BIRMINGHAM - AL -
CES continues this year to be a massive display of what's new in electronics. Thousands of companies will show off the gadgets you'll be able to buy in the coming year.
A big trend expected this year is integrating car electronics with smart phones and tablet computers. It goes beyond just streaming music from your device into your stereo. GPS functions will get more advanced, and there will be heightened control of the car itself from your mobile device. In-car entertainment will still be there, with streaming Internet radio going on the road.
Home automation is also big this year. It ranges from being able to remotely control devices in you home from anywhere in the world, to simply using your cell phone to remotely unlock your front door using something called NFC, or near field communication.
NFC technology is expected to be big this year. It allows for doing all sorts of functions just by holding your cell phone close to another device. It's not in most cell phones now, but it will be in the near future.
Of course, there's lots more at CES. Gaming gear is big every year, and home theater hardware is also a huge category. Of course, there's also cameras, computers, household appliances, and more.
3D technology will still be a hot item, even if the public isn't buying in the numbers some companies had hoped.
