Leaving Las Vegas
After five days in Sin City, I'm writing just as I'm about to head off to the airport for the flight back to Silicon Valley. Covering CES is always exhausting but it's also exhilarating to see all the new products and get to hang out with 140,000 of my closest friends. OK, most of the folks at CES aren't really my friends but after covering technology for more than 25 years, events like these are a little like old home week.
One of the high points of the show was the chance to meet my new colleague here at CBS News. Daniel Sieberg, who spent several years at CNN, is now bringing his talents and insights to the CBS Evening News, The Early Show and Up to the Minute. And you can read his blog and see his TV pieces right here at CBSNews.com.
Ironically, the biggest story at CES didn't unfold here in Nevada, but 570 miles to the north, where Apple CEO Steve Job unveiled the new iPhone. We have plenty of coverage of it here on the site so I won't bother re-stating the details.
Like Daniel, I tuned into the Apple announcement remotely from here in Vegas despite the fact that I live only a half hour from San Francisco.
Fortunately the Macworld Expo where the phone was unveiled goes on for a couple of more days, so I hope to get a chance to see and play with it before the week is out. If it lives up to half its hype, it could have an enormous impact on future of cell phones.
Before I pass judgment, I need to have the phone in my hand, try out its many features and determine whether it truly is as user-friendly and revolutionary as Steve Jobs claims. But even if it is, that doesn't mean that Apple will dominate the cell phone market as it does with digital music players.
The cell phone industry is a lot more mature today than digital music was when Apple introduced the iPod five years ago. There are numerous entrenched players with deep pockets, creative engineers and designers of their own.
While the iPhone may break new ground in terms of its technology, from a functionality standpoint it is similar to several other products on the market and at $499 and $599, it is very pricey. Still, Apple's panache, elegant design and reputation for quality products gives the phone an excellent pedigree.
Apple-envy aside, there were also some very cool products introduced at CES. One of the ones that impressed me is the iRobot Create Programmable Robot. iRobot is the company that makes the cute little round Roomba vacuum cleaner and Scooba floor cleaner.
The new device from iRobot has a Roomba-like round shape and wheels that whisk it around the room but instead of being a fully functional cleaning tool, it's a programmable platform for people who want to build their own robots without having to start from scratch.
Users can add sensors, grippers, arms and other peripherals to the robot and – most important – can write their own software to program their device. One option is the Microsoft programming tool called Microsoft Robotics Studio, which is free for hobbyists. The software, which runs under Windows, provides a platform for programming simulated or real robots, including the iRobots kit.
At $129.99, the programmable iRobot is widely affordable.
That's ASIMO, the latest version of what manufacturer Honda calls the world's most advanced humanoid robot. ASIMO has arms and legs and can walk around, climb steps, run and even dance without losing its balance. It's an incredible piece of machinery with a bit of a personality. It talks, it walks and it responds to voice commands though it has to be trained to recognize its masters' voices.
Honda has been working on robots for more than 20 years and, according to Honda spokesperson Stephen Keeney, robots like ASIMO may eventually "help people in their homes or maybe even fight fires or work in other dangerous situations."
Keeney notes that the robot's humanoid form has a practical side because it enables ASIMO to operate in a "human environment" such as a home with narrow passages, staircases and obstacles like childrens' toys and pets.
I wish Honda and other robot developers success because, as we age, we're all going to need some extra help. ASIMO could eventually be used to assist the infirm and elderly. Keeney says that its eventual price might be on a par with a mid-range or luxury car.
Monday, I stopped by the Creative Booth to look at some sound cards and MP3 players and was surprised to see a table full of toys for infants. Turns out that Creative has collaborated with Hasbro on an MP3 player that plugs into the back of infant toys.
Pressing a button or touching the toy in a certain spot starts the music starts but instead of tunes programmed by Hasbro, this MP3 player can be programmed by the parents with whatever music or other sounds they want their little one to hear. It could be dad's or mom's voice, The Wiggles, Fido, or anyone else who passes parental muster.
There were thousands of other products on display, including the world's largest TV – a 108 inch high-definition LCD screen from Sharp. Of course, I was only able to visit a fraction of the 2,700 booths before my time and stamina ran out. The good news – I'll be home soon and have about 360 days to rest up before CES 2008.
A syndicated technology columnist for over two decades, Larry Magid serves as on air Technology Analyst for CBS Radio News. His technology reports can be heard several times a week on the CBS Radio Network. Magid is the author of several books including "The Little PC Book."
By Larry Magid