CES 2011 paraded a slew of iPad-killing tablet devices, leading some to call the year, “The Year of the Tablet.” Boy, were they wrong. Android-powered tablets proved to be among that year’s biggest flops.
Now another CES is in the works, likely filled with consumer electronics manufacturers who wish they didn’t waste last year’s money building products the market did not want. Here’s a look at some of the top trends to expect from CES 2012. Perhaps this year, manufacturers will be more in tune with consumer demand.
Better TV Screens
New organic LED television screens eliminate the need for a backlight, making them less power hungry and more pleasing to watch. Color quality, contrast and screen resolution are all better in the new breed of TV splashing onto the trade-show floor this year. So far, the largest model to debut at CES will be a 55-inch TV made by LG.
The Ultrabook
Lightweight, portable netbooks were becoming the rage in the consumer world until the iPad showed up. Now netbook sales are in the toilet and so is Intel. Unwilling to succumb to a fate of irrelevance, Intel has pushed a thinner, more chic portable computer it calls the Ultrabook. The company hopes this will boast sales of its flailing consumer processor line.
All the big players in the PC industry will have new Ultrabook products to showcase at CES. HP, Dell, Lenovo, HP and others believe the Ultrabook is the hottest computer device to hit CES in a long time. They could be right.
Auto Electronics
Some popular automakers will be at CES to hype their latest consumer electronics integrations. They will roll out smartphone apps that will remotely control their cars, locate charging stations for electric cars, and do other cool things that will appeal to geeky car shoppers (and thereby increase sales). Expect Mercedes and other brands to increase the degree to which their cars will interact with the mobile world. Some of these new apps and their associated accessories will be on the floor at CES.
Apple Stuff
In all its wisdom, Apple doesn’t go to CES. It has a show of its own later in the month that most consumers really want to see. Some accessory manufacturers will be at CES to show off hundreds of new gadgets, gizmos and apps that will make life better for iPhone and iPad users. Attendees should expect the iLounge where these products are found to be one of the most popular places at CES 2012.
Glasses-Free 3D
Televisions featuring 3D capabilities received much attention in 2010 and 2011. Some manufacturers suppose the lack of demand for 3D stems from the expensive, ugly, uncomfortable and inconvenient glasses viewers must wear to enjoy 3D entertainment.
All that will change. A raft of glasses-free devices at CES means that the industry is ready to go whole-hog with 3D televisions. Some industry experts suggest that consumer demand for 3D is not as strong as manufacturers see it. Like it or not, however, 3D will make a huge bid for the living room this year.
CES attendees should expect these exciting trends and a lot more to appear on the show floor this year. Expect breakout sessions to focus more on selling to consumers in a tough economy than on killing anything Apple makes. Though the show may not rock with anticipation as much as it did last year, perhaps expectations will be more realistic. We’ll see.
Author Stephanie Sanders is a communications consultant and writes for a UK mobile phones site, offering all the latest phones and plans.