Yesterday, I spent a long day at this year’s CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2013. As usual, the technology trade show was held at Las Vegas Convention Center and featured over 3,000 exhibitors.
The Central Hall was packed with tech enthusiasts checking out some of the latest and greatest in Audio, Video, and Entertainment innovations. While not exactly new, 4K (Ultra HD) TVs were abundant from nearly every television manufacturer; Sharp even showed off a magnificent 85″ 8K TV prototype. Many attendees described the high-definition display as “looking through a window.” Others echoed the same sentiments about 4K TVs; the difference is negligible unless viewing side-by-side or on much larger screens.
3D TVs were also present, including some that were glasses-free. Pictured below is LG’s “Dual Play” Smart TV. This offers a unique use of 3D glasses;rather than using a split screen on a single monitor, the two players can view their own independent full-screen perspectives of the game from the same TV simultaneously.
Engadget, of course, provided a live feed, podcasts, and video interviews with major leaders in the tech industry. Richard Lawler (Engadget) speaks with Philip Jones (Sony) on Ultra HD and OLED panels.
Samsung had possibly the largest booth with an array of electronics and announced Youm, which aims to be an ultra-thin, durable, and flexible OLED screen for smartphones. The Galaxy Camera and touch screen laptops were only a couple of the hybrid devices that may soon be widely distributed and used within the consumer market.
Since my friend seemed pretty enthusiastic about Fujifilm’s X100S, I had to oblige by stopping by the booth. The digital camera’s auto-focus was an improvement many were looking forward to in comparison with the previous X100, and it surely did not disappoint. I would say it’s comparable to my Canon DSLR. The learning curve is higher for those not used to this type of camera, but the beautifully-designed build and light weight is nearly persuasive enough to shell out the $1300. Fun fact: Pete Souza (Official White House photographer) sometimes uses the X100.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get as much of a chance to explore South Hall, nor did I step into North Hall. However, the collection of prototypes and cool tech gadgets seen were already overwhelming and visually stimulating. I’m already looking forward to seeing more in 2014.