Microsoft keynote kicks off Consumer Electronics Show, Motorola confirms Xoom tablet

The Consumer Electronics Show has barely been open for one day and yet major tech companies and manufacturers have already released hundreds of new computers, gadgets and other technologies that will dominate the scene for the year to come.

Some key trends have already emerged – the continued use of 3D technology, the emergence of tablets as the next big consumer item and 4G smartphones.

But with so much to cover, we present some of the bigger announcements from yesterday’s kick-off.

In possibly the most anticipated announcement of the day, Motorola announced the Xoom tablet. This 10-inch gadget will run on the Android Honeycomb software, which is specifically designed for tablet devices, not smartphones.

The gadget itself, one of about 80 being shown off this weekend, features 3G and 4G connectivity, full 1080p HD playback, dual-core processor, 720p video recording, Adobe Flash support, up to 10 hours of battery life, 32GB of storage and an SD card slot.

This, along with the RIM PlayBook which had some more display time yesterday, could give the iPad some serious competition.

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer, who delivered the first keynote of the show, made a number of minor announcements, along with some other technical announcements, but overall there was nothing huge for consumers or businesses.

The company confirmed its Avatar Kinect program, which will allow Xbox users to use their avatars to chat to each other in virtual living rooms, along with audio/Kinect support for Netflix and Hulu – both limited to US customers.

LG has announced a range of Smart TVs, using its new digital content platform to allow LG products to connect and talk with each other. It also announced the Optimus smartphone, which will run on 4G networks.

Panasonic released the Viera tablet, and a range of cameras that will be able to film in both 2D and 3D.

Sony also launched a new range of Bloggie cameras that will be able to take pictures in 3D. The company also announced a range of more sophisticated and powerful LED TVs, many of which come with 3D capabilities.

The company also launched the new Headman unit – this is a type of headset that acts as a personal cinema, using screens within the headset to create a view that appears to viewers as a full-screen experience. Unfortunately, the unit is only a prototype and won’t be available to consumers for some time.

Dell has also announced its seven-inch version of the Streak tablet, which will run on the Android operating system and come with 4G capability – another trend popular among mobile and tablet manufacturers this year.

The gadget features a rear-facing five megapixel camera, along with a 1.3 megapixel camera for the front, and comes with Qik Video Chat pre-installed. (Qik has just been purchased by Skype for a reported $US100 million).

Samsung launched a range of 4G smartphones, and a number of new televisions, many of which feature 3D capability. It also launched a range of more powerful camcorders.

Another major technical attraction has been the Intel Sandy Bridge chips, which have been shown off in a range of new hardware including gaming computers and a variety of laptops. The chips are designed to integrate high-end graphics requirements with the normal CPU, eliminating the need for more expensive dedicated graphics chips.

Entertainment groups including Warner Brothers have also praised the Sandy Bridge chips, saying they will be able to deliver more content directly to consumers via digital distribution as a result of the greater graphics power.

But CES isn’t just about the big, expensive gizmos. Here are a few lesser-known gadgets that are sure to capture some attention this year:

• Portable gaming has been a big trend this year, with the rise of smartphones allowing for more graphically intensive games. Peripherals company Razer is taking that concept a step further, designing the Switchblade. It’s a laptop, but the digital keys change based on whatever game you’re playing.
• Energiser has released some snazzy new chargers, including an iPhone battery case and a solar-powered charger.
• One of the biggest attractions of the iPhone has been the plethora of games hitting the market, including arcade-style games. ThinkGeek has released a joystick that attaches to the tablet screen, allowing users to control old-school games with a physical control.
• Visteon has managed to put an iPad into a dashboard and integrate an entire car infrastructure with the gadget.