For the past 40 years the first week of January is one of the most important weeks, if not the most important, for consumer electronic manufacturers and the reason for that is because that is when the most prestigious Consumer Electronics show is on.

Held in the city of Las Vegas Nevada, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a major electronics trade show. Sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association, the CES is a trade-only show not open to the public, and it is where manufacturers announce, introduce and preview future products.

A little bit of CES history:

The first CES show was held in New York in 1967. From 1978 to 1994, CES was held twice a year, once in the summer in Chicago and once in the winter held in Las Vegas. However, the summer SCES begun to loose popularity and in the summer of 1995 organisers decided to put the show on the road, consecutive failures led to the cancellation of the summer show and the single  show format was adopted.

Throughout the years the Consumer Electronics Show has been the main stage of notable products introductions, it would be impossible to list all products and technologies introduced at CES over the years, so here is a compilation of the most notable ones in chronological order:

1970: Was the year when the Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) was introduced.

1974: Was marked by the introduction of the Laser disc player.

1981: Two notable introductions this year; the Compact Disc (CD) and the Camcorder.

1985: First notable revolution in the gaming industry with the introduction of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

1996: Year when the DVD was introduced.

1998: HDTV was introduced.

2001: Microsoft introduced its gaming console the Xbox.

2008: Panasonic stole all the attention by releasing a 150 inch Plasma TVs as thin as 0.46 inches.

2009: Highlights to the impressive number of exhibiting companies, +2,700 and the introduction of 3-D Home Entertainment.

For all you gadget fans, here’s a product than may interest you… Lego have confirmed a new line of digital cameras to go on sale this summer.

The product is aimed at children, but no doubt this camera will get your inner 10 yr old excited.

At the moment there is no word on how much this very cool lego digital camera is going to cost or the sort of quality photographs it will produce, but it sure looks nifty.

Lego are also bringing out a line of PMPs and walkie talkies to coincide with the camera. 

The brand has sure come along way from the classic building blocks!

If you just managed to get your hands on a 42-inch TV you better enjoy it now because according to Sharp your TV will be old hat by 2015.

The prediction is based on the sales numbers in the last 12 months, sales of 46-inches TVs and above have risen 272% suggesting big screen TVs are becoming the norm rather the exception. Other screen TV sizes have also increased sales, 40-42 inch TVs sales are up 123% and 37-inch TVs sales are up 308%.

Mr Mike Gabriel, Head of Marketing and Communications for Sharp Electronics UK, said:

“Big screens are no longer for just shop windows or shiny office receptions. The demand for HD-ready 1080p picture quality in the home has led to an increase in both the affordability and availability of larger TVs. People can now expect a home cinema experience from their TV and technology that was once associated with the rich and famous is now accessible to homes across the country.”

The only problem with this mega sized TVs is where to put them as our houses continue to have the same size rooms.

I’m sure you have been to a 3D cinema before, they are pretty cool eh? Now imagine having one of those in your home.

That is what LG is planning to launch next year, a 3D TV. It won’t be the world’s first 3D TV, but that suggests that we are in for another revolution in the way we watch TV in the next year or so with all the major TV manufacturers developing their own 3D TVs.

According to Choon Lee, Vice President Director at the Digital TV Research Lab, LG will be launching at least one 3D TV next year.

“3D TVs are the next big step for us,” said Choon Lee, “We will try with one or two markets in 2009″

Even though he did not specify which market LG will tackle first he added:

“The start may come from home shopping channels. It’s easier to introduce and show off the products in 3D. It’s relatively easy to make content for animation, so comics and shopping will be first. Then it will migrate into soaps and other areas.”

LG is also developing a 3Dmonitor, aimed specifically to advertising, and not for our homes.

As a final quote Mr Choon Lee said:

“Over the next few years we will see lots more 3D”

With the Christmas Holiday season almost upon us, it is time to start thinking about what to ask for and what to give as presents. Despite all the talk about the credit crunch and global recession, shop owners and manufacturers are feeling optimistic for the upcoming shopping season.

Their biggest bet is on the new touchscreen gadgets, which they believe will catapult sales figures, with more and more people willing to spend their money on these types of gadgets even if it means they lose on quality or extra features.

Touchscreen technology has revolutionized the gadget industry this past year, leaving very few devices untouched, even digital cameras were affected.

Such technology has been around for many years, commonly found in cash points and airport monitors just to name a few. Now the technology is a must in consumer products, with Apple’s iphone leading the pack and Googles new Gphone the latest phone to feature multi touch.

Following Apple’s idea, are computer desktops, calculators, mp3 players like the Ipod Touch for example, even watches have touchscreens now that let the users control functions by tapping, dragging or sliding a finger.

Customers want touchscreen devices because they are well designed, are “cool” and have no buttons.

Touchscreen devices have less functionality and degraded picture quality compared with devices that are similarly priced. But customers don’t seem to care as the demand for these devices doesn’t stop rising.

Engadget has a interesting article about a new $599 17-servo robot kit that is now available in the states.  The Robot is capable of some impressive moves, check out this video showing the MechRC’s dance moves.

Epoq is launching, what it claims to be, the world’s smallest video projector named the Pico Cube EPP-HH01. This palm sized video projector weighs only 1.3kg and measures 2.2 x 2.2 x 1.6 inches which gives it a format of a little cube.

The EPP-HH01 is compatible with any video source such as Video Games, Computers, DVD Players, Digital and Video Cameras, Portable Media Players and Ipods, ideal for on the move business presentations.

The Pico Cube has a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, brightness rating of 3W and a very low contrast ratio of only 80:1 and an in-built 0.5W speaker.

Epoq is releasing the first Pico Cube in the US market with an attractive price of $249.00, around £143, but as always prices could possibly go up a bit, so don’t be surprised if you pay above the £200+ margin.