By: Mahesh Krishna
As a keen follower of new tech gadgets, I was excited to attend CES 2012. It was my first time at the show and I looked forward to seeing the latest in the world of consumer electronics. For the uninitiated, CES is the electronics industry’s marquee event. First held in 1967 in New York, electronics companies over the years have announced new concepts at CES. At the highest attendance rate ever, 140,000 people were expected to attend the 2012 show.
After 3 days of non-stop tech chatter, a few consistent themes emerged from all the jargon.
Ecosystem Dominated Airtime
Ecosystem was “it” at CES – from the floor to the stage, everyone was dropping this word.
Basically you can strea
m a movie on your phone then continue to watch it on your TV when you get home, or on a tablet, or on a screen, or your in-car entertainment system…and so on.
CNET thinks that the battle of ecosystems is between Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook. Frankly, I’m unsure how Facebook is in this league without devices, OS or browser (for now) but this mix should include Samsung and Sony – they’re coming at the ecosystem via connected
Microsoft Keynote devices and content, respectively.
The keynote focused on demos of new and upcoming products. Here are ‘hidden gems’uncovered by Technology Review:
1) Kinect, hitherto an Xbox accessory, is coming to Windows PCs and this could revolutionize the PC experience. Microsoft is partnering with over 200 companies for this in the pilot stage.
2) Microsoft’s partnerships with cable/internet providers Comcast and Verizon give Kinect-powered TV programming real potential. Interactive TV ads can become more mainstream.
3) Windows’ app store goes live in February.
8 things I learned
1) Top 5 tech game changers for 2012: Microsoft as strong mobile player; Cloud; Device convergence; Tablets as content creation devices; Patent disputes impact innovation. (Source: Engadget)
2) UltraViolet (UV) is a digital rights authentication and cloud-based licensing system that allows streaming of digital home entertainment and downloading purchased content to multiple platforms.
3) Consumers on average have 30 electronic devices, yet rarely do any of them speak with each other. However, connected homes/devices will soon be a reality. (Source: Samsung CMO Ted Baxter)
4) Tablet/PC buzz words: Super phones e.g. 5.3 inches Galaxy Note, Sub tablets e.g. 7inch tablet like the Kindle Fire, Ultra books e.g. MacBook Air wannabes running Windows. (Source: Engadget)
5) Among tech influencers, 75% will give up a vacation for their favorite device, 46% will give up pet, 25% will give up a best friend, 12% will give up a spouse!
6) The smartphone game of 4… 4G LTE speed, 4+ inch screen size, 4 core processor, 4 everyone (pun courtesy CNET’s Brian Cooley)
7) 80% of our life is comprised of the act of Search (not just online). Another reason why creating and navigating people to the content they want will continue to be big.
8) 72% of people online use less than 15 web-brands regularly. Hence, there is a huge role for content curators that help consumers manage choice.
5 hot products
1) Windows8. Key question for us industry folk – what will the fallout of tiling on Windows be on browsers and display advertising?
Related: Xbox will get Windows8 which will help Xbox emerge as a convergence device. Microsoft is already negotiating with cable and content providers for content.
2) Windows phones, specifically Nokia, generated lots of interest.
3) Lots of TVs:
Glasses free 3D TV
OLED TV and 4K TV
Lenovo’s Android TV
Google TV 2.0
4) Window’s Ultra books and Hybrid Tablets from Toshiba and Samsung.
5) 4G/Connected cars with communication, navigation, entertainment & telematics.