Last year’s CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, many of us were the last time we would talk face to face, exchange invisible breathing drops, handle the same germ gadgets, and eat and drink in windowless restaurants.
This year, due to the ongoing pandemic, the annual CES takes place in full on our computer screens. The day-to-day performance of the consumer technology industry’s tent event begins on Monday, January 11th.
The experience of CES from afar holds some clear challenges for those who report on the program. We can not lie around the nearly 3 million square meters of exhibit space or actually try out the new products on display. But we are going to do our best to give our expert analyzes of the technology festival this year, based on a whole bunch of virtual information sessions and our collective decades that CES has covered in the past. So shoot Zoom on, put on your VR headsets and get ready to follow along.
Let’s get small
On the other hand, if you want to visit CES this year, you do not have to spend money on registration fees, airline tickets or accommodation. You can see all the announcements and activities in your pajamas.
There is no doubt that this year’s CES has been scaled down. The Consumer Technology Association, which hosts CES, says about 1,800 exhibitors will be part of this year’s show. That’s less than half of the 4400 exhibitors who showcased technology last year. The CTA also pointed out that ‘the show’ will be accessible to audiences around the world ‘, as it is an all-digital event, but declined to say how many people actually registered for this year’s virtual CES. Last year, about 170,000 people personally attended it.
Some technology companies are not opting for CES this year, or spreading their product news on their own schedules. Amazon does not have an official presence, though you can probably expect its Alexa voice assistant to appear in hundreds of products. Google, which has recently installed massive Googley installations in Las Vegas at CES, says it will host partner meetings, but otherwise does not bend. Microsoft President Brad Smith will deliver a speech on technology that is both a weapon and a tool – a particularly relevant topic – but most Microsoft-related news at CES comes from his computer manufacturing partners. Facebook and its Oculus division are also not participating. Instead, the company chose to bother its upcoming ‘smart glasses’ in a blog post earlier this week. And the bulk of the focus on Facebook, in any case, is its role in disrupting American democracy.
Samsung and LG Electronics host virtual press conferences and provide information on their new displays and home appliances. But it’s worth noting that Samsung will unveil its annual Galaxy phone on January 14 –while CES but not really a part of CES. We will also be keeping a close eye on Monday’s press conferences with Intel and Sony. And some of the key highlights include talks from CEOs of General Motors, Verizon and AMD.
Look but do not touch
So what new technology shall see you virtually next week? There are some exciting things happening in TV countries, says WIRED’s Parker Hall. The most beautiful TV we saw before the conference is a new 110-inch MicroLED model from Samsung. (MicroLED is a relatively new display technology that uses small, inorganic LEDs, three per pixel, and is supposed to provide perfect contrast.) More TV manufacturers are also printing 8K screens, including Samsung, LG and Sony, as well as manufacturers of cheaper sets such as TCL and Vizio. And it may seem like a small thing, but many new TVs will ship this year with upgraded HDMI 2.1 ports – allowing the new PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X game consoles to work on their screens at their full 120 Hz potential.