Last year’s CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, it was the last time in a long time that many of us would be talking face to face, exchanging invisible breath drops, handling the same germ devices and enjoying food and drinks in windowless restaurants.
This year, due to the ongoing pandemic, the annual CES takes place entirely on our computer screens. The first totally remote staging of the consumer technology industry sustaining event begins on Monday, January 11th.
Experiencing CES from afar presents some obvious challenges for those of us reporting on the program. We can’t stroll the expo hall’s nearly 3 million square feet of space or really try the new products on display. But we will do our best to give you our expert analysis from this year’s Tech Fest, based on a lot of virtual briefings and our collective tens of years covering CES in the past. Then activate Zoom, attach your virtual reality headsets and get ready to follow.
Let’s decrease
On the other hand, if you would like to check out CES this year, there is no need to spend money on registration, airfare or accommodation fees. You can watch all the ads and activities in your pajamas.
But there is no doubt that this year’s CES has been reduced. The Consumer Technology Association, which hosts CES, says that about 1,800 exhibitors will be part of this year’s show. That is less than half of the 4,400 exhibitors who presented technology last year. CTA also pointed out that, as it is a completely digital event, “the show will be accessible to audiences from around the world”, but it did not mean how many people actually signed up for this year’s virtual CES. Last year, about 170,000 people attended in person.
Some tech companies are choosing to leave CES this year or are posting product news on their own schedule. Amazon will not have an official presence, although you can probably expect to see your Alexa voice assistant appearing in hundreds of products. Google, which at recent CESes has installed massive Googley facilities in Las Vegas, says it will host partner meetings, but on the other hand is leaving the show. Microsoft President Brad Smith will deliver a speech on technology as a weapon and tool – an especially relevant topic – but most of the Microsoft-related news at CES will come from its PC-manufacturing partners. Facebook and its Oculus division will also not participate. Instead, the company decided to tease its next “smart glasses” on a blog earlier this week. And most of the focus on Facebook now, anyway, is its role in disrupting American democracy.
Samsung and LG Electronics will hold virtual press conferences and give talks on their new monitors and appliances. But it’s important to note that Samsung is launching its annual Galaxy phone on January 14th –during CES, but not really a part of the CES. We will also be looking forward to Monday’s press conferences with Intel and Sony. And some of the main highlights include lectures by the chief executives of General Motors, Verizon and AMD.
Look, but don’t touch
So, what new technology go see you practically next week? There are interesting things happening on TV, said Parker Hall of WIRED. The most impressive TV we saw before the conference is a new 110-inch MicroLED model from Samsung. (MicroLED is a relatively new display technology that uses tiny, non-organic LEDs, three per pixel, and should offer perfect contrast). More TV makers are also launching 8K screens, including Samsung, LG and Sony, as well as low-cost set makers like TCL and Vizio. And that may seem like a small thing, but many new TVs will be launched this year with updated HDMI 2.1 ports – so that the new PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X game consoles can run at their full 120 Hz potential on the screens.