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CES 2007
By Evan Parker, Staff Writer
With thousands of gadgets and technologies of all categories being
released each year, it is next to impossible to track them all. The
Consumer Electronics Show gathers all of the new and innovative
products under one enormous roof. This year the show was held in Las
Vegas, just the place you will need to be in order to afford some of
the products being shown. And to further summarize the event, we
will preview the best of the best at CES 2007.
One of the most highly anticipated
software releases of the year is right around the corner, and that
is Windows Vista. This is arguably the most important Windows
releases ever, and with the increasing competition from the likes of
Apple and others, the newest Windows operating system has to be
stellar, with an emphasis on safety, reliability, simplicity and,
most important of all, fun. To make browsing the internet and what
ever else you do on you computer even more enjoyable, Windows Vista
has a modern interface that will turn more than a few heads if you
tire of the same flat, boring face of Windows XP (or any other
Windows for that matter). The new interface is called Aero, and it
features (among others) semi-transparent cascading windows,
intuitive help features, full motion wallpapers and several hundred
available gadgets (Microsoft's term for passive, miniature desktop
programs like a stock ticker). These gadgets are also freely
modifiable by the public. Aside from all of the cosmetic upgrades
and core safety and functionality improvements being made to the
aged Windows formula, Vista introduces the latest iteration of the
DirectX graphics platform, DirectX 10, providing you with a gaming
and entertainment experience that will likely surpass your needs and
wants, given you have the right hardware. I say this because in
order to use Windows Vista to its fullest potential you will need
some pretty decent hardware, and if you expect to play games with
settings to the maximum, you will want to have the best components
available.
Another big event at CES was the
unveiling of Apple's very own hybrid iPod and cell phone, dubbed the
iPhone. If you have ever found yourself fumbling between your mp3
player and your cell phone, this device will make your life much
easier, if you can see yourself parting with $600. That's correct,
for just over the price of two video iPods, you will have everything
thing you need to be able to watch videos, listen to music, email,
browse the internet and text (plus more) in style, and on a
beautiful 3 inch touch screen. The iPhone also has Bluetooth
technology and wifi so you can browse the internet through high
speed wireless hotspots and talk on your wireless headset. Look for
the iPhone in June, and rather unfortunately, available for Cingular
customers only.
Goodbye from CES 2007 and enjoy your
future gadgets (many of which were shown at the show)!
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