CES 2017 Day 1

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The Vergecast live from CES 2017 frames the show as a fast, skeptical tour through the event’s biggest themes: Samsung’s aftermath from the Note 7, the rise of Google/Android Chromebooks, TV/platform battles, self-driving/car concepts, and a flood of smart-home gadgets. The hosts and guests emphasize that CES is increasingly about software ecosystems, voice assistants, and connected devices—though many products still feel gimmicky, unfinished, or borderline absurd.

Main Topics: Samsung’s CES keynote and Note 7 damage control (Priority: 5/5): Samsung announced new Chromebooks, QLED TVs, and laundry devices, but the biggest moment was its restrained acknowledgment of the Note 7 battery failures. The hosts argue the apology was insufficient for such a major brand crisis. Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro (Priority: 5/5): Samsung and Google’s new Chromebooks are positioned as the first serious Android-ready Chrome OS laptops, with touchscreen support and stylus input. The Plus uses ARM while the Pro uses Intel, and the show treats them as promising but still limited by Android app maturity. TVs, platforms, and the smart-TV ecosystem (Priority: 4/5): The episode highlights 4K HDR as mainstream, but argues the real fight is now between TV operating systems and platform bundles: Samsung/LG/Sony/Vizio/Amazon/Roku/Google all have a stake, while Apple is notably absent. Smart-home overload and Internet-of-Things skepticism (Priority: 4/5): At CES Unveiled and on the show floor, the team sees endless examples of devices being ‘made smart’—fridges, mirrors, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, umbrellas, and more. They admire some practical ideas but remain wary of app-first, data-hungry products. Cars, self-driving futures, and concept theater (Priority: 4/5): Faraday Future’s FF91, Chrysler’s Portal concept, and broader auto-tech partnerships illustrate the hype around self-driving and connected-car design. The hosts question how real these projects are versus how much is just showmanship. Robots, 360 video, and CES as spectacle (Priority: 3/5): Guests demo a cute but limited home robot named Curry, while Casey Newton showcases Periscope 360 and a camera accessory that lets viewers experience the show floor. These segments emphasize CES as a place where presentation and novelty often matter as much as product readiness.

Key Arguments: Samsung’s Note 7 apology was too vague and too corporate to fully restore trust after a phone battery failure became a public disaster. The new Samsung Chromebooks matter because they’re designed from the start to run Android apps, making Chrome OS feel more like a real computing platform. CES 2017 shows that smart-home devices are now everywhere, but many remain gimmicky because they solve tiny problems with too much complexity. The real TV market battle is no longer just about panel quality; it’s about ecosystems, streaming services, and built-in software platforms. Self-driving and concept cars are increasingly about transforming the car into a living-room-like digital space, not just improving transportation. Many CES products are impressive technically, but usefulness, repairability, and software quality remain the biggest unresolved issues. Voice assistants like Alexa are becoming the default interface layer for consumer gadgets, suggesting a broader shift away from screens and buttons. Right-to-repair concerns grow as more household appliances become computerized and less serviceable over time.

Data Points: Note 7 root-cause report: promised “very soon” - Samsung says it will release a root-cause report on the Note 7 battery failures. Chromebook Plus price: $449 - Samsung’s ARM-based Chromebook Plus price mentioned during the hands-on demo. Chromebook Pro launch timing: February - The Pro model is described as available later, in February. PSVR repairability score: high - iFixit says the PlayStation VR headset has a fairly modular design and scores well for repairability. Faraday FF91 launch edition: 300 units - Only 300 first-edition vehicles were said to be available. Faraday FF91 reservation deposit: $5,000 - Listeners are told they can reserve one with a deposit. Faraday FF91 availability: 2018 - The vehicle was said to ship in 2018. Chrysler Portal range: 250 miles - The self-driving electric concept car’s quoted range. LG Wallpaper OLED thickness: 2.57 millimeters - The signature 4K OLED W Series TV was described as extremely thin. Sony short-throw projector price: $25,000 - The 4K projector described as brutally beautiful and extremely expensive. Sony projector weight: 77 pounds - The same projector is described as a heavy monolith. Predator 21X price: $9,000 - A curved-display gaming laptop highlighted as an extreme luxury PC. CES poll result: smart home gadgets: highest selected option - Twitter poll showed listeners most interested in smart home gadgets. Faraday Future poll result: 72% - Twitter poll indicating 72% believed Faraday Future will release the FF91. Curry battery life: 2 hours - The smart home robot reportedly dies after about two hours of constant use. Spud display resolution: 1280 x 720 - The portable pop-up display’s stated resolution. Spud screen size: 24 inches - The foldable display’s diagonal size. Air TV player price: $129 / $99 - Dish’s Android TV set-top box with antenna costs $129 with antenna or $99 without. Smart toothbrush price: $130 pre-order / $80 promo - Kolibree’s toothbrush pricing mentioned during the demo. Hairbrush price: under $200 - The Withings-powered Kerastase smart hairbrush is described as under $200.

Pivotal Quotes: "Despite our setbacks, we have not, nor will we, stop innovating." — Samsung keynote speaker: Samsung’s CES apology segment after discussing the Note 7 crisis. "The onus is on you not to show me a flashy demo. The onus is on you to prove that you’re going to ship cars." — Dieter Bohn: Discussion of Faraday Future and skepticism about whether its EV is real. "CES is based on faith. We’ve got to have some faith." — Lauren Good: Commentary on CES Unveiled and the uncertainty around whether showcased products will actually ship.

Implications: CES 2017 suggests the consumer-tech market is shifting toward ecosystems, voice control, and connected-home convenience, but trust, software quality, repairability, and genuine shipping products remain the real hurdles.