We love our waterproof gadgets which is why there is always a place in our hearts for Otter and its H2O-friendly gadget casing. The latest from its production line is this rather fetching case for the iPod nano. It is apparently waterproof to around three feet which means that provided you team it up with some waterproof headphones you can listen to The Strokes while making starfish shapes in the pool. It has just gone on sale for $39.95 in the US and Otter has distribution in the UK we trust it won't be long before it is available here too. More here

A contender for the coolest named company at CES is Skull Candy, which as you have probably already surmised makes all manner of headgear. We were particularly taken with its headphones - especially the pink pair (very Shiny Shiny) and the music and mobile phone ready snowboarding/skiing helmet, the Giro which is pictured below. (We were also quite taken with the girl modelling them but that's another story). The helmet is obviously ultra tough and rugged and laughs off sleet and snow, but its key feature is that it comes with wired connections for a mobile and a music player.

The adapter works with all 3.5mm jacks, but if you want to use your mobile you need to specify which make it is when you order. The helmets start at $129 and go all the way up to $179. We haven't seen any European distribution, but there's no reason why they won't work on this side of the pond. The headphones are the Ti DJ. They come in all kinds of groovy colours and retail for $39.95.

Might HD DVD make it to Europe this year after all? The Register is reporting that Studio Canal, part of the Canal Plus media Empire, has lined up 30 HD DVD discs for a launch sometime during 2006. Whether there will be anything to play them remains a moot point, for Toshiba, Sanyo and Microsoft are unlikely to offer HD DVD players in Europe until at least the end of year.

Toshiba isn't the only company backing the HD DVD format. Its partner Sanyo is also snubbing Blu-ray and has announced March launch for its debut HD DVD player the HD-S100. It has all the usual bells and whistles including 1080i (though not 1080p) output, compatibility with existing DVDs and DTS and Dolby surround sound facilities. Each HD DVD disc is capable of holding four hours of high definition content. Wonder if it will pop up in the UK?

So you're a manufacturer and you've churned out speaker system/rechargers for the iPod and the PSP, where do you go next? Well it has to be the music phone. Among the companies quick off the mark in this area are Qool which has unveiled a pair of Xensaxion series devices that combine speakers with recharging facilities.

They aren't just good for mobiles though. The pair of systems can also be connected to any sound source via a mini jack audio input. The downside though is that the speakers system are limited to certain types of mobiles, in this instance Windows Mobile handset like the various versions of the XDA and MDA and Orange's SPV series. Both systems are available in the Far East but there are no detail yet on a UK or even a US launch. Particularly impressive is the Xensaxion X10 which not only looks great but should really help to turn your music phone into a serious bit of hi-fi. More details on Qool's innovative products can be found here.

Another nail in the coffin for the Palm operating system? Palm has unveiled its first smartphone with Windows Mobile at the CES Show in Las Vegas. The Treo 700W runs mobile versions of standard Microsoft applications - including Office and Outlook - natively rather than through third-party applications. Expected to retail for $399 in the US (without contract), the 700W also supports Microsoft Exchange e-mail servers straight out of the box. According to a Palm spokesperson, the company is diversifying into Windows solutions for mobiles because many companies have decided to user Windows only solutions for their portable devices. For more info go to Treonauts blog.

HD fans - 2006 looks like being your year. Pioneer has confirmed it plans to launch its first Blu-Ray based high definition compatible DVD player in April. Likely to be one of the first Blu-Ray DVD players available in the UK (rivals Samsung and LG are close to launching too), the BDP-HD1 is capable of outputting 1920 x 1080 high def video signals over HDMI/HDCP. In addition to new Blu-Ray discs, Pioneer say the player will also handle DVD-R/-RW, DVD-RAM and DVD+R/RW discs. It will also be compatible with the WMV, DiVX, DiVX-HD and MPEG2 video formats.

You've got to give Toshiba top marks for perseverance, for in spite of the fact that CES 2006 is very much a Blu-ray show the Japanese giant went ahead and confirmed a March launch for its pair of HD DVD players.

Tosh's pair of HD DVD players, the HD-XA1 and HD-A1 have a pretty decent spec. They'll not only play back your existing DVDs but they will upscale the picture quality to 720p or 1080i HD. They are also no slouches in the surround sound arena packing both Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD. The difference between the two is that the XA1 has a neat motorised door and includes features like USB ports that Tosh hopes will pull in gamers.

The price is keen too with the HD-XA1 going for $800 and the HD-A1 $500 - a few dollars less than the Blu-ray players. They also score something of a home run (I have already been in the States too long already) in that they are likely to be in the stores before the first Blu-ray players from Samsung and Pioneer. Nevertheless it is going to be a long haul for HD DVD. Needless to say there are no details on a UK launch, but if Tosh is keen to grab an advantage over Blu-ray it needs to get them in the British stores by Christmas.

Last night here in Vegas some fella called Gates - apparently he's a mate of Bono - made a speech about how intends to take over the world unless you pay him one million dollars, or something like that. You can read the details here.

From a British perspective one key thing Gates mentioned was news of a Microsoft deal with Sky and in particular its new broadband service Sky by Broadband. The two partners have hatched a deal whereby Windows Media Center PC owners will be able to use their computers to watch the Sky TV services. Movies, sports and Dream Team will be delivered via the Online Spotlight of the Media Center PCs enabling viewers to watch the programmes live or possibly on demand. The footage will be encoded in Windows Media 9.

There is however no news on the Sky to go system that was being talked up about a year ago. This would enable viewers to transfer Sky programmes from their Sky box or a PC to a portable media player.

Hybrid gadgets are all the rage - so Parrot's Rhythm n' Blue, the world's first car stereo with hands-free calling for Bluetooth-enabled phones should come as no surprise.

The Rhythm n' Blue is a top-end AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo receiver with a powerful a powerful 4 x 45 watt internal amplifier that works in conjunction with most Bluetooth mobile phones on the market, allowing the driver to make calls, take calls and access a mobile address book hands-free via Parrot's  voice-recognition technology. When a call comes in, a quick glance at your receiver shows Caller ID, your music source is automatically muted and the phone audio is routed through the vehicle's speakers - all with no hands.

Other features include a detachable faceplate for security, an integrated telephone keypad and address book and  synchronisation with a mobile to access contact details.

The Rhythm n' Blue made its debut at this year's CES. No price or date for the UK market is currently available.

Linksys has launched a compact wireless-G internet video camera at the CES, allowing users to monitor their home or office through a web browser located anywhere in the world.

The internet video camera has its own IP address, enabling easy connection to an existing network. Once connected to a home network and the net, the user is able to see the camera view from any Windows PC. The camera also features automated monitoring - when motion is detected, a video feed of up to two minutes is recorded. In addition, alerts can be set up via text message, phone or email, warning about the disturbance.

No price has been set as yet, but you can find out more by visiting www.linksys.com

Via Pocket-Lint

If you want to keep track of something - or indeed someone - you might want to take a close look at the Loc8tor, a new device that uses "James Bond style" tracking of miniaturised tags the size of a postage stamp.

The Loc8tor has two modes. The "Locate" mode tracks any tagged item up to a range of 500 feet using directional, audio, visual and vibration technology, guiding you to within an inch of the lost item. The second mode, "Alert", prevents things from getting lost in the first place. For example, when a tagged item moves out of your pre-set "safety zone".

Two models of the pocket-sized Loc8tor are available. The basic model helps you find mislaid items. The loc8tor Plus pack features both the Locate and Alert modes and includes a panic tag that can be worn by a child or dependent.

The basic pack will retail for around $99.99, with the Plus pack selling for $169.99. For more information visit www.loc8tor.com

Logitech has launched the Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac at the CES, a cordless keyboard-and-mouse combination for Macs. The S 530 is pitched as an upgrade for Mac users or an addition for anyone buying a Mac mini (which doesn't have either). In the Mac "style", the keyboard is less than 19 mm high and features all the standard Mac keys plus side panels with additional buttons for shortcuts, which can be customised. The mouse tracks accurately on virtually any surface thanks to Logitech's laser tracking technology and also features customisable buttons to control volume and movement within a browser without moving the mouse.

The S 530 runs through a USB mini-receiver that plugs directly into a Mac's USB port. It's easy to unplug the mini-receiver and mouse if you want to use it with your Powerbook or iBook.

You can pick up one of the S 530s for around £89.99 from March this year.

Yet more digital cameras at the CES - this time Panasonic are adding to their Lumix range with three new models - the DMC-LZ5, LZ3 and the LS2. Probably the most noteable feature is Panasonic's Mega O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), which detects and compensates for any hand shaking when taking your snap. And you get it on all three new models, not just the top end LZ5.

The Lumix DMC-LZ5 (pictured) is a 6 megapixel camera with a 6x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD, four scene modes and a maximum ISO setting of 1600. The LZ3 is a 5 megapixel camera, with a similar, but slightly lower spec overall. The LS2 is also a 5 megapixel camera, but features 3x optical zoom and a 2 inch display.

All three models will go on sale in March. Prices have yet to be finalised by Panasonic.

More digital cameras from the CES 2006:
Fuji's new digital cameras
Pentax adds to the range

OK, there's still no PlayStation 3 news at the CES - but no shortage of innovation fro the Sony stand, including this electronic challenge to the traditional written word - The Sony Reader, a book-sized gadget that can store hundreds of volumes that can be read page by page.
 
Flip open the cover to a screen that displays one page at a time using electronic-ink technology. You turn pages by pressing a button and you can enlarge your text up to 200 percent. Sony says the Reader's display can produce four scales of grey at a resolution of about 170 pixels per inch - more than twice that of most conventional displays and roughly on a par with traditional newsprint.

Previous efforts at the electronic book have been scuppered by power problems. Not so this time say Sony - the rechargeable built-in lithium ion battery will power around 7500 page turns between charges and you can recharge via a conventional AC adapter or a USB cable, both included.

The Reader can display electronic books and other traditional computer images, with Sony planning to top-up the market with e-book sales from its online store, which will have around 10,000 titles at launch. Sony will start shipping The Reader in April with a price somewhere between $299 and $399.

We have told you about Blu-ray players from Sony and Philips at the CES - now the movie distributors are falling over themselves to get their films to market in 2006, with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, Fox Home Entertainment and Lionsgate all announcing specific Blu-ray titles. The difference between standard DVD releases, apart from the obvious quality, will be enhanced menu navigation, increased added-value and new interactive features.

Sony plans to release 20 titles towards the summer of 2006, including The Fifth Element, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Desperado, For a Few Dollars More, The Guns of Navarone, Hitch, Legends of the Fall,, Robocop, Sense and Sensibility, Species, SWAT and XXX. Sony will also add bonus BD Java games, and other as yet unknown features to new release titles, which will hit the market on the same day as standard DVD releases. 

Paramount plans to release around 10 titles, icluding Aeon Flux, The Italian Job, Tomb Raider, U2: Rattle and Hum, Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, We Were Soldiers and Mission Impossible 2 and 3. The Fox line-up includes Fantastic Four, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Behind Enemy Lines, Kiss of the Dragon and Ice Age. Lionsgate's featured titles will be Lord of War, The Punisher, The Devil's Rejects and Saw.

More Blu-ray:
Sony debuts Blu-ray
Philips enters Blu-ray market

Plenty of digital cameras around at the CES, including these four, competetitively-priced models from Fuji.

First up is the FinePix V10, with a 5 megapixel Super CCD HR sensor and "Real Photo" technology to remove noise from your digital pictures and improve qulaity in low light sensitive areas. It also has a large, 3-inch LCD with 230,000 pixels. And if you can't find anything to snap, you can play one of four video games on the camera - Number Puzzle, Block Buster, Shooting Game and Maze. Pick it up for around £200.

For more entry-level purchasers, there's the 4 megapixel FinePix A400 and 5 megapixel FinePix A500. Both have a new image processor and a 3x optical zoom for accurate reproduction of subtle detailing, along with 12MB internal memory and a decent 1.8 inch screen. The A400 retails for £85 and the A500 will sell for £100.

Sat somewhere in the middle is the FinePix F470 - just 20mm thick, this 6 megapixel model has 16MB of internal memory, a 2.5 inch LCD and 10 selectable scene positions for different shooting conditions. You'll be able to pick one up for £160.

Find out more by visiting www.fujifilm.co.uk

More from the CES:
Pentax unveils new models
Kodak's twin lens V570