At its press conference, Panasonic announced the new ruggedized Toughpad will complement last year’s Toughbook, and will be useful for people using tablets in harsh environments.
MyLink, developed in partnership with GM, is a hands-free voice activated automotive environment and media control system that will be in the 2013 Malibu and later in the Chevy Equinox and Volt.
The company says 2012 will be the year 3D breaks through; 93 plasma TV models and 40 LCD TV models will be 3D.
Panasonic will continue to sponsor DirecTV’s n3D programming.
Panasonic has partnered with NBC/Universal to produce 200 hours of 3D programming for the 2012 Olympics, including both the opening and closing ceremonies.
The new Panasonic Z10000 dual lens 3D video camera can shoot close-ups as near as 18-inches.
Panasonic introduced a dedicated portable Skype communications device.
Connectivity: 90 percent of Panasonic’s 2012 products will be Web enabled in some way, so content and online resources are key to their success.
NPR has debuted an app designed specifically for Ford SYNC AppLink, the voice-activated platform that works by connecting smartphones to vehicles.
The deal is interesting on two fronts: as a case study in how traditional content “networks” might make their products available a la carte — and for Ford’s hands-off positioning as third-party technology enabler that is facilitating cool uses for smartphones while leaving it largely to the handset manufacturers to upgrade and maintain the platform environment.
Ford AppLink allows developers to create in-vehicle mobile applications that assume unique functionality when Android, iPhone and Blackberry devices are docked to the dashboard via USB. Android devices also work via Bluetooth.
Ford’s apps feature a variety of sports, information and financial programming.
NPR is “one of the most popular features on iTunes, accounting for 7 out of 10 downloaded podcasts,” according to the network’s Kinsey Wilson.
Ford’s SYNC Services launched in 2009, providing voice-activated access to a cloud-based network of information including traffic, news, sports, weather and more. In 2010 Ford added SYNC AppLink — allowing smartphone-equipped customers access to a growing number of popular apps.
Where to see it: North Hall, Grand Lobby, Lower Level 2230
NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang focused Monday’s CES press conference on the new line of devices utilizing the Tegra 3 processor, stressing the variety of mobile solutions companies have to offer individual users with different needs and expectations.
Billed as a quad-core device, the Tegra 3 actually has five CPUs. The fifth processor, or “ninja” core as it’s affectionately called by its creators, provides the key to the new variable symmetric processing.
Huang said the processing makes it possible to maintain or increase computational power while maintaining low power consumption.
The company also demonstrated its prism display technology that enables devices to maintain image fidelity as backlights are dimmed to save power through a reprocessing of each individual pixel’s brightness and color.
The company unveiled another new feature of the Tegra 3, Direct Touch, where the ninja core is used to directly sample data at roughly triple the rate of a traditional capacitive touchscreen.
Huang highlighted Tegra 3’s support of Android Ice Cream Sandwich as well as the new OS’ ability to unite the development process and user experience across platforms, from mobile phones to tablets and ultrabooks.
The announcement accompanied a demo of the Transformer, which utilizes the Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS. Pro gamer Jonathan Wendell took to the stage to show how smoothly the device runs even when operating the most resource-demanding new games.
Asus also used the occasion to announce the release of a new 7-inch tablet powered by the Tegra 3 that is capable of keeping up with the Transformer Prime, priced at only $249.
The announcement may impact devices like the Kindle Fire by providing superior computing power and functionality at a comparable price.
Microsoft was also on hand to demonstrate Windows 8 on a Tegra 3 device and detail how the new OS is being carefully crafted to take advantage of Tegra 3’s quad-core technology to deliver full screen immersive applications.
NVIDIA also announced that the Tegra 3 will be incorporated into the Lamborghini Aventador and two of the processors will be used in the new Tesla Model S (one to run the virtual console and the other to power its infotainment system).
Sir Howard Stringer opened the Sony press event, then introduced Sony Deputy President Kazuo Hirai who discussed the company’s connected strategy — both to the Internet and across Sony devices.
Sony is showing a 4K home theater projector and Blu-ray player with 4K upscale capabilities. It is also developing 4K TVs.
Sony Ericsson will become known as Sony Mobile Communications.
Sony is expanding its Internet TV line with the Google TV platform.
Netflix will be available on PlayStation Vita, which launches February 22.
The company introduced a new balance technology for the Handycam that it suggested could cancel handshake blur up to 13 times more than is currently possible.
The new Bloggie Live is a Full HD camera with built in Wi-Fi for live video streaming.
The Sony Open will be shot in 3D, and highlights will be featured this week at CES.
Sony will host a technology demo of a Crystal LED display at its CES booth.
Star power: Will Smith, director Barry Sonnenfeld and recording artist Kelly Clarkson appeared at Sony’s press conference.
Half of Samsung Smart TVs will offer 3D in 2012. Product line highlights include a 55-inch Super OLED TV and ES8000 LED TV.
TVs will come in sizes as large as 75-inches with thin bezels. The company also previewed voice control and a gestural interface for its display technology.
To future proof its TVs, Samsung announced plans to offer an evolution kit that would allows users to add new features and increase performance.
New feature “All Share Play” is designed to allow content to move seamlessly across devices.
Samsung Mobile launched the Galaxy Note 4G-enabled smartphone with 5.3 inch HD AMOLED screen and “SPen” control; and 4G LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab 7.7, a new tablet that the company suggested could be used as a universal remote.
In digital imaging, the company launched Samsung Smart cameras and camcorders with Wi-Fi.
Samsung will also offer a technology demo of a 4K TV.
LG reiterated its focus on creating a truly immersive entertainment experience at its opening press conference at CES Monday.
The crown jewel of the program was LG’s new 55-inch 3D OLED TV, which at only 4mm thin and 7.5 kg in weight is the world’s thinnest and largest OLED TV.
The contrast ratio on the new display is fifty times greater than that of traditional LED/LCD and LG has coupled it with their Triple XD Engine in hopes of creating truly life-like images.
LG also detailed improvements to their 3D Smart TV line including upgrades in both resolution and size, with the largest model now coming in at 84-inches.
In concert with the ultra-thin and ultra-large displays, the company introduced its new 3D surround sound, which uses advanced signal processing to control not only the lateral sounds but the vertical audio information as well, thereby encasing the user in the cinematic environment.
LG also debuted two new ways to interface with its TVs, the new Magic Remote with voice recognition and a 3D gesture interface that uses a 3D camera device similar to Microsoft’s Kinect.
LG Electronics is going after the high end LTE smartphone market.
The new Spectrum phone offers a true HD experience, at 329 pixels per inch, on its 4.5-inch 16:9 screen.
The Spectrum will be available exclusively through Verizon starting January 19 at $199.99 with a two-year contract.
ESPN and LG are partnered, so the Spectrum will arrive pre-loaded with the ESPN ScoreCenter app and will stream 720p mobile video from ESPN.
VMware virtualization software in the Spectrum and other new phones allows workers to have two distinct device profiles on their smartphones, one for work and one for personal use.
This year 50 percent of LG’s TV lineup will be 3D TVs and smart TVs.
The company will introduce 55-, 60-, 72-, and 84-inch 3D TVs with 1mm bezels and a thickness of 28mm.
The Magic Remote, their motion sensor remote control device, will be enhanced with voice recognition capabilities.
LG is also introducing a 3D gesture interface (like the Kinect) for both display/channel control and game play.
Their immersive Cinema 3D experience technology includes in-set 3D depth control, 3D sound zoom, and improved 2D-3D conversion.
3D sound involves both physical speaker and sound field design. LG has developed products that produce an enhanced horizontal and vertical 3D sound field experience.
Additionally, LG showed off its LG Smart TV with integrated Google TV. Normally, Google TV is an external accessory.
3M Touch Systems has created sensors and related software for hardware developers to incorporate into products.
The company is demonstrating applications that other companies have built based on 3M’s technology, including multi-user solutions.
Two multi-touch monitors – 18.5- and 21.5-inch display sizes – are currently available offering 20 simultaneous touches at 6 millisecond response time and HD graphics powered by LED backlights.
The displays are Windows 7 compatible. Drivers are available for Windows XP, Linux and Mac operating systems.
3M says it will have sensors capable of monitoring 60-inch 16:9 surfaces by the end of 2012, and expects licensees to be marketing them in products at that time.
Sharp Electronics claims to be the market leader in large screen TVs at 60-inches and beyond with twenty new large screens to be released in 2012 — many featuring 3D in 120Hz or 240Hz panel options.
The company is also emphasizing its new entertainment hub, SmartCentral, which includes access to media services and apps including Hulu, Netflix and Facebook.
The flagship Aquos Quattron 3D LED TV (LC-80LE844U) is an 80-inch model with a new 240Hz LCD panel to virtually eliminate blur during fast-moving video. The unit boasts Wi-Fi, 4 HDMI inputs and the new SmartCentral user interface.
Two new Blu-ray players are launched: the BD-AMS10U and BD-AMS20U. Both models incorporate features from the new SmartCentral interface.
Additionally, a 4K display will be released later this year.
Showing in prototype on its stand is an 8K 85-inch display. This represents 32 million pixels of resolution or 16 times the resolution of HDTV.
Sharp Electronics announced two multifunction Blu-ray Disc players that incorporate features from Sharp’s new connected TV platform, SmartCentral.
The BD-AMS10U includes a USB interface for storage and playback via external hard drives. This model is wireless LAN ready for streaming content. It will be available in March for $179.
The BD-AMS20U features wireless LAN, a USB interface for external hard drive ports, and a smartphone interface via Mobile HD Link (MHL). It will ship in April for $199.
With MHL, Android users can access their mobile apps and content through their home entertainment system.
Liquipel is a Santa Ana-based company that has conducted R&D on innovative coatings for the past five years. The company provides a waterproofing service: send them the device and they will protect it.
Liquipel’s patent-pending coating permanently bonds on a molecular level to electronic devices, inside and out.
The company claims the coating protects ports and sockets without impacting their connectivity.
According to the company site: “It is not visible to the human eye, virtually undetectable and Liquipel will not compromise the look, feel, and performance of your electronics.”
Utilizing ASTEROID, an Android-based platform introduced last year at CES, Parrot is expanding its range of after-market connectivity solutions designed to integrate Internet functionality to the driving experience.
Devices range from a 3.2-inch dashboard mount model to a 6.2-inch central console replacement. All have wireless remote controls to mount to the steering wheel and are designed to access the Internet through a tethering cell phone or 3G key.
Parrot is currently developing applications to display the versatility of its devices, some of which include speed trap notifications and geolocation.
The company also stresses the open-source nature of ASTEROID and hopes it can be used to expand their app library as time passes. Along with Internet radio applications like Pandora, some of the devices are also capable of providing entertainment by capturing live TV broadcasts.
Parrot hopes to use the central console device as a base to expand to a multiple monitor entertainment system in the future.
Devices are expected to be available later this year, but no pricing has been announced yet.
Henry Ford technical fellow Jim Buchowski said his company plans to continue its pioneering role in the “smart car” space as a means of differentiating its product from those of other manufacturers by “creating new experiences for consumers.”
Ford will continue to take a somewhat platform-independent approach that sees the focus more on software and apps rather than hardware.
“Our approach will continue to be not building the technology into the vehicle, because once you’ve got a 3G modem built-on and 4G comes along, you’re stuck,” Buchowski said.
Initiatives Ford is showcasing at this year’s CES include onboard health monitoring devices that will help drivers with medical issues. Things like back-up cameras that can make it easy for one person to do things like attach a trailer hitch are also a focus.
These are extensions to technologies Ford has rolled out over the past two CES shows. SYNC, which integrates Wi-Fi hotspotting directly into the vehicles, allows the car to seamlessly interface with phones, mobile music devices and navigation systems (including voice commands) and MyFord Touch, which puts controls at the driver’s fingertips.
Ford is utilizing the Windows platform. At present there are more than 3 million vehicles equipped with SYNC.
Where to see it: North Hall, Grand Lobby, Lower Level, 2230
At its press conference, Panasonic announced the new ruggedized Toughpad will complement last year’s Toughbook, and will be useful for people using tablets in harsh environments.
