LAS VEGAS – There is wide speculation that the consumer electronics industry will be a catalyst to resuscitate our moribund economy.
Of course, the speculation emanates from manufacturers who gathered for the gargantuan Consumer Electronics Show for a mass back-patting exhibition. However, since they are among the world’s greatest consumer marketers, their success will undoubtedly play an important role in America’s overdue recovery.
After three days at the CES, these are the markets that generated the greatest fanfare and media attention and may very well grease the cylinders of our economic engine:
- E-Readers: Newspaper and magazine publishers need drool cups to catch the runoff as they position themselves for the financial rebound that careens off applications like the Que reader. Que promises a better share of revenue and subscriber information. Others in the mix include: Entourage Systems, which boasts two-screened, book-like device that combines e-reader and netbook; the Libre; Astak EZ Reader, Booken’s Cybook Opus; and Western Graphics PocketBook.
- 3-D TV: There is no established format for the home 3-D, but major TV manufacturers are bracing for the marketplace brawl when the pricey TVs (and separately sold specialty glasses) flood consumers this summer.
- Netbooks: These consumer-friendly, low-cost laptops were the all the rage at last year’s CES gathering. This year, everyone’s nervously eyeing goliath Google as insiders believe they will build and sell their own netbook by the close of 2010 — in addition to coming out with their own phone.
- Speaking of phones … The concept of mobility rivaled 3-D TVs and e-readers for most attention at the CES. Google’s Nexus One is speculated to be unveiled this month with T-Mobile, and Google’s Android has the visual search Google Giggles. So the world’s No.1 one search engine is hardly living off past successes.
- Paying for content: Many industries, such as print publishers and television houses like CBS and NBC, have struggled with the concept of paid content. But they devoted an entire day at CES to diagnose how net-connected TVs, e-readers, tablets, mobile phones and other apps will generate revenue.
- Green technology: Perhaps taking a cue from President Obama, former President Clinton and former VP Al Gore, certain CE manufacturers were getting attention for infusing low-power devices, solar charges and home energy monitors with tech advances.
- Tricked-out rides, high-tech style: Tricked-out cars will take on a new meaning as auto manufacturers and CE folk continue to feed America’s obsession with high-tech gadgetry in their cars. This includes continual upgrades on things like car diagnostics, media, communications, and especially, navigation.
–terry shropshire
