Usually, that which happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. But not this week. In fact, the news coming out of Tuesday’s kick off to the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show will quickly transverse the globe and make tech headlines in every major publication on the planet.
So what is everyone expecting out of CES this year? Perhaps the bigger question is what isn’t everyone expecting out of CES this year?
For starters, it’s the biggest CES in convention history. In fact, the Consumer Electronics Association says the 2013 show will cover 1.87 million net square feet of exhibition hall space.
“With the largest show floor in history, more innovative technologies and services will launch at the 2013 CES than anywhere else in the world,” says Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association. “From cloud-based services, advancements in digital health, connected vehicle technologies, the latest apps, flexible devices and beyond, the innovations unveiled at the 2013 CES will create new jobs and further economic growth around the world.”
Among the biggest product categories expected to dazzle this year are – not surprisingly – cameras, TV’s, and cell phones. But a “record number of automakers” are scheduled to make an appearance at the show, which has raised eyebrows ahead of the convention kickoff. Audi, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, and Subaru – all carmakers than have fiddled with mobile technology in the past – will cover more than 100,000 net square feet of exhibit space.
“Cars are becoming rolling computers,” said Tom Coughlin, a consumer electronics consultant and member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. According to Coughlin, automobiles are becoming “mobile application platforms” rather than just simple transportation vehicles. Based on the chatter ahead of tomorrow’s CES kickoff, the automobile-related revelations out of this year’s show could, in fact, steal the show.
While there will be no shortage of major news coming out of Las Vegas this week, all eyes will first turn to the CES 2013 opening keynote, which for the first time in a decade, won’t be delivered by the CEO of Microsoft. Paul Jacobs, Qualcomm’s CEO, now has the honors. And expectations are high.
What are your expectations from CES 2013? Please weigh in with a thought or comment below. And, as always, MMW will bring you all the latest news and gossip as they emerge from Sin City.
