The 10 best gadgets of CES 2012

Another Consumer Electronics Show has come and gone. And just like every other year, we’re left with a slew of gadgets to wade through and enjoy.

While some have criticised the show for becoming bloated and less relevant, there is no doubt entrepreneurs across the world love tuning in to see what the industry has in store.

This year, a wide array of gadgets were unveiled, with “smart” televisions and ultrabooks all the rage. But there were dozens of other great products and concepts unveiled, some more useful than others.

Some of the more fascinating included a mechanical watch that is run by a kind of pump, a robotic cameraman that can actually pan and tilt on its own, and a piece of automotive software that combines apps, weather information and Bluetooth connectivity.

There are too many great gadgets to count. But here are 10 of the best you should keep an eye on:

Acer Aspire A5

Ultrabooks have been the talk of the town this CES, and with good reason – this Acer model exemplifies just how sleek they can be.

The company started off CES by showing this model off, and subsequently wowed attendees with its features. Bragging it’s the world’s thinnest laptop, the A5 only measures 15mm at its thickest point, is powered by an Intel processor and includes HDMI and USB 3.0 connectivity.

There are plenty of ultrabooks on the market now, but the A5 sets a standard in what buyers should be looking for.

LG 55-inch OLED television

Televisions have been one of the biggest drawing cards to this year’s CES, and not just due to the “smart” software upgrades – this LG model really shows what manufacturers are capable of.

The OLED technology allowed the company to make its television ultra-thin, only 4mm at its thickest point. It’s a good look at what we can expect in the future.

Razer Project Fiona tablet

There are always a few crazy ideas that come out of CES, and this is no different. This tablet created by gaming peripherals company Razer is designed to be held like a game console, but packs as big a punch as a dedicated gaming PC.

Whether or not this will ever see the light of day on store shelves is another issue entirely, but to be sure, it’s an example of just how much gadget makers are thinking out of the box.

Roku Streaming Stick

With all the set-top boxes hitting the market, it’s understandable that some companies are beginning to offer alternatives. Roku is doing just that, offering a type of USB dongle that allows users to get all the benefits of a box without the clutter.

Users in the United States plug the Dongle into their televisions and get access to film services and video services, including Netflix. It’s a little clunkier than implemented software, like that in use by Samsung and LG, but it’s still a nifty solution.

Samsung Exhilarate

It wouldn’t CES without a few smartphones, and Samsung has delivered another praiseworthy entry here. The device features a 4-inch screen, front and rear cameras, voice recognition and LTE capability. Samsung is also promoting the phone as ecologically friendly, made from 80% recycled materials.