The Consumer Electronics Show 2012 - what you need to know...
13 January 2012
Each year, The Consumer Electronics Show happens in Las Vegas and manufacturers of electrical appliances, such as TVs, computers and mobile phones, announce what they have in store for the rest of the year.
And that’s great news for Freeviewers because we get to hear about the latest TVs, the newest boxes and the gadgets that make TV viewing more exciting than ever before.
So what can we look forward to in the next 12 months? TVs, as always, are getting bigger and smarter – and they’re not called Smart TVs for nothing. This really is the year of ‘Smart’ as manufacturers add internet, video on demand and applications or ‘apps’ to their latest designs. Smart TV adds a world of entertainment to the living room gadget we once referred to as ‘the box’.
At this year’s show, Sony launched a new TV range that looks, to put it simply, simply stunning, and Samsung announced a 60inch voice-controlled, movement-activated model that’s set to make 3D almost look like, well, the real deal.
This year, all of the new TVs that were announced come with ‘Smart’ as standard. This means that if you’re are thinking of upgrading or buying a new HD TV in the future, it’s very likely that all the new models will have an internet connection built in to them.
As well as the evolution of ‘Smart TV’, Sony, LG, Panasonic and Samsung all showcased models that are not only noticeably thinner but bigger and brighter too, many with 3D options. LG has been working on an OLED 3D HD TV, which for the record, stands for organic light-emitting diode. It’s the next stage of LED TV, a television which gets its brightness from actual lights behind the screen. The shiny and new 55inch TV set delivers intense and vivid colour whilst looking just as pretty off as it does when it’s turned on. There’s no news as to when the OLED model will be available to buy in the UK and at what price, but here’s a taste of it on the PC World website if you've already got your wallet out.
Google TV is Google’s offering of smart TV that features extensive search functionality, internet connectivity and online video through a selection of channels. Although there has been no set date for a UK launch, Google TV has teamed up with manufacturers such as LG and Sony, an announcement that means it’s very likely we’ll see Google TV arrive in the early half of 2012. For more information on Google TV, visit http://www.google.com/tv/
The other noticeable trend that came out of The Consumer Electronics show 2012 is the desire to have all your devices communicating around the home. If you have an iPad or iPhone, new TV models allow you to connect to them and change channels or set shows to record, right from your Apple device. If that’s not futuristic enough, the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show was the place where the connected fridge was announced – yes, that’s right, FRIDGE. Not content with just keeping things cool, LG announced a new ‘Smart’ fridge that scans its contents, offers up menus based on the ingredients you have and builds an online shopping list with grocery websites such as Ocado. It REALLY is the year of Smart.
For more information on CES 2012 and for other technology highlights, visit http://www.cesweb.org/ .
For Freeview’s guide on Smart TVs, check out our Smart feature here .
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