CES 2025 – Walking the Floor
[January 2025] The Spring NAB Show is a large convention. The International CES, which occurs in early January, is huge. With nearly 150,000 attendees from all over the globe and over 4500 exhibitors, it is hard to think of many events that are bigger.
Combine that with the ever-expanding Las Vegas Convention Center and you have quite the experience.
As during the last NAB the West Hall was full; this year the North Hall reopened, even while construction continues. And, do not forget the large set of exhibits at the Sands and Venetian venues, not to mention other sites along the Strip. Perhaps the most important thing to have is a set of comfortable shoes – in just three days, my feet amassed over 50,000 steps. Whew!
NOT SIMPLY TECH
CES is a combination of tech companies and many others which are putting tech to work in their industry. Just as with NAB exhibitors, some products are already in the marketplace, while others are “in progress” with shipping dates later in the year.
For example, a major exhibitor this year was Delta Airlines, which took over the Las Vegas Sphere (if you do not know what the Sphere is, look here.) for their presentation to some 18,000 folks. Delta is leveraging new tech and alliances with tech companies to improve travel experiences and customer relations.
Those who were able to get usually reported it was more than impressive.
What follows now are some impressions of the themes observed with some specific examples. In coming weeks we plan to share some more specific evaluations.
AM IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES
From what was shown on the floor, AM is still going to be available in the majority of EV cars.
Ford, Toyota, Lexus, Chevrolet, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, and Mitsubishi all had AM as part of the radios in their EV offerings on the floor.
Bottom line: At least for the near future, AM in the dashboard is not going to be an issue in the EVs.
By the way, if you have not noticed the explosion of electric bikes, you are missing something. Not just the ability to assist your pedaling, but in the case where you run out of steam, the bike usually can get you home all by itself. Bikes, trikes, scooters, and a whole series of units that fold in your hands. These might make exercise a bit more fun!
AI, AI, AI
Yes, AI (Artificial Intelligence) was everywhere.
Think of a product or app, and someone was applying AI to it. Want a self-driving car? Of course you have heard of those.
Drones can all but fly themselves now. And how about robot vacuums? Not just dust/dirt vacuums, but models with mops and an arm to pick up your socks! And there are robot snowblowers, and more.
“Smart glasses?” Sure. Watches, rings, etc. that use AI to monitor your health, from steps walked to heart rate to blood sugar to intelligent toohbrushes, and more – one app, from KamiVision uses AI to determine if a relative, for example, falls, and calls for help – were seen everywhere. Just to get answers to questions, using AI in many cases it goes well beyond what smart phones and home assistants have been able to do. For instance, with AI, instant language translation becomes accessible to many users.
Perhaps you – or someone you know – is feeling lonely or discouraged. AI Companions are now available to provide emotional support, listening and engaging the user in conversation as well as monitoring the area for risks like falling, being able to respond to them appropriately.
Maybe you would like to have one of the new LG AI Companion AI Home Hubs to talk to?
For broadcasters, it is good to know discussions are getting deeper and deeper into what AI can accomplish. A panel discussion “AI in Hollywood – Applied AI: The Good, The Bad, and The Unknown” helped illustrate some of the dangers presented by AI uses.
One type of application where AI is used that might be of interest for those who have responsibility at stations where the programming is in another language, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, etc. The AI can translate in real time what is being said, so you can avoid crafty announcers saying things when they figure no one can tell what they are doing. Vasco was one of these worth a look.
AUDIO STUFF
Clearly, audio is very personal to all of us. What one person likes is not always enjoyed by another. This goes from speakers to headsets to ear pods.
At CES a visitor could find a wide variety of products to which they can listen under a variety of conditions. So, while there were things I saw that caught my attention, you might feel quite differently. If you were trying to buy something, prices range from modest to “oh my goodness!” All-in-all, you should try several kinds of the items you are evaluating.
Headsets: There were literally hundreds of different earphones available. Some from companies you know, like Sennheiser, some from a myriad of others. Choices include wired and wireless, with or without ambient noise reduction. Prices range from 5/$100 to $60,000. Yes, we said $60k – the Sennheiser HE1 costs that much, but you probably will love the audio.
The wireless feature is much more convenient for sure, but if you get a Bluetooth wireless, the latency will still likely be more than you would enjoy. Some companies are trying to improve that with BTLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) transmission. WiFi headphones are a bit better on latency, so each one should be tested in your environment.
Pretty much can be said for ear buds. They range from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. For example the TOZO X2 Pro features a dual-driver structure with dynamic and balanced armature drivers, dual DACs, and is certified with TOZO ORIGX Pro acoustics, meeting the high-quality audio demands of audiophiles.
Additionally, there has been some “crossover” in a way, as some of these companies have expanded into OTC hearing aid models for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. The idea is to “test” yourself with metered sounds and adjust the levels and EQ to your comfort level. Depending upon features, some are small enough to hide in your ear, others go over the ear.
Cleer makes some really nice ear buds, including the new ARC-3 open ear gaming buds and the ARC II Sport.
ELEHEAR has added tinnitus masking, real-time AI translation, and other enhancements in their Beyond Pro model.
SHOKING AUDIO
For several years, Shokz (formerly AfterShokz) has produced some great headphone that are not only open air, but designed to use bone conduction. Many folks, myself included prefer these for a number of reasons. Not only are they comfortable but, using bone conduction, the wearer can hear audio clearly, even if their “normal” hearing is impaired by age or damage.
Relatively few phones
AUDIO OVER POWER LINES
Any time you want to set up speakers, either quickly or without wires, you will find the new AudioCU to be a real nice deal. Their goal was to reduce the common issues that are involved with wireless audio over power feeds.
Home theater setups, remote broadcast, DJ operations, and more all can benefit from the advancements have made in the circuitry. So long as you stay on one line, you can send clean audio out to large areas, in
TECH TOOLS
It is acknowledged that having a basic tool kit at each site is a good idea, just in case you get there and do not have a decent set with you.
Ifixit is a company that produces tool kits for tech folks. Some serious thought goes into the kits – which include virtually any hand tool you might need – as well as their other products, like a battery powered soldering pencil or a simple wire holder so you can solder easily without burning your fingers, even if your eyesight is suspect.
This is a lot easier to use than an alligator clips
Ifixit’s site has all sorts of ideas for things you will want. It also has a large bunch of post and videos from users who share how to fix a lot of things.
One more thing of interest: Ifixit has been very active for years in the “Right to Repair” movement, which operates on the idea that if you buy something that can be fixed if needed, you should be able to repair it – to get parts and information to accomplish the task.
SITE SECURITY
A number of companies produce cameras for site security.
The new feature shown by companies like Ring and Wyze is the use of AI to search through recordings to find an event or person that came to the house/business. For example, if you are looking to see if a friend stopped by and left something on the porch, you could say “find a person who drove a blue car in the driveway.”
Similarly, the Wyze Descriptive Alerts can be set to notify you “a blue car just parked in the driveway.”
Do expect to pay for these features on a monthly basis.
Reolink was showing off its new Duo 3 WiFi, capable of 16MP and 180 degree views in its WiFi 6 model. “Motion Track” is an interesting feature that takes 15 seconds of video, and condenses it into a single image, making reviewing events easier.
BIIIGGG SCREENS
A mainstay at CES has been the introduction and improvement of video screens. This year was no different.
For those of us who remember those 21-inch TVs, with cabinets nearly as deep as they were wide, it seems we are really are in a whole different world. Newer TVs are increasingly 4k or 8k compatible, with higher contrast levels and brighter colors. The OLED arrays – some curved – are brighter than ever before, with the ability to adjust to ambient lighting. Anti-glare/reflective technology improves viewing in almost any environment. Some models are now transparent; not just models that retract from view.
More attention is also being given to speaker placement, sound bars, and other speaker systems – some of them stunning in clarity and
At the same time, the race for bigger screens seems to have paused a bit this year, with 100 to 116-inch models on display. Some have suggested that this may be as big as most living rooms at best can handle, with sales centering on 65-85-inch models. For example, Samsung showed a 98-inch Neo OLED, which got a lot of comments. Yes, there are bigger screens available, but they can cost a bundle!
One other feature set, although it has been seen in the past: a few TVs are even designed to live “outdoors,” some even able to use suction cups to attach to a wall. Wires are not necessary. Using batteries which can run as long as 60 hours on a charge and WiFi, the TV is something you can pick up and move anywhere.
Another maker, Sylvox, has a new range of TV for viewing and gaming that are designed for outdoors.
While you are outdoors, perhaps you might like a pest “zapper.” If so, the C+A Global’s Flowtron can care for your skin.
THEATER-LIKE PROJECTION
For some projects and large groups, laser projection is a useful tool.
The Leica offering features the high-quality lens for which the company is known.
Displays of up to 300 inches are possible with the Leica Cine Play 1. The Kodak Luma 500 also sports a 120-inch display, while the Hisense L9Q claims a 150-inch size.
Valerion showed a laser projector at 220 inches, with a stated maximum of 300 inches with a stated 15000:1 contrast.
Valerion’s Pro 2 can put a sharp picture on any wall
Again,like the TVs mentioned earlier, some projectors are designed to run on batteries. Furthermore, true theater-style projectors are also out there, but like the huge display TV screens, the costs can astronomical.
BATTERY POWER
Several products have been mentioned above that can run on batteries. Batteries have gotten stronger, better, and in some cases much easier to implement.
ECOFLOW was one company that showed off a large power supply, 1 kW/hour, that can be taken where needed, and recharged by solar panels. Primarily for keeping a refrigerator going during a short power outage, this could also be put together with additional units for larger or longer needs, such as a translator or LPFM. The AI feature lets you ask questions about the battery condition and what it can do.
STORAGE – ON SITE AND OFF
Broadcasters need a lot of storage for their operations. Some of it is to back up mission critical on-air elements. Then there are the production tools, the archived programs and materials, and everything from the business office and promotions department.
In recent years the advent of cloud storage has been promoted as providing everything needed, without the hardware. But, in reality, any interruption of Internet connectivity could put a station off the air, if it put all its eggs in one basket so to speak. So local storage – or backup storage at the transmitter site, for example – is an important tool.
OWC (Other World Computing) displayed several storage options at CES.
The Thunderblade X12, models which can hold 12 to 96 TB of data, in a RAID format and speedy enough for gamers.
One particular aspect of storage that we often do not think about is the cable and connectors involved. A display by the USB Implementers Forum noted that not all USB cables are equal. This explains, especially, the problems some have with USB-C cables. While USB-C cables carry the voltage, not all carry data. (This was proven out with a 1TB flash drive that suddenly did not show any data until a USB-C cable with data was attached.) The USB folks have developed a logo that anyone can tell immediately if the cable will carry data.
USB-C cable with data was attached.) The USB folks have developed a logo that anyone can tell immediately if the cable will carry data.
BRANDS
It is an interesting aspect on the floor to see that some brands seem to never die.
For example, RCA TVs and other products have nothing to do with the well-known corporation. The brand name has been sold several times in recent years. In 2022 Talisman Brands got it, and also licenses the brand name to Sony Music Entertainment, Voxx International, and ON Corporation.
Sharper Image, a fairly famous brand in the 70s and 80s for its curiously wide selection of products, also has had a number of owners and licensees. The brand is now licensed to Prime Brands Global by the ThreeSixty Group to develop and sell various product categories, including electronics, gadgets, home decor, and lifestyle products.
And who has not heard of Radio Shack. The formerly ubiquitous electronic store chain has also changed hands a few times, re-emerging under an El Salvador company, Unicomer Group, in 2023, largely is selling Radio Shack and Archer products on the Internet. A few have been picked up by various vendors.
MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS
With 4500 booths, including a whole floor of start-ups and innovation at the Sands site, it is impossible to mention everything. Still, watch this space for additions and the BDR for some product reviews and recommendations.
… and then NAB is ahead!
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