Every year a barrage of new products are announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and 2015 is no different. Sometimes these devices never make it to market and are just proof-of-concept designs, but they’re often an indicator of what is coming next in the technology industry.
Below are five of the most interesting product trends that have formed over the course of the show.
5. Everything is “Smart”
Whirlpool’s new Smart Top Load washer and dryer are displayed at CES 2015. Ethan Miller/Getty Images [Ethan Miller/Getty Images]
A big part of CES 2015 is taking everyday products and making them “smart” internet-enabled devices. Whether it’s Decor’s voice-activated oven or Whirlpool’s updated smart washer and dryer set (which connects to Nest), technologically enhanced everyday household items were everywhere at CES this year.
Sleep Number’s smart SleepIQ Bed that tracks children’s sleeping habits, complete with a monster detector to make sure there aren’t scary creatures hiding under the bed (there’s also an adult version called Sleep Number x12 Bed).
While many of the above devices are designed specifically for those with ample amounts of disposable income, the BabyBe aims to help bring babies closer to their mothers by creating a Cradle pad embedded with air bladders and heating elements, all built out of medically safe polyurethane. It also records and transmits the mother’s heartbeat and mimics the movements rhythmically through its air bladders.
4. 4K and UHD TVs are finally becoming affordable
Attendees photograph the Sony Bravia X900C 4K TV, which is only 0.2 inches (4.9mm) thick – thinner than a Sony Xperia Z3 smartphone. ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
While super high-resolution televisions have been around at CES for the last few years, CES 2015 is the first time both 4K and UHD TVs are starting to become affordable for the average consumer.
Sony is set to sell its 50-inch P-series 4K televisions for $1000 and both LG and Samsung are expected to be forced to follow suite with similar pricing models for their 4K televisions.
The delivery method for 4K content was also discussed during CES and it seems streaming video platforms like Netflix and Amazon Instant will be leading the 4K content charge. Roku also announced plans to make streaming 4K Ultra HD a priority in future Roku models and also revealed its new Roku TV smart television platform.
While the average consumer likely won’t notice much of a change, there is a difference between 4K and UHD technology. 4K is the standard for professional and cinema video production, while UHD is becoming the standard for consumer displays and broadcast television. Both 4K and UHD refer to extremely high-resolution displays, but a 4K image has a slightly higher resolution (4096 x 2160) than UHD (3840 x 2160).
The battle between both content formats is already being compared to the war between Blu-Ray and the failed HD DVD format that took place during the mid 2000s.
3. Bendable TVs and Smartphones
The LG G Flex 2 smartphone on display at the 2015 International CES 2015. David Becker/Getty Images
Last year at CES Samsung unveiled an 85-inch bendable television, but this year the company decided to top this and added another 20 inches to the product, announcing the SUHD 105-inch bendable TV.
Unlike last year’s TV this one is actually set to ship during the second quarter of 2015, however a price hasn’t been announced yet. It’s safe to assume it will be very expensive considering the non-bendable version of this television costs $120,000. Other bendable televisions include LG’s 77-inch UHD flexible TV.
LG also revealed the LG G Flex 2, a smartphone with a unique curved design and a feature the manufacturer is calling “self-healing,” has quickly become one of the most popular tech devices revealed at CES 2015.
According to LG, curved phones are more durable, especially when they allow the device to physically flex and bend as pressure is applied to it. The self-healing back panel is built out of a special polymer that reportedly automatically recovers from small scratches.
The smartphone also features a 1080p screen and is slightly smaller than its predecessor, the LG G Flex 2, coming in at 5.5-inches as opposed to 6-inches.
2. Self-driving cars could soon be available
A worker rotates the seats in the self-driving Mercedes-Benz F 015 concept car at the Mercedes-Benz booth at CES 2015. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
While still far off – although there are cars on the market right now that have a number of interesting driving assist features – many car manufacturers showed off high-tech vehicles at CES 2015 that have the ability to self-drive.
Mercedez-Benz revealed the 4 015 Luxury in Motion Concept Car, Delphi Drive also had its new self-driving car system. In other car related news at CES, Ford announced its new in-car entertainment system will be based on BlackBerry QNX operating system, moving from the Microsoft system Ford cars currently use and Qualcomm showed off two Maserati cars with screens instead of traditional interior mirrors.
Google also revealed Android Auto, the company’s own in-car entertainment system forged out of the Open Automotive Alliance announced last year at CES 2014.
1. Smartwatches are the new ‘it’ device
The Guess Connect smartwatch, powered by Martian, is dislpayed at the Martian booth at the CES 2015. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
This year at CES the show floor is packed with various kinds of wearable technology and some of these new devices look very promising. With the Apple Watch’s launch looming on the horizon, almost every major manufacture revealed some sort of fancy new smartwatch-like device. LG’s WebOS-based watch, scheduled for an early 2016 release, is interestingly built on Palm’s webOS platform rather than the most popular smartwatch operating system, Android Wear.
Other notable smartwatches include another watch from LG Audi that has the ability to control Audi cars, including the ability to start the vehicle, drive it a short distance and tweak climate control settings, as well as open and lock doors.
GPS manufacturer Garmin also announced a new smartwatch called the Vivoactive and a slew of other companies like Kronzo, Lenovo, Mota and countless more, all have their own take on the smartwatch. A range of new devices dubbed “smart connected” watches have also emerged from traditional manufacturers like the Guess Connect and Withings Activité Pop.
Smartwatches are the hot tech device at CES 2015.
Source:: canada.com
