Gizmodo: press conference

Here Comes the CES 2008 Press Release Parade

Noah Robischon — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:45:05 EST

We're already in line for today's back-to-back CES 2008 press conference marathon. First up, LG Electronics followed by Pioneer, Toshiba, Panasonic, Sharp and Philips—and that's all before lunch. Stay tuned for liveblog updates throughout the day.

HD DVD Press Conferences Cancelled After Warner Defects to Blu-ray

Jason Chen — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:04:50 EST

No one's going to make a Hunt for Blue October movie out of Warner's defection from HD DVD to Blu-ray—even if Toshiba is quite peeved at them—but what they can do is cancel press conferences. The HD DVD group, who's naturally in charge of the HD DVD press conferences here at CES, has just decided to "postpone" their presser at the luxurious Wynn hotel until they can get their wits about them and rewrite the script to account for Warner's absence. See what they said after the jump.

Based on the timing of the Warner Home Video announcement today, we have decided to postpone our CES 2008 press conference scheduled for Sunday, January 6th at 8:30 p.m. in the Wynn Hotel. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
We are currently discussing the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluating next steps. We believe the consumer continues to benefit from HD DVD's commitment to quality and affordability - a bar that is critical for the mainstream success of any format.

We'll continue to keep you updated on new developments around HD DVD.

Hitachi Press Conference: We're Here, Spilling Coffee

Charlie White — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:55:09 EST

As we wait through the peppy funk music, the schwag is already being passed out, and it looks like T-shirts and pens this fine morning. Stay tuned, we'll let you know what happens here. Refresh often!

T-Mobile Holding Press Conference Friday October 6 to Announce UMTS

Jason Chen — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:00:02 EDT

According to eWeek Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile USA will be holding a press conference on Friday, October 6, to announce their plans for 3G deployment here in the States. Apparently,

"T-Mobile will announce UMTS on 1700 MHz and 2100 MHz," said analyst Roger Entner, vice president of the London-based research and consulting company Ovum.

Our T-Mobile contact has this to say:

Leaders from Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile USA will present and field questions on the current state of the business for DT and T-Mobile USA, as well as the recent FCC Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) auction.

All this thanks to the large chunks of spectrum they won on the 1700MHz and 2100Mhz band for UMTS use. It should take about a year and a half for deployment to be completed, but devices using 3G should show up sooner rather than later. – Jason Chen

T-Mobile to Announce UMTS, Sources Say [eWeek]

The photo is from the press conference for Into the Blue. We thought you'd like to see that more than you'd like to see execs from T-Mobile. In our minds, Jessica Alba is the new T-mobile spokeswoman, replacing aging hottie Catherine Zeta Jones. Actually in our minds Jessica Alba is the spokeswoman for just about everything.

Live from CES: Pioneer Press Conference

Joel — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 14:43:29 EST

Pioneer kicked off its press conference talking directly about its ambitions into the vehicle navigation market (a la GPS and mapping units). Pioneer "wants to put the fun back into driving," yet it doesn't seem to be providing faster cars. Instead, they are introducing a new family of navigation, the 'AVIC' family, with three different models.

The AVIC-Z1 [pictured] has a built-in hard drive and enough CPU oomph to render 3D mapping graphics. 30GB hard drive, XM NavTraffic, music library and DVD playback, a 7-inch touch-screen, and Bluetooth phone connectivity. Expect it in April '06 for $2250.

The Z1 uses something called 'Smart Routing' which tries to keep track of stop signs, traffic, and other information to find the best route. It can even learn from your past travel to change its suggested routes to take you near destinations that you have gone by in the past—even if the waypoints aren't exactly the most efficient way to your final destination. Potentially frustrating, but a step in the right direction for intelligent driver routing.

The Z1 can rip CDs to its HDD (up to 10GB of the internal hard drive), as well as 'enhanced iPod functionality.' It's hard to say if that means standard play/skip controls or if it will also display iPod track/ID3 information.

More navigation and head units after the jump.

The AVIC-N3 is a single DIN chasis unit with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, but is DVD-based instead of HDD based. Enhanced iPod controls and XM interface like the Z1. Expect the N3 in March 2006 for $1,800. The 2006y Tele Atlas database now offers lane information data for 50 markets and detailed city maps for 30+ cities.

The AVIC-D2 is also DVD-based, with XM NavTraffic capability. It's a double-DIN unit, meaning its 6.5-inch display doesn't slide out on a motorized track like the N3, but instead sits open. It's available in March for $1,500.

What we are now not reporting on is the uncomfortable moment when Pioneer's suit is explaining what makes "Generation Y" so individual. Did you know we like being unique?

Apparently, Gen Y folk also like OLED displays in their in-dash CD players. Of the 14 new models of Pioneer head units, most will include XM and Sirius control as well as that 'enhanced iPod control.' Two units have Bluetooth cell phone connectivity. In a laudable move, most of the new models also include a standard miniJack line-in, should you decline to purchase the iPod connectivity kit.

The AVH-P6800DVD is a double-DIN head unit with a built-in 6-disc DVD changer, as well as a 7-inch touch screen. Also, Bluetooth cell phone connectivity. Expect it in May of '06 for $1,400.

Pioneer is introducing a new high-end aftermarket car stereo branding called 'Premier Reference Series' (PRS). It's apparently awesome, as judged by the monotone description of "deep, rich bass." Pioneer is also talking about new shallow-depth subwoofers that are less than 4-inches deep. Prices start at $160 and should be around in March.