Wow! We just spent four phenomenal days surrounded by electronics claiming to be bigger, louder, thinner, smarter and faster than last year. Of course our NBC Universal booth was bigger, louder and smarter than last year as well.

How can we sum up the sights, sounds and sensations of CES 2009?

We produced hours and hours of live NBCU broadcasts, plus the great people from Revision3 shot Tekzilla, Hak5 and HackCollege on our stage and in our booth.

We gave away 12,000 San Disk 2GB Micro SD drives and the thousands of folks who came to our booth scored over 15,000 pieces of NBC Universal content from the Mediaport-powered download kiosks.

We hosted over 100 bloggers in our new and improved Sharp NBC Universal Multimedia Lounge.

Nancy O'Dell made the cover of Vegas Magazine.

Jimmy Fallon made us laugh.

We met countless fascinating new people and got to check out some incredible new consumer electronics.

We watched thousands of people crowd around the 4 Microsoft Surface tables with Vectorform software and interact with NBCU films and TV shows.

And it all came together with the creative, dedicated talent of people across every part of NBC Universal.

Here's to next year...CES 2010!

Thank You!

NBC Universal: Entertainment You Can Touch. Content That Touches You.

For the last two years, I've been working for NBC News on an education project called iCue.com, an interactive study aid for high school students, and its companion video trivia Facebook game, called "What's Your iCue?"

This trip to CES, however, is the first time I've really had the chance to see people - real people, i.e. people who are not co-workers or relatives - interact with both of these sites. And I've been blown away by the reception. I've been demonstrating both sites for the last two days. Between setting up trivia competitions where convention-goers try to beat each other's scores to win prizes and showing off the interactive learning capabilities of iCue.com, I've been doing a lot of talking and getting a lot of great reactions. We've had lines of people waiting to play the game and check out historic videos.

I don't want to be too sappy here, but the whole experience has added a third part to the NBC Universal booth's slogan (coined by our blogmaster Jon Accarrino), "Entertainment You Can Touch, Content that Touches You."

The first two parts are the sites themselves. You can dive deep into subjects that interest you - science, technology, history - by literally touching our videos, flipping the player over to see the keyword tags and sharing them with your friends.

The third part for me, the last mile of this whole process, is that I've been touched by seeing the people in the booth enjoying the entertainment and content that I've been toiling on for so long. It really has been one of the most rewarding experiences that I've had working for NBC.

Swag! That's really what this show is about. Seriously, we've gotten almost a lifetime supply of breath mints just in the first 2 days. At the NBC Universal booth it's no different.

Our brand ambassadors are doing a lot of embassing while giving out 12,000 2GB micro SD cards, they gave away almost 5,000 the first day. Take the card over to one of the five Microsoft Surface tables, and you could win a prize like a Monk bobblehead, or a Battlestar Galactica toaster to an SNL script signed by the entire cast. Even if you don't win a signed Today Show mug, you can download free videos from the kiosks.

Our 12 brand ambassadors, dressed in all black with NBC logo shirts spend 10 hours working the crowds during the convention days. Their spirit and overall enthusiasm are quite commendable. Taryn Abrahamson, one of the brand ambassadors on loan from NBC Long Island City seems to always know exactly how to draw people in, answer their questions and lead them to all the booth hot spots. In fact, all the brand ambassadors are doing a fantastic job representing NBCU.

Taryn tells us that the smash hit of the booth is the Michael Scott "that's what she said" sound bite from The Office on the Surface DJ. Though she tells us that her favorite thing to do is add Mamma Mia to any mix.

I could write for days about what I saw at CES 2009 and the implications of it all, but with the benefit of a healthy separation from Vegas, here are a few reasonably quick musings.....

Special thanks to Glenn Reitmeier and Peter Rosenberg of NBC Universal, whose illuminating tours of the CES exhibition floors were most helpful in separating the wheat from the chaff...

1. Internet connections pervade new TVs, with embedded chipsets to enable an application environment...

Though simplistic news/information widgets have for years been touted at CES, they've offered limited functionality and appeal. Now, however, OEMs are establishing relationships with key providers of high quality IP-delivered content, such as Amazon and Netflix, enabling far more expansive and desirable use cases to exploit the burgeoning TV-internet connectivity.

Look for OEMs to aggressively forge partnerships with IP-delivered content providers (especially in film video on demand), which the OEMs will promote heavily to encourage consumer adoption--and stimulate more upgrades to internet-enabled TVs. Arguably imperceptible picture quality improvements, or ever-bigger and ever-thinner screens won't be sufficient to spur upgrades for mainstream existing LCD/plasma owners for some time to come. The manufacturers must perfect the user interface, however, and ultimately must allow for a more open platform to allow consumer choice among applications.

The direct connection model, especially if Tru2Way enabled, may ultimately place pressure on set-top box manufacturers and renters (i.e., MSOs), which may increase the likelihood that MSOs and telco television providers will charge consumers for internet access based on variable data use volume. As for Roku/Vudu and other box-based providers of similar services, as innovative as their products may now be, it seems unlikely that they will prove to be an enduring presence on the consumer products landscape, unless their platforms are integrated into set-top boxes or televisions--as TiVO has come to do.

2. Internet connectivity and streaming content everywhere on every device...

Whether in televisions, picture frames, netbooks, etc., native wireless broadband/WiFi enabled devices could be seen at every turn. Though connectivity issues may constrain or frustrate any device conducive to use on the go or in varied locations, the default net connectivity will allow devices to transcend rather more limited use cases.

A digital picture frame is not just a picture frame; it's soon to be yet another screen onto which content of all types--including video--can be beamed and streamed. A digital camera is not just a receptacle for static images; it's soon to be a dynamic, continual broadcaster of geo-tagged user-generated content. A Blu-ray DVD is not just a mode for the physical storage of content; rather, in Sony's vision, it will be a key to access supplemental, dynamic, and interactive materials on the internet, when played on a BD Live device. It will take time, but consumer definitions of devices based on their primary historical functionality will become more expansive and flexible.

Effortless internet access on netbooks will create even more demand for high-quality streaming content, consumed to consumers' delight on high-quality (perhaps super-thin HD-quality organic LED), reasonably sized, portable screens.

In a parallel but distinctive development, the introduction of the broadcast industry's mobile television broadcast standard ATSC should figure to markedly hasten the adoption of mobile television, both on phones and smartphones and for the first time, on notebooks/netbooks. ATSC allows for the broadcast of television signals to mobile phones using existing broadcast spectrum delivered to devices equipped with an ATSC compatible chip with conditional access capabilities that could enable premium subscription services. Working with wireless carriers, the broadcasters that constitute the ATSC consortium could create robust unicast on-demand services to supplement over the air ATSC broadcast video.

The entertainment industry motto of content "anywhere, anytime" will become no less hackneyed, but all the more accurate.

3. Albeit perhaps reluctantly, manufacturers have embraced low-end disruptive devices following evolving consumer behavior/preferences--and consumers win...

Economic circumstances will compel consumers to perhaps 'trade down' for their next purchase, which over time will no doubt cannibalize higher-end, higher margin products. In the amateur video production realm, consumers' demonstrated behavior of tolerating--and enjoying--low quality (relative to professional content, at least, created/delivered at professional standards) video (on YouTube, etc.) has in part laid the foundation for mounting demand for 'low end' camcorders that was kicked of by Pure Digital's innovative and highly successful Flip video series--which now comes in HD. Sony and other 'high-end' OEMs unveiled ~$200 competitors, which we can expect will continue to move upmarket in image quality and storage as relevant input costs continue to decline.

In the computing realm, consumers' now-established behavior of comfortably using their cellphones/smartphones for far more than just telephony and for basic data services, though with device-imposed tradeoffs, sets the stage for adoption of small, low-cost, and lightweight (both literally and in terms of the product attributes) netbook computers. Though the form factor will not allow for integrated peripherals like DVD players/burners, the processor won't allow for sophisticated graphics processing, and the screen size may not be conducive for all purposes, for most mainstream uses, the netbooks will prove to be more than sufficient for many consumers.

We've already seen screen sizes increase to the level of smaller notebooks, so it's certainly conceivable that consumers who need no more than word processing and presentation software (Microsoft-based or otherwise), web browsing, and email will look to netbooks as laptop replacements. The magnitude of this cannibalistic behavior perhaps has not been fully anticipated by computer manufacturers. For other individuals, netbooks will serve as supplemental mobile devices so long as connectivity is assured, battery life is reasonable, and startup is quick.

With ready internet access, the netbooks will continue to propel the propagation of cloud-based computing, through which the aforementioned applications--and the files they create--will need not reside locally, but rather will be stored centrally.

With good screens, streaming video, ATSC chips, and shrinking SD cards and USB storage devices that hold up to 64GB of data today and terabytes in the future, these low-cost portable devices will serve as powerful consoles for the consumption of stored and streaming video content on demand, and via terrestrial broadcast.

4. Though OEMs are pushing consumer 3D, adoption will remain limited regardless of the volume of 3D enabled programming delivered...

Early adopters and gamers may embrace the 3D TVs, but the need for glasses in most cases and the somewhat unsettling and uncomfortable nature of the viewing experience will most likely not spur the purchase of a dedicated 3D device. However, the ability to turn on/off the 3D functionality may increase adoption by cinephiles or by big sports fans in the home, or at the least by establishments that cater to such crowds (e.g., sports bars.)

In the chicken and egg conundrum, however, the need to have a dedicated production effort for such events will further confine 3D to the periphery for some time to come. Most consumers will dismiss it as a frivolous gimmick, especially in these market circumstances, which may turn the industry off of the notion altogether based on broadband volume. 3D will have more of an allure for occasion-based viewing in theaters however, primarily for blockbuster films. Home adoption may follow, but don't hold your breath.

5. Simplicity arrives. . .

The consumer electronics industry seems to have finally acknowledged that complexity in setting up, connecting, and navigating the controls of advanced devices has constrained their adoption and resonance.

Many manufacturers unveiled wireless-enabled products that can readily network with each other, making the prospect of the digital home ever more achievable--Samsung unveiled full wireless HD video transfer technology between living room devices that will be governed by a common user interface across all the networked devices. The user interface of the Palm Pre elegantly embodies the notion of intuitive simplicity, which was a focus of Steve Ballmer's keynote remarks about Windows 7. Toshiba demoed a television programming guide that groups content visually and spatially on an axis according to relevance of title, genre, person, and keyword. It's a ways away from a rollout, but represented advanced, experimental thinking around the organization of metadata relevant to consumer choice and preferences.

Simplicity was manifest in form factors as well, with Panasonic displaying a touch-based remote control that seeks to resist the button-based oppression of the complicated home entertainment center remote control. Apple has no doubt served as an inspiration to device designers and it shouldn't be long until a remote control emerges that's directly akin to the touch and motion-dependent controls of the iPhone/iPod touch itself.

Melissa Kondak from NBC Universal In Focus sat down with Patrick Norton and Veronica Belmont from Tekzilla to talk technology, television and podcasting.

Please tune in and check us out! You can watch us at any of these links:

http://ces.revision3.com
http://ustream.tv/channel/hackcollege

We're on at 3 pm PST!

Right now Hak5 is doing a live streaming show on Stage #1 here in the NBC Universal CES booth. I'm trapped coordinating all the bloggers here in the Sharp NBC Universal Multimedia Lounge, but I'm watching Hak5's live show online and spying on them using our network camera in the lighting truss. But why should I have all the fun? If you want to get in queue to take control of the camera, just click here.

Every single year I've reported on CES for Scholastic, I seem to try a different method of preparation. The first year, I did very little preparation, intending to wander the halls, not realizing exactly how big the show floor was. That was... not ideal. The second year, I had almost every minute planned of where I was going to be and when. That also didn't work. So this year, I tried yet another approach - schedule a few big meetings, and then make a list of everything else I was interested in seeing.

One big problem. I'm still at the show for another day, and my list is empty. I'm sure that there are all sorts of interesting things around, but I have no idea where to start. Help!

Alright, I'm going to change the subject, before this turns into the same "CES is overwhelming" rant I had last year.

It may sound like a shameless plug, but I have to give major props to NBCU for the new booth. This is a lot cooler than last year's booth (which was already pretty awesome). I particularly love the Microsoft Surface tables spread around the booth - I'm a huge fan of the Surface, largely for the concept. Although I can't imagine a practical reason to have one in my house, I can't help but thinking of how awesome it would be to have one to play with.

Microsoft, by the way, was one of the big meetings that I scheduled. The most exciting was my interview with Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft! I had a spectacularly long list of questions for him, but I ended up decided to cut it down to about seven, because I thought that I had too many questions for the fifteen-minute interview I had.

Murphy's Law decided to rear its ugly head, however. I ran out of prepared questions fairly early on in the interview, and I had to wing it. Thankfully, I managed to hold my own for the remainder of the interview, but there is a lesson here: always make a list of questions much longer than the interview is going to be.

Besides that, I've also gotten to see a lot of cool (and some weird) products. Mattel, for example, has this "Mindflex" thing where you where a headband that measures how much you are concentrating, and converts it to a fan that moves a ball up and down. And in the Gaming TechZone, there are some companies trying to cash in on Guitar Hero and Rock Band's success (some effectively and some... not, as in the picture below).

Well, I don't want to take too much of your time. I guess I'll be going now. If anyone has a good organization technique for CES, I would love to hear it.

Bye!

P.S. Oh, man! Patrick Norton and Veronica Belmont from Revision3's Tekzilla are right in front of me on the NBC Universal main stage! No way!

It's hard to believe that just a year ago, we were all still waiting to see where the chips would fall in terms of high definition optical discs.  Blu-ray is so ingrained in our lexicon now - already - and judging from the range of products available here at CES, it's here to stay.

It's true that there's a huge range of choices available for movie-watching in other formats, like Netflix's deal with TiVo, but you still want to have your favorite movies in your home, so you know they're there when you need them.  Last Saturday night, I was all set to watch "Gone Baby Gone" via my Netflix account, and my home network went down.  No more Netflix.  I nearly went out that very night to buy the movie, because I was so disappointed.  I may not have as large a Blu-ray collection as, say, my VHS collection used to be, but I still want my movies at hand.  I'm pretty sure there are a lot of folks in my camp on this issue - I've heard from a number of sources that the Blu-ray version of "The Dark Knight" flew out of stores to the tune of 600,000 copies in one day!

U.S. viewers own about 10 million Blu-ray players, from a wide variety of manufacturers.  Sharp was an early proponent of Blu-ray and has upped the ante here with an AQUOS series of LCD TVs that boast built-in Blu-ray players.  No muss, no fuss, everything you need for movie night in one gorgeous package.  All you have to do is load a disc - the TV will turn itself on and start playing your movie.  They come in a range of sizes from the 32-inch class up to the 52-inch class, to give you home theater options for the living room, bedroom or home office.

Stop by the Sharp booth in the Central Hall and check them out!

The talk of mainstreaming the 3D experience has been around for such a long time.  Well, I'm here to tell you that if you're here in Vegas land, do NOT miss the Panasonic 3D full HD 1080p show on a 103" plasma screen playing off a Blu-ray player.  Easily outshines any Imax theater I've ever been to.  Worth wearing the goofy glasses for.  This is NOT your father's 3D.  Rain falls on you, basketballs get thrown at you, cars come at you.  At least in your imagination.  I'm definitely getting it for my imaginary home theater in my imaginary huge new apartment.  NBC colleague Andrew Turner just came by and told me that Intel also has a 3D theater.  Gotta check that one out too.  And a shout out to the really nice folks at Panasonic.  They spotted me a cable for my Lumix camera since I left mine at home.

What else from the past? Well - the Polaroid camera PoGo that prints immediate pictures for sure.  Fits in the palm of your hand.  I vaguely remember having a Polaroid "swinger" that not only printed the pix but had "Yes" and "No" lights that were red and green.  Sort of an early version of pressing the button halfway down to focus.  I'm embarrassed to say I even remember the jingle.  I'll spare you.

And, number three in yesterday's hit parade - the LG "Dick Tracy" watch phone.  (They're not calling it that.) Touch screen that feels heat of fingers but works through gloves (i don't get that); water resistant; tempered glass to avoid scratches; quad band; voice activated dialing; customizable watch faces; text messaging; text to speech (it reads you your messages); mpeg3 player; blue tooth enabled or hold it to your ear like Mr. Tracy; and get this -- it has a tiny camera for video conferencing.  I could only look at it behind the case and the rep said he'll eventually have one on his wrist but it will have to stay on his wrist (read-you can't touch). Due Q2 in Europe.  Date up in the air in the US.  And since this is all about me - I remember my mother buying me a tiny transistor radio that fit on my wrist like a watch.  Gotta find that.  You remember radio.  That thing you can get on your iPod with a special attachment.

Let's keep talking phones for a minute.  I saw a really impressive one at the Sands where the CES Innovation award winners are as well as a host of new technology vendors.  The Icephone acts not just as a phone, texting device and gaming controller but unfolds into three pieces.  It was developed for the military such that a dogtag can be inserted in order to send pertinent information about a wounded soldier to the nearest hospital who will then be ready.

Even amidst the doom and gloom of today's economy, it's amazing to me how much opportunity is out there. This morning I had two meetings that really energized me about the future of business, and the potential of Sharp, the company I work for.

First, a meeting with a well known company on the forefront of communication and while, I can't say what was proposed, or if anything would ever come out of it, I was excited about the opportunity.

Then, sitting down here at the Sharp NBC Universal Multimedia Lounge, I struck up a conversation with Rohit Bhargava, the SVP of Digital Strategy and Marketing at Ogilvy. I'm very intrigued with digital marketing and social media, and Rohit hit me right off the bat with some interesting concepts. He's written a book called Personality Not Included, which is all about creating and maintaining conversations with your customers. Should be great airplane reading for me tomorrow - if I'm not sleeping. Why I scheduled myself on an 8:20AM flight I cannot say. But I will get to see my wife and boys a little earlier, so that's a benefit.

Things have been busy here at the big show. Even though the overall attendance seems down the media presence seems to be just as large as last year's, and that has kept us busy. I was pleased to see some of our key press at our party last night at XS in the Wynn. I was even told we held the best press conference of all manufacturers, which was very flattering, considering the source.

Speaking of our party, we had a blast. As the official HDTV of Major League Baseball, some MLB stars like David Ortiz, John Maine, Joba Chamberlain and Hanley Ramirez stopped by to talk and take pictures with our guests. Very cool. NBC's Jimmy Fallon also stopped by, but unfortunately I didn't get to meet him.

I still haven't had a chance to check out the competition and the wireless things I've been meaning to. With a show this big I probably will get to see about 1% of what I want to see. I better go now.

Thanks for reading. This has been a lot of fun.