CES Hasn’t Burned Out..It is just Burning In
by Elmo Sapwater, Editor-in-Chief
The Consumer Electronics Show, AKA CES, in 2013 once again was the crowd pleaser. Held in Las Vegas, it is the definitive showcase for consumer products. In fact, this year’s CES hit a new high in its more than 45-year history, with an enormous tradeshow that sprawled out over 1.92 million net sq. ft. this year. Imagine that CES takes over the entire Las Vegas Convention Center (www.lvcva.com), we’re talking about three halls and a compound that fills not only the normal parking lot, plus exhibition halls at the hotel next door and just about everything in-between. CES is gigantic. Think about it this way: An American Football field is about 1.1 acres in size. CES covered the equivalent of 37 football fields or 40.7 acres! Into this space 3,250 exhibitors introduced over 20,000 new products.
You might ask yourself who would be crazy enough to cover this show? CES welcomed more than 150,000 attendees, 35,000 of whom were not from the US, representing more than 170 different countries, making this a truly international event. The show itself, including PMA@CES, begins a day early for members of the media/press. We are kept busy with special sessions, conferences and showcase events are held at the Venetian Las Vegas (www.venetian.com).
With this, let’s jump right into photography, beginning with the PMA@CES event, organized by the Photo Marketing Association (www.pmai.org). This tradeshow, which runs simultaneously with CES, found a new home this year in the neighboring Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (LVH – www.thelvh.com). So, getting to PMA was only five-minutes journey via a skywalk in contrast to grabbing a 15-minute shuttle ride from the LVCC to the Sands Exhibition Center last year. Do note, however, that PMA@CES is still separated from CES and the LVCC.
Amidst all of the past difficulties encountered by the association, it continues to survive. This year’s event was certainly better that last year’s in terms of an increase in the number of exhibitors. The well-lit area clearly portrayed this improvement. There were familiar exhbitors such as Argraph (www.argraph.com), Lifepics (www.lifepics.com), KIS (www.kis.fr), ZBE (www.zbe.com), Tamrac (www.tamrac.com) and Lensbaby (www.lensbaby.com). In reality, during the times we visited we found the traffic anemic, seemingly on a par with last year.
Nonetheless, there were a few products that stuck out. One of them was the lens cap clip from Hüfa Holder (www.hufaholder.com). The hüfa is a lens cap clip that prevents any lens cap from being misplaced during a shoot. The system is both simple and easy to use. Attach the hüfa to the strap of your camera or camera bag and then slide a lens cap, sizes 44mm through 77mm, under the clip. When this is done, remove the cap and place it back on a lens. Shooting more than one camera at the same time? Purchase additional clips and quit losing those expense lens caps. Retail is $12.95 and it is available in black, red or white.
As observed in our photokina 2012 report, tabletop virtual solutions are gaining ground both in features and pricing. The TopShow 3D Rotator 360 from Image 363D (www.image363d.com) continues with that trend. “A 360˚ view can be captured with the system, all in 3D, without Photoshop,” said Rick Rogoto, president. While referred to as a tabletop solution, it actually is more and can be used for creating presentations, panoramas, or virtual walkthroughs in 360˚ single axis and 3D multi axis arrangements. A walkthrough, for example, could be made with 100 still images in a variety of formats, including QuickTime, Windows Media, HTML5 or Flash.
The TopShow3D can be operated in either full auto or manual modes via a PC. The system is scalable and works just as easily for small objects like rare vases as it does for larger ones such as automobiles. The TopShow line currently comes in six flavors according to Rogoto with pricing starting at $10,000.
One of our favorite companies, not only for the sheer craziness of its employees, but also for the high level of quality and creativity in its products, Lensbaby (www.lensbaby.com) was demonstrating a new tabletop color LCD information system designed for retailers. According to Kirstin Hunter, Director of Customer Happiness, the system is easily updated with the latest Lensbaby information and provides a viewable way to let customers check out the product line. While Lensbaby has been a success in both still photography and video we have our fingers crossed that the company will announce something soon for the smartphone market.
One company took the advantage of the PMA meeting rooms. We spoke with Jeff Atkinson, National Sales Manager at Unibind (www.unibind.com), who seemed very pleased with this opportunity. “We have been busy with the meetings of our clients and future customers,” Atkinson said. He pointed out that there had been a lot of interest in Unibind’s new machines, even pointing out that business was up with “all customers.” Atkinson stated that everyone was thrilled with the larger-sized photo books and stated, “For us, the customers love the [new PMA@CES tradeshow] location because it makes it easier for them to work both shows.”
Many companies continue to exhibit traditional photography products, while we observed others who strayed. GGS Photographic Equipment Co., Ltd., which does make screen protectors for cameras, fell into the latter group by showing Invisible Glass Screen Protectors for smartphones. This was an ultra-thin optical glass with a Nano coated film that matches the front of various smartphones. BlackRapid (www.blackrapid.com), on the other hand, continued to show its successful camera strap products that work with both traditional and digital cameras. Jaymo (www.cottagemills.com) showed customizable photo products that ranged from drinking cups, iPhone cases, to ballpoint pens.
American Recorder (www.americanrecorder.com) demonstrated its Smart Bracket line of brackets. This is line of brackets, adapters, goosenecks, suction cups, and the like for attaching smart devices to tripods. As tablets become more prevalent in the photo field for use as camera controllers and displays, we’re glad to see the variety of options with Smart Bracket.
We have to admit it was strange seeing iPhone accessories, even an iPhone waterproof case, in the compact PMA tradeshow. While PMA has long stood for anything photographic, the long transition from traditional to digital cameras, and now to smartphones, continues to raise a smile with us.
PMA@CES was also host to conferences by DIMA (www.pmai.org/dima/) and PSPA (Professional School Photographers Association- www.pmai.org/pspa/)/SPAA (Sports Photography Association of America- www. pmai.org/spaa/) that offered programs that took closer looks at a variety of photo-related topics focused on trends, technology, strategies, as well as social media.
So, is there a bigger picture for PMA beyond its 85-year history? Is the association still viable? Why hasn’t PMA completely merged with CES? These are a few of the questions on the minds of many. While we don’t have direct insight to all issues we can share some of the things we heard on the floor.
Attendees, particularly the older ones who have attended PMA for decades, still seem to be in shock. The association used to fill the upper and lower floors of the LVCC’s South Hall. Those days are gone; and it hasn’t been very long since this changed. CES itself has flittered on and off with digital imaging, although nothing too serious for our tastes. There have been several attempts but all have fallen short of our expectations. It would seem that CES would have absorbed PMA as a quick way to get into this game. We heard several stories as to why this has not happened. Please note, however, that none of the knowledgeable people with whom we spoke were willing to go “on record” for fear of backlash, and these comments are unsubstantiated.
One individual stated that both organizations preferred to keep the arrangement separate, but welcomed the opportunity to work together. Another indicated that it maintaining the status quo was a “political” decision, commenting that PMA had too many demands, such as requesting limos to carry the executives back and forth between the various activities. And, on and on the alleged stories went.
Whatever the reason for this “sideshow,” it seems, at least to us, that PMA must forget this insane isolation and find a way into the bigger halls to re-establish its own identity. In the current state of affairs, we listen to comments from numerous companies and ask ourselves how any potential exhibitor seriously committed to the photographic industry can justify exhibiting in the PMA@CES tradeshow, even though it may be less expensive? Staying at the LVH, which is expected to be the venue for PMA@CES 2014, continues to translate into a limited visibility to “unknown potential customers,” as well as detachment from all the major brands exhibiting in the LVCC. CES encompasses the whole range of imaging, while PMA is focused on only a very tiny part of this. With the sheer flood of consumer electronics that influence photo imaging, the “odds” are definitely stacked that CES attendees will spend their time in the LVCC without seeking the relatively few PMA exhibitors in a separate location. Yes, we do encounter “successes” from some exhibitors, but on closer investigation learn that they benefitted from having previously organized meetings with current and potential customers and their booth enables them to demonstrate their products without separately booking a hotel suite.
Continuing our coverage of the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show and PMA@CES, while we will be looking at several different trends from the show one trend is obvious. And, we expect this to remain for an inevitable extended period: smartphones take great pictures. The war between point-and-shoot cameras and smartphones is over. Abundant accessory items for smartphones are a testament to this, covering everything from protective cases to accessory lenses. What piqued our interests were the new accessories for providing great and simpleto-use tools for the videographer. A few of them just sparkled “fun,” We begin with three great products that are not only unique in each of their rights, but work seamlessly together as a package.
Located at the back of CES was iVideoStick (www.ivideostick.com), an inexpensive stabilizer for smartphones or easy to carry adventure cameras offered by GoPro (www.gopro.com) or Liquid Image (www.liquidimageco.com). The iVideoStick will remind you of a dashing aluminum sword with its handle, only with a smoothly bent blade that has a mobile bracket at the end. (The bracket even handles case-protected iPhones.) Because it is handheld, you can capture video smoothly in a variety of positions merely by changing the way you hold this device. There are three models, with the longest coming in at a 36-inch reach, a middle version that extends 24” and a new mini pocketable model with a span of about 12” that is useful on a table top as well. All are tripod mountable. The weight tops out at 1.5 lbs. for the largest version.
We were truly amazed at just how balanced and fluid the iVideoStick products are. We had anticipated jerky all-over-the-place video clips, but the results were quite the opposite.
Our “wish list” for future versions includes Bluetooth control and operation of our devices from the handle. We’d also like to also see a model that is hinged, offering both the extended length along with greater portability.
The iVideoStick seems like an ideal choice for journalists who need a quick setup that provides a method of recording yourself as a commentator, or for recording a “two-subject” interview. We liked the 24” unit so much that we purchased one at the show from the president, T.R. Smith! When used in conjunction with the $0.99 app 2camshoot (www.2camshoot.com), we have gained the ability to record our subject, and, then touching the iPhone display, flip the camera to record ourselves – providing a seamless way to switch between the front-facing and back-facing cameras while recording an interview. Prices for the iVideoStick models are a bargain, ranging from $69 to $49 depending upon the model, cheap by any means when we considered the alternatives.
When your creative juices flow, you might wish to step away from the subject, creating a problem with audio. If so, keep reading: We encountered a beautiful wireless audio solution that fills this gap.
Blue-Wi (www.bluewi.org) was exhibiting in the iLounge, showcasing the NightHawk Bluetooth Microphone Combo System. This is a darling rechargeable Bluetooth multi-function clip-on microphone that connects through your iPhone’s Bluetooth setting, enabling professional wireless audio recording. Combined with the iVideoStick, the NightHawk provides true hands-free recording for interviews and such. Ruben Scheimberg, Owner, told us that the NightHawk was also designed with law enforcement in mind, providing a method for recording incidents. He said that the company had already sold large numbers to police departments, and more orders were arriving daily.
While the NightHawk uses Bluetooth 3.0, it is said to have a range of about 30 ft., as do all other devices. However, based our own tests we believe the quality and reception are best when the distance is kept to no more than 20 ft. Staying within this range produced remarkable audio quality, even in highly congestive and noisy areas. The free downloadable Blue-Wi app controls video recording syncing audio and video together. One improvement we would like to see in the App is a live audio level providing immediate signal feedback.
As a bonus, car drivers may enjoy the wireless Bluetooth speaker that can be used in tandem with the NightHawk, providing hands-free talking. Or, the setup could work in one’s office. Either way it’s a nice bonus.
The microphone itself is about 2” in length, weighs about 1.4 oz. and has a headphone jack, volume controls, pushto-talk control and USB. It provides a 12-hour talk time. NightHawk is available now with an MSRP of $119.
Next up was the Dexim (www.dexim.net) ClickStick Bluetooth handheld remote. This USB-rechargeable device triggers a Bluetooth-enabled iPhone or iPod from a distance. The ClickStick is only a few inches in length, although bigger than a cable release, and it fits nicely in the palm of your hand. A shutter release is located at the top. When pressed it fires your iOS device.
The ClickStick comes with its own free app that contains photo editing and filter effects and even provides ways to connect and share images to all your favorite social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. Email and sms/texting are also supported. Dexim includes a small portable mini-pod to hold your device, and the complete pack sells for a mere $39. (Now, it would be ideal if only the ClickStick app supported video and the remote attached easily to the iVideoStick. According to Dexim this is a real possibility, and when this happens you will have the best of the world for capturing video and still images.)
More in future issues…
#tamrac #lensbaby#argraph #bluwifi #unibind #ces2013 #imaginginsider
