What more possibly could they offer consumers?


As I sit back and think what might be coming to the consumer AV market in the near future, I can only think that there will likely be more integration between the internet and home entertainment media - maybe more access to home automation from the intenet, from cell phones, etc. So, what is posibly left for the AV industry to suprise us with here in the next ten or so years from now? I mean, sure, they'll likely be offering higher resolution video potentially, upscaling to 4k, etc. But really. How important is that to the average consumer who will have nothing more than a 55" flat pannel tv? I think it's not a big deal accross the board. And certainly the HD video disc is gunna go away, and all will stream over the net, it appears. (surely, they won't make a killing selling 4k HD discs, cause discs sales are slowing down) Only those who do UBER LARGE displays, projection systems, etc, will really get any benefit here...the sucess of which is no more likely than the "mass-less" exodus from people buying 720p displays going up to 1080p flat screens, or DVD discs to BluRays, and so on?
Face it. Who's gunna swap out there 1080p 50" LCD tv for the same size in 4k? I would submit about as many as who did the same in upgrading from 2D HD tv's to switch to 3D LED TVs!!! -Yeah, exactly.
Beyond the obvious melding of streaming videos and internet through your TV/Media center, and all TV being integrated with the web, what other supprises could be coming to the consumer in the Audio/Video arena?
I could possibly immagine Holographic images hovering in my room, with virtual surround froma single sound source, possibly. But maybe higher end sound procesing or even more surround speakers to have to place around the house? Can't even get my fiance to go with more than the two that are built into our TV!!!...let alone 9.2 or 11.2, etc!
Let's face it, we are more intregued by how smart our phones are, and that segment seams to be ever evolving. I mean it was like, what, less than 3 years ago that the Motorola Razor was the hottest selling phone on the market?! - YYYYYEEIIKES!!!
I just can't envision anything that'll be coming our way for AV, anytime soon, that will be a major game changer, or the "next big must-have-thing!" And unless the gaming industry is picked up by 40-somethings and the aging, how impactful is going to be wrap-around video gaming screen setups in your closet?
I'm visionless for what could be coming at the present, personally. All i can see for the next decade is my 7.1 channel receiver (I'm barely using 5.1 channels of it, and mostly 2 ch stereo) with my Ipod connected, my Netflix enabled BluRay player for HD and streaming, and my 1080p JVC projector and light rejecting projector screen. Beyond this, I can't envision much else
avgoround
More electronic home entertainment options is probably the last thing most American families really need, not that it matters.
i think the focus is going to be less on developing new products than on developing new ways to sell--the traditonal model of walking into a bricks-and-mortar store to discover and purchase things will continue to decline and avenues like groupon, consumer tracking software and facebook will become ever more ascendant. for better or for worse, i might add.
Just read this yesterday

http://hometheaterreview.com/what-drives-the-consumer-electronics-business-beyond-4k-video-and-24-bit-audio/

Pretty much, soon we'll max out on the limitations of our senses. When we hit that wall I'll still enjoy my music on my system. Yes there is nothing to be excited about, but to be honest the more I think about it the less I care about the next big thing. What I really want is already out there and should be getting more refined and less expensive. Internet direct A/V companies make what should be high end gear and speakers affordable for this lowly peasant. Outside of integration into every aspect of our lives I think better, less expensive, gear is what we have to look forward to and I'm ok with that. Can it sustain the industry I guess only time will tell. I will say I think Velodyne saw it coming and made the correct decision by killing the middle man.
I look forward to interactive TV's which integrate a cursor the user can point to items/actors/places on the screen and a window pops up saying what/whom/where that is. Be kinda cool to have instant access (to more completely useless information than we already are inundated with).
Of course the data would be only as accurate and comprehensive as laboriously entered. Young folks today are surprised that everything at the Library of Congress is not online...(take decades if not centuries to scan and catalog it all).
Yep. I went to Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this past week in Vegas, and walked for hours through all the venues. Went to the high end auido video stuff, and really saw very little that excited me. I think I did see a "see through/transparent" lcd tv? (When TV was off, you could see through it...no biggie). And, yes, JVC had the 4k upscaling projectors showing - which was nice, indeed.
Beyond that, I cut the show short, and just went gambling and spellunking around Vegas, cause I was bored with the show!!! it's what is is -lol!
Well, dunno if I'll be going to CES next year. They're gunna have to offer some new game changing exciting new something for me to maek the trip again soon. Can't really see that happening anytime soon though.