The Apple Effect
“But wait,” you say, “Steve Jobs never went to CES, so this year is no different.” You’re right, of course. But the net he cast always permeated the show. “What was Apple doing next?” “How did Apple’s products released last year affect what the rest of the world would do this year?” “How do other manufacturers fit into Apple’s eco system, or battle the juggernaut?”
This year, the Vegas show seemed different. Oddly so. Nobody was talking about Apple, but iPhones and iPads were being shown everywhere. Mostly used as generic touch screens that play host to apps that control or monitor one or more of your home appliances or electronic devices. Check your oven temperature from your phone. Adjust your stereo from your pocket. Get the status of your home security system. Steer you robotic vacuum cleaner. Whatever. Of course, Android and other tablet variants were also used as the remote control for your life. But the Apple fear factor seems to have subsided, even if their devices where ubiquitous. Dear Cupertino, welcome to the mainstream.
Splash-worthy?
The copious use of generic tablets combined with the Max Headroom array of thousands of TVs made the whole show feel like a glowing, rectangular wasteland. Nothing terribly new or exciting. Just blues screens and booth babes in short skirts. Throw in the hundreds of low tech iphone case companies and dozens of Dr. Dre headphone wanna bees and you got yourself a bit of a yawn fest. Everything was bigger, better and louder. But nothing terribly innovative or game changing.
Execution over Disruption in 2012
OK, so what does it all mean? Does this year’s CES malaise have something to do with the untimely departure of Steve Jobs? Maybe. But I think it might be something different. Between the explosion of tablets, mobile devices, connectivity and the social networking phenomenon – all good – perhaps the electronic and consumer world needed a little breather. Could it be that manufacturers, in dire need of profit and a return on their high tech investments, need a few years to absorb all the technology and turn it into profitable, life enhancing usefulness before it injects new uncertainty? Does the economy need a little boring “execution” and convergence? If so, I think CES over the next few years will be less significant. Even Microsoft announced that it will not be returning to CES next year. What does that say?!
Biggest Winners: LG and Auto
Last year at CES I blogged every day. This year I decided to wait until something was blog worthy. Well here I am. At the airport returning to Denver, submitting my first and only blog about CES 2012. I almost followed the advice – Whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Unfortunately, it’s because I didn’t think anyone would care about what happened in Vegas. That said, I will mention 2 highlights.
First, LG showed a truly head turning 55 inch OLED 3D TV. It was crisp and beautiful and was the only 3D TV that I would consider buying. It’s like the Grand Canyon. Post cards don’t do it justice. You have to see it live to appreciate the depth of it.
Second, the auto industry finally broke the barrier. They showed very cool yet useful electronic technology in everything from super cars to $15K entry level compacts. Ford and Chrysler had in impressive amount of tech in cars like the upcoming Dart or the economical Fiesta — for an amazingly low price point. Yes, Detroit is listening to their market and making profit (20 somethings prefer tech to horse power and handling). Nothing earth shattering. Just solid implementation of appropriate tech features at the right price.
On the other end of the spectrum is the impressive and uber cool electric vehicle, the Fisker Karma, which was headlined at the Visteon tent. It was also a big attention getter at the Intercontinental Hotel valet parking lot (somebody actually owns one?). Lots of drooling by middle aged guys in suits who couldn’t help but gather around and take pictures. The Karma is complete with all the tech and design you’d expect from Mr. Fisker. Not boring at all. Rumor has it that Steve Jobs was one of the first to pre-purchase the Fisker Karma when it was still on the drawing board. The car finally made its debut at CES this year. Granted, it’s a few degrees of separation, but maybe a touch of Steve Jobs still permeates CES.
