The Consumer Electronics Show, the show that first introduced the VCR, DVD, Plasma Screen, and Direct Broadcast Satellite Television to gadget greedy consumers, rolls into Las Vegas promising more innovation and whiz bang goodies than ever. So, what's the next big thing in consumer electronics? Marc Saltzman highlights the best of CES 2011. The show runs January 6-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The big story is the fusion between the Internet and television to give consumers that on demand, online experience in the living room.
Sony XPR
For example, a Sony XPR coming out in March has Netflix and you can make Skype calls with a camera in H.D. for free via video with friends and family around the world. And it has a song service. You hear a song in a commercial or movie, press a button and it will tell you who sang it and where you can buy it. It ranges from 46 to 65 inches.
Dolby Digital Plus
Dolby is making big announcements this week that when you stream H.D. videos, you can have up to 7.1 surround sound, much like a movie theater experience. It is called Dolby Digital Plus.
Sony 3D Camcorder
The Sony 3D Camcorder for your pocket has a flipout USB arm, and you can watch that 3D content on the device without glasses. It has a two-and-a-half inch screen, or better yet, plug it into your 3D-ready screen and you can see your vacation or other memories in stereo with glasses. It comes out in February for about $250.
LTI-Medial Novel
Tablets are a big story, largely due to the success of the Apple iPad. The LTI-Medial Novel, a colored nine-inch tablet, lets you surf the web and read e-mails, and it works with the Barnes and Noble store to buy content. You can download digital magazines and newspapers, and they're working with Android, and it made it easy to touch the screen and navigate it. Even those with existing tablets and e-readers can download that as well.
(BIO):
Marc, a 14-time author, has appeared on numerous television stations, including CNN, CNN Headline News, Fox News, CBS, NBC, G4TV and Discovery Channel. Along with covering consumer electronics and online tech trends for nearly 50 publications, Marc has just entered his tenth year as Gannett's syndicated video gaming critic, with columns appearing in more than 85 newspapers across the country each week.
