Google TV did not debut at CES, but it was my first time seeing it and test driving it hands-on.

So what is Google TV? It’s the search engine company we all know and love …just integrated to your TV set. Instead of using your normal cable or satellite guide to browse through channels, you can use Google search on your TV- that will scan every channel, apps, the internet- simultaneously. So if you were to search for “lady gaga” for example, the results that would come up on your TV would likely be mixed with results from TV, YouTube and internet websites.

You can get Google TV in 2 different ways. Purchase a standalone TV that has it installed on it (currently only Sony has a TV like this). Or purchase a separate box from Logitech or Sony that plugs into your existing TV. There is no annual fee or subscription to the service.

Here are what I think are the most noteworthy features about Google TV:

• You can watch movies from Netflix and Amazon Video On Demand
• You can use your Android phone and voice to control your TV
• If you browser the internet with Google TV, it also has Flash 10.1 built-in, so you can view almost everything
• There is a dual-view function that lets you watch TV and Tweet or browse the web at the same time
• Pandora is one of many apps that you can run on Google TV
• Downloads to updates to the Google TV software are free

In my opinion, if you are someone who watches TV more than browses the internet- this might be a device you should consider. However, if you use your computer more, you might find yourself on the couch with your laptop still even with Google TV.
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Most people don’t know that Yahoo! Connected TV is built-in to many new TV’s that you can buy today (e.g. VIZIO, Samsung). Yahoo! is trying to change that. This year at CES, Yahoo announced many upgrades to what they call “broadcast interactivity”. When you’re watching programs on a TV that is internet enabled with Yahoo! Connected TV, you are able to interact with prompts that appear on screen automatically. For example, you might be watching the CBS show “Hawaii Five-O”. During the broadcast, you could use your remote to click to view information about the actors, characters and fun facts. Or if you are watching a boxing match on Showtime, you could vote for the boxer that you think will win the match.

But what’s really slick about this platform is that you can use your iPad, iPhone or Android phone as a smart remote control for Yahoo! Connected TV. It syncs right up with what you’re watching on screen and you can browse videos on your mobile device and activate them to play in front of you on your TV.

Yahoo announced at CES, that in early 2011, they will be partnering with ABC, CBS, HSN, and Showtime. They also just launched new apps for Connected TV: NBC, Flickr, QVC, CNBC, Clear Channel Radio, Mediafly, Virtual Nerd and Screen Dreams.

I think Yahoo is on the right track of providing a true interactive TV experience. Because you do not need a mouse or keyboard to control the menus, it’s easy to introduce into the living room (internet + your TV). IMHO, the more social elements they build-in (not commerce) to their platform, adoption will be faster and easier (e.g. polls, chat, quizzes). Their app platform is also publicly available, which is nice, so developers can create their own TV apps as well. I think it is a smart way to let the community naturally grow the platform’s index of apps.
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The big buzz at CES was centered around 3DTV, however, a completely different technology had my attention: wireless electricity. Yeah, you read that right: wireless electricity. In my opinion, this was easily the most intriguing advancement to see at CES this year. The potential of this technology could really shake up several industries.

Now, if you’re like me- you probably don’t know the first thing about what wireless power or wireless electricity is. Ashish Gupta and Ryan Tseng explained to me the WiPower technology and demonstrate how it works in this video blog interview I shot at CES.

I want to note; WiPower isn’t the only company who’s developed wireless electricity. You’ve probably heard of Powermat, which is on the market now and some electric toothbrushes have been using a form of this technology as well. However, the difference in WiPower’s technology is that you’re not required to hold a fixed position to transfer power /electricity. They call it “freedom of position“. You’ll see in the video blog that you can freely move the light bulb in the air and it still stays on! Truly incredible insane mind blowing stuff.

…just think of all the potential applications you could apply this technology! Charge your electric car in your garage/parking lots without wires, charge everything on your desk at work just by sitting down, [insert more ideas here, etc, etc].

Who knows, it might not be long until you seeing cell phones that say have a “wireless charging ready” pre-installed on the device…
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While in Las Vegas at the IAAPA conference, I was able to sneak some time to do some photowalking on the strip. Here are my 3 favs from the photowalk (see below). You can view the rest of my photos from Vegas on my flickr account.

While wandering the expo floor- I noticed this wonderful huge cut-out promoting a 3D version of the Wizard of Oz. Being that I’m from Kansas (and proud of it!) I thought what a great photo-op!

This “joker” I met was an interesting character- he was just wandering the strip dressed as the joker looking for tips. What I wasn’t able to capture was how true-to-the-movie his impersonation of the joker laugh was. It was so creepy to hear, it gave me goosebumps.