson Inkjet printers, Epson All-in-One printers, even Epson scanners and projectors make up this expansive catalogue of high quality printing machines. And now, to the delight of many an organizational mind, Epson has released a specialty product: the LabelWorks label printer.

Those with a tendency to over-organize will absolutely love this new toy. Released by Epson America, Inc. just this month, the LabelWorks label maker comes in two varieties: the LW-300 and LW-400. Both share qualities of high customizability and easy functionality. And best of all, these little gadgets have so many sizes of tape available for it, so many colors and fonts, and so many symbols, frames and other unique embellishments that any labeling task can be made fun and creative.

Some of the other interesting functions of the LabelWorks label printer:

• Small, easy to handle handheld device with a two-line screen and full keyboard.
• Glowing backlight screen so that wherever you happen to be – the basement, attic or closet – the device is easily readable. No need to lug all grandma’s boxes down from the attic just for a little bit of light!
• Ability to save up to dozens up labels for future use. The LW-300 allows the saving of 30 labels, and the LW-400 allows 50. No need to type in a favorite label over and over again.
• Customizability of label sizes, so that there is less waste. Once the label size is chosen, it is printed with a perforated edge for easy separation. No need to get tangled up in scissors.
• 300+ symbols, 75+ frames, 14 fonts and 10 styles, choice of barcodes.
• Works with more than 40 tape cartridges in traditional colors and specialized media.
• Compatible with dozens of tape sizes and styles, from 6 to 12 millimeters in size, of durable variety and in many different colors and patterns.

Office managers, lawyers, students, professors and all organizational gurus are sure to love the features of this product. Even for those who regard label making as a monotonous activity, they may be surprised at the creativity they will unleash with the LabelWorks label printer. And because it’s from Epson, the quality is assured.

The LW-300 goes for about $39.99 and the LW-400 is roughly $49.99.

So get those little fingers a-tapping; isn’t it about high time you brought some order to that attic? Take this little guy, your choice of colorful tape, and all those boxes you’ve been storing since the kids were born, then pour yourself a cup of lemonade, and make a day of it.

It’s gotten to the point where some people are swearing by their smartphone, shaking their head in disbelief, as if to wonder, “How did I make it through this mess of my life before my smartphone?” These handheld devices are simultaneously a phone, a computer, a way to check email, a text messaging service, a game platform and a GPS, and they are revolutionizing the way people go about their daily lives.

At the forefront of the electronic explosion, of course, are Asian companies like Samsung, LG, Mach, Hynic, Redrover and Korea Taiyo Yuden. These companies, plus roughly 800 more, are currently attending one of the largest IT conferences in the world right now, from October 12 through October 15 in Korea. The 42^nd Korea Electronic Show (KES) 2011 boasts a 5% increase of participants from the previous year, and the theme is “Be Smart,” under which major companies reveal new “smart” technology – and not just for phones.

Samsung has so far introduced their “Smart Life” line, which includes smart devices such as a smart vacuum cleaner and smart washing machine, which can be controlled by smart devices, such as phones, TVs or tablets. Whoa! Smart vacuum cleaners that can essentially “talk” to other smart devices like TVs? Is this getting too wild? Are we entering the world of Brave Little Toaster or any 80s science fiction movie? Well, like any new advance in smart technology, there is sure to be an initial shock value.

Let’s not leave LG out of this smart device conversation, because this company has developed a smart refrigerator that can monitor the level of food products in its belly, and do its own online shopping.

On the less startling end of things, LG is also developing sharper 3-D TVs, Redrover is showcasing stereoscopic 3-D technology and Samsung is displaying their latest LCD and LED back-light LCD TVs. Korea Taiyo Yuden has released a line of products called “Smart Solutions and Green Products,” which boasts smaller and smaller sizes of smartphones and handheld devices, with increased capacity.

Our smart devices keep getting smarter – does this mean we are getting dumber?? I think this may be a logical fallacy to assume so, but perhaps this a discussion for another time. In the meanwhile, stay tuned to the KES conference because there are sure to be many more impressively smart things to come from it before the janitors sweep in to clean up the mess (and maybe pick up any leftover electronics). What could be the grand finale? My personal preference will be for dishes that do themselves, or dinners that cook themselves. Maybe the question is not “are we getting dumber,” but “how lazy can we become?”

Vinpower Brings Blu-ray Testing Technology to General Market

Held in regard for years as one of the most efficient technologies for testing Blu-ray media, the Stress Tester from Vinpower Digital has been made available to the public for the first time.

After successful adoption by leading media manufacturers, Vinpower released its Stress Tester product to the masses, providing an authentic environment for testing the duplication quality of optical disc media across multiple format and device types.

The Stress Tester product tests the performance of multiple writer drives as they burn content to optical discs — simultaneously or asynchronously — using a single control device. This approach is much more demanding to the device than burning one disc at a time through a computer’s single write drive.

The benefit of Vinpower’s solution is that it allows the user to simultaneously test Blu-ray recordable media on multiple types of devices made by varied manufacturers through different Blu-ray writers. Test results identify whether the devices passes, clearing it for certification as “duplication grade media.” Failed test results will product a report identifying how and where problems occurred.

“Unless you are able to reproduce these extreme situations with recordable media, there is no guarantee that media can hold up,” said Ryan Swerdloff, VP of Marketing and Sales at Vinpower Digital.

When compiling the system for your DVD recording business, not only do you need to understand the components of a DVD replicator and recordable media, but the quality of your recordings will depend on the cables you use.

The Ins and Outs of a Cable

To the get best quality out of your cable, you’ll need to pay attention to three components: the conductor, the shielding, and the connector.

-          Conductor: The portion of the cable the signal passes through and acts as a shield and a filter for potential sources of noise

-          Connector: The portion that connects to the equipment

Analog Audio

Analog audio relies on RCA connections. The cables are grouped in stereo pairs with one connection for the left audio and one for the right.

Digital Audio

Optical and coaxial cables are grouped as digital audio. Optical cables transmit digital audio signals as pulses of light and are often used for DVD players and recorders. Coaxial cables transfer digital audio signals like standard analog RCA cables, but are packaged sfound as a single cable as opposed to having double plugs.

Analog Video Cables

-          Coaxial RF cables (F-type): Connect antennas, cable boxes, VCRs, TVs, DVD players, and DVD recorders. This is the lowest quality cable for transferring audio and video and should only be used as a last resort

-          Composite video (RCA): Able to be used in many kinds of A/V components comprised of red and white audio jacks

-          S-Video: A round four-pin connector transmits chrominance and luminance of the video signal separately.

-          Component Video: With the most detail and color accuracy, this cable is split into three parts each transmitted over its own cable and can transmit high-def and progressive-scan video signals.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface) Cables and HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) Cables

These two cable types transmit high-definition digital video signals. HDMI cables can carry audio and are backwards compatible with most DVI connections with an adapter.

Before running out to buy the latest and greatest disc duplicator, try our few simple solutions to see if you can solve your equipment problems on your own.

Let’s start with the basics.

Make sure your machine is running quiet and smooth. Any malfunctions may be a result of your equipment not getting the proper ventilation.  And always make sure you try a second or even third DVD just to make doubly sure that your problem isn’t the disc itself; the original disc may just be scratched, smudged, or dirty.

If power is your problem…

There’s no harm in checking the power source itself. Try plugging in other cords into the outlet your malfunctioning device is using, and, as the reverse, try plugging you device into another outlet. Also, make sure your surge protector works in a different outlet. If all those options seem to work, you may just need to replace the power cord of your device and not the entire machine itself.

Considering that internal DVD drives are powered by connector, try another one. If this doesn’t work, the drive is most likely faulty.

If the tray is your problem…

Always start with a reboot; your device may have simply experienced a minor glitch. Upon reboot pay attention to the display to make sure the device shows up as installed hardware. You may have to access your BIOS to see if the device is registered.

The next step is to manually eject the tray using a small, but firm object to fit in the pinhole in front of the drive. You may need to try physically opening the tray by wedging something small — like a paperclip — in between the device and the tray to snatch the disc that’s stuck.

If recognition is your problem…

Access your operating system by clicking on My Computer to show the drives with removable storage. If the drive shows up, select properties by right clicking to see if the “drive is working properly” icon message appears. The absence of the message means the drive is not working properly, and you may be able to update the device driver by rebooting and accessing the cmos set up.

If the drive never shows up it may not be properly installed or the cables may not be properly connected. It’s also possible that you just have a faulty drive or data cable on your hands.

Always remember that the support site for your device may have tutorials, help functionalities, or support services. It’s always important to check for updates for the latest device drivers or patches for your systems.