Microsoft's announcement today that the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas will be its last took the tech world, and particularly tech journalists and bloggers, by surprise.

The kick-off CES keynote addresses by Bill Gates and then Steve Ballmer (who last January talked up Kinect, among other big product launches for the company) were always highly anticipated as agenda-setting events for the global consumer electronics industry, while a massive Microsoft booth typically dominated the show floor.

Starting in 2013, neither will be present.Continue reading...

For the past several years, automotive brands have focused on going "green," but now they are distinguishing themselves with “connectivity.”

The more auto brands can make your car feel like a rolling information and entertainment center -- a 3,000-pound extension of your iPhone, Droid, and Garmin -- the more they figure you’ll want to own one.

Several auto brands recently underscored the growing importance of connectivity at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Audi announced advancements in its navigation system and web integration, and General Motors said it will advance its OnStar “telematics” brand with some innovations in the upcoming Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.Continue reading...

This week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas will highlight the latest contender in the battle for e-reader market share: Hearst Corporation's new Skiff Reader.

"The Skiff Reader's big screen will showcase print media in compelling new ways," said Gilbert Fuchsberg, president of Skiff, LLC. "This is consistent with Skiff's focus on delivering enhanced reading experiences that engage consumers, publishers and advertisers."

The Skiff Reader, however, is joining a very competitive and crowded category, as brands of all denominations seek a foothold in what many believe will be the next great evolutionary step in the relationship between people and information.Continue reading...