CES 2010 Preview: What’s Hot at This Year’s Show
– This article is taken from PcWorld.com (It is only in English)
The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show is likely to be a slightly showier affair than last year’s event–now that the economy seems to be convalescing and product development and marketing purse strings have loosened somewhat. Judging from the preshow chatter, this year’s show should be the venue for a wave of newsworthy product announcements–and it may deliver a few surprises along the way, too.
After the barrage of preshow product pitches and chats with industry insiders, our beat editors have a fairly good idea of what we’ll encounter in the major product categories this week in Las Vegas. We asked each editor to summarize the major trends and key products they anticipate seeing in their product areas at CES.
Notebook and Desktop PCs
With Intel and nVidia providing vastly improved integrated graphics systems, you can expect machines to come to market that are capable of piping out high-definition video and audio with ease. And while the vaunted tablet design may not advance beyond the conceptual stage until mid- to late 2010, more netbooks and notebooks will sport touch-friendly displays, courtesy of Windows 7’s support for multitouch.
The Acer Aspire Revo R3610. Image: Acer.
The humble desktop is poised for a comeback, but gone are the days of the classic beige box. In 2009, new designs clambered into the mainstream and provided a much needed boost for the desktop’s languishing image. Ultracompact netbooks like the Acer Aspire Revo R3610 bring the home-theater experience at a fraction of the size (and price), while all-in-ones like the Sony VAIO L117FX/Bcondense a traditional PC’s components into a single, elegant shell.
We expect to get first looks at smaller, slimmer designs at CES, with the latest and greatest chipsets from Intel and nVidia inside the shell. Netbooks will offer improved media playback, whether you’re streaming from Hulu or watching a film in Blu-ray format. All-in-ones will support the full breadth of Windows 7’s multitouch and Aero offerings without being sluggish, skimping on features, or jolting buyers with sticker shock.
HDTVs
At last year’s CES, we saw 3D displays from various companies, but they were mostly a novelty. This year, recent developments suggest that HDTV manufacturers are making a big 3D push. New 3D technologies, such as the upcoming HDMI 1.4 specification and the recently-approved Blu-ray 3D, are on the way. Both could help make 3D television more common. You’ll need a 3D TV to get the most out of Blu-ray 3D, for example; and the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament will be broadcast in 3D.
Sony’s Bravia XBR10 series sports a 240Hz refresh rate. Image: Sony.
Also, expect the shift toward refresh rates of 120Hz, 240Hz, and possibly higher to continue: LG demonstrated a 480Hz LCD prototype at last year’s CES, so we might see some 480Hz HDTVs introduced at this year’s show. Green and thin are also in, se we’ll likely see an increase in the number of LCD TVs that use LEDs for backlighting. LED backlighting is more energy- and space-efficient than traditional fluorescent (CCFL) backlighting, and LEDs can allow for local dimming–that is, you can dim portions of the backlight to make dark areas of the TV’s picture look darker–which permits higher contrast levels.
Blu-ray Players
We expect Blu-ray Disc to continue its successful march forward, this time with the announcement of players capable of supporting the newly finalized 3D Blu-ray specification. The good news about 3D Blu-ray is that the new discs will be backward-compatible with 2D players. The bad news is that to get 3D playback, you’ll need a new player and a new HDTV that support 3D (the Sony PlayStation 3 will support 3D Blu-ray through a firmware upgrade).
Though 3D players are clearly on the roadmap, plans for Blu-ray Disc recorders remain uncertain. Blu-ray recorders with TV tuners have been available in Asiafor some time now, but vendor roadmaps in the United States continue to omit them (purportedly because of the numerous copyright restrictions broadcasters and studios would impose on such devices). JVC announced a professional recorder last fall, but that $2000 model lacked a TV tuner–which means that you wouldn’t be able to record the Vancouver Winter Olympics in high-def.
More Blu-ray players should gain connectivity in the next year, too. We expect BD-Live to be de rigueur on all but the most inexpensive models, and that more value players will support Web-based streaming services like YouTube and Netflix on Demand.
Cameras and Camcorders
Pocket camcorders: Now that the public has accepted the Flip design, we should see a jump in specs and features in the next year: higher-quality optics, wireless sharing and uploads, more in-camera settings, optical zoom lenses, and 1080p video captured at higher-bit-rate AVCHD formats.
At CES we expect to see point-and-shoot camerasadopting some of the marquee features of pocket camcorders, too: hybrid portrait/landscape capabilities that enable the shooter to reposition the camera for shooting stills or video, and built-in USB connectors that simplify file uploads and sharing.
Samsung’s NX10 interchangeable-lens camera. Image: Samsung.
Interchangeable-lens cameras: At CES we’ll see smaller, more feature-packed interchangeable-lens cameras that offer large sensors, great still and video quality, and the flexibility to use different lenses in a relatively compact camera. These devices will begin to reach the U.S. market in the first half of 2010.
On the digital SLR side of the spectrum, you can expect to see high-definition video capture become nearly ubiquitous. Last year HD video recording crept into the feature set of DSLRs from Nikon, Canon, and Pentax; and DSLR still cameras became a viable option for professional videographers and independent filmmakers. Expect this trend to continue in 2010, possibly paving the way for redesigned DSLR bodies that make shooting video easier.
TransferJet and Wi-Fi Direct: Most current cameras require a separate USB cable for sharing and offloading photos and video. We’ve also seen a number of Wi-Fi-enabled devices in the past year, but wireless file transfers may get a serious boost this year from devices that work with TransferJet and Wi-Fi Direct. Both technologies support wireless, peer-to-peer sharing between compliant devices, though the logistics differ a bit. What does it mean for consumers? USB cables may be gone for good very soon.
Mobile Phones
Google’s Nexus One smartphone.
Mobile phone news tends to be a bit quieter than other electronics categories during CES, as vendors look forward to the Mobile World Congress coming up in February and CTIA following in March. Even so, some big news is in store for CES. Rumor has it that the Google Nexus One may be available as early as January 5, so maybe we’ll finally get a real, confirmed peek at this much-hyped smartphone. Don’t expect any announcements regarding the rumored T-Mobile subsidy relationship, however. Leaked specs confirm that the Nexus One is compatible on the T-Mobile network, but T-Mobile won’t be at CES and representatives have informed PCWorld that the company has no announcements planned for the show.
Meanwhile, LG and Sprint certainly have something up their sleeves. The companies have issued invitations to the media for the same event, advertising that Sprint CEO Dan Hesse and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will be attending. If Microsoft weren’t involved, I’d have guessed that the announcement related to LG’s entrance into the Android world. LG may indeed be launching an Android phone at CES, but the spotlighted event is more likely to mark the unveiling of an LG-manufactured WiMax-capable Windows Mobile phone.
Palm’s press conference this year probably won’t be as splashy as the Pre/WebOS affair of 2009, but the company will still have some interesting news to impart. As Sprint’s exclusive rights to the Pre and the Pixi come to a close, the phones will likely debut on other carriers–in particular (according to the rumor mill) Verizon. Palm will probably announce an updated version of WebOS, as well.
Samsung and HTC are likely to introduce a few Windows Mobile phones–and possibly even some Android goodness–at CES. The most anticipated Windows Mobile phone, the HTC HD2, is rumored to be coming to T-Mobile in March, so HTC might announce an unlocked U.S. version at CES
Wireless Networks
Two of the four major wireless service providers–AT&T and Sprint–are appearing at this year’s CES, while the other two–Verizon and T-Mobile–aren’t holding any events or meetings. AT&T is hosting an all-day event for mobile app developers, at which several AT&T Mobility executives will discuss mobile devices that are designed to run on the AT&T 3G network and are scheduled to arrive in coming months.
Sprint will also talk about new mobile devices at CES. The carrier is holding several events where it will talk up its leadership position in rolling out the nation’s largest real 4G (WiMax) services through its partner Clearwire. The Clearwire network now serves nearly thirty cities, up from just two cities at the beginning of 2009. Sprint may also use the event to announce plans for a new kind of smartphone that will run on both its 3G network and Clearwire’s WiMax network.
GPS and Car Tech
TomTom’s XL 340S Live wirelessly connected GPS device. Image: TomTom.
Garmin and TomTom have kept a low profile about their CES plans so far, promising to show their lineups of navigation devices but not hinting at any fresh ideas. Though we could be in for a major snoozer from these GPS giants, perhaps big surprises are in store regarding the category’s efforts to beat mobile phones and apps such as Google Maps Navigation, not to mention netbooks and tablet devices. A CES panel discussion that includes executives from TomTom, Garmin, and Nokia may shed light on what’s to come.
Count on the intersection of Internet and automobile to take a big chunk of car tech’s CES buzz. Ford will deliver a keynote, no doubt to hype additions to itsSync platform, such as the ability to plug in a 3G USB modem and turn Ford cars into Wi-Fi hotspots. Pandora has big plans to storm automobiles in the years ahead. The first step is to develop stereo systems that act as dashboards for mobile-phone Pandora apps–and Alpine is up for an award in car audio innovation for doing just that. How long will it be until Web-connected cars can tap Internet radio and other services without the mediation of a phone? A panel discussion may provide insights about the likely timetable.
Home Networking
At this year’s CES, the traditional home-networking companies like Belkin, D-Link, Linksys, and Netgear will be focus less on faster wireless routers, and more on home-entertainment-oriented products. The 802.11n wireless standardfinally won approval in late 2009, but router makers had already embraced the standard and launched “wireless N” products, so you won’t hear much talk about the new standard in Las Vegas this year.
The Internet video revolution is well underway, and consumer networking companies are competing to find the best way to get pull audio and video content from the Internet or from a computer’s hard drive–collecting, cataloging, and managing it, and sending it to screens large and small around the home. Such products connect directly to the Internet to access (and to play or store) Net video, and they also locate and organize Net video from devices throughout the home network.
D-Link’s new Boxee set-top box. Image: D-Link.
These devices were a big theme at last year’s show, but this year you’ll see more actual product announcements and debuts, including numerous new Net video set-top boxes and lots of upgrades to existing boxes. Many of these products will have reinvented user interfaces, will support more file types, and will be much easier to set up and use. For instance, D-Link will show off its new Boxee box, which comes with the popular video management software inside and supports a long list of Net video file types.
Storage
The big news at CES 2010 will be about storage that uses USB 3.0. The new, faster USB interface promiseshigh-speed transfers, and storage will be the first peripheral to take maximum advantage of it. Buffalo Technology has already jumped into the game with a drive, but we expect an avalanche of USB 3.0-related announcements at the show.
The business end of a new USB 3.0 cable.
USB 3.0 traveled a long and bumpy road to market, and some of the early implementations may require a third-party add-in card–much as happened in the earlier transition from USB 1.0 to USB 2.0. Two motherboards are now available with USB 3.0 support, but the interface is not yet widespread.
Keyboards, Mice, and Remote Controls
New input devices debuting at CES emphasize ergonomics. Smartfish is introducing a new product based on its ErgoMotion technology (already available in the company’s ErgoMotion Keyboard and ErgoMotion Mouse). Designed to relieve stress from repetitive motion, the new peripheral automatically adjusts to the user’s natural hand and wrist positions for more-comfortable computing.
Hillcrest Labs’ loop pointer “air mouse.” Image: Hillcrest Labs.
Hillcrest Labs has received a 2010 CES Innovations Award for its Loop pointer, a loop-shaped “air mouse” designed as a pointing device for a computer connected to a TV. The company’s Freespace motion control and pointing technology also appears in other devices and partner products that will be on display at CES.
Audio
Appealing audio offerings are all over the map this year. High-end audiophiles will delight in Definitive Technology’s XTR-50 speakers, which flank your HDTV and have a depth of just 1.5 inches off the wall. For people who rank practical convenience above sound fidelity, Myine’s Abbee FM radio automatically deletes commercials and DJ talk from radio stations. And for
Coby’s 3D audio sound bar. Image: Coby.
those who want surround sound but can’t accommodate a six-speaker rig, Coby is launching a 3D audio sound bar that shapes stereo output to emulate the surround-sound experience.
Green Tech
An expanded Sustainable Planet Spotlight section on the CES floor this year will feature some three dozen exhibitors, and many other vendors will highlight energy-efficient products–notably TVs–as well. Ecologically friendly products slated to appear at CES range from a Sanyo electric bike to energy-monitoring systems for home and business.
Teridian Semiconductor will show its smart energy meters for home users and for inclusion in smart appliances and power supplies. GreenPeak will demonstrate its sensor technology for low- and alternative-power, low-maintenance wireless networks. Embertec will present what it calls the first fully automated digital power-saving technology.
Green Plug is announcing several new partners for its Greentalk technology, which enables various electronics to communicate over power sources, to monitor energy consumption, and to run more efficiently. Another maker of power management products, iGo, will show its line of universal chargers and other devices equipped with its iGo Green Technology, which regulates and minimizes power consumption.
The Sanyo Synergetic Hybrid Bicycle, nicknamed the “eneloop bike,” allows riders to generate power while coasting or braking. It has received a CES Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering Award in the Eco-Design and Sustainable Technology category. The 26-inch bike has a motor and electrical system, too, and it adjusts to provide assisted power in difficult terrain.
This site seems to get a good ammount of visitors. How do you get traffic to it? It offers a nice unique spin on things. I guess having something real or substantial to talk about is the most important factor.
Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It’s very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.
I’d come to clinch the deal with you here. Which is not something I usually do! I enjoy reading a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
Great article. Waiting for more.
I am glad to be one of many visitors on this great web site (:, regards for putting up.
The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.
now this is the kinda of stuff i like to read about thanks for brightening my day
———————————————————–
“I have been reading your entries all through my afternoon break, and i need to admit the entire post has been very enlightening and incredibly nicely composed. I thought I’d let you know that for some reason this blog site doesn’t display well in Internet Explorer 8. I wish Microsoft would give up altering their software program. I have a question for you. Do you mind exchanging weblog roll hyperlinks? That would be really cool! “
Great blog here, such a wealth of information.
I was studying something else about this on another blog. Interesting. Your position on it is diametrically contradicted to what I read in the first place. I am still pondering over the different points of view, but I’m leaning heavily toward yours. And irrespective, that’s what is so superb about advanced democracy and the marketplace of thoughts online.
Great!
Howdy, what a great data in your site here
What’s the quickest most “sensible” method to loose physique unwanted fat. Vital word “quickies and wise.” I’m talking incredibly quick, not six months and not with surgery or dangerous unwanted fat burners i.e. containing ephedrin, mohang extract. Would have to be consumer pleasant to a person with higher blood strain as well.
Thanks for writing! Ich danke dir für deinen Beitrag, Best Regards from Germany
especially talented post I enjoy your site keep up the weighty posts
Of course, what a significant web webpage as well as enlightening posts, I’ll include backlink – bookmark this webpage? Regards.
Hi! I found your blog on AOL.It’s really comprehensive and it helped me a lot.
Continue the good work!
The wealth of the mind is the only wealth.
———————————–
hello solid site and web theme. Hopefully I am not troubling you I simply sought to inquire precisely what wordpress plugin you utilize to display the latest responses on your blog? I really wish to do exactly the same for my free iphone web page however I cannot acquire the plugin or widget for it. Thanks a lot for your time :)
Best publish I’ve read in a exceptionally long while. Thank you a lot.
Thankfulness for another intense post. I am pretty sure this editorial has helped me save many hours of reading other similar posts just headed for come across what I was seeking for. I just want near say: Thank you!
seriously this blog is neat i love reading your articles keep up the good work!
Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!
It’s amazing the things people talk about nowadays but there are to sides to this. It’s a good thing it’s just talk, and in some cases it’s a bad thing it’s just talk. Best regards;)
Easy option on the road to get useful information as well as share critical plus with extreme ideas in addition to concep
It agree, this magnificent idea is necessary just by the way
whoah this blog is great i love reading your articles keep up the good work!
i was beginning to sense i could possibly end up being the sole young man which thought about this, at the very least at this point i discover im not nuts :) i am going to be sure to check out a handful of additional blogposts right after i get a bit of caffeine in me, take care :)
hey top notch blog website and web theme. I’m hoping I am not bothering you I just sought to inquire exactly what wordpress plugin you utilize to show the latest remarks on your blog? I really want to do something along the same lines for my free apple iphone website but I cant get the plugin or widget for it. Thank you for your time :)
Hello, i´m beginning with rss subscriptions. Now i can stay current with your site and especially the topic CES 2010 | … Ayhan AK … now, really a neat feature. Thanks, Zahn-Ersatz
Hello, for me that sounds interesting, who knows what the future will bring… Let´s wait for it…
The topic CES 2010 | … Ayhan AK … is totally new for me, but it sounds very interesting. I have to read more about this topic and make me my own opinion. Thanks, Ira Wine
I have been reading a lot on here the topic CES 2010 | … Ayhan AK … inspired me, i have picked up some great ideas. Thanks and i hope to see more soon.
“There are certainly a great deal of specifics like that to bring into consideration. That is a fantastic place to convey up. I provide the ideas over as common inspiration but clearly you will find questions like the a single you carry up where by the most important issue might be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around issues like that, but I’m sure that your career is plainly recognized as being a honest game. In any case, in my language, there are not very much excellent supply like this.”
my website is Weber Grill Parts .Also welcome you!
Sharp tools make good work.
———————————–
Université de Paris
Hi friend,
I using a prepared theme named with “Producer 2.1.9.4” exactly I have some witgets also.. Exactly I have som opinions to change my blog in design.. But I can find chance to change it three months later due to my obligations :(
thanks for your nice wordss…
hey solid blog and design. I really hope I’m not troubling you I just wanted to inquire exactly what wordpress plugin you use to show the latest feedback on your blog? I really wish to do something along the same lines for my free apple ipod web site yet I can’t find the plugin or widget for it. Thank you for your time :)
Hi, maybe i’m being a off topic here, but I was browsing your site and it looks exceptional. I’m writing a blog and trying to make it look neat, but everytime I touch it I mess something up. Did you design the blog yourself? Could someone with little experience do it, and add updates without messing it up? Anyways, good information on here, very informative.
Hello, thanks for your words. I am using directly WordPress plugins, and it is also important as far as I know, less plugin means more power for the site and navigation.
Cheers (;
hey fine little blog you have right here :) I utilize the identical template on my own website however for whatever explanation it would seem to reload sooner on this blog eventhough the one you have carries a whole lot more multimedia. Have you been operating any plugins or widgets which will quicken it up? Do you think you could have the plug ins so maybe I can use them in my web pages so twilight eclipse users could watch twilight breaking dawn online trailers and videos faster I’d be ever so happy – kudos ahead of time :)
i am generally scurrying around the net virtually all of the afternoon which means I have the inclination to browse considerably, which isnt always a good thing as the largest part of the online resources I view are constructed of unnecessary garbage copied from many other websites a trillion times, nonetheless I’ll hand it to ya this website is indeed enjoyable and supplies a bit of original content, so kudos for helping to stop the trends of simply copying other people’s sites, if you ever want to try a couple of hands of zynga poker together just shout out – you have my e-mail :)
eventhough I waste the majority of my night on the net taking part in games like zynga poker or farmville, I nevertheless like to put aside some spare time to check out a a small number of blogs occasionally and I am seriously happy to report this newest content is frankly kinda effective and noticeably improved than half the other trash I read today , at any rate i’m going to take up a couple of rounds of facebook poker
Off course all of your opinions are important for me, please do not hesitate to share your own ideas.. I will be honoured with them..
Thanks..
Thank you very much.. thanks for your nice words.
Thanks Fraschilla.. You will always be welcome.. I will be waiting for your valuable comments for other posts and pages also..
Your website is beautifully decorated and easily navigated. I have enjoyed visiting this site today and hope to visit many more times in the future.
I have to say, that I could not agree with you in 100%, but it’s just my opinion, which could be wrong.
Nice website. Great online affiliate program. Thank you.
Thanks for your nice words.
Maybe it is caused by the theme of your page, but it can be ofcourse due to CPU.
Your page is also nice.. Bye
First off nice page. Im unsure if it has been talked about, but when using Safari I can never get the entire page to load without refreshing many times. Maybe just my CPU. Appreciate your work