A flying camera, an invisible piano keyboard that can be played, sensors that help the visually impaired navigate the world… these are just some of the technologies that will make 2015 a watershed year. “It’s the beginning of the next consumer technology wave,” said Intel CEO Brian Krzanich in his CES keynote address. “The last time we saw a wave of change this big was 20 years ago today, in 1995, with a revolution in consumer computing with the Pentium processor and first commercial browsers.” Continue reading Intel CEO Brian Krzanich Predicts New Consumer Tech Wave

Wearables are powered by MEMS (Microelectrical Mechanical Systems) and sensors, and the MEMS Industry Group (MIG) is focused on addressing the issues that will help catapult wearables and the Internet of Things to become more powerful market segments. The wearable sensor market is expected to expand seven-fold in five years, to be valued at more than $450M in 2018. At CES, MIG Executive Director Karen Lightman introduced a day-long conference devoted to MEMS and sensors. Continue reading MEMS and Sensors Power Wearables, the Internet of Things

Emerging trends in new wearables represent the next great market opportunity, say a group of consultants and analysts who cover the field. As part of the Sensors and MEMS Technology Conference at CES, panelists took to the stage to discuss “Wearables: A Very Real Market Opportunity.” Although current penetration of wearables is a mere seven percent, that number is expected to grow dramatically. “In the next five years we’ll have a wearable that the majority of the population will want,” said Jim Feldhan, president of Semico Research. Continue reading CES Conference Session: Wearables as a Market Opportunity

PC game hardware manufacturer Razer may be looking to compete with virtual headsets such as the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR. At CES, the company unveiled its own VR headset, the open-source OSVR Hacker Dev Kit. According to Razer, the $199 kit is compatible with Oculus DK2 software and experimental Linux and Android VR software. Slated for June availability, the kit is tied to a new consortium that plans to offer an alternative test bed for developers interested in VR. Continue reading 2015 CES: Razer Unveils its $199 Open-Source VR Headset

Liquid Image, maker of camera-equipped masks and goggles, has updated its Ego LS 800 wearable action camera with plans to ship this spring. The camera features the ability to record 1080p video at 30 fps, or 720p at 60 fps, while simultaneously live broadcasting over LTE — a first for the camera category. The onboard LTE chipset has been upgraded so that it can stream video over Verizon’s LTE network. The Ego LS is not the first action cam to live-stream video, but other cameras use Wi-Fi. Continue reading Liquid Image Ego LS to Live Stream Video Over Verizon LTE

Samsung was the first to showcase a bendable TV at last year’s CES, and this week the company is demonstrating a 105-inch, 21:9 screen that can expand or contract depending on how curved the viewer wants it. “For such a novel TV, Samsung put out all the stops, including 4K resolution, quantum-dot technology for improved color and its Tizen-powered smart-TV platform,” reports Mashable. “The bendy set has features of Samsung’s new SUHD line, which includes a ‘re-mastering engine’ for improved picture quality, an extremely thin screen bezel with chamfered edges and Samsung’s Tizen-powered Smart TV interface.”

During his CES keynote, Samsung Electronics CEO BK Yoon addressed his vision for improving consumers’ lives via the Internet of Things. “In 2015, the company will invest more than $100 million in the development community working on connected devices,” reports USA Today. “And it will appeal to developers and competitors to assist in open standards so that devices from different manufacturers work together.” According to the CEO in an interview prior to the keynote: “A lot of the smart TVs and smartphones out there already can communicate. By 2017, our plan is to IoT-enable 90 percent of Samsung hardware, and within five years our plan is to IoT-enable all Samsung products 100 percent.”

LG is introducing seven new 4K OLED TVs during CES this year. Ranging in size up to 77 inches, the TVs feature the company’s WRGB pixel technology (including a fourth color — white — for improved viewing angle and more vivid colors), and its “Art Slim” design (ultra-thin displays with transparent stands that make the sets appear as if they are floating). “At the top of LG’s list for CES 2015 is the EG9900, a 77-inch flexible 4K OLED TV,” Digital Trends reports. The set includes “a 100W 4.1 Channel speaker system with wireless subwoofer developed by Harman/Kardon, and deca-core processor for faster webOS performance.” LG is also introducing two new 4K LCD TVs, one of which features Quantum Dot technology.

During a press event at CES, Dish Network announced its new subscription streaming service, Sling TV, which is slated to debut in the first quarter of 2015. According to Dish President and CEO Joe Clayton, the $20/per month OTT service will offer 25-30 channels from Disney, ESPN, Scripps Networks Interactive and Turner Broadcasting, in addition to exclusive content from YouTube and Maker Studios. The bundle is targeting millennials who might not otherwise subscribe to a cable or satellite pay TV service. Continue reading Dish Network Unveils Over-the-Top Sling TV Service at CES

Is there a practical business model for wearables? A CES panel on “What’s New in the Quantified Self” did a deep dive on that question, with panelists drawing from their own early experiences. Engaging consumers with wearables is proving to be much more difficult than anticipated, say the panelists, who report that 85 percent of wearables are abandoned after one month. Success may rely on the industry identifying models that address interaction with data and long-term consumer engagement. Continue reading CES: The Quantified Self – Is There a Model for Making Money?

While Netflix has emerged at several CES press events in Las Vegas this week promoting HDR and various partnership deals, the streaming video service also announced its new smart TV certification program, Netflix Recommended TV, designed to help consumers select Netflix-friendly TV sets that are “built for a superior Internet TV experience.” The recommendation program was announced during LG’s press conference. Initial program participants include LG, Sharp, Sony, Vizio and Roku TV makers. Continue reading Netflix Announces Smart TV Certification Program in Las Vegas

Google confirmed that it plans to add native support for 360-degree videos for its YouTube streaming video service “in the coming weeks.” At the 2015 CES, French company Giroptic revealed that its soon-to-be-released $499 360cam — a rugged, lightweight, waterproof camera looking to take on the GoPro — would be the first 360-degree camera that YouTube plans to support. The announcement could also be good news for users of new cameras such as the Bublcam, Kodak SP360, Ricoh Theta, VSN Mobil V.360 and others. Continue reading YouTube to Support 360-Degree Videos from Giroptic 360cam

During its CES press conference, Nvidia announced two new computing platforms for automobiles — the Drive CX and the Drive PX, both of which are centered on the idea that future vehicles will require an increased number of screens and great deal of computing capability. The Drive CX is a digital cockpit for powering the infotainment system, based on the company’s new X1 processor, and featuring an advanced visual computing architecture. The Drive PX is Nvidia’s image processing solution for self-driving cars. Continue reading Nvidia Unveils New Computing Platforms for Cars at 2015 CES

Sharp is focusing on subpixels again this year at CES in another effort to widen the color gamut and bring more sharpness to the TV screen. “The company’s highest-end 4K sets, which launch this Spring, come packed with 66 million subpixels — about 42 million more than your average RGB-only 4K television,” reports Wired. “The company says it will put the new UH30 ‘Beyond 4K Ultra HD TV’ panel next to the 85-inch native 8K TV Sharp has showcased at its booth the past few years.” While the new TV is not being billed as an 8K set, the company claims it can reach an effective resolution of 7,680 x 4,320, and can upscale 4K content to a higher definition.

CEA Director of Industry Analysis Steve Koenig described the evolution of displays and what to expect in 2015 and beyond. Bottom line: Consumers are going for bigger screens, smarter functions and more resolution. CEA studies show a growth in awareness of 4K/UHD among consumers, and that translates to an intent to purchase. Of the approximately 168 million U.S. adults who say they plan to buy a new TV in the next three years, 27 percent — 45 million consumers — intend to buy a 4K/UHD set. Continue reading 2015 CES: The State of Displays – Bigger and Smarter and 4K