Techie paradise awaits as CES opens doors

Most people think tech companies make computers, televisions and telephones, but their real product is personal fulfillment.

And they want you to feel good about your love affair with things that come encased in plastic.

"People want their device to be nice, small, sleek, sexy -- they want to be proud of it," said Mooly Eden, Intel's vice president and general manager of its PC Client Group. "There is nothing wrong with loving your computer if it's a great computer."

As expected, Intel's product preview at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show at The Venetian was devoted to ultrabooks, ultrabooks and more ultrabooks. The super-slim laptop computers with flash drives were popularized by Apple's Macbook Air, but Intel has been developing new ultrabooks with hot new features.

Intel was one of about a dozen companies to announce new products and releases Monday. Among the most anticipated was a Nokia announcement that it will break back into the U.S. smartphone market with two new models, including the new Lumia 900 with high-speed mobile Internet.

"We've got the perfect device to appeal to 150 million (Americans) who have not made the switch to smartphones," said Steve Elop, president and CEO of Nokia. No price or sale date was announced.

LG Electronics also showed off an 84-inch "ultra resolution" TV, and Sharp confirmed plans to roll out 17 new 60-inch and larger TV models in the next 90 days. Panasonic, meanwhile, said 93 percent of its line of plasma TVs and 40 percent of its LCD TVs will be 3D.

The four-day show, a Las Vegas institution, officially starts today with more than 140,000 people expected to attend.

Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer gave the company's final pre-show keynote Monday night, heavily emphasizing the next generation in Windows software. There were no unexpected announcements during Ballmer's appearance, which took the form of an onstage conversation with television and radio personality Ryan Seacrest.

Windows 8 will roll out later this year, as anticipated. Microsoft marketing chief Tami Reller said the Windows Store for Windows 8 applications will debut in February. Microsoft has given a keynote at CES for the past 14 years, but in December announced it would no longer present or exhibit at the trade show because of timing concerns. Microsoft typically has no new products to announce in January. The company is expected to host its own product announcement events, as does competitor Apple.

Even without Microsoft, the show is expected to remain the largest of its kind in the world.

"CES is the global stage for innovation," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association. "Every major technology company across the globe is participating in force at this year's CES."

Shapiro said this year's CES will showcase the most innovations ever, with more than 20,000 new products slated to be announced this week.

Intel unveiled Nikishki, an ultrabook with a transparent trackpad visible when the clamshell is closed.

Some ultrabooks had a sliding feature to convert to a tablet when necessary. Other features include voice recognition, through Intel's partnership with Nuance, and built-in anti-theft protection, through a collaboration with MasterCard.

Intel announced its ultrabook push last May, when it created a $300 million fund to market the new computer product and to inspire its big partners, including Toshiba and HP, to begin producing ultrabook components in mass quantities. The thinking, said Eden, was that if major manufacturers jumped on board, the price of ultrabooks would drop, making the product mainstream.

Eden said the company aims to pull the ultrabook's price point much lower than $999.

LG Electronics kicked off Monday's parade of industry news with the announcement that it would enter the tablet market with its first 4G Android 3.0-powered tablet, which is "set for release in the coming months."

The G-Slate will be sold through T-Mobile stores and online and is the first tablet from the two companies powered by Android 3.0, the upcoming version of Google's Android platform optimized for tablets. It will include Google Maps 5.0 with 3D interaction, 3 million eBooks and Google Talk with video and voice chat.

LG's tablet is one of 50 to be introduced during CES. Whether all end up going on sale at your local big-box retailer is another question. More than 100 tablets were introduced at CES 2011.

YOUR LIFE, ONLY BETTER

Like tablets, a refinement and advance on the laptop computer, the evolution of television was on display. Most companies, like Sharp with its new 60-inch-plus Aquos line, follow the philosophy that bigger is better.

While also going large, LG Electronics is also emphasizing a thin design and 3D technology in a number of new HDTVs.

And LG is also going smaller, introducing a new Spectrum smartphone that comes with a 4.5-inch HD IPS display, a 1.56 kHz dual -core processor, and an 8-megapixel camera. Although Android 4.0 is available, the company will ship the new smartphones with Android 2.3.

LG Electronics said that the phone will be upgradeable to Android 4.0.

The company plans to launch the Spectrum on Verizon's network on Jan. 19. It will retail for $199.99 with a two-year contract.

"This year we introduced many remarkable innovations -- to enhance consumer life," said Wayne Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics North America. "Last year was a very challenging year for economies around the world, including the U.S."

Despite the economic challenges, Park said 2011 was pivotal. LG revenue grew by nearly 8 percent, while sales topped $12 billion.

The company also announced it is adding voice recognition and 3D gesture control to its Cinema Screen line of HDTVs this year.

LG unveiled the 84-inch "ultra resolution" TV, with other available display sizes in 72 inches, 60 inches and 55 inches. The new, larger line "will launch this year," said Dr. Scott Ahn, vice president and chief technology officer with LG Electronics.

Ahn said the line includes an upgraded LG Smart TV platform with a redesigned Magic Remote and touch-screen plasma. The devices feature voice recognition and a 3-D gesture interface to enable gaming and search by gesture.

"This year, the search for content becomes easier than ever before," Ahn said. No prices were disclosed.

The company also briefly discussed Smart Share Plus with Wi-Fi, so consumers can watch TV directly on a mobile device. The new device will also make it easier for developers to create apps for TV.

MONSTER DEVELOPMENTS

Ever dreamed of owning headphones adorned with feathers? How about covered in spikes? What about rhinestones?

A Monster news conference quickly dissolved into a fashion show after lead monster Noel Lee began announcing the audio company's newest headphone lines. Unlike ear buds, Monster's headphones are designed to be seen.

In addition to fashion forward designs -- the Inspiration model has interchangeable headbands to match any outfit -- the phones are mostly celebrity endorsed, taking the brand's pop culture popularity one step further.

In a star-studded news conference, Monster paraded out Verdine White, a founding member of Earth Wind & Fire, before conferencing with a convalescing Nick Cannon via Skype. Cannon's line, Ncredible, retails for $69.

"I wish I could be there with you guys, but it's my first day out of the hospital," Cannon -- who was hospitalized with what his wife, Mariah Carey, called "mild kidney failure" -- said to the packed room.

After a slew of male and female models showed a few of the new lines, rapper and actor Xzibit walked in to a round of applause.

"I'm the X to the Z, but you can call me Monster X this week," the rapper told the group.

Then, after a brief wave, he was off as quickly as he came.

"Young, edgy, inspiring, this is what this product is about," Lee said.

Monster is poising itself to be the "cool" choice for headphones among consumers who have extra cash to spend -- suggested retail price for the new lines range from $69.95 to $279.95.

"We think this is absolutely going to explode," Lee said.

In fact, Monster's head honcho said he anticipates sales within his headphones division to at least double, if not triple in 2012.

Mother Monster would be proud.

Monster also unveiled an energy management application for Android, Windows and iOS.

"Do you know that vampires are sucking money out of your pockets every day and every night?" asked Gene Wang, CEO and chairman of People Power.

The app allows users to program when household energy sources should turn on and off, saving an average household $50 per year. It should be available in March.

Contact reporter Chris Sieroty at csieroty@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Contact reporter Caitlin McGarry at cmcgarry@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273. Contact reporter Laura Caroll at 702-38-4588 or lcarroll@reviewjournal.com.