Nikko R2D2 visits the CES

Written by Abe OlandresPublished • January 12, 2008

To start off my own coverage of the recent CES 2008, let me share some of the gadgets and tech toys I found very interesting or amusing.

If you’re a Starwars fan, this is definitely for you. According to the exhibition description, the Artoo lets you uses DVDs and CDs with his own integrated player. Connect external devices thru video and audio ports, both analog and digital. Project photos and video directly from memory cards, USB drives, and with the internal iPod dock, from your iPod or iPhone.

Nikko R2D2

The robot stands 20 inches tall with built-in audio speakers. The image resolution is 1024 x 768 in XGA with a contrast ratio of 1800:1. Illumination is rated at 1500 ANSI. Oh, there’s a networked webcam too. And the price? Just $2,999.

Now, you really have to be a huge fan to be able to justify this purchase. Still, I think it’s the coolest thing at CES 08 I’ve seen yet.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

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16 Responses

Comments16

op3r says:

January 14, 2008 at 12:13 pm

BrianB

and It is still a blog :) yuga is also a blogger but do you reckon he can do that thing too?

see it doesnt matter if you are the most visited blog on the internets. you are still a blogger. having a website doesnt entitle you to being a jackass and disrupting other people’s job.

see what if I just hack your website and turn it off while you are having the best traffic/website visits at the moment, and I’ll blog about it on my website? What are you going to feel about it? after all its the same shit what gizwalangmodo did? turning off tv monitors in the middle of a presentation.

I dont even find it funny, they could just hacked it to play 2girls1cup now thats more fun.

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BrianB says:

January 13, 2008 at 10:54 pm

op3r

That’s a Gizmodo blogger. Gizmodo being the most popular blog in the world.

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Goe D says:

January 13, 2008 at 1:40 pm

I have a youtube video collection from Veronica Belmonth posted on the site, some videos are cool, you may want to check it out at http://www.ebenta.com/user.php?login=AshTigg&view=history

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op3r says:

January 13, 2008 at 12:26 pm

thats nice. Juvenile bloggers getting a press pass then disrupts the presentation.

It clearly shows the difference of being a journalist and a dude who just got a wordpress website claiming to be a journalist :P

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BrianB says:

January 13, 2008 at 2:11 am

No man, I think some companies involved in CES and affected by the prank will be suing. They messed with presentations even. Presentations that must have taken months to prepare.

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CallCenterVet says:

January 13, 2008 at 2:06 am

Can’t anybody have some fun? LOL

I think Mr. Pargh overlooked the positives out of the whole deal. It’s not just about the publicity of Gizmodo but also the hype that the prank created for CES. Although I’d have to admit the prank “may” set a precedent.

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BrianB says:

January 13, 2008 at 1:22 am

More on Giz’s prank at CES.

It’s getting to be real hot for Gizmodo:

Dear Brian, the Employees of Gizmodo and Readers of this Blog,
For nearly 20 years I worked every major trade show as a member of the press. For many years, the CES press circle was a very small one and the management of the EIA gave specific advantages to those in its inner circle. When I first started, I was reporting for a single TV station (using a camcorder) and for a single, medium market newspaper. Back then, it was very difficult to receive press credentials from the EIA for CES. It was very political. When my company became a pioneer for Internet coverage, we were not taken seriously and had to pave the way for other online websites attempting to cover this show. It was a difficult task, but we succeeded in opening the doors for others to follow…including Gizmodo.

I’ll be the first to state that the PR flacks are a pain to deal with, but in the same breath acknowledge the megabucks that are spent by the manufacturers to cater to the press. To see your company intentionally sabotage manufacturer’s presentations is nothing short of juvenile and understanding the politics involved, ramifications will surely follow to other bloggers due to your immature actions.

Many have forgotten how the CES came to fruition. First and foremost, this show, like other trade shows have a single purpose: For manufacturers to get its products into the distribution cycle. However over the years this has changed and the show floor has been overrun, not by dealers and retailers, but by wannabe press people and those not in the industry just clogging the isles. Due to this “mess,” many manufacturers no longer spend the big bucks on massive displays and opt to show their new lineups in private hotel suites. This fact has made it difficult, if not impossible to cover these shows in an efficient manner.

Let’s face the fact that the CES has transformed from an informative dealer-oriented trade show to nothing less than a circus that seeks publicity. The childish actions by Gizmodo staffers are the crowning achievement that will deliver repercussions to other trade shows as well. Brian, whether or not you were directly involved in the “prank” you and your parent company need to accept responsibility for your actions and pay the price. After all, whether or not you were directly involved, you allowed and boasted of this achievement on your blog. Please accept the blame, post a public apology and move forward. If you cannot accept the responsibility of your actions, don’t be surprised, complain or whine when you’re not treated as a welcomed member of the press at future conferences.

Bloggers, I hope you enjoyed your ride, but due to the juvenile actions of Gizmodo, you may no longer be able to sit at the adult table and will now most likely be delegated to the children’s table.

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Trust me when I tell you that this can of worms that was opened and boasted by Gizmodo is far from being closed. Gizmodo fired a shot across the bow and if you think this is over, you need to grow up. Trust me when I tell you that not only the EIA/CES management as well as numerous manufactures are filing formal complaints as we speak. Don’t be surprised when the fallout comes.

I will not hide behind a screen name.

Andy Pargh
The Gadget Guru

http://gizmodo.com/343348/confessions-the-meanest-thing-gizmodo-did-at-ces?cpage=8#viewcomments

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Dyimz says:

January 12, 2008 at 6:23 pm

that’s really cool…

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Arnel Reodica says:

January 12, 2008 at 4:41 pm

I hope he’ll visit my website too! hehehehe

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Lyle, RN says:

January 12, 2008 at 3:45 pm

Wow! I want one and I’m not even a Star Wars fan.

But I want this one more:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/10/bumblebee-spotted-on-ces-floor/

Now if this big guy has the same functionality as R2D2, I would robbing the nearest bank just to get my hand on this nice big toy from hasbro.

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rod says:

January 12, 2008 at 3:43 pm

just make sure mr. kenny baker is not inside

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AutoTraderz says:

January 12, 2008 at 3:05 pm

I would like to have this one. Starwars fan!

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BrianB says:

January 12, 2008 at 12:42 pm

Pathetic, made of plastic.

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Dexter says:

January 12, 2008 at 12:40 pm

nice one.. I do hope it will visit philippines also..or perhaps in my place saudi.. he he he

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Gabriel says:

January 12, 2008 at 10:10 am

wow!… nice..

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ralph says:

January 12, 2008 at 9:21 am

nice

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