CES 2013: Razer Edge Takes Top Awards in CNET Best of CES

CNET announced the winners of its official “Best of CES” Awards program on Thursday morning. Hundreds of new products were judged by the CNET editors, while the People’s Voice Award was selected by an online audience. This year, both the Best of Show and People’s Voice Awards went to the $999 Razer Edge, a PC gaming-oriented Windows 8 tablet. Other winners included the Lenovo 27-inch Horizon Table PC, Samsung’s 4K UHDTV and the Android YotaPhone with e-ink display.

“It’s clear that computers, and tablets, are evolving,” notes CNET. “In a show full of some very big ideas, the Razer Edge gaming tablet takes the concept of tablet PCs championed by Windows 8 and devices like the Microsoft Surface and applies them to gaming. In doing so, it succeeds in showing us where tablets, computing, and even entertainment will be heading very soon.”

In addition to Best of Show and People’s Voice, CNET announced awards in nine categories:

Category: Gaming
Razer Edge — “The Edge went head-to-head with fellow gaming tablet nominee, the Nvidia Shield. The Shield got a splashy CES press conference unveiling and got many of us talking about the future of tablets and gaming. We were thrilled, in the middle of this conversation, to spend time with the Razer Edge and discover that this device offers a lot of what the Shield promises — a gaming tablet with an attachable game pad that offers a variety of streaming and media features — as soon as February.”
CNET Review

Category: TVs
Samsung UN85S 4K/UHD TV — “This 85-inch showpiece comes in a unique frame design that’s as much art as any TV we’ve ever seen, and its picture quality should trump other 4K sets by virtue of a full-array LED backlight. Pricing wasn’t announced, but we’d be shocked if it was less than $20K.”
CNET Review

Category: PCs and Tablets
Lenovo IdeaCentre Horizon 27 — Lenovo hopes to inspire new multiuser computing experiences with its 27-inch Horizon Table PC that is essentially a large all-in-one that can also lie flat and features a custom touch software environment. It’s a Windows 8-based PC, but Lenovo has added its own multiuser interface called Aura.
CNET Review

Category: Car Tech
Chevrolet MyLink 2nd Generation — Car tech had a significant presence this year and Chevrolet drew a lot of attention with its MyLink interface with smartphone-inspired features, including the ability to rearrange icons on its touch screen. The new interface, set to launch on the 2014 Chevy Impala this year, controls Bluetooth hands-free calling, digital audio, updated navigation maps, and apps such as Pandora.
CNET Review

Category: Mobile
YotaPhone — High-end Android 4.1 Jelly Bean smartphone that features an e-ink display on the back designed to conserve battery life when reading an article or book. Apps built for the e-ink display include an RSS reader, an alarm clock and Twitter, while more are reportedly in development.
CNET Review

Category: Emerging Tech
3D Systems CubeX — The new $2,499-$3,999 high-end desktop 3D printer can create objects out of two plastics (ABS and PLA) in three colors. Since most 3D printers can only print in one plastic at a time, the new CubeX may give MakerBot a run for its money.
CNET Review

Category: Home Theater and Audio
Vizio 5.1 S4251W Soundbar — The $330 system provides true surround sound from a traditional sound bar and subwoofer teamed with wireless rear speakers. It also includes an innovative remote with built-in display, the first of its kind for such a system. The Vizio S4251W features built-in Bluetooth and a new industrial design. It is slated for a spring release.
CNET Review

Category: Networking and Storage
Seagate Wireless Plus — A replacement for the Seagate Satellite, CNET describes the Wireless Plus as a “mobile wireless storage expander/media-streaming server for mobile devices.” The compact $200 device touts 10 hours of battery life and lets users carry 1TB of content on-the go. Additionally, it can stream content to up to eight devices.
CNET Review

Category: Wearable/Health
Fitbit Flex — This year’s show saw a push for digital health and an array of devices with sensors that track various medical conditions and encourage personal fitness. Fitbit’s first band-style health tracker, the $99.95 Flex, made an impression with the CNET editors. “Unlike the similar Jawbone Up… the Flex can sync wirelessly via Bluetooth 4.0. It also works with Android devices in addition to iPhones.”
CNET Review

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