Microsoft had its own* "one more thing" moment at CES this year: the release of the eToilet! It integrates with the Zune as well as the contents of your colon to provide a truly unmatched bathroom experience. A 21-inch flat screen monitor is built into the toilet lid (for great justice, apparently) and it can even consult Web-based dietary guides to help improve your diet based upon what gifts you leave it. Look for it next month for $499.
*No it didn't. – Nicholas Deleon
Microsoft eToilet: Fun-neee! [CrunchGear]

Single, desperate, and own a Zune? Now you can chat up any lady within Wi-Fi range with naught but your Microsoft MP3 player. Just load up ChikaZune—a set of pictures with short phrases on it—and start sending them to that cutie at the next table. The phrases range from greetings (WAZZUP!), to questions (Where are you?), to demands (SEND PIX OF YOU!).
However, unless she also has ChikaZune, your conversations is going to be a little one-sided. – Jason Chen
Project Page [Chikazune via Zunerama]

Filed under: CES, Portable Audio, Portable Video
While the Zune didn't make a huge presence at CES, DAP accessory makers were out in full force nonetheless, and ClicZune did a commendable job in scouring the floors for Zune-capable speakers and docking stations. Although Apple's gem definitely has a commanding lead in the iPod speaker system market, devices designed for the Zune are slowly catching up, and CES unveiled a trio of speaker apparatuses for those who prefer Microsoft's PMP. Hitting the low-end is eForCity's INSTEN, which rocks a black or white color scheme (sorry, brown fans), dual two-watt drivers, USB connectivity, and can be powered via four AA cells. Although MSRP on this little guy is closer to $40, smart shoppers can snag it for around $10, so don't expect any audiophile-approved tones to be emitted from this. Next up is the Memorex MzW101, which is a wireless docking base station that beams out the Zune's audio to a variety of WiFi-enabled speakers, including the...

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

A tip like "omg its true. mys videl was really workin on teh zune linux." doesn't really inspire confidence -- in the story, or in the future of mankind -- but if this YouTube video is to be believed, it seems as if some foolio named "MysVidel," who can't even manage to get a camera to focus properly, has hacked up his Zune to run Linux. It could very well just be a video playing back on the Zune, meant to fool the casual viewer, but the button presses are well enough timed that we're willing to give this one a fair shake. Don't let us down, MysVidel. As for tipster -- our hope in you is lost already. Like always, check the video after the break.

[Thanks, Jeff]Continue reading ZOMG, Zune runs teh Linux!
 
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We're still zonked from the non-stop coverage of CES and MacWorld, but we got to give some love to the sponsors who help make it all happen (at least financially).
Thanks, Blackberry Pearl, Casio, Don Julio, Fox Soccer Channel, Future Weapons, Genji, Intel, Logitech, Mio, Nokia, Old Spice, Parrot, Pioneer, Playstation, Shure, Sprint, VW, Verizon and Zune.
Want to help send complete strangers on a trip to Vegas next year? Sure you do!

Craig Ferguson is a funny guy. Too bad we'll never see him as the celebrity talent in any Microsoft launches, skits or promotions:

Filed under: CES, HDTV, Media PCs

Our most anticipated feature of Windows Vista is CableCARD support. As much as we like MCE, it's inability to record HD cable channels is really lame. We knew there would be a catch in the form of DRM; like the OEM requiredment and some of our favorite Media Center features won't be available. The good news is that CableCARD support will be available when Vista ships later this month, the content will be decrypted from cable and then re-encrypted in the tuner with Microsoft DRM before traveling via USB to the media center, even internal PCI cards will use USB. The files will be stored on the hard drive encrypted and no copies will be permitted, there will be recover methods to deal with hardware failure. Streaming to Vista Media Center extenders will be supported, and shows recorded with a CableCARD tuner will not be transferable to a Zune or other device, OTA content can be copied to a Zune so Microsoft recommends you record what yo...

Filed under: CES, Features, Portable Audio
We, like everyone, had pretty high hopes for the Zune's "social" capabilities, but three plays in three days isn't really doing it for us. SanDisk's Sansa Connect isn't a Zune replacement, but more akin to the MusicGremlin, albeit with four gigs of flash memory instead of an eight gigabyte microdrive. At $250 plus PlaysForSure comaptible music service, you can get social a bit easier.

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LAS VEGAS -- The cars at CES are not to be missed. A whole wing of the show is devoted to automotive products, and full of supercars converted to rolling showcases of speakers, stereos, onboard computers and iPod connectors.
Cars are also moving into the main show as Microsoft and other big players extend their digital entertainment and communication technology beyond the PC and the living room, into new devices that work with or in vehicles.
But enough about the business stuff. Here are some of the coolest cars I saw at this year's show.



BRIER DUDLEY
You've seen one tricked-out Lamborghini Murcielago you've seen them all.




Zunes loaded in a vehicle: When wireless sharing isn't enough.




More Zune product placement -- check the console.




This van drove around Seattle taking pictures for Microsoft's Live Search mapping service. It's one of nine t...

Filed under: CES, Features, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Flash-memory-maker turned portable-media-darkhorse SanDisk made a respectable showing at CES this week, and we not only have a booth tour for ya, here's a little roundup of all the news they made.

SanDisk rolls out Cruzer Contour USB flash drives
Hands on with SanDisk's USBTV
Hands on with SanDisk's new Zune-bestin' Sansa Connect
Hands on with the Sansa View
SanDisk intros USBTV
Live from SanDisk press conference
SanDisk Sansa Connect WiFi portable audio player
SanDisk Sansa View
Hands on with SanDisk's 32GB SSD


SanDisk booth tour gallery
 
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