High-tech product releases: Smart TVs, connected camera, and tablets galore

With the Consumer Electronics Show fast approaching, manufacturers are starting to reveal some of their cutting-edge products. High-tech product releases announced the week ending January 5 include four unique tablets from Asus, a tiny mouse for laptop users, a very connected camera, a cleaning robot that fits into small places, two 3D projectors and a range of very "smart" TVs.

A unique touchscreen QWERTY-slider tablet
The 10.1 inch IPS touchscreen Eee Pad Slider has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and is powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core processor and Android 3.0. It has front (1.2 MP) and back (5 MP) facing cameras, a capacitive touchscreen and optional onboard 3G connectivity. No information about pricing or release dates was announced.   

A tablet that transforms into a laptop
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer does exactly as its name suggests - transforms from a tablet into a notebook, thanks to an optional docking station. The lightweight device has a 10.1 inch capacitive touchscreen, runs on the Android 3.0 operating system, offers full 1080p HD video playback plus front and rear cameras, and supports Adobe Flash. When plugged into the QWERTY keyboard docking station, the Transformer will run for up to 16 hours. No information about pricing or release dates was provided.

A compact tablet that you can write on
The Asus Eee Pad MeMO is a small capacitive touchscreen tablet that can be used for jotting down handwritten notes. The Android-powered device has a 7.1 inch display. It comes with its own stylus pen and has a Micro HDMI port so you can hook up an external display for full 1080p HD playback. Pricing and release dates have not been announced.

A portable slate that runs the full version of Windows 7
Asus' fourth tablet offering comes in the form of the Asus Eee Slate EP121, a highly portable device that runs the full version of Microsoft's Windows 7 Home Premium. The slate is powered by an Intel Core i5 dual-core processor and features a 12.1 inch 1280 x 800 LED-backlit display. The EP121 has a capacitive touchscreen that also responds to a stylus, built in WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, a 2 MP camera, a mini HDMI port and two USB ports. Pricing and release dates are yet to be announced.  

A tiny mouse that is up to 40 percent more efficient than an touchpad
New Zealand company Swiftpont has created a portable, wireless mouse that is small enough to fit under your thumb. The 42mm x 57mm mouse can be used on the surface of a laptop, on tabletops, couches or even your thigh. A 30 second charge will power the mini-mouse for up to one hour (the mouse lasts for up to 4 weeks on a full charge) and the pen-like grip reduces hand cramps. The Swiftpoint mini-mouse works with Mac and PC systems and is available now for $69.

A compact camera that is connected to your world
Samsung's SH100 WiFi camera is a truly connected device that lets you instantly share your photos with friends and family over the internet. The camera also wirelessly connects to other DLNA-enabled devices such as the Galaxy S smartphone. Once connected, you can view the shot you're about to take in real time, zoom in or out or trigger the shutter remotely from your phone. The 14.2 megapixel camera is priced from $199.99 and will be available in March.

World's most compact floor washing robot
iRobot Corp., the makers of the bestselling Roomba floor cleaning robot, are set to unveil the world's most compact floor cleaning robot, the Scooba 230, at CES. The Scooba 230 is 3.5 inches tall and 6.5 inches in diameter and can scrub clean areas up to 150 square feet in one go. The Scooba 230 will be available in spring 2011. No price was revealed.

Two 3D projectors with THX certification
JVC's Procision Series DLA-X9 and DLA-X7 are the world's first projectors to carry the THX 3D certification (meaning the projectors have passed a stringent set of lab tests to ensure a "high quality 3D and 2D display performance). The projectors have two HDMI 1.4a ports and offer one button optimized playback of 3D and 2D movies. The DLA-X9 is priced at $11,995 while the DLA-X7 costs $7,999. Both are available now.

Smart TVs for a digitally connected experience
LG's new range of Smart TVs take internet-linked TVs to the next level. The TVs are designed to be user-friendly and come with LG TV Apps, access to premium content, a web browser, plus streaming content from companies such as Netflix and CinemaNow. A Wii-inspired motion controlled remote replaces the traditional mass of cluttered buttons. LG's Smart TVs come in a range of LED, LCD and Plasma HDTVs and include the LK530, LV3700, LV5500, LW5600, LW6500, LW7700, LW9500, LW9700, PZ750 and PZ950. The TVs will go on show at CES before a global roll-out in early 2011. No prices have been announced.