Dear PropellerHeads: I know the annual Consumer Electronics Show just ended. Were there any cool must-have new products announced?

A: Just the thought of the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) gets our propellers spinning! The trade show, which debuted in 1967, introduced the world to tablet computers, Netbooks and Android devices (2010), Microsoft Xbox and plasma TVs (2001) and VCRs (1970).

The CES features products from 15 consumer electronics categories. These include everything from audio and video for the home and automobile, to lifestyle electronics to improve daily living, to emerging technologies.

Every PropellerHead aspires to attend the CES, but alas that was not possible this year. Thankfully, the Web has kept our interest with announcements of some pretty amazing technologies and items we hope to have in the near future. Here are just a few.

First up is the EXOdesk from EXOPC (exopc.com). The EXOdesk is basically a large, 36-inch touch screen very similar to a tablet PC, only huge by comparison. EXOdesk is placed on your desk in front of your monitor. It is multi-touch sensitive and allows you to have multiple applications running simultaneously.

EXOdesk runs independent of operating system, but was demoed at the CES using Windows 7. Though it's very similar to Microsoft's Surface 2.0 (http://bit.ly/j29kjG), which debuted at the CES in 2011, the EXOdesk is able to provide much of the same processing ability at a fraction of the cost. Neither the EXOdesk nor Microsoft's Surface 2.0 are currently available for purchase; however, both should be in 2012. Microsoft's Surface 2.0 is expected to sell for $7,600 while the EXOdesk will sell for around $1,300. That almost fits in this PropellerHead's budget!

Next is Motorola's 4Home Gateway. It too is not currently available for purchase, but should be available with a monthly subscription through Verizon in the near future.

4Home Gateway is about the size of a router. It can be plugged into any outlet and automatically "talks" to connected devices via the cloud such as your home security system, appliances and almost anything else that has a Web interface.

The 4Home Gateway is able to communicate using multiple interfaces such as Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Bluetooth. Additionally, external USB devices can be attached to allow for support of other existing standards.

You will no longer have to worry about whether you set your security alarm or even locked the front door. 4Home Gateway will allow you to monitor that and many other things using your smart phone, PC or tablet from anywhere you may be. For more information, check out Motorola's fact page (http://bit.ly/zgyyXm).

Have you heard of Corning's Gorilla Glass? It was developed in 2007. You may have a device that uses it already. What's new from Corning (corninggorillaglass.com) at the 2012 CES is its newer version, Gorilla Glass 2. The glass is 20 percent thinner than the previous version, which allows devices to weigh less and be even thinner while still providing tough, scratch-resistant glass. It also provides greater touch sensitivity, and brighter images. I wish my wine glasses were Gorilla Glass; perhaps I wouldn't have to keep buying them.

I didn't make it to the CES this year, but I'm definitely going in 2013. I hear there will be a new amazing remote control that will allow moms the ability to initiate their children's homework, get their husbands to fix the leaky faucet and even cook dinner. Wow, that will be amazing! Let's hope it has a wonderful user interface so mom can figure out how to use it; I doubt the kids or dad will be willing to show her!

For more, check out CNet's coverage at ces.cnet.com. Happy Nerddom!

When the PropellerHeads at Data Directions aren't busy with their IT projects, they love to answer questions on business or consumer technology. Email 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.