CES 2013 preview: It's gadget time!

It's a new year. While that might be a rather arbitrary measure of time, more importantly, it's a very real moment in the tech calendar because it means that, as ever, CES is just around the corner: International CES 2013, as it's known this time.Pocket-lint will be on the ground in Las Vegas, ready and poised to bring you all the action as it happens but, as per normal, there's plenty of talk already - both rumour and real - about what's going to be on the show floor. So here's a little CES 2013 preview taster of what to look forward toYou can follow all the news from CES 2013 in a number of ways - via our dedicated CES 2013 page, via our CES 2013 RSS, and finally the whole site via Twitter.

CES 2013: Cameras

Back in the day, camera launches were more the preserve of shows like PMA and Photokina but, as of CES 2012, it's now the big Vegas event on which camera-makers now focus. Here's a look at what should be coming this year.

Fujifilm X200: rumoured

When Fujifilm unveiled the X100 high-end compact in 2011 the company not only redefined its image, it also released a corker of an advanced, fixed-lens compact camera with enviable technology inside. And in 2013 it's set to do it again with what we're anticipating will be the unveiling of the Fujifilm X200.

It's said to be a replacement for the X100 complete with X-Trans CMOS sensor and should be due out early in the year. If true, then that's great news for Fujifilm fans. The X-Pro1 compact system camera was the first to utilise Fujifilm's innovative colour array technology, and to bring that kind of ultra-sharp, top quality to the fixed-lens compact will be a jump forward. Read more

Fujifilm X20: rumoured

Just as Fujifilm looks to be prepping a successor to the X100, so does it seem to have the X10's replacement waiting in the wings. Fingers crossed, the Fujifilm X20 will be the death of the white orbs that had caused some issues with the X10's 2/3-inch sensor.

What's expected is a 14-megapixel EXR CMOS sensor that bins the lowpass filter - much like the X-Pro1's X-Trans CMOS sensor, but it will also feature an updated viewfinder that can display shooting information. Extra information has also surfaced which suggests the X20 will feature a new 24-120mm f/1.8-2.8 lens, 460k-dot LCD screen, continuous shooting up to 10 frames per second and a top sensitivity of ISO 12,800. Read more

Nikon 1 J3 & S1: rumoured

If rumours are anything to go by, then the Consumer Electronics Show will be the place to reveal Nikon's latest 1-series cameras: the Nikon 1 J3 and alleged Nikon 1 S1 in what would be among the shortest of product cycles we've yet seen for a compact system camera.

What the J3 will bring to the fold is unclear, but it could be the product that's more aligned with many consumers' initial expectations of what the 1-series should have been from the offset: more enthusiast targeted. As for the S1, prepare for something more entry-level. Read more

Polaroid Android CSC: confirmed

Polaroid CEO Scott Hardy has confirmed that the company is to launch an Android-based CSC at CES 2013. The camera looks set to come with a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, a 10-30mm lens, pop-up flash, HDMI output, built in Wi-Fi, and a 18-megapixel sensor. Oh, and will run Android, much like the Samsung Galaxy Camera and the Nikon C800.

Interestingly, the leaked pictures make this device look a lot like Nikon's CSC range - the J1 and J2 - although it is not clear whether, at this point, Nikon is making the camera for Polaroid to rebrand its own. Read more

CES 2013: Phones

Similarly to cameras, phones have normally been better associated with the Mobile World Congress show in February, but Vegas has started to see some of the manufacturers getting their handsets in ahead of the game. These are the phones to expect at CES 2013.

Samsung Galaxy S IV: rumoured

Samsung could launch the Samsung Galaxy S IV as early as CES 2013 at the start of January, after suggestions that the company will unveil a new smartphone at the show. According to rumours currently circulating, the SGS4 will pack an even bigger screen than the SGS3.

If correct, it will sport a 5-inch full HD AMOLED display that includes a pixel density of 441 pixels-per-inch. It's not the first time the 5-inch display specs have been touted. That said, sources report that Samsung plans to unveil its next flagship Android smartphone at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2013, so who knows on this one? Read more

Sony Xperia Yuga / Z: rumoured

Whether it will be called the Xperia Yuga or the Z doesn't really matter. The fact remains that one of the most hotly anticipated gadgets of 2013 is set to be the first phablet from Sony. It's rumoured to be water and dust-resistant, have a 5-inch screen and measure 139 x 71 x 7.9mm.

At its heart will be a quad-core Qualcomm APQ8064 chipset with Adreno 320 graphics, with great graphics results reported from an early prototype - just the ticket to power the Full HD 1080p display. Read more

Huawei Ascend D2 & W1: confirmed

Yu Chengdong, Huawei's CEO, has confirmed that the company will announce two new phones at CES 2013. The Huawei Ascend D2 is expected to be a 5-inch 1080p monster phone that features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and 13-megapixel camera.

The Ascend W1 isn't so power-focused, however. The low-end Windows Phone 8 handset will have a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, 4GB storage, 512MB RAM and a 5-megapixel camera, putting it on par with the HTC 8S or Nokia 620. Read more

Huawei Ascend Mate: confirmed

Not content with a 5-inch phone, Huawei has confirmed a full HD, 1080p Android smartphone that sports a mammoth 6.1-inch touchscreen. The Huawei Ascend Mate is being marketed as a phone nonetheless.

Key specs include a 1.8GHz Hass K3V3 quad-core processor, 1920 x 1080 resolution with 361ppi, and the display is of the low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) variety. It is believed to carry a massive battery to drive that screen - 4,000mAh - and will be 9.9mm thick. Its price is rumoured to be around 3,000 Chinese yuan (£297). Read more

ZTE Nubia Z5: confirmed

Chinese mobile manufacturer ZTE has lifted the lid on its latest, the Nubia Z5, ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show 2013. That's a Chinese manufacturer revealing an African-region-named phone to be unveiled in the US. Designed by an Italian. Whew.

The 5-inch, 1080p screen of the Z5 delivers a 443ppi resolution, the thin bezel surrounding the screen looks particularly fetching in white and, at a svelte 7.6mm thin, the aluminium body sure does look like an easy-to-pocket device. Under the hood there's Android Jelly Bean (v4.1.1) handled by a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 2GB of 533MHz RAM. Read more

CES 2013: TV & home cinema

The world of AV is the more traditional heartland of the likes of CES and IFA later in the year. Fortunately, with LG doing its annual bean spill well ahead of proceedings, we've got a pretty good idea of how CES 2013 might shape up in the TV world.

LG Google TVs - GA7900 & GA6400: confirmed

LG has announced two new Google TV sets - the GA7900 and GA6400 - both of which will be on the company's stand at the forthcoming trade show. They will come in various sizes, feature LED display technology, and sport LG's proprietary Cinema 3D TV tech, that will work with the company's own passive 3D glasses.

Each of the TV models will work with the redesigned LG Magic Remote Qwerty to deliver a full Google TV experience, including voice search. Plus, each has a dual-core processor to ensure the Smart TV functionality is smooth and speedy. Cloud gaming service OnLive will also be pre-installed on the TVs. Read more

LG 4K UHD TVs and monitor: confirmed

Ultra HD 4K is going to take pride of place among many of the panel manufacturers at CES 2013. LG has officially announced that, in addition to its current 84-inch 84LM960V behemoth, it will also show off more consumer-friendly 55-inch and 65-inch 4K tellies.

4K is around four times the resolution, with an eye-watering 3840x2160 pixels on display and LG will also unveil a 30-inch 4K monitor at the show. With a 4096x2160 pixel resolution, it'll be the highest-resolution computer monitor ever to make it to market. Photographers, designers and video editors will be frothing at the mouth to get hold of that kind of real estate. Read more

LG Smart LED TVs with NFC: confirmed

One of the standout features that will come with LG's line-up of plasma and LED TVs is NFC compatibility. Namely, through the "Tag On" technology, the sets will feature an NFC "sticker" that will pair the set with a capable smartphone automatically, allowing you to stream content with the minimum of fuss.

The sets will also be compatible/come with the new, redesigned Magic Remote- the motion-sensing pointer and voice-controlled device - have WiDi and Miracast connectivity, and support LG Cloud. LG also boasts that its new line-up of TVs comes with CPUs that run 120 per cent faster than in previous models, while the graphics processors run 300 per cent faster. Read more

Samsung 85-inch 4K UHD TV: confirmed

Samsung has proudly announced that one of the centrepieces for its CES presence will be an 85-inch Ultra High Definition TV. This comes after the set was awarded a CES 2013 Best of Innovation award and, understandably, the company is happy to cry out from the rooftops about it.

This LED panel boasts lifelike picture quality in ultra HD resolution with over 8 million pixels, four times the resolution of Full HD displays. It uses an innovative enhanced dimming technology and a very high contrast ratio to deliver deep, real blacks and pure whites for greater detail. It will be unveiled at the manufacturer's CES press conference on 7 January and Pocket-lint will be in attendance to tell you exactly what we think. Read more

LG Hecto Laser TV: confirmed

LG has announced a 100-inch Laser TV (read projector) that features both Smart TV and Digital TV capabilities. The LG Hecto Laser TV comes with a special screen and a projector to offer Full HD 1080p resolution on something that isn't just your wall.

What LG is getting excited about, however, is that unlike traditional projectors which need a fair bit of distance to work, the Hecto requires a distance of only 22-inches to create a 100-inch image.On the spec front, it offers 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and comes with a digital tuner and 2x10W built-in speakers embedded in the projector to support virtual surround sound for a more authentic cinema experience at home. Read more

LG players, speakers and soundbars: confirmed

The new 2013 collection for LG features the BH9430PW 9.1-channel speaker system, NB4530A Sound Bar, BP730 Blu-ray player with Smart TV features, the ND8630 Dual Docking Speaker, and the NP6630 Portable Speaker, bringing with it a bevy of new tech including NFC on all the devices for easy pairing with a smartphone or tablet.

There are iPod docks included, web access with the Smart TV platform, late-night Private Sound Mode, Mood Lamps, AirPlay compatibility and, of course, NFC for instant and wireless pairing and streaming fun. Read more

Samsung Series 7 monitors: confirmed

Samsung has made an early reveal of its forthcoming Series 7 monitors with two available for Windows 8 machines. The Series 7 Touch SC770 supports all the swiping fun that the MS OS offers with 10-point sensitivity and all on a 24-inch screen with a 5000:1 contrast and 60-degree tilting.

The Series 7 SC750, on the other hand, offers 90-degree rotation. It's a 27-inch panel with a full HD resolution, offering a contrast ratio of 5000:1 and wide viewing angles from the LED display, and an HDMI connection around the back. Read more

CES 2013: Gadgets

One of the joys of consumer electronics trade shows are the gadgets that don't sit in any particular standard category. That's largely because such gadgets are generally relatively new ideas. So, here are a few gadgets on that front to look out for at CES 2013.

Vuzix Smart Glasses 100: confirmed

Google Glass may be getting all the headlines, but Vuzix has been dabbling in the augmented reality glasses market for years now. Its latest product has just been awarded a Best of Innovations honour by the CES 2013 board.

The Vuzix Smart Glasses M100 is a hands-free display that you hook over your ear like a Bluetooth earpiece. It also uses Bluetooth to connect to an Android smartphone or iPhone and features a virtual display that the user can see, an integrated camera and its own processing engine, running a modified Android operating system. Is the dawn of proper AR finally here? Read more

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