CES 2009 - Las Vegas Convention Center

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show, took over Las Vegas, Nevada this week, and In Tech Today was there to bring you the highlights from the convention, taking place from January 8th through January 11th at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Sands Expo.

CES 2009 - Samsung

Just as in earlier years, CES has proven itself to be the biggest show of the tech industry, with numerous companies all turning out to display the latest products which will find their way to store shelves, and into the hands of eagerly awaiting consumers. Though the economy showed itself at the event, by way of smaller displays than in past years and slightly decreased traffic, the show did go on, and many of the biggest names in electronics made the trip to take part in the event.

CES 2009 - Panasonic LCD

Once again, high-definition (HD) displays were where it was at this year, with many companies showing off the thinnest and sharpest screens to ever grace the show floor. Streaming media and built-in Internet features were also prominent in the latest display technology, allowing users to view Internet content without the need of a PC, download video on demand content directly to their TV displays, and seamlessly integrate their displays into a home network with built-in Ethernet ports and Wi-Fi. Unsightly wires are also quickly becoming a thing of the past, with wireless HDMI hookups that allow your home theater components to interact directly with your TV without the need for cables. Place your TV at one end of the room, for example, hide all of your home theater’s components at the other end of the room, and watch your favorite Blu-ray movie stream itself to your screen with no loss of picture quality. Download your favorite Netflix picks right to your TV, or download Amazon Video On Demand videos to your TV as well. The choice is yours, and the big brand companies are making home theater setups, and content delivery, easier than ever.

CES 2009 - Samsung OLED Display

Green is also a big initiative this year among the top electronics makers. Many new “green” products were on display, promising to save you money, and help save the planet, by using less energy. By using more environmentally friendly components and engineering techniques, designed to drastically lower the amount electricity needed to operate the devices, manufacturers are looking to do their part to help the environment, as well as the budgets of their customers.

CES 2009 - LG

CES 2009 - LG Watch Phone

CES 2009 - LG 3D Technology Display

Among the most popular booths this year were Sony, Samsung, Intel, Microsoft, and LG. In fact, LG seemed to be extremely popular this year, placing their booth in the prize space of the Central Hall, and showing off a variety of new displays, a video phone watch, and 3D technology that had everyone talking, including a small theater setup with a 3D projector, which displayed amazing, lifelike animations, astounding graphics, and even a U2 concert video that made you feel as if you were right there in the arena.

CES 2009 - Sony 3D Technology Display

Other companies, such as Sony, also had 3D technology on display, featuring movies, sports, and video games brought to life with extreme clarity. 3D was definitely a popular trend at this year’s show, and is one technology consumers will definitely want to get their hands on as soon as it becomes available.

CES 2009 - Sony Webbie HD

Camera technology also continues to improve, including small, pocket HD camcorders, which make taking HD video on the go a breeze. One camera of note was Sony’s upcoming Webbie HD camera, which allows for full 1080p MP4 video recording, as well as still image capture at 5MP. The small camera even has a rotating lens, which swivels 270 degrees, allowing you to film yourself, if you choose to, making it perfect for a personal video blog. It also includes built-in software for editing and uploading your videos and images, and saves content to Sony’s Memory Stick Pro Duo media. The Webbie HD comes in several colors, and will be available in March.

CES 2009 - Sony OLED Display

CES 2009 - Sony Vaio Lifestyle PC

Sony also showed off a 21-inch OLED prototype display, which is thinner than 10mm, has a contrast ratio greater than 1,000,000 to 1, and 1366x768 WXGA resolution. The company’s new VAIO Lifestyle PC also drew a lot of interest, with its 8-inch LCD display, built-in 3G and GPS, built-in webcam, and a price range of $899 to $1,499. The small PC weighs only 1.4 lbs. and comes in a variety of colors. It will begin shipping in February, but is available for pre-order now.

CES 2009 - Palm Pre

Palm stepped back into the smartphone wars in a big way this week. As many of the major cell phone companies were showing off their latest creations, Palm announced the Pre, a 3.1-inch touch screen smartphone that features a keyboard that slides out and an operating system that allows you to multi-task, keeping several programs open at once, something many competitor phones lack. The phone also features built-in 3G, GPS, Bluetooth, and a 3MP camera with an LED flash, making the Pre a serious competitor to similar phones on the market. Palm’s Pre won high praise from many for its new design, and rich set of features. It will be available on the Sprint network when it is released.

CES 2009 - Celebrities at CES

The media also turned out to CES in full force. NBC Universal broadcast some of their popular news and entertainment shows directly from the show floor, as did CNET, G4, and others. Many familiar faces were also on hand, including Maria Bartiromo of CNBC, David Pogue of the New York Times, Nancy O’Dell, and Jimmy Fallon. Many of CNET’s top personalities were also seen, including Tom Merritt, Molly Wood, Brian Tong, Brian Cooley, and Natali Del Conte.

CES 2009 - GAS Car Showcase

All in all, CES 2009 did not disappoint, featuring some exciting new products to look forward to this year, and some great prototypes and concept products to look forward to in the years to come.

CES 2009 - Sharp 108-inch LCD