Direct Electronics Responder
HD Security SystemHigh-end security system remote controls can be difficult to figure out, use and keep charged. Directed Electronics' Responder HD 2Way security and remote start system ($799, www.directed.com) changes that with a new user interface on its two-way transceiver. A handy menu wheel lets you scroll through features intuitively and all commands are confirmed on the bright OLED screen. Best of all, the transceiver, with a range of up to 1 mile, can be charged by miniUSB. No more swapping out those batteries!
EFX C65 Convertible Component Speakers
Plenty of new speakers were unveiled at CES, including some installation-friendly offerings from EFX. Designed to be tougher and deliver better sound quality than their predecessors, the EFX C65 convertible components ($229, www.scosche.com/efx) take the place of the flimsy factory speaks in your ride. For maximum flexibility, they can be installed as components or co-axials and have a built-in crossover, so you have one less thing to mount. If you want to use them as a component set, the tweeter comes with a universal backmount adapter for quick, secure mounting.
MSI U115 Notebook
A computer can never have too much battery life. MSI knows that, so its latest notebook has 12 hours of battery life. That's a lot! The U115 ($TBA, www.msi.com) mixes power savings with performance thanks to the hybrid combo of both solid-state disk and standard harddrives. The operating system is on the SSD for faster load times and increased performance. The U115 features a 10" widescreen and 2GB of memory. It weighs just 2.4 lb and measures about 10x7".
Memphis Mclass Subwoofers
Hungry for power? Memphis Car Audio's new MClass subwoofers ($129-169, www.memphiscaraudio) can certainly take the heat. An additional aluminum heat-sink inside the voice-coil dissipates heat before the speaker can burn-out, so you get plenty of rich, loud bass. The thumps are tight and accurate thanks to the lightweight carbon Honeycone that enables quick response, while the double surround keeps the cone aligned.
Wowwee Portable Projector
One of the big goals of technology is to turn something big into something small. Enter the Cinemin line of micro projectors (from $299, www.wowwee.com). The smallest model, the Swivel, fits in the palm of your hand and can create a huge image on any wall or ceiling. The full line is compatible with a number of video sources, including iPods and iPhones. The second model, the slightly larger Cinemin Stick, uses internal memory and features an expandable SD card slot. The alarm clock-sized Cinemin Station is an iPod docking station with larger speakers for better audio.