Dear PropellerHeads: I saw something on the news about the Consumer Electronics Show that just ended. Were there any cool new products announced that we'll be seeing soon?

A: Our propellers kick into overdrive every January when the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) comes to Las Vegas. The trade show, which debuted more than 40 years ago, introduced the world to HDTV (1998), CDs (1981) and VCRs (1970). Attending the show is the most fun a PropellerHead can have without a screwdriver and a soldering iron. Or so we hear; we didn't actually attend. Thanks, Boss!

But through the magic of the Web, we did keep tabs on what was announced.

Following the rapid rise of Apple's iPad, several vendors showed off competing tablet computers at the show. Dell, LG, Toshiba and others announced tablets ranging in size from 7 to 10 inches, but Motorola stole the show with their 10.1-inch Xoom (http://bit.ly/eruQ0t).

The Xoom runs a tablet-optimized version of Google's Android operating system, has front- and rear-facing cameras (one of which records in HD), and is coming to Verizon customers in a few months.

Several 4G phones arrived, including one from TV-maker Vizio with a built-in infrared blaster, letting it serve as a universal remote control (http://bit.ly/gmArWa). Some new phones sported two processors for smoother gaming and video playback, and many will run on the faster 4G networks, set to roll out to more customers this year.

3D was big this year, literally: Mitsubishi wowed attendees with a 92-inch 3D TV (http://bit.ly/dVCx1f). Toshiba exhibited early prototypes of a 3D TV and a 3D laptop, which produced 3D effects without requiring those goofy glasses (http://bit.ly/fiivEp). We make jokes about soldering irons and even we think those things look silly, so hats (and glasses) off to Toshiba.

Nintendo presented their new 3DS portable gaming system, due out in March. Reviewers describe the effect as less like a 3D movie and more like those 3D posters from the '90s where the extra dimension was "inside the screen." Views control the depth of the effect with a slider, and can snap 3D pictures thanks to the two camera lenses on the back (http://bit.ly/fyEJou).

Another innovation in gaming, the Razer Switchblade is a netbook with a touch screen and clear plastic keys. The see-through keys allow a second screen, underneath the keyboard, to project an image up through the tops of the keys. The projected image changes depending on what the user is doing at the time.

For example, the "Q" key might become an "up arrow" in one game, a "swing sword" key in another game, and a "round-house kick" key in yet a third game. The Switchblade is a concept device, so it may never hit store shelves, but the technology it includes will likely make it into other products (http://bit.ly/esrke3).

Toyota's Entune was a stand-out example of new car tech. Entune-equipped vehicles will offer access to Bing, OpenTable and Pandora Radio from their in-dash screens. Location-dependent Bing searches help drivers find a restaurant and OpenTable displays available reservation times. All this while Pandora streams Internet radio over the car's speaker system (http://bit.ly/fUIlK4).

For more, check out CNet's coverage at CES.cnet.com or the Engadget articles at ces.engadget.com. You might want to have a screwdriver handy, or at least remove your beanie first so you don't fly away.

When the PropellerHeads at Data Directions aren't busy with their IT projects, they love to answer questions on business or consumer technology. E-mail them to questions@askthepropellerheads.com or contact us at Data Directions Inc., 8510 Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. Visit our website at www.askthepropellerheads.com.