It’s press day at the CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana — typically a frenzied day as we dash from room to room at the Indianapolis convention center in an effort to catch all the breaking news on the industry’s latest products and vie for position to get the best possible photos. But things are a bit different this year.
The buzz we’re so used to immersing ourselves in is simply not happening; not yet, anyway. It seemed business as usual at the airport, and there were no lines to deal with at the hotel. Then this morning, as we walked through the front door of the convention center, we were greeted not by the hustle and bustle of exhibitors as they rush to set up their monster-sized booths nor the the clamor of press agents wrestling for lanyards, badges and bagels, but by eerie silence and empty space. Sadly, we’re not surprised.
We had some forewarning that this year’s show would be a little different when we learned that some of the industry’s heavy-hitters would not be exhibiting — not in the traditional manner, anyway. Neither Samsung nor LG have booths this year and even the Klipsch group — which calls Indianapolis its home town, no less — won’t be on the show floor. Instead, LG will be showing off its 84-inch 4K TV offsite. Klipsch will do the same.
But it isn’t all doom and gloom. Sony has indicated it has something new for us to see, as has JVC. And we know Monster will have something to show off this year, even if it is as simple as a new set of headphones and a Bluetooth speaker. Rest assured, wherever the new, interesting products are, we will be there.
