Even before the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show officially opens its doors, we are offered a sneak preview into what to expect via what is known as “Press Day.” It’s a whole day of press conferences, meaning I had a lot of lining up and fighting for seats to do. Even so, the wait is definitely worth it, because some pretty big announcements happen at these things. So, what did we see?
LG: Smarter Throughout the Home
My morning started bright and early with the folks from LG Electronics. We were told that LG is going to be “Simply Smarter” for this show, not only showcasing the usual array of home entertainment and mobile devices, but also “smart” appliances for the first time at a CES.
Using “THINQ” technology, everything from your oven to your fridge can be “smarter.” You get better food management over Wi-Fi, recipes displayed on your refrigerator door’s LCD screen, new cycles downloaded wirelessly to your washer and dryer, and so on. You can even get a text message from your oven when your roast is ready.
In addition to “Smart TV” products with Internet connectivity and apps, LG also offered a Smart TV Upgrader set-top box. This can convert any TV to a “smart” TV via HDMI. On the smartphone front, we saw the Optimus 2X dual-core smartphone and the Optimus Black with a 700 nit NOVA display.
Netgear: 15 Years of Networking
Believe it or not, Netgear has been around for a solid fifteen years. They recognize that the Internet needs of the average consumer have changed drastically during that time, moving from just regular data to streaming media and online games. As a result, any “jitteriness” cannot be tolerated.
Netgear unveiled several new products, but one of the bigger highlights was the Netgear N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router. This was built to offer “high performance wireless for AV networks, HD video and gaming.” One key feature is the Netgear-exclusive Clear Channel technology. This allows the router to scan nearby Wi-Fi networks and select the channel that would offer you the best fidelity.
Other highlights include the Universal Internet Adapter for Home Theater 3D & HD, which is the first 500Mbps powerline solution, and the Universal WiFi Range Extender, which plugs into any wall outlet to act as a wireless bridge.
Cisco: Introducing Videoscape
Cisco tells us that “the network is the platform.” Instead of focusing on the hardware, Cisco is more interested in developing an architecture and software to support the ability to enjoy “any content on any screen.”
It is with that philosophy that Cisco unveiled Videoscape. Instead of having compartmentalized channels, you can access everything from a single interface, whether it be conventional TV, partner sources like iTunes, or social video sources like Facebook, YouTube, and Cisco’s own Flip camcorders.
The software client can be loaded on any number of different devices, including set-top boxes, mobile phones, tablets, and so on. Everything is synchronized through the cloud, allowing you to pay once and have access anywhere.
Samsung: What a Thin Bezel You Have!
Samsung is promising “the smarter life” with its CES 2011 lineup. At last year’s press conference, we learned about the Samsung Apps that would be found on a range of televisions. this year, we learn that a full two-thirds of models will offer that “smart” functionality. There have been 1.5 million downloads of the 300 apps (and counting) thus far.
It’s one thing to have a television with a thin profile, but you still have an unsightly bezel going all the way around your display. Well, Samsung just got on the cutting edge, so to speak, by offering the D8000 LCD TV with a bezel no wider than a pencil. The metal bezel is just 0.2-inches all around.
On the plasma front, they’re offering thinner bezels too. The outside diameter of the televisions will remain the same, but the actual screen size is stretched by one extra inch. Your 42-inch plasma just turned into a 43-incher.
Panasonic: End-to-End 3D Video for All
Panasonic was proud to unveil its consumer-level 3D camcorder at CES 2010. This year, they’re extending that idea by offering a full end-to-end 3D experience for the world. You can shoot 3D pics with the Panasonic GF2, for example, if you grab the optional 3D lens.
Naturally, Panasonic is offering a range of 3D televisions and 3D glasses too, but they want to take it even further with 3D video conferencing as well. This extends the Skype TV functionality that they touted in 2010.
VieraCast, which was originally shown to be a way of getting more online content on your TV, has been rebranded as VieraConnect, complete with VieraConnect Market for TV-optimized apps. You can expect everything from HuluPlus to Ustream and more.
Motorola: New Android Hotness
Motorola thought it was on top of the world with RAZR, until the rest of the industry continued to innovate as it sat idly by on its slim flip phone. The good news is that Motorola has really brought back its “A” game with its line of Android devices. The unveilings at this year’s CES are no exception.
Easily the most eye-catching of them all is the Motorola Atrix 4G. Set to become available through AT&T, Bell Canada, and Orange UK, this phone gets powered by a peppy dual core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 4G connectivity. The real kicker, though, comes from the two docking stations. One effectively converts the phone into an 11.6-inch netbook, complete with a custom “Webtop” interface that is closer to a “real computer” experience, complete with a full desktop version of Firefox and Flash 10.1 support.
Among the other announcements were the new Motorola Bionic (with 4G LTE via Verizon) and the Motorola CLIQ 2 (with MOTOBLUR for T-Mobile), both of which do the Android thing in a particularly expedient manner. Not surprisingly, Motorola also formally unveiled its Motorola XOOM, an Android Honeycomb powered tablet that’ll get the Verizon LTE treatment later this year.
Always More to See at CES 2011
We’re frantically working on getting your more news, videos, and coverage of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Keep an eye on our Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channels, as well as the main Futurelooks site for more as it develops. We’ve also got more pics from our press day after the break.
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CES 2011 – Futurelooks Press Day Round Up – Photo Gallery
