As this years CES comes to a close, attendees are packing their bags, climbing on planes, and returning to their offices. And while the parties and the excitement of being at a huge event like CES will fade, there is a list of innovations that I was throughly impressed with on the show floor.

Here are some of my top picks from this year’s Consumer Electronics Show:

Ultrabooks: Intel’s Toshiba Protege Z830

I was lucky enough to be introduced to this beauty by Intel’s Brand Strategist, Jeff Burke. The Protege includes an Intel Core i7 processor, up to 6GB of RAM, three USB ports (one 3.0 and two 2.0), an Ethernet jack, HDMI and VGA output along with an SD card slot. What really stood out more than anything with this ultrabook was the slim and sleek design of the system, as it is 20% lighter and 40% thinner than it’s predecessor. In fact, it’s even lighter than the MacBook Air.  With an MSRP of under $1,000 (and some vendors carrying this Ultrabook for as low as $699) – I expect this will be a big hit in the ultrabook market this next year.

SmartPhones: Nokia Lumia 900

This phone, no doubt got lots of attention at the show this year. It’s one of the first Windows 7.5 Phones, using 4G LTE. With a 4.3 inch screen, it’s notably larger than it’s 3.7 inch predecessor (Nokia Lumia 800). The camera in this phone  has 8 mega pixels, with a 1 pixel camera in the front of the phone, making it great for conference calls. It’s being released exclusively with AT&T later this year.

Here is a great demo from TechCrunch showing some of the features of the phone.

Automotive: MyFord Mobile App

The innovation coming out of the auto industry this year was remarkable. As we grow in our uses of technology, automakers are continually finding ways to make cars that can “drive around in the cloud” – not merely being synced to the internet, but creating SmartCars that can interact with car owners.

The MyFord Mobile App, the winner of “Best of Innovation” award this year, is a great example. This app allows owners of the electric Ford Focus to monitor their use of electricity in their cars, plan trips, as well as share information with their smart phones to enhance their driving experience. For example, the app sets users up as if driving was a game, playing for points through saving gas and lowering their CO2 emitions. Drivers can compete with other drivers, all connected through the cloud.

I think we’re going to begin seeing a lot more of this kind of innovation from automakers, making our cars not just for getting around town in, but integrating with the rest of our online lives.

Smart TVs: LG’s 55″ OLED 3D Television

The most remarkable thing about this 55″ television is how sleek it is – it’s thinner than a human pinky. And at 55 inches, this is the world’s largest 3D Television, giving TV enthusiast the world’s best 3D experience.

Here’s a quick demo from LG showing off this new beauty:

Tablets: Project Fiona by Razor

Tablets were a big topic this year at CES, with lots vendors bringing thinner, faster, and better tablets for consumers to demo. Project Fiona definatly got quite a bit of attention for being one of the only tablets made exclusively for gamers. With two joy-sticks on either side of the tablet, as well as an Intel Core i7 bridge processor, and running on Windows 8 – this little hand-held packs all of the punch of a PC.

And for fun, these two companies had innovative products that caught lots of great attention:

MakerBot – 3D Printer

While looking at this new kind of printer, I had to ask myself if I was in an episode of Star Trek…using a printer to create things? Yes, it’s real. And it’s brought to you by MakerBot. Using lines of plastic as “ink,” this machine allows users to “print” 3D items, allowing you to make just about anything.

This year at CES, MakerBot Industries introduced the MakerBot Replicator, making it one of the only, if not the only 3D printer int the world to print in multiple colors.

Karotz – The Broadband Bunny Rabbit

This cute little device allows users to connects to the Internet, and can tell users any online information they’d like to know. It can read you the weather, Facebook updates, your RSS feeds, and just about anything else you do online. It  can act as a Nanny Cam so parents can check on their children while away from home, as well as talking to other Bunny Rabbits like you would talk on a phone. It can allow children to come home and “check in” with the Rabbit, sending a message to their parents at work signaling that the child is home.

This little animal is a great device, allowing it’s owner to do all things internet, through a cute little bunny.

CES 2011 – Karotz the broadband bunny rabbit by butterscotchcom

 

The show this year was centered around a theme of innovation, complete with a sign wall for everyone at the conference to pledge to innovating in 2012, and clearly we are in for an exciting year of technologies that improve our environment, productivity and connectedness to one another. We’re honored to work with so many of the brands presenting at CES this year and pledge to continue to innovate at Twelvefold Media to support they’re success in shareing these new products with their  consumers.

-Julia Briggs Parsons, VP Product