While it's still surely a mediocre HD camcorder (I mean, it's $120), the EZ209HD is smaller than its predecessors, ditching the SD slot to save space with up to 16GB of MicroSD, while still fitting a larger, 2-inch LCD screen.

Recording up to two hours of video on a single charge, the EZ209HD supports HD, SD and 60fps shooting. Plus it takes 8MP stills and includes HDMI out for direct-to-TV viewing of your footage. All-in-all, the new Small Wonder appears to be much nicer than older models—though you'll have to wait until spring to buy one.

Also, if you are at the show, the RCA/Audiovox booth will be giving away 4,000 30 of these camcorders. Boy did I mishear that one. They're giving away 10,000 keychains though.

During the initial setup, a female voice walks you through the typical configuration of your home theater. And once you're all set up, you can actually give the remote verbal commands like "Turn on DVD"—a command that's customizable in itself, as it can be programmed to activate just the DVD player or every component associated with the DVD player.

The Talking Remote is definitely at least 50% novelty, but I could see it as a nice compromise to handing a technaphobe a full-blown Logitech Harmony. The Talking Remote will be available late this year for an undisclosed price.

Las Vegas NV - January 2008 - Audiovox Corporation (NASDAQ: VOXX) today announced two new Digital Message Centers that are designed to completely shake up the digital picture frame market. You can display up to 100 pictures on the built in 512mb memory and go as high as 500 pictures with optional additional memory cards but that is where the similarity to the competition ends.

The Audiovox Digital Message Center features audio or audio/video-messaging capability through built-in camera and recorders. Family members can leave messages for audio and or video playback and can even tag them to the built in calendar so they play back on a specific date. In addition the company has designed their digital message frames to be displayed in the kitchen with refrigerator mounting systems that include unique flat wire in three finishes to match most appliances.

The system has 7-inch LCD with 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 234 pixels. A digital clock and LED message indicator are also built in and the magnetic border makes posting notes and coupons a breeze. There are even Post-it® pads for anyone needing to scribble a quick note.

The systems are designed to mount either on a refrigerator, wall mount or stand on a counter and include the brackets for all three options. In addition, flat wire in white, silver and black finishes that match most appliances are also included.

The DPF711K Video Message center carries a MSRP: $199.99.

The DPF710K Audio Message center carries a MSRP: $159.99.

AUDIOVOX WIRELESS COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM MOUNTS BEHIND LICENSE PLATE

Prevents Obstruction to License Plate Data-Minimizes Theft

Las Vegas NV - January 2008 - Audiovox Corporation (NASDAQ: VOXX) today announced its newest collision avoidance system that is a company first. A wireless camera that mounts on the back side of the vehicle license plate holder, making it nearly invisible, which not only reduces the risk of theft, but also prevents any obstruction to the data on the plate (It is illegal in most states to block license plate data). In addition the camera is the first product to provide wireless transmission to the monitor inside the vehicle. For ease of installation, the vehicle's back-up lights rather than the vehicle power source supply camera power.

The camera angle is adjustable to accommodate different size vehicles and the lens comes complete with a 130-degree wide-angle view. The 4.5-inch TFT color screen delivers 640 x 480 resolution and 400 cd/m makes the screen ideal for daytime viewing. An AC adapter plug and hardwired power cord for the monitor as well as both a visor clip and suction cup monitor mount are included.

Other features include a selectable normal or mirror image view and a waterproof weather-resistant camera housing. Model ACA450: MSRP $299.00

AUDIOVOX INTRODUCES "Anyware ™"- MOBILE PC

Compact portable PC features navigation, Bluetooth and Windows Vista/A/XP

Las Vegas NV - October 2007 - Audiovox Corporation (NASDAQ: VOXX) president Tom Malone calls the Anyware™ , Audiovox's Ultra-Mobile PC, "the only Ultra Mobile PC product that gives the user GPS navigation, Bluetooth and Windows, in a package smaller than a conventional laptop.

The Anyware ™ features a 30 GB hard drive, 2 USB Ports, 2 GB SD card slots, A/V out ports, expansion IO port and a sync port cable for desktop and notebook. Additional components include a WiFi module, with mobile and home/office accessories such as vehicle mount, carrying case, AC power adapter, DC power adapter, remote control, audio/video out and I/P expansion port. MSRP $1,499.99.

Malone believes the Anyware™ will fit into the lifestyle of today's tech-oriented family. "The Anyware not only provides GPS and Bluetooth features for navigation and hands-free communications while driving without compromising the occupant's safety, it's a full featured portable PC that can be taken from the house to the car to the office. What's more it will seamlessly pick up whatever programs were started at home and need to be continued at the office."

All Audiovox mobile products are built for the road and as such are specification-laced road testing before being released to retail and Anyware passed those tests. "Anyware™ is built for mobile application, with shock-resistant features and a rugged road-ready design. In addition to Audiovox's normal QC and design testing, this product was road tested for 10,000 miles over 6 months to ensure the reliability and performance of all hardware and software functions. It is one tough product."

[Jensen]

• Jensen NVX225 - The low end of portable GPS navigators keeps getting lower. This little one with SiRFStar III chip and Navteq data lists for a pretty damn low $249. Wonder what its street price will be?

• Jensen NVX430BT navigator with, yep you guessed it, Bluetooth. Price is TBD, and the product ships this fall.

• Audiovox digital photo frames (DPF) in 7", 8" and 10.4" models ($99 to $199). Standard frames, just like most other China-based manufacturers, but these have clock and calendar software. I'm wondering how beneficial a clock will be in a picture frame, but it's a neat idea. I'd like to see the clock superimposed over my images, though. Not sure if that's possible. Yet.

• Two portable Audiovox 8" DVD players: $199 with iPod iPod dock for video out (no iPhones!), and $149 for DVDs only. These were my favorite pieces of the show (besides the cute remote-start keychain in the gallery). I like the matte black finish, and the 8" screen looked decent. The iPod dock does DivX and has a USB jack too.

• Model ARE05 noise-isolating earbuds for $79, about middle of the pack, price wise, and looked fairly decent. Of course, I didn't stick them in my ears.

• The priciest announcements were in the wireless headphone category, where the 2.1 AWD210 set lists for $199, and the AWD510 5.1 surround wireless headphones list for $349; both use 2.4GHz RF, rather than the previous Acoustic Research wireless headphones that used 900MHz technology.

With Jensen's new NVX230W, you get Tele Atlas' Western European maps preloaded along with its US, Canada and Puerto Rico set. Jump for fact sheet. (When I read it, I was relieved to to discover that this GPS device has "built-in GPS.") – Wilson Rothman

Jensen NVX230W Portable Navigation Features: •USA/Canada/Puerto Rico and Western Europe Mapping •3.6-inches x 4.9-inches x .9-inches; .68 lbs. •Anti-Glare Screen •Turn-by-Turn Voice Prompt •Automatic Re-routing when Car is Deviated from Route •Automatically Calculates: •Estimated Time Arrival, Distance to Go, Time to Destination and Miles per Hour •Four-Hour Battery Life •Built in GPS •Sharp Display Panel Maker, Model LQO35Q7DH05 •Display Type: TFT-LCD Touch Screen •Screen Size: 3.52-inch (diagonal) •Active Area: 53.64-mm x 71.52-mm •4:3 Aspect Ratio •Panel Resolution: 240 x 820 •Brightness: 110 Cd/mx2 •Contrast Ratio: 95 •Operating System: WinCE.NET 4.2 •Navigation Software: iGO •Map Software: Tele Atlas •Internal Memory: 64MB + 8MB NOR Flash •GPP Chipset: SiRF Star III •Internal GPS Antenna •Battery Maker: Samsung, Model PGF523759A •Battery mAh: 1280mAh •USB/SD Slot Connections •Day/Night Display Options •3D/2D View •Background Color Change •Points of Interest Icon Display •Multi-Language •Includes Two Gigabyte SD Card with USA/Canada/Puerto Rico and Western Europe Mapping •Includes: Cradle, CD12V Car Adapter, Quick Reference Guide and CD-ROM with Owner's Manual and Warranty Letter •Available: June •MSRP: $399.99

Product Page [Via Dealhack]

Audiovox Express EZ features [Orbitcast]

Audiovox XpressR and XpressEZ plug-and-play XM Radios Introduced [eCoustics.com]

Audiovox also has the CE547XM Micro Shelf system ($130), which outputs 40W of power and comes with a pair of detachable stereo speakers. Personally I like the XR100 which keeps things straight and simple, though high rollers can always splurge on the DV7600XM. – Louis Ramirez

CES: Audiovox CE547XM Micro-Shelf System [Orbitcast]
CES: Audiovox XM Mini Tuner/iPod Desktop Radios [Orbitcast]

Audiovox DV7600XM XM Mini-Tuner Home Theater System [Orbitcast]

Audiovox XM2go X2G-100 Found [via Orbitcast]

Every morning as I approach my workspace on 14th Street, I'm assaulted by two very different sensory experiences. The first is the whiff of stale urine outside a certain construction site, where nightly Mad Dog throwdowns seem to occur. The second is the hollering of a tout who spends eight straight hours piping, "Free Sprint phones! Free T-Mobile phones!" She's out there rain or shine, handing out flyers for a nearby cellphone depot. So piercing is her scream that I've started hearing it in my dreams.

But don't get me wrong, I admire the lady bigtime—not just for her Teutonic work ethic, but for advancing the cause, however slightly, of handset enticements. You see, wireless providers seem to think there's only two ways of getting your business: coverage (hence those now-stale "Can you hear me now?" Verizon ads) and plans (hence that really annoying T-Mobile ad with the two long-haired stoners, their dads, and a loudspeaker that blares "Overage! Overage!"). But neither of these is really the way to a cheapskate's heart—and, by extension, his wallet. We're the sorts who prefer a dollar today to a buck fifty two years down the line, and so what we look for is this, and this alone: what sort of free cell do I get for signing up? After the jump, a rundown of what America's wireless providers are giving away at present, as a means to deciding which company really, truly loves us low-enders.

Verizon Wireless The fact that Verizon thinks they can hook you with coverage promises really shows in their lineup of freebies. The chunky CDM-180, manufactured by Audiovox, is the most expensive handset they're willing to part with; it's marked down from $69.99 if you'll do a two-year contract. It's a relatively ancient product, actually, having been launched at the 2005 CES—a fact that Verizon conveniently fails to mention on its hype sheet. It's also strange that they flog the CDM-180's wide screen as perfect for "playing games and browsing the web." Um, Verizon? If I'm signing up for the cheapest possible phone, that probably means I'm not likely to fork over for a data plan, too. Better bet: the PN-210, from our "friends" at Pantech. It's drab and featureless, for sure, but at least it's lightweight.

Cingular "Raising the bar"? Boy, do ad slogans ever lie. The sole free flip phone in Cingular's lineup (again requiring a two-year contract—the rule of thumb from here on in) is the LG C2000. I can tell you from experience that this year-old phone has a ghastly camera, as well as middling talk time. If you must have Bluetooth, then you can opt for the Motorola L2, which lacks a lid. Strangely, I've also read that the L2 was priced in the $175 range when it debuted last August. I wonder if its quick descent into low-end land tells you something about it's quality.

Sprint Lord knows I'm no fan of Sprint, which I ditched many moons ago after growing weary of asking myself, "How the hell can I be roaming in my kitchen?" I'm definitely not the only person who's down on the house the Cleyson Leroy Brown built; I heard the emcee at the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night make a similar joke a few months back, and the audience went absolutely buck nuts in agreement. So how do you repair your image? Why, by offering a pretty decent assortment of freebies. The nicest stuff here is by Samsung, particularly the A640. What's incredible about the A640 deal is that it's such a new handset, having only been released this past July. The fact that they're handing this out to new recruits isn't exactly a sign that you should start buying Sprint stock, but a company's misery is often a miser's gain, eh?

T-Mobile The way I feel about T-Mobile is the same way I feel about TBS and TNT—solid, but not apt to wow (though I do enjoy those Family Guy reruns on TBS, I'll admit). T-Mobile's lineup of entry-level handsets is about what you'd expect from such a company, with the best attraction being the year-old Motorola V360. It's a serviceable phone, I guess, and I definitely appreciate them not saddling with you a 65,000-color screen like some tightfisted providers. But my ultimate reaction is along the lines of "meh". (On the other hand, note that the ad on the Mobiledia review promos a deal that'll net you a profit of $50 in exchange for your two-year agreement—how come the wireless providers themselves never advertise such deals on their sites?)

Alltel I have no idea what to think about this Johnny-come-lately, at least judging by their handset deals. No true freebies here, but they do have two so-so models available for nominal fees: the Kyocera Candid KX16 for 99 cents, and the LG AX4270 at two-for-a-dollar. The LG offer seems especially tasty at first glance, though the handset's spec sheet is decrepit—a listed talk time of 168 minutes probably means you'll get an eighth of that within a few months, if you're lucky. But what I'm really conflicted about is whether the nominal-fee scheme is ingenious marketing, or some sort of total dick move. I'm actually looking into writing an upcoming column on the psychology of various promotional tactics, so stay tuned.

The Bottom Line I never thought I'd say this, but...Sprint wins! Sprint wins! They're definitely layin' it all on the line, in terms of putting passable cellphones in the hands of new cheapskate subscribers. But, as noted above, the abysmal service the company offers should soon end the honeymoon. Which makes me wonder—is there some sort of axiom we can take away from this? Does the appeal of a wireless providers' entry-level handsets increase in direct proportion to how awful their service is? If that turns out to be the case, let's totally call it the Low End Theory Rule #2; Low End Theory Rule #1, of course, is never buy a $100 Powerbook from an eBay seller who lists his e-mail address as hdrhghgfhgh@yahoo.com.cn.

Brendan I. Koerner is a contributing editor at Wired and a columnist for both The New York Times and Slate. His Low End Theory column appears every Thursday on Gizmodo.

Read more Low End Theory

In homes that have a more Victorian look, a chest and actual books—the things made of paper you haven't touched since college—would match the surroundings better than a set of Xbox 360 speakers, as good as the latter may sound. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Audiovox via Sci Fi Tech]