????又到了一年一屆的國際消費電子展（Consumer Electronics Show）。每年的消費電子展上，都會有一系列吸引眼球的產品設備。這些驚喜究竟能否轉變為真正的銷售額則完全是另一回事。當電子生產商們正摩拳擦掌，準備本周在拉斯維加斯向世人展示最新產品時，讓我們回顧一下去年展會上大放異彩的科技成果，看看它們的現況如何。

????1、汽車技術——成功！

????去年，包括福特（Ford）、通用（GM）和梅賽德斯（Mercedes）在內的諸多高端汽車商在展會上展示了一系列基于軟件的車載系統，它們被稱作“信息娛樂”產品。這絕不是一個新概念。許多年前，在消費電子展的前身——計算機世界博覽會上，比爾?蓋茨就已經提出了這個理念?！救缃?，微軟（Microsoft）正在為福特的同步系統提供技術支持。】將智能手機與汽車相連接具有相當大的吸引力，原因顯而易見：從播放音樂到在一個新的城市進行導航，車載系統能幫助司機完成各種工作。最終，汽車商們似乎已經由衷地接受了這個理念，通用公司在去年10月招募了10,000名程序員和軟件專家，由此可見一斑。這些新成員將會改進類似凱迪拉克用戶體驗（Cadillac User Experience）這樣的系統。

????2、超級本——表現平平

????看到蘋果（Apple）的MacBook Air系列如此成功，英特爾（Intel）決定推出超級本，讓Windows電腦的制造商也從中分一杯羹。不過就像PC機曾經的別稱一樣（比如“上網本”），這種“超級本”的定義很快變得模糊不清。弗雷斯特研究公司（Forrester）的分析師詹姆斯?邁克奎維說：“這個術語僅指那些使用固態存儲介質的設備，結果許多硬件制造商欺騙了顧客，比如說并沒使用固態硬盤，并打出誘人的低價?！辈徽撃姆N情況，對顧客來說都不劃算?！邦櫩驮诎偎假I（Best Buy）看見一臺400美元的筆記本電腦時，很難不問自己‘為什么我要花900美元去買一臺超級本？’”另一個問題在于：英特爾在Windows 7壽命將盡時才著手實現這一想法，而許多顧客似乎決定等到Windows 8上市再更換新電腦——不管是哪種電腦。

????3、交互電器——表現平平

????一間體貼入微的廚房？ 2012年消費電子展的一系列智能電器都體現了這種理念，比如LG展出的Smart ThinQ電器，其中包括一個智能冰箱和爐子。邁克奎維說，盡管這些工具十分有趣，顧客卻仍然在等待一款“殺手锏應用”，讓人們愿意費心在廚房里安裝各種軟件。他補充說：“現在還沒有什么實現聯網家庭的理由。”就目前而言，如此高科技的電器看起來還僅僅是吸引關注的“炫酷”模型，雖然大多數人走的時候都拿了一臺沒有實際用處的模型。

????Another year, another Consumer Electronics Show. At every CES, a series of devices become theones to watch. Whether that excitement translates into genuine sales is another question entirely. As gadget makers prepare to unveil their latest in Las Vegas this week, we took a look at the technology that stole last year's show to see how things turned out.

????1. Car Technology -- Bingo!

????Last year many top automakers, including Ford (F), GM (GM), and Mercedes, were on hand to show off an array of new in-car software-based systems, so-called "infotainement" units. This is by no means a new idea; Bill Gates championed the concept at CES' predecessor COMDEX years and years ago. (Current Microsoft (MSFT) technologypowers Ford's SYNC system.) The appeal of linking a smartphone to a car is obvious: built-in software system can help drivers do everything from stream music to navigate a new city. Finally, automakers seem to have wholeheartedly adopted the idea, evidenced by GM hiring 10,000 programmers and software experts in October. They'll work on improving systems like Cadillac's CUE.

????2. Ultrabooks -- Not so much

????A direct response to Apple's (AAPL) successful MacBook Air line, Intel's Ultrabook initiativewas intended to help Windows PC makers fight fire with fire. But like previous PC monikers -- netbooks, for one -- the definition of what qualified as an "ultrabook" quickly became blurred. "The term is only supposed to apply to devices with solid state storage and so many hardware makers ended up cheating, including spinning hard drives to get a cheaper price," explains Forrester (FORR) analyst James McQuivey. Either way, customers have had a hard time justifying their purchase. "It's really hard not to walk into Best Buy, see a $400 laptop and ask, 'why should I spent $900 on these ultrabooks?'" Another problem: Intel (INTC) helped launch the initiative right at the end of Windows 7's lifespan. Many consumers seem to have decided to wait until Windows 8 became available to buy new PCs -- of any kind.

????3. Interactive Appliances -- Not so much

????A kitchen that thinks for you? That was the idea behind a number of smart appliances unveiled at CES 2012, including LG's line of Smart ThinQ appliances that included a smart refrigerator and stove. But while these gadgets may be fun, consumers are still waiting for a 'killer app' that will make a kitchen full of software worth the hassle, says McQuivey. "There is very little reason for a connected home, yet," he adds. For the time being, such high-tech appliances appear to be "gee-whiz" models that drive some interest, even if most people walk away with a brainless value model.