It doesn't exactly have a lot to show for itself just yet, but Top Global has just announced a reference design for what it claims is the world's first dual mode 3G USB modem and WiFi hotspot combo. Dubbed the 3GSpot, the device is software configurable to support all cellular standards, and the basic design is able to support multiple bands to ensure compatibility with carriers around the world, which Top Global says will let OEMs have one design/SKU that simply requires different firmwares for different markets. The device will apparently even boast on-board GPS "at no extra cost," not to mention all the usual security measures and, at just 2.5 x 4-inches, it'll be able to be integrated or simply offered as a standalone device. All that, of course, depends on some OEMs hopping on board, and Top Global unfortunately doesn't seem to be ready to announcing anything on that front just yet.

Gamers have largely gotten a bad rep for being lazy, slothful people who spend their hours mindlessly pressing buttons. The Wii changed that a bit by getting kids (and and their parents... and their parents) up off the couch, but what about giving their brains a workout too? For your family's little mind freak to-be Mattel is introducing the Mind Flex, a brain-powered game that relies on your mental activity to control the height of a ball suspended in a column of air. Don the headset then start concentrating to make the purple orb rise; relax and it lowers. There are six total game types but all entail getting a ball over, under, and through a variety of hoops and the like, sometimes against a clock so that you can challenge your friends. Sadly you have to actually reach up and turn the dial to move the ball around the course, but in our heads on trial we found the thing to be impressively responsive, gently sinking down when we thought about getting some sleep -- then shooting back up again when we pondered the number of posts left to write tonight. It was challenging for sure, and definitely turned a lot of heads, but we're a little concerned that extended sessions could be headache inducing. Its $80 price tag might cause some temple pain too when the thing releases this fall, but we've certainly spent more money on things that were less fun -- and mentally stimulating. Video of floaty balls and squinting players below.

You might remember (emphasis on "might") that Nokia was rumored to have a 5700 XpressMusic upgrade in the works a few months back -- 3.2 megapixel autofocus cam, larger microSD expansion limit, and that's about it. Believable if not intensely boring, right? Well, a 5710 just showed up on Nokia's US site that looks an awful lot like a black 5700, and let's be real: 5710 sounds like the right model number for an ultra-mild 5700 upgrade. No official announcement yet, but yeah, we could totally see this showing up on T-Mobile at some point this year.

iLuv already dropped a bundle of iPod alarm clock / speaker systems here at CES, so it follows logic for yet another "i" company to dole out a helping of its own. Kicking things off is the iP29 portable speaker case, and stepping up the excitement level from zilch to one is the iP49 rechargeable audio system with alarm clock / FM radio for iPod and iPhone. Lastly, the iHMP5 two-in-one stereo speaker / headphone system enables users to listen in private or enter into "full speaker mode" for the posse to tune in. As with most everything else announced here at CES, pricing and availability have yet to be revealed.

Unrelated candid photo aside... it's no lie: if you've managed to load Android onto your device, no matter how lame it may seem, you're probably a good looking person. Not only that, but you might've built Touch Revolution's NIMBLe, which is a billed as a Home Touch Phone, but runs the Android OS and holds a full 7-inch touchscreen. The most basic functionality is that of a speakerphone, but obviously Android -- along with the built-in WiFi, Bluetooth and Ethernet connectivity -- opens this up to so much more functionality. Touch Revolution is actually dabbling in all sorts of hardware and software configurations, building a "Touch Device Development Platform" for farming out to companies for all sorts of purposes. Current builds include 600MHz StrongARM or greater processors, 128MB of RAM, 512MB of flash memory, SD card slots, 4.3-inch, 7-inch or 10-inch LCDs, 2 megapixel cameras and up to 800 x 480 resolutions. The unit we played with seemed responsive and only a little bit pointless, and we look forward to seeing this sort of thing hit the market -- we know MC Hammer would agree. Action video is after the break.

It was just a short year ago that we went to Fulton Innovation's tiny booth at CES and failed to get a working wireless power demo, but a lot's happened since then -- the company is at CES 2009 in force, with a much larger, swanker booth, partners like Energizer and Motorola demoing working products, and tons of working real-world examples of the tech in action. We were particularly taken with the modded Dish DVR that automatically turned itself on and off when the remote was placed on top of it to charge up -- oh, and the remote featured super-capacitors instead of batteries that charge fully in 10 seconds. There were also a ton of cell phones (including a modded iPhone, of course), new cooking demos featuring a blender, and a super cool Leggett & Pratt power tool charging workbench. Extremely impressive, all in all -- we're starting to think that 2009 could be the year that wireless power could really take off. Gallery below, video after the break!

P.S.- We asked if Fulton had anything to do with the Palm Pre's sexy Touchstone wireless charger, but the guys in the booth didn't know. We'll let you know if we find anything out.

Here's a strange one. The image above was attached to an email sent to Engadget Chinese boasting about the immense interest in ASUS' booth at CES this year. However, the Eee D200 has never been announced and we're pretty sure that's not the booth open to the public here in Las Vegas. Regardless, we can see clearly from the spec card that the D200 is some kind of low-end Atom PC (and possible media server) with up to 2TB of RAID storage, 5-channel HD audio out, and slot loading DVD writer targeting the home network. The inclusion of an 802.11n access point just adds to the mystery. Oh, and that 3.5-inch LCD is touch-sensitive. Now spill it ASUS, what is this thing?

One very patient Netgear rep took us through the interface of the new Digital Entertainer Elite while we feverishly snapped images of every menu blade. Not every one was a keeper -- expect a few gaps here or there -- but this should provide you ample impressions on how you'll be cruising around on this thing.

It was at last year's CES that we first got our hands on iRobot's Looj, and while easy gutter cleaning is something most homeowners can appreciate, the thing did have some issues that left many users tossing the things out with the decomposing crud it was supposed to fling. Enter the Looj second generation, which includes a flexible auger that should keep the thing from flipping itself over, a tool-free battery door, and a faster reverse speed to get the thing back to your ladder in half the time. Nothing revolutionary, but some much-needed updates that will be available this spring for $129, and we were impressed with the sheer spite the thing displayed against a mock gutter full of faux leaves. Video below -- user discretion advised.

It looks like the plush gray carpet in the Coby booth at CES isn't the only thing that might make you stumble. Coby's flagship PMP here at CES is the MP836, and it's safe to say it rubbed us the wrong way. The device itself wasn't that horrible to look at, but the interface and general aesthetics were both major turnoffs. The Coby reps said that it has multitouch, but there wasn't any actual implementation to be found. It'll be available in 4, 8, and 16GB variations when it does eventually hit the marketplace, but we couldn't get a solid MSRP from the very confused booth staff. Be sure to check out our vids of the device "in action" (if you can really call it that) and the gallery as well. But hey, if lackluster three inch displays and unresponsive touchscreens are you thing, be sure to hit Coby up.

Remember those sub-$100 Coby netbooks that we deemed a hoax? Well, it looks like they might not be as hoax-y as we originally thought. Here at CES, Coby has a bunch of base models on the show floor in a myriad of color combos. The rep who showed us around made it clear that this was a "market research project" but that the 'books would ring in at under $200. There were a bunch of different configurations, but nothing too different from the usual Atom setup. The six color offerings might pique your interest, but after playing with them for a few minutes, we don't know how eager we'd be to run out and pick one up -- they felt pretty low-end. However, the only way to differentiate oneself in the crowded netbook market is with price, and Coby certainly has that working for it. We'll see if these ever make it to market, and reserve final judgment until then. Check out the non-junky gallery below.

Well, what have we here? While waltzing about the CES floor today, we stumbled upon a conceptual Mio MID that looks suspiciously like Sony's VAIO P. The currently unnamed device was actually lookin' pretty sharp, as it boasted a 7-inch WVGA (800 x 480) resolution display, integrated WiFi, a non-removable battery good for eight hours or so and a full QWERTY keyboard. It was also packing a trackball setup, an SD card slot, a few USB ports and audio in / out. We were told that the design was still being finalized and that it wouldn't ship until mid-2009 at the earliest, and while we'd love to see this piece ship Stateside, we have our doubts. Oh, and did we mention that this thing runs on an evidently skinned version of Windows Mobile? Because it does. Peek the gallery below if you're in disbelief.