CES 2014: 8 Technologies To Watch
Giant TVs, laser-equipped cars, wearable computers -- it must be the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show. Which products will dazzle?
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The Consumer Electronics Show kicks off next week in Las Vegas, which means somewhere in the neighborhood of 150,000 people will flock to the desert, eager to learn where the tech industry will place its bets for the upcoming year.
"Bets" is an appropriate term -- and not just because of the venue. Some of the technologies recently hyped at CES haven't paid off. None of the exhibitors gambling on 3D televisions have been rewarded yet, for example.
But CES is also a launchpad for many of today's most compelling trends. Smartphones with bendable or curved displays could become the norm before long -- and Samsung prophesied as much at last year's CES, when it demonstrated its flexible glass technology. 3D printing, smart cars, connected fitness devices, and wearable technology were other CES 2013 trends that appear poised to break out in 2014.
CES 2014 will feature more than 3,000 exhibitors. That's more than the Las Vegas Convention Center's 3.2 million square feet can accommodate, so attendees will be scrambling not only around the crowded exhibits, but also into meeting rooms and conference halls spread across nearby hotels. Product demonstrations aren't the only attraction. The keynote lineup includes such heavy hitters as Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and Cisco CEO John Chambers.
Las Vegas is a monument to conspicuous consumption, so some of the hubbub inevitably will revolve around vapid first-world problems. I'm looking at you, $650 crocodile-skin iPhone case. But even if you're a hardened cynic, CES should offer something to inspire; from wearable devices to the Internet of Things to solar-powered cars, many of the products at this year's show use technologies that could literally change the world.
And if you're not a tech cynic, you're in for a treat. There will be enough tablets, ultrabooks, TVs, and cameras to exhaust even the most enthusiastic of technophiles. TV manufacturers appear determined to make 4K sets a bigger deal than their 3D predecessors, and though the biggest, most glorious models still target people who also own private jets, some will be available to mere mortals.
In a sign of the PC industry's ongoing power shift, several manufacturers will showcase desktop machines that run operating systems other than Windows. 3D printing also could push further into the mainstream at CES 2014.
This year's show runs Jan. 7-10 and InformationWeek will be there to bring you news and analysis. In the meantime, we've collected some of the cooler products slated to appear. Will a car with laser-beam headlights enthrall your inner motorist? What about a big-screen TV that curves around you? Or perhaps one of the new low-budget tablets? Click through our slideshow to see what's cooking at CES 2014.
Michael Endler joined InformationWeek as an associate editor in 2012. He graduated from Stanford in 2005 and previously worked in talent representation, as a freelance copywriter and photojournalist, and as a teacher.
Announced Jan. 2, Ford's C-Max Solar Energi concept car achieves an EPA-estimated 108 MPGe in the city and 92 MPGe on the highway. Given that it's a solar-powered car, its great mileage is not all that surprising. What is surprising: the vehicle's overall capability.
With a range of 620 miles, it equals its predecessor, the plug-in hybrid C-Max Energi. Ford claims the Solar Energi could reduce the average car owner's annual greenhouse gas emissions by four metric tons, and that the vehicle, which retains an electrical charge port, absorbs enough sunlight daily to equal a four-hour electrical charge. The Solar Energi is just a concept for now, but Ford plans to test the car in conjunction with Georgia Tech to determine if it is viable for mass production.
While Apple sticks with premium pricing, other tablet manufacturers have turned to budget-priced models to drive volume. Acer on Friday announced two affordable Android tablets that will be on display at the show: the Iconia A1-830 and Iconia B1-720. The 830 features a 7.9-inch, 1024-by-768-pixel screen, 1 GB of RAM, an Intel Atom 1.6-GHz CPU, and 16 GB of online storage. Acer said the tablet lasts seven hours on one charge and will sell for $180. The more modest B1-720 sports a 7-inch screen and a 1.3-GHz dual-core processor and has a battery life of only five hours. It will retail for $130.
Other tablets will be even easier on the wallet. Datawind's $38 Android-powered UbiSlate tablet (pictured above) is coming to the U.S. market and will be displayed at CES. The company claims the device already outsells the iPad in India, where it has been available since last year. The UbiSlate and other budget tablets will command attention -- but must deliver a decent user experience to make a real impact.
Online reports and supply chain rumors coming out of Asia predict that Samsung will launch a new product at CES. Samsung watchers predict the company will wait at least until February's Mobile World Conference to launch its next flagship smartphone, the much-anticipated Galaxy S5. But the reports also claim Samsung may debut a 10.5-inch Galaxy tablet in January at CES. Samsung has certainly shown a willingness to experiment with many different screen sizes, and a premium full-size tablet could help it compete with Apple's iPad Air for the attention of well-heeled technophiles, schools, and businesses.
Both Samsung and LG have already confirmed they'll be bringing huge 4K TVs with curved screens to CES. Neither company has yet confirmed what will inevitably be astronomical pricing for the biggest sets, each of which has a 105-inch screen and measures more than eight feet wide. The TVs ostensibly target the affluent cinema enthusiast. Both models feature a 21:9 aspect ratio and a 5120-by-2160-pixel resolution -- good enough for 11 million total pixels, or around four times the resolution of the now-standard 1080p TV.
The largest curved sets rely on LED technology, but OLED screens and their deeply saturated colors will also be a big part of the luxury TV announcements. LG has already confirmed it will showcase curved OLED models with screen sizes ranging from 55 to 75 inches. LG is also rumored to debut a smart TV interface based on WebOS, the platform that once powered Palm and HP devices. LG acquired WebOS from HP last year.
Manufacturers seem determined to make 4K a bigger success than 3D has been. Sony, for example, has said Ultra HD resolutions will be a theme in its CES exhibits. But 4K sets come with challenges; to enjoy a Retina-like experience on a large 4K screen, with no pixels individually discernible, the viewer must sit fairly far from the television. In affluent but housing-challenged cities such as a New York and San Francisco, even the wealthy people who might be able to afford an $80,000 television might not have the space to use it.
There's also a current dearth of native 4K content to watch on these expensive sets. Looking ahead, movie makers are shooting more films in high resolution, and both YouTube and Netflix say 4K streaming is in the pipeline.
CES will feature desktop PCs that don't run Windows -- and we're not talking about the new Mac Pro.
LG has already announced that its new Chromebase all-in-one desktop will be at CES. The iMac-like computer runs Chrome OS, boasts a 21.5-inch 1080p screen, 2 GB of RAM, an Intel Celeron processor, a 720p webcam, and a variety of peripheral ports. In keeping with Chrome OS's cloud-based vision, it comes with a relatively stingy 16 GB of storage, though. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but Chromebooks manufacturers have carved out a niche by targeting budget prices, and it's possible LG will follow the same strategy with its new desktop.
In a related vein, The Verge reported that Intel has worked with PC manufacturers to produce Windows 8.1 devices that can run Android apps without having to reboot. The concept isn't exactly an endorsement of the Windows Store's selection of touch apps, but it could make Windows 8.1 devices a more viable choice for consumers. Samsung has already experimented with the concept with its Windows-based Ativ Q tablet. With a spate of Windows-Android hybrids reportedly coming to CES, the strategy could be spreading.
Wearable devices will be one of the major themes at this year's CES. Though the fledgling product category continues to generate headlines, we haven't seen one breakout success among the current examples, such as Samsung's Galaxy Gear or Google's Glass.
A slew of fitness-oriented start-ups will showcase bracelets that track the wearer's activity and report the data to a smartphone app. With the "quantified self" a popular meme, look for these gadgets to grab a lot of attention.
Bigger players also want to join the wearable-device game. According to an online leak, LG will debut the Lifeband Touch, a fitness-tracking wristband that will monitor the user's exercise and synch with LG smartphones.
Sony is also expected to release a new smartwatch, if its FCC filings are any indication. But will anyone beat Microsoft by debuting a market-ready smart bra?
Not all 4K TV sets will be prohibitively expensive. Several companies will show 4K sets priced for the rest of us.
Polaroid plans to debut a $999 4K 50-inch set at CES, as well as a $599 50-inch 1080p smart TV that will include a Roku streaming stick that can access over 1,000 entertainment channels. Whether these and other budget-priced 4K products will deliver a quality picture remains to be seen. The fact that Polaroid is making budget TVs instead of high-end camera equipment is indicative of how far the once-mighty company has fallen. But Polaroid's aggressive pricing will stand out.
Though it's not a TV, Dell's 28 Ultra HD Monitor could be a 4K standout. At less than $1000, the monitor could be a major draw for gamers and digital artists.
Smartphone and tablet OEMs have also begun to duel over screen resolution, so it shouldn't be surprising to see small screens with eye-popping new resolutions, too.
While Ford has turned to sunlight for automotive innovation, Audi has focused on lasers. The German car company will bring a concept car called the Sport Quattro Laserlight to CES, an almost identical twin to the 700-horsepower Sport Quattro concept car it showed off earlier this fall. The difference? The new model uses lasers instead of LEDs for headlights. Audi claims the new tech illuminates the road up to 1600 feet ahead, providing twice the light range and three times the brightness of today's high beams.
Cruising down dark streets with a laser-equipped luxury coupe not your thing? CES will offer other automotive advances to leave you yearning for the open road. The Consumer Electronics Association estimates that 17% of U.S. households now own a car with a connected communication and safety system, which was a major theme at last year's show. It's almost certain that CES 2014 will include more of the same, given that this year's automotive exhibits will cover more than 140,000 square feet, 25% more than in 2013. Audi chairman Rupert Stadler is among the conference's speakers, so the company might have a few surprises beyond lasers up its sleeve.
While Ford has turned to sunlight for automotive innovation, Audi has focused on lasers. The German car company will bring a concept car called the Sport Quattro Laserlight to CES, an almost identical twin to the 700-horsepower Sport Quattro concept car it showed off earlier this fall. The difference? The new model uses lasers instead of LEDs for headlights. Audi claims the new tech illuminates the road up to 1600 feet ahead, providing twice the light range and three times the brightness of today's high beams.
Cruising down dark streets with a laser-equipped luxury coupe not your thing? CES will offer other automotive advances to leave you yearning for the open road. The Consumer Electronics Association estimates that 17% of U.S. households now own a car with a connected communication and safety system, which was a major theme at last year's show. It's almost certain that CES 2014 will include more of the same, given that this year's automotive exhibits will cover more than 140,000 square feet, 25% more than in 2013. Audi chairman Rupert Stadler is among the conference's speakers, so the company might have a few surprises beyond lasers up its sleeve.
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