Just what is CES and what to expect in 2014

If you go near a tech website or a new bulletin any time this week there is a good chance you’ll have heard of CES and if you don’t know what that is EFTM is on the ground in Las Vegas to explain, and bring you the latest news all this week.

First and foremost, CES stands for the Consumer Electronics Show.  Run by the Consumer Electronics Association of America which represents the companies involved in the $200 billion US consumer electronics business this is the place where products are launched, retailers pick them up and the public are first excited about them.

While there might be several thousand media in attendance, the real numbers in the 150,000 plus range are the exhibitors and trade groups.  For Aussies, think JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Good Guys – any store that has technology on sale is most likely represented here by its “buyers” who walk the floor, meet the exhibitors looking for that cool product to stock when it’s available some time this year.

Exclusive deals are done, or local distribution deals are done and this all happens over just a few short days here in Las Vegas.

It all kicks off this evening with a couple of hours of sneak peeks at a select few products and companies at an event called CES Unveiled where the media get to see some of the cool stuff to wet our appetite for the week ahead.

Tomorrow it’s a whole day of big press conferences and keynote speeches.  LG, Samsung, Sony, Hisense, Intel to name just a few, all bidding for a slice of the media pie over the next few days by announcing their “next big thing” and or their 2014 product line-up.

Then on Tuesday morning the comfy shoes go on and the walking begins.  Over 3,000 exhibitors, 20,000 plus products all spread over around 40 football fields worth of convention centre floor space.

In 2014 it’s likely to be another progression from year to year – nothing revolutionary for the average consumer.  For those with extremely deep pockets you’ll hear all about the huge new TV’s and extraordinary price tags.  For the rest of us there will be some neat innovation in health and fitness technology, wearable technology and the continuing merging of our home, work, and mobile lives through single devices.

I’ll update you with all the cool stuff I see – so stay tuned right here all week!