The biggest technology and gadget show, CES, just kicked off in Las Vegas, and as usual much of the talk surrounds Apple:

Apple is the only company that consistently gets big buzz out of the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas - without even attending.

This year will be no different.

Connected TVs - TVs that connect to and can access content from the Internet - will be a big part of CES this year. And just about everyone in tech expects Apple at some point to launch such a television - an iTV - that easily consumes and shares with other Apple devices content served from the company's media-storing iCloud.

Microsoft made news earlier by saying this was the last year they would attend CES/ Why attend if Apple gets all the buzz anyways? Maybe Microsoft should focus on new products instead of protecting its Windows/Office cash cow? Or maybe not . . .

The holiday season is here, and today is Cyber Monday so it's time to go searching for deals. There are a ton of gadget gift guides out there, and Bullz-Eye.com has a gadget section in their 2011 Holiday Gift Guide. The WOWee One Slim Portable Speaker is one of the featured products.

You'll be amazed when you plug this tiny gadget into your MP3 player or phone and turn on some music. Of all the gadgets we've tested recently, the WOWee ONE Slim Portable Speaker is one of our favorites. It's about the size of a deck of cards and easily plugs into any device with an audio jack. All of a sudden you can have a party. The WOWee turns flat, solid surfaces like tables, counters, bumpers, hoods and truck beds into bass-filled sound systems using patented gel technology. The sound changes depending on the type of surface and you can really feel the base on some surfaces. It's perfect for events like tailgates as it provides about 10 hours of tunes and can turn your grill/cooler/hood into a high-end sound system for the whole parking lot. It's also great for impromptu parties as it can fit in your pocket, computer bag or glove compartment. Take it on a trip and have parties in your hotel room or by the pool. The possibilities are endless and kids will love it as well. It seems like everyone listens to music alone these days with their headphones, so the WOWee makes it easier for everyone to share and enjoy music.

There are a ton of gadget gift guides out there, so do your research and you'll find some great stuff. You can start with the ones from USA Today and CNET.

USA Today has a great gift guide for gadgets, covering cameras, video cameras and more.

That's right - according to TG Daily, the actor famous for playing in one of Disney's most spectacular 3D films, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, can't see 3D images.

Here's what the actor said to Access Hollywood:

"I'm unable to see in 3D. My eyes don't see in 3D. I have a weird eye... It just doesn't work. It may come as a surprise to you, but I've never seen normally."

The condition, though unnamed and not recorded, is actually fairly prevalent according to most sources. I wouldn't exactly call it a surprise, but it's certainly intriguing to see all the effort behind shooting in 3D wasted on one of the film's most prominent actors.

Today Cisco finally had to come to terms with the fact that it fundamentally misunderstands the consumer electronics market. Like, $590 million misunderstands it. That's how much the company paid for Pure Digital originally. Now, Cisco will kill off the brand and let go of 550 employees in an attempt to restructure.

I can't say I understand why Cisco bought the Flip in the first place. It's like you can almost see the guys at Pure Digital biting their lips and trying not to laugh as Cisco drops a $590 million dollar offer on the table. I imagine there had to have been one guy in that meeting who would raise his hand every now and again to say "Hey, don't you think this tech will be in every smartphone ever soon?" He was also probably getting kicked every time he got to, "Hey don't you think...ow!"

MG Siegler at TechCrunch has put together another interesting article, this time on the future of the point-and-shoot camera. His basic point is that the industry is behind the curve and needs to evolve quickly to catch up in the social game. Though he makes some good points, I think it's too late.

Siegler starts his article with an anecdote about his latest camera purchase, a high end Canon point-and-shoot, the S95, which he also says he uses five percent of the time. I can't imagine why you would spend $400 on a camera you would use so little, particularly when the impetus behind most point-and-shoots is having pictures you can share. There are plenty of options at the prosumer DSLR level that can take better pictures for hardly more cost. If you need something more social, get a decent phone.

Siegler mentions all of this, but I think it's actually too late for the point-and-shoots to make the necessary changes. Phones are just too far ahead. Sure, the S95 takes vastly superior pictures to my iPhone, but the times I want to take decent pictures I plan ahead. The rest of the time, I don't want to be carrying another device with me. My phone is plenty sufficient if it means I don't have to keep track of another device.

As cell phone cameras continue to improve, point-and-shoots will be more and more marginalized. Sure, there are still people buying them - a fairly significant part of the market - but dedicated devices rarely do well for everyday use. This is the same reason we aren't going to see the Peek take off. Yes, it's nice for checking email or tweeting, but do you really want to carry around the same device. Granted, a good point-and-shoot offers much more functionality than the Peek does, but it's the same physical limitation. I don't always want to have a bag with me, or worry about whether I'll break something important if I put my camera in my pocket. I want something quick and usable, not something for taking super high-quality pictures. If I want that, I'll take my DSLR. I don't need an in-between.

Of course, that's also where Siegler's article ends. It seems for him that the dream of a connected point-and-shoot is truly a dream, and one that won't be realized before smartphones have killed the market segment.

Microsoft's Kinect has some undoubtably cool technology, but cooler than its game applications could be the power behind the camera. This video shows what Kinect is capable of once it has been hacked to allow a little input. The results are astonishing.

We have regular porn. We have streaming porn. We have 3D porn, giant porn, mobile porn, and now, NOW we will have 3D IMAX porn. Yes, folks, gigantic people parts smacking all over each other IN 3D! This is just sad.

The film, based on a classic Chinese erotic text, is being shot in Hong Kong. Director Christopher Sun thinks 3D porn will bring the "wow factor" that porn viewers long for. "Somehow when you're doing a 3-D movie you always want to make an impressive image because the viewers ... are going to buy tickets with double or even triple the ticket price to get into a world they've never seen before," he said. He's right on one count. I don't live in a world of giant balls.

For all of you thinking this is a great idea, remember that there is someone sitting next to you. On both sides. Someone you don't know. Oh, he's also probably touching himself. I can think of very few things I would rather do less in a theater than watch porn. And just in case you thought maybe this one time the porn industry would try to make a respectable film, consider this: "The sex scenes are explicit and sometimes violent, but the main theme of the story is love," according to the director. NOthing says good love like violent sex.

Source: Reuters

Since the launch of the iPhone, it seems Apple has been the only company we hear about using the cheap little accelerometers and gyroscopes, despite the popularity of those little gizmos in just about every modern cell phone and some other burgeoning technologies. Microsoft, for one, wants in on the game, so the company is making a splash with some very cool photo stabilization tech.

Microsoft developed an image stabilization rig that uses accelerometers and gyroscopes to detect the little movements you make when taking a picture that turn it into a blurry mess. Software then corrects the image to look as it should have before the shake. From the initial before and after posted on the research website, I'd say this looks pretty good, and the tech is small enough that it could easily be built into most cameras.

Take a look at the full range of images on the research site. Don't stare at it too hard, though - those overlays will make you sick.

Things have been a little slow over here as I've been working on a few other projects and dealing with some big announcement over on Fearless Gamer, our gaming blog. This week we'll be back in full swing though, and I'm adding a bunch of reviews to the site.

Later in the week you'll start to see some of the new iPhone 4 accessories. Over the rest of the summer I'll be getting a few more, but for now I've got at least a dock to show off. I'll also be covering the Booq line of laptop bags (more specifically the Boa S Nerve) and Warpia's wireless PC-to-TV broadcast system.

I've also been starting to dig around Aperture. I had played with the software a bit when it first launched, but without any high quality images, it wasn't a piece of software I cared to invest in. Now that I have my shiny new camera, I think it's time I take a more serious look. I'll be posting my impressions throughout the week as I get to know the ins and outs of photo management (from what I hear, Aperture is the way it should be done).

Around 1:30 today I got a knock on the door from our friendly UPS man, delivering my newest toy - the Canon Rebel T1i. Yes, the T2i is out, but I got an awesome deal on this thing and since both my girlfriend and I are fairly new to the digital photography scene so this camera should be plenty to get us going.

Shopping for a new camera online can be a harrowing experience. There's actually too much information available, too many opinions to read. I spent hours and hours digging through forum posts and reviews. Hours reading every conflicting opinion about brand, lens-type, and model. And honestly, none of it was all that helpful.

The thing that was helpful was getting my hands on a bunch of different models and seeing which felt best, which I was able to adjust quickly and comfortably, and out of all that, what fit my budget. I landed on the T1i and I'm sure I'll be happy.

The best camera is the one you have with you, and since my new favorite point-and-shoot is built into my phone, I should be all set. When the 3GS came out last year, I was ready to say goodbye to point-and-shoots all together. There were still a lot of situations, though, where the 3GS was terrible (low light, of course). The iPhone changes that with the addition of a flash and another megapixel bump, putting the iPhone camera on par with all but the best in the point-and-shoot category. The fact that the camera is built into the phone is more than enough to discourage me from taking a point-and-shoot anywhere.

Obviously the camera will still shoot best in bright, natural light, like you find in North Carolina when it's almost 100 degrees. The colors are bright and vibrant, a trait most of the professional photographers I've spoken with say Apple borrowed from Nikon's processing style. It was pretty windy today, so I was surprised to see how focused the pictures of the flowers came out (still a little blurry away from the focal point). Overall, the sensor handles light well, and the camera is fast enough to catch a bit of motion.

In low light the story is still pretty grim. Even with a flash there's a lot of noise, though that's typically true of most point-and-shoots. This isn't meant for high-quality photography, though, and when viewed as most camera phone shots are these days - on Facebook - the iPhone 4 will stand up with the best your friends can offer. That's thanks to the f2.4 lens, compared with the f2.8 or above offered on most phones. It's nice to have that extra light and extra width.

On the whole, Apple's taken a decent camera and turned it into a true point-and-shoot replacement for taking quick shots on the fly. And it is quick. The limited controls are just a tap away, and there are so few (some say it's good, some say it's bad) you won't spend the precious seconds trying to find a setting. You'll snap the picture, again and again, which is exactly the point of carrying a quick and dirty camera with you wherever you go.

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More clues have surfaced that suggest Apple is indeed planning a camera for the iPad. We've already seen that there is space in the chassis to host a small camera, now MacRumors says there is software to support video conferencing as well. The latest SDK has accept and decline commands for video chat services.

The specific API threads reveal support for at least testing front-facing cameras, zoom, and an LED flash (as in a camera, not the software). 9to5 Mac also uncovered the following buttons for video chat.

The size of the actual image suggests a screen the width of the iPad's, so it may not be for the iPhone as well. It could also simply be for internal testing, but my guess is that, as with the iPhone, the later generations of the iPad will be where the magic is at. If anything, I'd bet Apple is waiting on a better video camera to put into the iPad.

I've never been the type to get up ass-early the day after Thanksgiving, but there are some undeniably great deals out there that could make be worth it were I ever not sleeping off my vitamin T. I've scoured all the ads this year to find my personal favorite deals in the hope that it will help some of you last minute planners.

Amazon's got the Blackberry Bold 9700 (Bold 2 for those of you keeping track) for $149.99 on new contracts, but you can do better. Wirefly has the same phone on AT&T for FREE with new activations and just $29.99 for existing customers. It's a perfect deal for your favorite Blackberry fan (and probably yourself if you're so inclined).

According to blackfriday.info's many, many ad leaks, Office Depot has a Seagate 1.5TB external drive for $99.99. There are cheaper deals for smaller drives out there but, dollar for dollar, this will get you one of the best storage deals available. As someone who recently had to restore a machine from a backup drive, I'd highly recommend this option. It's also great if you know someone working with large amounts of audio and video.

Dell's working a little Black Friday love this year, my favorite being the 23" Full HD (I'm assuming that means 1080p) widescreen monitor w/webcam for $219. Gamers would love this thing, whether it's for a PC or, if they're really desperate, that brand new Xbox 360 bundle they picked up. At 23" it's plenty big enough for extended MW2 sessions, especially in a dorm room.

If you're in the market for a new computer, check out the Acer Aspire One at Office Max. It's 10.1" with 1GB of RAM, a 160GB HD, and Windows XP - all for $149.99. That's about as cheap as you'll get for a ten-incher, which is as small as I can go before my hands cramp up.

Black Friday just wouldn't be complete without a trip to Best Buy. The house of blue and yellow has the Nikon D3000DX bundle for $499.99. It's a 10.2 Megapixel DSLR with a 10-55mm VR lens just a penny under the $500 mark. It's 10% off list for most retailers, and as low as anyone wants to go for a DSLR this season.

There you have my favorites. There are plenty of sites where you can find the rest of the deals if you don't get the paper. I'd recommend checking out www.blackfriday.info. Now, go get some rest. You'll need it for the maddening crowd.

Flip MinoHD
Pure Digital was kind enough to send me a MinoHD as part of its custom screen-printed series this year and I love it. For such a small camcorder it takes fantastic, 720p video and the thing couldn't be easier to use. Flip also introduced customizable skins to the mix this year, so you can gift a Flip with the image of your choice, or use their design/pattern generators to make this a little extra special.

You can get the MinoHD in either 60min (4GB) or 120min (8GB) storage sizes for $199.99 or $229.99 respectively. Customization does not cost extra, so get something funky unless you want that classic industrial design.

Also Consider: Flip UltraHD

Joby GorillaMobile
What's a camcorder without a good tripod? No good at all, that's what. Part of the problem with handheld camcorders is a lack of grippable parts for stability. Joby's GorillaMobile can be bent around just about anything, including your wrist if you want to rig up a little wristmount system. Really, though, I like the GorillaMobile because it's so small and versatile. It's perfect for throwing in a bag to use at casual family functions and parties, keeping the 720p video on your new Flip nice and steady.

If you want something a little more substantial you could also consider the larger GorillaPod. Joby also makes a GorillaMobile specifically for the iPhone 3G/3GS and the GorillaTorch, a light sporting the same bendable legs. Check their official site for prices on each.

Also Consider: Vanguard VS41

Mophie Juice Pack Air
I tend to change my mind on iPhone cases all the time, but I always come back to the Mophie Juice Pack Air when I'm low on power. It minimally augments the size of the phone while providing an extra 60-80% battery life on the go. There are more powerful options out there, but they tend to be a little too bulky for my taste. Mophie's Juice Pack, on the other hand, is a close fit without too many frills.

Mophie recently updated the line to include a soft-finish variety with the same power rating. It's a nice addition, especially if you live in a humid climate like I do. You can get the Juice Pack Air in white, black, purple, or red for $79.95 from Mophie's website.

Also Consider: Incase Power Slider 3G

Boa Nerve S/L
I tried to make a conscious effort to recommend a bag other than the Boa Nerve from Booq but I just couldn't do it. I'm in love with this messenger and I'm sure you know someone who would be, too. The Nerve comes in small and large sizes to accommodate different sized laptops. There's a removable laptop sleeve, which is perfect for a quick trip to the coffee shop, and plenty of pockets should you be headed for a full day of work. One of the best features is the stability strap, which pulls bag snug against your back if you have to run for a train or take the fixed-gear for a spin.

Booq was having trouble keeping these in stock, but they're available now and ship within 24 hours. You can get the Boa Nerve for $129.95 at the Booq website.

Also Consider: Timbuk2 Commute Slim

Barnes & Noble Nook
I hesitate to recommend this because I'm generally averse to ereaders. There are those among you who like these things, and you all probably know someone who wants one, so I'll go against my best instincts for the sake of your friends. The Nook is best of the ereaders I've seen. Since no one, not even the major sites, have had a chance to review these it's tough to say how that little color screen will pan out, but it seems like a decent idea. You also get the ability to lend your ebooks to your friends and share your own media between your computer and your iPhone.

One BIG caveat for this one: The Nook is completely sold out for shipments arriving during 2009. The next flight will land January 4th, so you could always give the gift of the late present, which can be pretty cool. Barnes & Noble wants $259 for this one.

Also Consider: Amazon Kindle

AeroPress Coffee/Espresso Maker
Now that your loved ones will be spending all their hard-earned money on ebooks, they'll need an inexpensive way to stay perky for those long reading sessions. The Aerobie AeroPress should be in every coffee lovers' home, at least if they're on a budget. It brews a decent cup of espresso and great Americano if you add a little water. Get a cheap frother and you can make your drink of choice in under two minutes and far cheaper than you'll find at any cafe.

The press comes with a year's supply of filters and everything you'll need to make your perfect cuppa. The best part is the price, a mere $25.95 with free shipping from Amazon.

Also Consider: MyPressi TWIST

More good stuff to come in the Gadget Teaser 2009 Holiday Gift Guide tomorrow.