Looking at CES 2024: Big and Bold Technologies Takes Center Stage

Published on in Industry Announcements / Events

CES 2024 was poised to grab both professionals and consumers attention with new and improved technology. With an estimated 130,000 attendees, and 4000 plus exhibitors, there is no doubt that the 2024 version of CES, owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association was a big one. One of the interesting things to consider is just how wide a technology net CES casts. If you have a thing for almost any technology (or just a better quality of life) you need to pay attention to CES 2024.

So, why is CES so important to those in the media industry you ask? Many feel it is a great way to get a quick read on what consumers are interested in and what our industry partners have developed, especially in AI, computers, and displays. That’s not to say that everything you see and hear technology-wise will make it to the consumer. If you think about it, CES is not unlike one of the big car shows like Detroit, with lots of conceptual projects, investors, and players in the mix to cash in on that “next big thing”. But as we have learned over the years, technology innovation comes in uneven waves and kind of bobs and weaves to its own rhythm.  Don’t you think AI technologies will continue to dominate the conversation? I do, but there's always so much more technology than just AI to look at than time allows. Let's take a look at just a few new products at CES 2024.

OWC Broadens Best-In-Class ThunderBlade Portable Storage Line

New Model Boasts Increased RAID 5 Performance and Expanded Capacity OWC announces the new ThunderBlade X8, redefining the fastest shuttle and edit RAID SSD for creative professionals. Moving forward, both ThunderBlade and ThunderBlade X8 models will be available, giving users the option to choose the right storage option for creative professionals.

The new ThunderBlade X8 propels performance to new heights with up to 2949MB/s real-world speed and up to 16% higher capacity and efficiency in RAID 5. ThunderBlade continues to set the bar for what is possible in the realm of production drives, enabling users to seamlessly handle data-intensive tasks and elevate their creative output to unprecedented levels. 

Constructed for fast-paced environments ThunderBlade ensures projects will outpace deadlines. ThunderBlade navigates through uncompressed, high-bandwidth content streams, delivering unmatched speed and reliability. Designed for mobility and featuring an integrated fin-designed cooling system, ThunderBlade is at home on set, in the edit suite, or traveling comfortably between shoots in its ballistic hard-shell case.

“OWC set a new standard for external drive capabilities with the original ThunderBlade, with groundbreaking speeds, reliability, and rugged transportability,” said OWC Founder and CEO, Larry O’Connor. “The latest ThunderBlade builds upon this legacy, enhancing performance, total usable storage, and even ruggedness further empowering creative professionals to accomplish more with rock solid data protection.”

Pricing and Availability: ThunderBlade is available in 8TB, 16TB, or 32TB capacities. Pre-order today at macsales.com starting at $1,749.99. 

Dell U4025QW: Dell’s new Curved 40” 5K Display 

The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U4025QW) is designed for people that love going big. If you need extensive DCI-P3 color space coverage and USB-C connectivity with Power Delivery, this display is certainly worth the money and is definitely worthy of serious consideration if you're in the market for a high-performing display for image or video editing.As well as that 40-in of curved screen real estate, the VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified monitor boasts a 99% DCI-P3 / Display P3 color space, a 5K resolution (5120x2160), and is based on IPS Black Panel technology.

It's a comfort that the company is focusing on, aiming the new display firmly at content creators who need to stare at screens for a long time.

“Dell's UltraSharp monitors are the first to have TUV Rheinland five-star eye comfort certification, a new industry standard for eye comfort to help reduce signs of eye fatigue,” the company says in a statement. “Dell was the first to meet this new industry standard by achieving three things:

“We doubled the refresh rate, going from a 60Hz to 120Hz refresh rate, to deliver smoother and sharper motion visuals. We built in an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust screen brightness and color temperature according to ambient light conditions. Recent studies show this can reduce the frequency of eye fatigue signs by 7% to 17% compared to a screen maintaining constant brightness. Lastly, we improved Dell ComfortView Plus by reducing harmful blue light exposures with more advanced LED backlights, going from 50% exposure to less than 35% exposure. Research shows this can reduce signs of eye fatigue by 8% after 50 minutes of performing a search task.”

Connectivity is provided by Thunderbolt 4 for single-cable convenience with up to 140W power delivery. It also supports high-speed wired Ethernet connectivity at 2.5 Gbps via RJ45, HDMI 2.1 FRL (Fixed Rate Link), and DisplayPort 1.4 for smooth image transmissions. 

JLab Debuts Lux ANC Wireless Headphones

The company debuted its first premium headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC), but it's keeping the price low at just $80.  JBuds Lux ANC Wireless Headphones pack long battery life, multipoint Bluetooth, customizable EQ, spatial audio, Google Fast Pair, and a quick-charge feature.

JLab says the JBuds Lux have the same size drivers, 40mm, as flagship headphones from the likes of Bose, Sony and others. The company further explains that these components are capable of 20-20kHz frequency response, the most common range for headphones, and promises "exceptional audio quality" as a result. In terms of ANC, the JBuds Lux can reduce noise by up to 25dB with the option to turn it off or employ Be Aware (transparency) mode, and levels are customizable via the JLab App. You can fully configure the EQ with that software or choose from one of three audio presets. The JBuds Lux also supports spatial and Bluetooth LE audio.

The JBuds Lux ANC headphones are available for preorder now from JLab 

PTZOptics Marks Decade of Innovation with Live-Streaming Tech Reveal at CES 2024

PTZOptics unveiled a range of video production technologies for multiple industries. Its live-streaming technology, the Move SE camera line, caters to specific needs across a range of verticals. These include education, entertainment, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing.

Paul Richards, chief revenue officer at PTZOptics, remarks, “Our vision at PTZOptics goes beyond developing cutting-edge cameras. We aim to provide tailored solutions that resonate with various industries, from entertainment to healthcare. The Move SE and 4K camera lines are a pivotal step in our journey to democratize professional video technology, enabling every sector to connect and engage with their audiences more effectively.”

This year, PTZOptics has announced over ten new live-streaming features for its PTZ camera lineup. These include the following features:

  • Enhanced Presenter Tracking: The Presenter Lock feature includes selecting and auto-tracking a specific person within the camera’s web interface. This feature includes composition modes and dynamic zoom controls.
  • New Auto-Framing Feature: Automatically frames all subjects in a scene, perfect for capturing group interactions without manual adjustments.
  • PTZOptics API G3: Over five times as many API options for controlling PTZOptics cameras, including new functionalities for auto-tracking, auto-framing and subject selection.
  • Privacy Mode: Ensures optimal privacy by turning the camera lens away and entering standby mode, ready for quick activation.

Closing Thoughts from Outside the Box

CES 2024 was definitely an eye-opening experience. From the emergence of AI, to top notch speakers, there was definitely technology innovations to grab your eye. The beauty of CES is the sheer variety of technology and the space it serves. It might be the biggest technology charcuterie board, with something for everyone. 

Feeling overwhelmed post-CES? Don't have time to crew your next Production? Simplify your planning with our Production Management Services. Our Production Management team can help you select and hire crew, vendors, facilities, and more! 

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About the Author

Mark Foley
Mark Foley
Mark J. Foley, MBA BA is an award-winning producer and director and the Technology Editor for ProductionHUB.com. He is on a mission to provide the best in new equipment reviews, along with exclusive analysis and interviews with the best, the brightest, and the most creative minds in the entertainment and production business. Have a suggestion for a review? Email Mark at mfoley@productionhub.com.

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