CES is almost here again – in fact, it will only be a couple of days away by the time you read this piece. Cue a week of meeting and greeting, some (hopefully) fascinating technology and a lot of running around!
Everyone has their own predictions (and wishes) of what they want to see and do at the world’s biggest CE show, and this seems like a perfect time to throw my own hat into the ring and share my expectations of what will be shown.
This one doesn’t take much explaining. UltraHD, or 4k, resolution has been gaining ground for years in the TV space, and lately has even begun to move into mobiles – with Sony releasing the world’s first 4k smartphone at IFA 2015 (Sony Enhances Mobile Display – Will it be Enough?).
The nice thing about 4k is that it doesn’t take much explanation for a consumer to see the benefit. Unlike 3D, which at this point we can all agree was pretty much a flop in the home, 4k is very simple: turn on TV, watch TV, enjoy higher-resolution content. No glasses required!
Expect new 4k TVs from all of the major (and not-so-major) manufacturers. Samsung will likely expand its SUHD lineup, and Panasonic is confirmed to be showing OLED models in the form of the CZ950 (Panasonic Joins the Exclusive OLED TV Club) and CZ952.
As a bonus for manufacturers, the production processes for these TVs are identical to regular Full HD displays, which is helping to drive prices down extremely quickly.
Cheap Tech
It’s not just TVs that are coming down in price. Companies are increasingly developing ways to bring new technology to consumers for a low price. It might not be on the same level as the most expensive equipment – no-one could argue that the Gear VR is comparable to the Oculus Rift – but it gets new products out there and helps to build an ecosystem.
VR headsets are one of the product categories that many companies are getting involved in. Google Cardboard-like devices, which use a smartphone as the display and computer, mean that vendors only really need to produce lenses and a way to attach the phone to a consumer’s face. LeTV’s LeVR COOL1 headset (LeTV Sells $20 VR Headset) exemplifies this – it costs less than $25.
Even drones are becoming cheaper – sort of. PowerUp FPV has released a camera rig that turns a regular paper plane into a drone, which can be flown for up to 10 minutes (Paper Planes Become Cheap Drones). Drones have been around at CES for several years, and are now beginning to enter the mainstream. Could PowerUp’s rig speed that process? Time will tell, but the company has a big name behind it in the form of Parrot.
Automotive Ahoy!
Ford, GM, VR, Audi, BMW, Fiat, Hyundai, Mercedes and Toyota will all have space at CES. To emphasise how important the automotive trend is to consumer electronics, consider Nvidia. The company’s stand last year was almost entirely dedicated to its new Drive CX and Drive PX platforms. This year, Nvidia has relocated from the South Hall, which houses most gaming companies, to the North Hall, which is dedicated to automotive applications.
Platforms like Android Auto and Car Play are increasingly common. Expect to see developments in this area, with more ways to connect and use smartphones in the car. Several years ago, at a media breakfast, the Alliance for Wireless Power showed a console with its magnetic resonance charging standard integrated so that users could simply ‘drop and go’. This ease of use will be important as in-car technologies mature, and connection becomes faster and simpler.
Mobile Matters
Increasingly, the world’s flagship smartphone and tablet launches take place at MWC, which is held in February. However, AR and VR still have their place at CES. Steve covered this area in detail in his recent Display Daily (AR and VR Due at CES 2016), but no predictions article would be complete without some coverage.
Oculus VR, HTC and Sony are expected to show consumer-ready versions of their VR headsets: the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Playstation VR, respectively. It is possible – although this is stretching things a bit – that Google will show a prototype of its Glass successor.
And the Rest…
‘Better pixels’ will be everywhere. We can safely expect to see HDR on TVs from multiple makers – probably using several different versions – as well as wide colour gamuts in the form of quantum dots and similar technologies. A question mark hangs over high frame rates, though; this technology is most useful in gaming and sporting content. However, outside of monitors, it isn’t getting much attention.
– Tom Allen
