CES Report: Size Matters

The theme at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show is small, internet delivered files on large, flat panel LCD televisions. The goal for 07 - deliver video (tv or film) as high quality as possible (perhaps true 1080i HD), in the smallest file size possible.

Sony made a confusing announcement about streaming HD content from AOL, Yahoo!, and it's own Grouper, apparently only for those with a T1 at home. Hewlett Packard announced a complete Digital Home strategy, including a MediaSmart Server and MediaSmart TV. And Sling Media expanded their Sling Box offering.

Not to be outdone, Steve Jobs and Apple took the consumer electronics world by storm ... and they weren't even at CES. At the perennial Apple lovefest aka MacWorld, Jobs debuted the very cool AppleTV and even cooler iPhone. And, oh by the way, the company is no longer Apple Computer ... just Apple. (THR empathizes with the thousands of Appleites slaving away in the now unhip Mac business units, while the iTunes, iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV folks get all the glory.)

As more pay-per-download services graduate from Beta (coming soon, The Venice Project and MSN's SoapBox), expect more convergence between your computer, gaming system, and home theater.