Invasion of the video players

Last year marked the first year that MP3 players edged out digital cameras and plasma TVs on Americans' consumer electronics wish lists. And according to a recent CEA study, the digital audio device has managed to stay on top for the second year running. I can't say that I'm surprised: music is a central part of life for many, and MP3 players continue to get sleeker and more user friendly. At the 2006 CES, an MP3 player won CNET's coveted Best in Show award, and another music device, the XM-capable Pioneer Inno, took the People's Voice award. Digital audio products will continue to be a force to be reckoned with at CES 2007, with innovative accessories, video-capable devices, and wireless technology taking center stage.

MP3? PVP? MP3...?
Throughout the year, we've seen the line between MP3 players and portable video players (PVPs) blur. Even here at CNET, we had trouble distinguishing which devices should be placed in which category. To help in our selection, we enacted a provisional rule: video-capable devices with screens larger than 2.5 inches were considered PVPs, while smaller-screened players remained in the MP3 section. This past year, we've seen a fair amount of videoless players, but CES 2007 stands to change all that, as nearly every "MP3 player" will also support video. We're also hoping to see an iTunes-like solution for Windows Media-based video content (read: easy and affordable).

Cutting cords can be so liberating
As seen recently with all the Zune buzz, Wi-Fi is hot right now. Integrated wireless capability isn't exactly new--we saw it in the original SoniqCast Aireo back in 2004 (talk about being ahead of the curve)--but the technology and its application have been imperfect so far. Even now, the Zune allows only wireless transfer between two Zunes, not between the player and the PC. Will Microsoft announce the latter feature at CES? Not likely. But it's quite probable that a handful of other companies will release some Wi-Fi-enabled players. And, of course, we can't forget about portable wireless headphones, which generally operate on Bluetooth and which will certainly make a strong showing at CES this January.

Let's accessorize
In recent months, there's been a flood of new MP3 player accessories--and not just for the iPod. The Zune, several Samsung players, and SanDisk's Sansa line have all commanded the attention of third-party accessory companies. CES 2007 promises to reveal many more MP3 add-ons, including some rather innovative ones for the iPod. Expect to see more accessories that capitalize on the iPod's video display capability, as well as plenty more extras for other popular devices. Cases, speakers systems, and car integration kits will abound.

Music discovery: Instant and painless
Last year saw the influx of on-the-go music subscription services, and though such services haven't entered the mainstream, they don't show any signs of giving up. Both RealNetworks (Rhapsody) and MTV (Urge) recently added features to help users quickly and easily discover new music, Rhapsody with its auto-updating Channels and DNA platform integration with the Sansa e200R, and Urge with a graphically pleasing, slider-based music filter. Other music services will need to play catch-up at CES or fade away--for busy (or lazy) users who don't have the time to constantly create and update playlists, these tools will prove invaluable. And here's hoping that even Sony will get its act together on the music software and service front this year.