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Tech and tariffs in Sin City
Last week, tens of thousands of people flowed through a congested walkway on their way to see the latest and greatest tech at the Consumer Electronics Show. In years past, this hallway, which connects the Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center to the South Hall, was generally free of any displays, with just a few couches pushed up against the wall. This year, however, a giant phone sat near the middle, off to the side of the aisle, with an approximately five-by-three sign proclaiming "Tariffs are taxes."
Consumer tech lobbyist calls China tariffs a 'poison pill'
The White House might argue that its proposed tariffs on Chinese tech would punish the harvesting of American intellectual property while preserving the US economy, but don't tell that to the Consumer Technology Association's Gary Shapiro. The industry lobbying group CEO has issued a statement describing the tariffs and the likely Chinese response as a "poison pill" to production, the "innovation economy" and customers' wallets. Instead, he suggested that the US slap China-style requirements (not necessarily joint ventures) on foreign companies while pushing for greater transparency, competition and respect for patents.
Engadget is proud to be the home of the 2014 Best of CES Awards
When it comes to tech events, there's nothing quite like the International CES. It's a challenge, it's a marathon and it can be a little overwhelming -- but we wouldn't miss it for the world. CES has evolved dramatically since its inception in 1967 as a small, NYC offshoot of the Chicago Music Show and at Engadget we're proud to have been the Official Blog and Online News Source for the past five years running. This year we're taking that relationship a step further. A big step further. We're thrilled to announce that Engadget is the official home of the 2014 Best of CES Awards! In January, the Engadget editorial team will be scouring the International CES show floor to find the best, most exciting products making their debut there. We do this every year, but in 2014 we'll formalize the procedure. Finalists will be selected for each of 15 categories and, through an entirely editorially controlled process, individual products will be awarded the honor of Best of CES. Those lucky standouts will receive custom, 3D printed trophies courtesy of our friends at 3D Systems. Awards will be printed live at the International CES, so you can see them emerging from nothing as the show goes on. We'll be detailing our judging process in the coming months and providing more information on how companies can submit their products for our consideration ahead of the show in January. For now, know that we're very excited to be the new home of the 2014 Best of CES Awards. Here's what Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of CEA, had to say: Engadget and CEA share a passion for technology and for showcasing innovations to a global audience. Their dedicated editorial team canvases the CES show floor to cover the best products across all key categories of CES. Their quality coverage is sought after by CES exhibitors and the independent editorial judgment they will bring to these awards will help highlight the top products at the 2014 CES. We can't wait to see you in Vegas.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: show wrapup with the CEA's Gary Shapiro (update: video embedded)
What better way to bookend another successful CES than an interview with Gary Shapiro? The CES president joins us to talk about the week that was. January 11, 2013 6:00 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
Live from CES: Gary Shapiro chats with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski
Ever wanted to know more about the inner workings of the FCC? You're in luck, because CEA head honcho Gary Shapiro is sitting down with the man in charge at the FCC, Chairman Julius Genachowski at CES this year to chat about his time with the Commission. Naturally, they'll be talking about broadband, spectrum reform and other hot telco topics, but we're just hoping to hear how the Chairman will rid us of the terrible 10,000 feet. Will he give us any such good news? There's only one way to find out -- stick around as we'll bring their conversation to you live, right here.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with CEA's Gary Shapiro (update: video embedded)
Of course, we wouldn't dream of concluding the first day of CES without a conversation with Gary Shapiro. The CEA's president will talk about all that goes into such a massive undertaking, discussing changes, show predictions and how the future of the industry will shape the Consumer Electronics Show. January 8, 2013 2:30 PM EST Check out our full CES 2013 stage schedule here! Update: video embedded
CES 2012: interview roundup (video)
The Engadget stage was home to many an interview at this year's CES. Many, many interviews. Given the deluge of guests we hosted in Las Vegas this year, you could be forgiven for not keeping up -- for throwing up your hands in exasperation and making a sandwich to heal the hurt. You could, but you won't. That's because this year, we thought it'd be a good idea to corral all of our CES 2012 interviews into one big metallic box, and hand-pick only the plumpest, juiciest and most eyebrow-arching ones for your enjoyment. We then took those select few and put them in a smaller, spotlit box, which was affixed atop the aforementioned metallic box with a butterfly shaped bow and maybe some duck fat. Add some mood lighting, a splash of bourbon, and voilà. It's the CES 2012 interview roundup, and it's after the break.
Engadget: The Official Online News Source of CES 2012 and the CEA!
If you know Engadget, you know we like to really do it up at CES. For us, the Consumer Electronics Show is serious business, and our unmatched coverage has resulted in us being named Official Blog three years in a row. This time, though, we're doing things a little bit differently. We'll be adding far more live video into the mix and, with Distro getting in on the fun as well, it was definitely time to leave that old "Official Blog" moniker behind. So, we're incredibly proud to announce that we're now the Official Online News Source not just of the 2012 International CES, but of the CEA as a whole. The Consumer Electronics Association is the entity that hosts CES each year, and its President and CEO Gary Shapiro said the following: Engadget does a terrific job bringing the energy and excitement of the thousands of new products launched each year at the International CES to attendees and consumers. We look forward to this expanded partnership with Engadget as they continue their dynamic coverage and analysis of the products and trends that rivet the world each January at the International CES, as well as their unique coverage of CEA's other events throughout the year. For CES this year we'll be cranking out the news from our double-wide trailer, just like we always do, but we'll also be adding a full video studio on the floor. Engadget Live from CES will feature exclusive interviews and live product demos throughout the day as well as other regular broadcasts -- like our evening video podcast, where you can watch the whole crew get gradually more giddy as the effects of sleep deprivation sink in. CES 2012 takes place between January 10th and the 13th. It's going to be bigger and better than ever, and we can't wait to bring it to you -- unfiltered and unadulterated -- live from Las Vegas.
Live from CES 2011's opening keynote with Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg
Ivan Seidenberg is passing the torch to current Verizon Wireless boss Lowell McAdam later this year after a long career with Verizon, so today's keynote session starting at 8:30AM PT (11:30AM ET) should be a bit of a swan song for him. We don't know what he'll announce, if anything -- Big Red's official press conference is later today, where presenters are expected to offer more details on the carrier's range of LTE handsets -- but we'll naturally be looking out for teasers and tidbits here this morning. Read on!
CEA president Shapiro talks DTV transition
With the analog shutoff safely in the rear view mirror, CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) president Gary Shapiro took some time to talk about the move to our new digital airwaves (and also looked ahead to our 3D futures). All in all, some pretty interesting reading, but he makes a great point in chiding the broadcast industry -- by waiting until the last minute to get onboard the HD bandwagon, broadcasters missed out on what could have been positive market differentiation for their services versus cable and satellite. All's well that ends well, though, and we're just gad the plug got pulled on analog (with few casualties to boot), and we'd like the CEA president should know we celebrated the move. [Via DailyWireless, image courtesy CEA]
WSJ: Apple going to CES 2010. Reality: Nope.
This week Gary Shapiro, chief exec of the CEA (the trade group which puts on CES, and, full disclosure, for which I sometimes consult) held a private dinner with journalists in San Francisco. According to Dow Jones / WSJ reporter Ben Charny (whose first Google result is this page on shoddy journalism), a juicy morsel was revealed: "Apple plans to attend the show's 2010 version, marking the first time in memory the Cupertino, Calif., consumer-electronics giant will be there." Very interesting, indeed.Unfortunately, it's also specious and flatly wrong. I was seated directly across from Gary, and present for the entire conversation, wherein a dozen or so other journos chatted with him and one another. When asked about the CEA's ongoing contact with Jobs, Gary joked that every once in a while Steve might even return his email -- to which we all laughed knowingly. Yep, that's our Steve. Shapiro went on to mention that Apple was a great and long-standing supporter of the efforts of the CEA, but that their only direct involvement was sending a check each year to pay their membership dues.At no point did Gary even remotely imply that Apple would be present at a future CES -- let alone state unequivocally that Apple "will be there" in 2010. In fact, at one point, someone asked if, hypothetically, Apple did want to attend CES, whether the CEA could accommodate them. Gary said that if pressed, they might be able to come up with a small 2,000 square foot booth, but they couldn't do anything, say, Microsoft-sized on such short notice. Bottom line, though, is that if Gary had even gotten remotely close to implying Apple would be at CES, this shoddily sourced piece by Charny wouldn't have been the earliest story with the scoop nearly 24 hours after the fact -- laptops would been immediately out for reports filed from the dinner table.Now, I'm not saying Apple won't be there. But Gary and the CEA certainly never said or implied that they would, and Charny certainly didn't cite any other sources. Maybe by "Apple plans to attend" Charny meant one of Apple's 32,000 employees would happen to be in Vegas next January. Of course, the greatest irony of this little dinner was the lively debate at the end of the evening sparked by one particular old school BusinessWeek journalist who laid claim that tech blogs like Engadget publish first and ask questions later. Right.Update: The WSJ has unceremoniously retracted, now stating at the top of the page that "It is not clear whether Apple will attend the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show." No, I think things are very clear as of right now: unless the CEA or Jobs say otherwise, Apple is not attending CES 2010. Oh and PS, Chris Nuttall from FT, who I was also seated across from, has the transcript of the conversation.Update 2: The WSJ has issued a second update, clarifying things (as they should have the first time). Their post now reads: "Apple has not made any plans to attend CES 2010." So there you go.Ryan Block is editor emeritus of Engadget, and co-founder of the recently-launched gdgt.
CEA worries DTV delay could cause a converter shortage
In one of what's sure to be many opinions on the now-inevitable DTV deadline shifting from later this month to June, CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro pledged support for a successful transition, including devoting part of an upcoming event to DTV education, but worries how the change may affect retailers and manufacturers. Since they had planned their reserves and resupplies around a transition this month, he apparently sees a scenario where we could have plenty of DTV converter coupons, and no boxes to buy. Honestly, we think he may be overestimating our initiative, since most (or at least the 39%+ that won't still switch this month anyway) unprepared will hit the snooze button until it becomes entirely mandatory, and the total number of homes that require a digital TV box isn't going to suddenly go up, so there should be plenty to go around, right?
Live from Gary Shapiro's and Ed Zander's CES keynote
Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Association, and Ed Zander, CEO of Motorola, are doing the honors for this morning's keynote address to CES attendees.8:41AM PST - The keynote has kicked off with a video detailing the forty years since the first CES.8:43AM - Gary Shapiro takes the stage.8:45AM - CES is about "New Convergence" this year: convergence of content, services, and products.
New game convention by CEA to ease the loss of E3?
The Consumer Electronics Association has given thought to a new trade show due to E3's change. The Consumer Electronics Show, CES, was the biggest in the US prior to E3's 1994 birth. Now that things have altered slightly, the industry calendar shows a gap where a new show could be instigated. What's the purpose of this new show? Gary Shapiro, CEA's president and CEO, said: "Since ESA decided to eliminate the E3 event in its known format, we have been deluged with inquiries on whether we could fill the tradeshow needs of smaller video entertainment companies."So the new show will be primarily for showing off electronics of a smaller company? Those extra gadgets and consoles that found their home in the bottom of the E3 barrel get their own show, now? Not that it's a bad thing... getting the word out on new, less-marketed goods can be life-changing. It would be great if the smaller game developers showcasing at the event get picked up by larger companies for distribution -- didn't Bungie go through a similar process? Practically all smaller companies do and this may be a great event to jumpstart some new innovative game developers. What about you? Support the new show or nah?
