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For the Record Podcast

Plastic Logic CEO on Que e-reader (podcast)

For several years Richard Archuleta has been showing up at trade shows with prototypes of Plastic Logic's as-yet-unreleased Que e-reader. But it's almost ready. Archuleta told Larry Magid that the device will finally ship in April at a starting price of $649 for a 4GB model with Wi-Fi and $799 for the 8 GB model with Wi-Fi and 3G.

At that price, the 3G model (with the ability to download books via a built-in cellular radio) will be more than three times the price of the Amazon Kindle and $310 more than Amazon's 9.7-inch global wireless … Read more

Consumers may not embrace 3D TV (podcast)

If you walk around the Central Hall at CES, you get the feeling that 3D TV is sure to be the "next big thing." It certainly is big at the enormous gadgetfest, but just because TV manufacturers are embracing the technology doesn't mean consumers will be quite so enthusiastic.

USA Today technology journalist Jefferson Graham doesn't think so. "You go to the movies three hours and you wear some glasses, that's fine. Do you really want to wear those glasses in front of your TV every night?" asks Graham. He talks about the … Read more

Ray Zone 'King of 3D art' bullish on 3D TV (podcast)

Ray Zone has been an expert and advocate for 3D since the early 1980s. A pioneer in the field, he is responsible for more than 100 3D comic books, along with plenty of movies and other 3D productions. His interest in 3D began in 1953 when, at age 6, he started reading 3D comics starring Mighty Mouse. He has been converting flat art to 3D for 25 years and has worked on many feature films. He's now involved in the revolution to bring 3D to TV.

I caught up with Zone in the 3D exhibit area of CES where … Read more

Avner Ronen on the Boxee Box (podcast)

LAS VEGAS--Boxee is in the business of letting you watch Internet content on your TV. The company has long offered software to make that possible via third-party hardware ranging from Windows PCs to Apple TV boxes, but it now plans to launch its own hardware--the Boxee Box--in partnership with D-Link.

Boxee founder and CEO Avner Ronen has a lot to say about this powerful new trend, including advice for independent producers who can use Internet technology to "get an audience and monetize it."

I spoke with Ronen at the Showstoppers press event at CES.

Subscribe now: … Read more

Ford exec talks in-dash car tech (podcast)

Ford Motor made big news at CES this week with its revamped MyFord touch interface to put entertainment and driving controls in reach of the driver with minimum distraction.

The company is putting three LCDs in the instrument panel--two next to the odometer, and another 8-inch screen in the center panel.

A few hours after Ford's CEO Alan Mulally gave his keynote address, Larry Magid sat down with Jim Buczkowski, director of Global Electrical and Electronics Systems Engineering at Ford, to talk about company's recent innovations and plans.

The interview runs 11 minutes 38 seconds.

Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | … Read more

Making sense of the newest TV tech (podcast)

TVs are a major theme at this year's CES. Several companies have announced 3D TVs, Toshiba announced TVs with a powerful Cell processor that they say can upscale standard-definition programs into high definition, and several companies, including D-Link, announced ways to bring Internet content to the TV set.

To explain it all in simple terms, Larry spoke with Tim Bajarin, a veteran Silicon Valley technology analyst who serves as president of tech analysis firm Creative Strategies.

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Sprint exec. on 3G/4G hot spots (podcast)

LAS VEGAS--On the eve of CES, Sprint announced its Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, a 4.5-ounce device measuring 3.15 by 3.14 inches by .61 inch that creates its own Wi-Fi hot spot.

The Overdrive can serve up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices with a range of about 150 feet. I'm using it now with my laptop, an iPhone, and the new HTC Nexus One smartphone, which runs Google's Android operating system and supports Wi-Fi connectivity.

The device, which is manufactured in an unlocked state, can support Sprint's 3G and 4G networks. 3G connectivity, which supports … Read more

Google's Erick Tseng on Nexus One

LAS VEGAS--Google created some buzz at the giant Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, even though it introduced its Nexus One smartphone at a press conference in California two days before the start of CES.

At the Digital Experience press party the night before the show, I caught up with Google's Erick Tseng to talk about the phone. Earlier that day, Google loaned me a Nexus One that I'm currently testing (and initially like).

I asked Tseng what's so special about what Google is calling a "super phone."

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CES to feature 3D TV and green tech

3D TV, smart phones, Netbooks, smartbooks, and green tech will be among the big themes at this year's Consumer Electronics Show said Jim Barry, a spokesman for CES sponsor, the Consumer Electronics Association.

Barry also said that CES attendance is about even with last year. They are expecting about 110,000 attendees and about 2,500 exhibitors.

Larry Magid spoke with Barry at CES Unveiled, CES' official press reception.

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