Technicolor is releasing Qeo, a software system aimed at interoperability between devices and applications of different brands and ecosystems. Michel Rahier, president of Technicolor’s connected home division, describes it as “a technology that enables devices to speak the same language, be interconnected with each other, and create totally new use cases for the connected life and the ‘Internet of Things.’” Continue reading CES 2013: Technicolor Launches Qeo for Interoperability

Dolby revealed that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will encode movies and TV programs in the UltraViolet Common File Format using Dolby Digital Plus. According to Dolby, in addition to new UltraViolet releases, there are also plans to go back to offer Dolby Digital Plus with certain UltraViolet titles that have already been made available. Continue reading CES 2013: UltraViolet Supporters Choose Dolby Digital Plus

Liquid Image introduced two interesting Wi-Fi-enabled products during CES Unveiled – a mountable GoPro competitor called the Ego Mini and the Apex HD+ snow goggle with integrated full HD camera, both CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards honorees. Teamed with the free Liquid Image app (iOS and Android), the cameras can stream live view via Wi-Fi, enable viewing of recorded photos and videos, or activate remote control features. Continue reading CES 2013: Tiny Wearable Cameras Join the Downsizing Race

Lilliputian Systems introduced Nectar at its CES pre-show event, a solid-state fuel cell system that sets a new standard for portable power for mobile devices. Roughly twice as large as a smartphone, Nectar will recharge an iPhone 14 times on a roll of quarters-sized cartridge that can be brought with you on a plane. Intel is supplying the oxide-based chips that enable the technology. Continue reading CES 2013: Lilliputian Debuts Fuel Cell in Your Pocket

Smart TV Alliance announced on Sunday that five new members have joined to help develop and launch smart TV applications and services. The new members include manufacturers Panasonic, ABOX42 and TechniSat, and solution providers IBM and Specific Media. Additionally, the organization announced a new software development kit designed to optimize the smart TV experience with 3D video, high quality video and audio, updated DRM and more. Continue reading CES 2013: Smart TV Alliance Announces 5 New Members and SDK

With entertainment spending growing to $18.7 billion according to IHS Screen Digest, the entertainment industry is reaping the rewards of offering consumers more choice and options in how they consume content. TV Everywhere’s multi-channel, multi-device approach is finally complementing rather than cannibalizing. The year saw strong growth in Blu-ray discs. UltraViolet’s 7 million households and 8,500 titles now position the format to grow significantly in 2013. Video streaming or SVOD tripled in the first three quarters of the year to an estimated $1.7 billion. And studios continue to experiment with their windowing strategies for electronic sell-through. In this environment, the CE industry continues to respond and innovate. Continue reading CES 2013: Entertainment Trends Drive New Technologies

In addition to the highly anticipated array of UHD TVs, new smartphones, Android devices, cloud developments and Internet-connected everything, next week’s CES promises interesting new products and services related to a number of sectors not yet drawing the same amount of press attention. Watch for news involving small flexible displays, green technology, home automation, home projections systems, 3D printing and more. Continue reading CES 2013: Trends Flying Somewhat Under the Radar

Advances in the production of audiovisual content — on both the consumer and professional levels — are expected to be incremental rather than revolutionary, with the general trends of technology being more powerful, less expensive, and more mobile continuing. Our coverage in this area will be focused around three main trends: new products for content capture, new tools for production and post-production workflows, and new technologies for the storage and management of digital assets. Continue reading CES 2013: On the Lookout for A/V Production Technologies

James Beshara, co-founder and CEO of Crowdtilt.com, anticipates five top trends for tech startups in 2013: 1) phones will become our remote controls for life; 2) crowdfunding behavior will expand; 3) we will experience a new era enabled by sensors; 4) large companies within the startup ecosystem will seek new business models; and 5) a consolidation of entrepreneurs will come together to build companies. Continue reading Crowdtilt CEO Predicts Top Tech Startup Trends for 2013

In the home entertainment space, consumer spending on software rose for the first time since beginning a steady decline in 2006. The Digital Entertainment Group reports that at the end of the third quarter 2012 consumer spending on home entertainment as a whole — including disc, rental and digital distribution — was up by about 1 percent. IHS Screen Digest predicts that spending will total $18.7 billion, 5 percent higher than last year. Continue reading Home Entertainment: Distribution Models Finally Working Together

Although E3 has become the premier launching pad for all things video games, Microsoft spent a significant amount of its final keynote address at last year’s CES touting the place of Xbox in the home entertainment landscape. Gaming consoles could very well be the ultimate smart TV upgrade by providing Internet access and a pipeline for media through an ever-expanding app selection. Continue reading CES 2013: Expect Connected Game Devices and Cameras

The ETC will be at CES 2013 where more than 215 exhibitors will showcase the latest digital health and fitness technologies, a 25 percent increase from 2012. With innovative devices and more than 44 million apps expected for download in 2013, the health and wellness category is a serious player in the digital arena. ETC will explore the role and opportunities for entertainment as fitness moves from grind to games and health and wellness shifts from routine to ritual. Continue reading CES 2013: Innovation in Digital Health and Fitness Technologies

LG has confirmed it will launch new Google TV offerings at CES next week, including 42-, 57-, 50-, 55- and 60-inch models from the upcoming GA6400 series, and 47- and 55-inch Cinema Screen panels from the new GA7900 series. Features include: Magic Qwerty Remote, natural language recognition via a built-in microphone, and built-in Google search functions. An updated Home Dashboard offers convenient access to content from HBO Go, YouTube and other apps. Continue reading CES 2013: LG to Unveil Seven Google TV Models

From Kim Dotcom and the rise of patent troll lawsuits to Apple v. Samsung and the public outcry against SOPA/PIPA, 2012 was a dramatic year in terms of copyright law, tech-related legislation and Internet policy. Response to the SOPA/PIPA bills in January helped set the tone as the debate in Washington raged, and consumers and companies took to the Internet in protest. At one point, politicians were flooded with a record eight million e-mails from regular Internet users in just a few days. So what were the top tech policy stories for 2012 — and how will they impact us moving forward? Continue reading Year in Review: Top Tech Policy Stories of 2012

Industry analyst Tim Bajarin offers his perspective on the leading tech trends we can expect in the coming year. Bajarin, who has been writing an end-of-the-year prediction column for 23 years (and says he has been “reasonably successful”), predicts some interesting developments, including: Augmented Reality going mainstream, increased consumer attention for Google’s Chromebook, a new interest in hybrids and convertibles from IT managers, a dramatic increase in mobile malware, and more. Continue reading Tim Bajarin Details Top Six Tech Trends Expected in 2013