Technology is heading in interesting directions. With the Internet of Things connecting everyday items that weren’t digital before, new materials being used to create beautiful screens and the internal hardware of digital devices becoming inexpensive and opening up new markets of customers to digital technology. The CES 2016 consumer technology show gives developers and individuals a look at what’s to come in the future.
LG’s new screen was released on Monday. The display, measuring 18 inches, “can be rolled up like a newspaper”. Think about what a screen like that could do for a range of digital products. It would be similar to having a projector screen with its portability. Possibly smartphones may end up able to be rolled up in your pocket to save space.
LG look like they’ve been focusing on television and displays, also announcing an OLED set. There’s a difference between the ultra-thin model Sony announced last year with LG’s OLED TV having nothing popping out of the back. OLED for those who don’t know is the best technology we have for displays. OLED is the only method that gives true black. It achieves this by turning pixels off. This gives displays have brights and darker darks. The OLED TV measures in at 2.57mm and the mount as speakers attached.
Acer is building devices especially for Windows 10 (Windows 10 is said to have over 200 million users at present) that take advantage of Continuum. The Acer Liquid Jade Primo wants to be a flagship phone and is priced as a premium model. The smartphone market is filled with companies and devices, so whether or not there’s room for another premium phone is a real question. Personally, I think that many consumers are after affordable smartphones as technology has moved quicker than the what customers want. Consumers may be asking themselves “Do I need to spend a few extra hundred on a smartphone or can I get a mid range phone that does what I need?”The specs of Acer’s Liquid Jade Primo are Hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808, 5.5-inch AMOLED 1920×1080 Full HD resolution with Corning Gorilla Glass, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, a 21MP rear camera and 8MP front camera. The Liquid Jade Primo will be available in some regions from February 2016.
With Microsoft trying to muscle its way into the mobile market, Google is pushing its Chrome OS into the laptop market. Chromebooks are usually more affordable models that are light on specs. Lenovo’s ThinkPad 13 is a step up for the devices. Compared to other ThinkPad models, the Chromebook is built like the older models, able to take some rough treatment due to the toughness of the design. The specs of the device are either a Core i3 or Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM and 32GB storage. The ThinkPad 13 is available in Chrome OS or Windows 10. The ThinkPad 13 is to be released later in the year, priced at $399.Lenovo has also shown off their ThinkCentre X1 tablet with the new Intel Skylake Core M processor, 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage. The ThinkCentre X1 is a tablet/laptop with Windows 10. The ThinkCentre X1 has a USB-C port, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, microSD and 3.5mm headset jack and built in kickstand. The display is 12-inches and has an active pen. There are contacts at the bottom that give users the ability to add on extra features such as battery and a 3D Intel RealSense camera that scans real life objects. Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 is a device that will serve businesses well and will be released February 2016. Prices start at $899. The modules will have various prices, with the extended battery and RealSense module $149 separately, and the projector will be $279.
The CES 2016 is showing a lot of high-end devices that give glimpses into the future. It’s unlikely that LG’s new screen that can be rolled up will be in the average home anytime soon. The number of mid-range devices from companies like Lenovo will give consumers new options with what tools to buy, but if they’ll be enough to make people give up their old devices is yet to be seen. Consumers are becoming savvier when it comes to technology, and there’s no pressure to upgrade to the newest device anymore. The future of technology will be something unimaginable, however. Which companies will best navigate this period of transition and who can bring out the next devices that scream at potential users “You have to buy me” like smartphones did. A company can bring out the biggest and best technology they can, but unless it’s what consumers want any high tech device will be a flop.
Look out for more announcements from CES 2016 over the next few days.
At last! Someone with the insight to solve the proeblm!