April of 2010 brought us the iPad from Apple, much to the excitement and delight of consumer demand, but also left many users disappointed, and wanting more. Often referred to as a glorified, large-scale iPod Touch, the iPad alienated enough consumers that a gap for other manufactures to step in and give consumers a choice was opened. The opening was especially wide if they could offer features and functionality missing from the iPad. These manufactures, after seeing both the success and faults of the iPad, are now in a race to create the next iPad killer. Let’s take a look at the big three who were at CES and make some comparisons.

Galaxy Tab

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Of all the major players in the game, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab was one of the first, and most successful potential iPad killer tablets made available to the masses. At CES they announced a new WiFi-only version.

One of the major limitations to the iPad is that it’s only possible to get a data plan through AT&T or Verizon (via the MiFi), while the Galaxy Tab is also available on Sprint and T-Mobile. Additionally, it’s running the already successful Android operating system.

Hardware comparisons show the Galaxy Tab to be smaller but utilizing virtually the same screen resolution, thus making it more portable without sacrificing viewing quality. Unlike the iPad, the Galaxy Tab also includes a digital camera with flash and a front facing digital camera, optimized for video conferencing. Lastly, the Galaxy Tab is available in 16GB or 32GB sizes, but unlike the iPad is expandable via MicroSD flash cards.

The Playbook

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Dominating the smart phone industry for years, Research in Motion (RIM), most well known for their Blackberry smart phones also launched their own tablet, called the PlayBook. Like the Galaxy Tab, it features a 7” screen with a similar screen resolution, but it is one of the thinnest tablets on the market at only 10mm deep. This can make it the most practical for those on the go, who want to be ultra-portable. Featuring a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 3megapixel front facing camera, the PlayBook is an ideal solution for both photos and video conferencing.

Unlike the iPad, which has a proprietary cable connection, the PlayBook will feature a HDMI connection for easily connecting to TVs and projectors with 1080p HD video out functionality. It runs on the BlackBerry Tablet OS, it will include the ability to display websites in HTML5 and, the crutch of Apple based products, Adobe Flash.

Xoom

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Motorola, no stranger to the mobile market, won Best of CES 2011 from CNET.com for their Xoom. With a 10.1” screen, it’s slightly larger than the iPad but offers a much better screen resolution, and like the PlayBook will be able to handle 1080p video playback via a HDMI port.

The Xoom will also feature the most powerful processor of the bunch, running a dual core Nvidia CPU and matching graphics processor. It will also be the first tablet running Android’s much anticipated 3.0 release, Honeycomb. Coupled with the latest technology including a magnetometer, accelerometer and a barometer, the Xoom is ahead of the game in terms of hardware.

So while there were many great tablets at CES this year (with one even winning the Best of CES award), the fabled iPad Killer was not to be found. Or was it? What do you think? What about Windows? Or maybe the iPad Killer is among the many others at CES. We would love to hear your thoughts here on the blog or on Facebook.

With the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the rearview, we wanted to share a dose of what it’s like to be a part of the largest consumer electronics event in the world with some photos we snapped at the show and a re-cap of events.



Catering to the swarms of industry media attending CES, IOGEAR took part in a cosmic-themed Pepcom Digital Experience Event (PDF Link) at Caesars Palace in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. IOGEAR featured a number of new wireless keyboards and other accessory products that foster convergence through connectivity. Alien life forms were all around as the organizers gave the Octavius ballroom within Caesars an otherworldly feel to it. Check out some of our photos below:

Click the image above to checkout CES 2011 photos from Pepcom.

Our CES booth located in the LVCC Central Hall #13427 was an oasis of wireless streaming devices, KVM technology, advanced A/V switching and even some solar powered bluetooth technology. Visitors were entranced by how IOGEAR products are bringing new meaning and functionality to the convergent and connected digital lifestyle. A collection of images from our booth can be seen below. The comfy white sofa saw more than a few people dozing or kicking off their shoes for some hard-earned respite and wireless 3D streaming enjoyment.

Click the image above to checkout CES 2011 photos at IOGEAR’s booth.

Lastly, we sent one of our intrepid team members out on the floor to capture some other scenes around CES. There’s popular iPhone games gone board, Lady Gaga, arm-wrestling NFL lineman, people sleeping, pimped out cars, unexpected show exhibitors and more. Enjoy the visuals.

Click the image above to checkout CES 2011 photos from around the floor.

By all accounts, CES 2011 was a huge rebound from the recession-affected 2009 -10 campaigns, which was clear when you were walking the floor. Whether you caught updates from your favorite news sites or attended as a manufacturer, exhibitor, blogger, mainstream press or even as a new CEA Tech Enthusiast, IOGEAR was the place to bask in the glow of high performance networking, convergence and connectivity devices.

And unlike the rest of the year, what happens in Vegas during CES should be shared generously — all product releases and images are now available from the IOGEAR Press Room as well from our PR Agency’s website. Do you have any interesting CES 2011 photos to share? We’d love to see them. Take a moment and link them here on our blog or on Facebook.

This time of year, the technology industry is ablaze with talks of the latest gadgets and do-dads that are to be announced and revealed at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Come January 2011, all the top electronic manufacturers will be showcasing their latest innovations positioned to take the consumer electronic space by storm.

Instead of media scouring the show floor at the convention to discover the most innovative and creative consumer electronics that are on display, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and other media, begin reaching out to exhibitors to submit their products and enter them into various awards. In this instance, we are speaking of the highly revered CES Innovations 2011 Design and Engineering Award Honorees. Products submitted to this prestigious award fall into various categories ranging from computer accessories to major home appliances.

IOGEAR is proud to announce that TWO of our new 2.4GHz Wireless Keyboards – the GKM571R (available for purchase soon) and the GKM581R – have been chosen as honorees in the Home Theater Accessories category as part of the CES Innovations 2011 Design and Engineering Awards.

The GKM581R uses the human form as a model, creating an all-in-one keyboard designed with a slip resistant rubber bottom and contoured form to sit comfortably on laps of all shapes and sizes.

The GKM571R is made to hold comfortably in the palm of the user’s hand, perfect for mobile content management in the home. One remarkable feature is its LED backlight, perfect for in the dark usage.

From our product descriptions of these two keyboards listed above, what do you think of IOGEAR’s innovative solutions for managing and navigating through multimedia content from the comfort of your couch in your home theater set up? Of the two keyboards, which one would you choose for your set up – the handheld, or the lap keyboard? Tell us here on our blog or on our Facebook page.

This time of year, the technology industry is ablaze with talks of the latest gadgets and do-dads that are to be announced and revealed at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Recently, the CEA issued a press release about the upcoming show. Included in this news announcement was the interesting fact that technology companies within the Pacific-West region (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington) will have the largest domestic presence at CES 2011 – 630 in total.

Among these exhibitors posed to showcase their latest innovations and take the space by storm is of course IOGEAR. We’ll be at booth #13427 from January 6-9, 2011. With more than 120,000 people from more than 130 countries expected to be in attendance, it looks like 2011 should be an exciting year for new technologies.

We spoke with Bill Nguyen, Director of Marketing for IOGEAR to provide a sneak preview of what’s to come from IOGEAR around the show. Here’s a snippet of what was said:

“CES is the ideal platform for us to showcase our latest consumer solutions,” said Bill Nguyen, Director of Marketing for IOGEAR, based in Foothill Ranch, California. “As IOGEAR furthers its commitment to providing PC to A/V solutions, we are confident that 2011 CES will generate maximum exposure for our message.”

What technology do you expect to make the most noise at this year’s show? What excites you about the PC to A/V space? Are you planning to attend? Tell us here on our blog or on our Facebook page. For press looking to line up a meeting at the show, please contact Nick Brown at nbrown@castercomm.com.

Even though Earth Day has come and gone, no need to let your new-found green ways of life slip! At IOGEAR, we are committed to “going green” year round, and we love the culminating buzz and attention Earth Day generates. It’s all too easy to miss the good ideas in the flood of information around the holidays – but never fear, IOGEAR is here to remind you to stay green!

In this post, we’ll look at some of the more interesting (and in some cases … humorous) green initiatives for 2010. We hope you will be enlightened, entertained and most importantly, motivated to incorporate more green activities into your lifestyle.

CES 2010 – Green Technology goes Mainstream

We started the year at CES 2010 and were pleased to note that “going green” was a hot-button topic among most vendors. As the L.A. Times notes, “For years, the technology industry has been ‘going green.’ At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, most business have finally gotten there.” We certainly hope this trend continues and at IOGEAR we will continue to lead by example and continue showing the way in green tech.

Luxury Cars Get the Green Treatment

With all of the turmoil going on in the auto industry, it’s was good to see continued attention on high-end greener vehicles at this year’s New York Auto Show. Let’s hope that these trends take a firm hold and spread as a standard throughout all of the brands. Kudos to Ford Motor Co., Porsche and Hyundai Motor Co. for leading the way! To find out more about the news from the New York Auto Show and check out the show’s iPhone app, click here.

Energy Shoes!

For those who prefer to walk never fear – scientists and engineers are working on solutions for your steps to create valuable clean energy, and even to charge your mobile devices on the go! This technology will not power energy intensive devices just yet, but it could certainly support low powered portable electronics. Unfortunately this technology is not available for consumers just yet … so go ahead and grab a portable GearPower Mobile Pocket Power Portable Battery while you wait

Fast Tracked Green Patents

Despite all the innovation in the green tech space to date, much more innovation is needed to make green energy sustainable across the board. The USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) is helping us to catch up with a pilot program that helps fast track green technology patents. The goals of the program seem noble: contribution to environmental quality, finding or developing renewable energy resources, improving energy efficiency or cutting greenhouse gas emissions. With so many resources at hand, it may be time to take that idea off the shelf and get to work!

Green Goats?

Leave it to Google to find a way to reduce their carbon footprint with goats! Instead of using lawn mowers to eliminate grass, Google is using goats to take care of the job. To return the favor, Google’s new hooved friends are eliminating mower emissions, reducing noise pollution and restoring plant species. What are you waiting for? Get on over to your neighborhood goat dealer and return that expensive mower, no matter how cool!

TPS Reports = TP Reports?

Does the word “Report” send a shudder down your spine or evoke fits of rage across your company’s cubicles? We thought this recycling program may just put a smile on your face. We don’t want to spoil it … go ahead and click for yourself

Conclusion

If you are now motivated to take action, a great start would be to check out CNET’s energy efficiency guide. We’d also love to hear some of the more interesting green initiatives that you’ve come across this year. Please take some time and share your experiences here on the blog, on Twitter or FaceBook.

New Contest!

Be sure to take a moment to check out our brand new Mystery Photo Contest on Facebook for a chance to win exciting prizes.

Following our glimpse of everything great and good at CES 2010, it’s time to cast an eye towards some exciting developments in the TV market. Hot off the heels of Toshiba’s recent announcement of their brand new state-of-the-art CELL TV, the consumer electronics industry is buzzing with speculation on the future of the humble television.

Toshiba’s CELL TV technology promises an enhanced picture quality and precise image accuracy by sampling multiple frames and restoring the native pre-sampling signal curve – put simply, providing more brightness, more contrast, more detail and more 3D capability.

For anyone lucky enough to be planning a purchase or even for those satisfied with their current entertainment system, here at IOGEAR we provide the perfect accessory so that your pride and joy works seamlessly within your living room, bedroom or any room in the house. The 4-Port HDMI Control Center provides complete convergence between home electronics and computing, allowing you to stream your content directly to one screen.

The 4-Port HDMI Control Center respects your viewing quality – in fact, it’s designed specifically to enhance your viewing experience, whether you’re watching a high definition movie, browsing the internet or sharing photos with family and friends. The center comes fully equipped with IOGEAR’s Display Emulation Technology, which reads and remembers the specifications of your display, cutting down on delay or changes in video resolution when switching between devices.

For wire-free enjoyment of your latest TV, the 2.4GHz Multimedia Keyboard with Laser Trackball and Scroll Wheel adds the finishing touch. Perfect for home theater PC setups or the home entertainment enthusiast, this slim keyboard allows you to type in comfort from any angle in the room and operates with lightning fast cursor speeds of up to 1200 dpi. Slim and ergonomic, it’s a must have for anyone looking to compliment their PC to TV solution.

For more information on IOGEAR items online, visit http://www.iogear.com.

The TV revolution is coming – one pixel at a time! Will YOU be ready?

Cheers,
The IOGEAR Team

For anyone lucky enough to attend the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year, there was something even more impressive than the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip on show. The buzz on the show floor this year was all about simplification and convergence – and IOGEAR is here to show the way!

Wires were banished from the CES show floor as early adopters found new ways to de-clutter and enjoy their favorite movies, video clips, and music files – streaming effortlessly from their PC to TV or home entertainment system.

IOGEAR is helping to bring the wireless digital lifestyle to life, and have the perfect tools to simplify in-home entertainment. This year at CES, IOGEAR introduced it’s 3rd generation wireless audio/video solution the Wireless USB to HDMI Kit, which allows consumers to combine audio and video streaming through one connection, cutting down on the hardware needed for the perfect entertainment setup. Also unveiled was an addition to the AVIOR Series the Wireless HD Kit to the specialty reseller market, which works to eliminate home theater clutter and wirelessly transmit Blu-ray / DVD players, DVR / Set-top boxes, VHS players, computers and media servers/home theater PCs to HDTV’s or projectors. With the ability to stream favorite HD content on 4 separate HD and Non-HD displays up to 100 feet away, this kit provides a simple plug and play solution to fully customize consumers’ living space, and along with the Wireless USB to HDMI Kit, allows streaming from up to 30 feet away. Look for both later this year!

In addition, IOGEAR’s 2nd generation Wireless Audio / Video Kit, available now through online and offline retailers, offers professional installers and consumers an easy solution to close the gap between the PC and the TV, and consists of three adapters: audio for speaker connectivity, VGA for a TV and Wireless USB for the hosting PC.

As more and more consumers start to rely on their PC as an integral part of their media center experience through out the home, computers are on the move! For those looking for more reliable ways to stream content from their PC within their family/living room, kitchen, home office or bedrooms, IOGEAR’s Wireless Audio / Video solutions make it easy by allowing music and multimedia content to be streamed wire free.

For all the news and reviews from CES check out the official press announcements and for more information on IOGEAR items online, visit www.iogear.com.

No wires – no mercy!

Cheers,
The IOGEAR Team

Hi IOGEAR fans!

We’re back from CES, and what a show it was! From Web / 3D TVs, to green technologies, to netbooks, a slew of new products and technologies were showcased in Las Vegas last week.

IOGEAR was there as well, highlighting our new contributions to the A/V, gaming, home entertainment and graphics design spaces.

Gaming is set to continue in full force this year. According to NPD Group, the video game industry experienced a 9% increase in US sales during December 2008, and 2008 purchases of games, consoles and accessories grew 19% to $21.33 billion from $17.98 billion in 2007.

In addition, the gap between the Internet and TV is expected to further decrease as Americans continue to rely on their PCs and televisions for home entertainment.

Convergence is a key theme for 2009 and IOGEAR will be doing its part.

CES 2009 – IOGEAR Buzz Around the Web:

• Gear of the Year
• IOGEAR’s wireless HD video gadget wins CES award
• IOGEAR intros first HDMI-compliant KVMs: 1080p, lossless audio supported
• More news…

What are your thoughts?

Cheers,
Your friends at IOGEAR