Why do I care what happened at CES 2013 in Las Vegas earlier
this month?
First, it should be known the Consumer Electronics Show (CES
2013) is a geek’s Disneyland. 1,000’s of
vendors in 100,000’s of square feet. It
features all the cool products that will hit the store’s shelves throughout the
year. For some companies, it is an
opportunity to show off a new technology that gives them a competitive edge in
an existing lineup or to create a new one nobody else has filled. In some cases, technology is introduced in
which there is no need or solves no real problem so it fizzles into oblivion
never to be heard from again. But in
other cases, a technology is created that changes the industry and the consumer’s
behavior. Sometimes, consumers use the
technology in unexpected ways which creates new products in future CES shows. For any technology enthusiast or user of
technology; there’s something to see at CES.
But for the rest of us, users of technology, what happens at
CES doesn’t impact us for months or maybe even years after the show depending
on how quickly we adopt new technology.
Unless you’ve never used a computing device of some kind in the last 30
years, CES will change what you do and how you do it.
Bottom line what happened in this year’s show? Here’s what I think folks should know:
- · Ultra high definition TVs
o
4K (3840 x 2160) four times more pixels than
1080p
o
8k (7680 x 4320) 16 times more pixels than 1080p
- · Netflix now offers a super HD service which streams certain titles at a higher bit rate 1080p
- Windows 8 is everywhere on tablets, mobile phones, in addition to traditional laptops and desktops. It can be used via touch or keyboard/mouse across multiple platforms.
- · Pico (pocket size) LED projectors are brighter and more affordable than ever. Anywhere you need video or photo displayed, a Pico projector is a great option.
- · Glass-free 3D TV called Ultra-D. It’s first generation technology so it is viewing angle specific and the images don’t pop like 3d with glasses but is a step in the right direction.
- · Harmony Touch remote controls now have touch capabilities that we’re all getting used to in our tablets and on our phones. A user now can interact with their TV experience in a similar way. Also, many devices are starting to work with droid and apple products so you can use these devices as remote controls as well.
- · Roku partners with TV makers Apex, Coby, Haier, Hisense, & TCL to help with web enabled TV platforms. That makes 14 TV makers in all.
- · Personal electronics – devices that go WAY beyond a simple pedometer. They monitor your activity, acceleration, calories burned, and sleep too. These devices connect to your computing device and report and measure your health goals.
- · LED lighting and energy management – LED’s are becoming an economical incandescent bulb replacement. New 3-way bulbs are here too.
- · Intel delayed an announcement until mid year 2013. But it appears they plan on offering a platform that delivers TV channels directly to the consumer via the Internet. However, there were “delays in reaching content-licensing agreements with entertainment companies that own major TV channels”. Unfortunately, there were few exciting Internet TV developments beyond this potential release.
