While Apple’s iPod with video capability may have stolen mobile video headlines in 2005, the 2006 CES floor showed that competition is on the way.

Video Without Boundaries demonstrated Flyboy HD, a portable media player complete with 20GB hard disk drive, a slot for SD memory cards, and a USB 2.0 port to make it easy to transfer content to and from external devices like a PC. But the company says it’s the quality of the 3.5-inch color display that is most noteworthy. It has an LCD backlight and measures 960×234 pixels (the iPod is 320×240 pixels).

“It gives videophiles a mobile playback device they can truly enjoy,” says Jeffrey Harrell, VWB president and CEO. “As new technologies continue to become available our goal is to bring people not only the most advanced and easy-to-use PMP devices possible, but also the best value.” Expect Flyboy to hit the shelves later this quarter for about $400.

One of the hottest intros was Samsung’s YM-PD1 which is also the recipient of a CES 2006 Innovation Award. First on display at the 2005 Korea Electronics Show in October, the $380 portable media player (for the 20GB version) will be available in Korea this year. The player has a four-inch display and allows for everything from the playback of terrestrial TV signals, FM signals, Windows Media audio to voice recording. While the initial version will only be compatible with Korean broadcast standards it hints at the kind of mobile TV device that could be used stateside with the proper TV receiver chip technology.

While screens in the four-inch range tend to be the norm there are also larger screens on the way. e.Digital introduced eVU, a mobile entertainment device that has a seven-inch LCD screen and even an embedded credit card/reader processor. A device with a seven-inch screen is a little unwieldy for true portability but for the eVU that’s actually a good thing. Why? The device is designed to be purchased by hospitals or airlines and then rented out to consumers who use the credit card reader to access pay-per-view content. Will Blakeley, e.Digital’s president and CTO, says the company is already in touch with companies in the healthcare and travel industries.

Samsung, which continues to make gains as a manufacturer in terms of the quality and depth of its product line, did it again with the introduction of the DirecTV FlipTop. The $499 DirecTV receiver has an integrated 10-inch LCD widescreen, making it possible to mount it in a tight space like a kitchen countertop or garage wall and watch DirecTV.

One of the biggest surprises of the show was the return of Commodore, the company that seemed to vanish when floppy disks fell out of fashion. Topping its list of intros? A Multimedia Tower kiosk designed for people on the go. The tower is designed to be deployed in retail establishments at airports and other locations, letting consumers buy digital music and mobile content like ring tones and games. A simple swipe of the credit card can give consumers some fresh content to get them through a long plane ride or car ride.

Source: Variety CES Update, Written By: Ken Kerschbaumer