I knew I had to write an overview about the CES quite quickly, but time passed by as I wondered how I should begin the entry. What is difficult is that no matter how much time you had spent at the 2007 International CES, it won't let you easily grasp its overall picture. It's as though the harder you try to see every aspect of it, the harder it tries to prevent you from making a summary of it.

As I wonder, “What exactly were those 4 days that had felt like I had a bad fever about?” it begins to feel as though I had entered a maze without a way out, and the landscape of Las Vegas that I had certainly seen with my own eyes becomes covered in a thick veil of fog.

In the past I had zapped various information off the internet without actually going to the CES, and knowingly reported about “the highlight of that year's CES.” But, although I had gone to the CES this year, and saw and experienced for myself, it is quite embarrassing that I am having a hard time writing the final summary. It is true that there was a difference in tone among the mass media when they discussed the CES this year; perhaps it can be described as a difference in temperature depending on the media category. But we certainly witnessed signs of change with respect to “CES, the world's hegemonic exhibition.”

Without being led astray by topics such as digital TVs, which have gone through transformation in quality while the shift to large screens have become increasingly rapid, the “world's first” 2-way next generation drives, the “latest” operating systems, and keynote speeches by industry leaders, which may not take place next year, and also by being freed from the spell cast by information about thousands of digital gadgets, the fog seems to lift a little. And I am beginning to come to the conclusion that this year's CES was not trying to communicate a key word associated with a certain product per se, but was trying to present “the natural convergence (of digital electronics) into everyday life.”

Until last year, visiting the CES was most significant as taking part in the world's most exciting convention as a living witness to the times. But marked by its 40th anniversary, the 2007 International CES has turned its helm towards becoming a convention that dramatically expands business, and lets you experience first hand the trend based on the “next scenario for home electronics,” which is widespread in our lives. Perhaps this evaluation is too dramatic?

Unfortunately this summary, too, is still a tentative theory. Perhaps there are certain characteristics of the CES that will only become apparent after few years of analysis. Hopefully I will have another chance to go so that I will be able to settle this once and for all! At the moment that thought occupies my mind.

Over the 5 days, from the press conference held the day before the opening day until the last day of the CES, it was like entering a storm in a light aircraft. I had to jump into the storm where various news were releases at breakneck speed, and write my entries. It was hard trying not to lose my way or altitude; all I could do was just hang on to the controls.

At the beginning, when the environment was still unfamiliar to me, I mainly stayed in the Panasonic booth. But it was as though I had become somewhat tunnel-visioned, as though I was in the eye of the storm, without any wind, even forgetting that I was in Las Vegas. But as I got used to the pace here, I went around to see the other booths and other venues of the conventions. My experiences here at CES have been very valuable and meaningful.

Really, the 5 days were like being in a storm. I have wildly kept writing my entries, but I hope you have gotten an idea of what it may have been like at the CES Panasonic booth.

There is already a large crowd at the airport. I hope to quickly pack up my writing tools and say good bye to the “secret back room.” I will look back and write a summary of the exhibition at a later time, but I intend to let myself cool down first.

I went to the Caesars Palace where the exhibition room for the Advanced PDP Development Center Corporation (APDC) a company which creates plasma TVs of the future, was established for 3 days from the January 8th - 10th.

The exhibition room was mellow and relaxing compared to the hustle and bustle of the convention center. The lighting in the room was held at 150 lux, the same level of lighting you would find in a room at home. In such a setting, APDC displayed a 720p plasma display, 1080p LCD display, and a 1080p plasma display side by side to explain the methods for measuring and evaluating their practical performance with respect to moving image response, applying the same “yardstick similar to how the human eye would observe such movement.”

APDC also introduced technologies that help reduce power consumption of plasma TVs, and a panel with the findings of Mr. Akira Okada, Professor of the Graduate School of Life Sciences at the Osaka City University, exhibiting his research from the perspective of physiological science on how the human eye and nerves get fatigued when watching TV. I forgot about the time as I was completely absorbed by the many intriguing exhibitions showcased at the Caesars Palace.

The brochure distributed at the Panasonic booth at the 2007 International CES is the same shape as the booth. It's a compact brochure, which folds into four, and the soft colors used is really cool. It was very useful as I went around the booth during my reporting.

You will find panels with the words, “Official Worldwide Olympic Partner,” all over the Panasonic booth at this year's CES.

Panasonic has been providing the giant screen display “Astro Vision” to the Olympic competition venues and audio equipment for professional use “RAMSA,” as well as official broadcasting equipment “DVCPRO,” and equipment for the broadcasting center, namely digital VTR, system cameras, and monitor TVs.

Furthermore, Panasonic has continued to articulate that the plasma TV “VIERA” and DVD recorder “DIGA” will unfailing capture the passion and excitement of the Olympic Games for you. The panels expressing the concept of linking the host venues to homes, “Sharing the Passion,” well communicates the passion that Panasonic feels towards the Olympic Games.

• Panasonic in Action at the Olympic Games

“Strada” is extremely popular in Japan as a car navigation and car audio-visual system. So I had assumed that it was already available in the U.S., but it seems that the CES was its first appearance in the American market.

The U.S. is the world leader of the car customization culture. That is why Panasonic may have exhaustively conducted marketing research. It seems that it has introduced the “Strada” at this year's exhibition knowing that this product with many attractive specifications will do well in this market.

For example, it is compatible with the popular satellite digital radio such as Sirius and XM, and with iPod audio/video. You can also link your mobile phone with Bluetooth, or experience a hands-free driving environment with audio recognition technology. Panasonic has called this “One System, Many Option.” I thought the video expressing its great usability through 4 stories, with a girlfriend, family, friends, and in business, was brilliant.

Near the entrance to the high definition plasma TV technology exhibition corner, I found the logo, “LIFI HDTV.” I have never heard of this product before, but it is a very bright and beautiful LCD rear projection TV. I was not familiar with it, but it's a new model prepared for this year's CES.

The application of the new “LIFI” light source is one of its key developments; it has such a long lifespan that you no longer need to change the lamps, and it has an extremely short start-up time of 1-2 seconds. Furthermore its range of color reproducibility is 1.44 times more than the HDTV standard. In addition to this phenomenal color reproducibility, it has many other alluring specifications.

Although “LIFI HDTV” is a new line-up that has just been introduced, it certainly has joined the ranks of other alternative full high definition flat-screen TVs.

Blue skies, white sand beach, boardwalk, and the cheer of the people on the beach in their bathing suits… Of course this is about the Panasonic booth at the CES.

In the beach built in the “Create” zone, people can take photographs of the models on the beach using the digital camera “LUMIX” and the “Digital Video Camera,” to experience the high quality of resolution they offer. It's quite a fetching and fun demonstration, but there is another ingenuous twist to it.

In one corner of the boardwalk you can experience the power of Panasonic's “O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilizer).” If you stand on the boardwalk in this section, the floor vibrates making your hands shake. And the visitors can experience how well the “O.I.S.” works by taking photographs with and without it switched on. Those of you planning to come visit the Panasonic beach at CES, don't get too distracted by the women in their bathing suits and forget about the vibrating section of the boardwalk!

	The idea is to have people take pictures of the models on the beach with the “LUMIX” and the “Digital Video Camera.”
	If you stand on the vibrating section of the boardwalk, your hands obviously start shaking, and you can experience the power of the “O.I.S.”

Some of you may still remember the announcement made by Panasonic at last year's CES about its offering of OCAP (Open Cable Application Platform) compatible set-top boxes with a major American cable television operator, Comcast Corporation. This year, they unveiled 2 revolutionized and fascinating solution.

First solution is the “Next Generation HD-DVR.” This is a set-top box compatible with Comcast's high definition program distribution service, with which you can store content at high definition resolution onto the hard disk drive. The service offering will begin this year in Colorado, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. This is truly a hot model.

Second is the “Interactive Digital Cable Ready TV.” This is the next generation model TV (having said that, this is planned for release in 2008). This TV comes embedded with a set-top box inside, enabling compatibility with high definition television service, and the only thing you need is this TV. What is most important is that it is interactive! It seems that inserting a PCMCIA type cable card into the slot in the TV creates an interactive communication environment. This may be the dawning of a new television service.

It is very difficult to describe this product in simple terms, but it would be categorized as a “Home Theater Sound System.” The center unit which acts as a base, has a DVD/CD drive, a hard disk drive of 80GB, and a tuner. It is flanked by 2 speakers, one on each side, with another speaker in the center.

You can download music from various sources such as cassette tapes, analogue records, and radio broadcasts onto the hard disk drive. Then you can instantly recall the song you want with the remote control. You can also set up the ancillary “wireless surround system” around the home to wirelessly access the music stored on the center unit from any room in your house.

Moreover, if you link it to the TV in the living room with the HDMI Cable, you can control the DVD drive on the center unit with EZ-Sync. You can call a simple GUI onto the large screen and directly control the unit with just the remote control.

What I was especially interested in is the “Music Shuffle” button. When you download the music onto your hard disk drive on the center unit, it automatically categorizes your music into 4 genres, “energetic,” “relaxing,” “emotional,” and “mellow.” And it will shuffle and play music from the genre that suits your mood. I hope to experience it once some day.

Over the next few entries, I would like to introduce Panasonic's new products and technologies that are unavailable in Japan, but will nonetheless make you want to have one.

First up is “GLOBARANGE.” This global IP phone enables free unlimited peer-to-peer calling. It has a hybrid architecture with an independent IP rosette and a rosette for the phone line. After you purchase the “GLOBARANGE,” all you have to do is connect the equipment to the broadband router with the LAN cable, and to the telephone port with the modular cable to start using it as a VoIP phone and as an ordinary phone.
You don't need to have any construction work done, or go through tedious set up or registration processes on the personal computer. Perhaps I should say, Panasonic has successfully pulled the VoIP, which had been positioned closer to personal computers, to a position phones have traditionally occupied, in the field of home electronics. Panasonic has made it possible to have idle conversations with your family members living abroad, as much as you wish, without worrying about the phone bill. This approach is certainly very Panasonic.

“GLOBARANGE” will become available in the U.S. this summer. Panasonic plans to begin its service in 12 countries, and the price will be about $99.95 ~ 129.95. I felt that this was a reasonable price; you could give one as a gift to a family member living abroad and enjoy free unlimited peer-to-peer calling.

Cameras at CES were presented in the same way they were presented at last year's CEATEC JAPAN so I thought there may be marketing data supporting the theory that “camera lovers prefer camera store like presentation.”

The digital camera zone, which exhibits the premium SLR “LUMIX L1” in the center, has a façade that looks like a classic camera shop. The showcase is very characteristic of a camera shop as well. Staff and visitors communicate with each other as though they were the shopkeeper and the customer. They seemed to be enjoying talking about cameras. This is also very characteristic of a camera shop.

As today is my third day reporting about the CES, I begin to have a dim recollection of what is located where; I have gotten somewhat used to the whole process, but what I can't seem to get accustomed to is the congestion in the morning. Taxis, shuttle buses from the hotels, and the monorails are all completely crowded, and the visitors (including myself) dying to get to the exhibition seem ready to break into a brawl.

Even after you manage to get a cab after waiting in line for more than an hour, the streets of Las Vegas are absolutely jammed. You really have to make sure you have enough time to get there! I'm actually trying to warn myself about being punctual.

The local cable television company in Las Vegas has been broadcasting a special program during the CES.

A reporter travels around the exhibition hall, interviewing the various booths. Of course they featured the major booths, and during the breaks between the broadcasts subtitles of information about the banquet and the conferences were aired.

The local cable television company in Las Vegas has been broadcasting a special program during the CES.

Taxis are often expensive, and when it's a short distance, you feel bad about getting one. And the monorail stations are difficult to access. So when you want to go from the Las Vegas Convention Center to the Sands Expo, I recommend the shuttle bus. These shuttle buses link the exhibition and the major hotels. You have to line up for a bit, but if you don't mind being asked “Did you see that booth? What did you think?” by the person who sat next to you, then these buses can be very convenient.

The words, “Living in High Definition” welcome the visitors at the entrance of the CES, and the exhibition theme is introduced in the main stage performance of the Panasonic booth. From there, you will see the “Link,” “Share,” “Create,” and “Communication” zone, and lastly you will find the Living in High Definition room, which seems to provide an overview of the message, “Living in High Definition.”

There is a relaxing sofa and a writing desk. And there is a fire in the fireplace (If you look closely, you will see that the fire in the fireplace, the view in the window, and the painting on the wall are all images diplayed on the plasma display) in the luxurious living room.

Of course, in the center of the room you will find a plasma TV, and other various equipment have been placed tidily. The visitors are free to sit on the sofa, and can have a tête-à-tête with other visitors or with the staff who act as host and hostess. If there are interesting questions or valuable input, the staff suddenly turn their microphone on and begin a presentation involving the other visitors. I was quite impressed by this sincere and natural presentation.

I went to see the corner exhibiting the Panasonic HDTV Technology, which supports Panasonic's TV manufacturing and is the source of its strong competitive edge. The entire corner is dimly lit, providing the optimum environment for comparing the featured technologies and convincing the visitors of the benefits, using plasma displays.

In the “Plasma Advantage” corner, Panasonic outlines the benefits plasma displays provide through 4 key points:

1. The best high moving image response for watching sports.
2. The best rich image reproducibility and contrast for watching movies.
3. A wide viewing angle the whole family can enjoy.
4. Environmentally conscious manufacturing which succeeded in creating the world's first “lead-free plasma panels.”

You will also see the “42-inch 1080p plasma TV,” the development of which was announced at the press conference the other day. This exhibition corner is very popular; people tend to linger much longer in front of this corner. The resolution is so fine that I wanted to press my nose right up against the screen to get a closer look. The corner is worth seeing as it is a representation of Panasonic's sophisticated technologies.

In the ”Plasma 1080p/720p” corner you can compare the performance of the full high definition displays. In the ”Plasma Theater Demo,” I learned that because this plasma can express colors and contrasts similar to that of master monitors for professional-use used when making movies, you will be able to reproduce images at the quality level the filmmaker intended in your own living room.

In the center of the “Share” zone you will find the “Jazz Club” where you can experience Panasonic's Blu-ray disc. 103-inch full high definition plasma displays have been placed sideways in the center, and four 65-inch plasma displays, 2 on each side, have been placed vertically, as though they are surrounding their visitors from all sides.

A live performance of a jazz band was recorded in full high definition. This footage is reproduced here at CES as a virtual live performance using Blu-ray's extremely precise full high definition images and 5.1 ch surround sound.

Guitarist, bassist, pianist, saxophone player, and a drummer are each shown on a display, and the audio-visual architecture is such that it sounds as though the various sounds are coming from the respective instruments.

Of course much of it is due to the merits of the ELS sound system developed jointly with Mr. Eliot Scheinert, an engineer and music producer who has won many Grammy Awards, but it does make you feel as though you are in a small live house. This corner seems to be a true representation of the exhibition theme, “Living in High Definition.” As it is a very popular corner, there is always a huge crowd.

Here I would like to make a comparison between the exhibitions in Japan and the U.S. The “fluffiness of the carpet” always makes me realize that I am at an exhibition in the U.S. It seems that it is customary to have a lining of cushioning material underneath the layer of thick carpet.

Of course it looks and feels gorgeous, but I have tripped on the carpet a few times already, as I have to travel back and forth between the booth and the secret back room.

I think it will take me a while to get used to the fluffy carpet lining the big booth.

“EZ-Sync” is the American name for “VIERA Link.” It refers to the network created when you connect the plasma TV “VIERA,” DVD recorder “DIGA,” and the “Home Theater System” with a single HDMI Cable and which enables you to control all these equipment with just “VIERA's” remote control. This was made possible by Panasonic's technology known as “HDAVI Control over HDMI” whereby signals that control the various equipment are also sent via the HDMI cable used for audio-visual digital connection. This technology was introduced at last year's CES.

Moreover, in the EZ-Sync corner, “EZ-Sync EXT,” the extended form of the home electronics control system, is exhibited under the title “NEXT Phase.” The “EZ-Sync EXT” proposes a new lifestyle where you can enjoy EZ-Sync from any room in the house by connecting not only the equipment in the living room but the entire home with a network.

This zone introduces the joy of “creating,” where each and every individual can bring to life his/her creativity; it introduces in an easy to understand and playful way Panasonic's products and technologies that forever vividly preserves the excitement and memories. (What is most intriguing is the beach built in the booth, but I want to do this corner justice by describing it in a separate entry.)

First, let me tell you about the “High Definition Video Camera” I've mentioned before. Because this video camera can record full high definition video on a postage stamp sized SD Memory Card, and is the world's smallest and lightest AVCHD standard compatible high definition video camera, you can keep it in your bag at all times and take videos whenever you like.
And because it is a 3CCD model, which is one of the magnum opus of Panasonic, who is dedicated to image quality, you can capture prismatic and beautiful images. Moreover, with the embedded microphone, you can record 5.1 ch surround sound, enabling you to create work unlike any you've produced before. This product is already available in Japan, but it will become available in the U.S. in March.

You will also find Panasonic's unique “Optical Image Stabilization” technology embedded in the digital camera “LUMIX” and the video camera as well as the “Intelligent ISO Control (the technology that detects subject movement and automatically sets the optimum ISO sensitivity and shutter speed),” which has further revolutionized “LUMIX's” ability to suppress blurriness. You can experience many such technologies that capture your memories vividly and beautifully in this zone, which makes you feel its power and possibility to bring out each and everyone's “creativity.”

In this zone where the joys of “sharing” the excitement are introduced, Panasonic explains its unique approach with tangible products and technologies.

First, there are the Blu-ray technologies. Panasonic exhibits end-to-end Blu-ray solutions, from encoding to authoring, and Blu-ray ROM manufacturing, as well as Blu-ray players that reproduce high resolution high definition images. Panasonic has also set up a “Blu-ray JAZZ Club” inside the booth where you can experience the world of exceptional visual reproduction quality and 5.1 ch surround sound, which is perhaps a sign of its pride as a leading company.

Also exhibited in this zone is the 50GB Blu-ray disc with the world's first single-sided dual-layered recording ability, which stores high definition quality images and acts as a medium for “sharing.” You will also find the SD Memory Card with a 16GB storage capacity and high-speed capability, which can store full high definition images captured with digital cameras and video cameras.

A clear roadmap and strategy for the development of the 32GB model, “SDHC Standard” that realizes a huge storage capacity, and commitment to “SD Speed Class” is also displayed in the SD Memory Card corner.

Moreover, there is an exhibition of the “Home Theater System (it seems that this will only be available in the U.S., but it still stirs my desire)” that enables you to store music from various sources, such as from cassette tapes, analogue records, and radio broadcasts, and to listen to it from anywhere in your home. There was so much to see and listen to in the “Share” zone which lets you share ideas and excitement with as many people as possible.

As I entered the “Link” zone and saw the full line-up of the plasma TV “VIERA,” which plays a central role in the “Link” proposed by Panasonic, and the technological corner named the “Panasonic HDTV Technology,” I remembered the message communicated in yesterday's press conference.

The exhibition of 103-inch, 65-inch, 58-inch, and 50-inch full high definition plasma panels. The large-screens truly bring full high definition to life.

The 42-inch full high definition plasma panel on sample exhibition represents Panasonic's technologies, which make the impossible possible.

Moreover, by connecting the plasma TV “VIERA,” DVD recorder “DIGA,” and the “Home Theater System” together with a single HDMI Cable, you can operate all these equipment with just “VIERA's” remote control. This is known as “EZ-Sync” (the name given to “VIERA Link” in the U.S.). Panasonic further expands this convenience beyond, demonstrated with the “EZ-Sync EXT” on display, which conceptualizes the generation to come and connects the equipment via the network, and proposes a new lifestyle where various equipment “link” together around the TV in the living room in high definition quality.

What I thought of first when I saw these 3 words was that you would “create” contents with the high definition video camera, edit the footage on the PC and “share” it with the Blu-ray disc, and “link” to other equipment around the “VIERA.” So I had assumed that it was a story about linking to other equipment in high definition. However, when I saw the main stage presentation, I realized that this interpretation was too narrow. In the main stage presentation an advanced lifestyle “of greater personal creative expression, broader sharing of ideas, and effortless interactivity” was being proposed.

I will describe each of the three zones, “Create,” “Share,” and “Link” in separate entries referencing the messages communicated at yesterday's press conference and in the main stage presentation.

Rather than including information about hardware in the title of this blog entry, perhaps it is more appropriate to describe it as a creative visual experience brought forth by multiple 103-inch full high definition plasma displays, which can display a life-size human being within its screen, and the dialogue with actual performers. In other words, it is an embodiment of “Living in High Definition - Create Share Link -” expressed throughout the Panasonic booth.

In the center of the stage you will find two 103-inch plasma presentation system, “GEMINI,” which has drawn much attention at the various exhibitions held all over the world. These are flanked by three 103-inch plasma displays on each side; all in all eight 103-inch plasma displays are used. Percussionists, street basketballers, and dancers appear on the large full high definition screen. These performers also appear live on stage wearing the same costume, putting on a refreshing multi-dimensional performance in the real and virtual world.

It well coincides with the messages communicated during the stage, i.e. “a passionate, interactive experience,” “a life where virtual and reality are one and the same.”

Moreover, after the performance, various products starting with the plasma TV were introduced in keeping with the 3 keywords, “Create,” “Share,” and “Link.” Panasonic's excellent technologies and passionate “manufacturing oriented” stance is well communicated. Technology that enables you to capture high quality images without forgoing texture. Technology that enables you to display human beings in life-size, faithfully. A completely new art form of expression brought to life on stage by the use of such “Living in High Definition” technologies. This conceptual yet highly entertaining stage performance is followed by a warm round of applause every time.

Panasonic's theme “Living in High Definition” may be found everywhere here at the CES. The advertisement board at the entrance to the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the banners inside, and arches near the entrance to the booth all seem to guide the visitors to the Panasonic booth.

Panasonic's exhibition theme for the CES is “Living in High Definition - Create Share Link -.” Amidst the full emergence into the true digital broadcast era, and in anticipation of the rapid and global transformation to high definition contents, Panasonic will propose a new lifestyle using the entirety of its expansive booth. A new lifestyle in which people can “Create” in beautiful exquisite “HD quality,” “Share” the emotions, and “Link” products to products, people to products, and people to people around the plasma TV “VIERA.”

10:00 a.m. in Las Vegas. The 2007 International CES, the largest home electronics exhibition, which brings in and forecasts the new year has just begun. Many enthusiastic visitors have arrived in waves from early morning; they are already busy checking the locations of the booths they intend to visit and exchanging information.

Minutes ago a tense atmosphere also predominated the Panasonic booth; immediately before the doors opened for the exhibition, the staff were rushing about checking equipment and doing run-throughs.

CES week in Las Vegas. The 4-day exhibition has begun under clear blue skies and the gentle rays of the morning sun. I will try my best to introduce to you information different from those introduced by dedicated media and information magazines.

	It is difficult to capture the full length of the wide Panasonic booth in a single photograph…
	A photograph of the booth entrance and main stage. I will write more about the stage later.
	The full line-up of “VIERA” exhibited in abundance in the “link” zone.

You will find the experience-based “Blu-ray Jazz Club” in the “share” zone, which I will also describe in detail later.

There is a beach at the “create” zone where “LUMIX” and the HD video cameras are featured.

From 15:00 on Saturday the 7th, Panasonic organized a press conference in the Bellini Room at the Venetian Hotel. Media from various countries quickly filled the chairs in the conference hall, and many had to stand along the walls.

Mr. Yoshihiko Yamada, the Chairman of Panasonic Corporation of North America rose to the stage first, communicating Panasonic's passion for plasma displays through his description of the impressive line up of plasma TVs and their evolution, Panasonic's commitment to the pursuit of “Extreme Customer Satisfaction,” and the realization of a lifestyle created around the plasma TV. He also introduced the new phone service, “GLOBARANGE,” which is a new global IP phone service in the realm of communications, rather than IT.

Moreover, Mr. Atsuya Makita, the Group Manager of the Panasonic AVC Networks Company and Mr. Jeff Cove, the Vice President of Panasonic Corporation of North America introduced during their dialogue the 5 key phrases describing the benefits plasma TVs offer. The 5 key phrases were, “the best choice to watch sports,” “to watch movies,” “to watch with family and at gatherings” “for users over the long term,” and “for those who want to keep our environment clean.” They concluded that plasma TVs are and will remain the consumers' best choice. Furthermore, the development of the 42-inch full high definition plasma TV, on sample exhibition at the CES, was announced.

And Mr. Akira Okada, Professor of the Graduate School of Life Sciences at the Osaka City University, explained in the video from the perspective of life sciences how kind to the human eye plasma TVs are.

Next, Mr. Andrew Nelkin, the Vice President of Panasonic's Display Group followed introducing the new line up of TVs to be offered in North America in 2007. He also announced the joint demonstrative experiment on “Interactive Digital Cable TV” Panasonic has undertaken with Comcast Corporation, a major American cable company.

Lastly, President of the Sales and Marketing Group for Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, Mr. John Iacoviello described Panasonic's exhibition concept for the CES, “Living in High Definition – Create Share Link,” and introduced the displays and new products, in keeping with the 3 keywords, “Create,” “Share,” and “Link” relaying with a correspondents in the unfinished Panasonic booth.

The very informative press conference lasted for 45 minutes. It was a fat-free presentation efficiently outlining the essential points. Many guests there applauded Panasonic's strong declaration and laughed at the jokes told; this is not something you'd witness at press conference held in Japan.

This is my second report from the booth the night before the CES. It has been 7 hours since the last entry, and I have to say this is the best part of it all. The staff are going about the booth at dizzying speed to make last minute adjustments. It seems that the process of checking each panel and determining each signs' exact position is common to all countries.

The Panasonic Booth is located almost right in the middle of the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, where the hall bisects into upper and lower areas (it seems as though the Panasonic booth itself has been placed on a stage as it located in the upper strata of the hall). I was amazed once again at the sheer size of the booth as I looked up at the lit Panasonic blue facade, highlighting the words, “Panasonic ideas for life.”

There are special gimmicks in the various areas of the booth, some I'm sure will be a media favorite. There are also exhibitions of technologies I have never seen before, so I am certain I will not run out of things to talk about on the blog. I will begin describing the Panasonic booth in detail tomorrow (Jan 8th) so please look forward to my entries!

Talking about CES keynote speeches, Bill Gates, Chairman and Chief Software Architect of Microsoft has become a familiar face to this event. The CES begins with the media's broadcast of Bill Gates elaborate keynote speech, which takes place every year the day before the opening day; this event has now become a rite or a tradition.

The selection of people who represent the era is befitting of CES; speakers from last year include Google's founder, Larry Page, and Chairman and CEO of Yahoo!, Terry Semel. Speakers from this year included Chairman and CEO of Motorola, Ed Zander, and President and CEO of Walt Disney, Robert Iger. It understandable that in order to augur things to come in the next era many people make sure they don't miss the CES keynote speeches.

I have reported on exhibitions in Las Vegas a number of times before, but this is the first time I have been present from the booth set-up. It was quite interesting watching the staff set up as I realized that although it is a different country, the spirits of the exhibition staff seemed to be the same, yet the way they worked was different.

Less than 24 hours to go until the opening day on the 8th. The set up of the Panasonic booth seems to be going excellently! The products to be exhibited have been placed in their appropriate locations, and the main stage rehearsal has begun.

My reporting of the various venues has begun. First I headed towards Panasonic's press conference venue, the Venetian Hotel, from the Las Vegas Convention Center. Keynote speeches have now begun, and the town is swarming with exhibitors and visitors; the number of cars on the street have increased, and there is an incredibly long line for the taxi.

That is when the monorail comes in handy. You have to walk a bit to the monorail station, and the ticket fee of $5 seems a little expensive at first, but once on the train, it is quite convenient and comfortable. The round-trip (Two-Ride) ticket is available for $9. The trains run from 7 in the morning to 2 in the morning (3 on weekends!). If you have a chance to come to Las Vegas, you should try riding it once.

The cover of the free paper I found at the train platform read, “The Celebs Love Vegas, CES.” When I looked inside, there was information about the monorails, restaurants and hotels in Las Vegas, as well as an article featuring the CES.

Oh! Better hurry and get on my way!

What is important when I work and upload my entries onsite as I am doing for the CES is securing an Internet connection (particularly mobile connection in our case). In principle, in a country like the U.S. where broadband is widespread, we shouldn't have any problems, but sometimes things do not go as we had hoped. My experiences in the past cause me to be slightly suspicious. In the past, when network connection was still mainly dial-up based, I used to bring a modem card, cable, and various other cable connectors, even a line doubler (a friend of mine even took with him an acoustic coupler) with me on business trips overseas but I remember that sometimes, I still couldn't get connected.

I rushed to the free Wi-Fi spot at the McCarran Airport, to use their wireless LAN service to check mail. Wi-Fi has also taken off here in Las Vegas, and various services are being offered. And at the hotel, wired and wireless high-speed internet connection is offered for $11.99 a day (24 hours). Being Japanese and used to “optical” connection, it feels a bit slow, but it is heavenly compared to what it was like in the past.

What's left is the Internet connection at the Las Vegas Convention Center where I will be doing most of the reporting. Wired and wireless LAN connection will be offered, but at what speed would I be able to connect if access concentrates at once? Although there are a few concerns, I feel relieved that I was able to secure an environment I had hoped for.

As I mentioned before, Las Vegas became a convention city due to the successful policies implemented by the tourism bureau in order to stimulate demand during the off season. What I find impressive every time I come here is its thorough practice of attracting people and keeping them entertained throughout the duration of their stay.

May be when all is said and done, what is important to the hotels may be how much money people spend in their casinos; it seems vital that even if you get hungry during your game, you can have a fast gorgeous meal without moving too far away (the restaurants are located on the same floor as the casinos), quickly returning to you game.

And one of the restaurant choices offered is the all you can eat, self-served, buffet. Each hotel has their own buffet, and it seems as though this has created another unique Las Vegas culture. As I marvel at the scrupulously planned hotel strategy, I will go eat at the buffet tonight to recharge and get ready for tomorrow.

After spending over 10 hours on a plane, I landed safely at the McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. (From this entry, times displayed will be the local times in Las Vegas)

As it is CES week, in addition to the usual visitors the airport may see, it is overflowing with businessmen from all over the world. But we can't forget that Las Vegas is the world's entertainment city! The slot machines in the airport and the flashy casino resort signs make my body heat up 2-3 degrees.

Tomorrow's press conference followed by CES's opening day. My reporting of the CES is in progress nonstop. It was 25 years ago when I first came to Las Vegas; I came to interview a championship for model airplanes. Since then, I have been here almost 20 times for COMDEX, NAB, and the INTEROP. But the distinct atmosphere this city has… it puts its visitors in a state of excitement.

Having survived the hectic storm of the holidays, the days since seem to have passed at lightning speed and it is already time to start on my way to Las Vegas. It took me much longer than usual to get ready and my luggage seem to have exploded in size as in addition to the usual reporting kit, I have to remember to take my passport, ticket, and hotel reservation information, among other things.

As my luggage has expanded, so have my expectations for what I may discover and see at the CES.

I hope to introduce to everyone who “would like to go, but can't” fascinating information over the next 6 days, from the press conference before the exhibition opens to the 4 days of the exhibition. Please look forward to my entries from Las Vegas!

I took a peek at the official website for the International CES in order to gather more information about it. I was greeted with the phrase, “CONTENT, TECHNOLOGY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN” on the top page. This is the concept phrase for the 2007 International CES, an exhibition the whole world pays close attention to as reflecting the next generation, is rich in nuances.

In a world where IT expands from personal computers to home electronics as can be seen from International CES's invitation of keynote speakers such as search engine Google's founder Mr. Larry Page and Yahoo's Chairman & CEO, Mr. Terry Semel to last year's exhibition, I thought this phrase meant that International CES will introduce all technologies, services, and equipment that transmit and display contents without making restrictions to platforms and terminals.

As I went back to the top page, satisfied with my understanding of the concept, I was greeted by a different message, “DEALMAKERS, INNOVATORS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.” It seems that the site randomly displays multiple messages. As I waited to see if other messages will be displayed, I discovered another one, “WHAT'S NOW, WHAT'S NEXT AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.”

Three concept phrases completed by the words “AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.” I was quite impressed with these phrases, as they expressed what this year's CES will reflect, what functions CES has fundamentally performed, and the enduring attitude of the exhibition.

Many people may know or have heard of the “International CES,” but majority may be unfamiliar with CEA (Consumer Electronics Association), the organizers of the exhibition. The relationship between CES and CEA is similar to CEATEC JAPAN and its organizer JEITA (Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association) or CIAJ (Communications and Information network Association of Japan).

In other words, it isn't organized by publishers or planning companies, rather the International CES is organized by the associated industry (or by the organization promoting the home electronics industry, which represents over 2,100 companies involved in the U.S. consumer electronics business).

Of course the activities of the CEA does not stop at just event promotion; it encompasses research, business, and building strategic relationships. It provides high quality reports and serves as a credible and reliable information source for the consumer electronics industry.

What I especially look forward to in the annual CEA reports is the “5 Technologies to Watch” announced every year in late autumn. It serves as a great and solid reference for “what the future will bring.”

Las Vegas is a city of entertainment. But it is also a convention city. It is said that this is due to the tourism bureau's commitment to boost demand during the off season. There was enough hotel rooms for visitors, and with its casinos and gorgeous shows, everyone admits that it is a “fun enjoyable city.”

In the conventions presided by manufacturers in the past, the fad was to invite excellent dealers and their wives to Las Vegas, where they would enjoy the convention during the day, and parties at night.

But perhaps the bidding for conventions has gone too well; I can't say I agree with the low hotel rates more than doubling during what was known in the past as “COMDEX (world's largest Computer Dealers Exhibition) Week.”

Happy New Year!

We hope 2007 will be a fantastic year for everyone, and that you will enjoy the Cyber Showcase Blog once again.

For 10 years, I have untiringly continued to keep track of what products manufacturers have introduced and who spoke about what in their keynote speeches for my work. As such I have always thought of the International CES as the world's largest consumer electronics exhibition, a “distinctive” exhibition important for gauging the year's trends of the global consumer electronics industry.

Fully using the expansive convention facilities of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the International CES, which is the world's largest home electronics and computer exhibition, welcomed 152,203 visitors last year from all over the world. Companies from various countries announce their best and newest products for the year for the North American market. And the prismatic keynote speakers who represent the era express their vision as to what the next era would be like. Such news is introduced worldwide on the same day without delay, and until now I had sampled such news from Japan on the web, newspapers, and magazines.

I am looking very forward to going to and writing from onsite about this exciting exhibition that astonishes so many people from all over the world and communicates thrilling news during the short 4-day period.

When people talk about the International CES, they often say that the exhibition hall is so huge, “it will take days to see everything.” It seems that it is growing bigger and bigger each year, and a new exhibition hall for audio products and services have been added for the “2007 International CES.”

So, in order to study up on the exhibition, I downloaded a map from the official website (PDF). Time seems to pass quickly as I study the map and the location of the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) where the Panasonic booth will be located.

The illustrated map titled “Show Location” will be quite useful for my reporting.

In 2006 the International CES welcomed 152,203 visitors. It is the America's largest tradeshow with over 2500 exhibitors. This world's greatest home electronics and computer exhibition began 39 years ago (in New York!). Back then there were only 200 exhibitors and 17,500 visitors so its growth is truly amazing.

And this year is the 40th anniversary for the International CES. According to the International CES official website this exhibition has been where home electronics that have carved out new eras over the past 40 years from video recorders in 1970, CD players in 1981, DVDs in 1996, and Blu-rays in 2003 have debuted. On the header of the official website you will find the words “2007 International CES: Celebrating 40 Years.” I can't wait to see what products, services, technologies, and what dreams Panasonic will introduce at this milestone 40th anniversary.

The Cyber Showcase Blog began with Satoru's entry of May 20, 2006. We have brought to you entries from 5 exhibitions in 2006, and we will begin the new year with the “International CES.”

The “International CES” is organized in Las Vegas, U.S. every year at the beginning of the year. It is the world's largest trade show appraised as being the site where consumer electronics market trends are set. You can't miss this exhibition if you want to know about the trends for the new year.

Being a very high-profile exhibition, it gets a lot of media coverage; the amount of information communicated globally is extraordinary (of course Japan is one of these nations where you will hear a lot about the International CES). The exhibition's “global recognition” is also apparent from the fact that approximately 20% of the journalists and reporters who come to the exhibition are from outside the U.S.

I had hoped to go some day to this exhibition, which has a different energy about it than the exhibitions in Japan, so it is a great pleasure for me to be able to go to the “International CES” and to write entries for the blog from across the sea.