那些年，消费电子展红过的概念

    又到了一年一届的国际消费电子展（Consumer Electronics Show）。每年的消费电子展上，都会有一系列吸引眼球的产品设备。这些惊喜究竟能否转变为真正的销售额则完全是另一回事。当电子生产商们正摩拳擦掌，准备本周在拉斯维加斯向世人展示最新产品时，让我们回顾一下去年展会上大放异彩的科技成果，看看它们的现况如何。

    1、汽车技术——成功！

    去年，包括福特（Ford）、通用（GM）和梅赛德斯（Mercedes）在内的诸多高端汽车商在展会上展示了一系列基于软件的车载系统，它们被称作“信息娱乐”产品。这绝不是一个新概念。许多年前，在消费电子展的前身——计算机世界博览会上，比尔•盖茨就已经提出了这个理念。【如今，微软（Microsoft）正在为福特的同步系统提供技术支持。】将智能手机与汽车相连接具有相当大的吸引力，原因显而易见：从播放音乐到在一个新的城市进行导航，车载系统能帮助司机完成各种工作。最终，汽车商们似乎已经由衷地接受了这个理念，通用公司在去年10月招募了10,000名程序员和软件专家，由此可见一斑。这些新成员将会改进类似凯迪拉克用户体验（Cadillac User Experience）这样的系统。

    2、超级本——表现平平

    看到苹果（Apple）的MacBook Air系列如此成功，英特尔（Intel）决定推出超级本，让Windows电脑的制造商也从中分一杯羹。不过就像PC机曾经的别称一样（比如“上网本”），这种“超级本”的定义很快变得模糊不清。弗雷斯特研究公司（Forrester）的分析师詹姆斯•迈克奎维说：“这个术语仅指那些使用固态存储介质的设备，结果许多硬件制造商欺骗了顾客，比如说并没使用固态硬盘，并打出诱人的低价。”不论哪种情况，对顾客来说都不划算。“顾客在百思买（Best Buy）看见一台400美元的笔记本电脑时，很难不问自己‘为什么我要花900美元去买一台超级本？’”另一个问题在于：英特尔在Windows 7寿命将尽时才着手实现这一想法，而许多顾客似乎决定等到Windows 8上市再更换新电脑——不管是哪种电脑。

    3、交互电器——表现平平

    一间体贴入微的厨房？ 2012年消费电子展的一系列智能电器都体现了这种理念，比如LG展出的Smart ThinQ电器，其中包括一个智能冰箱和炉子。迈克奎维说，尽管这些工具十分有趣，顾客却仍然在等待一款“杀手锏应用”，让人们愿意费心在厨房里安装各种软件。他补充说：“现在还没有什么实现联网家庭的理由。”就目前而言，如此高科技的电器看起来还仅仅是吸引关注的“炫酷”模型，虽然大多数人走的时候都拿了一台没有实际用处的模型。

    Another year, another Consumer Electronics Show. At every CES, a series of devices become theones to watch. Whether that excitement translates into genuine sales is another question entirely. As gadget makers prepare to unveil their latest in Las Vegas this week, we took a look at the technology that stole last year's show to see how things turned out.

    1. Car Technology -- Bingo!

    Last year many top automakers, including Ford (F), GM (GM), and Mercedes, were on hand to show off an array of new in-car software-based systems, so-called "infotainement" units. This is by no means a new idea; Bill Gates championed the concept at CES' predecessor COMDEX years and years ago. (Current Microsoft (MSFT) technologypowers Ford's SYNC system.) The appeal of linking a smartphone to a car is obvious: built-in software system can help drivers do everything from stream music to navigate a new city. Finally, automakers seem to have wholeheartedly adopted the idea, evidenced by GM hiring 10,000 programmers and software experts in October. They'll work on improving systems like Cadillac's CUE.

    2. Ultrabooks -- Not so much

    A direct response to Apple's (AAPL) successful MacBook Air line, Intel's Ultrabook initiativewas intended to help Windows PC makers fight fire with fire. But like previous PC monikers -- netbooks, for one -- the definition of what qualified as an "ultrabook" quickly became blurred. "The term is only supposed to apply to devices with solid state storage and so many hardware makers ended up cheating, including spinning hard drives to get a cheaper price," explains Forrester (FORR) analyst James McQuivey. Either way, customers have had a hard time justifying their purchase. "It's really hard not to walk into Best Buy, see a $400 laptop and ask, 'why should I spent $900 on these ultrabooks?'" Another problem: Intel (INTC) helped launch the initiative right at the end of Windows 7's lifespan. Many consumers seem to have decided to wait until Windows 8 became available to buy new PCs -- of any kind.

    3. Interactive Appliances -- Not so much

    A kitchen that thinks for you? That was the idea behind a number of smart appliances unveiled at CES 2012, including LG's line of Smart ThinQ appliances that included a smart refrigerator and stove. But while these gadgets may be fun, consumers are still waiting for a 'killer app' that will make a kitchen full of software worth the hassle, says McQuivey. "There is very little reason for a connected home, yet," he adds. For the time being, such high-tech appliances appear to be "gee-whiz" models that drive some interest, even if most people walk away with a brainless value model.