Live from CES: Omar El Akkad on tech's really big show
Globe technology reporter Omar El Akkad posts his observations from Las Vegas, where the Consumer Electronics Show runs from Jan. 9-13. CES is the tech industry's biggest annual showcase, drawing tens of thousands of exhibitors from around the globe.
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@thehartley my Scribble app has crashed, Twitter down until just now. AT&T not holding up great.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 1:26:35 PM -
The scene outside the Ballmer keynote looks like half-price shots night at the world's nerdiest club.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 1:26:49 PM -
For what its worth, there are about 5000 members of the press at CES.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 1:27:00 PM -
Just once I'd like to hear a keynote in which the speaker says, "This device was built with many, many compromises."by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 1:27:02 PM -
Not sure why Microsoft doesn't want to do this keynote anymore. It's basically a 90-minute commercial presented to the world's tech pressby Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 1:27:04 PM -
The most talented people ever to grace a CES keynote stage are being utilized for a terrible purpose #tweetchoirby Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 1:27:07 PM -
So, in case you're wondering, we seemed to suffer technical meltdown yesterday. We've pulled in Omar's tweets from last night just to catch you up on the CES keynote by Steve Ballmer, and we'll be looking to get everything back online for today. Thanks for your patience! -- Shane Dingman, Technology Editor, Globeandmail.com -
It's a 30 min walk from hotel to convention center. Or it would be, if the strip hadn't been designed by the Willy Wonka of urban planning.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 6:19:47 PM -
An SUV limousine bearing Lenovo's logo just passed. There's a stuntman sitting on the roof, wearing a helmet and using one of their laptops.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 6:26:14 PM -
Not sure what PR message that's supposed to send.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 6:26:33 PM -


Lenovo guy. lockerz.com
by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 6:50:42 PM -
You'll be happy to know that Snooki is at CES. She's here for something called iHip, which makes, I'm going to say, headphones.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 9:53:37 PM -
Other famous people supposedly here include LL Cool J, Dennis Rodman, 50 Cent, Eliza Dushku and one or more Miss Americas.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 9:57:54 PM -
No. RT @sniderm: @omarelakkad @thehartley @peternowak Someone get me Snookie's autograph!by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/10/2012 9:58:43 PM -
At the Nokia booth, where the company is betting the farm on those Windows phones.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 12:32:53 AM -
Done with the showfloor for the day. Walking back up the strip to the hotel, past a beatboxing panda.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 2:01:04 AM -


Samsung's really thin TVs. lockerz.com
by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 7:35:15 AM -
Mornin', Vegas. Woken by the sound of security removing the guy screaming profanity in the hotel room next door.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 5:53:36 PM -
CES pro tip: eat meals 2 hours before or after you normally would, unless you enjoy the sight of 800 people lined up for a Nathan's hot dog.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 6:42:33 PM -
So for every company here you've heard of, there are 100 that do nothing but sell iPod docks, TV mounts or HDMI cables.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 7:03:54 PM -
The company that partnered with Snooki also has a deal with Kraft Foods, so you can buy Oreo-branded headphones #vitalmarketsegmentby Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 7:08:58 PM -
There's a company here called MasterImage that makes glasses-free 3D. At just the right angle, it's awesome. Anything else, instant headacheby Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 7:14:48 PM -
Wuhan Splendid Optronics Technology Co. has drawn first blood in the battle for best company name at CES.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 7:21:42 PM -
Aftershokz, a headphone company, promises "military special ops bone conduction technology." Listen to Selena Gomez the way Delta Force doesby Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 7:32:34 PM -
Guy at RIM booth: "Does RIM have an equivalent to the iPhone 4S?" RIM employee: "More like, does Apple have an equivalent to our devices."by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 7:53:22 PM -
In all seriousness, the PlayBook OS update due out next month looks very cool, assuming it's bug-free when it comes out.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 8:25:30 PM -
In addition to standalone email, calendar, contacts, you get the ability to use your BB as a PlayBook remote control.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 8:29:02 PM -
There's also a PlayBook movie store, but it looks like that'll be US-only at launch.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 8:31:05 PM -
Congratulations to Maroon 5 for signing a deal to contractually require every speaker company at CES to play Moves Like Jagger.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 9:04:05 PM -


There's a company here called Eton that makes solar and handcrank radios. Useful and fairly good-looking. lockerz.com
by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 9:17:51 PM -


"Just put on the damn bird costume and dance to this Lady Gaga song so we can sell some digital projectors!" lockerz.com
by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 9:25:00 PM -


3D printers. Expect to see a lot more of these at the next few CESs lockerz.com
by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 9:39:17 PM -
Passed a booth for a company named iBallz that makes protective iPad covers and terrible naming decisions.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 9:44:18 PM -
At booth for NothingButNets. They raise money to buy insecticide-treated nets to fight malaria. Help them out. Nothingbutnets.net.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 9:58:19 PM -
I have no idea if my last tweet got through. In case it didn't, go check out Nothingbutnets.net, they raise money to fight malaria.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 9:58:36 PM -


This is an awesome use of a legal disclaimer. lockerz.com
by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 10:33:37 PM -
QNX, the people who cooked up the PlayBook OS, also do very cool car dashboard software. Porsche at booth guarantees foot traffic.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 11:28:28 PM -
"Well, she's wearing a really short skirt and dancing suggestively, so these are probably pretty good network routers." -- Nobodyby Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/11/2012 11:48:12 PM -
Done CESing for a while. Going home to write and watch largely hockey-free Sportscenter.by Omar El Akkad via twitter 1/12/2012 12:04:32 AM
