Biggest Trends at CES 2013: Q&A with Michael and Nathan
Summary
Michael and Nathan discuss their experience at CES 2013, including the presence of small startups and crowdfunding projects, the emergence of hybrid devices, and Samsung’s new camera running on Android Jelly Bean.
Table of Contents
- Small Startups and Crowdfunding Projects
- Hybrid Devices
- Samsung’s New Camera
- Future of Consumer Cameras
Small Startups and Crowdfunding Projects
Q: What was the biggest trend at CES 2013?
A: We noticed that the days of CES being ruled by giant companies like Apple and Microsoft are falling by the wayside. This year, it was all about small startups and crowdfunding projects like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. It was exciting to see such a diverse range of companies showing off their products, some of which were unexpected.
Q: Can you give an example of a small startup that impressed you?
A: Nvidia, a company that has been making graphics processors for a long time, caught our attention. They have now entered the video game hardware market with a new Android-based controller called the Shield.
Q: Did you notice any new trends in headphone technology?
A: Yes, we saw a lot of cross-branded headphones, including Lemmy’s from Motorhead, but one that stood out was 50 Cent’s headphones. We even got to interview him, and he impressed us with his smart and frank discussion around the quality of his product compared to audiophile products.
Hybrid Devices
Q: You mentioned earlier that there was a trend around hybrid devices. What did you see?
A: We saw tablets that could also be used as gaming devices, and we also saw Samsung’s new Android-based camera.
Q: Can you tell us more about Samsung’s camera?
A: It’s a 16-megapixel camera with a 4.8-inch 720p touch screen on the back. It runs full Android Jelly Bean, so you can not only take pictures but also upload them directly to social media, surf the web, and check your email. It’s similar to an Android phone with a giant lens on it, and it sells for around $550.
Q: What was your opinion of the camera’s quality?
A: The quality was around the entry level point-and-shoot range, but it does have a nice big zoom lens (up to 21 times optical zoom). The most notable feature is that you can share your photos directly from the camera, eliminating the need for an SD card and computer.
Samsung’s New Camera
Q: Do you think this type of hybrid device is the future of consumer cameras?
A: We think it shows promise, but there are still some rough edges and quirks that need to be worked out. Samsung is known for making cutting-edge devices, so we expect that we’ll see more of this kind of stuff in the future.
Q: How did using the camera feel compared to using a regular Android phone?
A: It felt very similar. You can use TouchWiz, and everything just kind of works as you would expect. The one downside is that it doesn’t have the capability to make phone calls.
Conclusion
Overall, CES 2013 was a great experience for us, full of new and exciting gadgets from both big and small companies. We were impressed by the range of hybrid devices and the potential they hold for future consumer products. It’ll be interesting to see where companies like Samsung take this technology in the years to come.
