CES 2010 Highlights Latest Trends in 3D and Mobile Devices

With the gradual warming of the global economy, the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), said to be the world`s largest consumer technology trade show, attracted more than 2,500 exhibitors who came from all over the world to show off their latest innovative products in Las Vegas, USA from January 7-10.

The Topology Research Institute (TRi), Taiwan’s largest private market research firm for information technology (IT), consumer electronics, and displays, among other products noted that CES continued to exhibit the four trends in the global consumer electronics market--lightweight and thin, wireless, touch control, and environment-friendliness—-that were evident at the 2009 show. Five major product categories attracted the most attention: three-dimension (3D) TVs, tablet PC, Google handsets, built-in micro projectors, and smartbooks (mobile devices falling between smartphones and netbooks).

TRi pointed out that the 3D TV is expected to be the hottest item in the consumer electronic market this year; it and the smartbook, another rapidly-rising star, are both expected to entice money out of the pockets of consumers around the world.

The age of 3D
Many international TV brands have announced schedules for the introduction of 3D TV models (including Sony, in the second half of 2010), pointing to the advent of the 3D TV era. In the future, TRi said, 3D images would no longer appear only on the big screens of movie theaters but also in living rooms throughout the world. Real immersive scenes are coming in the screens of family TVs, personal computers (PCs), and even portable digital cameras.

The research firm said that local makers of thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels are expected to benefit from the development of multi-layer 3D panels, which use more substrates than conventional displays, while makers of 3D polarizers and developers of 3D blu-ray disc (BD) playback software will also find lucrative business opportunities in the new age of 3D.

Most market experts are expecting the introduction of the Apple Tablet PC, which is anticipated to have annual sales of more than 10 million units. The Tablet PC is expected to become a mainstream mobile device thanks to its integration of e-book reader, mobile TV, and netbook functions.

Micro projector
The micro projector is another hot issue in the global consumer market. Several suppliers in Japan and South Korea are engaged in the constant promotion of high-end digital cameras and smartphones that have built-in micro projectors.

Many companies exhibited their micro-projector products at 2010 CES, and TRi forecasted that built-in type micro projectors have a bigger market potential than stand-alone models.

The average cost of a built-in micro projector is currently about $100, making it feasible only for the highest-end digital cameras and smartphones. TRi thinks that the average cost will fall to about $50 in 2010, however, prompting its adoption in more handsets and cameras. The research firm predicts that about 10 million built-in micro projectors will be sold in 2012, presenting new opportunities for manufacturers in Taiwan.

Smartbooks
The smartbook was another an eye-catching item at 2010 CES. TRi said that more and more companies would rush to introduce smartbook or/and mobile internet device (MID) products to take advantage of the more differentiated PC market.

The smartbook is a kind of netbook that offers relatively low hardware requirements, low price (under $300 each), pocket size (although a bit larger than the average handset), economical use of power, and access to the Internet anywhere.

TRi predicts that global smartphone shipments will grow 30 percent this year. Shipments of Android handsets alone are expected to grow from about 7.5 million units to 20 million units in 2010.

Source: CENS