Vision - September/October 2008 - (Page 4)

in thiS iSSue on the consumer electronics horizon M Sharing it All President and CeO y kids don’t know it yet, but I now have a Facebook page. They would be mortified if one of their friends stumbled across it….but I caved after receiving several invitations to view my colleagues’ pages. Previously just for college kids, Facebook now has expanded into corporate culture. My page is pretty boring—no flair or pokes…yet. The daily notes posted by my “friends” is a mix of minutiae and interesting tidbits that is oddly addictive. It’s fun to see your colleagues in a different way—especially their photos. Many wonder if Facebook and other sites can make a profit as the site founded by Harvard University student Mark Zuckerberg in 2004 continues to expand internationally. It is the top global social network, according to comScore. Of Facebook’s 132 million users, nearly 63 percent are outside North America and it recently was valued at $15 billion. As friends share personal information within their networks, the social networks are building huge databases about where users go and the people with which they connect. How this will be monetized, is still anyone’s guess, but most agree the potential is enormous for the company that figures out how to market to people who are looking for each other rather than shopping opportunities. The International CES also is leveraging social networks. As you search for the latest show news, check out the CES Facebook page dedicated to late-breaking updates. You also can find CES news on YouTube (Search CESONTHETUBE), Twitter, Flickr and CEA’s blog Digital Dialogue. This issue of CE Vision looks at IPv6 and the impact that it will have on business worldwide. The technology can be used as a differentiator for the companies that are savvy enough to roll it out early. Turn to page 16 to find out what you need to know about IPv6—the benefits and the challenges. Although it’s a small country, Israel has a big appetite for the latest advances in consumer technology. Gary Arlen gives us an inside peek at a highly educated nation that offers some lucrative opportunities for CE retailers and manufacturers. And with the exorbitant gas and commodity prices, a new home theater now may seem like a bargain for many consumers. Today 31 percent of consumers own a home theater system. Find out what is driving this surge. On the technology front, Murray Slovick looks at OLED sets that promise to be thinner, brighter, more power efficient and have better contrast than equivalent LCD or plasma sets. Finally, CEA teamed with PricewaterhouseCoopers to measure the contribution of the CE sector to the U.S. economy. Read Shawn Dubravac’s column, The Economist, to see what they found. I hope to see you at CEA’s Industry Forum in Las Vegas on October 19–22. As always, please send any comments to cstevens@CE.org. Cindy Loffler Stevens Editor-in-Chief Gary Shapiro seniOr ViCe President Jason Oxman editOr-in-Chief Cindy Loffler Stevens managing editOr Carolyn Slater PubliCatiOns COOrdinatOr Mark Chisholm John Lindsey seniOr CreatiVe manager PrOduCtiOn COOrdinatOr Kathryn Covert Octavio Kano Ian Shields seniOr manager, CreatiVe direCtiOn graPhiC designer, CreatiVe serViCes graPhiC designer, CreatiVe serViCes Matt Patchett Jenni Moyer seniOr marketing manager adVertising management Dan Cole, dcole@CE.org art direCtOrs Glenn Pierce and Nancy Roy design, PrOduCtiOn and Publishing management The Magazine Group CirCulatiOn manager Gretchen Mitchler editOrial COntributOrs Gary Arlen, Alan Breznick, Robert Calem, Shawn DuBravac, Steve Koenig, Michael Grebb, Allan Richter, Ron Schneiderman, Susan Schreiner, Murray Slovick, Phillip Swann Consumer Electronics Vision is published as a service to the members of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and to key players in the consumer electronics industry. CEA represents more than 2,200 U.S. manufacturers of audio, video, digital imaging, accessories, mobile electronics, home networking, wireless communication, information technology and multimedia products that are sold through consumer channels. The opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of CEA. Comments, questions and letters to the editor are welcome. Address responses to: Consumer Electronics Vision, Consumer Electronics Association, 1919 South Eads St., Arlington, VA 22202, tel: 703 907 7600. © 2008 Consumer Electronics Association Articles from this issue may be reproduced in whole or in part, provided full credit is given to CEA. CES® and International Consumer Electronics Show® are trademarks owned by CEA. Consumer Electronics Vision (USPS 022897 Vol. 12, No. 5) is published bi-monthly by the Consumer Electronics Association, 1919 South Eads St., Arlington, VA 22202. Periodicals Postage Paid at Arlington, VA and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CE Vision, CEA,1919 South Eads St., Arlington, VA 22202. Canadian Publications Agreement No. 41502062. Canada Post returns: Pitney Bowes IMEX, Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor ON N9A 6J5. Email: returnsIL@imex.pb.com. Visit www.CE.org for the digital edition of ce Vision. 4 September/October 2008 www.CE.org www.ce.org http://www.CE.org http://www.CE.org http://www.ce.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Vision - September/October 2008

Vision - September/October 2008 Contents Shapiro's Spectrum In this Issue The Economist Visionary C4 Trends Coming to a Neighborhood Near You IPv6: Connecting People and Things Israelis Spend Big on the Latest CE Devices Tech Speak Tech Policy CEA Newsline Going Global Eye on Business Market Insider Just the Stats

Vision - September/October 2008

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