CES 2013: 7 Standout Technologies

8Comments | Michael Endler | January 08, 2013 11:06 AM

What happens at CES 2013 doesn't stay in Vegas. From giant tablets to $20,000 televisions, take a peek at a few early standouts for gadget lovers.

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84-inches, 8-million pixels and $20,000

LG is bringing lots of televisions to CES, including new Google-infused models that feature an improved user interface and are responsive to voice commands. Those sets weren't part of Sunday's festivities, but the company did haul in its gargantuan 84-inch Ultra HD TV. The company recently announced that the model would be complemented by 55-inch and 65-inch models, both of which will be part of LG's main CES exhibit.

Winner of the Video Display category at the 2013 International CES Innovations Awards, the TV boasts 3840 x 2160-pixel resolution, pushing 8 million pixels per frame for an image four times denser than those offered by 1080p sets. It also includes 3-D capabilities and access to LG's Smart TV ecosystem, which includes upwards of 1,400 apps. Not a lot of content is available for 4K -- a point that was perhaps unintentionally underscored by the fact that the CES Unveiled exhibit continuously looped a series of time-lapse videos. The chance to bask in a high-res Hollywood explosion or car chase was nowhere to be found. Even so, the imagery was arresting and vivid, if a bit oversaturated.

Despite a lot of hoopla, Ultra HD is still seen as a niche market -- and with a $20,000 price tag, LG's model illustrates the primary barrier to entry. Then again, at only 80% the cost of Sony's comparable 4K set, this TV might be -- at least to affluent home entertainment enthusiasts -- a bargain.

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