CES 2021 trends to look for in streaming TV, fitness apps, video chat software and more

This story is part of CES, where our editors will present the latest news and the hottest gadgets from CES 2021 entirely virtual.

CES 2021 it will be a different technology show for a very different year. Most of us had to give up everything from cinemas to gyms and bars in favor of streaming services, fitness apps and video chat platforms – giving software and services a place closer to the top of the pyramid technological innovation. This evolution will be evident in the virtual conference.

While no one will walk the floors of Las Vegas trying out new products that promise consolidate your TV streaming, use your brain waves to dispel anxiety and improve your sleep, the apps and services that have been at the center of our entertainment, exercise, work and social life will play a big role at CES this year, often taking advantage of the virtual environment in which they operate naturally.

Here are some services, applications and software trends that we hope to see at CES 2021.

Read More: The 6 main trends expected at CES 2021

Streaming services struggle to close cinemas

While there are far fewer large media companies present at CES 2021, we’ll probably see how some of the movie pivots for streaming services are doing, like Joan Solsman of CNET reported. The head of Warner Bros. will attend a lecture called Entertainment Transformed and will probably discuss the company’s plans for launch all its new films this year for streaming in HBO Max the same day they hit theaters, starting last month Wonder Woman 1984.

Other CES panels will include executives from Amazon, Starz, Pluto TV and more discussing the big increase in streaming service subscriptions since the beginning of the pandemic blockades last March.

While we don’t expect ads from major players like Netflix or Hulu, it is likely that 2021 will continue to increase subscriptions to streaming services, especially as more shows and movies change hands or debut. The arrival of NBC’s The Office on Peacock probably increased subscriptions this month, for example, as Wonder Woman in 1984 did for HBO Max.

The pandemic brings home entertainment and video chat equipment to the forefront

With many parts of the world dealing with outbreaks of coronavirus cases and many people still working and having fun at home, home entertainment providers will have tons of new TVs, sound bars and streaming devices on display at CES 2021.

We’ve already had a glimpse of new Sony TVs with huge, brighter OLED screens and run the new Google TV streaming system. Samsung will also have a ton of new home entertainment products to display, including huge MicroLED TVs that allow you to watch four programs at once, QLED TVs that come in 4K and 8K resolution and soundbars with subwoofer microphones to update your home theater experience.

On the video chat side, we will see several vendors looking to improve their experience on Zoom, Microsoft Teams or the service of their choice, for work or for socializing. Companies like Owl Labs, j5create and Labpano will display 360 degree cameras and related software, while Crew in a Box claims to offer a professional quality plug-and-play remote video production solution.

It remains to be seen whether any of them will reach as wide as popular smart home tools, such as Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest and Facebook Portal, which now support Zoom and other video chat platforms. But many people will continue to work from home until one Vaccine for covid-19 is widely available, these products are likely to attract some interest.

Fitness products, services and apps explode in popularity

Since the pandemic ended or limited the use of many gyms and fitness classes starting in March, home fitness products, apps and services saw great growth. At CES, we expect to see several new offers in this category. Ultrahuman, a new health and fitness app debuting at the show, uses a strategy similar to MasterClass helping people to meditate, train and optimize sleep with the help of athletes, neuroscientists, artists and psychologists. The clothing company Amazfit is launching its new Amazfit HomeStudio, a connected treadmill and a hub for gym classes.

Samsung TVs are even kicking in: a new feature on electronics giant’s 2021 TVs called Smart Trainer allows you to connect a webcam to your TV so that the Samsung Health app can track your training progress and offer guidance and encouragement.

With people investing large amounts of money in home fitness equipment and the apps and services that come with it (looking at you, Peloton), it will be interesting to see if, when gyms are totally safe to return, people flock back or stay in their home gym studios. The fitness technology we see at CES could be another sign that we are stopping working out in gyms and living rooms.

The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended for medical or health advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.