Western Digital
WD introduced the MyBook 3.0, a USB 3.0 external hard drive of up to 2 TB in size. It’s offered with a PCI-Express adapter for connectivity, since very, very few motherboards have USB 3.0 built-in as of yet. Folks who transport their MyBook won’t be worried, though–USB 3.0 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0, with the obvious sacrifice of speed.
WD showed off its recent upgrades to the portable, 2.5″ MyPassport Elite series. New colors and sizes, including a 1 TB version will be released soon, possibly by press time.
WD also showed off the My DVR Expander, a hard drive add-on for a DVR such as a TiVo or the variety of devices offered via the various satellite and cable providers. The My DVR Expander provides either additional or a replacement storage space, depending on the DVR manufacturer’s configuration and permissions. In the case of the TiVo, the My DVR Expander adds storage capacity, re-enabling functionality which may be disabled as the unit runs out of storage space. The device is bus-powered and can be hooked up to a computer and used as a normal external hard drive until paired with a DVR. Once paired, the My DVR Expander can no longer be connected to a computer and only to the DVR with which it was paired. This is likely copyright enforcement/digital rights management in action.
Plantronics
Plantronics unleashed four new DSP-using USB headsets upon consumers this year at CES, one for each of the predominant styles: behind the ear ($39), on the ear, immersive over the ear, and portable ($49 each). Each has an inline controller. The portable unit folds for storage.
Plantronics also showed off some of its Bluetooth-enabled and cordless headsets. The Discovery 975 is a Bluetooth headset which uses what’s called the AudioIQ DSP–a specialized DSP for Plantronics’ headsets–which dynamically reduces background noise and improves the quality of the audio. The headset is charged by its case, which can charge the headset thrice before needing to be recharged itself. Recharging the headset takes approximately 60-90 minutes. A handy LED screen displays battery status. It’s available now for $130.
