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The best of Press Day at CES 2015

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The 2015 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas only opened to the public today, but it held a special day for the press yesterday (January 6) where many exciting products and developments were announced. Here I'll be examining some of the most interesting (advanced warning; thus far it's mostly Sony products). Take into account, of course, that most of the products on display will be far beyond the reach of most of us, at least financially. But that doesn't mean we can't admire them and look towards a future when they might all actually cost less than a new car, right?

TV

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Hisense Vidaa Max

The big thing in the world of television this year was (unsurprisingly) 4K, with all of the major manufacturers clambering over each other to show off their latest high definition devices. Alongside bigger names such as Panasonic, Sony and LG, smaller companies like TCL also threw their hats into the 4K ring this year, and the Chinese company Hisense went a step further, unveiling a stunning laser projector called the “Vidaa Max,” which can beam a staggeringly detailed 100-inch image from a distance of just 2 feet. Movie nights will never be the same again!

The big thing in the world of television this year was (unsurprisingly) 4K

Of the big boys, Sony were perhaps the most impressive. The Japanese company made a big deal about their long-history with 4K before showing off the new X900C series of 4K televisions, TVs that are so thin, they are actually slimmer than most of Sony's own Xperia smartphones! Sony also made a big deal about their partnership with Netflix, which they will be using to finally bring 4K content to the mainstream. Android TV was also announced as being built-in to all of the company's 2015 TVs, alongside Google Cast and smartwatch compatibility. Samsung, Sharp (who promised the “Best viewing experience commercially available in 2015,” as well as teasing future dalliances into 8K resolution) and LG held similarly impressive press conferences, but for my money, Sony stole the show.

Mobile

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LG announced the new LG G Flex 2 bendable smartphone

CES 2015 has actually been rather hush on the mobile front thus far, but LG has already come out the gate swinging with its LG G Flex 2, a bendable smartphone that is so much more than just a gimmick. With a 5.5-inch, 1080p display and the highest new Qualcomm processor, it's not only one of the most powerful phones on the market, but is literally the most flexible.

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Samsung, meanwhile, announced Milk VR for their Galaxy smartphone range. Milk is a free virtual reality app compatible with the Samsung Gear VR headset, and will feature 30 titles at launch. When it comes to tablets, Lenovo has been the only company to make any serious announcements as of yet, with their Yoga Tab2 device, that essentially transforms any metal object into a potential stylus.

Everything Else

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Lenovo Vibe Band VB10

Wearables – As I mentioned in a previous article, smartwatches will be making a big impression at CES this year, and press day saw Sony again pulling out ahead of the competition by becoming the first manufacturer to bring GPS to an Android smartwatch with their Smartwatch 3. Lenovo, meanwhile, unveiled their water-resistant and amazingly affordable Vibe Band VB10, which also boasts an e-ink display, and Garmin launched their own range of more affordable smartphone products.

Smartwatches will be making a big impression at CES this year

Audio – Sony once again dominated in this category thanks to the new Life Space UX range, which includes a Symphonic Light Speaker (SLS); a vertical lamp that lights up in response to music “In all directions.” This new, immersive light/speaker combo is said to look stunning in person and sound just as wonderful. Sony also spent time discussing their new high-end, wireless speakers and headphones, as well as their new Walkman ZX2. Samsung's response to the SLS, meanwhile, was a 360 degree egg-shaped speaker, which offers an “Omnidirectional sound experience.”

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Sony's Symphonic Light Speaker

Cameras – Sony (sorry to keep banging on about them, but they really pulled it out of the bag yesterday) gave us a glimpse of the 4K Handycam, which president Mike Fasulo joked gave consumers “4K for 1K,” referring to the fact that the digital camcorder will retail for $1,000. Panasonic also made some big announcements in the imaging world with 11 new models, including the WX970, the brand's first 4K camera.

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The new Sony 4K Handycam gives users “4K (resolution) for 1K (dollars)”

Of course that's just day 1 of a 4-day exhibition, and I've only scratched the surface, so if you want to keep abreast of the ins and outs of CES 2015, be sure to keep your browsers pointed towards the official CES website, or download the 2015 CES App.

Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer, struggling musician and gadget enthusiast from Kidderminster in the UK. Researching this article has been (for him at least) a little like tech porn. It's all wish fulfilment, but that doesn't make it any less absorbing.

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