When it comes to gadget shows there are probably a handful that stand out: with CES in the US and IFA in Germany notable examples. While not as well known, Japan has its own show called CEATEC and is running in Tokyo until 10 October.
CEATEC is mostly a pure "trade" show in that it's aimed at manufacturers and not the public, but there are still some sights to see for the gadget-obsessed.
As with CES 2009, 3D technology was the main topic discussed, with Panasonic, Sony and Sharp all showing off their version of the 3D home cinema.
Also on display were some weird and wild iPod apps and some stuff that was just damned strange.
Ty Pendlebury travelled to Japan as a guest of Panasonic.
-
While dwarfed by the enormity of CES, CEATEC Japan still comprises three large halls, with the "television" hall of most interest to the public. Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba and Sharp all had big stands this year, in addition to players like Hitachi which has pulled out of Australia.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
While 3D TV was everywhere, Toshiba instead chose to focus on its new flagship — the Cell Regza. In January, Toshiba showed off its Cell TV which has an on-board PVR and utilises the power of Toshiba/Sony's Cell processor. Well, now it's ready to go to market. It will debut in Japan in December for ¥1 million (AU$12,730). No word yet as to an Australian release.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
In a private demonstration, the Toshiba team showed off the audio capabilities of the "soundbar" on the Cell Regza by displaying a live concert of Sting's Shape of My Heart. It wasn't quite hi-fi, but it sounded better than the sound on most TVs. Here we see the TV's speaker system denuded.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
Panasonic showed off its new 50-inch 3D TV which will be coming in 2010. It boasts a "full HD" stereo image by displaying a 1080p image in each eye. The glasses are active — which means they need battery power — and flicker at up to 120Hz to give a 3D effect. While no pricing is yet announced for either the glasses or the TV, Panasonic staff anticipate the TV will be in the mid-range at about ¥200,000 (AU$2500) with glasses costing around ¥2000 (AU$60) each.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
Originally dubbed "4K", and now called "4K2K" by Panasonic, the next television standard is displayed on this 103-inch monster at CEATEC. With a resolution of 3840x2160, the standard has the support of Japanese cable companies, and even at a distance of 1.5m this screen doesn't demonstrate any "chicken wire" effect — in other words you can't see individual pixels.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
Like almost every other company at the show, Sony has made a commitment to introduce 3D to the home in 2010 — in this case to the PS3 and with proprietary LCD screens. In addition to showing off the first professional single lens camera that shoots in 3D, Sony showed off a bank of TVs with movies and games. We played a bit of Wipeout in 3D and while it was fun we didn't think 3D added that much to the experience — apart from making it a little harder to play.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
Sony demonstrated an augmented reality with realistic water and fire effects triggered by movement. This demo was run by the processing power of the PlayStation 3.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
Panasonic announced its Micro Four Thirds-compatible camera, the GF1, last month at IFA and had it on display at CEATEC as well. Except it kinda broke.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
At the Tyco Electronics stand they showed off a girl riding a Jetsons-styled maglev car. Just because they could. She looked a little silly going back in reverse though.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
Yamaha Music built a small keyboard into a huge grand piano table while an iPod Touch sat casually on the top showing off the new "Finger Piano Share" app.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
"Finger Piano Share" iPod app.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
Wireless charging becomes a reality. Hong Kong company Otax has the inexpensive Wild Charge debuting in the US shortly for US$60. The system can be used to recharge iPhones and other electronic gadgets, but it does require the use of an additional iPhone wrapper/case. Australia is due to follow with pricing to be announced.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
Though it's just a poster, and in Japanese, Nissan had its iPod app on display which monitors your Nissan Versa's "vitals". We initially thought it was a Nissan remote control demo akin to the one featured in Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog, but we were sadly mistaken. Instead, drivers can use it to download stats directly from their cars. Though why this is useful is hard to say, surely it's more dangerous to have drivers handling their iPhones than it is handy?
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
Sharp had its Mebius netbook on display, which includes a stylus and text recognition. Australian availability is unknown.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
Marantz's new SR6004 receiver was on show at the DTS display and it includes a Bluetooth receiver on-board for streaming files from an iPhone/iPod Touch or other mobile phone. It will be available in the US for US$1249.99 with Aussie details to come.
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
-
Perhaps the crummiest gadget we saw: you had to stoop down to look through a hole to see some sort of demented Teletubby dancing in "3D". No glasses required!
(Credit: Ty Pendlebury/CNET.com.au)
Add Your Comment 1