Big Electronics Trends For 2010

New and innovative consumer products are taking center stage at the International Consumer Electronics Show, the largest tradeshow in the world.

Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer, keynote speaker for the Jan. 7-10 event, focused on tablet PCs and unveiled a 10-inch touch display from Hewlett-Packard called “the slate.’’ The launch was timed to preempt “the tablet” from Apple which analysts and competitors believe is close to announcement.

The word on the street is the next technology wave is the convergence of the Internet, Wi-Fi, and 3G connectivity. The dynamic between Apple and Microsoft appears to be intensifying as Apple continues to gain market share.

The tradeshow, a staple since 1967, this year features over 2,700 exhibitors, according to the CES. Held annually at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the CES attracts executives, media, consumers and international attention.

Among the expected exhibitions was 3D, delivered either Blu-ray or broadband, and a huge selection of OLED TVs, but likely not ready for mass markets. Other attractions included EBook technology as well as next-generation cell phones as Google jumps into this market with its Android operating system. LCD and plasma displays also looked thinner and cheaper.

Amid all the hype and speculation attached to the CES, we thought it might be more valuable to list anticipated trends during the New Year. According to Peter Putman of Display Daily, the following are nearly certain predictions:

1. Bi-stable Digital Signage. What is different about a bi-stable display from other types (e.g. LCD) is that after the power is removed from the display, whatever is showing on the display remains until the next time the power is restored and the image is refreshed. As more signs transition from paper and film to LCDs and LEDs, power conservation is becoming more important. Larger format bi-stable displays are one answer to the problem, particularly where images are left on for long periods of time.

2. Goggle Program Guides. The market for NeTVs is growing dramatically. TV manufacturers expect sales in the millions during 2010, which should see the first NeTVs with full-blown Web browsers with channel and program guide interface.

3. LED-Powered 3LCD Projectors. Analysts expect the first models to appear this quarter. These models are expected to save significantly on power consumption.

4. Movie Rentals Via SD Cards. DVDs will continue their five-year decline, and Blockbuster will close most of its stores. Self-serve kiosks and drugstore and grocery checkout lines will prevail with flash or SD (San Disk) cards. Currently, SD cards are available at Walmart for about $10.

5. Wireless Home Theater In A Box. Analysts predict this technology will emerge in Q4 of 2010. Consumers will find affordable wireless surround sound systems for their new big screen TVs they purchased for Christmas.

6. Gesture Recognition For Remote Control. Gesture Recognition is a topic in computer science and language technology with the goal of interpreting human gestures via mathematical algorithms, according to Wikipedia. Gestures can come from the face or hand or any other body motion. This option will be available on TVs since price erosion continues and manufacturers can charge a premium for this feature.

7. All-in-One Blu-Ray Players. Blu-ray Disc (known as BD or Blu-Ray) is an optical storage medium designed to supersede the standard DVD format. BD format hasn’t really taken off, but lower prices for BD players have helped. What’s really needed is a combination DVR/BD-RE player which can receive cable, terrestrial, and Internet channels.

8. TV Network Widgets. For regular terrestrial TV broadcast to survive, stations and networks need to integrate their delivery models with NeTVs. Device “widgets” is one way to make this happen. TV manufacturers also may support side-loading video content to handheld devices through the TV’s USB port.

9. OLED-Equipped Netbooks. Netbooks, a disruptive technology, is leading the way to a new level of “cloud computing.” Analysts expect PC sales to start declining in 2010. Active-Matrix (AM) OLEDs is the cutting-edge product for new netbooks.

10. Metered Broadband Service. Cable TV companies and wireless broadband providers will start marketing “pay by the bit” subscriptions in 2010. For cable MSOs (Multiple System Operators) in particular, this will be an unpopular but necessary measure against losing channel tier subscribers to Internet streaming and downloads.

Note: This post came to We Mean Businss from TechMan, a contributor who monitors industry trends.