All Articles Tagged Ces 2010

Julie Jacobson | 01/14 10:30 AM, 7 Comments

Consumers always seem to ask: Why do I need an expensive touchscreen for home automation when I control the house through an iPhone or iPod Touch? Two reasons: The iPod products don’t work as quickly and effectively as dedicated touchscreens and you can’t mount them nicely in a wall. iPort, at least, is solving problem No. 2 with the forthcoming Control Dock, a prototype of which was shown in the Control4 partner pavilion during CES 2010. Unlike other in-wall/on-wall docking stations, this one mounts your iPod for good. Also, it… View this story

Tom LeBlanc | 01/14 09:18 AM, 0 Comments

Several high-end, custom electronics products were unveiled at CES 2010. Granted, you had to weave through 100-plus-inch TVs, e-readers and 3D-enabled gadgets to see them. But they were there. Home automation jockeyed for mainstream market position with Control4, Remote Technologies Inc. (RTI) and Philips Pronto making significant announcements at the show. Audio, as usual, was overshadowed by video manufacturers’ enormous presences at CES, but some custom companies managed to make a splash. We've rounded up the products that had CE pros buzzing the most in Las Vegas. Click here for… View this story

Tom LeBlanc | 01/14 09:10 AM, 2 Comments

When it comes to consumers’ perception of 3D home theater, a recent study suggests that it must be viewed in two categories: Before “Avatar” and After “Avatar.” That’s how much of an effect James Cameron’s 3D blockbuster film, which hit theaters in December 2009, has had, according to Retrevo. Retrevo says that before “Avatar,” only 39 percent of survey respondents were aware that they will be able to watch 3D TV at home. After “Avatar,” that percentage jumps to 60 percent. Retrevo saw a 20 percent increase in consumers saying… View this story

Steve Crowe | 01/13 11:29 AM, 0 Comments

Too much to see. Too little time. That pretty much sums up the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. CES 2010 was no different. With the onslaught of 3D TVs and 3D Blu-ray players, there were so many things that may have gone unnoticed. For example: Shrek walking around Microsoft's boothThe world's biggest TV and biggest iPhoneA Jaguar outfitted with Bowers & WilkinsThat's just a few of the things you might have missed while at the show. So we've rounded up some cool products, some wacky products, and… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 01/13 07:37 AM, 0 Comments

We discussed previously how Philips has "cracked the Sonos code" in order to allow Pronto universal remotes to control a Sonos multiroom audio system. The video is somewhat lacking, but you can get the flavor of the two-way interaction, and learn more about the Philips implementation. Product manager Dick Mol corrects my earlier assertion that you could integrate Sonos-based content into Pronto macros. Today, you can't, says Mol: "The [Sonos] activity stands on its own." Nevertheless, he says Philips will live up to my integration promises in the future. View this story

Julie Jacobson | 01/13 04:19 AM, 50 Comments

Sonos wireless multiroom audio is beloved among CE pros, even though the company does not open up its system to third-party integration. Many professional installers kick and scream about Sonos’s closed architecture but the company has a very good reason for its stance: “We want to guarantee the user experience,” managing director Bob Spaner told CE Pro during CES 2010. “It’s as simple as that.” The more a programmer starts messing with the successful Sonos formula, the more likely the customer is to experience something other than audio bliss. For… View this story

Tom LeBlanc | 01/11 12:46 PM, 1 Comment

Less than a month after the Blu-ray 3D spec was finalized, we learned about a handful 3D Blu-ray players that were announced during CES 2010 in Las Vegas. Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba are the first companies out of the gate. None of the 3D Blu-ray players announced made our list of super-expensive Blu-ray players. That's because Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba haven't indicated prices for their 3D Blu-ray models. There are only vague 2010 release dates, but all four manufacturers provide some product information. Click here for a Roundup… View this story

Grant Clauser | 01/11 10:50 AM, 0 Comments

New innovations emerge every year at CES, but this year seems especially flush with big news from the major television manufacturers. And the big news isn't about size. Panasonic did show a whopping 152-inch 4K2K plasma, but it wasn't the company's biggest news. After years of "my TV is bigger than your TV" battles on the CES floor, this year's show was a refreshing change. So in an effort to ease digestion of all this complicated food for thought, we've rounded up some of the best TV innovations from CES… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 01/11 09:07 AM, 0 Comments

We already raved about the 4Store app store for Control4 home automation systems. Now we have the video from CES 2010. Check out new apps for wine management, security monitoring and first aid. View this story

Julie Jacobson | 01/11 08:42 AM, 4 Comments

The new Pro Control division of Remote Technologies Inc. (RTI) offers universal remote controls for homes “that maybe don’t warrant a $500 touchscreen controller,” says VP marketing Pete Baker. That’s about the starting price of RTI’s other remotes, sold exclusively through professional installers. Introduced at CES 2010, first products in the Pro Control lineup include two universal remote controls and two base stations. The entry-level remote is the PRO-24.i with IR control only. The step-up remote is the PRO-24.z, enabling two-way RF communications using the ZigBee protocol. Both remotes have… View this story