Spotlight on current trends, not tech breakthroughs

The annual International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year will focus more on technologies that support current trends rather than those that promise to break new ground for consumers.

User adoption of the so-called "connected" digital home and high-definition video didn't take off the way some predicted at last year's CES and so will continue to be the focus at this year's show in Las Vegas next Monday to Thursday. About 150,000 attendees are expected.

CES will feature exhibits by the usual who's who of industry heavyweights such as Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co., as well as about 2,700 other companies large and small hoping to showcase the next killer app or device that will win over consumers in 2007. IBM Corp. will have a large presence at the show for the first time in 10 years.

Companies from Australia will for the first time attend CES, which draws participants from more than 135 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the U.K. CES also is celebrating its 40th anniversary and will mark the occasion with a special celebratory event on the first day of the show.

Microsoft Chairman and co-founder Bill Gates will make his 9th annual appearance to kick off the show in a keynote speech Sunday night. Among other things, Gates is expected to promote Windows Vista, the latest version of Microsoft's OS due for release to consumers on Jan. 30.

Other technology executives who will give keynote speeches are Ed Zander, Motorola Inc. chairman and chief executive officer; Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, Nokia Corp. president and CEO; Michael Dell, founder and chairman of Dell Inc.; and John Chambers, Cisco Systems Inc.'s president and CEO.

But large technology vendors aren't the only companies represented in keynote addresses this year. As the latest digital technology is beginning to merge with entertainment, media conglomerates are becoming key figures -- and partners -- for companies promoting consumer electronics. Because of this, appearances by Robert Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Corp. on Monday, and Les Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corp., on Tuesday should seem entirely appropriate to the CES audience.

Among technology trends, storage will once again be a big topic at CES. A year ago, the companies behind HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc announced plans for big launches -- players and movies would be released and redefine the way people watch movies, or so they said. A year on and the two formats are indeed on the market but thanks to the format battle, no one is particularly interested in them. Look for cheaper players and recorders to be announced during the show and pronouncements that 2007 will be the breakthrough year for the systems.

On the desktop, the upcoming launch of Windows Vista means several new technologies aimed at speeding up data read-and-write are on the horizon. Drive makers should be coming out with products within the first quarter supporting the ReadyDrive system, and Microsoft will likely demonstrate it as a major reason to upgrade to Vista. Also look for higher capacity drives and the continuing march of digital storage into consumer electronics products.