Tomorrow's Electronics Debut at 2009 Consumer Electronics Show

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) – think of it as the Academy Awards® of the electronics business – returned to its Las Vegas stomping grounds this year, full of mind-blowing new gadgets that make tech junkies swoon. Held January 8-11, 2009, this year's show featured nearly 3,000 companies who were hoping that what happens in Vegas won't stay in Vegas!

Read more articles from the January 2009 issue of InventHelp's newsletter for inventors

So many of the electronic gadgets that we at InventHelp® have today, like DVD players, HDTV and satellite radio, made their debut at the CES. In fact, the average American home has 24 consumer electronics products. (Not that we're counting, but we're betting InventHelp's Invention Girl has at least twice that!)

Organizers estimate that the economic slump caused attendance to drop by about 8 percent this year. But, times of economic turmoil are not without potential benefits for electronics manufacturers and retailers. Spending on entertainment is one of the first things that many people slice to streamline their budgets. As financial fears lead more folks to stay home rather than hit the theaters or stadiums, industry leaders are hoping this translates into more interest (and spending) on home electronics items like Blu-ray players and gaming systems.

2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES)The industry analysts, company representatives and technology journalists who did make the voyage to CES were rewarded with plenty of eye-candy. On Opening Day, Microsoft made headlines by unveiling Windows 7. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer opened CES with a passionate defense of PCs and a sneak peek at the latest version of Windows. Ballmer touts the new OS as a way to make PCs faster and easier to use. "We are on track to deliver the best version of Windows ever," Ballmer told thousands of exhibitors and attendees at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show.

For many electronics insiders, the news of Windows 7 came as no surprise. Early reviews of Windows 7, which leaked online last month, have been fairly positive. For more on Windows 7 and the much-maligned Vista, check out our InventHelp blog entry, Microsoft Promises Less Nagging in Windows 7.

For the most part, this year's show lacked much of the glitz and glamour of previous years. Customers concerned about a recession aren't as likely to be wowed by gigantic-screen televisions or cutting-edge gaming systems. Instead, this year's show had a decidedly "green" hue that reflects the country's embracing of environmentally friendly technologies.

The show's organizer, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), devoted an entire program track, with six sessions over three days, to "Technology and the Environment." Some new green products really stood out. Samsung's 6000 series, which features 40-, 55- and 60-inch sets, claims to reduce energy consumption by up to 40 percent without sacrificing quality. Even the batteries world, long maligned for its high waste output, had some good green news. Energizer Battery Co.'s zinc-air cell called Prismatic draws one of its main energy-producing components from oxygen in the air. The company states that zinc-air technology generates much longer battery life with little environmental impact.

Other highlights from CES include:

  • Pocket-sized camcorders like the Flip Mino and Flip Mino HD are explosively popular. This year at CES, rivals bring their own innovations to the table. RCA announced its latest model, the high-def Small Wonder EZ209HD. This sleek, affordable camcorder boasts 720p and a relatively small price tag around $120. And Kodak's Zx1, with a Zi6 processor and a colorful design, could also prove to be a strong contender in this growing field.
  • Where have all the landlines gone? This CES was all about touch-screen VoIP video phones that can also browse the web and play music and movie files. The iRiver Wave-Home and the Google Android-powered Touch Revolution NIMble Home Phones are proving to be the big names this year.
  • Want more CES? If you're a Jeopardy fan, tune in March to see 11 episodes filmed on location at this year's show. Attendees could walk into the studio for peeks at the set – except when they were filming, of course. We'll take Coming to CES in 2010 for $2,000, Alex!

The 2009 Consumer Electronics Show is like a breath of fresh air in these times of economic turmoil. We at InventHelp think it's like reliving the holiday season all over again! And while times are tough, what better way to get through the hard times by focusing on the great new inventions that will be coming our way?


Back to January 2009 Newsletter

 

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