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Although this year at CES saw somewhat smaller crowds from past years, the show still proved to be as fun and entertaining as ever. The major manufactures still produced breathtaking booths and exhibits to keep all the glamor and excitement around the actual event, and shift the focus away from this rough economic time period.

As expected, a main focal point at CES  were 3-D TVs being displayed by Sony, LG, and Samsung. These devices attracted a massive media frenzy surrounding them. I had a chance to test out a Samsung 3D LCD TV running a first person shooter video game. The screen literally brings the game to life and puts you right in the middle of the action. Along with the 3D TVs OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays also attracted many visitors. These televisions produce a higher resolution picture quality (contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1) than normal LCD and are also much more energy efficient.

The Netbook craze was a popular theme around this years show as well. Asus, MSI, and even Sony showed off their new lineups of Netbooks. The Sony Vaio P Series (8” Netbook) was definitely the most impressive, and really stood out at this years show.

Wireless in-home entertainment also had a definite impact on this years show. LG and other brands displayed their BD Live players and internet ready LCD TVs. The purpose of these devices is to be able to stream HD content within your home network virtually eliminating hardware and media.

The “Green” message at CES this year was much larger than previous shows. This was a great trend to see, with manufacturers all displaying at least one Green product line. Motorola, Samsung, and Nokia all displayed phones made from recycled materials.  Asus also showed off their new bamboo laptop series which are not only eco-friendly, but great looking and extremely luxurious as well. Almost every major brand displayed a Green message this year, and were eager to talk about some of their Green initiatives heading into the New Year. The Green Gadget Tech Zone at CES was an area that showed a lot of growth and promise this year. The section has grown from just 520 square feet last year to more than 3,000 square feet at this years show. A CEA survey found that 53% of consumers who were interested in green factors were also willing to pay more for it — about 7.5% more on average.

Overall CES this year was a completely successful event despite some predictions of a lackluster show in the face of slowed consumer spending.  Many new and innovative products and ideas were featured. These new innovations give consumers and retailers something positive to look forward to despite the current economic situation.

Thanks again to all the Gazellers who followed us throughout the event here in Vegas. Make sure to check out some our favorite images of CES below.