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Google Search, Google Maps and Gmail will come bundled on some Samsung phones, both companies announced Monday at CES. The software will be bundled on phones starting in "early 2007," with Samsung already including Google software on its new ultra-slim HSDPA-ready phone, the Ultra Edition 13.8 (Z720).

The Z720 is fitting as the first Samsung cell phone to come bundled with Google Search, Google Maps and Gmail. That's because the slim slider is a 3G, HSDPA-ready phone, meaning you can connect with the Internet using cell phone signal towers. In addition to WLAN capability, the phone … Read more

With Steve Jobs' keynote just a few hours away, I thought some of the recreation-minded among you might be interested in Ars Technica's "Steve Jobs Keynote Bingo" scorecard. (For explanations of the various Jobs-isms on the card, see Ars Technica's site.) All I can say is thank goodness Mr. Jobs makes this a morning or midday event for U.S. audiences, because if it were a primetime speech I'm sure there would be plenty of Macaholics playing Steve Jobs keynote drinking games. ("He said 'boom!' Take a shot!")

And on the subject of … Read more

Just as Keyspan starts selling its wireless TuneView iPod remote control, the company has announced it will release a similar product that will let you control your iTunes playback via a USB transceiver, sometime this March.

The original TuneView ($179), which went on sale just before the New Year, includes an iPod dock/transceiver and a TV-like remote control with a color LCD. Your iPod content is transmitted over the 2.4GHz-frequency band from the dock and displayed on the remote's screen. This allows you to control your iPod as if you were holding it, from up to 150 … Read more

Having made a new rep for itself with surprisingly decent portable DVD players, Polaroid is now venturing into MP3 and portable media players. In 2007, the company formerly known for its instant cameras will release three MP3 and portable media players (none of which handle AAC audio files), including one with a 4.3-inch wide touch-screen and two with Wi-Fi.

The first player, the MPA-20011 (due it March, $99.99 list price) is a 1GB model that can be expanded to up to 4GB with a micro SD card. The 20011 is slightly bigger than a Nano but sports a … Read more

Creative Labs is delivering a wireless home audio solution for the Apple iPod in the form of two products: the Xdock Wireless and the X-Fi Wireless Receiver.

On the surface, the Xdock Wireless is an iPod dock with some better-than-average features, including composite and S-Video output (for photo and video playback on a TV) and optical digital audio output. The Xdock can output DTS surround sound to compatible A/V receivers (via the optical output) or utilize Creative's proprietary CMSS-3D virtual surround processing to deliver a surroundlike effect from stereo speakers or headphones. Moreover, Creative claims that its X-Fi … Read more

Sony's gargantuan booth at CES 2007 covers a lot of real estate, and it's always packed full of onlookers soaking up the sights and sounds. But the flashy booth hides a dirty little secret: Aside from a handful of headline products, very few of the devices on display are actually new. Instead, the company waits until late February to announce a detailed product plan for the forthcoming year (at which time CNET will have in-depth coverage).

In the meantime, there are a few gems on display in the form of prototypes. Designed to showcase a technology or a … Read more

Pioneer is following Ford and Microsoft in its adoption of USB ports for the playback of digital audio in the car. Here at CES, Pioneer is debuting the snappily named DEH-P6900UB and DEH-P690UB, two new stereo head units that come with built-in USB jacks for hooking up portable media players or thumbdrives.

When connected via USB, media players, such as iPods and Zunes, can be controlled entirely via the head unit, giving drivers high-speed control over their digital media, including content subject to iTunes (Fairplay) and Windows Media digital rights management. As well as a built-in USB port, both head … Read more

Sony Ericsson's Walkman line has always been great but also relatively expensive. Except for a couple like the W810i and the W600i, most Walkman phones never make it to a U.S. carrier, and as such never enjoy carrier subsidies. But at CES this year, Samsung shook things up a bit with the introduction of the Sony Ericsson W200i Walkman. Even without a carrier it will cost just $179, and with a carrier it will dip low as $79. Though Sony Ericsson wouldn't confirm if a carrier is imminent, we wouldn't be surprised if this phone ended … Read more

Here's another take on Windows Mobile. The Azentek Atlas is a double-DIN system that fits into your car's dashboard and gives you all of the functionality of a Windows PC from the driver's seat. While the model on display here at CES 2007 is running XP, we're told that Atlas will ship in March with Windows Vista. The Atlas, which makes use of iMobile software, packs an Intel Core Duo processor and comes with 512MB of RAM memory and a Seagate automotive-grade 40GB hard drive. It also comes with built-in GPS with turn-by-turn navigation and maps … Read more