Consumer Electronics Show Wrap-Up

Each year the Consumer Electronics (CES) Show in Las Vegas brings the latest high tech offerings to public eyes for the first time. Here are three items that the technology writers at the NYTimes found interesting:

Android - A few years ago industry experts and analysts doubted that Android’s one-size-fits-all approach to software would be successful with phone makers But many hardware manufacturers are now focusing on creating products that run on Android.

Inductive Power - The most well-known applications of inductive power are pads that can charge smart-phones without wires and cook-tops that can heat pots and pans, but otherwise remain cool to the touch. Fulton Innovation showed products with inductive inks in their packaging, like cereal boxes, that have printed labels that light up and flash when placed above an inductive coil. Fulton also showed inductive heating elements that enable any part of a counter-top to be used as an invisible cook-top that can heat food in pots and pans or, alternatively, be used a power source for a cordless induction-powered mixer or blender.

Two Touch Screens The Iconia from Acer is a windows 7 device that resembles a laptop, but opens up to reveal two 14-inch touch screens. Acer first announced the tablet-laptop hybrid in November and plans to begin selling it in March for under $1,000. The Iconia gives users a large amount of screen space, making for easy multitasking. And the two screens mean that a user can look at one while typing on a virtual keyboard on the other. Some people will see this as an advantage compared with tablets, and others will see it as a disadvantage compared with laptops.

Here's more from Jenna Wortham, Sam Grobart and Joshua Brustein at NYTimes.