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Sharper than sharp, realer than real(Las Vegas Review-Journal (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jan. 6--Attendees at this week's International Consumer Electronics Show caught a glimpse of the future Thursday. And in some cases, the future looked better than life as we know it. Take, for example, the battle raging between a pair of rival technologies vying to replace today's digital video discs with a newer, high-definition standard. Proponents of Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD each did their best to impress the 140,000 or so tech lovers in Las Vegas, rolling out truer-than-life screenings of Hollywood hits and duds such as "Stealth," "Chicken Little" and last year's big-screen version of "The Dukes of Hazzard." Aided by both formats' improved abilities displayed on ultra-crisp plasma screens, Jessica Simpson never looked so good. The big-screen version of Hollywood's latest blond bombshell wasn't the only eye-catcher on display, however. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.'s Panasonic Consumer Electronics division also drew attention with its 103-inch plasma-screen television set, which seemed to be the largest of several that claimed such distinction this year. "I don't know the price, don't know when it will ship," said Panasonic representative Walter Distler, whose short responses suggested he'd answered similar questions a few thousand times before noon Thursday. Not far away, Seoul, South Korea-based LG Electronics proudly displayed its prototype 102-inch plasma-screen model, which representative Brent Tongco said could be on sale to select customers sometime next year. "Our 71-inch screen used to only be on that (display) wall, and now it's for real," Tongco said. And what does it cost? "It's on very-limited ability, so it sells for $70,000 per set," he said. "You won't be seeing it at Best Buy anytime soon." Still, LG has seen improved sales of 50- and 60-inch models, though 42-inches remains the most popular model -- for now. Sets with built-in digital video recorders, or DVRs, and dual tuners are also catching on, Tongco added. Tucked away in a not-so-quiet corner near the rear of the Las Vegas Convention Center's Central Hall, Sony Electronics wowed conventioneers with a big-screen demonstration of its pending PlayStation 3 video game console. Though no prototype was on display, dozens of people repeatedly gathered before several monitors that showed images gleaned from several PS3 games. As pixilated mud and dust threatened to jump off the screen and dirty those in the front row, several bystanders audibly sighed in anticipation of the system that could trump Microsoft Corp.'s recently released Xbox 360. "It's fantastic," Gavin Nicholls of the United Kingdom said as he watched the PS3 demo. What, exactly, did he like about it? "Everything," Nicholls added, his eyes intensely focused on the images that unfolded before him. Sony has not set a firm release date for PS3, though the trade publication EE Times this week reported that several Sony representatives said the system would ship this spring. Aesthetics are also in vogue, as evidenced by manufacturers' push to eliminate or hide messy wire connections from device to device. Panasonic took things a step further, offering eight picture-framelike enclosures to surround its 42- and 50-inch plasma televisions. Representative Merwan Mereby said set owners will soon be able to download high-resolution copies of famous paintings to display on the framed sets when they aren't being used to watch programs such as "Star Wars" or "Desperate Housewives." "Customer feedback shows people really want their sets to match their home decor," Mereby said. The faux-wood frames, which are available to the public now, cost between $400 and $450. EchoStar Communications Corp., the Englewood, Colo.-based parent of DISH Network, showcased its 6-month-old PocketDISH service -- a portable music and video player the company hopes will challenge Apple Computer's new video iPod. PocketDISH users who subscribe to DISH Network's home satellite service can record programs on their home DVR and upload it to PocketDISH to watch the show wherever they desire. Because the programs originate from DISH's standard subscription service, there's no extra cost involved per uploaded show. Apple charges $1.99 per video. PocketDISH users can also upload their programs into a home DVR to watch their favorite shows on a standard set. The hand-held units can be purchased today for $350 to $599, a DISH representative said. Microsoft Corp. this week also announced a deal with DirecTV Group that will place its satellite video programs directly onto Media Center-based devices. The spectacle of CES wasn't limited to its products. Outside the Las Vegas Convention Center, the crowded sidewalks were reminiscent of midtown Manhattan or Chicago's Loop. Thousands of well-dressed businessmen and women made their way to and fro, while latecomers stood in a line 50 yards long to pick up badge holders necessary to go inside. |