The CES 2013 in Las Vegas is creating quite a whirlwind as it proceeds. With intense competition among products and one sensational announcement after another, it is hard to judge which one deserves most attention. There are two companies that have jumped off the page in the last few presentations – Huawei and Vizio. Vizio had already generated a buzz at CES when it showcased the Vizio Windows 8 tablet, and now it has come under the spotlight once again for its new Android tablet powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor. Yes, you heard it right – Vizio and Tegra 4, two iconic brands, in one product.
Built on the Jelly Bean Android OS, the prototype that Vizio exhibited is 10 inches and boasts of a 2560×1600 resolution in its display. The coming together of Vizio with Tegra 4 makes much sense, since both names are now highly reckoned in the industry and could benefit from combining their individual fan base. CES prides itself on being a stage for electronic expression followed by immense criticism and applause, so that the makers can take an informed decision. Therefore, Vizio has stressed on the word “prototype” and it is possible that the tablet may never actually materialize. The same goes for its 7-inch sibling that is also in the pipeline. The 7-inch version will be NFC disabled and will run on an unnamed processor.
On another note, CES attendees were also pleasantly excited by Huawei’s introduction of a 6-inch phone, Ascend Mate – the world’s largest, as per the company. Its Chinese maker, who is directly challenging Samsung, has positioned this phone, or “phablet,” rather aggressively. The “phablet” segment has seen some interest, particularly by Samsung, but it is not yet recognized as a popular category. Huawei is coming forth with a better screen than Samsung and Apple phones, better battery life and better audio quality. A revolutionizing feature of the phone is the “magic touch,” which is a solution the common woe of being unable to use a touchscreen phone while wearing gloves. Ascend Mate’s screen is sensitive enough to pick up the imprint of a glove-covered finger.
All in all, both companies have heightened the drama at CES, but the end result depends on consumer perception and strategic selling. Huawei has been ineffective in getting carriers on board, and Vizio’s tab is only at the nascent stages of development. The larger industry clout of companies like Samsung and Apple could affect them significantly.
