These were themes that are somewhat minor in their overall impact, but showed up surprisingly consistently throughout the show.  Not necessarily game changers, but interesting to watch.

8) After market in-vehicle true multi-media sytems (retrofit your ride with built in TV's and players - cheaper than a new car!)

 

9) Electronic cigarettes - strange but true, electronic cigarettes that don't burn tobacco were all over the Asian Vendor pavilions - success in US? not very likely

 

10) A continued push for the networked home (sort of) which has been going on for over a decade  - still too complex and difficult for consumers to manage

 

11) Lots and lots of personal audio bling!  Crystal encrusted "over the ear" headphones, crystal cases for phones, crystal "clip on" bling for your ear buds - it was the year of glitz for your personal audio environment!

 

12) Smart phones, smart phones everywhere!!!  Windows phones, Android phones, almost every other kind of phones, smart phones were everywhere at the show. 

 

13) Charging technologies - several different kinds of systems to make it easier for people to charge all their consumer electronics devices - pads, docks, etc.  Consumers are "all tangled up" in all their cords.  Will these be "big" - remains to be seen. 

 

14)  Another interesting insight from IDC analysts about the photography industry, "Photography has never been so hot, and the industry has never been so miserable!"  They don't know how to make money in the current environment.  An interesting perspective on printing - older people print pictures in 4" x 6" just like they did with film, somewhat younger people want to print "customized" items (books, calendars etc), and very young people don't print at all (it's "live" and video), but as they age, they want to decorate their house with their pictures and their memories (esp. kids), and they begin to print!