Earlier this month, we headed over to Las Vegas for the CES 2012 consumer technology show, where manufacturers present upcoming products and all kinds of crazy futuristic technology. We were expecting to see tons of tablets, Windows 8 strutting its stuff, and LED-packed TVs all over, but things didn't turn out quite as predicted ...
All in all, we were pretty satisfied with the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. With plenty of surprises, interesting decisions and technological turning-points (or sometimes a more telling lack of them), the year's number one technology trade show didn't disappoint.
Most people would probably choose the 55" OLED TVs presented by LG and Samsung, due for release in mid-2012, as the stars of this year's show. The huge crowds of people flocking to admire them were suitably impressive, as were the flattering comments heard left, right and centre. After spending a few hours inspecting both of these TVs up-close, we have to admit we had a slight preference for the Samsung model.
But there's one TV that impressed us even more than these OLED models—LG's 84'' Quad HD TV complete with passive 3D. We were blown away by this TV, as much by its resolution as its excellent performances in 3D!
One surprising thing we spotted at this year's event was an LCD TV with passive 3D from none other than active-shutter die-hard Panasonic.
Otherwise, Samsung assured us that its new Series 6 TVs wouldn't have the same 3D resolution issues as 2011's models. We also saw that motion and voice controls worked much better in Samsung TVs than LG TVs, and heard Sony promise an end to panel-switching in 2012. Similarly, we learned that Sharp would be sticking to big screen sizes from now on.
One thing we found notably absent from CES 2012 was Windows 8. We were expecting to see an official presentation with plenty of hype, backed up by loads of prototypes of smartphones, tablets, touchscreen notebooks and all-in-one computers running Microsoft's upcoming OS. Unfortunately, we saw nothing of the kind—just a few sub-standard demos from Microsoft and a couple of computers we weren't even allowed to touch on the Sony stand. Needless to say, we were a bit disappointed.
The only noteworthy information we picked up about the new OS was that Microsoft is apparently slating Windows 8 for release in mid-October 2012. As a result, PC-makers will probably start including free upgrade coupons with Windows 7 PCs from about six months before the confirmed release date. We can therefore expect to see them arrive sometime around May.
PC power seems to have been temporarily sidelined as the priorities for laptop manufacturers in 2012 appear to be sleek metal casings and focused product functionality (woohoo, web browsing!). With anyone who's anyone in the IT world seen presenting an ultrabook, it's only logical to see pure processing power take a back seat for the time being while laptop-makers compete in this new sector. We just wish notebook-makers would take the opportunity to do something about screen quality, as the first ultrabook displays we've tested have proved pretty awful!
One particularly interesting piece of news about ultrabooks came from Intel, who predicted that over half of the models released in 2012 would be 14 or 15'' in size, with Samsung's Series 5 model leading the charge.
We were expecting to see loads of touchscreen tablets presented at CES 2012, but we found that smartphones had moved back into the spotlight in the market for mobile devices. Intel's arrival (finally!) in the mobile processor sector is big news too, as the firm's single-core Athom Medfield CPU can run Android just as smoothly as all the double- triple- and even quad-core models out there. That's sure to spice up competition in the mobile CPU world! The first phone to use Intel's new chip will be the Lenovo K800.
The race to make the thinnest handset is set to continue this year too. The Samsung Galaxy S II and Motorola Razr can now stand aside for Chinese manufacturer Huawei's Ascend P1 and P1S, measuring 7.68 and 6.68 mm (currently the world's slimmest phone!). Fujitsu was also seen showing off the super-slim Arrows, a waterproof handset with an OLED screen, a high-power battery and a casing that's just 6.7 mm thick. Otherwise, we saw Motorola working to expand its smartphone range and Nokia restoring some of the brand's former glory with the Lumia range.
Compared with the barrage of tablets we were prepared for, touchscreen slate PCs seemed rather thin on the ground this year. We did, however, manage to get a look at some new products using the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and Android 4, like the Acer Iconia Tab A510 and the Asus EeePad Transformer Prime HD. In fact, it could well be Asus that makes the biggest splash in this year's tablet market, announcing a 7-inch model with Tegra 3 CPU and Android 4 for just $250 (MeMo 370T). Competitors will no doubt follow suit before too long though, as the entry-level market is already being eaten up by one heavyweight device ...
While Olympus and Kodak seem to have slid off the scene, the other camera-makers present at CES 2012 seemed only to be presenting entry-level models. In fact, only Fujifilm and Canon looked to be out to impress with some higher-end specimens.
In terms of its style and relative appeal, the Canon G1-X is closely related to the firm's G12 expert compact. However, this new snapper has an all-new sensor with a surface area six times larger than previous-generation models.
Fujifilm, on the other hand, is continuing its quest to offer a full range of interchangeable lens compacts, with models for all tastes and budgets. With its ultra-high-end price tag (approx. $2,400!), the X-Pro1 therefore lines up with Sony's NEX-7 as a top-of-the-range mirrorless snapper for users with cash to splash. Another trend for high-end cameras in 2012 seems to be a taste for retro designs ...
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As well as previewing products due to hit the market this year, CES is also about new technologies. We spotted all kinds of futuristic creations on display, including windows that double up as touchscreen devices, new types of screen technology and user-controlled viewing.
Relegated to the edge of Samsung's stand, we found a transparent connected touchscreen which, although not yet Full HD, was still a pretty incredible prototype. On demand, this transparent display could block out daylight, display information and interact with users. Maybe one day all our windows will be like this ... although it'll be interesting to see how this kind of display stands up to a couple of years' exposure to direct sunlight!
Sony, on the other hand, is developing its own alternative to OLED technology, called Cristal LED. This is actually quite a similar concept to Full LED (but without the LCD panel), where each pixel has a group of RGB plus white LEDs. That adds up to millions of LEDs for millions of pixels and onscreen image quality that we found simply captivating in the trial models.
Finally, Technicolor was presenting a system that could soon be the future of sports broadcasting, based on groups of wide-angle cameras placed at different strategic locations around a stadium. Viewers were then able to choose their own camera angles, zoom in and out of the action, or follow a particular player with no restrictions! Impressive stuff!
Aside from TVs, cameras, laptops and smartphones, there's plenty of innovative automotive technology on display at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Audi, Kia, Mercedes and plenty more manufacturers presented windscreens that doubled up as displays, but we were most impressed by Audi's prototype.
Cars weren't the only vehicles on display either ... if you can call the likes of the SoloWheel a vehicle. This new way of getting around is like a cross between a Segway and a unicycle—it's a single wheel with a footplate on either side that runs on an electric motor. It can travel up to 25 km on a single charge and reach a maximum speed of 16 kilometres per hour (about 10 miles per hour)!
The Arrival Of OLED TVs And Quad HD
One surprising thing we spotted at this year's event was an LCD TV with passive 3D from none other than active-shutter die-hard Panasonic.
Otherwise, Samsung assured us that its new Series 6 TVs wouldn't have the same 3D resolution issues as 2011's models. We also saw that motion and voice controls worked much better in Samsung TVs than LG TVs, and heard Sony promise an end to panel-switching in 2012. Similarly, we learned that Sharp would be sticking to big screen sizes from now on.
Windows 8 Upgrade Coupons From May 2012?
The only noteworthy information we picked up about the new OS was that Microsoft is apparently slating Windows 8 for release in mid-October 2012. As a result, PC-makers will probably start including free upgrade coupons with Windows 7 PCs from about six months before the confirmed release date. We can therefore expect to see them arrive sometime around May.
PCs Set To Get Thinner!
One particularly interesting piece of news about ultrabooks came from Intel, who predicted that over half of the models released in 2012 would be 14 or 15'' in size, with Samsung's Series 5 model leading the charge.
Slimmer, Faster Smartphones Overshadow Tablets
The race to make the thinnest handset is set to continue this year too. The Samsung Galaxy S II and Motorola Razr can now stand aside for Chinese manufacturer Huawei's Ascend P1 and P1S, measuring 7.68 and 6.68 mm (currently the world's slimmest phone!). Fujitsu was also seen showing off the super-slim Arrows, a waterproof handset with an OLED screen, a high-power battery and a casing that's just 6.7 mm thick. Otherwise, we saw Motorola working to expand its smartphone range and Nokia restoring some of the brand's former glory with the Lumia range.
Compared with the barrage of tablets we were prepared for, touchscreen slate PCs seemed rather thin on the ground this year. We did, however, manage to get a look at some new products using the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and Android 4, like the Acer Iconia Tab A510 and the Asus EeePad Transformer Prime HD. In fact, it could well be Asus that makes the biggest splash in this year's tablet market, announcing a 7-inch model with Tegra 3 CPU and Android 4 for just $250 (MeMo 370T). Competitors will no doubt follow suit before too long though, as the entry-level market is already being eaten up by one heavyweight device ...
High-End Cameras From Canon and Fujifilm
In terms of its style and relative appeal, the Canon G1-X is closely related to the firm's G12 expert compact. However, this new snapper has an all-new sensor with a surface area six times larger than previous-generation models.
Fujifilm, on the other hand, is continuing its quest to offer a full range of interchangeable lens compacts, with models for all tastes and budgets. With its ultra-high-end price tag (approx. $2,400!), the X-Pro1 therefore lines up with Sony's NEX-7 as a top-of-the-range mirrorless snapper for users with cash to splash. Another trend for high-end cameras in 2012 seems to be a taste for retro designs ...
Prototypes: A Glimpse Of Future
Relegated to the edge of Samsung's stand, we found a transparent connected touchscreen which, although not yet Full HD, was still a pretty incredible prototype. On demand, this transparent display could block out daylight, display information and interact with users. Maybe one day all our windows will be like this ... although it'll be interesting to see how this kind of display stands up to a couple of years' exposure to direct sunlight!
Sony, on the other hand, is developing its own alternative to OLED technology, called Cristal LED. This is actually quite a similar concept to Full LED (but without the LCD panel), where each pixel has a group of RGB plus white LEDs. That adds up to millions of LEDs for millions of pixels and onscreen image quality that we found simply captivating in the trial models.
Finally, Technicolor was presenting a system that could soon be the future of sports broadcasting, based on groups of wide-angle cameras placed at different strategic locations around a stadium. Viewers were then able to choose their own camera angles, zoom in and out of the action, or follow a particular player with no restrictions! Impressive stuff!
Life In The Fast Lane
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Audi, Kia, Mercedes and plenty more manufacturers presented windscreens that doubled up as displays, but we were most impressed by Audi's prototype.
Cars weren't the only vehicles on display either ... if you can call the likes of the SoloWheel a vehicle. This new way of getting around is like a cross between a Segway and a unicycle—it's a single wheel with a footplate on either side that runs on an electric motor. It can travel up to 25 km on a single charge and reach a maximum speed of 16 kilometres per hour (about 10 miles per hour)!
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