Sony’s 2009 keynote started off showing trailers for Mall Cop, and a new Rosario Dawson movie. Now trailers are showing Star Wars The Force Unleashed, Madden 09, Locoroco 2, NBA 09: The Inside, Batman: The Video Game, Patapon 2. CES promo videos play to tide over the thousand plus people here. Now a “yoostar” video is running, which characterizes Gary Shapiro in various classic movie scenes talking about the economy. Gary is now on stage touting yoostar – where people will be able to put themselves into classic movie scenes. Looks like a winner. Now he’s talking about the history of CES, talking about how the consumer electronics industry has survived difficult times. “We are gripped with the worst economy since the great depression”
“Leadership is about being tough – in tough times. We do not seek a government hand out or bailout money.”
He seems tired, but is speaking strongly and is confident that the consumer electronics industry will survive and flourish accordingly. “Innovation is the best medicene to end economic stagnation.”
“We are the industry that will breathe life into the economy.” 5.4 percent growth, slightly short of the six percent growth projected in 2008.
Consumer electronics industry predicts a .6 percent drop in overall industry revenue compared to 2008. Goes on to talk about how Barack Obama won with a message of change – change has been our mantra. More talk about Obama, how he can enable pending trade restrictions. Easier access to American products means more jobs.
“We will work hard to stop any proposals that stop innovation.”
“CEA is implementing a new innovation checklist.”
Green technology saves money, increases sales, and protects the environment. 89 percent of consumers want their next television to be energy efficient. Big push for mygreenelectronics.org. Thanks to the Sony Betamax decision, we now have digital access in our homes to television, movies, and so forth. Speaking about digital tv transition. 40 days to go, promotes digitaltips.org, antennaweb.org, etc. “We will generate 10,000 news stories in just 4 days. We are truly on a global stage – it is more than just product launches, its about getting business done.” Touts 130,000 people, and 1.7 million net square feet of convention space.
Gary bows out with a stellar intro for Howard Stringer. Now they are showing an Angels and Demons trailer. Definitely a new trailer that hasn’t been shown on the internet before. Movie looks much more intense than Da Vinci. Amazing visuals.
Tom Hanks takes the stage. “I couldn’t have been more moved by Gary’s presentation.” Now he is pacing back and forth rapidly. A truly hilarious intro, peppered with usual Hanks comedy. Stringer has Hanks try on new prototype eyeglasses with a built in television screen. Incredible quality – we have it on video.
“We are also imagining tomorrows new experiences. By 2011, 90 percent of products with connect wirelessly to one another.”
Touting 240 hz tv’s, G3 digital camera with complimentary wifi. We have alot of this on video and will cover it in a seperate blog post.
Now showing off a picture frame with wifi capabilities.Cool clock features, music video of the day. The device uses a service like Pandora.
Now they’re showing a flexible OLED – small screen, but incredible. “Not many people get to squeeze Beyonce. I hope Jay-Z isn’t in the audience.”
Why is Blu-ray important? John Lassiter comes out to talk about Disney/Pixar’s fondness of Bluray. It’s a thing you can’t go back from once you have it. We sweat over every fine detail at Pixar, and finally the consumer can see it. Showing off Blu-ray Wall-e clip. Looks amazing on the 20 foot screen.
Showing off BD-Live capabilities on Sleeping Beauty. Integrated weather in the menu – based on your location, or other locations (other Disney locations). They chose Tokyo Disney in the options, and it went from daytime to nighttime at the Dominion castle. We will have 3D at home with Blu-ray. Shows off clip from Up, a new animated Disney movie. Toy Story 3 is coming, comes out Summer 2010. Woody, Buzz Lightyear returns – 3D versions of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 coming.
Kaz Hirai comes out – “The Playstation 3 is a big reason why Blu-ray won the format war.” MTV is now partnering with Playstation Video with more than 2,000 hours of content. Talking about Life with Playstation – now at 2 million downloads. We’re going to launch an updated version of Life this Spring.
Playstation Home is at 3.4 million downloads, and with a million dollars worth of revenue already. EA has now come on board with Playstation Home.We saw Poker, a racetrack, and other game environments. Looks awesome!
Howard is back, and talking about Dr. Oz, a new Sony produced show, coming fall 2009. Oz comes out, and shows off how Michelangelo’s David would look today:
He also measures Stringer’s wasteline, and embarssingly discovers that Sony’s CEO is out of shape.
Oz bounces out and the presentation moves on to Sony and Yankees stadium. Fans will see 550 flat panel bravias throughout the park, and Sony branding just about everywhere. Television will be handled in a Sony control room, with a state of the art HD broadcasting facility. Visitors can use Vaio PC’s with Delta airline access, and Playstation items will be found in in every Yankees suite.
Reggie Jackson, Hall of Famer comes out to talk about his perspective on the new technology at Yankees stadium, and recollects fond memories of baseball from years past with Stringer. Cool conversation, talks about Jackson’s best home runs.
“Energy efficient bravia awarded eco design award. We are hard at work developing new eco friendly technologies.” Talks about dye senstivzed solar cells. “We continue work on sugar based bio battery.” Brief blip about Greenheart phone.
4k is critical to the future of the theater experience. Time for a 3D presentation, we are taking out our 3D glasses. Looks impressive, very impressive. There is definitely a sense of depth. Objects in the background are in the background. Each object has sides. Very hard to put into words – I guess I could say I am speechless? The movie is Cars, but Tokyo Fast and Furious style. Now they are showing 3D football – Virgina Tech and Clemson. It’s amazing, and will be a huge hit if people aren’t lazy and check it out. The best football clips I have ever watched.
Jeffrey Katensberg (?) from Dreamworks is here to talk about 3D. Completely retooled their studio, new tools, software called InTrue3D. “Everyone of our films will be authored in 3D.” Integral to the storytelling process. 3D is all about dimensionality, about emotional dimensionality. Showing clip from Monsters vs. Aliens in 3D. A slow start, but quite impressive.
Stringer is back out – brief mention of Playstation 3 / 3D. Talks about TrackID, built into a Sony Ercisson phone which accesses Gracenote. Mention of PlayNow plus, with free unlimited access to songs. Available now in Europe, no mention of US release. Disappointing.
Time for the Vaio P – available for pre-order now at SonyStyle.
Talks about BMG, and shows off new Sony Music logo. About time!
Usher comes out. Sings ‘Here I Stand’ – we have the whole thing on video and it will be uploaded soon.
Stringer ends the presentation by saying, “The late Gordon McKenzie used to tell a story that entertained folk lore artists. He used to visit schools and talk about his profession. He’d call himself an artist, then ask “How many artists were in the room?” 1st grade, everyone raised their hands. In second grade, 3/4ths raised their hand, in 3rd, half, and so forth. By sixth grade, no one did. If you can imagine it, we can help you make it real. At Sony, we’re not trying to believe in the word impossible. No drop in the economy can change the fact that this is the most innovative industries on the face of the planet.”
