From connected sets to mad 3D visors, the show threw up a load of new displays that Tech Digest would kill to have at home.
We've pulled together our five favourite bits of TV tech from the Las Vegas show. Check them out in the videos below.
1: Sony's 3D Headset
Our favourite bit of TV tech from the show wasn't technically a TV at all. This concept from Sony crammed two small OLED displays inside a Tron-like visor, giving the wearer a personal 3D display wherever they turned their head. It worked a charm, despite only being in the early stages of development.
2: LG Passive Cinema 3D TVs
Continuing the stellar work they've put into their 3D developments were LG, launching their new Cinema 3D range of passive 3D TVs. We spoke to George Mead of LG, who explained the companies increasing focus on passive sets, and why the general public seem to be leaning towards that technology rather than active 3D sets.
3: LG ST600 Smart TV Upgrader
Another ace bit of kit from LG was the ST600 Smart TV Upgrader. Expected to cost no more than £100 at launch, it turns any HDMI-equipped TV into a "Smart" TV, capable of web browsing and using apps. With connected sets expected to become ever more dominant in stores, this inexpensive box will make sure your older set isn't branded a dunce.
4: Sharp Aquos Quattron 3D TV
We're big fans of Sharp's Aquos Quattron range at Tech Digest, as shown in our review of the set. Sharp have now revamped the range with 3D smarts, and it's looking very special indeed.
5: Sony's 3D glasses-free autostereoscopic TV
Super-slim OLED TVs always attract the Tech Digest team like flies to a UV light trap, and Sony's 3D glasses-free autostereoscopic OLED TV was no exception. With a great viewing angle and a genuine sense of depth given to the images, it had even the edge of Toshiba's similar sets, despite the latter being expected to go to retail before the year is out.
While a tablet-saturated CES didn't make for an exactly inspiring 2011 show, there was still more than enough great tech on display to have us looking forward to the year ahead. Leaps forward in 3D display quality were exciting, while dual-core smartphones may prove to be the most exciting development in mobile technology since the advent of the app.
Tech Digest were on the ground at the annual Las Vegas show. Here are our picks of the best gear and announcements from CES 2011.
1: Sony's 3D headset concept
Easily the coolest item we saw at the show, concept or otherwise, was Sony's 3D headset. Fitting over your head like the old-school virtual reality sets, it employed two OLED screens and pseudo-5.1 channel headphone surround to give an effective, personal 3D cinema experience. It's a long way off from hitting stores, but we loved it even at this early stage.
2: LG Optimus 2X smartphone
While the LG Optimus 2X may seem a fairly standard Android handset, it actually sits on the cusp of what is sure to be the next major trend in smartphone technology. The first dual-core smartphone to hit the market, it runs at a blistering pace, swapping between intensive 3D gaming tasks and HD video recording without breaking a sweat. Dual-core is the future, and expect all major manufacturer's flagship handsets to follow suit.
3: ARM chip support for next version of Windows
No video for this one, but a huge CES story nonetheless. While the CES showstoppers inevitably turned out to be the Sony and LG big guns, there's a quiet revolution beginning to spark over at ARM, the UK semiconductor chip suppliers.
That's due to the fact that Microsoft dropped the bombshell that ARM mobile processors will be supported in the next iteration of their operating system, aka Windows 8.
What makes this such a big deal? Windows currently supports x86 silicon processors from the likes of AMD and Intel which, while powerful, are power hungry and noisy. This is significant particular in laptop and netbook computing, where the processors burn through battery power at an often alarming rate.
ARM chips, already making big waves on mobile platforms, are near silent and massively more power efficient. You're talking potentially quadrupled battery life and instant start-up times on devices using both ARM chips and the next Microsoft OS.
It also bodes well for Microsoft's next wave of tablets, which will inevitably house some variant of the Windows 8 platform, which will also benefit from the increased chip efficiency.
4: Motorola Xoom tablet
Motorola's Xoom tablet was easily the best of the 100+ tablets launched at the show. Running Android 3.0 Honeycomb (the first build of the OS to specifically work with the tablet form), the dual-core slate was zippy and packed full of features. 1080P HD video playback, 720p HD recording, 5MP stills, a front-facing camera, 32GB of storage, HDMI output, all housed in a gorgeous 10.1 inch unit. There's even a barometer inside to predict the weather by measuring atmospheric pressure. It's looking pretty special, and will give the inevitable iPad 2 some real competition.
5: Pioneer Network Vision HUD laser car satellite navigation concept
Another concept piece that's still way off from hitting the stores was the Pioneer Network Vision HUD. Sitting on your dashboard, it's a laser projector that syncs with your smartphone to beam data onto the inside of your windscreen. There's the potential for this concept to totally shake up the sat-nav market; imagine having a minimal Google Maps system projected right onto our car windscreen while you drive, alongside social network updates and contact info. Potentially distracting, if developed delicately it could change driving forever.
6: LG ST600 Smart TV Upgrader
Smart or connected TVs were all over the place at CES 2011. If the major manufacturers have there way, every TV in your house will be web-enabled and filled with apps. Thanks to LG, those features wont just be limited to brand spanking new sets either. Their ST600 Smart TV Upgrader connects to any TV with a HDMI port, and instantly turns it into an internet-savvy gogglebox. The best part? LG expect to sell for no more than £100 when it launches in the Spring. Definitely one of our show favourites.
7: Sony's 3D glasses-free autostereoscopic OLED TV
LG impressed back at IFA last year with their 31 inch 3D OLED display, but Sony went one better at CES 2011 by throwing autostereoscopic tech into the mix. Their OLED was vibrant, sharp and had a real sense of depth, without the need for glasses. If 3D is truly going to win over the hearts of the casual gadget fan, Sony are definitely moving the technology in the right direction.
8: Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series laptop/tablet hybrid
Not sure whether you want a laptop or a tablet PC? Get the best of both worlds with the Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series hybrid. The Sliding PC 7 Series solves your problem in that it can be used as a tablet with a touch screen and apps, but also features a sliding keyboard so it can be used as a fully functioning PC. It has a 10 inch screen, runs Windows 7 and has 3G connectivity as an option.
9: Gibson Firebird Z robotic guitar
Robotic guitars aren't exactly brand new, but we couldn't help but become smitten with the Gibson Firebird Z. The veritable axe-powerhouse have put together a very nifty guitar that, on a purely mechanical level is a dream to play. Throw into the mix near limitless built-in combinations of pedals and amp settings, as well as the very cool auto-tuning headstocks and you've got a guitar for the Jetsons age.
10: Angry Birds: Knock on Wood boardgame
A little bit of fun to round the list off. We went hands-on (literally) with the Angry Birds of mobile app fame, as they hit the real world with the Knock on Wood boardgame. It's a bit like Jenga, but with plastic pigs and birds, which will come as no surprise to the millions of fans the game already has.
Tired of receiving a rubbish reception on your mobile phone? Sick of important calls cutting out midway during conversations? Picochip, a Bath-based semiconductor company, may well have the answer to your problems in the shape of femtocells, small cellular base stations that extend a service provider's network via broadband.
"Our chips revolutionise the way people make cellular networks and the way you use your cellphone" said Rupert Baines, Vice President of Marketing at Picochip.
"You're probably not familiar with the term femtocell; yet", teased Baines. "Our femtocell products give you perfect cellular coverage; the "5-Bar" lifestyle. No more coverage blackspots, no more dropped calls, but instead crystal clear voice, screaming fast data and better battery life."
Picochip are introducing picoXcell technology at CES 2011, an advancement that will potentially allow users to create an entire 3G cellular basestation from a USB dongle.
"It may sound incredible, but within a matter of months we'll be able to fit a complete 3G basestation on a USB dongle," said Baines.
"The last year has shown just how versatile femtocell technology is. We believe that giving our customers the ability to put a femtocell on a USB dongle enables huge opportunities for Picochip, network equipment suppliers, makers of consumer products and service providers. It's part of our vision for driving the market forward. And for end users, access to enhanced cellular services will become as simple as plugging in a USB key."
Some rather cool iPad software (and device) from Griffin that turns your tablet into a remote contol. The interface looks very easy and it seems simple to add devices. It can cope with Macros (one flick turns the TV on and the sat receiver too) also pulls in a TV guide too.
It works on touchs and iPhones too and the Android version is imminent.
The app will be out in Spring and costs around $80 US. Not sure about UK pricing yet.
This is one of the most talked about Tablets at the show thanks to a very impressive line up of features. The company has ramped up the Tablet's spec so that the top-end version of this 10 inch Tablet can be fitted with 256Gigabytes of storage. According to eLocity it also boasts the highest resolution screen of any Tablet - 1366x768. It runs the latest Android 3.0 operating system powered by the top-end Nvidia Tegra 2 1 GHX processor, has a front facing 1.3inch camera and is available at a variety of price points from the spring depending on how much storage you want.
We have a soft spot for Griffin as they always turn up with something a bit different. This year they unveiled the Griffin Car Kit which connects your iPhone to the computer in your car to keep tabs on how you are driving and how your car is performing.
Even guitars are getting a tech makeover at CES 2011. Gibson, home to classic guitar models such as the Les Paul and Flying V, were on hand at the show floor to demo their new robotic guitar, the Firebird Z.
With auto-tuning headstocks and banks of sounds allowing you to replicate any number of pedal, amp and guitar model combinations, it had Gerald worked up enough to shoot a 7 mintue video of the gear. He had to be dragged away kicking and screaming from the booth.
Check out why he was so excited in the video above.
Plenty of manufacturers not known for their computing tech have taken on the challenge of developing tablets here at CES 2011. Ranking alongside Polaroid in the unexpected tablet stakes is the Creative ZiiO Android slate.
With Creative better known for their audio and recording tech, it comes as no surprise here that the focus is on superior sound quailty, with a range of Bluetooth audio devices lined up to work alongside the ZiiO. It's currently running Android 2.2, but will be compatible with 2.3 once it launches.
Who said tablets had to be for adults? Trying to corner a market that the Apple and Samsung big-guns haven't focussed on, Vinci are designing tablets aimed primarly at children.
With an easy-grip and safe rubber handle, the tablet runs on Android 2.2, but features bespoke software that looks the child into educational software, meaning they wont be able to stumble across adult content not suitable for their innocent little heads.
After a midi-guitar that's just as freindly recording to Logic as it is at mucking about with pals on Rock Band or Guitar Hero? Then check out the You Rock Digital guitar.
With tons of preset sounds, it doesn't feature any physical strings over the fretboard, meaning it'll never go out of tune. It's looking like a great learning tool for budding musicians.
While CES is primarily a platform for companies to tout their latest and greatest wares for the coming year, the show often throws up a little concept gem that has the potential to truly revolutionise our day to day lives.
Once such device we saw on the show floor at CES 2011 was the Pioneer Network Vision HUD. It's a small RGB laser projection kit that would sit on your dashboard, sync up with your smartphone and project navigation information, caller ID and social network details directly onto the inside of your car windshield.
In terms of navigation hardware, it'd make the TomTom look as dated as an A-Z.
Now here's one of our favourite items from CES 2011; LG's ST600 Smart TV Upgrader.
All the major TV manufacturers at CES 2011 are billing web-connected and app-freindly sets as the next big thing. But what if you've already got a perfectly good HD TV set without connected features? If you can't afford the premium of a new set, LG will have you covered with their ST600 Smart TV upgrader.
A box no bigger than a 2nd-gen Apple TV, it'll hook up to any TV with a HDMI port to give it all the features of LG's latest Smart TV range. Apps, web video content, social networking; the lot.
And the best bit? It's predicted to retail for little more than £100. Great stuff.
Connected, or "Smart", TVs have seen a major push at CES 2011, with all major manufacturers putting out new and improved ranges for the new yeavr.
Perhaps the most committed to getting your TV web-savvy are LG, whose Smart TV range with Wii-Like Magic Motion remote features the slickest gesture-based interface of the bunch.
LG's George Mead talks us through the sets in the video above.
While the battle between which 3D technology (active or passive) will eventually rule the roost rages on at CES 2011, only LG have had the foresight to offer both formats for 3D playback in the home.
With that in mind, it's interesting that LG's 3D range this year leans far more heavily towards passive screens, with the company's Cinema 3D range of passive sets accounting for a massive chunk of their large CES 2011 booth.
We caught up with LG's George Mead who talked us through the sets, and offered some insight into the growing popularity of passive sets.
We wouldn'tt recommend shaking this like a Polaroid picture, though it does carry the instant photography company's branding. It is infact the first tablet from Polaroid, a protoype on show at CES 2011 called the TC 970.
Running Android 2.2, it's a 9.7 inch tablet capable of 720p playback. GPS capabilities are bolstered by a 2MP web cam, while a Cortex A8 processor clocked at 1GHz makes for a surprisingly zippy and responsive browsing experience.
There are enough tablets out here at CES 2011 to fill a hyperchondriacs multi-storey medicine cabinet, and manufacturers Coby are bumping the numbers up considerably by launching several new Android tablets in their new Kyros range.
We headed over to their stand to try out the 10.1 inch model, which you can check out in the video above.
Fujifilm have had a strong showing at this years CES. We headed over to their booth to check out the Fujifilm S4000 digital camera, available in March.
Check out the 14MP camera, equipped with a 30x wide angle zoom, in the video above.
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