CEDIA EXPO: The Numbers Are In, and the Verdict Is...

CEDIA has officially released data on attendance at this year's Expo, which just wrapped up yesterday. As many expected, attendance was down by about 16%, from 29,000 visitors last year to 25,000 this year. However, CEDIA calls it a "minimal decrease", especially considering the current economic climate. The organization also claims that the number of non-exhibiting attendees was actually up, along with the number of system contractors taking courses.

What it sounds like, then, is that exhibitor numbers were down, because the actual show floor was certainly crowded on any given day of the show. Last year, there was a relatively small room on the lower level that housed maybe about 40 exhibitors showing off their wares in a more intimate setting. This year, that room sadly didn't exist, and many guess that there were just too few exhibitors that showed up. Indeed, it was observed that some companies magically appeared on the main floor on the second day to set up, leading many to believe that they had relocated from that bottom area.

While CEDIA is an important event for the custom A/V industry, it does cost a lot in both time and money to purchase a booth, set it up, fly down a team to man the booth, and then entertain dealers whilst there. Attendees don't have to worry about booth set up or any other costs but a flight, hotel, and meals (and time, of course). So it makes sense that if anyone were going to lay low this year and cut costs in relation to trade shows, it would be the manufacturers.

Nevertheless, CEDIA says that more than 500 companies exhibited at the show, 90 of which were new. While there wasn't one item that caused major buzz, there were a handful that really caught the attention of some. These include Russound's Collage system that provides multi-room digital audio distribution by using standard, AC wiring; Savant's ROSIE surface touch-panel controller that was on display in a coffee table-like setting that visitors could play around with; and, of course, anything and everything from Crestron!

Booth-wise, there's no question that Speakercraft stole the show with its oversized, oddly-designed booth that did not feature any products. Yes, you read that correctly: Speakercraft did not have ANY products in its booth! The company opted to use the show as a way to help dealers do better during these trying economic times, handing out cards that provided tips on remaining profitable, or inproving customer service. This was topped off by comfortable seating areas and something no one can say no to: free beer! Needless to say, the booth was jam-packed 'round the clock. A daily performance featuring Thriller-like, derelict and masked dancers accompanied by enchanting music really took this booth over the top. Stay tuned for a video interview with SpeakerCraft Canada's Linda van Zanten explaining the booth concept, along with some footage of the performance (soon featured at www.marketnews.ca/videos.asp).

Now that CEDIA has officially wrapped up, everyone's already thinking about CES and making their reservations for that show.

As an aside, any time I fly to any trade show, especially CEDIA and CES, it appears that at least half the plane is occupied by Canadian CE industry members. We should really think of banding together and getting a private plane. It could potentially save money, and hassle for everyone. And if we could find one without the dreaded middle seat, everyone would be a little bit happier upon their arrival.

CEDIA EXPO: The Sub-Cultures of the Tech Trade Show

I'm often asked what our industry trade shows are like. Most people assume that because we deal with all of these fun "tech toys" and travel to spots like Las Vegas (or Denver, in CEDIA'S case) that it's all about a little bit of work and a lot of fun, schmoozing, and partying it up. While, yes, these shows are typically a good time, the fun is offset by the mounds and mounds of exhausting work. So what is it really like to be involved in a consumer electronics trade show?

I can tell you from first hand what it's like for us as members of the media to walk a trade show. A typical day will consist of lots of meetings, lots of booth tours, lugging around pounds and pounds of press kits (thank goodness for the thumb drive!) and camera gear, and doing a little writing in the press room in between walks. But what about those on the other side of the fence? The manufacturers, sales reps, and dealers?

I spoke to some industry members to get their perspective on the trade show experience. In essence, it's probably more tiring for the manufacturers and distributors because they're standing on their feet, all day long in the same spot. They talk to person after person, from journalists to potential new dealers; and occasionally meeting with existing ones, which is a welcome chance to sit down for a change. While sales reps and distributors are often found outside of a booth, it's likely only because they're running from one client to another, dividing their time as best they can among all of their exhibiting accounts.

Lunch? What's lunch? Walk around any trade show floor, including CEDIA, and you'll see guys in suits and ties crouched on a corner of the floor chowing down on a slice of cold pizza. Some might designate one guy to run and grab some real grub, but lunch can never consist of anything longer than 10 minutes.

Everyone typically has early morning meetings, followed by late night schmooze dinners with top dealers. And be warned: if your dealer likes to party, you'd better like it too, because you'll be getting home at about 3 a.m. (it would be rude to take off any earlier, after all), only to get up the next day and do it all over again.

Dealers probably have it best. The show's all about education, and getting schmoozed. They'll walk the floor to learn about new products, make deals with vendors, maybe take some courses, and then enjoy a nice meal or event, courtesy of a manufacturer or distributor partner. One former dealer told me that, prior to any show, it was his job to arrange the team's "social calendar" by calling up vendors and finding out what was going on each night.

So yes, there are parties and events that take place in the evenings to complement the full days of exhausting work. You'd think that after a 10-hour day on your feet, the last thing anyone would want to do is go to some bar. But many follow the mantra, "work hard, play hard". Your intention might be to grab a nice glass of wine and a decent steak dinner. But what often happens is that you'll run into a big client, some colleagues, or just fellow industry members that you know. Then one drink turns into several, the group gets larger as the night creeps on, and before you know it, you're rolling into bed just as the sun's coming up, catching about 2 hours of sleep before getting up for a big meeting the next morning. The smart, sensible ones hole themselves up in their hotel rooms right after dinner, avoiding the risk of any night time shenanigans.

But there is a positive side (other than a fun night) to sacrificing your sleep: those evening events are often great bonding experiences to talk to your peers outside of the standard, business environment. And this industry in particular is fantastic for a high level of comraderie, despite fierce competition. Last night, for example, we enjoyed an evening out with individuals from three major flat-panel TV manufacturers. In what other industry can a bunch of guys get together and have a genuinely great time when, in reality, they should be looking at each other as "the enemy"?

Trade shows also bode well for the rumour mill. At CEDIA, everyone was talking about next year's event, which will be moving to Atlanta. Are you happy with that? Do you prefer Denver? What about Chicago? Another rumour we've heard: the possibility that CES, which is already on everyone's minds as we wrap up CEDIA, could be moving to Orlando in 2010. Could it be true? Finally, many were buzzing that attendance at this year's event is down anywhere from 15-30% in comparison to last year. It will be interesting to see the actual numbers once they're revealed.

And there you have it: the consumer electronics trade show experience in a nutshell.

CEDIA EXPO: Hot Products & Demos

While some think attendance is down at this year's CEDIA EXPO (blame the economy and the fact that the show began right after the Labour Day long weekend), it's still chock-fulled of exhibits and attendees of every ilk. Last year, it was evident that the breadth of products on display covered the gamut of home A/V, moving heavily into areas like computing and home decor as well. It makes sense, after all, since custom A/V has really become about lifestyle, not just about the living room. At this year's event, the scope has broadened even more: I've seen everything from vacuum cleaners to a neat new spin on the bean bag chair in something called the Cuddle Bag (I have to admit: it is quite comfortable to sit in!) Here are a few "quick hits" on some other interesting products at the show:

The Squeezebox Boom: You've likely heard of the Squeezebox from Logitech, a DVD case-sized device that allows you to stream music from the Internet or your PC to a stereo system within the home. The Boom is essentially a self-contained unit, adding a speaker and amp to the portable package. It's an ideal option for a secondary location in the home, like your kitchen or bedroom. It'll be available for US$329 at the end of September.

LG's 47" LED LCD TV: The "hot" trend in the LCD TV arena seems to be LED backlighting, and LG's new 47" model is pretty impressive, offering blacker blacks and an overall sharper image. LG's intelligent sensor automatically adjusts the picture according to ambient light; another technological trend that's all the rage at the show. It will be available in September for $3,499.

Tivoli NetWorks Radio: The small, classy-designed tabletop radio uses WiFi technology to play back music and other audio content, like podcasts, wirelessly from a PC. By setting up the radio either via WiFi or Ethernet connection, you can listen to Internet radio stations from around the world, streaming tunes from your PC’s playlist, or your favourite podcasts, from anywhere in the home. It sells for $649, and comes in various finishes including cherry and walnut. Separate, matching speakers are available for $120 each.

If you're currently at the show, here are a few demos worth checking out:

Belkin's FlyWire HD distribution system: This is the first time that the product, which can send HD signals from one source display to another, has actually been up and running for us to see. It works within a 100-foot range (depending on obstructions). I watched a cartoon animation via a connected Blu-ray player, and picture quality was decent, although I can't say it blew me away. At just $999 when it first launches in November, it's a nice entry-level piece for those who want to port content between just two rooms. And we can expect this category to grow exponentially this year.

Epson Ensemble HD: This product has been in the works for a long time, and it's a neat idea for the customer that's looking for a quick and easy solution to home theatre. The package, which won't be available in Canada until November or so, includes a projector housed within an integrated surround cradle, screen with a left, right, and centre speaker built right into the frame, sub, controller with a built-in DVD player and various other connectivity options, equipment cabinet, universal remote, and all of the cables and other installation tools you'd need. Epson claims that the system, which will sell for US$4,999 with a 720p projector and US$6,999 for a 1080p projector, should take about four hours to install. I was impressed with the image quality during a short demo; it's definitely worth a look. While you're in the area, check out Epson's anamorphic lens demo that shows off the capabilities of its latest projector in full widescreen format (a captivating, dark scene from Harry Potter), as well as traditional 16:9 HD TV content (a fascinating excerpt from the Beijing Olympics).

Denon Audyssey Dynamic Volume: Have you ever been watching a TV show and found yourself jumping for the remote when a commercial comes on because the volume has been cranked up ten notches? This feature will automatically adjust volume based on three modes so that it always remains leveled. A demo at Denon's booth shows you how it works so you can hear it with your own ears. This third-party feature will be available in all new Denon receivers. Now that's clever!

Pioneer Elite demo: The new Pioneer Elite plasma TVs are absolutely gorgeous in both style and picture quality. It's worth taking in the 15-minute demo that shows off the company's strength when it comes to producing the blackest blacks.

Avoca Voice-Controlled Music Storage System: I wrote about this music storage product a few weeks back, but I finally had the chance to see it work live at the show. Essentially, it's a hard drive that stores tunes from inserted CDs, which can then be accessed wireless using the companion handheld device (HP iPAQ). The cool feature is that it operates via touch-screen as well as voice commands. I was amazed that the handheld device was able to pick up our voices despite the loud and crowded show floor. Hold down a corner button on the touch-screen display and just speak your command. You can say everything from "Play Madonna" to building your own playlists that can be called up by voice commands. Your voice can also control things like "next track" or "turn down volume". If you prefer, you can assign nicknames to tracks, which will probably be a useful feature for classical fanatics that will often have concertos and the like with long, drawn-out titles in their collections.

Stay tuned for more from the show!

CEDIA EXPO: Press Day Overview: Can Tru2Way, Internet Connectivity, Do Away with the Set-top Box?

Press day at CEDIA EXPO 2008, the day prior to the show’s official opening, proved fruitful for manufacturers on various fronts. For one, a good cross-section of industry journalists showed up to see the latest and greatest products. And second, the day was blessed with gorgeous weather in Denver, CO that made trudging from one hotel ballroom to another ballroom in an entirely different hotel, hour after hour, a not-so bad experience (we plead with you: please make all the press conferences in one venue next year!). But more important than the weather is the new products, and we got a sneak-peek at plenty of them, including the latest flat-panel TVs and Blu-ray players from the top manufacturers.

Traditionally, when we talk about connectivity with a TV, it’s in reference to a video source like a cable or set-top box. But as the Internet continues to play an important role as a conduit for good-quality video content, people are more often looking toward the PC as a source of entertainment. Flat-panel manufacturers are picking up on this growing trend, and coming out with innovative partnerships and designs to accommodate. In fact, connectivity is one of the key components of Panasonic’s “Viera message”, and the company’s latest plasmas certainly fall in line with it. A feature called Viera Cast allows a TV to essentially work as an IP device, connecting to the Internet via Ethernet, than porting content from partners, who range from YouTube to the Weather Channel and Bloomberg news. Sony is also continuing its focus in this area with new Bravia models, including the sexy new ultra-thin 9.9mm thin model, that utilize the company’s Internet Link technology. Sharp’s gorgeous new limited edition XS LCDs (I’ve never seen reds reproduced so sharply, excuse the pun!) incorporate Sharp’s ongoing Aquos Net feature that provides content as well as remote tech support. All companies plan to come out with new Blu-ray models that include BD Live as well for enjoying additional content from the ‘net while watching a compatible Blu-ray disc title.

Tru2Way

The most interesting new method of getting content to the TV, however, hails from a new initiative called Tru2Way, which is essentially a cable technology that will download applications to the TV itself, including channels, guide, pay-per-view specialty content, etc., where the content will continue to reside. The technology, if it takes off, will essentially replace the need for a set-top box altogether! Panasonic, one of the key companies involved with the technology, will have Tru2Way operating and on display at its booth, so I’ll definitely be checking it out. The company also says that it will announce Tru2Way products in the coming weeks that will be available in time for the holiday shopping season. It’s unlikely we’ll see them that soon in Canada, if at all, but stay tuned!

Auto Picture Control

Manufacturers are also showing a greater focus on automatic picture adjustment that can adjust an image, in sections, based on room conditions and factors like ambient light. Toshiba calls its variation on this idea AutoView, which includes an ambient light sensor and film content detection to not only improve the picture, but also to conserve energy at night time. Another significant new technology developed by the company is called SRT (Super Resolution Technology), and this works to improve picture by up-scaling essentially any video source that’s connected to it, whether that be a DVD, cable signal, or video game. Sony employs Advanced Contrast Enhancer Pro to help improve picture quality; and Sharp’s version, which adjusts the brightness of a screen according to ambient light, is called Optical Picture Control.

Going Green

An area in consumer electronics that is becoming of more and more importance is energy efficiency, and every manufacturer has officially jumped on that bandwagon. Panasonic claims that its new Blu-ray players consume 20% less power than previous-generation models; while Sony’s new models are 55% smaller, resulting in reduced packaging (not to mention shipping weight!) Sharp, a company that has been at the forefront of environmental friendliness, says its new LE series promises to be up to 30% more efficient than traditional LCDs using the new Picture Control function. The company’s new D85U and D65U models, available in 42”, 46”, and 52” sizes, are also RoHS and Energy Star 3.0 compliant, resulting in 20% less energy consumption. A dedicated power-saving mode also helps to conserve energy.

This merely scratches the surface of what’s at the show, but it sure starts things off on an enticing note: CEDIA EXPO officially begins today. Stay tuned to this Website for daily updates from the show floor, including information on new products, as well as an inside look into some of the courses being offered.

A Few Neat Product Highlights:

Panasonic: A new DECT multi-cell wireless phone that is home automation-capable. By simply depressing keys on the phone, customers can perform tasks like adjusting lighting or temperature in the home. The phone is also really rugged, able to withstand drops, and even water spills!

Toshiba: The new XV Cinema Series Regza LCDs are top-of-the-line, employing the aforementioned Auto View and SRT technologies, along with a new double-skin cabinet, whereby you can see through the top layer into a second layer of design.

Sony: The new BRAVIA KDL-52XBR7 LCD TV features ultra-fast 240Hz refresh rate that the company calls Motionflow (or “Mo-Flo” for short!) The new KLV-40ZX1M LCD is just 9.9mm thin, and also boasts Motionflow (but at 120 Hz). Frustrated customers will also be happy to know that Sony claims its new Blu-ray players, of which there are five, will employ a quick-start feature that makes an inserted video ready to go in six seconds. Sony also whet our appetites with the promise of a 400-disc Blu-ray changer to be available in 2009.

Sharp: The Aquos XS series LCDs produce gorgeous, sharp, and ultra-bright pictures, and will come in 52” and 65” sizes. Other features include 1080p technology (of course) RGB-LED backlighting, and integrated speakers developed jointly with Pioneer. The new D85U and D65U series models (the latter of which replaces the existing D64U series) are RoHS and Energy Star 3.0 compliant, and employ neat-looking angled edges for a slightly different look than what you might be used to.

[Photo: Chris Matto, Senior Brand Manager, Sharp Electronics of Canada Ltd. (left) poses with Daisuke (“Doug”) Koshima, CEO & Chairman of Sharp Electronics of America and the company’s new limited edition XS series LCD TVs. Two iterations will be available in 52” and 65” screen sizes, both featuring advanced technology like RGB-LED backlighting, 1” thin frames, and an audio system developed jointly with Pioneer.]