Philips makes our playthings better

I couldn’t believe it: It’s going to take two days to present the newest products from Philips Consumer Electronics? How many gadgets are they bringing in? Would I have time to shop?

These thoughts churned in my head when I attended the 5th Philips Media Conference on April 2 and 3, held in Bangkok, Thailand. Attended by journalists from the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, it was well-organized, packed with information, and yes, pretty exciting, what with the latest Flat TVs, detachable computer monitors and sleek mobile phones presented to the press. After all, Philips is one of the world’s top three consumer electronics companies.

The conference started with a multi-media presentation called "Poeme Electronique," created by the world-renowned architect Le Corbusier, futurist Iannis Xenakis and composer Edgar Varese, to represent a world striving for newness and harmony.

The presentation – an ensemble of light, color picture, word and music – was made in 1958 and considered revolutionary for its time. It was immersive, expressive, shocking, new, exciting and it was made by Philips.

It was a fitting start. "When the presentation was made, Philips was already 67 years old and had invented the future several times. Now, 44 years later, we’re still busy creating it. We’ve come a long way, but we’ve stayed close to the spirit and culture of the original Philips Company. This is what we mean when we say, ‘Let’s make things better,’" said Guy Demuynck, chief executive officer of Philips Consumer Electronics, in his speech to the press.

Philips is concentrating on three areas in the market: Displays, connectivity, and storage. Demuynck explained, "Displays are the central pillar of Philips. Screens are everywhere – in your cellphone, on your desk, in your home, in the hospital, on electronic billboards and increasingly in interconnected devices. Next, connectivity is becoming more and more important. Devices are increasingly being linked by wireless to each other, to the Internet, to cable TV and other information sources. With this connectivity comes a need for storage. We have more and more personalized information to store: for leisure, work or health. Optical storage and digital storage is where Philips excels."

What followed was a carousel of products which combine design and technology, a whirlwind of new ideas and a glimpse of the future seen through the eyes of Philips.

Ready? Set? Step into the world of Philips.

Wearable Electronics Collection. A radical marriage of fashion and technology. From a simple kimono which sends off a tingling sensation for the ultimate relax-while-walking experience to the extreme ski outfit with embedded ski passes, radio links, GPS satellite positioning, plus an integrated thermometer which detects body temperature. So when it’s too cold, the outfit automatically heats up. Also, Philips has teamed up with Nike, a brand synonymous with sports. The aim is to combine communications, connectivity and information to motivate athletic activity. Thus, the MP3, MP3-CD, FM digital radio players and active headphones are designed for you to Just do it! These new audio players are comfortable to wear during sports and fitness activities and can be operated by feel rather than sight.

Pixel Plus. The latest technology that brings high-definition-like picture characteristics from any input source. It uses picture processing software that doubles the number of pixels per line, thereby achieving extremely clear and natural-looking detail. Pixel Plus also improves the distinction between foreground and background, and even increases the perceived picture depth. With this technology, Philips plans to set the new industry-reference picture quality standard in television.

Flat TV. Sets that are totally flat, slim and wide. Yet they deliver the high resolution needed for the best possible home cinema picture, from digital sources like DVD and digital broadcasts.

LCD Computer Monitor. As television and computer converge, Philips moves ahead of the competition with its LCD computer monitor that also features a full-function television. Its resizable picture-in-picture allows you to work on your PC, while watching TV in a separate window. Like all Philips products, it’s packaged with a stylish look.

Recordable DVD. DVD+RW is a remarkable technology that brings together the PC and CE environments. DVD provides a permanent storage solution for your memories. It can store a lot of info and lasts forever.

DVDR890 recorder. Capture the important events in your life or your favorite TV show on a DVD+RW or DVD+R disc and play them back on nearly any DVD player. The picture quality is razor-sharp, and the discs will hold up to six hours of video material.

SuperAudio CD. Developed by Philips and Sony, it offers not only better sound quality, but also multi-channel capability. It is backwards compatible, allowing SACD discs to be played in existing CD players.

Internet Audio. Used with a broadband connection, it brings uninterrupted streaming digital audio from the Internet, allowing you access to more than 1,000 of the world’s highest-quality Internet radio stations.

Streamium MC-i200. Connect directly to either a cable or DSL broadband Internet service, and choose your online music, either by creating personalized radio stations or by creating personalized lists of music, stored in a secure "online jukebox," which are then streamed to the system.

GSM Fisio Mobile Phones. They combine easy operation and smart design with advanced GPRS for mobile Internet access. The Fisio 820 has a large full color LCD display, Bluetooth connectivity, advanced GPRS, and the ability to receive and store color photographs and graphics. The Fisio 120/121 has a changeable front cover, T9 text messaging, and downloadable melodies. The 121 model is Wap-enabled.

Detachable Monitors. Now you can use your computer without wires. These monitors are lightweight, flexible, smart, and can deliver Internet access, entertainment and other information anywhere in a wireless, networked home.