CES 2008: 5 KEY TRENDS

CES 2008: 5 KEY TRENDS by Marauder

HDTV

Warner Bros. announcement’s to go exclusively with the Blu-Ray format caused many to conclude that the death of the HD DVD format was close at hand.
In addition, Panasonic presented the largest plasma television in the world at 150″. The previous record for world’s largest plasma maxed out at 103″.

Panasonic 150” Plasma

Content Everywhere

As has been the case for quite some time, the concept of watching content anywhere and everywhere continues to dominate the electronics industry.
Example 1: Slingbox’s Slingcatcher. The original Slingbox sends streaming content from a user’s home TV to a PC anywhere in the world using a high speed internet connection. The Slingcatcher takes the anywhere mentality one step father allowing users to send content from a home TV directly to another TV in the home OR to a TV anywhere in the world. Imagine watching your home television from the comfort of your hotel room while on a business trip. Set to launch in Q2 2008.

Slingcatcher

Example 2: Panasonic’s Portable DVR. Panasonic presented a DVR set-top box in partnership with Comcast. Viewers can record content on the set-top box and then take this content to watch on the go. My review of this product is much less lackluster than the Slingcatcher as this adds yet another gadget to my arsenal of gadgetry.

Panasonic Portable DVR

Wireless

Eliminating messy wire connections from the home audio/video environment was another key them.
Example 1: Panasonic Home Base. Wireless transmission of HD 1080p video without compression or data deterioration using “beam steering technology.” While on stage, Michelle (in the photo below) records video on a Panasonic HD camcorder while Sakamoto ceremoniously cuts the wires from the back of the television. When the camcorder is placed on top of the home base, the video is wirelessly transmitted to the television and played back in seconds. In addition, video from a Blu-Ray player can additionally be wirelessly transmitted to the television screen. (http://dailymarauder.com/2008/01/09/ces-buzz-panasonic-keynote/)

Mobile TV

LG Voyager

LG Voyager: TV User Interface

Design

Across the board, it seems like electronics companies are starting to follow Apple’s lead by offering gadgets that not only perform seamlessly but look absolutely fabulous on a book shelf.
Example 1: Vestalife’s Ladybug. On the surface, a typical iPod speaker system. Dig a little deeper and you’ll notice that these swivel speakers are gorgeously designed. The speakers turn out to the sides when the iPod is inserted and back together when unplugged. They also have two limited editions design by Element Skateboards. I’ll put this one right next to my Barcelona chair.

Ladybug Classic

Ladybug: Limited Edition

Example 2: Giorgio Armani Phone. Not quite the iPhone but not bad looking either.

Giorgio Armani Phone

Daily Marauder