HD Radio is a new--in the sense that most people still don't know what it is--broadcast radio technology that allows terrestrial AM and FM stations to improve their audio and increase the number of program channels each can transmit. HD Radio is now available on 600 stations and covers 70 percent of the U.S. population. I talked with Jeff Jury (right) from Ibiquity Digital, developer of the HD Radio technology, now available in both table models and component tuners. (Both below, click on the images for a larger view).

Listen to the interiew. Runs 9:36.

Ziff Davis Internet Editor-in-Chief Jim Louderback asked ExtremeTech's Loyd Case, Jason Cross, and myself to join him for a discussion of what's happened so far at CES and the events we expect to cover over the next few days. Topics include: Sony, Apple, Microsoft, Blu-ray, Moxie, Media Center, Ultra Wide Band, XM and Sirius, ever-larger screens, and Google.

Listen to the podcast. Runs 23:53.

The CES rush has begun. I woke up at 4:45AM in New York City to fly ten hours to arrive in New York, NY in Las Vegas. My Treo 650 died last night, but I was able to bring it back to life with a long overdue firmware update. I doubt that the new Treo 700W announced today will be more reliable, but we will test it out soon and find out.

I caught the NY Times show preview. Previews are tricky to write, but even so the "convergence" theme seems a little broad. (Or is convergence so old that it is new again?) Much more interesting is the Starz announcement that the company will distribute videos that can be used on portable players. To a man that has spent the better part of the day the prisoner....er, guest of America West the idea of enhanced portable entertainment is particularly apppealing.

More updates to come. In the meantime PC Magazine is consolidating its CES coverage here.

Well, my fellow editors are out in warm Las Vegas for CES 2006, and I'm stuck here in freezing New York (not to mention with a nasty cold). So that's why I decided to compile this list of all things essential to combat (and enjoy) the Winter weather. Here's the first 5 items of my Winter Essentials List. Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 2.

1. Organized Traveler's Leather Carry-On ($129.95, Hammacher Schlemmer)
Various pockets and tiered sleeves to protect your credit cards, cameras, MP3 player, and other devices. Also features a large water-repellent inner compartment to keep clothes and toiletries dry.

2. Winter Essential Bottle by Eddie Bauer ($29.50, Amazon)
A 32-ounce bottle that contains a flashlight, gloves, handwarmers, headband, an emergency blanket, thermometer/compass, key chain, lip balm, face lotion and cocoa. Comes in green, ice, or deep red.

3. Auto-Fold Umbrella ($80, Neiman Marcus)
Weather-proof umbrella that opens and fold automatically. Comes in brown or black.

4. Burton Headphone Beanie ($39.99, USOutdoor.com)
This wool/mohair/nylon beanie features built-in headphones to use with any mp3 or CD player. Handy for skiing/snowboarding because the cord automatically detaches if you fall down. Comes in black, granite, and kilim red.

5. Nordic Gear's Battery Heated Lectra Sox ($19.99, D*ck's Sporting Goods)
Invented in 1966, these heated socks feature a heating unit built into the leg and toe area. Snaps on/off for easy operation.

PC Magazine took a pre-production look at the Mitsubishi PocketProjector, and I have to say, it's pretty cool. The PocketProjector definitely lives up to its name, considering it weighs just 1 pound and fits on your palm.

It's travel-friendly for watching scary movies on those camping trips (I'm sure you can find a tree or rock to project off of) or for playing games on a large screen at a friend's house on a rainy, Saturday night.

So how can Mitsubishi get away with creating a projector that's so small? Well, the secret is its engine, which combines DLP technology with three LEDs instead of a wheel.

Purchase it now for $799.

If Gearlog has seemed a little spare over the past few days, it's because most of the Gearlog gang has been heading to Las Vegas and the Consumer Electronics Show.

CES is a tough show to cover because it covers so much ground, both physically and in terms of products on display. Everything you might find in Best Buy is on display, plus a whole bunch of stuff that never makes it into U.S. retail. My favorite exhibitor, from a few years back, was the "Live Long and Prosper DJ Supply Co." Did I mention there are a zillion small Asian companies here, hoping for their big break?

Depending on what you're looking for, the noise-to-signal ratio at CES can be pretty high. Plus, though only 130,000 are expected to attend (all these people have meaningful jobs in consumer electronics?), the show covers more physical space than Comdex ever did. It is simply not possible to see all you want to see at CES, no matter how long you stay. And the logistics of getting around can make it hard to hold more than a couple of meetings each day.

Although the show floor doesn't open until Thursday. today (Wednesday) is "Media Day," with a large number of events for reporters and analysts. I don't know everyone's plan, but I will be to roaming the floor, shooting pictures and recording interviews to go with them. The M-Audio people loaned me one of their Microtrack 24/96 audio recorders, which uses MP3 and flash memory for storage. I am hoping it will speed production and help me get a decent amount of audio posted, along with pics to illustrate the interviews. We'll see how it works out.

CES is a well-run, friendly event. Because it is organized by a non-profit, membership association, the show management works hard to keep everyone happy. So, despite wanting to hate CES for its crowds, lack of focus, and even its first-week-of-January scheduling, I find it hard not to get swept up in what is, after all, one of the world's most interesting trade shows.

You will find CES content posted here as well as on other Ziff Davis Internet sites. When I get a chance, I will try to post some links to that coverage. If you have CES questions, feel free to post them as comments and I will answer as many as I am able.