A technology demonstration showed how music could be transferred from a Blu-ray player to a set-top box simply by human touch.
Each of the devices is network enabled and includes electronic capacitors.
When a person — who also carries with them a digital identifier such as a smartphone — touches one of the devices the human body itself completes the circuit. Personal content stored in the cloud is downloaded to the hardware.
“Ultimately, we are the network,” said Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg in his first ever CES keynote. He estimates there will be 50 billion connected devices on networks by 2020.
“We see a change in how we communicate — from always having our communicator in our hand and having to find ways to link it to things — to becoming more human using proximity, touch, eyes and voice,” explained Keith Shank, Ericsson director of advanced technologies. “We need to be able to link not just a few devices, but all connected devices regardless of the vendor’s ecosystem.”
The cloud is a huge presence hovering above CES, but for those who are squeamish at the idea of using mass shared storage, Iomega is offering mini-servers that function as “personal clouds.”
The concept is essentially an easy-to-use means of accessing an NAS server at home from anywhere via the Internet.
Iomega Personal Cloud also allows users to share files with up to 250 members.
When not in use the unit automatically powers down to a 1-volt sleep mode.
An entry-level 4TB setup costs about $899, and the units scale up to 12TB. Available from Fry’s Electronics and online.
Where to see it: Intel Booth, Central Hall 7253; Iomega, Venetian Renaissance Suite
Technicolor has unveiled M-GO, a free app that offers cloud-based streaming rental or download-to-own movies.
It launches in the U.S. this spring with a catalog of 10,000 Hollywood movies and an international launch inked for 2013. The studio signatories will be announced in the next few days. The service is UltraViolet compliant.
M-GO also provides cloud-based access to music, apps, live TV and other media across connected devices.
The app will be available on Intel Ultrabook devices through Intel AppUp.
It will come pre-loaded on Samsung’s 2012 Smart TVs and Blu-ray Disc players and will be accessible on Galaxy tablets. Additionally, with M-GO while watching a movie on the TV, consumers can simultaneously get bonus content.
M-GO will come pre-loaded on Vizio TVs, tablets, Blu-ray players and stream players that are part of Vizio Internet Apps Plus.
DTS algorithms look for audio cues within the 5.1 and 7.1 sound to determine how to distribute it among 11.1 speakers. Two of the 11.1 speakers are positioned above and in front of the listener, adding a discrete third dimension to the aural experience.
For example, a sound moving from front left to rear left is probably something passing on the side, while sound moving from front left, center, and right to rear left and right is probably something washing over you.
DTS is also featuring music natively produced at 11.1 in their in-booth theater.
Additionally, DTS is demonstrating advances in its Envelo sound widening technology; DTS Boost technology that delivers a bigger sound from cellphones and other small speaker devices; DTS Enhanced that restores over-compressed music to a consistent, improved quality; and DTS Symmetry which balances loudness levels as you select from multiple audio sources (change channels).
DTS was named a CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards honoree for its integration of DTS Ultra Mobile with the T-Mobile G2x by LG.
Optoma, one of the largest producers of DLP projectors, is adding three new LED models to its mobile offerings, including the newest Pico model, the PK320.
The 8-ounce, palm-sized PK320 features WVGA resolution and produces 100 lumens when plugged in, but it can be battery-operated for up to an hour while still providing 25 lumens.
The other two projectors, the ML300 and the ML500, increase the intensity (the larger ML500 delivers images of up to 180-inches), while still maintaining a compact footprint (8.7”W x 1.7”H x 6.7”D).
The LED sources in the projectors offer longevity with a 20,000 hour lifespan and all three come equipped with media and Office viewer software to allow for PC-free playback off internal memory or SD cards.
The devices are intended to support “road-warrior” executives in need of convenience and performance, but have obvious appeal for recreational users.
The PK320 is expected to hit stores by the end of this month with the other two entering the market later this year. Prices range from $449 for the PK320 to $699 for the ML500.
Autostereoscopic displays point the way forward for the 3D TV industry, but the technology is far from mature.
Among several glasses-free displays is Stream TV’s Ultra-D technology, which will launch in Q2. The company, which makes autostereo software and firmware, says it has already signed a deal with a consumer electronics brand to embed the Ultra-D technology in its sets.
Toshiba is exhibiting its glasses-free 3D TVs, which have launched in Japan and will soon launch in the U.S. — priced around $11,500. On display are three 55-inch 4K panels of the REGZA 55X3. If they were to display 2D HD content, they would do so at a 3840×2160 pixel resolution using Quad Full High Definition (QFHD).
With the 3D function switched on, that resolution is split into 9 frames — or 9 views — of 720p HD. An automatic face tracking system will find the sweet spot for viewing by one person (problematic when there are multiple viewers).
At the 3D@Home booth is a small company claiming to trump rivals’ screens. Dimension Technologies uses a patented Time Multiplexed Backlight technology, which inserts a single active substrate between the LCD and its backlight.
“When turned on it allows the display to show real 3D images by creating light lines. These light lines are placed behind a conventional LCD panel,” said CEO Arnold Lagergen. “The ability to convert instantly from 3D to 2D display makes our displays unique. No other 3D display converts to full resolution 2D.”
Lagergen claimed interest from Samsung and Toshiba.
At CES, Dolby is highlighting Dolby Digital Plus across a range of CE devices.
Dolby Digital Plus (Enhanced AC-3) is “an advanced surround sound audio codec designed specifically for evolving media.” The company says it available on 430 million HDTVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, game consoles, and Blu-ray players.
HBO Go will adopt Dolby Digital Plus to deliver content to connected TVs and Blu-ray players.
Samsung will use Dolby Digital Plus to support its Acetrax application for Blu-ray players in Europe.
Samsung, HP, Acer, Lenovo, and others are using Dolby in their products.
Dolby demo material includes “The Art of Flight,” which was mixed in 7.1 and graded on the Dolby PRM-4200 professional reference monitor.
Dolby is providing technical assistance for Boomdizzle co-founder LL Cool J’s CES demos.
Helsinki-based MultiTouch Ltd. is demonstrating its MultiTaction platform for large-scale interactive screens.
The company says its integrated sensor technology allows slim designs for more than 100-inch displays, a concept illustrated by its demo of the MT550W7 MultiTaction Oblique Wall.
Comprised of MultiTaction Cell 55-inch HD LCD displays with embedded Windows 7, MultiTouch is billing it as “the world’s largest asymmetric multi-user touch wall.”
The interactive display runs on Intel Core i7 processors and is designed for single-display installations for museums, retail spaces, universities, medical, corporate communications and exhibitions.
MultiTouch is also demonstrating its 2X Stacked MultiTaction Augmented Reality Table.
Motorola’s new 4G Droid Razr Maxx is built for maximum power, with a 3300mAh battery that just about doubles the industry average.
The company claims the device can run for 21 hours of talk time — or the streaming of eight movies — before needing to be recharged.
At 8.99mm the Maxx is slightly thicker than the 7.11mm of the prior version. It includes a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor and Android Gingerbread 2.3.5 (upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich).
It also features HD video capture and playback via front and rear-facing cameras.
LG Electronics has introduced an enhanced line of connected, smart appliances.
The high-end refrigerators know what food they hold and grocery shoppers can remotely enter the items that they are bringing home.
The Health Manager application suggests healthy menus based on the ingredients available in the home.
The Blast Chiller cools a can of soda in four minutes, versus 20 minutes for a normal refrigerator. Moreover, the Blast Chiller can cool two beers or one bottle of wine in just eight minutes.
LG washers, home heating/cooling controls, and other appliances are also remotely controllable and designed to optimize energy efficiency.
If the size of the crowds packing the Microsoft booth demos is any indication, there is a lot of interest in Windows 8.
Maximized for touchscreen interaction, the Windows 8 user interface makes ample use of slide commands (which can be achieved via mouse or keystrokes for those not using a tablet).
The colorful tiled interface, dubbed “Metro Style,” is ubiquitous across all new Microsoft platforms including Windows Phone, and allows for a high degree of customization.
Cool features include automatically hibernating any open apps that are not actively being used, for maximum processor efficiency.
The ability to search and share content across multiple platforms (from hard drive to phones and social media) is also handy, as is a snapping function that keeps multiple windows open and locked in position.
Microsoft says there has already been 3 million downloads of the developer preview and a Windows Store opens in February when the public will be able to download a free trial version.
The commercial release remains unannounced, but is expected by the end of the year.
While the first large screen OLED consumer display panels are set to ship later this year, Sony has demonstrated what it believes is its successor — Crystal LED.
Crystal LED employs a thin layer of 6 million LEDs mounted on the display itself. This technique, says Sony, results in greater light efficiency and a higher contrast of images in both light and dark viewing conditions.
C-LED will have a longer life span than phosphor-based OLED. Screens larger than 55-inches can be manufactured, which just now is the limit for OLED. It is also said to have faster response times and wider viewing angles compared to LCD and plasma displays.
Showing at CES are two prototype 55-inch C-LEDs comparing side by side, favorably it has to be said, against its top of the range LCD.
When asked why Sony turned to Crystal LED rather than OLED in flat screens, at a Q&A session following the press conference on Monday, Sony chairman Sir Howard Stringer said: “It is the best TV out there and it is our technology. We are proud of it — it is the high end where we will lead the [category’s] recovery.”
Sony executive deputy president Kazuo Hirai added that Sony has OLED on the pro side and “as much as we are proud of the Crystal screen, we are not out of OLED.”
The Cube, by South Carolina-based 3D Systems, is a $1299 MSRP 3D printer for the home that will be on the consumer market in 3-5 months.
The USB and Wi-Fi enabled device is available for pre-order on the Cubify.com beta site.
ABS plastic used in printing will be sold for $50/bag. A 2-inch wide printed watchband, for example, uses about $3 of plastic and prints in under three hours.
Cubify.com will offer consumers downloadable templates that they can combine and modify, so they don’t have to learn 3D modeling from scratch.
The site also offers a 3D printing service for those who opt not to purchase the Cube.
Vuzix, in partnership with Nokia, will have an augmented reality monocular display on the market in Q3 2012 and consumer market augmented reality sunglasses with built-in camera, speakers, microphone, and motion sensors in 2013.
The SMART Glasses use fiber optics-like technology to route light in a 1.5mm waveguide from the side of the lens to a 1280×720 color display within the viewable area of the lens.
The lens has greater than 95 percent optical transmission and a 30-50 degree viewing angle, depending on the model.
The industrial monocular display is ruggedized for industrial and military use.
The unit has optional electronic sunglass tint control and integrated head tracker.
JVC’s GY-HMQ10 4K camcorder incorporates the company’s Falconbrid large-scale integration chip for high-speed signal processing and a 1/2-inch CMOS imager with 8.3 million active pixels to provide 3840×2160 footage at 24p, 50p, or 60p.
According to JVC, the LSI processing can dematrix the raw image data in real-time, and “is able to output 4K images to a monitor or projection system in real-time with virtually no latency.”
Suggested applications include cinematography and live event coverage.
Using MPEG-4 technology and an H.264 codec operating at up to 144Mbps, the GY-HMQ10 records up to two hours of 4K video to SDHC or SDXC memory cards.
The camera lists for $4,995 and is slated for availability in March.
Where to see it: Central Hall 8225, North Hall N105
Ericsson is showing how the Networked Society will change the way we communicate.
