EVOLUTION was the keyword of CES 2012—more than REVOLUTION. Lots of “new and improved” products. TVs got nicer, 3D got sharper, projectors got smaller and brighter, phones got faster, headphones got fancier, and Bluetooth technology became more common.

In nine headlines, here are the high points from this year's CES:

1. Windows phones were abuzz on the convention floor—noticeably more visible than the Android buzz of 2011. Nokia's Lumia 900 was my favorite Windows phone with its 4G connectivity and slick display.

2. New cameras were abundant. Citizen journalists now have access to consumer-end technology that takes better pictures and video than many TV stations are equipped to capture/broadcast. Nikon's D4 DSLR digital camera is quite good.

3. OLED television technology was visible and impressive this year. LG’s 55 inch 55EM9600 was most extraordinary. Also noteworthy, Dish released the Dish Tailgater, perfect for satellite TV addicts on the go.









Source: InformationWeek.com

4. This was the year of the headphones at #CES. Big, small, bright, with bling… take your pick. There were plenty of new headphones with every conceivable feature and option. The coolest were the Yurbuds, earbuds for athletes. Impressive design.

5. Microsoft had a sizable booth with an abundant crowd to match. They showed off their new Windows 8 Operating System. The new OS is very usable and puts a lot of Web-based information on the desktop of users. Here's a new word: “CHARMS.” Instead of shortcuts, now Microsoft's Windows 8 has Charms.

6. Apple did not have a booth at CES, but they had 250 of their best and brightest employees wandering the floor doing reconnaissance. Their technology was often imitated at CES with a bevy of new sleek and slim competitors to Apple’s MacBook Air. Acer Ultrabook and Dell’s XPS13 were standouts for their design and carryability. My favorite was the HP Envy Spectre 14. Rolling Stone calls it an “airport-friendly workhorse.”

7. Connected TVs most certainly evolved from last year’s show. While there are a number of interesting “interactive TV” platforms, there are no standards across the industry, which will make it difficult for content creators to provide interactive content to a substantial audience. Any content creator who wants to play in the “connected TV” sandbox will have to pick one or two platforms to focus on—or be equipped to build apps for a large number of systems.

8. Connected cars continue to evolve too. Ford, Subaru, and Honda added Internet-radio integration at CES, as well as custom, user-created radio stations and other Web content by connecting their in-car system with users’ smart phones and a free, downloadable app. Honda and Subaru are offering Aha radio in upcoming models, which will offer access to MOG, Rhapsody, Shoutcast, Slacker, and others. Ford also now boasts a SYNC-enabled iHeartRadio app.

9. Radio is appearing in more devices. Blackberry announced that it has an FM chip in two of its Curve smartphones. HD Radio also had a nice presence at the show, showing off a presence in more than 85 vehicle types.