Banned cameraman hawks CES press badge

Richard Blakeley, the Gawker Media cameraman whose antics for Gizmodo drew widespread attention, is selling his press badge — the last one he'll ever get, he says — for $100 on Craigslist. Why is it a collector's item? Because CES has banned him from attending future events after he filmed himself using a remote control to turn off TV screens on the show floor. (Gizmodo, like Valleywag, is owned by Gawker Media, and Blakeley does video work for both sites.)

More CES sanctions against Blakeley

Star Wonkette commenter FlakJack listed additional punishments the Consumer Electronics Show people should mete out to Gizmodo's TV-remote prankster. Edited version: More »

A week to remember: At CES, more time in jail than Paris Hilton

What a week! On my first trip to Vegas and the Consumer Electronics Show, I survived harassment by bulldog aficionado Jason Calacanis, discovered that HP adman Jay-Z uses a Mac, and laughed at Richard Blakeley's TV-B-Gone prank. Now we hear that he's been banned from the show. It could be worse. He could be behind bars... More »

Gawker staffer banned from CES, "additional sanctions ... under discussion"

Richard Blakeley, the scamp behind Gizmodo's TV-turnoff stunt at CES, has been banned from attending the show. Here's the CEA's official response to the Gizmodo TV-B-Gone prank:

We have been informed of inappropriate behavior on the show floor by a credentialed media attendee from the Web site Gizmodo, owned by Gawker Media. Specifically, the Gizmodo staffer interfered with the exhibitor booth operations of numerous companies, including disrupting at least one press event. The Gizmodo staffer violated the terms of CES media credentials and caused harm to CES exhibitors. This Gizmodo staffer has been identified and will be barred from attending any future CES events. Additional sanctions against Gizmodo and Gawker Media are under discussion.

More »

CNET editor proves there's no difference between "press" and "blogger"

What's the difference between a blogger and a journalist? Nothing, says CNET's Rafe Needleman. But he's concerned that Gizmodo's sophomoric prank, using a TV remote control to turn off video screens at the CES 2008 gadgetfest, will get bloggers disinvited to the event next year. After all, CES only grudgingly started accrediting bloggers to the show. The only problem with Needleman's thesis? More »

Gizmodo chief Brian is a sleepy little Lam

Blogging can be tiring, especially when you blog blog blog almost nonstop like Gizmodo's Brian Lam. When you're reporting from a show like CES where there is so much stuff to cover, you have to grab a few minutes to rest whenever you can. Don't worry, Brian. It'll all be over soon. Lam told us he used to tease Walt Mossberg about his age but stopped when he realized that the 60-year-old Wall Street Journal columnist has more energy than he does. (Photo by Curtis Walker)

Ten Reasons We're Doomed: CES Edition

Oh, CES. You are a disgusting, bloated beast oozing everything that makes this industry horrible. Nay, everything that makes our culture horrible. Sure, to you fine readers it might look like it's all product announcements and good times, but that's far from the truth. In reality, it's a vile clusterfuck of nerds, sluts and suits; a deadly combo. Let me give you some reasons why CES signals the downfall of our society, if you can stand it. [Gizmodo]

At CES, benighted bloggers versus pampered press

This was the first year at CES that bloggers were widely credentialed — and given their own, special, "blogger lounge". Sadly though, the bloggers seem unimpressed. The lounge, which was pitifully small compared to the more prestigious "press lounge," was pretty barren. Among the accoutrements in the press lounge? Espresso, fresh baked cookies and lots of fellow reporters to network with. We hung out with Dan Lyons, the Fake Steve Jobs blogueur, and even Jason Calacanis "graced us" with his presence. The blogger lounge? It's pitifully small, but the worst part is it's location. The press lounge is right next to the South Hall entrance, near the CNet Live Stage. The blogger lounge is located at the far end of the South Convention floor. It takes literally 20 minutes to walk from one room to the other. I'll pass. More after the jump. More »

Julia Allison canoodles with Sequoia moneyman

A tipster spotted the female half of Gawker's (and Valleywag's) favorite ex-couple, Julia Allison, leaving a CES party in Las Vegas with venture capitalist Mark Kvamme of Sequoia Capital. Kvamme, who was a frequent target of Valleywag emeritus Nick Denton, is responsible for Sequoia's investments in promising companies like LinkedIn. Oh, and also AdBrite.

What's the diff between "press" and "blogger?"

Commenter beng asked the question about CES's two-tier journalist passes that I wondered, too: "What is the difference between the blogger badge and the press badge, and does that mean that even Engadget and Gizmodo get blogger badges?" Gizmodo editor Brian Lam is toting a Press badge, just like Mahalo CEO Jason Calacanis. Our own Jordan Golson has been tagged a "Blogger." Hey Jordan: Besides a separate lounge with espresso and cookies, what other perks does a Press pass get you that a Blogger badge doesn't? Just login and let Calacanis answer again, that was hilarious.

Robert Scoble, on CNBC, is more important than you

I'm at CES and have been looking around for Robert Scoble. After literally dozens of seconds of futile searching, I decided to text him and got this as a response. CNBC? Bobby, what happened to online-only video? I thought that was the future!

Is Jason Calacanis a member of the press?

Always the charmer, Jason Calacanis has announced plans to visit the press lounge at CES. His barking continues to amuse. But here's something that's no laughing matter: Why is the CEO of a search engine, a legitimate object of news coverage, allowed access to the private press lounge at CES? More »

Bill Gates on Playing Both Underdog and Corporate Villain

[Gizmodo]

Valleywag cub reporter calls TheStreet.com veteran a "jackass" — to his face

I'm sitting in the CES press lounge when my editor, Owen Thomas, sends me an email:

Find him and interview? - O.

More »

Overheard at CES: There's no more food!

In the CES 2008 Press Lounge: More »

Natali Del Conte surfaces at CES

Senior editor! Natali Del Conte's first posts from CES lack the excitement of the show floor, but they do have, well, Natali. Here's another, and another. Suggestion to NDC: Get out in the crowd and give your viewers a you-are-there feeling. Is Calacanis there? Ask him one question — doesn't matter what — and let the camera roll.

Bill Gates Explains the Difference Between Microsoft and Apple

[Gizmodo]

Overheard at the Flick.im party

Some guy: So, you gonna hit the tables while you're here? More »

Tips from a CES veteran

A veteran CES attendee sent us her tried-and-true tips to having a successful CES 2008 trip:

1. Wash your hands. There is a reason one PR firm constantly told everybody to carry anti-bacterial sanitizer — you shake all those hands, after a while, it gets gross. You can avoid a lot of stomach problems, cold sores and pink eye by either not shaking any hands or being neurotic about washing/cleaning your hands. I am not joking. There was a decline in people getting sick after it was pushed to do this.

More »

Microsoft cuts deals with NBC Universal, Disney, MGM and Showtime

From The Wall Street Journal: "Microsoft said that NBC Universal Inc., Walt Disney Co., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. and Showtime Networks Inc. have agreed to contribute entertainment content to the software maker's Xbox Live and MSN online services. The deals were slated to be announced during a speech by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates on the opening night of the Consumer Electronics Show."

What to do at CES: The lazy hack's guide to Las Vegas

There are plenty of conference events and parties to go to at CES 2008. The bloggers here never stop working, but what are bored mainstream-media hacks to do after they've filed their perfunctory handful of stories? Our short list of things to do in Vegas after the jump. More »

Rumor Smashed: Target NOT Going Totally Blu-ray Exclusive

Fire out of the Philips press conference was that Target was going Blu-ray exclusive, a rumor that had already made the rounds before and was debunked. We just talked to the Blu-ray guys and to Philips—it's actually the same news as before. Target is still selling HD DVD discs and the Xbox 360's HD DVD player. God, it would've been the last thing HD DVD needed. [Gizmodo]

Mac vs. PC in the CES press lounge

Having plenty of time on my hands while my compatriots at Gizmodo blog blog blog it all at CES 2008, I took a walk around the press lounge to check the ratio of Macs to PCs. The latest numbers peg Apple with a 7.3 percent market share in the world at large. Will the the press lounge be full of fanboys or stodgy old corporate types? More »

Press, flacks enjoy HD football at CES

Yesterday we noted the lack of high-definition football in the press room at CES 2008, the biggest electronics show in the world. Today though, things are much more civilized. We're watching the Giants/Buccaneers game in glorious high definition on some LG set. We're surprised there isn't a massive Panasonic plasma with booth babes serving beef Wellington to the bored hard-working masses of reporters. This should be prime sponsorship real estate.

Press, flacks tortured with non-HD football at CES

We snapped this shot in the press lounge at CES 2008. There were several HDTV's displaying the NFL's AFC wild card playoff game between the Jaguars and Steelers with several dozen comfy seats with reporters watching the game. Nice, right? Sadly, the world's biggest electronics show didn't have the game in HD. UPDATE: Today's games are being shown in HD. What a relief.

Forget gadgets; beer and girls are the hottest tickets at CES

The Gizmodo crew is with me at the CES 2008 Unveiled press event reporting on widgets and gizmos, but what really has the attention of the geeks at CES? Women, food and robotic beer coolers. More »

There are a bunch of conferences happening this week, but if you can't make it, you're in luck: our blog brethren have you covered. Gizmodo brings you gadget porn from CES 2008, Jalopnik has all the auto porn you can handle from the Detroit Auto Show and Fleshbot will bring you real porn (NSFW) from the adult industry's biggest convention, AVN 2008.

Confirmed: Warner Going 100% Blu-ray; Is This HD DVD's Deathblow?

It's been speculated upon and speculated upon, but today it happened: Warner Bros. declared undying allegiance to one format alone: Blu-ray. "The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger," said Warner chairman Barry Meyer, suggesting that this move will end the format war. We are a bit sad about this, given our current love of Warner's HD DVDs over their identical Blu-ray titles. And there's still a lot of momentum on the HD DVD side, with Paramount, DreamWorks and Universal exclusivity. But this is a massive blow for sure. [Gizmodo]