The world has been watching the Consumer Electronics Shows (CES) year after year for the best and the latest discoveries, updates, revolutions, and progress in various technology developments, particularly in the world of electronics. You could think of TVs, smartphones, gaming consoles, refrigerators, laptops, tablet PCs, and even robotics, all showcased by famous and emerging names in the industry. As this show is being hosted in many locations across the US, people from different nations are gazing on what’s new, what’s hot, and what’s to change. Without further adieu, let’s check the top 10 highlights of CES 2013 and see the best things to look forward to.

10. Appliances Level Up

Photo Source: http://www.tweaktown.com/news/27694/samsung_ces_2013_press_conference_live/index.html

Samsung created a refrigerator that can help you access Google Calendar, create lists via Evernote, and also check the weather. If you think that’s impressive, then you won’t believe that the refrigerator can adjust freezer capacity or revert space to ref at the touch of a button, which is truly amazing. HAPIfork actually tracks how many servings you took, how heavy each serving is, and how fast you eat. When it notices that you are on the eating rage, it vibrates and emit lights just to warn you of your changing eating habits.

9. Techno for the Music

Photo Source: http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/hi-fi-radio/pure-adds-to-multi-room-music-lineup-with-new-speakers-hi-fi-adaptor-1123056 

Pure chose the CES 2013 in making the ground even with Sonos when it comes to providing multi-room audio streaming. Jongo, which comes in bright colors and fancy sizes, can start streaming audio from one WiFi or Bluetooth device, and distributing audio all over an area where these speakers are interconnected. Philips is changing the audio home theater game with its HTL9100, which has a similarity with the wings of a plane. You can actually divide it so that you could have a surround sound experience, without the cables, as they are connected wirelessly.

8. Storages Size Up

Photo Source: http://www.ubergizmo.com/2013/01/seagate-wireless-plus-hdd/

This year, Seagate improves its GoFlex Satellite product by giving it twice the battery life, smaller size, sleeker look, and better functionality for PCs, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs, with the new Wireless Plus. Thanks to its DLNA and AirPlay-capable functionality, devices can connect to this baby via WiFi in order to have real-time storage in the home. It also comes with 1 Terabyte for starters. Kingston also introduced another world’s first: a 1TB USB 3.0 Flash Drive called the Hyper Predator.

7. Gadget Monitoring with Networking

Photo Source: http://thenextweb.com/gadgets/2013/01/07/ces-new-products-tap-into-personal-data-but-how-much-i-is/

Delphi and Verizon teamed up to create Vehicle Diagnostics. It is a small device that can be placed in a vehicle that can be used for monitoring car health, location, and condition. It can also control basic functions like locking/unlocking the doors, or remote starting, all via a smartphone. Tetherboard also came up with a way to control the batteries inside a device, via a battery-shaped Bluetooth gagdet that can be inserted in anything that runs through an AAA battery. You can deactivate it when not in use or activate it when you want to control an equipment or toy, without the need of removing the batteries. Roccat Power-Grid lets you control your PC via a smartphone app and a program installed on both ends. You can check on your email, social networking accounts, and even online games, without being in front of the monitor.

6. Huge Touchscreens and Tables

Photo Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/lenovo-introduces-ideacentre-horizon-table-pc-at-ces-2013

We have seen tech top technologies evolve from one device to another. There was desktop, palmtop, laptop, and now it’s tabletop. Lenovo created its IdeaCentre Horizon Tabletop PC, which can be used for browsing, playing games, and doing anything else, while everything is on the table. It was 27 inches when introduced but Lenovo plans on doing a 37-inch model. 3M also touted another tabletop, but this time, using a screen of over 2 meters that is 100% touch screen, with no idle sides.

5. Virtual and Augmented Reality Gaming

Photo Source: http://ces.cnet.com/8301-34441_1-57563185/hands-on-oculus-rift-vr-headset/

The Oculus Rift VR headset may provide old and curious game fans a trip back to memory lane, when playing VR was merely playing a video game while wearing enclosed glasses. However, this unit may change gaming for good, especially being intuitive for FPS games as control and view moves the same way as the head. While augmented reality games currently have limited choices for both iOS and Android, it is rare to have existing objects being used as part of a gaming environment. Sphero, an iOS-controlled game ball, can be used as a controlled character in other games, giving you a feel of actually playing in a realistic environment.

4. Nvidia’s Project Shield

Photo Source: http://www.gadgetreview.com/2013/01/ces-2013-nvidia-announces-project-shield-12-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-mobile-gaming-pcconsole-hybrid-android-device-list.html

There was Nintendo Wii U in the latter part of 2012 and some are waiting for the dawn of the PS4 and the XBox 720. While these names and brands may be more of a household name, Nvidia introduces its very own gaming console called Project Shield. This new gaming device is actually a gaming controller that has two analog sticks, a D-pad, four command buttons, and additional five buttons in the middle for settings and interaction. This also has speakers and a flip-screen that makes this device a mobile game device, operated via Android Jellybean.

3. 4K and 4-powered Tablet PCs

Photo Source: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/422473/20130109/panasonic-4k-tablet-preview.htm

Tablets will still remain in the tech market and there are two devices in CES that may set the trend of what will come out in the next coming months. Panasonic made its statement, unexpectedly, with a 20-inch Windows 8 tablet that has 4K resolution graphics. This may be something big, but it may eventually come into good use as both consumers and manufacturers think of a way of how this will sell. On the other hand, Vizio also stunned spectators of the first tablet that has been powered by an Nvidia quad-core Tegra 4 processor. And since this is Vizio, buyers can be excited knowing that such a device can be purchased cheaper from most competitors.

2. 4K Resolution TVs

Photo Source: http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-110-inch-4k/4505-6482_7-35567550.html

Samsung, Sony, and LG have shown the future of TV in a whole new way. It was not just about the new looks or the quality of images on the screen, more importantly, viewers may be experiencing the view of a 1080p HD quality that four times the size, which still gives crisp, colorful, and smooth graphics even on an 85-inch screen. While this may be a nice addition to the home, you may have to shell out about $20,000 once these babies are sold in the market.

1. Smartphone Mania

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On one side, Huawei presented its 6.1-inch phablet “smartphone tablet” hybrid that touts as a competitor to Samsung Galaxy Note II, without the heavy expense. Sony Xperia Z has also introduced in the mobile world, the first of its type to have a 13-megapixel camera and can even be dipped in water for over 30 minutes, with its HzO technology. But what stole the show was the first Flexible OLED phones from Samsung, called the Youm. It has a flexible screen that is curved on one side, which can be used as a notification section that lets you read messages even when your smartphone is covered. To show how the screen can be a game-changer, it was even curved, folded, and twitched, without damaging graphics or showing lag of any form.