Jan 8 Podcast #407: Preview of CES 2010
Podcast 
We know its kind of late to be talking about what we expect to see at CES since there is only two days left of the show, but what the heck. Here we go!
Listen to the show
Today's Show:
News:
- Netflix, Warner Bros. reach new deal
- Redbox rings in New Year with 2 million rentals
- New Technology Streams HD Video Quickly
- Samsung sold 2.6 million LED LCD TVs in 2009, expects 10 million in 2010
- VIZIO TVs, Blu-ray to use Wireless HD
Other:
- New Year and CES, both full of promise
- Thinnest HDTV from LG
- HDTVs/Home theater at CES 2010: What are you most looking forward to?
- D-LINK Debut Boxee Box AT CES 2010
- Panasonic does it again, introduces 152-inch 3D 4k HDTV
- Samsung Apps opens home theater devices to software developers
- Toshiba introduces ZX900 Series 55-inch and 65-inch Cell TVs for the US
What we expect to see at CES
We know its kind of late to be talking about what we expect to see at CES since there is only two days left of the show, but what the heck. Here we go!
Speakers - We typically don't expect anything big in the way of speakers but we got an email from Marcus asking us to check out a Klipsch speaker system that screws in like a light bulb. The system is based on a LED light and a wireless speaker that operates on the 2.4 Ghz frequency. A base station and two speakers go for $600. A standalone speaker goes for $250
Tablet PCs - We know the rumored Applet Tablet won't show up at CES. Apple will wait until they have everyone's undivided attention, but Google should be showing their new phone, the Nexus One, and may even have a tablet as well. There are also rumors about a Microsoft/HP tablet.
Boxee Box - We have been big fans of Boxee for a while. While we think the pictures of the stand alone box look interesting we will hold judgment until we see it in person. We're hoping to get a little hands on time with the device. More info...
OLED - We are hoping to see anything new here. Hopefully LG will show something larger than 11 inches!
Rear Projection TVs - A few years ago we scoured the show floor looking for CRT TVs, this year we'll look to see if any RearPro TVs remain. Will Mitsubishi bring any, or will we witness the death of another TV technology?
Wireless Audio/Video Distribution - We've seen wireless HD at the last two CES shows but this year we are hoping to see HD video distribution. How cool will that be to have all your gear in one spot and send it wirelessly throughout the house.
Plasma TVs - Along the same lines as RearPro, we really only expect to see plasma TVs in the Panasonic booth. It's too bad because in years past plasma, specifically Pioneer Kuro plasma, had been the highlight of the show for us. Another technology gone? probably too early to say. Maybe Panasonic will have something as good as the Kuro to show.
Sharp's Quad Pixel technology - Sharp is adding a forth color, yellow, to each pixel on their LCD TVs, supposedly increasing the color gamut to more than a trillion of colors. Should look pretty awesome and unlike 3d, provide a viewing experience that benefits the typical TV experience.
Thin is in! - LG will be showing a 42 inch LCD that's only 2.6 mm thick.
Gadgets galore - There are pictures popping up of all sorts of gadgets. Stuff like universal remotes with larger than normal LCD screens that run widgets from your home PC so you don't need widgets on your TV.
3D - While we are not very enthused about this technology, it is all the buzz at the show. We've seen 3D at every show since we've been going. We'll report on any progress in this area.
Toshiba's Cell TV - Toshiba should be showing a TV with a built in cell microprocessor, 1TB hard drive and a Blu-ray player. It should be able to do everything your TV, cable box, computer and blu-ray player do, and then some, all in one unit. And it will even rip Blu-ray and DVD movies to the internal hard drive. Nice.
Something really cool! - Each year there is something that blows us away that we had no idea we'd see.
Reader Comments (9)
I agree that Boxee Box does not fit in-between the rest of my home theatre...and wanted to point out that D-LINK news link does not work.
Hi guys-
I just wanted to comment on the rent only discs that blockbuster offers, like "4 christmases" on which you CANNOT skip the previews..
That is not the only movie you'll get with those annoying features, I also rented "the Hangover" and it has the same problem so when I returned them I talked to the person at BB and he said that most of "Warner Video" movies have that and you can distinguish that by looking at the disc that is clearly different and has the big words "RENT VERSION" printed on the disc..
So I agree with Ara that is really, really annoying, I just wonder if it's the same with the discs that "red box" and "netflix" offer.
Anyway great show keep it up and I just added your link to Amazon to my bookmarks ;)
-George-
Thanks George!
The Warner Netfilix deal I read as Netflix will not rent the current stuff until after 28 days. They still will not stream current titles. Netflix will just get more of Warner's back catalog to stream. I have not seen anything that says they will get to stream current movies.
Also this 3D thing just seems like a bunch of hype. I don't get it. ESPN 3D football??? How does that work on a 32 inch screen TV, the players still seem small. Can I see with the glasses to make fridge run? Also If you are off to the side of screen the 3D looses some of its effect. How is this going to work in sports bar, not well would be my guess. I think they are pushing it because it is hard to pirate. There is no 3D standard for divx or mp4 that I am aware of. I am not sure how well compressed 3D would look anyway. I just upgraded all my equipment so I am not about to turn around and buy new stuff again. You need a new TV, new reciever and new cables to support this HDMI 1.4 standard required for 3D.
3D in the theater is awesome. Love it. Just not worth the hassle in my home. I have enough trouble with kids losing a remote in the cushions now. The manufacturers want me to keep up with glasses too? How often will those break? Something else for me to buy. No Thanks.
Great show.
Kevin
In regards to the wireless video disucssion using N, I don't know if you would have an issue with too many wireess people using it in one place, BUT I would ague that peopl linving in an apartment complex would need it MORE. When you have a house you can alter things so you can hide wires. in an apt, you have a lot of concerns from your landlord as far as what you can and can't do. A wireless solution helps elimiate that.
In regards to the rumored Apple tablet. I think it could find traction with a more "mature" audience. As someone on the other side of 50, the tiny print on a web page is getting more difficult to read on an iPhone (do you agree Ara?)! I think a tablet PC with a screen of 5 to 9 inches would be a good compromise. Also, you could add a full keyboard, mouse, etc to make it a fully featured PC when at home.
-Tom
Who says I'm on the other side of 50? Seriously, I agree! When I forget my glasses my iPhone is almost unusable.
Ara
hey guys--
David Pogue injects some truth serum about 3DTV here..
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/01/14/technology/personaltech/1247466545397/the-truth-serum-about-3-d-tv.html
Those Klipsch Lightspeaker System 5.2.2 Architectural Speaker Pair are on sale today for $249.99. with the Coupon code "EMCYTZT354 ". They are normally $600.
http://bit.ly/ej5qUI