Las Vegas isn't designed to work. It's a maze of roads, paths, alleys, mono-rails, and streets that make NO Sense.


I've always understood why casinos are set up to hide the exits (duh, they don't want you to leave). But now i get it: the whole downtown is a maze. No hotel wants you to be able to go across the street. In fact, crossing streets is pretty much a no-no. So when you put the crowds of CES into a rats maze... you get some pretty tough traffic.

Ugly actually.

But - no matter, CES still rocks. And this year there was a new sense of peace in the air. It's like the Consumer Electronics folks and the Content folks made a truce. And while they were at it, they made a truce with the UGC gang as well. Content will move around, devices will capture it. And share it, and make it. Really, it's time.

There were some stellar examples. Motorola (moto) was showing off its shiny new Z10.


A phone that is almost as cool as the iPhone. Ergonomically - sweet. Software - a bit complex.. but, it Makes and EDITS video!!!! It edits.

Really. So cool. Must have one? Don't hold your breath. It's going overseas first to where 3G networks are loved. Here? Maybe. But don't hold your breath.

Sony was back in the game with new GPS and some sweet new handheld devices. Yum. And maybe, the crazy HD DVD/ Blue Ray wars are going to end. Since consumers seem willing to hang out until there's a settlement among the formats. But HD was totally on the floor. It was being recorded, played and even shared in wireless home networks. Wireless HD! Wow.

Meanwhile, TIVO remains in its weird exile, off the show floor and off where no one can find them without a native guide and a map.

But I made my way - hoping to find a TIVO that had seen the future and opened their platform. Nope. Closed. There's some sort of crazy software solution that allows you to get RSS, grab it on your PC, convert it with Roxio Toast, and then move it to your Tivo box. Yeah, ok -- I'll do that. Did someone say Toast? It makes me sad. Tivo is so wonderful. So important. So not getting it. Standing in their both I got it. They're trying to build a set-top box in a internet connected world. They want to own the living room and the bedroom (ps, so does the Wii, and apple, and microsoft and comcast, and time warner and a bunch of other guys). Tivo - wake up. You could own the world. If NBC isn't going to sue Veoh they aren't going to complain about sharing from your Tivo box. Ok, never mind. At CES there were a bunch of folks who are building low cost web enabled video recording boxes that will bring content from lots of places on to your hard drive. They're going to win.