The International CES 2013 opened today in Las Vegas, Nevada, showcasing over 3,250 exhibitors across a record-breaking 1.9 million net square feet of exhibit space. The event, owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, marks the largest annual innovation event in the world and runs through Friday, January 11.
Record Attendance and Innovations
This year’s CES is set to debut approximately 20,000 new products, highlighting the rapid pace of innovation in consumer electronics. Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA, expressed excitement over the record-breaking show, emphasizing its global participation and the extensive range of new technologies on display.
Keynote Highlights
Qualcomm’s chairman and CEO, Dr. Paul Jacobs, delivered a preshow keynote emphasizing Qualcomm’s influence on mobile technology. Jacobs was joined by Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer, who showcased new Microsoft Windows products featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 10 processor. The Snapdragon 800 processor promises to enhance tablets, smartphones, and PCs with advanced LTE capabilities, ultra HD, and 7.1 surround sound.
Celebrity Appearances and Performances
The keynote event included appearances by director Guillermo Del Toro, NASCAR’s Brad Keselowski and Marc Jenkins, actress Alice Eve from “Star Trek Into Darkness,” and Scott Chambers with Big Bird from Sesame Street. The evening concluded with a performance by Adam Levine and members of Maroon 5.
Media Events and Major Trends
CES Unveiled, the official press event of CES, kicked off on Sunday night, drawing a significant media presence with 74 exhibiting companies. Highlights included ultra-HDTVs, hybrid tablets, flexible touch screen displays, and advanced mobile solutions. Prominent exhibitors included 3M Touch Systems, Body Media, Chevrolet, and Synaptics.
Product Announcements
CES Press Day on Monday featured 28 exhibitor press conferences, unveiling notable products such as:
- LG: A 55” OLED TV and Ultra HDTVs in 84-inch, 65-inch, and 55-inch sizes.
- Livio: FM Connect, allowing in-car FM radio interaction via Bluetooth-connected smartphones.
- Monster: New headphone lines, including Nick Cannon’s NCredible headsets.
- Sharp: An 85-inch 8K Ultra HD TV delivering 16 times the resolution of standard HDTV.
- VOXX: NM100 rearview navigation system.
- Fujifilm: X100S and X20 cameras with rapid startup and minimal shutter lag.
- Huawei: The Ascend Mate smartphone with a 6.1-inch screen, currently the world’s largest.
- Intel: Perceptual Computing technology integrating voice, touch, facial recognition, and gestures.
- Limited Computing: VYZAR, a geo-location based 3D augmented reality technology.
- Samsung: The Smart TV Samsung LED F8000 series with voice recognition technology.
- Panasonic: New energy-efficient TV series including ZT60, ST60, WT60, and DT60 models.
- DISH Network: DISH Anywhere service, powered by Hopper with Sling for mobile DVR and live TV access.
About CEA
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is a leading trade association promoting the $206 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. With over 2,000 member companies, CEA provides legislative advocacy, market research, technical training, and industry promotion. The International CES is one of CEA’s flagship events, with all profits reinvested into industry services.
