Things couldn’t be weirder—at the premier consumer tech conference, or in general.
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EVER SINCE THE onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, fresh irony has been injected into the “What to Expect” genre of journalism. What to expect from a massive trade show? Who knows! Who knows if it will even happen! But this one is happening—at least for now. This is the big one: CES, the giant annual consumer electronics fest in Las Vegas, Nevada. And it’s happening both IRL and online.
We don’t know yet exactly how many tech makers, marketers, and analysts are still feeling bold enough to attend in person, where proof of vaccination will be required. The last time CES was held in person, in January 2020, an estimated 170,000 people attended. Last year, in 2021, we experienced CES entirely through our screens. That wasn’t much fun, but then again, neither is dodging microscopic virus particles in a crowded casino.
When WIRED spoke to the Consumer Technology Association in mid-December, the trade organization that puts on the show, the CTA declined to share how many people have registered for the event this year. And since then, a number of large tech companies have backed out of attending the show, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Lenovo, Intel, T-Mobile, AT&T, Meta, TikTok, and Pinterest. More than 150 companies have marked their attendance as “digital only.” And just two days ago, the CTA shortened the event by a day—from four days to three—due to pandemic concerns.
“What we’ve been seeing with trade shows in general is that they have about 30 to 50 percent attendance from prior years,” says Jean Foster, senior vice president of marketing for the CTA. “If we end up in that 50 percent range, we’ll be doing pretty well.”
What we do know is that all of the on-stage keynote presentations will be livestreamed for remote attendees. A few emerging categories of tech will be highlighted this year, like NFTs. The automotive portion of the show has grown even more significant from years prior, and keynote speakers include GM chief executive Mary Barra and US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Digital health will still be top of mind, everyday household products will be infused with AI, laptop makers will do their best to make things interesting, and, in case you haven’t had enough screens the past two years, there will be giant, brilliant screens. Some of which we may have to view through our own screens: WIRED has also decided to cover the event remotely.
New Frontiers
One of the new categories at the show this year is space tech. Foster says the current “space race” was what nudged the CTA to introduce the category.
“The fact that there’s been a lot of private investment and attention on companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX means there are enough companies now that are interested and would actually come and exhibit,” Foster says. These exhibitors range from Sierra Space, a subsidiary of Sierra Nevada Corporation that’s been building space planes to carry cargo to the ISS; to Zero-G, which charters private zero-gravity flights.
Another area that’s being carved out at the show: Agriculture and farming. Giants like John Deere have been there in years past, but this year the lineup will also include food companies that manufacture plant-based meat alternatives.
And if CES 2022 is any indication, we’ll be diving deeper into the metaverse this year, buying up NFTs with cryptocurrencies. Foster says she expects several crypto companies and NFT platforms to have some kind of presence at the show (including one celebrity-backed NFT company), though much of the conversation around these still-emerging technologies will happen during the marketing and advertising-focused sessions of the program. At this point, most of the major augmented and virtual reality players showcase new products at their own events, but this year’s bizarre CES has at least one upside: Maybe this hybrid event will prove that we really do need a better, more immersive option than endless Zoom meetings.
Screen Savor
Otherwise, the world of screens will get larger, brighter, and have even better contrast in 2022, WIRED associate reviews editor Parker Hall tells me. That’s due in part to innovations in both traditional LED and Organic LED (OLED) technology. Likewise, Mini LED and other rarified zone-based backlighting systems will trickle down to more affordable television models in 2022. And since more people are watching new-release movies at home these days, TV makers like Sony, Samsung, LG, Vizio, TCL, and Hisense are going bigger—think screen sizes of 75 inches and beyond, says Hall. He still doesn’t think 8K resolution TVs will go mainstream this year, even though they’ve been showcased at the last few CES events. The sets are still too expensive, and 8K content still isn’t widely available.
PC enthusiasts might also be disappointed this year, WIRED senior product writer and reviewer Scott Gilbertson predicts, despite demand for PCs having soared during the pandemic.The most significant news will likely be Intel’s next-generation low-power chips making their way into more portable devices, which could have a positive impact on battery life. But between global supply issues and the relative maturity of the PC market, the big question is whether manufacturers can make enough PCs, not whether those computers fold into four parts, have invisible keyboards, or come with a free pair of clunky smart glasses. Still, the magic of CES rests partly on the fact that you can always rely on some PC company showing off something truly weird. That company is usually Lenovo.
Chippin’ In
Speaking of processors, chipmakers are feeling the heat from Apple and Google as the tech bigs pack more power into their custom-designed chips. So, while 2021 was all about getting 5G capability into every smartphone price bracket, WIRED’s reviews editor Julian Chokkattu believes that the pendulum will swing back towards machine learning and AI in mobile chips in 2022.
Qualcomm, for example, recently revealed some intriguing new AI functions as part of its next-gen chipset (including an always-on camera feature). During CES this week, expect to hear chipmakers tout a whole range of ML and AI features, like applying natural language processing to better understand the tone of messages you receive on your phone and prioritizing those that sound important; or the ability to monitor vocal sounds, which could in theory identify asthma, the onset of depression, and other health issues.
Sure it will. Carbon rationing would mean we would have to allocate some of our points towards consumption of entertainment.
and?
maybe Joe will decide to drive less, maybe Tom will decide to take public transport, maybe Dick will decide to play a bit less video games, maybe Harry will decide to watch a bit less Netflix. each person is making his own choice and even if Harry decides to watch an hour less of Netflix what does that matter? does netflix charge by the hour for them to say we will pass it down to the studios and the content we buy?
Superior choice, yes, but sadly not the popular choice.
Steedeel's predictions don't just target data centers, but our ability to buy and use TVs, home theaters, pretty much anything with a power cord, and the production of new content itself. It's back to the caves and watching shadow puppet shows for all of us. If we can afford to light a fire, that is.
Cinema now, target ticket...... I don't see lights there.
Sadly, I don't see lights on at Oppo, either, other than for their repair service. Lights are out at Samsung's disc player production line, too. Pioneer gone as well.
All our discs require is electricity. No first world country is ever going to ration electricity so much that we won't have enough to power our TVs and players (which are a very tiny percentage of total electricity used).
and I am pretty sure we all have a healthy amount of disposable income or we would not be on a forum like this one.
Sadly, I don't see lights on at Oppo, either, other than for their repair service. Lights are out at Samsung's disc player production line, too. Pioneer gone as well.
Anyone scared yet? I'm not.
the difference is that it only affects future purchases not past ones
LAS VEGAS - The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) says that 52 technology startups will showcase their innovations at CES 2022 from Jan 5-8 in Las Vegas. The number of startups representing Japan at the Japan Pavilion (commonly known as the “J-Startup Pavilion”) in Eureka Park has doubled from 26 during the last in-person show in January 2020, prompting its host, JETRO, to open a second pavilion on the Venetian Expo’s second floor for CES 2022. Forty companies will exhibit at the JAPAN Pavilion in Eureka Park and 12 at the second pavilion.
Of the 52 companies, six startups (a record number for Japan) have won CES 2022 Innovation Awards: Air Labo, Fairy Devices, Light Touch Technology, mui Lab, Piezo Sonic, and Quantum Operations.
“The JAPAN Pavilion has quickly and continuously grown in size since its opening four years ago, which is a testament to Japan’s ever-growing innovation economy and the government’s policies that are designed to foster it,” JETRO Executive Vice President Ichiro Sone said. “J-Startup companies’ record turnout for CES 2022 also reflects their excitement for returning to the global stage in-person following nearly two years of virtual activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We are thrilled to present an extensive lineup of life-transforming technologies from Japan at the Japan Pavilion.”
the difference is that it only affects future purchases not past ones
When Oppo eventually closes its repair service, it will affect past purchases. I very much doubt that Samsung or Pioneer service their disc players anymore.
Yes, there are other makes and models of players available, but the list is not a very long one. Likewise, all of those shuttered digital sellers have successors as well. Voids get filled so long as demand remains.
When Oppo eventually closes its repair service, it will affect past purchases. I very much doubt that Samsung or Pioneer service their disc players anymore.
Yes, there are other makes and models of players available, but the list is not a very long one. Likewise, all of those shuttered digital sellers have successors as well. Voids get filled so long as demand remains.
Would you squelch it. Do you have anything better to do then useless speculation?
Obviously not. But I keep busy reading all of your mile-long box office drivel that almost no one ever replies to.
How about focusing on the badly needed home theater product models that need to be updated, but held back because of the pandemic. This is a time to watch all the updated products that been held back for more then a year of trade show shut downs.
When Oppo eventually closes its repair service, it will affect past purchases. I very much doubt that Samsung or Pioneer service their disc players anymore.
Yes, there are other makes and models of players available, but the list is not a very long one. Likewise, all of those shuttered digital sellers have successors as well. Voids get filled so long as demand remains.
you miss the point I might have spent a bit of cash on players, but I have spent a lot of cash on content. I might have decided I don't care about watching stuff on DVD or anything earlier but if I want I can go on-line and buy a VHS player or a LD player or..... and continue watching that part of my collection. People that spent money on cinema now, target ticket..... cannot say the same. The minute the service ends access to stream the content you bought previously also ends. No matter what word games you want to play.
How about focusing on the badly needed home theater product models that needs to be updated, but held back because of the pandemic. This is a time to watch all the new products that been held back for more then a year of trade show shut downs.
Last I looked this is not a home theater hardware thread.
Not that I mind the side foray into other topics at all; this one is tangentially related. Notice also that I did not poke fun at your mile-long CES posts.
I may henceforth have to refer to you as TLDR. You should see how long it takes to scroll through your novella length posts on a phone; you are becoming a leading cause of carpal tunnel syndrome.
I think people need to be more carbon conscient, I don't think data centers can ever be carbon free.
That being said let's go simple, there is a world wide basic carbon tax/credit
put in pace (by that I mean a tax on coal, Natural gaz, petroleum..... , and a credit on stuff like plants that remove CO2) that increases the cost of making a BD, that cost might be passed on to the consumer. That increases the cost of the datacenter, that cost might be passed on to the consumer (aka Netflix raises their cost) maybe the person will decide it is worth it and pay more or maybe not ( in the case of Netflix go to a cheaper package or drop it all together). Now if the electricity comes from green sources, then that stays fixed if it is from non-green sources then the electric bill might go up and the person can decide how he will ration his electricity or his car use....
In life we all need to make choices, legislation and costs might change the equations a bit but that is the most that they can do. there will never be legislation that says you are not allowed to watch a film.
I’m meaning more a global carbon limit (ration) for each individual rather than a tax. Of the two government options, I’m presuming they choose the worst.
I’m trying to phrase things so I take the political side out of it and focus on the mechanics, but it’s difficult.
So, I’m basing it on the presumption that carbon taxes don’t work and going for the carbon rationing.
In that scenario, are the companies (Netflix, Disney+, movie studios) rationed themselves? It costs a lot of carbon just to make one film after all.
as individuals, let’s say our yearly allowance is 2.7 tonnes of Carbon (scientists recommend roughly that amount). It’s currently something like 8 tonnes in the U.K. I believe, how the heck do we get down to there without giving up much of the luxuries we currently enjoy?
I received a PM from a new forum member (completely unknown to me) that asks me if I would just give them the digital code that came with one of my blu-rays because it is a movie that they want to see.
People amaze me. I would NEVER randomly write to someone and ask them to give me their stuff. Does this happen to anyone else here?
Not to me. Especially with what I use the codes for!
Maybe it will be like the early years of DiscoVision - ~1981 to ~1986 - Pioneer was the only producer of all LaserDisc players, some rebadged to Magnavox and Sylvania.
Maybe just a few companies making DVD/[UHD]Blu-ray players, some rebadged to various private labels.
In my case, I have LG, Magnavox(Funai),Panasonic,Sony players, I like the Magnavox and Sony players best, due to the wide variety of disc formats they play (VideoCDs to MultiChannel SACDs).
Last I looked this is not a home theater hardware thread.
Not that I mind the side foray into other topics at all; this one is tangentially related. Notice also that I did not poke fun at your mile-long CES posts.
That was a dumb comment. Home theater would be nothing without what it takes to play, stream, display and hear all forms of Home Video content. Take away the hardware and you got nothing at all. Of course you could always go back to books.
I’m meaning more a global carbon limit (ration) for each individual rather than a tax. Of the two government options, I’m presuming they choose the worst.
I don't know about the UK, but here in the US, Congress would have to vote in a Carbon Tax/Rationing along with the President signing it into law and the chances of that happening are nill and nada.
Is this the third time or the fourth time you have brought this subject up?
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