I'll try not to think about that possibility ( but that would be NEWS) and keep occupied by trying
to figure out some of the answers to Q posed by this CES reporter.....
CES: SNEAK PEEK
A look behind the curtain
by David Leamy
January 4, 1999 -- Yes, it's that time of year again. It may be
New Year's for most of the world, but if you are even remotely
connected to the consumer electronics business, you're winging
your way toward Las Vegas -- as long as you're not flying through
O'Hare -- for the annual International Consumer Electronics
Show, which begins this Thursday and runs through Sunday.
For the uninformed, this is one of the largest trade shows in the
country, at which all the varying gizmo vendors unveil their blinking
and beeping gadgets to electronics retailers, who'll then do their
best to foist them on you.
All the folks from the electronics biz will be doing their part to
blast their way into the consciousness of retailers and the press
(that's us) during the four-day confab. Can't be there? That's
where E/Town comes in. We will be your surrogate, scouring the
vast exhibit halls, special technology pavilions, and closed hotel
suites for the coolest technology, and we'll report back to you in
almost real time at our special VirtualCES site. Hey, the Internet
is fast but we still have to write the stuff!
Here's some of what we'll be tracking down....
Digital TVs from the likes of Hitachi, Marantz, Panasonic,
Philips, Pioneer, RCA, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba:
Hopefully we'll see sign of FireWire integration and
movement on copyright/cable connectivity issues. Don't
expect a lot of activity on Sunday, though; all the DTV sets
on the show floor likely will be tuned to the Jets-Jaguars
AFC playoff game being broadcast in HDTV on CBS. If
you're not in Las Vegas, try finding a local HDTV retailer
showing the gridiron affair.
DVD: E/Town's favorite prerecorded video format is simply
kicking out the jams. We'll let you know who will have the
latest machines, including a new audiophile deck from
Denon to compete with Pioneer's DVD-09, when and for
how much.
Divx: We'll get you the scoop from Team Divx, who will
host a press conference Thursday morning. Will there be a
metal detector at the door? (Just kidding.)
Satellite TV: We've heard there may be big news is coming
out of DBS Land, including a link between the web and
small dishes. Interested? So are we ... we may get a clue on
Thursday afternoon.
Camcorders: A "convergence" blockbuster is on the way
but, unfortunately, we're sworn to secrecy until Wednesday
night. David Elrich will reveal the secret at VirtualCES on
Thursday.
Dolby Digital surround: With more than a million DVD
players in homes, the audio industry wants to sell you a new
receiver so you can experience DD sound effects in your
living room. Denon, JVC, Sony, Yamaha et al. will
introduce new gear. From what we've learned, it's not just
about more watts and lower prices.
Going wireless: CES is home for all the major wireless
hardware makers including Ericsson and Nokia. Marshall
Lager, our ace wireless news hound, will check out the
latest in cel phones, one-way and two-way pagers, and
other wireless telecommunications and messaging devices.
He also has an exclusive meeting with the 800-pound gorilla
of the wireless game, Motorola, on Saturday morning.
Small office/home office (SOHO). Yeah, we all have to
work, and CES is the platform for new telephones, fax
machines, multi-function devices, copiers, scanners and
printers. While not as sexy as high-definition TV, making
yourself more productive so you have more time to watch
the tube is a good thing. Our own SOHO guru Carlos
Carrillo will be scouring the SOHO pavilion for news.
Mega CD changers. The "mega" movement rolls on as
more companies unveil 50, 100 and 200-disc changers.
We'll track down the best buys.
To augment our text-and-photo coverage at VirtualCES, we're
once again partnering with our good friends at TWICE (This
Week In Consumer Electronics) to bring you their ace coverage of
events. We'll also be co-hosting our third annual Golden Plug
Award presentations with them on Friday evening.
And that's not all, folks. We're partnering with CEMA (the
Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association, the folks who
put on this annual electronics soiree) to bring you the first-ever
CES Webcasts, online RealMedia interviews with consumer
electronic industry luminaries like CEMA president Gary Shapiro,
Monster Cable's main monster Noel Lee, Joel Silver from the ISF,
fellow know-it-alls like Stereophile's Michael Fremer and Home
Theater Magazine's Brent Butterworth, as well as major honchos
from major companies like Thomson and Denon. Ron will be
hosting the Webcasts, with special appearances from Stewart and
Harry.
If you're going to be at the show, our newsroom is in the middle of
the Grand Lobby of the LVCC, and we have an exhibit space
nearby at P-12/P-13, just across from cafeteria near the North
Hall entrance.
And now, if you'll excuse us, we have planes to catch.
Please feel free to post your comments in E/Town Suggestion
Box, a folder on our Message Board.
# # #
This story is an E/Town original. |
