CES 2018: What to expect
chinatopwin
chinatopwin
2018-01-03 09:39:09
It's January, which means that Las Vegas, or the bit that pretends not to be Las Vegas for tax
Mobile
If you're looking for the next blockbuster phone you want to buy, then CES probably isn't the
Similarly, it won't just be electric skateboards that fill in the void around personal
reasons, will play host to CES. The Consumer Electronics Show is the event that kicks off the
technology world's annual calendar, and 2018 will see thousands of companies descend upon
Nevada to show off their wares. Many will claim to have the solution to whatever problem you
may have, but we'll be on the ground to peer through their flashy promises.
If last year's CES had a theme, then it was an attempt to broaden its horizons beyond
If last year's CES had a theme, then it was an attempt to broaden its horizons beyond
smartphones, tablets and TVs. Technology companies have mined every last drop of good
ideas from the traditional gadget world, which is why many chose to try something new. Our
Best of CES winners from last year included a smart bra-style breast pump, a self-balancing
motorcycle and smart tech that will help farmers. CES will set the tone for the next year in
technology, so while we make our way there, here's a quick run-through of all the things we're
likely to find in the desert.
Personal Computing
There won't be millions of laptops launched at CES, but you can expect plenty of talk about
Personal Computing
There won't be millions of laptops launched at CES, but you can expect plenty of talk about
the devices that are coming. The theme is likely to be low-power, super-efficient devices that
can truly be described as having an "all-day battery" without lots of caveats. In December,
HP and ASUS launched Snapdragon-powered Windows 10S laptops that can even be
upgraded to the full-fat version of Windows. These devices will also come packing always-
connected LTE modems, as the worlds of smartphones and laptops start becoming one.
Intel, which is feeling the pinch from ARM chip makers like Qualcomm, will probably have
something of its own to show off, even if it is just a concept device.
Mobile
If you're looking for the next blockbuster phone you want to buy, then CES probably isn't the
show for you, since we've got Mobile World Congress coming up shortly afterward. For a
brief second, there was a rumor that Samsung would shock everyone by announcing the
Galaxy S9 at the show, but that was rapidly quashed. But what you can expect to see are
plenty of budget handsets that will offer up features from last year's flagships at cheaper
prices. Huawei's sub-brand Honor will be doing something at the show, and it's plausible
that ZTE will do the same. Oh, and we'll keep our eyes peeled on Sony's corner because
it's always turned up to CES with something nice in its back pocket.
Wearables
After a disastrous 2017, it's looking to be a quieter year for wearables since the industry
Wearables
After a disastrous 2017, it's looking to be a quieter year for wearables since the industry
has failed to convince mainstream users to buy smartphones for their wrists. It's possible
that we'll see Android Wear devices from more fashion brands, especially since the Fossil
Group produces timepieces for so many top-tier houses. If you're looking for big
innovations in the smartwatch world, then you should probably gear yourself up for some
disappointment.
Instead, it's entirely possible that we'll see wearable companies branch out further into the
Instead, it's entirely possible that we'll see wearable companies branch out further into the
broader health and fitness world. Withings / Nokia Health already has a whole ecosystem
products, from a sleep sensor, weighing scale and wireless thermostat to a smart
hairbrush. Don't be surprised if other companies try and move in a similar direction in
2018, or even pivot toward the serious healthcare market.
Since the consumer-level watch world has slowed, many companies -- including Apple
Since the consumer-level watch world has slowed, many companies -- including Apple
and Fitbit -- are looking to more serious projects. Both companies are running studies to
examine if fitness trackers can detect heart conditions, and we've already seen others
building blood glucose monitoring devices. We're on the lookout this year for plenty
more of these, which will likely wind up being bought via your HMO.
TV and Home Entertainment
US-IT-LIFESTYLE-CES
No matter how far CES broadens its horizons, it'll always have a large space reserved
TV and Home Entertainment
US-IT-LIFESTYLE-CES
No matter how far CES broadens its horizons, it'll always have a large space reserved
in its heart for the TVs of the future. This is, after all, the show where the latest and
greatest displays make their debuts in the hope of winning over a prime position in our
living rooms. And 2018 looks to be the hottest contest for the public's affections since
Edward and Jacob went toe-to-toe in Twilight. (As an aside, shortly after Twilight was
published, the big blows between HD-DVD and Blu-ray raged at CES 2006, a fight that
many are embarrassed to have been invested in).
In the sparkly vampire corner is team OLED, backed by LG and Sony, which both
In the sparkly vampire corner is team OLED, backed by LG and Sony, which both
offer 4K TVs that harness Dolby's Dolby Vision HDR standard. Samsung is the hairless
werewolf, packing QLED TVs that offer HDR10+, a rival standard designed to help
Samsung avoid paying Dolby royalty cash for its research.
Of course, if your wallet won't stretch to a ticket that reaches the rarefied air of a
Of course, if your wallet won't stretch to a ticket that reaches the rarefied air of a
premium set, don't be too disheartened. Lower-end manufacturers, like Vizio, TCL and
Hisense, are now knocking out respectable, realistically-priced sets that you aren't
ashamed to have in your home. Not to mention that, in the last few months, we've
seen TVs from Philips and RCA launch with built-in Roku streaming. So expect to
see plenty more displays that offer decent quality and excellent streaming for very
little cash.
But for those who just want to ogle the flashiest TVs out there, CES will probably
But for those who just want to ogle the flashiest TVs out there, CES will probably
have something to whet your appetite, too. At 2017's show, LG debuted a TV that
was just 2.6mm thick, making it so thin it had to be wall mounted, because it couldn't
stand up on its own. LG also showed off a display that had speakers built into the
screen, reducing the need for an additional soundbar, a feature that Sony has also
embraced.
Cars
Traditionally, cars aren't considered consumer electronics, but as they get smarter
Cars
Traditionally, cars aren't considered consumer electronics, but as they get smarter
and get electric motors, their justification for being at CES increases. Ford CEO
Jim Hackett is the show's keynote speaker this year, and you can expect that a lot
of mobility companies will be showing off their wares. And there's plenty to be
excited about, with a whole raft of tech startups looking to supercharge the staid
world of automotive engineering. We're expecting to see companies building new
driver-safety AI systems, cheaper LIDAR sensors and smart-charging devices. All
of which will contribute to the infrastructure necessary to make electric, self-driving
vehicles cheaper, faster and better.
Similarly, it won't just be electric skateboards that fill in the void around personal
electric transportation at the show. We'll be looking out for electric scooters,
self-balancing hoverboards and other gear to help you get around cities faster.
We already know that OjO is teaming up with Ford to produce a range of electric
scooters, and would be certain that we'll find plenty more battery-powered
transports at the show proper. Not to mention all of the concept vehicles that we
can expect to see, complete with futuristic blue LEDs that make sure you know
that it's... you know, futuristic.
Gaming
Gaming