The Top Five Highlights and Technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show 2010

If you aren't a technophile, then the passage of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held from January 7th to 10th, might not have registered on your radar. But whether you paid any attention or not, CES is often where tomorrow's technology makes its debut, and this year was no exception. Below are the top five trends and technologies that appeared this year, and information about when they'll be making their way from the showroom to your home.

USB 3.0
What it is: The next generation of super-fast electronic communication.

How it affects you: Take a look at your digital camera. Chances are it's got a USB port. Your computer? If it was made in the last decade, it more likely than not has a USB port too. Game controllers, USB flash drives, external hard drives, web cams, even consumer digital camcorders all use USB (it stands for Universal Serial Bus) to transfer information. USB 3.0 is the latest and fastest specification yet; theoretically, CNET reports, it's up to 10x faster than USB 2. Even better than the increase in speed and its widespread adoption is that it is backwards-compatible; USB 3 devices can be used in old USB ports to run at the native port speed, so while you won't get the speed increase you also don't have to worry about having the wrong port.

When it arrives: Now. According to CNET the first USB 3.0 laptop (from HP) is shipping, and the USB 3.0 cards themselves are also being sold. Within the next year or two most computers will have switched over.

Mobile television
What it is: A new host of peripherals that let you watch live television on the move.

How it affects you: You can watch live television on the move. Before now, most devices were limited to downloaded content off the internet or synced via computer. These new devices-made by Vizio, Samsung, and Qualcomm, among others-are a mix of various technologies and platforms. CNET suggests that these devices and local television programming will spur adoption, not only by creating new platforms specifically designed for live television, but by bringing live TV to existing and popular platforms like the iPhone and other cellular phones. Many such devices, PC Magazine reports, are using a new standard called TSC-M/H that allows for broadcasting even to moving customers. While it's up in the air how many consumers will flock to the new technology, it allows flexible viewing never before possible.

When it arrives: Most models are arriving this year. Vizio's "Razor LED" series arrives later in 2010, while Flo TV is available now on its own dedicated player, or through other handhelds.

New graphics cards
What it is: The pinnacle of gaming technology as we know it.

How it affects you: These days, most computer manufacturers are no longer stuffing as many megahertz as they can into their processors, instead creating dual or quad core options. Graphics cards, however, continue to operate like an arms race. At the CES, AMD showed off its new ATI mobile graphics cards. These new chips, PC Magazine reports, support the latest standards like OpenCL and DirectX 11, and package it all into a small, laptop-size package that are more energy-efficient-meaning longer gaming on the road. AMD isn't the only one with new chips-rival Nvidia will soon unveil its next generation chips, which create incredibly realistic renders (and also run very hot). In fact, graphics processors have changed so much, TechReport says, that it's become necessary in the past year to learn a host of new terms-warps, clusters, and kernels-to keep up. With the changes come more efficient chips and dazzling results.

When it arrives: Nvidia's Fermi chips are rumored to appear in March '10; AMD's new mobile chips are slated for the first half of the year.

Tablet PCs
What it is: The return of the oft-maligned alternative PC?

How it affects you: There's no doubt tablet PCs are handy for jotting down notes or interactive, on-the-go uses-but they've never caught on. New tablets at CES, however, suggest that the industry is banking on creating a niche for them. Many models, such as the HP TouchSmart tm2, function as laptops that with a flip of the screen fold into tablets. Lenovo, USA Today reported, went a step further, essentially creating a removable tablet fused with a laptop, each running different operating systems. Even more amazing? Lenovo's IdeaPad U1 rig is going to cost less than $1000. If those tablets aren't enough to get your interest, there's the much-hyped and much-rumored Apple tablet that may (or may not) be appearing late this month, the Los Angeles Times writes.

When it arrives: This year, at various points. The Apple tablet? If it turns out to be genuine, things such as release date and price are still up in the air.

3D HDTVs
What is is: High-definition television sets, equipped to play the 3D movies now showing in theaters.

How it affects you: While I personally find 3D annoying and gimmicky, it seems to be another technology from the past that is making a vengeful comeback. Until now, however, the experience was limited to special theaters. Hardware manufacturers are taking different routes to approach the issue. Some sets use the standard 3D glasses, while another method eschews them entirely. Panasonic's model won CNET's best in show award; the publication reports that through a stereoscopic effect, full high definition quality is retained, in addition to the 3D effect. While content is still in short supply, now that the hardware is ready, 3D Blu-Ray movies won't be far behind.

When it arrives: Panasonic's model arrives in the spring, while other offerings from Sony, Toshiba, and Vizio will arrive this year and next.

References
*Crothers, Brooke (2010-01-12). "It's Official: HP Laptop available with USB 3.0". CNET. Accessed January 12, 2010.
*Meardon, Marguerite (2010-01-10). "Local TV could spur Mobile TV adoption". CNET. Accessed January 12, 2010.
*Donnell, Wendy (2010-01-07). "Vizio Enters Mobile TV, Wireless Audio Markets". PC Magazine. Accessed January 11, 2010.
*Einstein, David (2010-01-04). "Mobile TV service on your phone". San Francisco Chronicle. Accessed January 10, 2010.
*Murray, Matthew (2010-01-07). "ATI Mobile Graphics add DirectX 11, Eyefinity". PC Magazine. Accessed January 12, 2010.
*Springmann, Alessondra (2010-01-12). "Hot new Fermi Chips from Nvidia rumored to appear in March". PC Magazine. Accessed January 12, 2010.
*Sommefeldt, Rys (2009-11-23). "Inside Fermi's graphics architecture". TechReport. Accessed January 3, 2010.
*Kessler, Michelle (2010-01-06). "CES: Tablet PCs from HP, Lenovo". USA Today. Accessed January 12, 2010.
*Colker, David (2010-01-12). "Apple tablet details disclosed, maybe". Los Angeles Times. Accessed January 12, 2010.
*Katzmaier, David (2010-01-06). "Panasonic makes 3D HD official". CNET. Accessed January 11, 2010.
*Miller, Michael (2010-01-12). "3d TV: Four Things you Need to Know". PC Magazine. Accessed January 12, 2010.