CES 2008

Don't be surprised if the home video headlines at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show look like reruns of the past four or five years. The big themes will continue to be the Blu-ray/HD DVD format war, network video delivery, and the slow but steady transition from analog to digital broadcasting.

Best in Show CES 2007: LG BH100

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Every year seems to be "the year" for network video streaming, and 2008 is no exception. Expect more units with wireless-N capabilities and bundled with every audio and video codec you can imagine. But for the category to ever go mainstream, the bigger issues--securing A-list content, simplifying setup chores, and improving reliability and quality--need to be addressed. And while Apple won't be at CES, the following week's MacWorld conference could well see Apple announcing an upgrade for Apple TV, allowing users to purchase video directly from the device--something the iPhone and iPod Touch can already do with music.

Consumer electronics manufacturers pretty much dropped the ball on DVD-recorders with digital high-def tuners this year, so more robust models should crop up with support for true HD pass-through and electronic programming guides (EPGs) utilizing program guide data already embedded in the digital ATSC signal. Along the same lines, we're hoping to see some standalone DVRs designed to be primarily used with over-the-air ATSC signals, which is another product consumers were missing in 2007.

2007: A look back
Last year, when we picked the LG BH100 as the Best of CES overall winner, we made a much bigger deal of the fact that the combination Blu-ray/HD DVD player actually existed than of its astronomical price tag. The combo player went on to receive a lukewarm reception in the market, a reception that wasn't helped by the eventual CNET review, from which we'll quote: "After thoroughly testing the BH100, we learned a few things that gave us cause for concern: no CD playback, somewhat limited HD DVD functionality, and subpar soundtrack support, to name the main ones. The worst part, of course, is the $1,200 price tag, which means you could buy both a Blu-ray capable PS3 ($600) and an Xbox360 ($400) with the HD DVD add-on drive ($200) for the same price--and get two high-performance game consoles for 'free.'" 'Nuff said. A pair of newer universal players, the Samsung BD-UP5000 and LG BH200, are already on the market, but there's no denying they owe a lot to the trailblazing (albeit flawed) BH100.

It's been a tumultuous year for MP3 players. Apple's iPhone arrived, presenting the best argument we've seen for converging your MP3 player, phone, and portable video player. Flash memory MP3 players became smaller, cheaper, and more ubiquitous, getting lost between sofa cushions all over the world. We also witnessed online music retailers finally embracing DRM-free music downloads, offering a beacon of hope for a music industry lost at sea. So what MP3 player trends can we expect to see for 2008? Here are a few predictions we're willing to stake our reputation on.

Best of CES 2007: SanDisk Sansa Connect

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Touch screens...for better or worse
Touch-screen MP3 players were on the rise long before the iPhone. But now that an industry trendsetter like Apple is leading the way, you can bet that the majority of companies will have a touch-screen device to show off in 2008. Not all touch screens are created equal, however. We've already encountered a few touch-screen devices such as the Samsung YP-P2 and Cowon Q5W, that aren't exactly a leap forward when it comes to ease of use. Ultimately, we're taking the touch screen trend with a grain of salt. By CES 2009, the touch-screen backlash will be in full swing and we'll probably see retro knobs and big buttons on everything.

Bluetooth takes hold
Bluetooth wireless technology has been slowly creeping into our phones, our laptops, and even our cars. The promise of Bluetooth for MP3 players is the ability to cut the wires between your MP3 player and your headphones or home entertainment center, without the interference common to other types of wireless audio transmission. While there are a number of third-party Bluetooth accessories on the market, there are few MP3 players that include built-in Bluetooth audio streaming. With Bluetooth-ready MP3 players such as the Samsung YP-T10 and Haier Ibiza Rhapsody leading the charge, you can bet that built-in Bluetooth audio streaming will become an increasingly common feature on MP3 players. We hope that 2008 will also be the year that we see an update to the stale A2DP Bluetooth audio standard--bringing higher quality audio streaming, with less latency.

The annual International Consumer Electronics Show is all about trends, as opposed to actual product announcements complete with pricing, model numbers, and "click here to buy!" buttons. This year we're sure to see a few new trends join those old standbys from yesteryear--and the year before that and the year before that--so here's a quick rundown of what to expect from high-definition displays at CES 2008.

Best of CES 2007: Samsung FP-T5894W

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Frickin' laser TV
We first heard about Mitsubishi's laser-powered DLP in mid-March, but you'll hear more about it at CES this year. The real question is, with big flat panels falling in price, how long before rear-projection HDTVs, especially high-end ones, become extinct?

LED backlights are back
Been there, done that, but in 2008 you'll see more LCD models that use LED backlights, probably led by Samsung, which has a generation under its belt already.

Antijudder everywhere
Sure 120Hz provides some other esoteric benefits, but its real impact among 2007 HDTVs with the technology was in smoothing out motion by removing judder. Expect it to on nearly every mid- to high-end HDTV in 2008.

Gee, is that 3D?
A smattering of DLP-based HDTVs in 2007 supported 3D add-on kits, which included glasses that gave an extra dimension to PC sources. At the 2008 show, more manufacturers might jump onboard and migrate the technology to flat panels, and maybe some more compelling 3D content will become available.

Powerful energy savings
As the popularity of our Quick Guide to TV power consumption can attest, people are starting to care about how much energy their HDTVs use. In 2008 we expect more marketing and features aimed at green-conscious HDTV buyers.

"Mine's even bigger than yours!"
The custom-built, major-media-attracting, triple-digit-size plasma and LCD television has become a staple at many TV makers' booths in the past. We're laying Vegas odds that somebody breaks the 150-inch barrier this year.

Of course, we're always hoping for surprises at the show to keep the HDTV category interesting and give us something else to write about. Check out our full coverage of HDTV developments for all the latest buzz.

Where are they now?
We chose Samsung's wireless plasma as the best HDTV of CES 2007, and the thing finally came out at the end of the year after a brief delay. We haven't had the chance to review it yet, but we're confident the "wireless" (hey, you still have to plug in the power) trend for HDTVs will grow in the future--at least one other manufacturer is offering a wireless model at this year's show. In case you're wondering, the two other 2007 nominees for the HDTV category, the Vizio VM60PHDTV and the JVC HD-S998 series, turned in middling performances at best in our lab tests. Notably, most of the year's top HDTVs, including the Pioneer PDP-5080HD, the Sony KDL-46XBR4, and the Samsung LN-T4681F, were not announced at CES. The closest the show came to any actual "announcement" of an eventual top 2007 HDTV was the sneak preview we got from Pioneer, and unlike many such previews we've attended, that one presaged a real breakthrough.

This will be the third year that the Consumer Electronics Association has asked CNET to judge the Best of CES Awards. Before we start the nominations for 2008, take a look back at what won us over last year.