The Top 7 Newsmakers from CES 2012
With all evidence of the Consumer Electronics Show now wiped clean from the floors of Las Vegas, and everyone's hangovers fully faded, it's a good time to reflect back on what we actually saw. Future Shop's Elliot Chun broke down the top seven newsmakers from CES 2012 for us:
• Televisions. The future of TV can be viewed as simply as this: better picture quality. Less talk about smart or streaming or 3D—it’s back to the basics. Now it's about getting the best picture and resolution possible through OLED, 4K, Crystal Display, and 8K. TVs are also getting more advanced with built-in cameras and voice control features.
• Ultrabooks. More than 75 models are set to launch in 2012 and of those, 50% will have 14- and 15-inch displays.
• Smart appliances. The connected world was demonstrated through wifi-enabled appliances controllable by smartphones. Both Samsung and LG had the powers of connected appliances prominently on display.
• Tablets. Next-generation tablets were paraded by major manufacturers. While smartphones were being unveiled in larger formats, such as the new Samsung Galaxy Note with whopping 5.3-inch screen, some tablets were shown in smaller formats, like Toshiba showcasing a 5.1” tablet.
• Connected cars. Another interesting announcement from CES included Facebook in cars with the Mercedes-Benz in-vehicle telematics system, designed for drivers and centered around the location of friends and businesses.
• Microsoft also generated a lot of media attention. It was their final keynote at CES, announcing they would no longer participate in the show after this year.
• Celebrities. From Justin Bieber to Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clark to 50 Cent, Dennis Rodman to Robert Horry, each day at CES offered hordes of celebrities. Part of the fun of CES is seeing them at their assigned booths or randomly touring the show floor. They certainly add a level of excitement.
