Samsung Note
Ironically, my hotel in Las Vegas did not have wi-fi Internet access and ethernet cable access is of no use with an iPad. So I am a bit late in posting on CES, the annual Consumer Electronics Show. My observations:
- Linking the Internet and the television was the big theme at CES. Every important company has a product to make this possible.
- OLED technology was the featured screen technology. It permits incredibly thin but large screens.
- The featured product at the Microsoft booth was their gaming devices, prominently displayed at the entrance. Maybe they finally realize that gaming is the only area where they have competitive products.
- The Intel booth was all about their new ultra-light laptops that compete with the Mac Air (at least in Intel's collective wisdom). No educational laptop booth display this year. Maybe Intel does not see the education market as a priority compared with last year. I did like the Wi-Di technology which allows a computer to display wirelessly on a separate screen with a special receiver (built-in).
- Samsung had the most spectacular booth unless you preferred LG. Samsung's development in home appliances focuses on reduced electricity consumption and Internet connectivity. (I think I am a frustrated kitchen designer.) I usually find the appliances the most interesting exhibit, but this year the phones and tablets were particularly noteworthy. Samsung exhibited the Nexus phone, the Note, a 7" Galaxy tablet and the traditional Galaxy 9-10 inch tablet. I particularly liked the Note, which combines phone and tablet functionality (Android) in a 5.3 inch screen. Small enough to fit in a suit coat breast pocket but large enough for comfortable reading or typing for long periods. If the pricing is right, I could see giving up my phone and my iPad in favor of using only the Note. People have been talking about the convergence of the computer and the phone since the 1980s. The Note may be that device.
- Motorola showed little influence from Google and the RIM booth was just boring. Very sad on both counts given the history of each company.
- A lot of technology devoted to bringing social networking to your car. So if you don't crash while texting, you get a second chance when you update your status on FB. This car stuff makes no sense to me but I don't watch videos or listen to music on the iPad.
- Very few mainland Chinese visitors or exhibitors. I guess they are focused on the home market.
All in all CES was relatively boring in terms of the exhibits. Not a lot that interested me.
Image credit: Huffington Post
