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The 404 Podcast 494: Where you have to invert the image to see us nude

LAS VEGAS--Don't close the window yet; that show title is a joke. Don't worry, the video you're about to watch features three fully clothed nerds talking about the best of CES 2010 for The 404 Podcast's last show LIVE from the CNET stage here.

We've rounded up the funniest stories from this year's show for this wrap-up episode, starting with Jeff eating his hateful words about 3D PS3 and Xbox 360 Game Room. Turns out the gameplay in 3D actually impressed our former cynic, but we can all agree that those ridiculous 3D glasses are truly the only detractor from 3D games, and especially movies. After this story, we promise never to speak of 3D again...until 4D comes out.

Next, we have a lineup of stories that allow us to do what we do best: make fun of the more outrageous aspects of the show. For example, did anyone walk by the Samsung booth? Someone needs to notify these folks that we are, in fact, struggling to pull ourselves out of a recession--jeez is that booth consuming ridiculous amounts of energy. Other hilarious stories from CES 2010 include IoSafe's virtually indestructible hard-drive demolition, and a Taser demo that you have to see to believe.

We've also got a story about a controversial iPhone app that claims to see through clothing and we see if anyone can guess the most pirated e-book of 2009. Finally, be sure to check out our Best of CES 2010 nominees that represent the top products in nine categories as recommended by our techspert CNET editors.

If it's your first time listening to The 404, be sure to catch us our live show every morning at 11 a.m. EST on CNET Live. You can find all past episodes archived at The 404 Blog, and be sure to follow us on Twitter or add us on Facebook!

EPISODE 494 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Netgear debuts first Wi-Fi Direct device

UPDATED on January 11 at 12:30 PST: Though based on the final Wi-Fi Direct specification, the Push2TV is not yet certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance group, which is the owner of the Wi-Fi Direct designation and plans to start the certification program for Wi-Fi Direct later this year.

LAS VEGAS--Remember the time you needed to hook up your laptop to an external screen, be it a monitor or a TV, and had to fumble around with cables, ports, and the laptop's keyboard? Now, you won't have to do that anymore.

Netgear, in collaboration with Intel, unveiled Thursday … Read more

Toshiba Satellite E205 has Core i5 and wireless video output, exclusive to Best Buy

While most Toshiba Satellites have similar design consistencies across the board, a lone and notable exception was the Best Buy-exclusive E105, reviewed in previous retail round-ups at CNET. Many of the design decisions in the E105 were ones we actually preferred over standard Satellites, so the announcement of the E205 was immediately exciting on these terms alone. But the addition of new wireless display technology that can easily stream video to an HDTV without any physical link makes the E205 technologically unique as well.

The Satellite E205, with a Core i5-430M processor and Intel Wireless Display technology, has one of … Read more

Netgear's Push2TV adapter links Intel's Wireless Display and your TV

LAS VEGAS--The adapter for Intel's just-announced Wireless Display technology is called Push2TV and is being manufactured by Netgear.

As we noted earlier this evening, this WiDi technology will be built into select laptops with 2010 Intel Core processors. A hardware adaptor box that plugs into the HDMI or AV jacks of your monitor or television receives the signal.

Netgear says that the Push2TV box will be bundled together with select WiDi-enabled laptops from Dell, Sony, and Toshiba (such as the Toshiba E205) at Best Buy stores, starting later in January.

The Push2TV box will also be available separately for $… Read more

Intel's Wireless Display technology connects PCs and TVs

Update: Intel's Wireless Display technology has been nominated for the Best of CES Awards in the Computers and Hardware category.

LAS VEGAS--While many media consumers have connected laptops, desktops, and small form factor PCs to their large plasma and LCD monitors for years, these setups typically required either a direct video connection or the use of clunky media extender boxes, with limited functionality and file format compatibility.

Intel aims to radically change this equation with its new Wireless Display technology, also known as "WiDi."

The process involves taking a WiDi-enabled laptop with one of Intel's new … Read more

Home energy management a hot topic at show

If ever there was a business that needed a dash of flash from the world of consumer electronics, it's energy.

At the 2010 International CES this week, companies from different corners of industry will be showing off gadgets and services they hope will make home energy management more attractive. The idea is that providing consumers and small businesses with detailed usage information and easy-to-use tools, they will be able to reduce energy consumption on the order of 10 percent to 20 percent.

Among the companies introducing home energy management systems are Whirlpool and energy retailer Direct Energy, which will … Read more

Netbook inside wireless keyboard = Asus EeeKeyboard PC

Always looking for new ways to connect users with PCs, the inventive minds at Asus have packed the guts from a Netbook/Nettop Atom-based PC into a wireless keyboard.

The result, called the EeeKeyboard PC, has a built-in 5-inch multitouch secondary display and connects wirelessly to a nearby display. Asus calls this technology "Eee WiCast wireless HDMI," and it sounds very similar to wireless display tech we've been seeing from other tech companies (more on that later in the week).

Asus says its wireless display technology is virtually latency free and ideal for gaming and multimedia use (… Read more

Whirlpool, Direct Energy assemble home energy system

A group of companies at the Consumer Electronics Show plan to show off a networked home energy management system for reducing consumer energy bills.

The demonstration will include network-aware appliances from Whirlpool, a two-way thermostat from Lennox, and a touch-screen central control point made by OpenPeak.

Energy retailer Direct Energy plans to test out the combination with about 40 homes in the Houston area in an effort to entice consumers to use tools to ratchet down their home energy use. Best Buy's Geek Squad will do installation of the home network system.

Adjusting how appliances are run can save $… Read more

Demand improving for LCD TVs

Yet another consumer electronics segment is bouncing back from the recession--demand for LCD TVs is showing new signs of life.

Third-quarter shipments of LCD TVs rose for the first time in a year, according to DisplaySearch's "Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report," released Wednesday. That upward motion suggests that TV sales for the first quarter of 2010 could surpass those of the first quarter of 2009, the first gain in six quarters.

Total TV shipments will climb 6 percent in 2010 to reach 218 million units, versus 205 million for 2009, according to DisplaySearch's forecast. … Read more

Monitor OSD Quick Guide: (Some of) the ins and outs

So, you've just unwrapped your shiny new computer monitor and you're most likely satisfied with what's sitting in front of you. Whether it be graphic design, playing a game, or just surfing the Web, it does what you need it to. But, can it do more?

You've browsed through the On Screen Display (OSD), noticed tons of confusing options, and don't quite know what they all do. This is where I come in. I'll detail some of the most important and least understood options of modern OSDs, and attempt to explain them to someone who's never gotten past the first menu before. … Read more