CES 2008

Though the International Consumer Electronics Show is not a big one for camera announcements, we usually see a generous handful. Camera manufacturers tend to choose CES to announce the really cheap and the really odd models, especially those with more multitasking, multimedia tendencies. But this CES looks to be a big year for digital-photo frames: bigger and smaller, more connected, more mobile, and more versatile.

Best of CES 2007, Sony Handycam HDR-HC7

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Flash-forward: 2008
This year, we expect more of the same in camcorders--not just from Sony, but from Canon, Panasonic, JVC, and the rest of the crowd. What does that mean? Continued growth in HD models but with standard def remaining strong. We'll probably see less activity on the tape-based front, and much as I wish DVD-based models would disappear already, I don't think that wish is even close to coming true. Following past trends, I think we'll see the usual year-over-year enhancements: increased recording capacity, higher resolutions, modest redesigns. Margins have gotten too tight to expect a lot of price movement, so I don't expect significant price drops--I do expect more crowded product lines with price differentials between models shrinking closer to $20 than the $50-$100 of previous years.

Nor would I be surprised by a deluge of cheap, YouTube "bandwagoncams" along the lines of the Flip Video Ultra and Sony NSC-GC1. It's possible we'll see some still camera manufacturers counter the one-trick-pony trend with improved movie-capture and sharing features, but more likely we'll have to wait until the PMA 2008 show at the end of the month to find out.

Finally, we're also hoping that digital frames will get better, as well, easier to use with higher resolutions and better color, but that's more of a dream than a prediction.

The 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show is the first one to dedicate an entire hall to automotive-related tech. The convergence of in-car entertainment, communications, and information promises to continue in 2008 with the release of whole range of in-dash and portable device capable of providing GPS navigation and playing multiple media formats.

Best of CES 2007: Dash Navigation Dash Express

(Credit: CNET Networks)

What exactly do we see in our crystal ball? Well, we think voice commands will be a hot thing. This technology lets you operate your portable GPS and enter addresses with the sound of your voice, and we're already starting to see it pop up in models like the TomTom GO 920 and the Magellan Maestro 4250. Also, 3D building renderings and photorealistic images of complex intersections should make its way to more portable nav systems, providing helpful visual aids to drivers. GPS and location-based services in cell phones and smartphones is another craze, and we'll see more of this to be sure, but it has a little way to go yet in terms of mass adoption. For now, people are getting onboard with the standalone in-car GPS, and as that continues we hope to see the inclusion of traffic services and text-to-speech functionality in even the most entry-level models.

Aside from navigation, the market for mobile in-car entertainment devices is also heating up. Bluetooth is finally breaking out of its cellphone role as more and more devices offer the A2DP Bluetooth audio-streaming profile, and automakers appear to be rediscovering FM, which is being used to transmit sound from portable devices to the car speakers via the in-dash stereo. On the subject of radio waves, HD Radio has just started to make a splash, and we are expecting a number of new HD-compatible devices at this year's CES.

Also on the horizon are fully fledged in-dash PCs, with Jensen and Azentek showing off their Windows-based car computers complete with Intel processors, hard drives, and Wi-Fi connectivity. One other major trend to look for in automotive tech at CES 2008 is gesture recognition, which promises to challenge the shaky dominance of voice-command application by making use of devices with advanced touch screens and proximity sensors.

We expect that CES will be a lot different from what it was last year, mainly because Macworld isn't happening at the same time. So instead of racing to cover a possible update to the iPhone, we'll be able to spend all of our time covering what's going on in Las Vegas.

Best of CES 2007: Cell phones and smartphones

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Touch this
The iPhone wasn't the first cell phone to offer a touch screen, and it certainly won't be the last. At CES, and in 2008, we're sure well see more touch-screen handsets like the recent LG Voyager and Venus. Also on the design front, it appears the thin phone trend may be waning just a bit, and we're hearing rumors that we'll see new phones with crazy keypads. We'll have to wait and see.

T-Mobile 3G?
As any cell phone geek will tell you, T-Mobile is the only major carrier to lack a 3G network and a music downloading service. But in the past couple of months, T-Mobile put out two cell phone with 3G capability, the Samsung SGH-T369 and the Nokia 6263. Though we expect that a formal announcement of a wireless broadband network can't be too far behind, our gut tells us T-Mobile won't announce it at the show with so much else going on. But it could happen.

Unlocked phones
With the recent announcement from Verizon Wireless, it finally seems that unlocked phones are becoming a major force in the United States market. At CES, we suspect that unlocked phones will be plentiful. On a similar note, there should be more CDMA/GSM handsets like the Motorola Z6c.

Smartphones
Looking back, 2007 was another big year for smartphones. The release of Windows Mobile 6 brought a healthy helping of new devices from HTC, Samsung, and Motorola, among others, while Nokia, RIM, and Palm provided much competition with new models of their own.

The announcement of Google Android and the Open Handset Alliance has blown open the doors and made it a very exciting time for the cell phone industry. We don't anticipate the mass-market release of any Android smartphones just yet, but perhaps we'll get to see some prototypes and check out some applications. We'll also bring you a closer look at some announced-but-not-yet-released devices (at least in the States, anyway), such as the Nokia N82 and the HTC Touch Dual. Last, but not least, we expect to see more entry-level, consumer-friendly models as smartphones gain popularity with a wider audience.

Best of CES 2007: Verizon Wireless V Cast Mobile TV
What we said last year: Verizon Wireless joins with MediaFlo to create a truly innovative and watchable TV-on-phone experience. V Cast Mobile TV offers full-length, live television programming on selected handsets via a dedicated UHF signal. There's little of the pixilated, choppy effects of 3G video streaming, and audio/video syncing and channel switching are zippy.

What we think now: We continue to love V Cast Mobile TV. After three phones, it's still the best cell phone video around. We just wish it was running in more metro areas, the Bay Area in particular.

PC makers rarely flood CES with new product announcements, preferring to hit either the lucrative holiday season just before, or else timing their latest wares to new technologies from component makers such as Intel, AMD, and Nvidia. That's not to say there won't be plenty of new laptops and desktop to see at CES, and we expect a few surprises along the way.

Best of CES 2007: Microsoft Windows Vista

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Home theater PCs are still waiting for their moment in the sun after years of false starts. They're limited by lack of clean cable TV input and copy protection woes, so vendors are forced to leverage other features and unique content delivery systems. Cable card, the buggy, DRM-heavy method for delivering HD-quality cable TV content to your PC, hasn't exactly set the world on fire so far.

Putting the consumer first is a mantra we expect to see more companies follow--handy all-in-one desktop systems are on the rise, with recent well-received entries from Dell and Gateway, while Dell will continue to move beyond the online-only (well, and those mall kiosks) world into more retail stores.

On the laptop side, convertible tablets are still hot, even though nearly all of them are built for, and marketed to, industrial customers. Despite the frenzied press every new tablet receives, we still don't know anyone who actually uses one. In a world of commodity products, having a swiveling touch screen is at least something a bit different, even if you're not one of the handful of medical professionals, note-taking students, or graphic artists who actually needs a tablet.

Gamers have always looked down on laptops--even super high-end Alienware ones--but the latest Nvidia 8800 graphics cards for laptops can actually hold their own against their PC counterparts, and we should see this new technology in some surprisingly affordable systems at CES. Solid state hard drives will also take another step towards becoming standard equipment, although users will have to get accustomed to living with less storage space (although we remember when 64GB was huge for a laptop hard drive).

With Dell and HP (and Acer, if we look globally) duking it out for the No. 1 spot in consumer's hearts, PC makers have finally realized that the user experience is all important, especially since--big shocker here--most laptops have pretty much the same exact components inside. Cool designs, such as the Dell XPS M1530 or the Alienware m17x, become the real selling point--not benchmark scores.

The coolest new laptop of early 2008 may not even be at CES at all. Anything we see in Las Vegas will be outshined by a new ultraportable Apple laptop--should one actually exist. If it does, it'll be at Macworld, not CES, but it'd easily be the biggest laptop story of the year if true.

Finally, what happened to last year's Best of CES winner in the Computers and Hardware category? Despite the advancements offered by Microsoft Windows Vista, its reputation as a not-quite-fully-baked resource hog has hindered its adoption among consumers. The disdain is so great that some major manufacturers have reverted to Windows XP on new systems. We still like the look as well as many of the features of Windows Vista, but in practice it hasn't quite lived up to its promise. Consensus holds that buyers should wait until Redmond releases a Service Pack (or two).

Often, "emerging tech" describes something esoteric, a component or product so far on the cutting edge that its application to everyday life isn't immediately apparent. While we certainly expect to see such technologies on display at this year's CES, the broader emerging category contains developments that are closer to home and easier to grasp--literally.

Best of CES 2007: Powercast

(Credit: CNET Networks)

On a slightly smaller scale, increasing consumer comfort with high-tech products has paved the way for ever-more-connected household tools, from Internet-capable refrigerators to robots that help with cleaning and other chores. We expect to see plenty of both at this year's show.

Hands-on with tech
The hacker's DIY philosophy has lots of room to play at CES, where some of the newest products require assembly--in a good way. Our favorite: Bug Labs' BUG, a modular hardware-and-software platform that starts with a small, programmable Linux computer and lets you add self-contained modules--for example, a Webcam--to create the gadget of your dreams. We're also hoping to see new products from Robotis, maker of the build-it-yourself Bioloid robot kit.

Even nongeeks will appreciate the opportunity to rethink human-computer interaction with the LtWv Wrist Remote, a bracelet that detects finger movements and gestures, effectively replacing a mouse or remote.

Wireless still going strong
This time last year, emerging technology was all about life without wires. That concept continues to gain momentum as we see companies like eCoupled, WildCharge, and Powercast making inroads for power that charges your mobile devices without plugging them in. Plenty of other wireless technologies, from streaming high-definition video to USB monitors and electronic payment systems, will also be on display.

Where are they now?
After three years of keeping its technology under close guard, Powercast came to CES 2007 to get consumer and manufacturer attention. The company succeeded so well that it earned our Best of CES Award with its wireless power solution, which transmits a radio frequency whose energy can be "harvested" by small devices like cell phones. The technology poses near-limitless potential, but because Powercast relies on other companies to build its technology into products, consumer applications have been slow in coming. An early partnership with Philips produced LED light sticks and a wireless Christmas tree; products from other manufacturers should hit the market in 2008.

Excited to see all the latest and greatest video game products at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show? Don't be. New and noteworthy gaming products will be few and far between.

Unfortunately, CES just isn't a big show for gamers. You might think the world's largest consumer electronics expo would have plenty of stuff for remote-waggling, button-mashing misfits like myself, but that simply isn't the case. Virtually every games-only company from Nintendo to Electronic Arts steers clear of Las Vegas in early January, saving their news for GDC, E3, and the various other shows and events that come in the spring and summer.

Best of CES: Alienware Area-51 m9750

(Credit: CNET Networks)

If PC gaming is your thing, the news is a bit better. New graphics cards and faster CPUs are often CES mainstays, and there's always the chance that a fearsome gaming desktop or supercharged laptop may make the rounds.

Even if there won't be much new information about the games themselves, CES should at least show off a ton of the equipment with which you play games. From mainstream accessory makers like Logitech and Nyko, to niche players offering specialty rigs such as full-on flight simulator cockpits and Wii-style motion control cameras for PCs, there will be plenty of accessories and peripherals on display.

Peripherals notwithstanding, gamers will be better served at CES by investigating upgrades to their home theater setups. With a ton of HDTVs, surround-sound systems, and other equipment for hooking up a sweet gamer's pad, it'll be a good show for scoping out into what exactly you'll be connecting your Wii, PS3, or Xbox 360 next year.

Where are they now?
The prototype wowed us at CES, and when the Alienware Area 51 m9750 hit the CNET Labs almost eight months later, it didn't disappoint. With a 17-inch screen, twin Nvidia GeForce Go 7950GTX SLI video cards, and an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the m9750 was a gamer's dream--all for a base price that wasn't much more than the competing Dell XPS model.

Pity the audiophile. Home audio was once the centerpiece of the consumer electronics experience, but it's been completely subsumed in recent years, with HDTV squeezing in on one side and the ubiquitous iPod on the other. Even what's left is generally referred to as "home theater," stressing that video is just as important--if not more so--than the audio experience. If they even want surround sound--most seem perfectly happy with their tinny TV speakers--the majority of consumers will opt for a cheap home-theater-in-a-box, grumbling at the $300 price tag even as they gladly shell out five times as much for a flat-screen TV.

Best of CES 2007: Philips HTS8100 SoundBar

(Credit: CNET Networks)

That leaves the mainstream manufacturers on the CES floor to carry the home audio torch for the masses. Look for these companies--the Sonys, Samsungs, and the Panasonics, as well as hundreds of smaller companies--to continue emphasizing the convenience and aesthetic improvements in the audio realm. In practice that will mean cheaper, more widespread, and more convenient iterations of trends from previous years:

• Wireless audio: In 2007, two big trends that began to show fruit were Bluetooth wireless transmission and wireless speakers. Look for Bluetooth streaming to become much more mainstream as more Bluetooth-enabled audio sources (music phones, portable audio players) continue to appear. And with the exception of the power cord, more and more speakers will be marketed as "wireless" (be it semiwireless, or something closer to truly wireless).
• Virtual surround: Even better than losing the speaker wires criss-crossing your living room is getting rid of those extra speakers altogether. Manufacturers are finally figuring out that consumers want fewer speakers, not more. Whether you call it "virtual surround," "2.1 home theater," or "single-speaker surround sound," look for more brands to offer audio systems composed of just two or one front speakers, and--maybe--a subwoofer.
• Streaming network audio: Whether pulling from your PC, networked hard drive, Internet radio, or a premium online service such as Rhapsody, more consumers are discovering that the long-promised "celestial jukebox" is now a reality--at least in the home. Look for more mainstream products such as AV receivers and home-theater-in-a-box systems to incorporate streaming audio functionality (via Ethernet or Wi-Fi connections) that was previously limited to dedicated, higher-end products such as the Sonos Digital Music System.
• High-end features at low-end prices: Once upon a time--as little as eight months ago, in some cases--features like HDMI 1.3, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, HD Radio, iPod compatibility, and Neural Surround were ultrapremium bullet points only found on audio products costing north of $1,000. Look for these features--plus many of the upgrades listed above--to be standard features in all but the low-end entry-level home theater products this year.

Where are they now?
Virtual surround isn't new for 2008. Not only was the Philips HTS8100 SoundBar, the first 1.1 (single speaker plus subwoofer) audio system to include a built-in CD/DVD player, it also boasted a minimalist design that was downright striking. When we got a chance to put the SoundBar through its paces later in the year (away from the noise and crushing crowds of the CES show floor), it performed ably, scoring a 7.8 from CNET editors (and an 8.2 from users). The fact that the list price was dropped from $1,000 to $800 was a nice bonus, too. But similar products are now offering wireless subwoofers--exactly the sort of must-have upgrades we'll be seeing in this category in 2008 and beyond.

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.