As the International Consumer Electronics Show, America's largest trade show, closes its doors on Friday, we wrangled some of the buzziest products unveiled here. Some 3,100 exhibitors fought for the spotlight this week, but here are a few that captured much of the buzz.
Introduction —
As the International Consumer Electronics Show, America's largest trade show, closes its doors on Friday, we wrangled some of the buzziest products unveiled here. Some 3,100 exhibitors fought for the spotlight this week, but here are a few that captured much of the buzz.
Windows phones have not done particularly well, and Nokia hasn't been relevant in the United States for about a decade. And yet, Microsoft and Nokia delivered the standout smartphone at CES. The Lumia 900 will be available on AT&T in the next few months, said Nokia CEO Stephen Elop. "We're going to do our best work for Windows Phone," he said in an interview.
Nokia Lumia 900 —
Windows phones have not done particularly well, and Nokia hasn't been relevant in the United States for about a decade. And yet, Microsoft and Nokia delivered the standout smartphone at CES. The Lumia 900 will be available on AT&T in the next few months, said Nokia CEO Stephen Elop. "We're going to do our best work for Windows Phone," he said in an interview.
Rather than three-dimensional technology being sold at a premium, many computer and TV makers say they will pack the feature into most sets. If CES is any indication, 3-D is here to stay. Whether anyone regularly puts on the glasses remains to be seen.
3-D TV —
Rather than three-dimensional technology being sold at a premium, many computer and TV makers say they will pack the feature into most sets. If CES is any indication, 3-D is here to stay. Whether anyone regularly puts on the glasses remains to be seen.
The 4K-resolution TV sets look gorgeous, especially on large monitors. The problem is that most movies aren't delivered in the 4,000-pixel format. Still, electronics companies like Sharp are demonstrating that the technology for 4K sets exists.
Sharp 4K LED TV —
The 4K-resolution TV sets look gorgeous, especially on large monitors. The problem is that most movies aren't delivered in the 4,000-pixel format. Still, electronics companies like Sharp are demonstrating that the technology for 4K sets exists.
Dell got burned when consumers rejected its phone-tablet hybrid, the 5-inch Streak with Android. Samsung will try again with the Galaxy Note for AT&T. It's one-third of an inch larger than the Streak, makes phone calls and comes with the S Pen. "The S Pen is not a stylus," Samsung exec Kevin Packingham said. But it totally is.
Samsung Galaxy Note —
Dell got burned when consumers rejected its phone-tablet hybrid, the 5-inch Streak with Android. Samsung will try again with the Galaxy Note for AT&T. It's one-third of an inch larger than the Streak, makes phone calls and comes with the S Pen. "The S Pen is not a stylus," Samsung exec Kevin Packingham said. But it totally is.
The newest touchscreen and touchback hand-held game system from Sony is already available in Japan. Many Americans crowded around Sony's CES booth to get their hands on it for the first time.
Sony PlayStation Vita —
The newest touchscreen and touchback hand-held game system from Sony is already available in Japan. Many Americans crowded around Sony's CES booth to get their hands on it for the first time.
The longest lines in Samsung's massive booth were to see a prototype TV with a built-in camera and microphone. The voice-control features were activated in the demo by saying, "Hi, TV." The camera recognizes faces and can create profiles to keep each person's applications in order. And users can navigate menus with the wave of a hand. It's like having Microsoft's Kinect for Xbox 360 without needing to buy a bunch of separate hardware.
Samsung Smart TV —
The longest lines in Samsung's massive booth were to see a prototype TV with a built-in camera and microphone. The voice-control features were activated in the demo by saying, "Hi, TV." The camera recognizes faces and can create profiles to keep each person's applications in order. And users can navigate menus with the wave of a hand. It's like having Microsoft's Kinect for Xbox 360 without needing to buy a bunch of separate hardware.
There are so many technologies fighting for dominance in televisions, but many industry observers consider organic light-emitting diode sets to be the next standard. It takes video in its current format and improves brightness and contrast. But those TVs won't come cheap to start.
LG 55 inch OLED TV —
There are so many technologies fighting for dominance in televisions, but many industry observers consider organic light-emitting diode sets to be the next standard. It takes video in its current format and improves brightness and contrast. But those TVs won't come cheap to start.
Ultrabooks -- thin, light and metal laptops -- are a common object of desire at CES. But the price may deter some. Dell has managed to deliver an attractive yet relatively affordable Ultrabook at $999. The XPS 13 is expected to be available in February.
Dell XPS 13 —
Ultrabooks -- thin, light and metal laptops -- are a common object of desire at CES. But the price may deter some. Dell has managed to deliver an attractive yet relatively affordable Ultrabook at $999. The XPS 13 is expected to be available in February.
For people split between buying a laptop or a tablet, Lenovo Group thinks it has the answer. The laptop can fold backwards to create a stand using the keyboard or collapse into a traditional touchscreen tablet. The Yoga will run Windows 8 when it launches in the second half of the year, and it will cost $1,200, Lenovo says.
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga —
For people split between buying a laptop or a tablet, Lenovo Group thinks it has the answer. The laptop can fold backwards to create a stand using the keyboard or collapse into a traditional touchscreen tablet. The Yoga will run Windows 8 when it launches in the second half of the year, and it will cost $1,200, Lenovo says.