Tech Talk : Highlights of the Tech Shows

Every year there are three major geek events The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Game Developers Conference (GDC) and Macworld. These three events are always within the first few months of a new year to show off prototypes, gadgets up and coming and thousands of demos.

CES is one of the largest with registrants representing the United States, Canada, Mexico and more than 140 other countries include manufacturers, retailers, content providers and creators, broadband developers, wireless carriers, cable and satellite TV providers, installers, engineers, corporate buyers, government leaders, financial analysts and the media from around the world.

The International CES is the industry’s largest educational forum to help companies expand their businesses and understand new technology. Approximately 200 conferences and more than 300 expert speakers encompass International CES conferences, Industry Insiders and SuperSessions to discuss hot industry trends and topics. Keynote presentations feature executives from the world’s largest and most successful companies and result in remarkable media coverage for the speakers. The only company that doesn’t make an appearance or presentation at CES is Apple. Apple hold it’s own conference, MacWorld, usually a few weeks after CES.

MacWorld’s focus is everything Apple and the one to watch if you are one of the many mad Mac addicts around the world.

Although Apple doesn’t showcase with CES it doesn’t mean Apple 3rd party products are limited to MacWorld. In fact; most Apple 3rd party products are showcased at both – these would include speakers, headphones and various apps.

The top product trends at the 2010 CES

• Mobile DTV – the ability to watch digital television anywhere. Main focus at the CES was smaller screens, stand alone viewers (think Walkman TV) and applications for cell phone viewing.
• Apps – Even though Apple doesn’t show up at the CES iTunes App Store has started a trend. The trend to have apps will be on everything including televisions and printers. If you have an electronic device apparently there is an app for that.
• eReaders – First is was Kindle, then Sony and now everybody is getting into the eReader game. As we all count down to summer the more the market is going to be saturated with eReaders. Keep an eye out and shop for the right gadget with the fuctions you need.
• Tablets Slates – If you are looking for more functionality than an eReader and don’t want a full laptop a Slate machine is a perfect match. Slate machines have more functionality than those pesky 2008 PC Tablets and again the market is going to have plenty of Slates to go around.
• 3-D – It is coming to your home. 2010 is all about 3-D television to watch 3-D movies, gaming and possibly sporting events. Before going out and buying a 3-D television, head over to an IMAX theater. There are those who have negative reactions to watching 3-D, so don’t spend your money on a product that might make you sick.

The Top Product from 2010 MacWorld

• iPad – (or as the social networks are calling it the iTampon or iFeminine Product if the shopper is prissy)Yes, weeks after the 2010 CES, Apple announced their own slate computer. What has happened since the iPad announcement? The pricing is set, but Apple is open to lowering the price if the initial sales are not met. This also happened to those who jumped to buy iPhone, and less than one week later the price dropped by $100. Also, there have been delays in the iPad production; I wonder if they have jumped the gun in promotion before product. One more thing, on the Apple employment site they’re looking to hire programmers to test still image, video and audio playback, which means the next version of iPad will have a camera.
  
• Cases – MacWorld was filled with unique cases for your iPad and iPhone. There were cases with individual country flags; interestingly enough, no flag of China available even though the cases were made in China.
• Stylus – with Apple gadgets have more touch screen capabilities creative thinking is needed. There are winter gloves you can wear that will allow you to navigate touch screens.
• Microsoft – No, you do not need a PC to use Microsoft products. Microsoft Office 2011 for Apple Computer is due out very soon.
• Keyboard – Not everyone loves a touch screen. More keyboard accesssories are being made by 3rd parties to meet the needs of that niche.
• Projector – The coolest thing at MacWorld was not the announcement of the iPad; the WX Laser Pico Projector stands as the leader of all iPod/iPhone accessories. This device attaches to iPhones or iPods and let’s you project a larger view of movies from your device onto a wall. Shiny!

Game Developers Conference (GDC) is March 9-13, 2010, which means as you are reading this I am drooling over their new products, gadgets and games. The big topic of the GDC is social networks and social gaming. One-player gaming is slowly moving out the door while games that utilize multiple online players are becoming more popular. Another serious trend is gender playing — more females are getting into gaming, and it is no longer about the single 20-or 30-something man living in his mom’s basement. Predictions for future development include more heroines and multi-task oriented gaming.

I got a question via phone call (yes there are those who know the secret identity of “Dear Techie”) concerning advice for travel gadgets. “Stan & Sue” were planning some trips but didn’t want a heavy laptop and didn’t want to squint at the small screen of a smart phone. Here is what I told them: If you need something now, get a netbook. If you can wait, do so. The closer we get to summer the more portable electronics will be become available.

Associated Links:

• CES: http://www.cesweb.org/
• MacWorld: http://www.macworldexpo.com/
• GDC: http://www.gdconf.com/