The top pick for tablets at CES was the Motorola Xoom – see image to the righ. This tablet will have a little bigger screen than the Apple iPad and weigh less too. It will run the new version of Android for tablets called Honeycomb. The Xoom will have dual core Nvidia Tegra2 processor (it’ll be fast) plus front-facing and rear cameras (the current iPad doesn’t have cameras).   The release date for the Xoom is scheduled for some time this coming April. See more below via the Motorola Xoom video:

Asus announced a few tablets at CES including the Asus Eee Pad Slider, Asus Eee Pad Transformer and the Asus Eee Pad MeMo.  The first two are comparable in size, computing power, and will also run Honeycomb like the Xoom, but also have some extras (see video below). The MeMo is a 7″ tablet with a capacitive touch screen but still runs Honeycomb. The Transformer should be out in April and the Slider in May.

The Motorola Atrix smartphone is more than just a phone. You have to see this in action, watch the video below!

The TiVo app for iPad is now available. This app turns your iPad into a remote control for your TiVo and allows you to manage, search, browse, and schedule – all from your iPad. See the video below for details:

TiVo Premiere has had a dramatic price drop too. You can purchase TiVo Premiere from Best Buys for $99.99. That’s a great deal for a great DVR!

1. Smartphones will commonly have dual core processors – the first one has already been released.
2. Android operating system on smartphones will continue to grow and become the largest smartphone OS in the United States, by market share.
3. The price on HD TV’s will continue to decline, especially for Plasma and LCD televisions.
4. 3D TV’s will improve and some will no longer require glasses
5. Tablet computers (like the iPad) will see tremendous growth this year. The iPad will have a new version released with front and rear cameras and hundreds of competing products will be released, most will be Android based but some will be Windows 7 based.
6. Car manufacturers will focus more on integrating smartphones into the vehicle. Ford has done a good job of this with the Ford SYNC system, but we will see more manufacturers do this also.
7. Laptop prices will continue to drop, but not dramatically. This will be due to tablets and smartphones infringing on this space. Remember, for most people, you should not pay more than $500 for a laptop. See my post on The Most Laptop for Your Money, for more information.
8. Android segmentation will continue – this means we will see smartphones running various versions of Android.
9. TiVo will continue to grow due to the low price and partnerships with companies like Virgin.
10. We will see the iPhone available on other carriers, in addition to AT&T

Have fun with this information and don’t take it too seriously. Happy New Year everyone!

Remember, HDMI is going to provide the best quality picture on your HD TV, it’s digital, and it provides both audio and video. The next best quality video connection choices are as follows:

1. DVI
2. Component video
3. S-Video
4. Composite video

Check out the video below for further details:

1. Vlingo
2. Google Navigation with voice actions
3. Pandora
4. SafeCell
5. ParkDroid (ok, not for driving, but you get the idea)

Vlingo

Vlingo is free and available on most Blackberry phones, iPhones, Android phones, Windows phones and Nokia phones. The best way to tell you about Vlingo is to watch this video:

Vlingo’s InCar feature is new and can be configured to automatically turn on when it detects a bluetooth connection. It can enable SafeReader so text and/or email messages are read to you while driving. You can reply to text messages by voice, without touching your phone.

Google Navigation with voice actions

Google Navigation is currently available only for Android smartphones. This application is free and is included with most Android smartphones. You can also download it from the Android Market.

Google Navigation provides spoken turn by turn directions, traffic information, and voice search. Google voice actions extends the capability further to allow the user to text by voice, launch selected music, create an email and more. Watch the video to learn more about Google Navigation:

Pandora

OK, so maybe Pandora won’t help you be safe, but it will help the time pass and make your commute more enjoyable. Pandora is free and available on iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Palm Pre and Windows Mobile. You setup your own “radio station” based on your music preferences and Pandora plays similar music via your smartphone. Connect your smartphone to your car’s speaker system if you can to get the best experience. See the video below for more information:

SafeCell

SafeCell is not a free application, it costs $12 per year, but you actually earn credits redemmable at many retail stores while driving safely. This application is available on iPhone and Android. To summarize, this application uses your phones GPS to determine where you are and then it knows the state’s laws for safe driving. Once you are moving over 5 mph, your phone is disabled so you cannot talk or text while driving. You then earn credits for safe driving. See the full review at GeekSugar.

ParkDroid

Once you are done driving, you need to park your car. Another app that is related to this story and can help you find your parked car is ParkDroid (available only on Android smartphones). This is a free application also. See full review here.

When comparing these three types of televisions, there are some facts you need to know as Plasma TV’s are getting some bad press due to uninformed people.

Contrast Ratio

A television’s contrast ratio represents its ability to show detail in high contrast areas of the screen, in the form of minute gradations of color and blacks or whites. Plasma and LED TV’s do the best job in this comparison.

Viewing Angle

Plasma TV’s have the best viewing angle of the three, followed by LED and LCD with the worst.

Color

Plasma TV’s have the best color, followed closely by LED.

Motion

Plasma TV’s handle motion the best, but LCD and LED have improved due to 100Hz technology.

Price

The best pricing depends on the size of TV you buy. In TV’s over 42″, Plasma TV’s are the best priced. LCD will be the best price (generally) in the smaller screen sizes.

Whichever TV you buy, make sure you check it out in person.

1. Don’t keep the default SSID (this is the way to identify your router). If you own a Netgear router, the SSID is probably setup as Netgear. A Linksys router is probably setup as Linksys. Make sure you change this name to something else of your choice.
2. Setup an encrypted secure connection. WEP (wireless encryption protocol) is the one I recommend.
3. Make sure you create your own unique password.

You will want to remember (write down) the SSID and password as you’ll need them when trying to connect to the router. Taking these steps will ensure you have a safe/secure network.

First, Android includes many Google applications which as fantastic. The Google voice search bar is a great way to search the web and your phone via voice command. In Android 2.2 or higher, you gain voice commands in addition to search. Watch this video below to learn about voice commands:

Google Voice is another great application. Here is a list of what this application provides and a video with more information:

Google Voice with a Google number

• Use one number to manage all your phones; your Google Voice number is tied to you, not to a particular device or location.
• Voicemail like email: Save voicemail messages for as long as you’d like, star important ones, and search through them
• Voicemail transcription: Voicemail messages will be automatically transcribed to text and sent to you via email and/or SMS.
• Customize your callers’ experience (custom voicemail greetings, decide which of your phones ring based on who’s calling, send some callers straight to voicemail, etc.)
• Define which phones ring, based on who’s calling, and even ListenIn^TM on voicemail before answering the call. We use smart technology to route your calls. So, if you’re already on a Google Voice call, we’ll recognize it and use call waiting to reach you on the phone you’re on.
• Works with mobile phones, desk phones, and work phones. There’s nothing to download, upload, or install, and you don’t have to make or take calls using a computer.
• International calling: Make low priced international calls from the web or from your phone.

Google Navigation is a fantastic navigation program included on many Android phones. You really don’t need to have a GPS navigation in your car because your smartphone can do everything and more via this application. See the video below for more information:

Other favorite applications (all are available on the Android Market)

1. MooLa – I use this for a checkbook register. Free and premium versions available.
2. Kuff’s Password Safe – I use this to keep track of login ID’s and passwords. This application is “cloud-enabled” via DropBox.
3. DropBox – this application uses the cloud to share information between any device (phone, PC, etc) connected to your DropBox account.
4. Evernote – Like DropBox, Evernote uses the cloud to house your notes. This is much like Microsoft OneNote, but it’s free!
5. Vlingo – I use this application while I’m driving as it has an embedded SafeReader that can read texts and emails to me while I’m driving so I’m not distracted. I can also use it to send texts and launch Google Navigation.
6. Mint – this application can inform you of large deposits, large transactions, low balances and more. It’s made by Intuit and it’s read only so no worries about it damaging your bank accounts. Install this on your PC first and get it setup, then install the application on your smartphone.