HDMI has attracted criticism for its rapid development causing confusion in the marketplace, but it is simply being pushed ahead of the pace of change in the industry, not to mention competitive standards. These include DisplayPort, which is gaining momentum on the PC side of the convergence equation, and emerging wireless challengers such as WHDI and WirelessHD.
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Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 3G S may have twice the speed and, at its 32 GB size, twice the capacity of today’s high-end iPhone 3G, but it is also at least twice the price now that the 8 GB iPhone 3G will drop to a mere $99. Of course, that’s with a new contract and a two-year commitment to stay with AT&T.
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Apple’s iPod led many to opine that the future of consumer electronics lie in the integration of hardware, software, and services, the so-called “CE 2.0.” I would certainly concur that “beyond the box” solutions — particularly software for unconnected devices that compose the vast volume of the industry — can lead to many benefits such as competitive differentiation and a better overall user experience.
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This month brought two promising moves in the evolution of connected consumer electronics. Amazon announced the Kindle DX, which it believes will signal a new chapter in textbook and newspaper distribution. And AT&T announced that it would tap Jasper Wireless as its preferred embedded solution to hasten the development of connected consumer electronics or what the carrier calls “emerging devices” (you know, like a camera).
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In his last post, my colleague Steve Baker touched on some of the few shining stars in the dark void that the technology marketplace has been in 2009. If the sun comes up in 2010, though, consumers will begin to find cable and wireless networks more open to access devices at retail than ever.
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In this economic climate, where the industry is so desperate for a new hit category, it is tempting to look at the kind of functionality available via custom installers and wonder whether any of those tasks may trickle down into an easy, affordable product. For example, today multi-room audio has effectively been solved by Sonos and one can patch together multi-room video (at least as a point solution) with a Slingbox and SlingCatcher. None of these products have been a mass-market blockbuster, but they have certainly expanded the market beyond the custom install channel and given retailers something new to bring to the discussion.
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At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last week, SanDisk revealed its Service Delivery Card (SDC) initiative, following its recent moves to put DRM-free albums and DRM-laden virtual radio stations on microSD cards. In contrast, though, its latest loaded microSD is programmed in partnership with, and for use by, mobile network operators. SDCs are bundled with microSD-equipped handsets and could offer a range of content, including large applications that could springboard the use of application marketplaces that nearly every major smartphone backer now seems committed to rolling out.
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Traditionally we’ve seen consumers prepare for the SuperBowl by purchasing ever-larger flat-panel HDTVs — a competition for bragging rights that was almost as intense as the gridiron rivalry itself and sometimes ending with the same dramatic lament, even for the winners. (”Unnecessary use of return privileges. 15 percent restocking penalty)
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At this year’s CES, few agreed with the melancholy Muppet about the color of his skin. Stepping into the green spotlight came in several forms.
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CES 2009 may have been smaller than the 2008 edition, but this time the cell phone that stole the show was actually launched there. Before the rollout of Palm’s new handset (pre-Pre), CEO Ed Colligan talked about the company’s mobile heritage and that it was poised for success, in part, because all it is focused on is mobile. Indeed, Palm doesn’t make components like Samsung. It doesn’t make PCs like Apple. And it doesn’t make set-top boxes like Motorola.
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Consumer Technology | Ross Rubin, Executive Director, Industry Analysis | 
June 22, 2009 12:51 pm | 
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