Tag Archives: CES 2008

Gizmodo on CES blogger ban

Posted on by
2

Brian at Gizmodo has a thoughtful, pointed piece today about why he thinks people were way too hard on Gizmodo for pranking Motorola at CES, turning off screens during a presentation.     

He hasn’t changed my mind yet because next year I think every booth staff person is going to be more skeptical than they were this year of the legitimacy of those with  “blogger” badges (Gizmodo folks probably had press badges – but this was all reported as a blogging stunt).  

More importantly CES’s great treatment of bloggers has been rewarded with stunts.

Brian’s case would be stronger if Gizmodo’s buzz machine had focused on negatives at CES – such as some of the press payoffs he mentions in his article, rather than simply sabotaging a presentation for cheap YouTube thrills and views.

But, ultimately I suppose the community and those affected more directly than me must define the appropriateness of this kind of activity and if there is little outrage by Motorola or CES than maybe I was the one who overreacted.

CES – the dark side?

Posted on by
Reply

Adam is clearly not enjoying himself as much as I am here at CES.

Aside from the digital picture frames… What you talkin’ bout Willis?!

I’m pretty unsympathetic to the silly life challenges faced by those of us who can afford a trip to CES. There are technology guys here from Kenya which is now falling into chaos after questionable elections, and Rwandan’s President who watched (and stopped as opposition forces leader) the butchery of almost an entire culture. What are they to make about concerns that CES isn’t hip or cool enough for snotty suburban tech elitists? Sure, have some wrath – but use it to tool up those without technologies rather than bash those who have too much of it.

CES 2008 – What?! I missed Ryan Seacrest?

Posted on by
Reply

Shortly I’m off to the Wagoner – CEO of General Motors Keynote.  He’ll be talking about vehicle innovations including work on “autonomous” cars that drive themselves.   Hmm – hope they have perfected that if they bring one into the ballroom! 

Sorry to have missed the Comcast but here is SFgate’s summary of Comcast’s ideas for a *fast* future.

Yahoo’s David Filo on Yahoo

Posted on by
3

After Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang gave his talk today I had a chance to interview co-founder David Filo, who had just come in for the end of the talk and was hanging around afterward. Like many Silicon Valley elites David was engaging and personal and answered several questions for me.

First was simply a confirmation that David’s plans are to ease out of some of his technology management roles at Yahoo while Jerry’s intention was to stay engaged into the foreseeable future as CEO. When Semel left Yahoo some industry watchers suggested Yang would not stay long, but those rumors appear to have been unfounded.

I asked David if he’d met with Bill Gates during CES. He said “I haven’t”, which leads me to my current working hypothesis which is a little wild, but that’s what blogging is for!

The hypothesis is that the Gates Keynote last night and the Yang talk this morning were not coincidental, but were the result of meetings – probably last night – between Gates, Yang, and perhaps former Yahoo CEO Terry Semel. I’ll certainly take David at his word that “he” did not meet with Gates. Semel was *in the audience* this morning but was not introduced.

I should note that when I pressed David to talk about a potential merger he suggested he feels Yahoo has a lot to do themselves before moving in that direction, but he also noted how the industry moves in fast and furious ways. He actually asked *me* what the advantage would be to that. I’ve written about that before here at the blog but in short it’s that Yahoo+MSN would be able to fight Google in ways neither appears to be able to do alone.

So I’m not predicting a merger/buyout but I sure wouldn’t rule it out, and I’m guessing there are informal talks going on – probably here at CES.

Disclaimer: I’ve got some Yahoo Stock. Not that it’s making me any money mind you, but I’ve got some.

Bill Gates on the second “digital decade”

Posted on by
1

Tonight at CES Bill Gates delivered his final CES (and perhaps final in the industry) keynote. The key announcements included a partnership with NBC to deliver video online for *every single sport* at the Olympics – some 3600 hours in total and I think he indicated close to real time. Also impressive was Microsoft’s work with partner “Tellme” and MS mapping to bring powerful voice and map navigation capabilities to the mobile space. They noted that mobile advertising will be some (11 billion?) by 2011, and that although they feel PCs will remain very important it’s clearly the mobile phone space where a lot of key innovation will be seen.

Back at MIX06 I noted that Microsoft had not yet embraced the social media revolution that clearly was going to dominate the online experience. I think they have now done so, but they may be too late. The demos of something called “Zune Social” were neat, but I noted the key feature was the ability to integrated with a Facebook profile. I’d argue that Open Social (or some variation on that theme), that is very largely company agnostic, will ultimately prevail. I didn’t get the idea Zune Social would be a big winner over time, but …

(posted from the CES Bloghaus! Thanks Seagate and Podtech!)

Update:  Engadget will have an interview up soon 

CES Laptop Bag. Thanks Toshiba, but sad to see you left the show?

Posted on by
Reply

Originally uploaded by JoeDuck.
This great backpack from Toshiba, who was going to be out in force at CES to promote the HD-DVD standard, is a poignant reminder of how fast and furiously things change in the tech industry. Warner’s decision to go Blu-Ray was just yesterday but it’s already created a potential melt-down for HD DVD (Toshiba’s preferred and supported standard). Several HD-DVD folks have reported cancelled conference activities and events – but those are just rumors so far.

CES Bloggers

Posted on by
1

Hey, who else is blogging CES?   300 of you Techno Spartans ?    Put YOUR blog URL in the comments section of this post or twitter me and I’ll put you here.   Also make sure you have RSVPd with the CES Bloggers and Bloghaus folks at Seagate and Podtech.   

A lot of premier tech bloggers are on board the PodTech / Microsoft Blogging Bus heading for Las Vegas and video-live-blogging from the bus when they can – this really is a cool idea!  http://www.mogulus.com/podtech_ces_live

SONY Online looks like they have a great blogging venue at the MGM as well and they are hosting a cool (invitation only) Poker Party Wednesday night at the Hard Rock Cafe. 

CES Bloggers  (bloggers – RSVP with them for the Atomic Testing Museum party!)

Rob from CES

Scoble!

Intel’s CES Blogging Team

Technorati tag “CES 2008”

CES Press Conference Schedule

Posted on by
Reply

Check www.CESWeb.org for official CES information.    Here’s a link to the Press Conference roundup for CES.    It’s really going to be interesting to see how the Blu-Ray buzz shakes out.  SONY must be thrilled to have their standard come into widespread adoption, and look more like they’ll “win” the high stakes battle for the DVD market.   Likewise the HD-DVD folks must really be devastated by the trends away from that technology.  Hmmm – am I remembering correctly that it was SONY that lost the betamax vs VCR battle almost a generation ago?    If so, maybe they learned from that how to win this one? 

CES Parties

Posted on by
Reply

The best CES Party information is at the CES Party List  and  Karen’s List 

Here’s the lineup from CES Party List as of Yesterday:

(I’ll be at the Caesar’s Palace Digital Experience, the Monster Blog Party, CES Blog Party, and hoping to hang out at the Bloghaus fow awhile).  

I’m also trying to get an invitation to the SONY Online Poker Party at Hard Rock on Wednesday, which looks really fun.

 SAT, JANUARY 5:

4:00 – 7:00 PM: CES Unveiled: Official Press Event – Sands/Venetian, Marco Polo Ballroom (Invite only)

5:30PM – 7:00PM: Storage Visions Reception – Flamingo Hotel (Invite only)

6:00 PM: Storage Vision Awards – Flamingo Hilton, Sunset Ballroom (Invite only)

7:00PM-10PM: DTS Party – Nobu, Hard Rock Hotel (Invite only)
SUN, JANUARY 6:

8:00 AM – 7:30 PM: P2P Media Summit LV North Hall, Convention Center

6:00PM – 9:00PM: BlogHaus – Bellagio
RSVP: bloghaus@podtech.net (Media only)

6-10PM: Digital Experience – Ceasars Palace (Press Invite Only).
Contact Pepcom at: www.pepcom.com

7:00PM – 10:00PM: Asus Party – Palmer Room, Wynn (Invite only)

8:30 PM – 10:30 PM: HD DVD – Wynn, Lafitte Ballroom (Invite only)

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Panasonic – Venetian, Bellini Room

MON, JANUARY 7:

7:30AM-10:00AM: IDC Content Breakfast – The Wynn (Invite only)

7:30AM-10:00AM: MusicIP Media Breakfast – Venetian, Casanova Ballroom (Invite only)

11:30-2:00PM: Lunch at Piero’s – Piero’s Restaurant across the street from the LVCC
RSVP: http://www.lunchat.com/mediaregistration.html (Media only)

12:00PM-1:00PM: Lunch with Yoko Ono – CES Concierge Center (Invite only)

12:00PM: Yahoo Press Lunch – LV Hilton, Room 11-14 (Invite only)

12:00PM-1:00PM: Thiel Press Lunch – Casanonva 505, The Venetian (Media only)

12:30PM-1:30PM: RealNeworks Press Lunch – Venetian, Casanova Ballroom (Media only)

5:00PM–6:00PM: KEF Press Cocktail Hour – Hilton, Suite 330

5:00PM-8:00PM: Saitek Reception – Bellagio Hotel (Invite only)

5:30PM-8:00PM: Tiger Direct Build Your Own PC Race for Charity – Wynn Las Vegas (Invite only)

6:00PM-8:00PM: CEA Accessories Division Reception – LVCC, South Hall Internation Food Market

6:00PM-8:00PM: CEA Mobile Electronics Division Reception- LVCC, Grand Loby, Banner’s Restaurant

6:00PM-9:00PM: BlogHaus- Bellagio
RSVP: bloghaus@podtech.net (Media only)

6:00PM-10:00PM: Showstoppers – Wynn Las Vegas
RSVP: sl@showstoppers.com (Media only)7:00PM: The Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards – Bellini 2101, The Venetian (Invite only)7:00PM-10:00PM: Qualcomm Party – The Opium Room, Venetian (Invite only)

7:00PM-11:00PM: SpectronIQ Party – The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel (Invite only)

8:00PM – 12:00AM: Intel You Are a Rockstar Party – Rain, Palms (Invite only)

8:00PM – 12:00AM: OCZ Technology Full Throttle – Bellagio Suites (Invite only)

8:00PM – 12:00AM: Monster Blog Bash – Paris Hotel, Louis the Empire Suite (Bloggers, RSVP only)
8:00PM – 1:00AM: Peerless Party – The Palms, Ghost Bar (Invite only)

8:30PM – 10:30PM: HD DVD Promotion Group – The Wynn, Lafitte Ballroom (Invite only)

9:00PM – 12:00AM: Laser TV Party – Palms (Invite only)

9:00PM – 1:00AM: Entropia Universe Hosts Champagne & Caviar – Palms (RSVP)
9:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Corsair Reception – Wynn Hotel (Press Invite Only RSVP: Karen Thomas kthomas@thomas-pr.com)

TUES, JANUARY 8:

7:30AM-10:00AM: IDC Content Breakfast – The Wynn (Invite only)

8AM-10AM: NXT Breakfast Reception – Hilton Hotel, Suite 28102 (Invite only)

8:00AM – IFA/ShowStoppers/CEATEC Press Breakfast – LV Hilton, Conf Room 10 (Invite only)

8:00AM: JVC – Caesar’s (Invite only)

8:30AM – 7:30PM: The Sandbox Summit: A Playdate With Technology (sandbox[at]sandboxsummit.org)11:30-2:00PM: Lunch at Piero’s – Piero’s Restaurant across the street from the LVCC
RSVP: http://www.lunchat.com/mediaregistration.html (Media only)

3:00PM-6:00PM: Table PC/UMPC Meetup – Planet Hollywood (Invite only)
5:00PM-10:00PM: “It Won’t Stay in Vegas” Blogger Party – Atomic Testing Museum, 755 E Flamingo Rd. (Invite only)5:00PM-8:00PM: Saitek Reception – Bellagio Hotel (Invite only)

5:30PM-7:00PM: CEA Digital Imaging Reception – Renaissance Hotel, Ballroom I

6:00PM: Canada Night 2008 – The Roman Ballroom at Caesars Palace

6:30PM-9:30PM: Band & Olufsen Reception – Venetian (Invite only)

6:00PM-9:00PM: BlogHaus – Bellagio
RSVP: bloghaus@podtech.net (Media only)

6:30PM: AMD SmartHouse Reception – AMD Smart House LVCC (Invite only)

Monster Dealer Awards
Seating: 7:00PM Award Presentation: 9:00PM
Entertainment by Mary J. Blige, Paris Hotel: (Invite only)7:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Dell – Venetian, Madame Tussauds (Invite only)

7:00PM-10PM: Future Party – Ghost Bar, Palms (Invite only)

7:00PM-11:30PM: Liteon Party – The Venetian (Invite only)

8:30PM: Digital Media Wire’s inaugural Digital Media Inside – Bellini Room at The Venetian
9:00PM-12:00AM: Shuttle Press Party – Bellagio (Media only)

10:00 PM: Microsoft/Verizon – Palms

(?) ContentNext CES mixer – Quarks Bar (RSVP at advertising AT contentnext.com)

(?) Bluetooth technology member appreciation party – Tao in the Venetian hotel

WED, JANUARY 9:

7:30AM-10:00AM: IDC Content Breakfast – The Wynn (Invite only)

5:00PM-8:00PM: Saitek Reception – Bellagio Hotel (Invite only)

6:00PM-9:00PM: BlogHaus – Bellagio
RSVP: bloghaus@podtech.net (Media only)

6:00PM-9:00PM: Super Talent Reception – Monet One & Patio, Bellagio (invite only)

6:00PM-9:00PM: TTZ Media Affiliate Dinner – TBA (Invited affiliates only)

7:00PM-10:00PM: AVS Forum Party – Sahara Hotel (Invite only)

7:00PM-10:00PM: Cisco Party – Venetian (Invite only)

9PM-1AM: Sony Online Entertainment Poker Party – Hard Rock Hotel (Invite only)