CNET totes themselves as “the premier destination for tech product reviews, news, price comparisons” and more. This is why when CNET hosts CES 2012—the world’s largest consumer technology trade show—you cannot help but be impressed with many of the products. The trade show covers a wide array of items from network or storage devices, to cell phones, to Televisions. CNET separates all of these items into 15 different categories and many of those are separated into subcategories. So picking out the top 5 pieces of technology is a hard choice to make.
In the case of impressive technologies there is a distinction to make between two categories. The first category includes improvements on old products. This would be a product like new phones and new computers that just run faster. For someone who is not interested in the inner workings or minute details of individual processors or Terabytes of storage, these are less impressive products. The other category includes items that pioneer a new technology, a new concept, or a new idea.
1. Simple TV
This focuses on the top 5 technologies that add something brand new to the market. And first on the list is Simple TV. Essentially, Simple TV takes the concept of a Tivo but it also lets you stream that TV plus any live TV on all of your devices. This means live events and shows on your tablet, phones, or computer anywhere.
A few other qualities—such as allowing you to implement your computer as a hard-drive or connecting to mobile devices through existing streaming devices like Google TV instead of HDMI—make it the top of the line in this category. You can find a video explaining more about the details and the cost here.
2. Replicator
The second on the list is MakerBot Industries’ Replicator, which is a 3D printer. Originally a little difficult to wrap your head around, this printer can print you anything from cups to toys to sculptures. Anything made from plastic. A revolutionary idea that if made cheap and feasible enough it would allow people to avoid unnecessary trips to the store. Instead, you can just print most needs straight off the computer.
3. EXODesk
The third piece of technology is the EXODesk from ExoPC. It is a 40-inch touch screen that attaches to your computer. The user looks like a DJ while using the product but it offers a fun new interface that takes on the role of a tablet, keyboard, organizer, and countless other exiting features. Check out some cool tricks and specialization with this YouTube video.
4. Tobii Gaze & Verizon’s Golden-i
The fourth piece of technology is slightly cheating because it includes two products, the Tobii Gaze and Verizon’s Golden-i. Both of these use a similar new technology, eyesight and voice controls, which is why they share a category. They use motion technology to move your cursor around your smartphone or computer. But unlike the Kinect, this technology uses motion technology based on where you look, and your eyes actually control your cursor.
The Golden-i takes voice commands as well in order to fully eliminate touch controls. These two technologies are one step closer to eliminating keyboards completely (though the new existence of EXODesk type technology would make that disappearance rather disappointing). Check out the Gaze here on CNET.
5. Samsung Super OLED TV
The last piece of technology is the only one that is a stretch to fit into the new technology category. However, the winner of the CES 2012 provides such a fantastic piece of equipment that it must be mentioned. This is the Samsung Super OLED TV. The TV has yet to hit the market, which means CNET did not have a chance to fully compare the picture quality. But it is famed to tote a better picture quality than LCD and LED due to a new technology of pixilation and black balancing.
Now take out your credit card. Turn it sideways. Not only is the TV quicker with better picture quality and infinite contrast, but it is also as thick as your credit card you just pulled out. It disappears when you look at it sideways. The newness of this TV means that there is no video for you to look at and compare quality just yet. But if you want to know more click on this link to see what CNET had to say about their 2012 CES winner.