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 . . .

Public pressure can build quickly in the social media age. Verizon tried to push through a new $2 fee and ended up with a PR nightmare.

Verizon Wireless bowed to a torrent of criticism on Friday and reversed a day-old plan to impose a $2 bill-paying fee that would have applied to only some customers.

The consumer vitriol, which cascaded across Twitter and onto blogs and petitions all around the Web, struck a chord with a company that was clearly not expecting it.

“The company made the decision in response to customer feedback about the plan, which was designed to improve the efficiency of those transactions,” Verizon Wireless said in a statement referring to the reversal.

Everything is changing, as consumers have real power now with social media.

People love to gamble and they love to play games on their computers and phones. With that the trends will just accelerate on games like poker that can be played in all sorts of settings. Now with new smartphones there are even more ways to play. You can play real games against real people, or just play practice games against a computer so you learn to avoid losing all your cash.

The new rules from the Obama administration announced Friday might make this even more popular, as the new rule suggests that the federal government can only restrict sports betting under the current federal law. This can lead to an explosion of state regulations overseeing and encouraging online play in order to generate tax revenues.

This decision makes sense, as people love playing online casino games. Now with smartphones exploding, imagine how much more time people will spend playing these games. You can play blackjack hands while standing in the line at the grocery store. So get ready for a bunch of new players as people start using their Christmas gadgets!

Poker is fun, and tons of people love to play. Like most games, it was a huge leap forward when we could play them on our computers. Then game better networks and amazing online experiences with these games.

Smart phones have taken all of this to a new level. Now you can play games of every kind everywhere. You can play by yourself or with other people. Add in social networking, and gaming even becomes a new way of communicating with friends - let's chat while we play a game!

Of course this is going to drive tons of holiday sales, and phones, iPads and other devices fly off the shelves. People of all ages love this stuff, and kids are obsessed with it. Tons of companies are cashing in on mobile gaming as tons of mobile betting apps are downloaded for all sorts of devices.

Stuff like iCoud makes mobile gaming even better. Now you can track your games and scores from multiple Apple devices, from your iPhone to your iPad to your laptop. It's just amazing.

The growth here is exponential, so expect some huge numbers from the holiday season and the week after Christmas when people downloads apps on the new gadgets they found under the Christmas tree!

I hate it when my headphones get all tangled up. Here's a review of new headphones that have fettuccine type no-tangle cords.

Here are some helpful tips for how to get more battery life from your new iPhone. Apple has acknowledged the problem and is working on a software fix.

Bottom line - turn off a lot of the automatic updates and notifications. I have most of mine off and haven't had much of a battery problem.

Some stories are coming out about the iPhone 4S and problems with battery life. I just got a new one and I love it, but I was a little surprised at how quickly the battery was depleted. Apple is apparently looking into it, so we'll see if this becomes a bigger story.

The new iPhone 4S is a massive hit, so if you got one, you should be in the market for a cool case or two. Check out this review of the new XtremeMac Microshield. If you like a smooth and slick cover, this one will be perfect.

Last month, everyone was worried about a double-dip recession. Now we have news that the economy grew at 2.5% in the third quarter and that consumer spending is on the rise again, and suddenly we have a situation where the holiday shopping season might be better than usual. Consumer sentiment is critical. Consumers were spending when things were bad, so if the economy is getting a little better, maybe consumer spending will ramp up even more.

There are definitely some cool products out there. The iPhone 4S is a massive hit, and everyone thinks the Kindle Fire, with its $199 price tag, will be a huge hit with consumers as well. It will be interesting to see if we have a massive dud like 3D televisions like last year.

Another issue might be supply. Have tech companies been aggressive enough with their inventories and production schedules? Have they been ramping up booklet printing for promotional items and product instructions? Will they be faced with shortages in products if the shopping season is a hit?

I suspect that Apple and Amazon will be ready.

Think your iPhone is the best version available today? Well, it is until the November release of the iPhone 5, at least. Don't fret: in the short history of the popular platform, many versions have been overshadowed by upstarts. Take a look at this iPhone evolution infographic, and find out how it has improved over the years. The next time you're wondering where to get an iPhone you'll be armed with the knowledge of its past, and insights about its future.

We’ve all heard of the Apple iPhone 4 and the Verizon Droid, but what about the LG Wine? And the Samsung Dart?

Recently, companies have been putting on their malfunctioning thinking caps and churning out uncharacteristic names for phone brands. If you haven’t been in the market for a new cellular device, you’re missing out on some classic names.

Don’t worry - we’ve got you covered. Here are the top 3 weirdest phone naming trends.

Macho
Apparently, cell phone makers find past names far too feminine and dainty for all of the chiseled, baritone men out there, and they’ve just about had enough.

To combat this girly, glittery epidemic, phone manufacturers have amped up the grit.

Samsung’s manly phone collection features the Gusto and the Rugby. Yes, now it’s okay to name phones after rough sports and tough-sounding buzzwords.

We can’t neglect the classic Motorola products: the Brute and the Quantico. If you’re wondering what “Quantico” means, so were we. That’s why we hyperlinked you - to save you the trouble of discovering that it is indeed not a word; it’s the location of a Marine Corps Base. Kudos, Motorola, for at least being subtle about your manliness.

Future name predictions: Bicep, Toolkit, Hockey

Nature/Space
For all of those workaholics and drama-ridden teenagers surrounded by cell phones and other miscellaneous technology, there’s a new way to appreciate the natural world. Next time you’re ready to answer that phone call, remember your phone’s nature-related name and feel instantly rejuvenated.

Get in touch with nature with the Samsung Sunburst or Evergreen. If you’re feeling more on the celestial side, the Samsung Galaxy and the LG Cosmos are at your disposal.

Why are clunky, electronic phones named after nature? We’ll never know. Out of all the names inspired by weather, space, and animals, the most interesting is the Samsung Flight - we’re pretty sure there still isn’t an app for that.

Future name predictions: Foliage, Moonbeam, Aqueduct

Science/Chemistry
On the opposite end of the spectrum is the realm of science - which, admittedly, makes a little more sense. Science and technology have been advancing so quickly that not only can you video chat a relative from across the country on your phone, you can buy cell cell phones on eBay from the comfort of your coach.

However, we know Motorola’s Titanium or Photon phones aren’t named to show appreciation of the scientific pioneers of our society. They get these names simply because they sound awesome and complicated.

The same goes for the LG Quantum and Octane phones. One look at any of these names, and you’re convinced these tiny phones will be time-traveling you back to the Stone Age.

The best name, though, is the Samsung Gravity. Based on how many people have dropped their phones and now talk on cells with shattered screens and chipped-off edges, naming a phone after gravity actually deserves some positive recognition.

Future name predictions: Titration, Enzyme, Mitochondria

It seems that Nokia got lucky on this one because all of their phones have names consisted of random numbers and letters. Despite this, we wish they’d at least name a phone C-3PO. Who knows - maybe pop culture robots will be the next naming trend.

Apple's really nailed down its presentation strategy. The company doesn't leak features before they're absolutely ready for mass consumption (not counting the old AppleTV of course), and then it announces the product, shows just how awesome it is, and puts a release date just close enough that the world will stay excited until its release. iCloud is no different. Apple's unveiling made Google Music look like a high-school project by comparison.

I'm really impressed by what Apple put together. There are a few recent Apple policies that have really made me question whether the company is worth supporting in any capacity. But iCloud is free, and iTunes Match, maybe the single greatest part of the iCloud rollout, is just $25 a year. None of this is to say that I think Apple has pioneered anything amazing. In fact, pretty much everything about the iCloud service has been available through Google for quite some time. It is clean, pretty, and looks incredibly easy to use, which is exactly what Apple is good at. It also further ties consumers into the iOS ecosystem, making it harder to consider leaving.

For the non-Apple users of the world, there is some good news here. Google is looking at iCloud and thinking of ways to do it better (and they can't be happy about Apple taking the notification bar pretty much directly from Android). The next version of Android will almost certainly try to best iCloud in some serious ways. Google knows that Apple is going for brand loyalty with iCloud. Whatever the company releases to compete will have to be good enough to pull people away from iOS.

All you mobile nerds are getting excited about that new Sidekick, right? Yeah, right. I'm actually shocked that T-Mobile even has plans to make a Sidekick 3 now that smartphones have become the wave of the future. If I can get an Android handset or an iPhone for the same price (or cheaper), why bother with an expensive data plan for what is essentially a hardware gimmick at this point?

It seems 471,000 consumers agree with me. That's the number of subscribers T-Mobile has lost in the first quarter of 2011. That's not the full story - the company did sign 372,000 to new contracts, but that's still some 99,000 short of growth. In any case, it's not good news. Maybe AT&T is right about the buyout. Does T-Mobile need Big Blue to keep itself afloat?

Roughly one week from today, Verizon will no longer be offering customers the option to sign a one-year contract. “The reason behind the change is the greater majority of customers sign up for a 2 year contract and take advantage of the discounted (promotion) price,” a Verizon Wireless spokesperson told BGR in an email. “Customers will still have the option of choosing month to month, prepaid or service with a two year contract.”

I can't say this is really a surprise. Few carriers gave such deals and frankly there wasn't a lot of benefit to the customer. American consumers typically put up with contracts for free or significantly reduced handsets. If they are really averse to contracts, a one year deal probably wouldn't be any more appealing than two.

I'm seriously kicking around the idea of dumping my iPhone in favor of an Android device. I've been playing with the HTC Inspire for the past few days and really loving it. The notification bar alone could be reason enough to say goodbye to Apple for a while, at least anything running iOS. One of the things I loved about my iPhone was the ability to get any music, anywhere. The MOG app was amazing for streaming and allowed for downloads when I would be without a connection. The Android version does the same thing, just much more shittily.

This is one of the problems with Android in general - different apps will behave differently on different devices. That differentiation (wink wink) is good in some ways - there are a lot of options for users - but it can also be a bit painful. Right now my app has a constant "Artist Radio" overlay along the bottom of the screen, no matter which screen I'm on. It blocks the Download button. It blocks the Play Album button. It infuriates the hell out of me. The app also randomly starts playing any time I receive a notification on my phone. Yes, any notification will start whatever music MOG has loaded provided I've used MOG earlier in the day. I have to restart the damn phone to turn it off.