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This Year's CES Is All About Fun

7 Jan, 2011 By: Thomas K. Arnold

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After spending three hours walking the convention center floor at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this afternoon, I briefly closed my eyes and visualized a giant yellow smiley face.

This year's CES certainly won't be remembered for innovation. 3D, which was all over the place, was actually introduced at last year's show. And tablets, the other Big Deal, originated with Apple's iPad, and Apple is conspicuously absent, choosing to stage its own shindig rather than share the spoils here in Las Vegas.

But that's OK with me. The lack of innovation has lowered the pressure level on exhibitors, so instead of trying to outdo each other they're simply refining their products and having a ball while they're at it.

The Panasonic booth had all sorts of viewing stations where visitors can watch music, games, sports, movies, you name it in state-of-the-art 3D. Among all the competing formats out there, Panasonic, for my money, has the best 3D, and the company certainly celebrated its leadership position by focusing on the fun factor more than anything else. No more hard sell on 3D--just a demonstration of how fun it can be to watch.

20th Century Fox deserves kudos for using CES to announce the September 2011 release of the Star Wars franchise on Blu-ray Disc. Again, nothing really new here--we all knew the films were eventually going to be released on Blu-ray Disc--but by making the announcement here at CES 20th Century Fox brought a little bit of Hollywood to the show floor. It was, well, fun.

I also got a kick out of Smart TV, which lets you toss the remote and instead manipulate your television with a hand clap or other gesture; Casio's new line of digital cameras and online editing program that lets you turn photos into works of art ("It's time we brought some fun to digital photography," the pitchman said during the stage presentation"); and Microsoft's Windows 7 display, with demonstrations on how to use such features as Windows Live to create wonderful movies and slide shows.

I also liked the book-like cover for the Kindle, the really cool new video game chairs (including one with pockets for snacks, extra games and even the Guitar Hero guitar, so Junior never has to get up except to go the bathroom), and these caps that let you snap your smart phone under an extended brim so you can create your own little movie theater.

Fun, fun, fun.

The mood of the attendees and exhibitors, even those from the studios, also seemed remarkably upbeat, with plenty of optimism that the economy is going to get better and these fun new devices will catch on with consumers.

A few more random thoughts and observations from the show floor:

--I never would have imagined seeing so many different skins, cases and protective coverings for iPhones and iPod Touches. There were aisles and aisles of them--a whole new industry for a product made by a company that doesn't even exhibit here.

--Why are we still seeing car DVD players? Let's go Blu-ray. I know, the picture doesn't really matter on such a small screen, but there are two other compelling reasons why we should ditch DVD and put Blu-ray players in cars: 1) better disc protection (Blu-ray Discs have a protective coating, while DVDs don't) and 2) flexibility (I know combo packs have become increasingly common, but in many cases consumers still have to choose between buying the DVD or buying the Blu-ray Disc). Blu-ray turns 5 this year. By now, everyone should be onboard.

--It was good seeing Warren Lieberfarb, the father of DVD, at the DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group event Thursday night. If it wasn't for Warren, our business might not have survived as long as it has. We all owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude.

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