This article is also contributed by Terence Ang.

The Biggest CES Show Ever!

As the first major trade show every year, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is perhaps the most important of all shows as it sets the stage for technological announcements, revelation of concept products and tech demos that would set the expectations of what's to come in technology for the year ahead. This year, CES 2008 was no exception with more than 2,700 companies proudly displaying their latest innovations/products at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which is in the vicinity of the coveted Strip. Believe it or not, this year's CES has a staggering record of 1.85 million square feet of exhibition space for all the state-of-the-art technology displays and to start our coverage rolling, here's a couple of highlights from the pre-CES keynote conference:-

During his pre-CES keynote conference to a crowd of some 4000 journalists, of which he announced would be his last as he will retire in July 2008. Microsoft Corp. Chairman and co-founder Bill Gates drew laughter with his 'retirement video' that featured Bono, Steven Spielberg, Matthew McConaughey, Democrat candidates Hilary Clinton and Barrack Obama.

Bill Gates also spoke about the important role of software services beyond the desktop space, such as on a mobile space or in-vehicle, as well as showing prototype technology that allows you to point your camera phone at a venue (say the Las Vegas strip) and have hotspot indicators appear to tell you what's going on, at say Caesar's Palace or Bellagio and you can interact with them to purchase tickets to a show or make dinner reservations. He concluded his keynote with a Guitar Hero demonstration that featured guest star Slash of Guns N' Roses fame.

Busy and packed - that about describes the mood at the show floor. There are so many new offerings from every vendor, it's every technophile's dream to get immersed in CES; and all this happening in Vegas, we needn't say more.

Now we head down to the show floor to wow you what we saw at the various halls and booths. Read on!