Korean TV Manufacturers Still Strong

As CES reveals the direction of the home appliance and IT industries for the year, each company's exhibits were impressive. The most talked-about home appliances were the new televisions from Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, the two major South Korean manufacturers leading the global TV market.




In recent years, TVs have rapidly advanced in size, thinness, and pixel refinement. However, fierce competition has led to price reductions, putting pressure on TV manufacturers' profits. Samsung and LG's announcement of OLED TVs has disrupted this trend. These next-generation TVs are thinner, consume less power, and offer superior picture quality compared to traditional LCD TVs. While OLED displays have been used in many devices before, they were primarily for small screens like smartphones and tablets. Manufacturing large OLED devices has been difficult and considered cost-prohibitive. Many will recall Sony's brief foray into the 20-inch OLED TV market, which was eventually discontinued after about a year.

Despite Stagnant 3D Growth, Steady Evolution in Various Aspects

Both companies' announced OLED TVs are 55-inch models, with advanced features packed into bodies just 4-5 millimeters thin. A particularly unique feature is the 'gesture control' function, which allows users to operate the TV with hand movements instead of a remote. This goes beyond basic functions like volume adjustment and channel switching, enabling internet browsing, video content selection, and even entertainment features akin to Microsoft's 'Kinect' for the Xbox 360. The design, leveraging the incredible thinness, has also been refined, with a planned release around 400,000 yen. Sales could begin as early as the latter half of this year.




Meanwhile, Japanese manufacturers like Toshiba and Sony showcased new glasses-free 3D TVs and 4K (four times the resolution of Full HD) TVs. These were also nearing market release and appeared highly polished. However, while OLED TVs can display existing TV programs and video content beautifully, 3D and 4K TVs require dedicated content to truly shine. It's well-known that 3D TVs, despite their initial fanfare, have struggled to gain traction partly due to a lack of content.


Additionally, Sony unveiled its 'Crystal LED Display,' an advancement in LCD TV technology using six million LEDs. Among Japanese manufacturers, only Panasonic explicitly stated its consideration of releasing a large OLED TV during CES. However, its launch is expected to be considerably later than that of the South Korean companies.

Tablet Devices Come in Various Sizes

Beyond televisions, smartphones continued their steady performance, tablet devices showed signs of breaking through last year, and numerous exhibits focused on Ultrabooks, a category Intel is betting its future on. Samsung Electronics' 'Galaxy Note' garnered significant attention among smartphones. This model features a 5.3-inch OLED display and supports handwriting input. It's large for a smartphone, leaning more towards a tablet. It may offer a glimpse into the future where the lines between smartphones and tablets blur.



Furthermore, Nokia's announcement of the full-scale launch of its Windows Phone Lumia series signals a shift in the smartphone market, which has largely been defined by the Android vs. iPhone rivalry. This introduces a new contender.




Over 50 new tablet models were unveiled at CES. A key trend was the expanded range of screen sizes, from 5-inch to over 10 inches. The tablet market, currently dominated by Android and Apple's iPad, is set to see a new player with devices based on Microsoft's upcoming 'Windows 8' operating system. Both smartphones and tablets are expected to undergo significant changes this year with Microsoft's full-fledged entry. Although Apple does not exhibit at CES, rumors suggest the next-generation 'iPad 3' will be released in the first half of the year.

Will 'Ultrabooks' Ignite the PC Market?

While the PC market's prominence has waned due to the rise of smartphones and tablets, the 'Ultrabook' category is poised to make a significant impact this year. Ultrabooks, a new genre of notebook PCs championed by Intel since last year, redefine the 'thin and light notebook.' Specifically, they feature a thickness of under 20mm, a weight of under 1.4kg (for 13.3-inch models), an SSD with at least 64GB of storage, and a price point under $1,000. They can be described as 'MacBook Airs running Windows OS'.





These devices offer enhanced specifications at a lower price, making thin and light notebooks more accessible. Intel also indicates that performance improvements and price reductions will continue. With smartphones, tablets, and now Ultrabooks, mobile life is set to become even richer this year. There's no doubt about it.




In digital cameras, mirrorless interchangeable-lens models continue to lead the industry. Sony and Panasonic are prominent, joined by Nikon's entry as a dedicated camera manufacturer. Fujifilm also announced its new product, 'FUJIFILM X-Pro 1', coinciding with the CES opening. Demo units were available at every booth, allowing visitors to test them thoroughly. Among the major manufacturers, only Canon has yet to announce its entry. When asked for comment, a representative at the Canon booth consistently responded with 'no comment.' However, it's unlikely they would ignore the mirrorless market, which already holds a significant share of the interchangeable-lens digital camera market. Rumors suggest development is underway, and they are likely awaiting the right specifications and timing.