I hope you’ve enjoyed my Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2010 summary for The Periscope Post. It’s virtually impossible (no pun intended) to cover all 20,000 products on display this year, but I hope I’ve given you a solid snapshot of some of the topics you need to be aware of.
Before I delve into closing remarks, this comprehensive list wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t briefly mention some of the other cool devices and gadgets heating up in Vegas. Quirky yet pointless Samsung’s 14-inch transparent laptop, the very welcomed Kodak’s new waterproof camcorder, sleek LG GW990 smartphone, buzzworthy Samsung’s HT-BD1250 Blu-Ray’s home-theatre-in-a-box (HTIB), a curved Arc keyboard, and Graphic.ly’s comic reader. As an avid sailor, this particular gadget caught my eye — a super cool “Hymini” hybrid charger by Miniwiz, capable of charging your gadgets using the wind or the sun’s rays.
The winner of coolest gadget of the CES 2010 has to be the Parrot AR Drone that everyone is talking about! It’s an iPhone/iPod Wi-Fi remote controlled helicopter, equipped with a camera in its snout that streams directly to your iPhone’s screen. Be warned however, its $500 price tag is not for everyone.
Despite the myriad of products on show, this year’s CES was muted compared to past years, with a realistic and tempered mood. Everyone on the floor seemed to be thankful for 2009 to have come to an end, ever hopeful that 2010 will bring renewed success to the industry. The biggest takeaway trends to look out for this year are first and foremost Tablets and eReaders, as well as 3D TVs, Connected TVs and Connected Cars.
Industry players are fighting to become the leading all-in-one technology as consumers expect their devices to be more than a one trick pony. It’s about being a tablet, a netbook, a smartphone and an eBook all in one. Even the iPhone’s success is attributed to its comprehensive multimedia offering (voice calls + video + music + internet). Our lives are getting faster and evermore cluttered – technology is supposed to alleviate that, and carrying four separate devices in your briefcase is simply not the way forward. Who wins the war? Is it Microsoft’s Blio? Lenovo’s IdeaPad? Will Apple’s iSlate be the future we are looking for? I vote yes, but stay tuned for our Macworld coverage to find out the details.
Meanwhile, check out my other updates from CES 2010 in the Technology & Science tab.
Here’s to a successful 2010 and to continuous innovation in the tech space. See you next year CES, and thanks for the ride!
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HI Gaurav. What 3D TV were you shown? Manufacturers including Sony, Sharp, Nvidia, Samsung, LG and Panasonic are rolling out 3D TVs for the home, goofy glasses included! Content providers too are jumping on the 3D bandwagon this year, including ESPN, DreamWorks, Direct TV and Discovery.
The most talked about product at this year’s CES was the Toshiba Cell TV, a “smart” TV that claims to convert 2D signals into 3D content. Cell TV is the first commercially available HDTV to convert non-packaged media on the spot, including poor quality Internet video signals. Like all Next Generation TVs users will be able to see photos and watch home videos on its screen. The ZX900 Series Cell TV models, available with 55-inch and 65-inch screens, are expected to go on sale in the United States later this year.
While the idea of watching 3D videos in the comfort of your own home sounds cool, I am extremely skeptical of it taking off, at least not the way its being presented in the market today. Firstly there is the cost issue. Is the economy prepared to spend 5k – 12k on a television? In addition, is there in enough content to warrant the investment? Next, the goofy goggles. Do we really see ourselves relaxing in our living room with family and friends popping cumbersome glasses to watch a programme? Also, most people today are multi-tasking TV viewers – they read magazines, surf online, get up to make tea, chat on the phone or with family members in the room. Are we expected to keep the glasses on throughout? A way around this would be to launch a technology that allows for watching 3D content without glasses – Phillips launched a version last March but was swiftly pulled off the market due to the hefty asking price. Early adopters might get a 3D TV for geeky fun, though its unlikely we will see this trend kicking off in the immediate future.
I just don’t think the living room, or my wallet is ready? Is yours?
Assia Grazioli Venier wrote
January 18, 2010
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Assia, thank you for your reports from CES 2010. I had the pleasure of seeing and NFL match on a new 3D Television the other day, when I was shown a demo for the Cricket team I am involved with. It blew my mind and I am convinced it will be a technology that everyone wants at home. What was the reaction from the floor and the attendees of the show? Also on E-Books has Amazon won the race (The Kindle is amazing), or do others stand a chance.
Gaurav Burman wrote
January 17, 2010
4:13 GMT
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