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Technology Investing: The Consumer Electronics Show

Posted January 15, 2008

“While only members of the press were able to officially attend this speech — and granted, we’re all professionals — the buzz in the room was deafening, and the applause following each new product debut was astounding. Imagine all of us in suits, rapidly taking down notes, with our mouths wide open and practically drooling!” — Ann Sosnowski.

Blogger’s note: Our friend Ann Sosnowski editor of Diligent Investor sent out this great recap of her time at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. She discusses the latest products from technology companies like Panasonic in her article for Taipan Daily this week. And I thought you’d enjoy a preview of the electronics of the future. You can find the article here or read on for more.

Baltimore – (TFN): There’s a reason why I call it the biggest show on earth. And no, I’m not talking about the Barnum & Bailey Circus.

I’m talking about the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas I was privileged to attend last week. With more than 2,700 exhibitors and 140,000 attendees, it’s the largest consumer electronics show in the world, covering 1.7 million net square feet.

The exhibition space is truly daunting. With six fold-out maps of the exhibition space, it’s obvious that there’s no way you could possibly see and experience everything made available to you, a true letdown for any techie.

There was a lot of excitement about the show this year. According to Gary Shapiro, the president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, $171 billion will be spent on consumer electronics this year, an increase of 6% — better than any other industry’s projection so far.

Many products showcased, big and small, were meant to work in tandem with Apple’s newest iPods. Interestingly enough, Apple Inc. (AAPL:Nasdaq) didn’t have a booth at the CES.

Technology Investing: The Year of the Television

Another large trend at the CES this year was television. This was their year, what with the countdown toward America going 100% HD in 14 months. The switchover from analog to digital television in February 2009 will deliver movie-quality picture and sound as well as high-quality channels to every living room in America. And the televisions and other consumer electronic accessories showcased at the show in Vegas this year will capitalize on that switchover.

This switch is also why major players like Google Inc. (GOOG:Nasdaq) have bid on the wireless spectrum once used to broadcast analog channels.

Aside from all of the amazing strides I saw in the gaming, audio and video industries at the CES, one particular experience, garnered early in the show, sticks out in my mind — Panasonic’s keynote address. I was excited to attend it the morning before the official opening of the Consumer Electronics Show.

Technology Investing: The “Digital Hearth”

Panasonic is the leading brand of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (MC:NYSE), a company I once held in the Diligent Investor model portfolio. I’ve always been amazed by the company’s ingenuity when it comes to flat-panel and plasma televisions, a still booming industry.

The keynote address given by Panasonic’s president, Toshihiro Sakamoto, was one of the highlights of the show. The company prides itself on what it calls the “digital hearth”: providing a place in the home where family and friends come together, building off of the natural human need to be connected with people.

While only members of the press were able to officially attend this speech — and granted, we’re all professionals — the buzz in the room was deafening, and the applause following each new product debut was astounding. Imagine all of us in suits, rapidly taking down notes, with our mouths wide open and practically drooling! Read on to learn about Panasonics latest products before you can find them on any store shelves.

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Posted by Ann Sosnowski · Filed Under News that Matters 

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