CES 2015: Five things we learned on Monday

The doors have yet to officially open, but there are plenty of lessons to absorb at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

As tech titans including Sony and Samsung attempted to dazzle CES attendees during Monday’s press day, here’s what we’ve learned on the unofficial first day.

1. The wearable market is blowing up. Wearable devices are everywhere: on your fingers, your wrists, your dog. Attendees can’t walk anywhere in Vegas without spotting a wearable computing device. As expected, smartwatches and trackers for your wrists were the hot items, but there were some other intriguing ones. Ring is a smart ring that lets users perform simple tasks such as controlling lights with hand gestures. Belkin unveiled a series of trackable motion sensors, including a keychain fob users can hand to their kids or attach to a pets’ collar to track their activity.

2. Tech behind the wheel. Those dashboards are about to get a lot more sophisticated. Tech and automotive giants are speeding up efforts to add more tech features to your car. GM is adding new features to its OnStar in-vehicle service that can evaluate drivers’ performance and predict when vital components need repair. But the highlight might be Nvidia’s Drive PX, a self-driving car platform where cars not only find their own parking spaces, but can return to you like an automated valet. Then there’s Hyundai, which will let users start their cars with their watch.

3. Brought to you by the letter K. As in 4K and 8K, high-definition resolutions hitting computer displays and televisions soon. TV makers and content companies are pushing to create 4K-quality programming ahead of the rush of compatible TVs to store shelves. If 4K isn’t enough, Sharp unveiled a “Beyond 4K” set that offers a resolution 167% better than the standard 4K display.

4. Cord cutters win again. Score one more for consumers ditching cable television. On the heels of newly-announced standalone options from HBO and CBS, Dish Network unveiled Sling TV, a streaming service for $20 a month that will include a dozen live channels, including ESPN. It launches during the first quarter of 2015.

5. Chromecast not just for TVs. Speaking of cord cutting, one of the handy devices that has helped consumers transition away from cable is Google’s Chromecast, a dongle with HDMI input that streams Web video to TVs. Now, it’s got audio, adding services including Pandora and Rdio. Users must have a compatible speaker to cast audio.

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