Registration for the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) opened today and is free to industry professionals through September 30.  A registration fee of $100 will go into effect starting October 1, and the fee will increase to $200 effective 5:01 p.m. EST December 31.

The 2011 International CES is scheduled for January 6-9, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Hotel room rates are available through a special block set aside for CES registrants.  Attendees, exhibitors and media can register today at www.CESweb.org.

The International CES has announced the launch of a new Mobile Apps Showdown at the 2011 CES.  Final round judging will take place live at the 2011 International CES, held January 6-9, 2011, in Las Vegas. The winner will be announced on January 8, 2011.

Nomination forms are available now. All entrants will be acknowledged with write-ups, screenshots and a “Download Now” button on the Mobile Apps Showdown website.  Twenty-five semi-finalists will be selected by tech veteran Robin Raskin and a team of mobile experts.  The online community will also have a chance to vote for their favorites.

The top ten finalists move on to a live demo competition in front of a live and online 2011 International CES audience and a winner will be declared based on an audience applause-o-meter and an online vote.

Winners will be picked from each of five platform categories: Android, Blackberry, iPhone, Nokia, and Palm Web OS.  There will be a winner from the online voters as well as from the live audience vote at the Mobile Apps Showdown at 2011 CES.

Early submissions earn early bird savings and enhanced exposure on the Mobile Apps Showdown website, as well as other media opportunities.  Enter before July 15, 2010 and the submission fee will be reduced from $1,000 to $800.

Rules of the competition

1. You must submit your applications before Nov. 31, 2010.
2. Your application must be available to the public now or delivered by Q2 of 2011.
3. Semi-finalists (25) and finalists (10) are selected from among all entrants by a panel of journalists and experts from the Netshelter Technology Media network.
4. Semi-finalists and finalists will participate in an online vote, which will affect, but not necessarily determine, the winners.  (Judges will have the final word and the votes need to be checked for duplicates.)
5. Only finalists – 10 in all – will present at the Mobile Apps Showdown live event at the 2011 Consumer Electronic Show.  The winner of the live event will be selected by the live audience.

The Mobile Apps Showdown is an event by tech veteran Robin Raskin, who also created the extremely popular CES competition, Last Gadget Standing and is also founder of Living in Digital Times.

At the 2010 International CES, Clixtr won the live competition, while Gwabbit took home the online prize. Clixtr is a mobile app that turns smartphones into smartcameras. Its users create events, upload mobile photos, and create real-time event photo streams with the users around them. The online winner, Gwabbit, provides automatic email contact management (ECM) solutions for the contact cloud that automatically searches and identifies contacts embedded in emails and adds or updates that information to your information in a single click.

To enter the competition, visit www.MobileAppsShowdown.com.

This two minute video from Google explains the soon coming Google TV.  Google along with the likes of Intel, Sony, and Logitech, Best Buy, DISH Network and Adobe will bring the power of the internet to your high-def TV in your livingroom with ease.

Press Release

Industry Leaders Announce Open Platform to Bring Web to TV

Google, Intel, Logitech and Sony Join Together to Deliver Google TV Platform

DISH Network, Best Buy, Adobe to Support Bringing Devices to Market

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today at the Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco, leading industry players announced the development of Google TV — an open platform that adds the power of the web to the television viewing experience, ushering in a new category of devices for the living room. Intel, Sony, and Logitech, together with Best Buy, DISH Network and Adobe, joined Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) on stage to announce their support for Google TV.

“We are very proud to be working with this distinguished set of partners, all of whom have decades of experience in hardware, design and retail.”

Over the past decade, the Internet has created unprecedented opportunity for innovation and development across the world, but so far the web has largely been absent from living rooms. With Google TV, consumers will now be able to search and watch an expanded universe of content available from a variety of sources including TV providers, the web, their personal content libraries, and mobile applications.

Search across TV, Web, and Apps

Google TV is based on the Android platform and runs the Google Chrome web browser. Users can access all of their usual TV channels as well as a world of Internet and cloud-based information and applications, including rich Adobe® Flash based content – all from the comfort of their own living room and with the same simplicity as browsing the web. When coupled with the Intel® Atom™ processor CE4100, Intel’s latest system-on-a-chip designed specifically for consumer electronics, the new platform will offer home theatre quality A/V performance. Sony and Logitech said they would be delivering products based on the new Intel Atom processor and running Google TV later this year. While Google TV is designed to work with any TV operator, at launch the user experience will be fully optimized when paired with DISH Network.

Google TV expands video choice from the hundreds of channels available today through a pay TV provider to the vast storehouse of video content available through the web and streaming videos. The Google TV experience is complemented by the ability to watch streaming video from leading content platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, and YouTube. Google TV will also have the capability to run apps from the Android Market.

To navigate the array of content that will now be available through a single device and on a single screen, Google TV introduces an integrated search experience to help viewers easily find relevant content across over-the-air and pay-TV channel listings, DVR, and the Internet, as well as a picture-in-picture layout to access multiple windows simultaneously. Google TV also features an innovative home screen to help viewers quickly organize their favorite content and personalize their TV viewing experience. Some of these features are only available with advanced integration from DISH Network.

Broad Alliance of Industry Leaders

Eric Schmidt, Google Chairman and CEO said, “We are very proud to be working with this distinguished set of partners, all of whom have decades of experience in hardware, design and retail.”

Sony announced plans to introduce “Sony Internet TV,” the World’s first TV lineup incorporating the Google TV platform. The first models are planned to be introduced in the U.S. market in the Fall of 2010 with the lineup featuring both a standalone TV model and set top box-type unit incorporating a Blu-ray Disc drive.

Howard Stringer, Chairman, President and CEO, Sony Corporation said, “I am delighted to announce the unique alignment of Google’s rapidly growing, open source Android platform with Sony’s unparalleled expertise in the field of TV design and technology. The addition of ‘Sony Internet TV’ will further bolster Sony’s comprehensive TV lineup and will fuse new levels of enjoyment and interactivity into the TV experience.”

Logitech will introduce a companion box that brings Google TV to existing HDTV home entertainment systems, easily integrating with any brand of HDTV and set-top box. The companion box will incorporate Logitech’s Harmony® remote control technology, and will include a controller that combines keyboard and remote control capabilities. The company also has plans to introduce an HDTV camera and video chat for Google TV, along with additional choices for navigation and control, including apps to turn a smart phone into an advanced controller for Google TV and home-entertainment systems.

Gerald Quindlen, President and CEO, Logitech said, “We committed to Google TV early on because it aligns with our strategy to support open platforms that enable new immersive experiences in the digital living room. While Google TV enables seamless discovery of all your content, Logitech enables seamless control over how you experience that content. We look forward to continued collaboration with Google and the developer community to create new Google TV experiences that have yet to be imagined.”

The Intel Atom CE4100 processor will power both the Logitech and Sony devices. Paul Otellini, Intel President and CEO praised the collaborative effort and said TV as we know it was being “reinvented.” “Today marks the next step in the evolution of TV to Smart TV. TV’s are becoming smarter as a result of the microprocessor and the Internet. Traditional TV programming will be merged seamlessly with the infinite amount of content on the Internet to enable every viewer to determine what they want to watch, when they want it. This is Moore’s Law transforming television, powered by the performance of Intel microprocessors.”

DISH Network has been a key partner with Google on advanced integration development for Google TV. The two partners began a joint trial over a year ago with more than 400 DISH Network and Google beta users. Based on the continuous feedback from the trial, Google and DISH Network have built the optimized Google TV experience that seamlessly integrates traditional TV, DVR and web content.

Charlie Ergen, Chairman, President and CEO of DISH Network, said, “Google TV marks the next evolution in television, and we are excited to be the first to partner with Google to bring this experience to our customers. Only DISH Network Google TV customers will be able to enjoy a unified search across TV, DVR and web; easily find related content; and manage their entire TV viewing experience. Additionally, the advanced integration will allow developers to create new and exciting applications to enrich the TV viewing experience.”

Best Buy will bring their retail experience and consumer expertise to the project, with Google TV devices being sold at Best Buy locations nationwide later this year. “Every day, our 180,000 Blue Shirt store employees and Geek Squad Agents work with our customers to get them the best home theater experience possible,” said Brian Dunn, CEO Best Buy. “We are thrilled about the new and exciting experiences smart TVs, like Google TV, provide to our customers – and we are looking forward to showcasing those experiences in our store and ensuring customers get connected to all the products and services that bring those experiences to life.”

Finally, Adobe Flash Player 10.1 will be integrated directly into the Google Chrome browser on Google TV, enabling viewers to experience tens of millions of web pages with rich Flash content including games, animations, applications, videos, audio and more. Shantanu Narayen, President and CEO, Adobe said, “An open web ecosystem offers endless opportunities for creativity and innovation. Flash Player 10.1 extends the advantages of full web browsing and consistent, rich experiences to smartphones, tablets, netbooks and Internet-connected TVs. We’re thrilled to be part of the Google TV initiative with other industry leaders who share a common vision of enabling access to the best web experiences possible.”

Opportunity for Developers

The demonstration at I/O highlighted the unique opportunity developers have to help shape the future of Google TV. Today Google announced that they would soon release a set of TV specific APIs for web applications, encouraging web developers to begin building unique web applications for use on television sets. Later this year Google will also release an updated Android SDK, which will support applications built for Google TV.

Google also plans to open source the Google TV platform to help spur innovation in the industry and so that other developers can benefit from the project. The long term goal is to collaborate with the entire developer community to help drive entertainment in the living room forward and to introduce the next generation of TV-watching experience.

For more information about the project visit google.com/tv.

About Google

Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.

About Intel

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.

About Logitech

Logitech is a world leader in products that connect people to the digital experiences they care about. Spanning multiple computing, communication and entertainment platforms, Logitech’s combined hardware and software enable or enhance digital navigation, music and video entertainment, gaming, social networking, audio and video communication over the Internet, video security and home-entertainment control. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI).

About Sony

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $78 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010. Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/

The now infamous search warrant authorizing police to enter Jason Chen’s residence and seize contents related to the iPhone prototype has now been made public.  The summary of the evidence on which the search warrant was based is below.

Interestingly, it looks like the identity of the finder (Brian Hogan) was obviously known to the police prior to the warrant.  This fact was previously unclear as to when the police discovered that info.

It’s also apparent from the rest of the warrant that prosecutors are pursuing criminal charges under Section 496 of the Penal Code, which I previously mentioned was a strong possibility.

What’s got to be particularly troubling for Gizmodo is that the search warrant focuses on the stolen property angle of the case, rather than seeking the identity of Brian Hogan.  That stands to hurt Giz and Chen’s journalist defense under both the California Shield laws and the federal Privacy Protection Act.

Another damning piece of evidence is the admission of Brian Lam in his email to Steve Jobs concerning Giz’s return of the iPhone. While I had seen portions of the followup email about the phone burning a hole in their pocket, I had not previously seen Brian’s initial response to Steve Jobs.

Ouch.

This email sure takes away what was left of any of the virtue that Gizmodo was hanging onto in this case.

Now that this search warrant has been revealed, the underlying facts are not quite as messy as everyone had previously assumed.  A bit more of Giz’s virtue in this case is gone.  And the police look to have a stronger case that I had presumed.  While the situation with regard to journalist shield laws remains sticky, and there are certainly pressing evidentiary issues to litigate, in the mean time it would probably be a good idea to avoid buying an iPhone that you know doesn’t belong to the seller (or one that belongs to Steve Jobs).

If you’d like to read the full search warrant for yourself, you can find it here.

In case you have been under a rock and don’t know, the Apple iPad Wi-Fi + 3G is available now at a Apple Store near you.

Can a USB drive survive being swallowed?

A man (Florin Necula) reportedly swallowed a Kingston USB Flash Drive while in Secret Service custody.  Florin was brought in for allegedly placing card readers over ATM slots to “skim” magnetic strip information off cards inserted in those machines.  After four days of not passing the drive Necula gave in to doctor removal.

Reportedly, Necula has been charged with four felonies including obstruction of justice and is being held without bail.

I have put my flash drive (Lexar) through the washing machine a couple of times and it survived, but I would imagine the human stomach is a little tougher environment.

[via Cnet; via The Smoking Gun]

Consumer level 3D televisions and Blu-ray 3D made big waves at CES 2010 back in January and now less than a month later Panasonic has announced that Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory has recently equipped the Advanced Authoring Center with the latest 3D technologies.

The newly upgraded facilities is capable of making 3D Blu-ray movies available this Spring.  Read more in the press release after the break.

Press Release

PANASONIC FIRST OUT OF THE GATE WITH BLU-RAY 3D™ AUTHORING FACILITY

Located at Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory in Universal City, the Advanced Authoring Center is open for business, offering 3D video encoding and authoring

Universal City, CA (February 1, 2010) – Following on the announcement of a broad range of Full HD 3D TV products, from VIERA consumer 3D TVs to a Prosumer Full HD 3D camcorder, at the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Panasonic is now unveiling its fully operational Blu-ray 3D™ Advanced Authoring Center located at Panasonic’s R&D facility, Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory. The Advanced Authoring Center was recently upgraded and equipped with the latest 3D technological innovations, based on standards developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association. The Center now offers studios and filmmakers Blu-ray 3D™ image processing, interactive programming, as well as authoring and disc certification services, which are capable of making Blu-ray 3DTM Discs commercially available as early as Spring 2010.

Long before the Blu-ray 3D™ specifications were finalized within the Blu-ray Disc Association, Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory collaborated with studios and the creative community in Hollywood to conduct Blu-ray 3D™ encoding as well as menu and subtitle authoring trials. This type of early collaboration and research has given the Advanced Authoring Center expertise in guiding and advising companies during the key early planning stages of a Blu-ray 3D™ title.

“Given Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory’s vast experience with HD image processing, we are confident that we lead the industry with MPEG-4 MVC (Multiview Video Coding) 3D image compression technology,” said Jeannine Patton, Vice President & General Manager of the Advanced Authoring Center. “This laboratory, located as we are in the world’s entertainment capital, is proud to offer the filmmaking community the industry’s first complete, end-to-end Blu-ray 3D™ encoding and authoring facility. Blu-ray 3D™ is an exciting new space for the home entertainment industry and our early research and collaboration was extremely helpful in determining what will provide the most compelling experience and optimum performance when designing for Blu-ray 3D™.”

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 7.77 trillion yen (US$78.4 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2009. The company’s shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE: PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company’s website at http://panasonic.net

As most everyone knows Apple is set to make a big announcement next Wednesday, January 27th at 10:00 AM in the  Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco.  Presumably, the event is going to be held for Apple to unveil a new tablet device yet to be determined by speculators.

Mashable has reported through a source (Northeast Securities analyst Ashok Kumar), that the new device will sport a Qualcomm processor and will be available through Apple at full price, which should be around $800 and Verizon at a subsidized price with a service plan.

According to Engadget not only a tablet could be big news, but a new iLife and iPhone OS 4 could make quite a splash.  It would seem logical to show off some new tools and kick out a new iPhone OS.

According to Gizmodo an Apple insider claims the above Flickr image to be the closest rendering to the real thing to date.

Could we also see the presence of a Qualcomm powered iPhone slated for Verizon?  We’ll find out next week and all the madness will be over.

[via Mashable]

[via Engadget]

[via Gizmodo]

According to Business Week Apple is considering making Bing the default search engine for the iPhone.  The speculated change comes amidst an ever heating rivalry between Apple and Google.  Now that Google is in the mobile smart-phone race with the Nexus One, Apple is said to be knocking on Microsoft’s door.

Bing would greatly benefit from being the iPhone’s default search engine in market share, but would Google suffer?  Probably not too much.  Maybe this is a win-win for every one.

Bing may just be a band-aid as there are rumors of a search engine from Apple.  Techcrunch talked about it back in 2008.  With Google CEO Eric Schmidt off Apple’s board, there is little stopping them from the venture.

[via Business Week]

This post will be ground zero for all the CES coverage coming from 3D TV Source, Photography Bay and, of course, Tech Tilt.  I’ll be covering CES 2010 for all three sites and there will obviously be some overlap between them.  As a result, Tech Tilt will link to the appropriate coverage at Photography Bay and 3D TV Source for gear and news in their respective categories.  Other tech news from CES 2010 will be covered here on Tech Tilt.

This post will be updated on a live rolling basis throughout CES 2010, so check back often for the latest updated.

General Coverage

CES 2010 Exhibitor Preview

3D

Corel 3D Blu-ray Playback Software

I-TEC 3D “Glasses-less” Display

Automotive

Cydle GPS Solutions

HD Radio

OnStar Mobile

Cellular Phones

Google Nexus One

ZOMM

Computers

enTourage eDGe

Lenovo Mobile Solutions

Lenovo IdeaPad U1

Digital Cameras & Photography

Casio

Camera Phones Get 14MP and 1080p HD

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II

Lexar Memory Cards

Panasonic Memory Cards

Panasonic FH20

Samsung NX10

Samsung H Series Camcorders

Sony A450

Sony HX5V

Vivitar Video Cameras

Photography Bay Roundup

Home Entertainment

Abbee Commercial Remover

GefenTV Auto Volume Stabilizer

I-TEC 3D “Glasses-less” Display

Mitsubishi 3D-Ready TVs

Popbox

Sanus HDMI Cable with 180° Pivoting Connector

Sound Egg 5.1 Surround Sound Chair

Boxee Box by D-Link

Panasonic Viera HD 3D Plasma TV

Panasonic Wireless Speaker System

Peripherals

Turtle Beach USB Sound Cards

Video Games

Helix Grip for iPhone

Parrot AR.Drone

You Rock Guitar