JAMES AND MORRIS CAREY \ On the House 'Gee-whiz' goes public during electronics show

Thinking about buying a new TV, DVD or Surround Sound system? Wondering what's currently out there and the best way to go? The mind-boggling rate at which technology evolves today makes any major electronics purchase a difficult decision.
So how would you like to have almost every new technology displayed and demonstrated under one roof, side-by-side, where you could see the latest developments and easily compare? With the very best of about 2,300 companies, featuring thousands of the latest electronic products in a 2.5-million-square-foot mother of all mega-malls?
Such was the case at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas -- where we, along with 120,000 others from more than 110 countries, gathered to view and experience the latest "gotta-have" gizmos and gadgetry.
Keynote speaker
It was apparent something was different this year. The keynote speaker was Bill Gates of Microsoft, who along with Jay Leno kicked things off by introducing Media Vision HD, which converts movies, music, photos and other content into a high-definition format. It then uploads this from your PC to Microsoft's new Portable Media Center -- a wallet-sized device that stores and replays or displays virtually thousands of selections. Want to see my vacation pictures? Choose tunes from my couple-of-thousand-songs library? See "Gone With the Wind?" No problem. It's like an iPod on steroids.
Microsoft wasn't the only huge name in a crossover frame of mind. Consider Shell Oil Company, which was just down the aisle, introducing its new Home Genie system for home automation. Such control systems were more prevalent and diverse this year, and one manufacturer -- Home Automation Incorporated -- is now being widely offered in Comp USA stores.
Message? Home automation for everything from security and convenience to energy-saving is fast becoming an accepted and affordable mainstream reality.
On the screen
Overall, television and imagery are still the stars of the show. Big and beautiful flat-screen plasma and liquid crystal display high-definition TVs -- featuring digital light projection technology -- were abundant.
Today, the most common high-end TV sold is a 42-inch plasma or LCD model that on average is 2 to 4 inches thick, weighs about 100 pounds and costs around $9,000. However, that too is rapidly changing.
Enter another large company in the crossover mode. Philips, originally known for lighting technology, has recently become a major player in producing cutting-edge televisions. It recently introduced a new liquid-crystal-on-silicone screen.
Big selling points? It eliminates some negatives such as plasma's "image burn-in" from repetitive display, and most important, it greatly reduces the cost of high-end TV.
The new LCOS sets, with a 44-inch screen that offers brilliance and beauty, cost about $3,300. Or for around $4,800, you can step up to a mammoth 62-inch screen. Averaging about 14 inches thick (vs. mere inches for plasma and LCDs), LCOS provides comparable view pizzazz while keeping your wallet a bit thicker. It's worth checking out.
Gentle lighting
Remember when Mom said to keep a soft light on while watching TV? Turns out, she was right. Another amazing technology by Philips was Ambilight, again a derivative of illumination expertise. By adding soft "spill lighting" around the outer screen edges, Ambilight substantially intensified the absolute best plasma or LCD image -- making it appear sharper and more brilliant by comparison.
A hand-held remote control lets one select virtually any color of the spectrum to complement what is onscreen at the time. In the demo we saw, football was enhanced by a soft green glow, a movie seemed more intense with a soft magenta border, and so on. It was intriguing and a precursor of things sure to come.
There's more "wireless everything" as well. Far beyond just telephones and personal computers, TVs are but one of the new entries that have become unattached. A new 15-inch lightweight wireless TV, 2 inches thick with an LCD screen and stereo speakers, can now be carried and played anywhere within the 300-foot range of its plugged-in base receiver. And the cost is surprisingly affordable at around $800.
Additional items
Also of interest was the greater presence of increasingly hot Satellite XM radio and the ability to receive high-speed broadband Internet service by means of one's 18-inch satellite TV dish.
Other new technology of note: Paper-thin flat wiring for electrical, video, audio or data transmission allows surface-mounting electronics and concealing all feed wiring with just a bit of joint compound and paint.
There's also solid sound technology, or hidden "stealth" speakers, that turn home theater seating, hot tubs and even entire room walls into a physical sound experience.
Bottom line: For the first time ever, this year's consumer electronics sales are expected to reach $100 billion, with the average household buying over $1,000 worth of new electronic products annually.
XFor more home-improvement tips and information, visit www.onthehouse.com on the Web.