One thing that stands out about the all-in-one is its 1080p 2D / 3D display – a great option for those who want to use their all-in-one as a smaller home theater device. While we don’t have too much detail on the full specs,  we do know there’s an Intel Core i7 processor and a Radeon HD6730M graphics card with 1GB of dedicated video RAM. It also comes with a wireless mouse and keyboard.

The Series 9 display runs at 2,560 x 1,440, but doesn’t include the 3D features found in the all-in-one PC. The monitor is beautifully minimal, with controls built into the base of the monitor. With its slim aluminium build with glowing touch controls the monitor is definitely quite easy on the eyes.

The Series 9 Monitor is set to arrive in stores later this year – think March or April. No word on when it’s due in South Africa yet but keep checking the IC blog for updates.

The Smart Window adds a 22 inch LCD flat screen that has a resolution of 1680 x 1050 and has a 500:1 contrast ratio. The new technology developed by Samsung, has made the traditional LCD screen up to 20 percent more transparent than older technology. In essence the Smart Window casts a touch-controlled interface onto transparent glass with ambient light.

With the new technology, you can look out your window at the scenery outside while simultaneously checking the latest weather forecasts or socialising on Twitter and Facebook. Samsung demonstrated a whole range of applications, from Twitter to Microsoft Office, all touch-controlled and viewable directly on the glass at CES2012.

The window is also a one-sided pane so passers-by can’t see what you’re looking at. Images are viewable in daylight, and there’s a night time mode that uses side-lighting and flipped colours. You can even draw some virtual blinds to control the flow of light. Users will be able to supply content via HDMI or USB.

The Samsung Smart Window will become available for home installation by the end of 2012.

One of the most attractive features is the TV’s ease of use, thanks to the combination of its Android-based user interface and the Magic Remote Qwerty. The remote, which has a scroll wheel in place of the centre button on the D-pad and eschews a touchpad in favour of Wii-style motion control for the mouse.

LG’s Google TV’s user interface and main screen have been designed for convenient browsing and content selection. Multi-tasking is also a breeze as the search, social networking and TV functions can be run simultaneously.

Equipped with LG`s own CINEMA 3D technology, Google TV provides an excellent home entertainment experience. Based on LG’s Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) technology the CINEMA 3D glasses are battery-free and very affordable, making LG’s Google TV ideal for viewing by a large group of family and friends when used in 3D mode. You can also view 2D programming on the TV.

No word yet as to when the TV will be released so stay tuned for updates.

Here are a few highlights we should expect this year:

Phones: There is a lot of noise about Windows smartphones this year, we can expect something big out of HTC, Samsung and Nokia. This year should bring us Quad-Core processors, LTE and higher spec camera’s and screens.

Ultrabooks: Gone are the days of big bulky power hungry laptop’s, we can expect a few big names launching some sleek energy efficient machines running the latest Intel Sandy Bridge processors and I am sure all geared for Windows 8.

Home Entertainment / Automation: I don’t think we can expect any new TV technology this year but we will certainly find bigger ones.  Keep an eye on Google with their living room OS. There will be the usual household appliance guys there too with I am sure something that will connect to your home network and even the cloud.

Gaming: We will probably not hear anything major from the big three console manufacturers this year but will definitely be showing off their new toys launched at E3 last year, however keep a look out for something on the accessory side from the independents.

Cars: CES is not a car show, but more and more technology is being included in cars and year after year we have seen the car side of things growing. We won’t expect flash looking cars with the latest body kits and mags, but inside is where we can see some big things.

We are sure to see some changes in the Tablet/E-reader, Photography and Audio markets too, I will be popping in a few posts to keep you updated.

While the speaker can connect to any computer— or any other audio source — it is particularly well-suited for using the otherwise unoccupied space under your Apple monitor, and has been designed to match its aluminium body.  The speaker fits neatly just underneath your iMac screen or Cinema Display so your desk stays neat and tidy.

The Tango Bar has a six speaker configuration: dual dome tweeters, midrange/bass drivers, and passive radiators for bass and carries audio from your computer via USB. There’s also a line-in jack if you want to hook up a device without USB and a back-lit volume control in case you need to adjust the volume levels in the dark. The device also has a headphone output and a sub-out port on-board.

The stylish speaker, which promises to deliver twice the sound power of other USB speakers, would make for a great Christmas gift for an Apple fanatic.

The XtremeMac Tango Bar retails for R999.95.

The iLuv is compatible with most major smartphones handsets, digital cameras, and MP3 players. Use the iLuv on your iPhone, Blackberry, HTC, or Samsung when you need just a little more juice to send that all-important sms or make that deal-making phone call. But that’s not all you can charge using the device – iLuv works with pretty much any device that charges with a USB connector. However, if you want to charge an Apple product you will have to buy the Apple connector and cord separately.

The portable USB charger is super easy to use – just charge it up, by plugging it in your PC or laptop’s USB port, and once it’s all juiced up pop it into you bag or briefcase for easy charging on the go. The iLuv promises to give you an extra few hours of juice on your device – iLuv claims that the battery kit’s 1250mA capacity can charge your iPhone 3GS for 4.5 hours talk time, 21 hours music playback and 6 hours of video. The LED indicator on the device lets you know how much battery life is left on the iLuv so you know when you’re about to run out.

The iLuv iBA200 is also incredibly portable – it’s lightweight, fits perfectly in to your pocket and comes with an easily foldable USB charging cable.

The device is the only USB flash drive that works with Apples suit of products – iPhone, iPad, and iPod. The flash drive supports two-way data transfer between computers and different iDevices. A free downloadable companion app is also available from the Apple App Store to allow iDevices to perform file management with the iFlashDrive. With the app, users will be able to transfer files between the iFlashDrive and iDevice and as well as enjoy a built-in music player, voice recorder and text editor. Users will also be able to access and import photos/videos from the iDevice library, backup and restore iDevice contact list, and send out files as email attachments.

The iFlashDrive, available in three different capacities of 8GB, 16GB and 32GB, has a USB connector to connect to computers and functions like any USB flash drive in the market. This allows users to transfer data between their computer and the iFlashDrive – just like a regular flash drive. But, what makes the iFlashDrive so different from other USB flash drives is that on the other end of the device, opposite to the USB connector, is an Apple-approved 30-pin dock connector.

HyperDrive iFlashDrive is the easiest solution to transfer and share files between different iDevices and computers. You won’t need iTunes, internet access or a wireless networks to transfer data – which makes it perfect for quick instant transfers between different iDevices, when computers or networks are not an option.

Weighing in at 20 grams and measuring 67.5 x 35.4 x 10.4 mm the device is easy to carry with you. With a transfer Speed of 10MB/s for USB, 100KB/s at iDevice side you’ll be able to copy across music, photos and documents as needed.

We were unable to locate local prices at this stage but the device retails from $95 for the 8GB and up to $180 for the 32GB.

With the Samsung NC215S you’ll have an excuse to work outside in the sun all day long. Just two hours of sunlight will you give you up to an hour of power with zero cost or carbon emissions. Using a netbook or laptop in the sun can be a nightmare when it comes seeing what you’re doing on the screen. But thanks to Samsung’s SuperBright anti-reflective 10-inch display you will be able to see everything as clear as day. The anti-reflective display means that the screen is always bright and clear.

The netbook features an integrated solar panel on the front of the netbook, allowing it to automatically charge when in sunlight. The NC215S PowerPlus battery lasts for up to 14.5 hours on a single full charge. Samsung’s PowerPlus battery uses intelligent charging technology, making the battery’s lifespan three times longer than that of conventional batteries. The battery can handle 1,000 charging cycles over a three year period. Samsung claims that the intelligent charging technology also allows for quicker charging.

The netbook also features Samsung’s Fast Start technology ‒ the ‘Instant on’ feature gets you started within a few seconds of opening the display or pressing the power button. Hybrid sleep mode also combines the fast start-up of sleep with the stability of hibernation, so you don’t have to wait 30-60 seconds for the netbook to boot-up.

Weighing at just 1.32kg the NC215S features a powerful dual core Intel Atom processor combined with an Intel GMA 3510 graphics processor. It also has a unique Sleep-and-Charge USB port allowing for portable devices, such as smartphones or MP3 players, to be charged even when the PC is sleeping, turned off or if the battery has run out – all through the use of solar power.

The Samsung NC215S netbook will be available locally from September 2011 at a recommended retail price of R3 499.

Here is just a few of the features you’ll find in the new iOS5:

iMessage

• Configure to use SMS when not connected to Internet
• Group messaging
• Ability to send photos and videos
• Blue message bubble indicates it’s an iMessage
• See if other person is typing a message

Reminders

• Location-based reminders

Newsstand

• Dedicated area for news publications
• Download more via the App Store
• Background downloading

Calendar

• Add, rename or delete calendars
• View attachments from within the app
• Landscape mode gives weekly view
• Default alert times
• Year view (iPad only)
• Switch days by swiping

Notification System

• Notification Center
• Displays missed notifications
• Touching a notification takes you to the app
• View in lock screen
• Banner style notification
• Choose which notification for specific apps
• Custom vibrations
• LED flash alerts
•  Slide specific notifications to go directly to its respective app
• Displays Calendar tasks

Keyboard

• Split keyboard
•  Twitter keyboard, with @ and # buttons
• Keyboard shortcuts

iCloud

• Create a free @me email account
• Everything in-sync
• Photo Stream
• Find My iPhone
• Online backup
• iTunes in the cloud
• iTunes Match
• iCloud section of the Settings app
• Purchase History
• Buy more storage
• Documents/Data Sync

System

• Rounded toggle buttons
• Game Center improvements
• New color for SMS bubbles
• Access applications from the Lock screen
• Make FaceTime calls without a SIM card
• Define your own words in the built-in dictionary
• Updated Lock screen
• Create and delete photo albums
• Access camera from lock screen
• Crop, rotate, enhance, and remove red-eye in Photos app
• Camera Grid
• Lock Auto Exposure & Auto Focus
• Cards app: Compose, Send, Print cards
• Find Friends & Family app
• Profile pictures for Game Center
• Friend recommendations for Game Center
• FaceTime over 3G
• Application Updates in background

Mail

• Rich text formatting
• Search through entire mail messages
•  Flag emails
• Mark multiple emails as read
• Swipe left or right from your mailboxes folder list to navigate to other mail accounts

Safari

• Private Browsing
• Read Later
• Reader View
• Open link in background
• Tabbed browsing (iPad only)

Twitter Integration

• Tweet from Safari
• Tweet from Photos
• Tweet picture from the camera roll

The download is around 700MB so might take a couple of hours to complete as everyone is currently rushing to update their iDevices. So hang tight, let it do its thing and get ready for all these new features and upgrades!

A quick recap of all things Apple

• 45 million iPods sold last year
• 300 million iPods sold world wide
• iTunes has 20 million songs in its library and is the #1 music store in the world
• iPhone 4 sales make up 50% of all iPhones sold ever
• 250 million iPad’s sold
• 18 billion apps downloaded
• iPod touch is the most popular music player AND portable gaming device in the world

Some pretty impressive numbers! No wonder they have around $75 billion in cash reserves!
 

iOS 5 and the 2 new apps

The big new regarding iOS 5 is that it’s set for launch on 12 October – that’s next week! We have seen tons of news and “top 10 feature” posts about the new iOS, so to finally have a launch date is great.

Apple also launched 2 new apps, Cards and Family and Friends.

Cards allows you to create and send physical cards to your friends and loved ones directly from your iPhone or iPad. Printed on 100% cotton paper and shipped worldwide, this app is definitely going to be a hit with some of the older generation. I’m actually looking forward to creating a card and shipping it to my parents at random times during the year. They will love it! The cards are shipped using USPS which will send you push notifications of delivery. It will cost $4.99 a card to ship it anywhere in the world, $2.99 if delivery is in the US.

Find My Friends is an interesting one. It’s similiar to the Find Your Phone app, however this time it lets you locate your family and friends. There are simple sharing options and privacy controls included too. Will we use it? Time will only tell.

iPod updates

Two minor updates to the range of iPods were announced. The iPod nano is getting a UI update with bigger icons, easier navigation, multi-touch gestures and 16 more clock faces. Great to see Apple recognising people are using the iPod nano as a watch and have given them more clock face options! The big change for me is the improved fitness section. So the nano hooks up with Nike+ and will track your runs without the need for any additional equipment or sensors.

The iPod touch has a new white version coming out with iOS 5 also available for the device. Other than that, not much else has changed with the most popular portable gaming device in the world.

The big one – the iPhone 4S

Disappointed fans hoping for a brand new iPhone 5, saw Apple launch what can only be called an upgrade to the iPhone 4. In the same way Apple went from the 3G to the 3GS, this update to the 4S sees the internals of the phone updated. So what’s been updated?

• A5 chip – 7x faster than the current iPhone 4
• Battery life increased to 8 hours talktime
• New antenna system allows for 4G data speeds – 14.4Mbps download speed possible
• 8MP camera
• Full HD video – 1080p
• Real time video image stabilisation and noise reduction
• Siri – the humble personal assistant
• 64GB model introduced

Apple have included their A5 chip that they introduced into the iPad 2. They claim the iPhone 4S is now 7x faster in doing CPU related activities, which will definitely impact the gaming side. Not only is it faster, but with the new chip, they have managed to save battery usage, so talk time on the phone has increased to 8 hours! The current battery life of the iPhone 4 is pretty decent compared to other smartphones, so this is even greater news!

The iPhone 4S now is technically a 4G phone allowing for download speeds of up to 14.4Mbps. Vodacom and MTN do offer HSPDA speeds, so we should be able to feel those data speed increases with the new phone.

I’m most excited about the updated camera. Not only is the camera 8MP, they have greatly improved the lens system. For anyone that knows about cameras, the body of a camera can only do so much. After that its all up to the lenses. The new lens system is a f2.4, really wide lens which is a 1/3rd faster and allows 73% more light into the sensor. They also added an IR filter to improve the camera even more.

The new camera also take video in full 1080p HD. It has included real time video stabilization and noise reduction, so your home videos are going to come out even better!

Siri, which most people have no idea about, is Apple’s voice activated system. Everyone probably is screaming, “but voice activation isn’t new.”

However Siri has one of the smartest AI I have seen. It uses natural language and is conversational. So ask Siri, “Hows the weather today” or “Find me a sushi restaurant in Cape Town” and it will show you the weather forecast for the day or list sushi restaurants sorted by reviews. Not only that, it can read your messages to you as well as compose and dictate emails and notes. I’m very excited to see how developers will use Siri to enhance their apps!

Lastly, a 64GB iPhone 4S version is now available.

So that’s it from Apple, Tim Cook and his team. The new iPhone 4S goes on sale in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the UK on the 14th of October, with 22 European countries next up on the 28th of October. The rest of the world, which includes South Africa, should see the phone in December. There is no official launch date as of yet for South Africa. Vodacom have announced the launch of the iPhone 4S for the 16 December 2011.

What are your thoughts on the new iPhone 4S? Let us know in the comments!