2007年VOA标准英语-Consumer Electronics Show Debuts Latest 'Must H

By Mil Arcega
Washington, DC
10 January 2007
 
watch Consumer Electronics report

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) unveiled the latest electronic products this week in Las Vegas.  The annual trade show has become a major event for the electronics industry since the show's debut¹ four decades ago.  For high tech junkies, the exhibition is a chance to see the newest technological² marvels³ that could change the way we live and work. 

Forty years ago, consumer electronics meant two categories: transistor⁴ radios and TV's.  CES President Gary Shapiro says today an area the size of 30 football fields showcases the latest products, from high definition TV's, leopard⁵ skin laptops, to interactive⁶ video game furniture.

 
"Now, the average American family owns 26 consumer electronics products and they spend almost $1500 a year buying them," says Shapiro.

The good news is that some prices are coming down.  A 60-inch [152 centimeters] plasma⁷ screen TV is now available for under $3,000.

 And for $1,500, John Taylor at LG Electronics says his company has the solution to end the war between the next generation of competing DVD formats⁹. "The first player in the world that plays both Blue Ray and HD-DVD.  What does that mean? It means the format⁸ war is over."

Despite the rival technologies, the show's theme focuses on the "connected lifestyle".  Microsoft founder¹⁰ and CES keynote speaker Bill Gates says what that means is technology that allows digital content, from movies to e-mail, to follow consumers wherever they go.

"Our ambition is to give you connected experiences 24 hours a day,” said the Microsoft CEO. “We admit that when you're sleeping we haven't quite figured out what we're going to do for you there, but the rest of the time, the minute you get in the kitchen to look at that refrigerator, pick up your phone, hear the alarm clock tell you about the traffic, whatever it is, we want you to have the information that you're interested in."

 
Apple's i-Phone was unveiled at the MacWorld conference
And interest was extremely high for Steve Job's latest offering.   On Tuesday, Apple Computer's CEO unveiled two new gadgets¹¹.  One is a video box called Apple TV, touted¹² as a bridge between computers, Internet and television sets.

The other is a device dubbed¹³ the i-Phone, described as part i-Pod and part cell phone, without the number keys. "We have invented a new technology called multi-touch and it works like magic," he said.

Jobs calls the hybrid¹⁴ phone revolutionary but some consumer experts doubt Apple's i-Phone can rival the success of the iconic i-Pod.

1 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

2 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

3 marvels   

n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The doctor's treatment has worked marvels : the patient has recovered completely. 该医生妙手回春，病人已完全康复。 来自辞典例句
• Nevertheless he revels in a catalogue of marvels. 可他还是兴致勃勃地罗列了一堆怪诞不经的事物。 来自辞典例句

4 transistor   

n.晶体管，晶体管收音机

参考例句：

• This make of transistor radio is small and beautifully designed.这半导体收音机小巧玲珑。
• Every transistor has at least three electrodes.每个晶体管至少有三个电极。

5 leopard   

n.豹

参考例句：

• I saw a man in a leopard skin yesterday.我昨天看见一个穿着豹皮的男人。
• The leopard's skin is marked with black spots.豹皮上有黑色斑点。

6 interactive   

adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的

参考例句：

• The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。
• This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

7 plasma   

n.血浆，细胞质，乳清

参考例句：

• Keep some blood plasma back for the serious cases.留一些血浆给重病号。
• The plasma is the liquid portion of blood that is free of cells .血浆是血液的液体部分，不包含各种细胞。

8 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

9 formats   

n.（出版物的）版式( format的名词复数 )；[电视]电视节目的总安排（或计划）

参考例句：

• They are producing books in all kinds of different formats. 他们出版各种不同开本的书籍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A true GUI includes standard formats for representing text and graphics. 真正的图形用户界面包括表示文字和图形的标准格式。 来自互联网

10 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

11 gadgets   

n.小机械，小器具（ gadget的名词复数 ）

参考例句：

• Certainly. The idea is not to have a house full of gadgets. 当然。设想是房屋不再充满小配件。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• This meant more gadgets and more experiments. 这意味着要设计出更多的装置，做更多的实验。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

12 touted   

v.兜售( tout的过去式和过去分词 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报

参考例句：

• She's being touted as the next leader of the party. 她被吹捧为该党的下一任领导人。
• People said that he touted for his mother and sister. 据说，他给母亲和姐姐拉生意。 来自辞典例句

13 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。