Renaissance

S1Lobby

S2 Lobby

C5 Lobby

S4 Lobby

GrandLobbyBooth #sGL1-GL11

S2Booth #s

25000-27999

S1Booth #s

20000-22999

South Hall, Ground Level

Central HallBooth #s 7000-15999

WestgateTheater

Keynotes*

North HallBooth #s100-6999

CentralPlaza

Booth #s CP1-CP48

S4Booth #s

35000-37999

S3Booth #s

30000-32999

SouthPlaza

Silver Lot 4

Registration

South HallConnectorUpper Level

Meeting Rooms S219-S233

WestgateBallroom

Booth #s 60000-69999

WestgatePavilionBooth #s

50000-59999

WestgateParadiseCenterBooth #s

40000-49999

Central Concourse

*Keynotes also taking place at The Venetian, Palazzo Ballroom

and the Cosmopolitan

S3Lobby

Swenson St.

Joe W. Brow

n Dr.

Paradise Rd.Paradise Rd.

Desert Inn Rd.

Sierra Vista Dr.

MeetingRooms

S201-S218

MeetingRooms

S101-S118

To Tech West and A

RIA

Golf Cart &PedestrianWalkway

(Central Hall to

South Hall 1 & 2)

NorthPlaza

GoldLot

Registration

StopE

StopC

P

TE

StopB

T

T

T

• 2016 Exhibit Space Selection Room LVCC, South Hall Connector, Room S223

• CEA Member Lounges LVCC, North Hall Upper Level, Outside Room N250

LVCC, South Hall Connector, Room S220

• Conference Sessions LVCC, North Hall, Upper Level Meeting Rooms LVCC, South Hall, Room S106

• International Business Center (IBC) LVCC, South Hall Connector, Room S224 Westgate, Conference Room 4

• Keynotes Westgate Theater (formerly LVH) (Keynotes also taking

place at The Venetian, Palazzo Ballroom and the Cosmopolitan Chelsea Theater)

• Press Conferences LVCC, South Hall Connector, Rooms S227-S228

• Press Rooms LVCC, South Hall Connector, Room S229

- Media Center - LVCC, South Hall Connector, Room S221

• Registration Attendee:

LVCC, Central Plaza Westgate Ballroom

Exhibitor: LVCC, Central Plaza LVCC, South Hall 2 Lobby Westgate Ballroom

Conference Session: LVCC, North Hall 4, Upper Level Lobby

Press: LVCC, South Hall Connector, Room S229

• Show Offices LVCC, South Hall Connector, Room S219 LVCC, North Hall 4

Westgate, Paradise Center Foyer

StopA

BlueLot

StopD

As of December 19, 2014. Locations subject to change. Map not to scale.

CES Tech East Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center (LVCC),

Westgate Las Vegas and Renaissance Las Vegas

MeetingRooms

Upper Level Meeting Rooms N250-N263

Lower Level N101-N120Upper Level N201-N249

PedestrianBridge

Skyw

alk

North Rd.

Westgate Las Vegas(formerly LVH)

Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center (LVCC)

South Hall, Upper Level

Show Services at Tech East

P

Wynn/Encore

Conference Registration

Renaissance Las Vegas

CS

Key

Las VegasMonorailTaxi

Hotel ShuttleBuses

TechExpress

C SpaceShuttle

ParkingShuttle

LVCC Shuttle LoopStops A-E

Passenger Pickup/Drop-off

PTE ST CS

ON 9 JANUARY, Las Vegas farewelled another year’s International CES. Some 170,000 industry professionals, including more than 45,000 from outside the States, had schlepped their way around more than 2.2 million net square feet of exhibit space filled to bursting with more than 3,600 exhibitors.

Get the picture? It’s a BIG show. Stereophile magazine’s Jason Serinus recently described the show as a “barrage of humanity, traffic, flashing lights, cigarette smoke, hawkers, gawkers, noise masquerading as music, and the ever-present Las Vegas Strip above”. Ah, fond memories…

As usual we trolled the net and polled the tipsters to get the best of the good oil, without actually having to come away from the beach… What were this year’s key vibes?Flexibility – Viz Samsung’s whopping new top end SUHD TV that morphs from flat to curved on demand. Or LG’s flexible G Flex smartphone which some wag quickly dubbed “the smartphone that’s designed to bend”.

IoT? WtF? – As far as selling products is concerned, it’s early doors for the Internet of Things (IoT). But we are beginning to see more and more connected devices over and above smartphones and audio-video systems, which could be market-ready if so desired – take the recent activity from Whirlpool and GE in the US for example.

Until the last couple of years however there has been some concern about individual brands adopting any of several standards for connected products.

The last few months, though, have seen BSH and now Samsung at

CES advocating that the Internet of Things should be an open system (the latter adding that it will be a “100% IoT company” by 2020!).

Whose OS? – Several brands’ smartphone ranges now encompass multiple operating systems. Now Smart TVs are taking the same approach, sometimes in an attempt at differentiation from the pack, sometimes because it offers the potential for a smarter TV experience.

Smart TVs are currently variously powered by Tizen (Samsung’s own OS), Android (Sony and others), even Web OS (LG) and Firefox OS (Panasonic). In fact we have heard that Sony’s 2015 Smart TV range will run Android TV.

Super, UHD TV! – All well and good but we suspect that a TV’s operating system is irrelevant for most consumers. Picture quality is still the Holy Grail and anyone who was anyone was showing 4K TV sets, labelled SUHD, UHD or Ultra HD, at Las Vegas. 4K is definitely the new black.

Got your motor running? – This year’s CES was also noteworthy for more of the automotive theme that started last year with even more car manufacturers at the show in their own right.

Having read reports that technology is the top selling point for almost 40% of US car buyers, you can see the auto makers’ logic in plugging into the year’s biggest North American tech-fest.

Despite competition from Ford, GM, BMW, Audi, Chevrolet and Hyundai, it was Mercedes that appears to have been the standout in Vegas, with its F 015 IRL concept car featuring

Viva Las Vegas? Hot show, hot wheels…

This year’s International CES in Vegas drew interest from some unexpected industries. The Wares team reports.

The wheels on the bus go round and round: CES 2015 was significant for the presence of both car makers and those who seek to enhance them electronically.

international

<34> W A R E S F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 MORE AT www.wares.co.nz

MORE AT www.facebook.com/WaresMagazine

international

Karen Ave.

Sands Ave.

Sw

enson St.

Paradise Rd.

Koval Ln.

Las

Veg

as B

lvd.

Flamingo Rd.

Indu

stri

al R

d.

Joe W. Brow

n Dr.

RenaissanceLas Vegas

Sierra Vista Dr.

Twain St.

Las Vegas City View Map

Harrah’s/The LINQ Station

Bally’s/Paris Station

LVCC Station

Westgate Station

Treasure Island

Trump International

Circus Circus

Hilton Grand Vacations

Westin Casuarina

Flamingo Caesars Palace

To Rio

New York New York

Fashion Show Mall

CES hosts a variety of Marketplaces and product categories. Visit CESweb.org for more information. As of December 19, 2014. Locations subject to change. Map not to scale.

Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center (LVCC)

The Venetian

The Palazzo

Sands Expo

Encore at Wynn

Wynn Las Vegas

E. Harmon Ave.

Tropicana Ave.

Cosmopolitan

Bellagio

TE

TE

MGM Station

WestgateLas Vegas(formerly LVH)

Elara, a Hilton Grand Vactions HotelPlanet Hollywood

MGM Grand/Signature at MGM

The NEW Tropicana

Bally’s

TechEast

TechWest

CESTechEast

CESTechWest

C Spaceat

ARIA

SLS Las Vegas SLS Station

Riviera Blvd.

Convention Center Dr.

Desert Inn Rd.

Mirage

Harrah’s Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

Las Vegas MetropolitanPolice Dept.

Riviera

ARIA

Paris

Excalibur

Luxor

Tuesday, January 6

Wednesday, January 7

Thursday, January 8

Friday, January 9*C Space at ARIA closes 4 PM on Thursday and all day Friday

10 AM – 6 PM

9 AM – 6 PM

9 AM – 6 PM

9 AM – 4 PM

Exhibit Hours

The LINQ

To Mandalay Bay/Delano

The Quad

Alexis Park

Monte Carlo

Vdara

Hilton Grand Vacations

To DowntownLas Vegas

CS

Key

Las Vegas Monorail

Tech ExpressTE

C Space ShuttleCS

multiple touchscreens and gesture controls, as well as chairs that rotate – yes the car drives itself!

Droning on and on – Keeping with the autonomous, driverless theme, robots and drones, from Parrot and others, were another 2015 CES keyword. Nvidia even came up with a portable “next-gen infotainment system” concept that car makers can fit behind their dashboards to augment a driverless set-up.

Thank you for the music – The hi-fi category which, traditionally, sits to one side or even outside of the mainstream Vegas halls, was once again remarkable for the comeback of vinyl, thanks to those analogue lovers and anals who never traded in their vinyl in the 90s.

But, seeking to pull in the younger pool of entrenched digital natives, high resolution audio was again a feature of many booths, even Neil Young made an appearance to plug his PonoMusic system which should be out this year.

Other musical matters included a new Philips headphone – this time a new noise cancelling model that doesn’t use batteries! Instead, NC1L takes its power through an Apple devices’ Lightning connector cable. Clever.

Which were the year’s most innovative products?The annual CES Innovation Awards seek out outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products – sort of a technology meets Crufts dog show-style thing. The following were the panel’s pick of the 2015 show:

Float, float, float on – The Portable Media Players & Accessories

category went to the bizarre yet engaging AIR² from Axxess CE (www.axxessce.com). Said to be the first of its kind (there is a patent pending), we’re thinking portable loudspeaker meets Minority Report – AIR² is a floating Bluetooth speaker that literally levitates over its base and punches out a “very acoustic yet powerful sound”.

Surrounded by sound – Most innovative in the Home Audio-Video Components & Accessories was Pioneer’s Elite SC-89 2-channel A/V receiver, thanks in no small part we imagine to its incorporation of Dolby’s brand new Atmos surround sound technology allowing playback of Dolby Atmos specific “immersive content”. The first movie to be released on Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos was Transformers: Age of Extinction but many more are promised.

See you at the (sound)bar? – The Home Theater Speaker category was taken out by Philips’ Fidelio B5 Wireless Surround-on-Demand Soundbar. If not already available here through Pudney & Lee, this wireless surround sound bar with wireless sub-woofer and detachable wireless rear speakers should be here soon.

Bend it, bend it, just a little bit – Predictably perhaps, most innovative in the Video Displays section was adjudged to be Samsung’s 105-inch UN105S9B, the “world’s first and largest bendable SUHD TV”. Setting “a new bar for the cinematic viewing experience at home” this 4K TV changes from flat to curved on demand. It won’t be cheap.

Android goes in-car – Possibly a new category (not sure we saw this

“barrage of humanity, traffic, flashing lights, cigarette smoke, hawkers, gawkers, noise masquerading as music, and the ever-present Las Vegas Strip above”

W A R E S F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 <35>MORE AT www.wares.co.nz

MORE AT www.facebook.com/WaresMagazine

international

Galileo901-1007

Marco Polo701-807

Casanova501-607

Bus

Entra

nce

Sands

Ave.

Escalators to Levels 2, 3, 4 & 5

Hall D

Hall C

Hall B

Hall A

HALL G

Bellini2001-2106

Titian2201-2306

Veronese2401-2506

Bassano2601-2802

Downto

Access toThe Grand Canal Shoppes

Escalators to Levels 1, 3, 4 & 5

Grand LuxCafe

The SandsShowroom

CasinoCage

Rock of AgesTheater

RestaurantRow

Front Desk

VBar

Casino

FoodCourt

The VenetianTheater

Lobby

Conc

ierg

e

Race &Sports Book

Valet Drop Offand Taxi

Front PorteCochere

Las Vegas Blvd.

Delfino4001-4106

Lando4201-4306

Marcello4401-4506

Zeno4601-4806

PalazzoBallroom

Keynotes*

*Keynotes also taking place at

the Westgate Theater and the Cosmopolitan

Taxi

C Space Shuttle

Tech Express

Key

Escalators

Show Services at Tech West

Restrooms

Elevator

ADA

Food Court

Escalators Up to ParkingGarage Connector

(Take a left at Coffee Bean)

• 2016 Exhibit Space Selection RoomSands, Level 1, Hall G

• CEA Member Lounge Sands, Level 1, Hall G Venetian, Suite 30-140

• Conference Sessions Venetian, Level 1, Marco Polo and Casanova Venetian, Level 2, Bellini

• International Business Center (IBC) Sands, Level 2 Lobby

• Keynotes Venetian, Level 5, Palazzo Ballroom (Keynotes also taking place at the Westgate Theater

and the Cosmopolitan)

• Press Conferences Venetian, Level 1, Galileo 902-905

• Press Room Sands, Level 2, Booth # 70216

• Registration Attendee: Sands, Level 1, Hall G

Conference: Venetian, Level 1, Marco Polo 801 Exhibitor: Sands, Level 1, Hall G Venetian, Level 2, Venetian Ballroom Foyer Venetian, Suite 29-209 Press: Sands, Level 2, Hall A Venetian, Level 2, Venetian Ballroom Foyer • Show Offices Venetian, Level 3, San Polo Foyer Venetian, Suite 29-207

CES Information andElevators to high-performance audio

and other exhibit suites

CES hosts a variety of Marketplaces and product categories. Visit CESweb.org for more information. As of December 19, 2014. Locations subject to change. Map not to scale.

To Palazzo and Wynn/Encore

Package Center

Lido3001-3106

San Polo3401-3506

Toscana3601-3806

Murano3201-3306

Bus

ines

s Ce

nter

TE

T

T

TE Tech Express

T

Navigation Path

Level 3

Level 4

Level 1

Level 2

CES Tech West Sands Expo, The Venetian, The Palazzo,

Wynn Las Vegas and Encore at Wynn

Attendee and ExhibitorRegistration

Business CenterPress Registration

Hotel ShuttleBuses

Hotel ShuttleBuses

VenetianBallroom

Exhibitorand Press

Registration

To C Space at ARIA

To Te

ch East

Conference Registration

The Venetian

Sands ExpoBooth #s 70000-75999

Level 5

CS

CS

last year), thanks to the plethora of automobile makers and in-car systems and product suppliers at this year’s show, the most innovative In-Vehicle Audio-Video product was Parrot’s RNB6 Android 2-DIN Infotainment System. Designed for relatively simple plug & play installation, it brings with it navigation, vocal and steering wheel controls, in-vehicle networking (presumably for stretch limos?), as well as audio entertainment…

The mouse that roared! – Best of Innovations in Computer Peripherals was a Kiwi innovation! The tiny Christchurch-designed Swiftpoint GT wireless mouse from Swiftpoint (www.swiftpoint.net) was singled out as being the first mouse to allow “truly natural touch gestures without touching the screen or having a touch display”. It works with any operating system. Go Kiwis! (See page 8 in our December issue for more details.)

Small but perfectly formed – The 2015 Digital Imaging innovation award went to Sony and its a7S Full Frame Mirrorless Camera, said to the world’s smallest full-frame interchangeable lens camera, Sony’s new model has “extraordinary sensitivity, low noise and spectacular 4K video quality”.

Somebody’s watching you – Possibly another new category for 2015, most innovative in Embedded Technologies was awarded to the iCam HD Pro from Amaryllo International out of Holland

Some of the CES Innovation Awards. Variously we have Axxess CE’s Air2 levitating wireless loudspeaker; Philips’ Fidelio soundbar; the iCam HD Pro home security camera (top); Pioneer’s Elite SC-89 AV receiver; Samsung’s bendy UN105S9 UHD TV; the Kiwi-designed Swiftpoint GT mouse; and Sony’s a7S full frame mirrorless camera.

(www.amaryllo.eu). The product is a home security camera featuring full HD video, object tracking, multi-viewing, and 360° of rotation giving the user complete control over their home anywhere.

Outtakes from this year’s show for our Kiwi readers? Opportunities in hot to trot categories for 2015 and 2016

will be found in plug & play home security products. Get in there before the home improvement channel snaps it up!

Another existing key category to continue following will be sound bars and TV/home theatre add-ons – affordable home theatre for those thin sounding flat panel TVs. Much touted as a coming thing the year before last, from the rising interest and uptake we’ve been seeing and hearing about here in the last 12 months, you won’t be a player if you don’t have a well merchandised good-better-best offering in sound bars.

Possibly for the longer term you should also be looking at value adds for and add-ons to the new wave of in-car systems that will be powered by Android or Apple. Whereas your in-dash replacement units are probably going to remain the province of the installers, and the exponential increase in in-car systems isn’t an actual sea change as such, there will be increased opportunities around this neck of the woods.

Hopefully we leave you intrigued by some of the highlights in this admittedly subjective and far from exhaustive take on North America’s biggest consumer technology fair. By the way the dates for next year’s International CES are: 6-9 January 2016 and you can find out all about the show at: www.cesweb.org

<36> W A R E S F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 MORE AT www.wares.co.nz

MORE AT www.facebook.com/WaresMagazine

Looking to increase your product sales over the coming months?Our professional team of nationwide Brand Ambassadors and Product Demonstrators connect potential customers with your product.

■ 70% of customers make their purchasing decisions in-store.

■ Letting customers touch, feel and see a product gives them a true sense of it.

Our brand ambassadors are designed to be an additional sales arm of your business. Our outgoing professional team are on hand to help consumers understand the key benefits and features of your products to help them make the right purchasing decisions.

MPM

853

3 10

14

Rebecca Purdydirector

Lee Plummersenior account manager

follow uson twitter

like us onfacebook

Visit us atwww.thegeneralistpr.co.nz

Public RelationsBrand Ambassadors

In-store Demonstrators

Phone 09 360 2670

8533 The Generalist.indd 1 1/10/14 9:15 AM