Sony's Xperia S is simple, but pretty. (Credit: Sony Ericsson)
Not to be confused with last year’s Xperia Arc S, the Xperia S is the first smartphone in Sony’s NXT (next-generation) series. And, like the Ion, it drops the “Ericsson” name.
In its announcement, Sony made a point of stating that the handset is built with an “Iconic Identity” design. Sony is cagey about what that means exactly, but the company says that it “creates a simple strong look that is instantly recognizable.”
To its credit, Sony added some snazzy design elements that give the Xperia S a bit of class. At the bottom of the phones there’s a thin opaque panel that displays the icons for touch controls just above. Though the base also lights up when you get a call, it’s understated rather than tacky, and you can change the light color.
QNX puts apps and the Web in the dashboard of one lucky
Porsche Carrera at CES 2012. (Credit: QNX)
As the cars of tomorrow gain Internet connections and applications, they’ll need infotainment software that allows them to be as flexible and easily updated as your average smartphone. RIM subsidiary QNX Software Systems Limited thinks that the solution to that problem lies in the HTML5 framework and is showcasing its new HTML5-based QNX CAR 2 application platform at CES 2012. More
Roku's Streaming Stick packs all the functionality of a Roku
box into USB drive-like stick. (Credit: Roku)
The Roku Streaming Stick connects to
the back of your HDTV, but it requires an MHL port.
(Credit: Roku)
Roku sees the Streaming Stick as an alternative to individual
manufacturer’s Smart TV portals, which quickly become out of date and
rarely receive updates a year after they’re released. Not only is it
more likely the Streaming Stick will be updated more frequently, but
it’s also a lot more affordable to swap in a new, improved Streaming
Stick if the current hardware becomes outdated. More