There was no APCUG conference during 2004. The temporary (some think it is permanent) closure of Comdex led to APCUG moving its conference to the weekend before the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2005.
 
CES [ http://www.cesweb.org ] is bigger than the biggest "Comdex" I can recall. It features many consumer products, as opposed to the computing-only focus of Comdex. But that is not too bad, considering that most consumer electronics is digital and you can use computer technology, such as networking, to bring it all together.
 

Interesting Products at CES

I wouldn't be surprised if there were a million products on display at CES. I won't mention the world's largest (prototype) 102-inch plasma TV or the numerous hi-fi and automotive products that fell well outside the "home and small-to-medium enterprise computing" focus of this magazine. It was a bit irritating at times because you would spend more time fighting your way through endless crowds than actually getting to a destination, but that's all a part of large exhibitions. The PC-related products were indeed interesting.

• U3 [ http://www.u3.com ] is an open standard launched by SanDisk and M-Systems. It hopes to make the USB flash drives a lot smarter than their current applications, which are mostly limited to storage. The prototype shown was similar to Migo (see later in the article) and the example given was a scenario where the device stores our virtual PC with all its applications and data and we plug it into any PC and instantly recreate our own PC. When we take it out of the PC, it leaves no trace of our presence. This would appeal to travellers and companies who would not need to issue laptops to all travelling employees.



• If you like to go on cross-country treks and need to have music in your ears all the time, there were a few backpacks with solar cells that would keep your MP3 player charged. Sony's cassette-tape Walkman from the 1980s has a lot to answer for.



• Sonance [ http://www.sonance.com ] released the iPort, which is a wall-mounted docking port for an iPod and is wired to your sound system. Would you cut a hole in your wall for any portable electronic device? Would your iPod still be used after 20 years?



• Panasonic Battery Group [ http://www.panasonic.com ] may have solved the problem of cars running out of petrol. Just pop in a couple of their new Oxyride AA batteries and go one-quarter mile. Actually, the new batteries are for digital cameras.



• Realm [ http://www.realmsys.com ] showed the Realm Mobile Personal Server, which is another USB device that holds up to 20 GB and and enables you to carry your virtual PC in your pocket. It is ideal for travellers and secret agents who work in unpredictable circumstances: should the power fail in mid-sentence, you can resume from that point when power is restored.



• LG [ http://www.lgusa.com ] showed the Flatron L1730S monitor, which is one of the best LCD monitors I have seen. It is one of several new models in LG's product lineup.



• UTStarcom [ http://www.utstarcom.com ] released a WiFi phone that symbolises the missing element in most current VoIP offerings, which require you to be near the computer. The F1000 supports SIP and provides wireless coverage through VoIP providers such as Vonage.



• Hitachi [ http://www.hitachi.us/digitalmedia ] showed the Performa CP-RS55 LCD projector that will suit both boardrooms and home theatres. It features light weight, 1500 ANSI lumens and SVGA resolution. Street pricing is between US$750-$900.



• VoyagerSoft [ http://www.solidpdf.com ] makes Solid Convertor PDF to Word 2.0. This handy program converts PDF documents to Microsoft Word.



• Pentax [ http://www.pentaximaging.com ] showed the OptioWP digital camera, which I wish I had given to my son instead of the one he inadvertently drowned in his school bag. This 5 MP camera has a 3x optical zoom and captures movies at 30 fps.



• Samsung makes the SC-D6040 DuoCam, the only Mini-DV digital camcorder that has a separate, dedicated 5 MP CCD lens for the still camera.



• Microsoft [ http://www.microsoft.com/athome/ces2005/ ] Chairman Bill Gates had some technical problems during his presentation, which is available at this link.



• InterVideo [ http://www.intervideo.com ] released Instant Movie Maker, a simple video editing and production program.

• Migo [ http://www.pwhtgroup.com ] is a USB memory device that enables you to carry your PC anywhere in a virtual sense. When you plug the Migo into another Windows PC, it becomes a replica of your own PC and when you unplug it, the host PC shows no trace of your using it. It comes in many form factors, including a wristwatch.



• NeatReceipts [ http://www.neatreceipts.com ] is a portable scanner that scans receipts and links them to the applications where you have to track them. It is pitched to travellers with expense accounts.



• Hush (distributor http://www.ausmedia.com.au) makes small and silent computers, including the Hush Fanless Media Center Edition 2005. As more and more PCs will be used for home entertainment, you wouldn't want a noisy fan or three interfering with your entertainment, particularly during quiet moments.



• Swissbit [ http://www.swissbit-shop.com ] showed several USB flash drives, one of which is the Swiss Army Knife version, reviewed elsewhere in this issue.



• Cellboost [ http://www.cellboost.com ] makes a throw-away recharger for mobile phones. You buy the model that mates with your phone and they cost around US$6-10 depending on where you look. You get over 60 minutes' worth of talk time if you don't try to do it in one session. These units can also power other vital equipment, such as hand-held games consoles, digital cameras, Apple iPods and so on.