With day two of CES behind us, you’re probably longing to hear the erudite assessment of our dynamic duo. Wait no more!
Trauben’s Impressions
It wasn’t until day two of CES that I came to realize just how enormous the show floor was. It stretches, labyrinthine, across vast chambers and long galleries, lanes choked by industry figures, buyers, attendees, and we humble reporters scurrying between enormous displays in the cacophony of overlapping music.
Many of the prototypes and products on the floor are worth far more than any three of the celebrants worshiping upon the altar of artifice in their lurid glow. People heal faster than a Monolithic Sony television, which may ultimately be retailed for $10,000 or more when it hits the market in the coming months. (Incidentally, these televisions, resembling nothing so much as standing panes of black glass, have to be among the most beautiful, high-concept televisions I have ever seen; pity I’m unlikely to ever be able to afford them.)
My specific impressions on many of the products we surveyed today are available elsewhere. They’re all very interesting presentations and worth checking out if you like gadgetry, but my favorite product of the day is a very tight contest between the Hailstorm rig presented by Digital Storm and the Swiftpoint laptop mouse produced by Swiftpoint, Ltd. They’re both exceptional products on both a practical and engineering level, and I’m loathe to choose between the two of them. Ultimately, the Swiftpoint has a narrow lead, but it’s only because the Swiftpoint makes far more of an impact to the average consumer.
Trauben out.
Huneycutt’s Impressions
As much as anything, CES 2011 is a massive circus, a geek Mecca, and a huge mass of sexy new technology. Day 2 found us running round about the show in a much less scripted and far more relaxed manner, and that was unbelievably rewarding.
Ultimately, CES is about the business. Its about emergent technology, innovative gadgets, and sexy design. Today exemplified that in a way I think neither of us expected.
Warpia gave us an inexpensive and reliable way to stream audio and video to multiple devices with almost no latency and an almost inexhaustible variation of consumer and industrial usage. Swiftpoint was the most wonderful of gut-punches; an epically delightful surprise.
Aerielle had a more nebulous impact on me. I understand what they’re targeting, but its neither innovative, nor immediately impressive, and the quality of their product isn’t immediately apparent. I want to be clear, there’s no pre-judgement, but I feel far from certain about the product, and that’s not the best thing to take away from an appointment.
SmartFish is a similarly conflicted feeling, but for a wholly different reason. This is a product in an earlier development cycle, and I have full faith it will be a brilliant fit for Sharper Image, a niche item that’s wholly successful and effective.
DigitalStorm is the AMG of computing. You say their name, and 3/4 of the world says . . . what? But similarly, their products are impressive, powerful, and while admittedly pricey, deliver a level or performance equal to the tag.
But almost more than anything else, what I took away from today is that the tech sector of the American economy is not worried. There are a phenomenal number of ambitious companies, some established, some start-ups, but all eyes-on-the-sky ambitious and confidant.
It’ll be an interesting year. :)