Testing Tech Waters and Hoping for a Big Catch

摘要

The international consumer electronics show, the annual mega-confab in Las Vegas, unfolded Jan. 6-10 with the typical loud fanfare, but without definitively answering the ultimate question: What's the Next Big Thing in the tech industry? Even as new product launches proved more evolutionary than revolutionary, and some consumer tech giants such as Apple sat it out, the show lived up to its reputation as a must-attend event for those in the TV business. A sizable contingent of broadcasters, cable operators and programmers flocked to Vegas for a wide-ranging discussion of not only gadgets but also the larger trends in consumer habits and content delivery. Many of these conversations have been under way for a while-the consumer fixation on all things mobile and the growth of Internet-connected devices that are transforming the TV viewing experience. But they continue to pick up speed.