Tablets and 3D TVs Galore at CES 2012
Clayton Morris previews the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS – Okay Las Vegas. Let's do this.
I just arrived in Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show. I am pretty sure I know what to expect but then again, the show is designed to show off wonders in technology never seen before so I'm ready to be wowed.
Here is what will not surprise me: Android tablets. I expect the show to be littered with as many Android tablets as the streets of Las Vegas are littered with flyers for topless bars. They'll be everywhere. A few of them may even be memorable.
Last year's show had more Android tablets than I could count, all running Honeycomb, the version of Android that was optimized for tablets. This year the tablets will be running Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest version of Android optimized for tablets.
Don't get me wrong, Android tablets are nice but even with a speedy processor and operating system, it is tough to compete with the iPad 2 and the Kindle Fire. I'm prepared to be impressed but can't really imagine how a manufacturer can stand out in the legion of Android tablets on the show floor.
I also expect a lot of innovation in consumer-grade cameras. This is the first year that the annual Photo Marketing Association's camera show overlaps with CES so the industry's new cameras will be on display along with other electronics.
Digital cameras have to really wow these days in order for consumers to take note since we are all carrying such great cameras in our cell phones. I expect to see more bang for your buck in camera innovation, both in the point-and-shoots, as well as in the high-end removable lens point-and-shoots, and of course the ultra high-end digital SLRs.
What I am most excited about is a more interactive television experience. TVs can do a lot these days. They can access the Internet, stream movies and TV shows, and give me information like weather, sports, and stock prices. But the remote control hasn't really evolved to meet these new capabilities and the TV doesn't seem to want to talk to me as much as I want to talk to it.
I expect the TV to become a lot more like my computer. I expect to see TVs with more advanced remote controls, including a full QWERTY keyboard, motion control, and voice control. LG already has a product close to this with the LG Magic Wand and I am expecting a lot more like it. It's time that our TV lets us interact with it a little. Have a little chat. I just hope it doesn't listen when I'm watching sports. I don't always talk nicely in those cases.
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