CES 2009

Tangent's U.S. debut at the 2008 CEDIA Expo focused primarily on table radios, but at CES the company is bringing out the big guns: gorgeous high-end speakers and electronics designed to compete with some of the elite brands in audio.

In an out-of-the-way corner of the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, I found what must surely be the cutest audio product of CES: Sonawall speakers.

Wonder what LG, Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony all had in common at their press events yesterday? Besides launching new TV, Blu-ray players and describing Green initiatives to help save the planet, they all acknowledged the tough economy.

Sharp has some big plans for 2009. While TV combos used to be the ultimate in low-class technology, Sharp is coming out with a new line of Aquos LCD displays with built-in Blu-ray/DVD/CD players. Very classy indeed. The sets will be available in 32-inch, 37-inch, 42-inch, 46-inch, and 52-inch models. The three largest models will all feature 120Hz Fine Motion.

With no mention whatsoever of the whole HD-DVD fiasco which dominated last year’s press conference, Toshiba pressed on with several announcements of interest.