CES 2009

Consumer Electronics Show is here to stay

By Julio Fernandez ⋅ September 17, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment

Microsoft Surface, the hit of
Web 2.0 Expo NY
Photo by Julio Fernandez

The producers of the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) are expecting an 8% drop in from the 141,000 attendees in January 2008 and several media outlets are already calling for the end of CES.

Since when in 130,000 a small number? With the challenging economy, I’m surprised the drop in attendance was not higher! All responsible companies are making travel cuts. When you add airfare, hotel and other expenses, attendance to CES will be at least $2,000 per person.

This is not a unique problem to CES. Oracle Corporation was not able to match their 44,000 attendees to their annual Oracle OpenWorld. If you consider the eleven acquisitions Oracle made during the year, including BEA, you would think that all of these companies would deliver more attendees to this annual tech event.

Bottom line is, shows like CES are important. Over 2,700 exhibitors will promote new products and the press and analysts will be there. Some companies will have special events at private hotel suites but it is CES that is bringing the press to cover the new products. I had the opportunity to cover COMDEX but CES is different. CES is the place where companies want to make their announcements. According to Jason Oxman, Consumer Electronics Association SVP of Industry Affairs the “VCR, DVD player, HDTV, HD radio and OLED were all rolled out at CES.”

At the recent Web 2.0 New York, the hit of the show was Microsoft’s Surface, a tabletop that provides effortless access to digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. Microsoft Surface uses a rear projection system, which displays an image onto the underside of a thin diffuser. Objects such as fingers are visible through the diffuser by series of infrared–sensitive cameras underneath the display. For CES, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will keynote Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. PST. Perhaps Ballmer will announce the Zune Marketplace and a smaller version of the Microsoft Surface.

For CES 2009, I’m looking forward to the introduction of new Android cell phones. There are rumors that Hop-On will have an Android phone for under $200. I wonder what HTC and Apple think about that.

Update: According to Business Week, Palm will unveil Android rival during CES. The “Nova” mobile operating system is supposed to bridge the gap between BlackBerry and iPhone. As an iPhone users from the first generation, I don’t see how there can be a middle ground. Visit the site for updates from CES.