On CE - For Dealers, Distributors and OEMs of Consumer Electronics throughout EMEA

TDK brings back the boombox, with retro-styled 2 or 3 speaker models-- only without the tape deck.

Instead both models carry USB, 3.5mm and auxillary ports, through which users can connect mp3 players, smartphones or even an electric guitar or microphone.

Sound comes from x2 6" coaxial drivers (plus 6" subwoofer driver for the 3 speaker model), together with a number of equaliser options. Power output is 20W (2 speaker) or 35W (3 speaker).

Both models also have a padded aluminum handle and a shoulder strap for transport.

Just like their 80's predecessors, the new boomboxes require batteries-- lots of them. The 2 speaker needs x10 "D" batteries, and the 3 speaker x12.

Go TDK 2 Speaker Boombox

Go TDK 3 Speaker Boombox

Long before iPad was "ThinkPad."

IBM invented this laptop in 1992 but sold all its PC business to Lenovo in 2005 for $1.75 billion (half cash, half Lenovo stock) plus commitments that Lenovo would distribute IBM products in China.

The Chinese Lenovo,who began life as Legend (hey, remember those QDI motherboards, that was a  Legend Subsidiary), operates a lab in Yamato, Kanagawa prefecture in Japan.

That Japanese lab created the IdeaPad U1 hybrid with LePad slate, a unique 2-in-1 device combining the mobility of a media-rich HD slate with access to Android apps and a keyboard base for Windows 7 computing.

At CES, Lenovo showed this hybrid that sports a unique Hybrid Switch dual mode capability.

"Our IdeaPad U1 and LePad truly fits the mobile lifestyle," says Liu Jun, Senior VP, Idea Product Group, Lenovo. "Use the light-weight slate when you're mobile, and then simply slide it into the U1 base when you need to do content creation..."

At under 2 pounds (and only half an inch thick), the ultraportable LePad, powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon processor, gives users up to eight hours of battery life and a 32GB SD.

The 10.1" widescreen LePad slate runs landscape and portrait modes, giving users the ability to consume video, surf the Internet, access social networks, tap out messages and email. It also has dual cameras (2mp front-facing, 5mp back-facing).

Built upon Android 2.2., Lenovo developed its own push service that gives you your email, news, and other content in real time, eliminating the need to constantly open a browser and log in.

LePad is available in four colours with two different textures: scarlet, white, brown leather textured and black leather textured.

For users who need a fully functioning mainstream laptop (for doing content creation with Windows based productivity applications), LePad can slide into the U1 Base.

The IdeaPad U1 hybrid transforms the user interface on LePad into a Windows 7 laptop with a full keyboard. The base features a Windows 7 Home Premium OS and an Intel CULV processor. With Hybrid Switch feature, users can seamlessly change operating systems to support continuous web browsing experience.

Available in China in Q1, the LePad slate starts at approximately RMB 3499 (US$520). The U1 hybrid laptop starts at approximately RMB 8888 (US$ 1300).

While the LePad can be purchased on its own, the U1 base will only be sold as a full package with the slate included.

Go Lenovo LePad

2011 is the Year of the Tablets, if you can get your hands on them. BMx Computers from Belgium is already shipping its W7Pad in two models-- and looking for distribution partners throughout EMEA.

Tablets come in three main flavours: iPad, Android or Windows. W7Pad is, of course, Windows and the Windows interface is their preferred one for PC power users, those prosumers of PCs.

This is not the cheap, bottom end of the device market whose twin brother is a smartphone. Instead, the DNA of a W7Pad shows a true computing heritage. The W7Pad is a large-screened tablet that’s spec’d powerfully enough to run Windows 7 well...and that makes all the difference.

With Intel Pineview-M™ N450 (1.66 Ghz, 512 Kb cache, 667Mhz) at the heart, W7Pad has an Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 500 offering discrete 1080p HD video acceleration for video playback.

All the features that Windows users complain about missing with iPAD (the USB, the Flash, the webcam, Mini- HDMI and more) are included with the W7Pad. The screen is 11.6” HD Glare Multi Touch Finger Friendly with G-Sensor orientation (the resolution at 1355 x 768 is actually higher than the current iPAD).

Tablets need to be lightweight and these 950gm BMx models are only 14mm thin.

With the Model 204 you get a SSD with 32 GB and 1 GB DDR2, while the Model 208 bumps up to 64GB and 2 GB DDR2.

Wi-Fi is standard on both models and 3G (with HSPA 7.2 Mbps A-GPS function) is standard integrated on the Model 208.

Battery gives the user full Windows power for about 4-5 hours. After that, you have a Tablet Docking Station that’s also ready for the power user: in the base are three USB ports, audio in and out, and even an RJ-45 10/100 LAN. Even while W7Pad is nicely docked, it can play a movie or act as a photo frame, digital radio or just a conveniently large digital clock (for those of us on deadlines!)

Your customers can choose their Windows 7 option: HOME premium, PROfessional or Ultimate (to match the type of the end-user).

BMx offers a Standard 2-year warranty and free helpline which you won’t see with the toy tablets out there. After their start in Benelux last month, BMx’s goal now is to set up European distribution for W7Pad.

The W7Pad powered by BMx will be exhibiting at Mobile World Congress Barcelona and at CeBIT 2011.

Go W7Pad powered by BMx

The Genesis, Lexmark's latest AIO printer, not only looks stylish but also offers speedy scanning, inkjet printing and wifi connection.

The company says the Genesis can scan a page in 3 seconds thanks to its 10MP imaging sensor.

A 4.3" touchscreen handles the user interface and allows users access to Lexmark's SmartSolutions cloud-based application suite (including Evernote and Box.net). A Twitter and Facebook app lets users print pictures posted on their social media through the printer itself. It can also access pictures on devices like iPhones and iPads.

Internet connections come through wifi and IEE 802.11n.

The Genesis uses Lexmark's Vizix print technology, with separate colour ink cartridges.

Go Lexmark Genesis