by Lidia Paulinska | Jan 28, 2016
January, CES 2016 – With a theme of a summer time Beach Blowout the Pepcom Digital Experience event took place before doors officially open for CES 2016 in Las Vegas. 225 exhibitors were showcased their various products and services to the press representative hoping to attract the media eyes on their new innovation or on the update to previous version of the product. Most of their products were electronics or accessories marketplace. There were some debuts along them and some products which already got the recognition. All of them were worth to see and have the editors get a chance to put their hands on them.
The list of exhibitors held at the Pepcom Digital Experience event we stopped into along with a short description what they brought to CES 2016 in alphabetical order below:
Aerodrome – owner and operator of teaching airports for commercial drones, discussed the groundbreaking of the world’s first droneport.
Amped Wireless – showcased their latest, award-winning innovations in long range wireless solutions.
Antenna79 – showed the new one-of-kind R79X iPhone 6/6s and iPhone 6/6s Plus cases, which contain a multi-patented, micro-thin antenna that automatically couples with your phone to expand and extend your phone’s antenna.
ARM – mobile and IoT experts showcased the latest ARM-based connected devices (smartphones, wearables and IoT).
Atmel – showed the latest wearable devices to its secure, connected ZigBee-to-Wi-Fi lighting system, Wi-Fi camera, and force sensing technology on a large touchscreen.
BACtrack – showcased new developments for its award-winning BACtrack Mobile smartphone breathalyzer; featuring Bluetooth connectivity and iOS and Android compatibility.
Beddit – showed convenient and clinically proven sleep tracker that makes any bed a smart bed and helps improve sleep by combining an ultra-thin sensor placed under the bed sheet with an App on an iPhone and Apple Watch, or Android device.
Belkin- showcased a variety of new technological innovations. The Linksys brand introduced a new lineup of Wi-Fi MU-MIMO and Cable Modem solutions, while Belkin debuted new USB-C accessories and charging solutions for smartphones, tablets and smartwatches.
Bitdefender – presented its new product – BOX. As a hardware – cloud – mobile apps play, BOX is the all-inclusive cybersecurity solution packed into one smartphone controlled device that protects every device connected to the Internet.
BLACK+DECKER™ – announced SMARTECH™ Technology, which merges DIY with technology for Power Tools, Home Products, and Outdoor Products.
Bowflex – showed the first-ever smart dumbbells with advanced 3DT™ technology designed to guide users through each exercise while tracking reps and weight lifted, and wirelessly transferring data to a free mobile app.
Canon – displayed its latest products offerings in Digital Imaging solutions.
Carl Zeiss Smart Optics – launched the first curved and stylish data glass lens with unobtrusively integrated optics for augmented reality applications.
Chamberlain – demonstrated their latest strategies for creating a safer and more connected home, including the next phase in their partnership with Nest.
CooperVision – believes that it’s time to change the perception that digital eye fatigue — experienced by seven in ten adults living in the United States – should be considered “normal.”
D-Link – displayed a range of exciting new products across its home networking, home security and home automation product lines.
Dell – showed the newest additions to its consumer and commercial product portfolios, including sleek notebooks, versatile 2-in-1 devices, gaming systems, and displays.
Delta Faucet Company – made its debut CES/Pepcom appearance to showcase its latest innovation as it relates to smart home technology and water.
DocuSign – showcased its smart contracts and payments prototype co-developed with Visa for its Connected Car Initiative. The payment app revolutionizes auto-leasing and buying by making it 100% digital so consumers can sign a lease, select insurance and more right from the driver’s seat in the showroom.
Epson America, Inc. – showcased the WorkForce ET-4550 EcoTank printer, which comes with up to two years of ink in the box; the Home Cinema 1040 and Home Cinema 1440, MHL-enabled home theater projectors featuring high brightness, Full HD 1080p and high contrast.
EyeLock – showcased iris identity authentication developed for end-points across the Internet of Things.
Garmin – showcased its latest GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle.
GE Lighting – showcased its Bluetooth-connected LED product family – C by GE, designed for sleep and everyday illumination.
HARMAN – JBL and Harman Kardon showed the next generation in wireless audio.
Hunter Fan Company – the manufacturer of ceiling fans, debuted two Wi-Fi enabled fans at CES: the all-new designs, named Symphony and Signal, retail for less than $400 and can be connected with other Wi-Fi enabled devices in the home.
Hyundai – showcased an augmented reality owner’s manual app called Virtual Guide.
iBaby Labs – presented Connected Home at its best with iBaby’s IoT solutions – from baby monitors and home monitors to air quality trackers.
IEEE – featured out-of-this-world technologies through truly unique AR/VR environments.
LifeProof is unveiling the newest addition to the waterproof case line.
Lutron Electronics – a leading manufacturer of energy-saving light, shade, and temperature control solutions, showcased new features of its HomeKit-enabled Caséta Wireless system, an affordable, expandable, smart home solution available in both DIY and “do it for me” options.
Master Lock – showed its new line of Bluetooth Smart Padlocks, a new level of convenience and security that turns your smart device into a key.
Moshi – debuted on-ear headphones, and presented stylish tech-savvy bags and new portable batteries.
Nest – showed it’s full family of products.
Nikon Inc. – showcased its latest DSLR, Nikon 1 and COOLPIX cameras as well its NIKKOR lenses and accessories.
OSRAM SYLVANIA – showed the newest additions to its smart connected LIGHTIFY® portfolio, including the industry-first LIGHTIFY Switch and Outdoor Flex RGBW Strips.
Performance Designed Products (PDP), the #1 third party accessory manufacturer in North America introduced a new product for the gamers.
Petcube – maker of the Petcube Camera that allows owners to watch, talk to, and play with pets on their iOS and Android devices unveiled early details of Petcube Protect: a new cloud-based subscription service that gives owners peace of mind when it comes to their pets and their home property.
Plantronics – showcased its top 2015 products including the CES Innovations Award winning BackBeat SENSE and Voyager Focus UC.
Rambus – showcased its revolutionary Lensless Smart Sensors, a revolutionary new approach to optical sensing that delivers on package, power and price by replacing traditional lenses with tine diffractive optics.
Raumfeld – extends its product portfolio of WiFi speakers to include TV and movie sound with the introduction of the world’s first WiFi sounddeck for use as both a television and music sound system. A new soundbar with innovative flat wireless subwoofer was presented.
SanDisk – showed its latest mobile memory solutions with supersized capacities for fast and easy content transfer and expanded storage for all popular mobile devices and its brand new, rugged portable SSD for techies who need fast, reliable storage on-the-go.
Schlage – showed its most advanced lock system offerings to date, Schlage Control™ Smart Locks and The Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt providing smart home access for both renters and home owners.
Seagate – showcased the company’s latest storage offerings from both the LaCie and Seagate branded product lines.
Shure – showcased the newest additions to its robust listening portfolio, including its exclusive innovation: the premium KSE1500 Electrostatic Earphone System—the world’s first Sound Isolating™ electrostatic earphone and amplifier system, for use with portable and traditional media players—and the new standalone Shure SHA900 Portable Listening Amplifier, designed for use with premium-quality headphones and earphones.
TomTom will be showing its new GPS fitness watch with on-board music – TomTom Spark, its action camera that enables footage editing and sharing in minutes – TomTom Bandit, and its new Golf GPS watch – TomTom Golfer.
Toshiba – showed its latest innovations in PC and Branded Storage.
TP-LINK – showcased the next evolution of 802.11ad wireless technology, products for the smart home and its comprehensive line of innovative routers.
TripIt – showed new additions to trip planner services.
TYLT – unveiled several new wireless chargers capable of charging 3X faster than the pre-2015 standard.
Wacom – showcased the power digital stationery, turning notes into text files with the brand-new ink-to-text conversion.
WD – showed new products, including the My Cloud Mirror Gen 2!
Whirlpool – showed the completely and intuitively re-imagined, pantry-inspired shelving system in the Whirlpool® Smart French Door Refrigerator that uses space more efficiently among with leading French Door Bottom Mount refrigerators
Withings – showed the connected health revolution products.
ZAGG – highlighted its latest mobile keyboards and portable power and introduced new products for audio lovers and social media users.
Zolt – featured the world’s smallest, lightest and smartest multi-device laptop charger, capable of charging today’s laptops and two mobile devices simultaneously.
by Lidia Paulinska | Jan 27, 2016
January, CES 2016 – At the press day, a prelude for the Consumer Electronics Show 2016, Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist of the Consumer Technology Association presented to the media, the sales and forecast trends for the consumer electronics industry for the coming year. He presented there are five factors that were developing over the years and are now a reality of daily-life. These are: ubiquitous computing, cheap digital storage, connectivity, the proliferation of digital devices and the sensor’ization of tech. Coming to the CES ten or fifteen years ago the electronics industry was focused on what is technologically possible, how far we can push the technology boundaries. In the last few months it has changed, and it shifting from what is possible to what is meaningful. In other words, it can be described as moving forward from solving one fragmented task to the meaningful solution for the problem. Once the technology foundations were set, the door was open to having an important and useful quality and purpose. That also got us to the Inflection Point for the Consumer Tech Industry. Now, 51% of the revenue in the consumer electronics marketplace is driven by 5 categories: smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops and TV. They created a little over half of the revenue in the electronics industry. But that is going to change soon. Sometime next year the revenue generated by those 5 categories will be less than half because other categories are growing on fast pace.
The Chief Economist announced the new trends that will be leading the industry in 2016. They are: Ambient Sensing, Aggregated Learning and Maturing of Nascent Ecosystems.
The Ambient Sensing trend started in early 2014 when Mimo Smart baby breathing and activity monitor was announced at CES. Mimo allows real-time monitoring of the sleeping baby by sending a message right on the phone, no matter where the parent is. It sends an alert message when the factors such as breathing, body position or temperature change. It is an example of capturing the environment of the baby sleeping, measuring it and notifying the parents. At CES 2016 as indication of more meaningful use we have: Ecoisme, a single device to track the energy usage of each individual appliance or gadget at home, DietSensor, a nutrition coach for food and Sensum, a software platform for measuring emotions and behaviors responds. This is the direction that the industry is heading.
The second trend stated by DuBravac was Aggregated Learning. The last year it was predictive customization of Netflix and its redefining recommendation. The other example of Aggregated Learning is how quickly technology advanced. It can be shown by following the history of word error rate in speech recognition. In 1995 it was almost 100%, in 2013 it dropped to 23%, and to 5% in 2015. Within 18 months the improvement that was made was phenomenal from 23% to 5%. It was possible by sharing the information in different platforms. In 2016 the picture of Aggregated Learning is the “roadway” to define what the Autonomous Vehicles are? By now Google Autonomous Cars have been driven over 1.6 million kilometers. Soon all information will be shared with all fleet of the vehicle and stop signs and traffic lights. Chief Economist pointed out 5 levels of Automation in cars: LO – No-Automation, L1 Function-specific Automation, L2 Combined Function Automation, L3 Limited Self-Driving Automation and L4 Full Self-Driving Automation. DuBravac predicted we will see full autonomous vehicles by 2020, with 1 million sold by 2030. By 2045 half of the cars sold may be fully autonomous.
The third trend Maturing of Nascent Ecosystems, is associated with the categories that growing on fast pace such as Virtual Reality, Wearables and Drones. With several notable VR headsets as such Ricoh Theta and the Panono 360 camera, coming to market in 2016, CTA expects unit sales to increase by 500 percent over the last year, to reach 1.2 million units sold. Total revenue is projected to reach $540 million, a 440% increase. Wearables that are led by the popularity of Fitness Activity Trackers and Smart Watches, unit sales among all wearables in 2016 are forecast to reach 38.4 million units. Fitness activity trackers volumes will hit 17.4 million units in 2016, a 12% increase in one year, with revenue reaching $1.3 billion. Smart Watches are expected to increase 28% to 13.6 million units sold, earning $3.7 billion in revenue, and an increase of 22%. In this category in 2016 we will see Reliefband, Oara Ring, Lumiwave, Ombra and hexoskin, that making their splash at CES. The total forecast for 2016 drone sales tops 2.8 million units, up to 149% from 2015, and $953 million in shipment revenues (a 115% increase from last year). In that category CES 2016 will show Onagofly and Fleye.
The Chief Economist of CTA also presented the forecast sales for other categories such as 4K TV and 3D Printers. After a banner year of sales growth in 2015 that saw LCD TV shipments climb 10% to top 39 million units, the TV market should reach a steady state in 2016. CTA projects revenues will reach $19 billion for all TV sets and displays in 2016, on par with 2015, as volumes drop 1% just under 40 million units. 2016 will be a phenomenal year for 4K Ultra High-Definition (UHD) TVs, driven in part by the market introduction of next-generation technologies, with shipment of 4K UHD displays projected to reach 13 million units (an 83% increase), CTA expects revenue from 4K UHD displays in 2016 to top $10 billion, marking a 65% increase. The expanding diversity of 3D Printing capabilities will drive the sector’s growth in 2016. CTA expects 3D printer sales to increase 64% from 2015, to reach 179 thousand units sold, with total revenue of $152 million, a 38% increase. CTA expects the Smart Homes technology category, including smart thermostats, smart smoke and CO2 detectors, IP/Wi-Fi cameras, smart locks, smart home systems, and smart switches, dimmers and outlets to reach 8.9 million units sold in 2016, a 21 % increase, with $1.2 billion in revenue.
It is supposed to be another great year for consumer electronics industry.
by Lidia Paulinska | Jan 27, 2016
January, CES 2016 – At the press event on January 4, Steve Koenig, Senior Director, Market Research presented Technology World Tour. Every year GfK and CTA announced Global Consumer Technology Spending Forecasts based on statistics from more than 340,000 retail stores in 80 countries. The analysis consider the geographical and financial aspects in electronics industry with separate numbers for mature (North America, Western Europe and developed APAC) and developing (Central/Eastern Europe, latin America, Emerging APAC, Middle East/Africa) markets.
How the Global Market 2016 looks like? Are Global technology spending on track?
Steve Koenig mentioned few reasons responsible for declining spending: Strong Dollar, that is unfavorable to conversion of global currencies; ASPs trending lower in categories with big impact such as smartphones (-7%), TV (-2%) and laptops (-4%); Global unit growth is moderate or negative in key sectors such as TV (1%), smartphones (8%), laptops (-3%) and tablets (-8%); Economic weakness in several emerging markets such as Latin America and Central/Eastern Europe; finally the China slowdown, the country is transitioning to consumption/services that has spillover effect on commodity dependent economies.
In the Global Tech Industry the new/nascent categories are playing bigger role in global growth. They are Smart Home, Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR), Drones, 3D Printing, Digital Health Devices, Automotive and Robotics.
Steve Koenig, who like to refer the 7 best tech categories (tablets, laptops, cellphones, TV, smartphones, desktops and cameras) as Magnificent Seven presented their strength for 2016 versus the last year. It seems like they are losing their impact. In 2015 their revenue share was 79%, reaching $761 billion. It 2016 it is 78% and $740 million accordingly.
According to Koenig, the Global Sales by Product similar like in 2014 and 2015, remains mixed in 2016.
by Lidia Paulinska | Jan 18, 2016
Georges Bizet (1838-1875) the renowned French composer best known for his ground-breaking opera Carmen which premiered in Paris in1875 and is indisputably one of the most popular operas of all time.
Exactly three months after it’s opening night however, and on his sixth wedding anniversary, Bizet died of a heart attack at the age of 36 as a result of a chill he contracted after a swimming competition. Unfortunately, Carmen had not been well received initially since it was the first time a major opera realistically depicted everyday characters in leading roles rather than the traditional subject matter featuring the lives of royalty or mythological figures. Carmen herself, for example, is a cigarette-smoking, Gypsy factory worker of questionable virtue and this definitely did not set well with the opera-going public of the time.
Twelve years prior to Carmen in 1863, Bizet had composed another opera, Les Pecheurs de Perles (“The Pearl Fishers”), traditionally considered to be a minor effort and roundly criticized for it’s poor libretto and lack of any rousing arias while acknowledging adequate choric offerings. And although these shortcomings seem to hold true to this day, nonetheless, New York’s Metropolitan Opera succeeded in staging a captivating and often scenically stunning production viewed by thousands of opera lovers in neighborhood theaters throughout the U.S. thanks to Fathom Events and The Met: Live in HD series, currently celebrating it’s 10th Anniversary.
The scene is a pearl-diving village in the Far East, presumably Sri Lanka, and the plot deals with Leila, a Hindu virgin priestess and two men Zurga and Nadir who are vying for her affections. In this traditional love triangle, Nadir, played by tenor Matthew Polenzani, triumphs and he and Leila, depicted my mezzo soprano Diana Damrau, escape a fated death as baritone Mariusz Kwiecien as the vengeful Zurga, burns down the village in a rage of jealous spite.
All of the players perform credibly, perfectly vocalizing Bizet’s Romantically derivative yet rather engaging score, but the scene-stealer is the scenic values themselves. The set is appropriately functional and admirably serves the demands of the production, but the real spectacle is the stunning computer generated projections thanks to the magical wizardry of 59 Productions who are credited with production design. The opening scene for example is an underwater projection which takes up the entire proscenium of the Met stage and superimposed on the screen are two pearl fishers, actually ballet dancers supported by invisible cables a la Cirque de Soleil, who appear to be rhythmically swimming in a deep blue “ocean,’ complete with bubbles and rays of sunlight streaming through it’s depths. Sergei Diaghilev, the iconic Russian empresario who in 1909 founded the Ballets Ruses, was once asked by a set designer what he wanted by way of scenery, to which Diaghilev replied, “Astonish me!” and that’s exactly what the production design team succeeded in doing in this captivating production. We were astonished!
On balance, a valuable and entertaining theatrical experience and an opportunity to witness a pearl of an opera delicately extracted from an oyster shell of near oblivion in a lovely offering by The Met. Thank you and Bravo!
by Lidia Paulinska and Hugh McMahon
by Lidia Paulinska | Jan 17, 2016
January, 2016, Storage Visions – Mark Schiller is Executive Director of Trusted Computing Group, which provides security standards to the computing industry. The group is a collection of over 100 partners that include commercial companies, government participation, academia and experts in the field of security and privacy. Schiller covered the challenges facing security and protection of stored content, and shared his view on SEDs (Self Encrypting Drives).
Why Self-Encrypting Drives?
There are world-wide financial and legal consequences for data loss and data breeches and the occurrence of such events have been increasing. SEDs create a layer of protection from that happening as well as providing compliance with the safe harbor laws in the most of the US and EU for loss of devices that are secured with encrypted data. Schiller spoke after Michael Willett underlined the main reason of using SEDs. The SEDs have a lower overhead for encryption and decryption than software encryption. Another feature is SEDs allow for a fast crypto-erase that sanitizes drive data before drive replacement, repair, de-commissioning, re-purposing and end of life.
He summarized the talk with SSDs are the new standard for fast storage media. In combination with the NVMe storage interface, they are driving higher performance and lower latency solutions, meaning data safety can be realized without the negative impact of software encryption on system performance.
More information about Trusted Computing Group at www.drivetrust.com
