720p or 1080i?

Guys, that’s not a pick-up line.

I’m sitting in a Vegas airport restaurant grabbing a bite to eat. The man two tables over– dining alone — is trying to impress the woman at the next table by talking about TV pixel distortion. He bragged that he worked for T-mobile and said he gets to see all the new phones first. Perhaps he does. And perhaps the overworked waitress was trying to get a better tip when she asked if he was here for CES. This guy went on and on about how he wasn’t really impressed.

Neither were these women. And now we’re all laughing.

Gentlemen, your attendance and excitment over CES is not a viable pickup line. Ladies might be able to pull it off. I wouldn’t know.

Also the chicken at this place is terrible…

And for the record, 1080p, LCD, CableCard enabled, with an interactive BluRay player.

TV Mecca

TV Mecca

Originally uploaded by kimberlyj

This needs few words. Panasonic’s 150 inch plasma display. Don’t reach for your checkbook, it’s just a prototype.

Final countdown

Final countdown

Originally uploaded by kimberlyj

I have less than an hour to walk the show floor. I wonder how far I’ll get. Here in the central plaza is the Dreamcade Vision 120 from DLP Texas Instruments. Sorry for the poor lighting, it’s all blue in here.

Dish Skin

Dish Skin

Originally uploaded by kimberlyj

Although this is not a great photo, Dish Network offers sticky, plastic cover for your satellite Dish. Most are free, team logos cost $1 or $2, according to employees at the booth.

Day three

Day three

Originally uploaded by kimberlyj

Following a morning spent sitting in on a panel discussion about digital music, I’m back at the main expo. Checking out the South Hall first then circling back around to the Central Hall.

Dishing it out

Dishing it out

Originally uploaded by kimberlyj

A glimpse of the Douglas County company’s presence here.

Bling, quite literally.

Bling, quite literally.

Originally uploaded by kimberlyj

Rhinestones to stick on your celly, or just about anything, says accessories company Smooth Talk from Brooklyn.

Rock out

Rock out

Originally uploaded by kimberlyj

A dark shot of the Moto Rokr U9. Carriers have yet to be announced.

M-madness

M-madness

Originally uploaded by kimberlyj

It’s a madhouse here at Motorola alley.

Case Logic

Case Logic

Originally uploaded by kimberlyj

A photo of Case Logic’s new line of sleek iPod cases. The Longmont company is making it’s first appearance at the-show-that-can’t-be-named next week in San Fran.

Bag check

Bag check

Originally uploaded by kimberlyj

Longmont-based Case Logic has great positioning here, at the crossroads of Microsoft, Intel and Motorola. I’m using their messenger bag today as it keeps my gadgets organized. The bag is heavy, so it’s taking a toll on my shoulders.

Centrally located

Centrally located

Originally uploaded by kimberlyj

Inside the central hall where a lot of the big players are.
Here at the Intel pavillion the company is displaying devices that run on its chips. Pictured is the Fujitsu U810, an ultra-mobile tablet PC.

Centrally located

Centrally located

Originally uploaded by kimberlyj

Inside the central hall where a lot of the big players are.
Here at the Intel pavillion the company is displaying devices that run on its chips. Pictured is the Fujitsu U810, an ultra-mobile tablet PC.

Closed Windows

Good Morning. Another full day at CES. I’m currently in the Microsoft Press Tent, set up in the parking lot of the Convention Center. It’s quite the makeshift display. Just spoke with Eric M. Hollreiser, PR director for consumer strategy. He spoke about how Microsoft would continue to develop a better user interface between the PC and all the other devices powered by Windows. (Cellphone, Zune, Xbox.) He said that the company is “actively working on the next operating system… looking at the needs people will have going forward.”

Now I’m waiting to speak with someone about the company’s Microsoft TV strategy.

By the way, I was unable to send/reply to a message from my Outlook Web Exchange account using a Windows computer here in the tent. No comment. Yes, I even  changed the settings to allow popups.

Well the Microsoft TV people are ready for me.

Comment away.

P.S. In other news, Comcast chairman and CEO Brian Roberts is giving his keynote address at the Venetian. He’s talking about the company’s long term vision to be the content supplier everywhere a user goes. (On the PC, TV and mobile device.) Expect to hear about great video-on-demand offerings and more integration of their digital phone service with the Web and your TV. Think Jetsons telephone calls.

Portable power

Archos, a French company with U.S. headquarters in Greenwood Village shows off a couple of its media players at ShowStoppers. The devices pictured are also compatible with Dish Network’s latest line of DVRs, allowing subscribers to take their DVR content with them on the Archos device.