With the 
Consumer Electronics Show now in full swing, the amount of gadget and gizmo information coming out of Las Vegas is staggering. And given that there are 3,100 companies showcasing more than 20,000 new products here, that’s not surprising.
But while the industry touts its latest and greatest, the general public has already put together its wishlist for 2012 – and the top items on it can’t be found at CES.
Tablets 
offer plenty of games from Apple and Android’s app stores, but the selection can leave hardcore gamers frustrated.
While there are some exceptions, most of these app-based games are seen as the equivalent of a midday snack — fun diversions designed for short bursts of play, but ultimately disposable. And though there are some familiar console franchises in the mobile space such as Activision’s “Call of Duty Black Ops Zombies,” the depth of gameplay on those titles doesn’t begin to compare with the offerings on the Xbox, PlayStation 3 or PC.
Vizio is 
betting consumers are sick of black bars when they watch movies at home.
The TV manufacturer, known for its lower-priced screens, is introducing its CinemaWide line of sets at CES today, eschewing the 16:9 widescreen for a 21:9 aspect ratio, preferred by filmmakers.
When Microsoft 
announced plans to stop giving the keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show, the company implied the reason was because it didn’t have a lot to say. And it certainly backed that up Monday night.
At times entertaining, at times baffling and at times a bit dry, Microsoft’s final appearance at CES was more notable because of the finality attached to it than what was said on stage.
Panasonic 
is teaming with MySpace for the rollout of the social network’s new social TV experiment.
MySpace TV will be the crown jewel of Panasonic’s collection of TV apps, letting people chat with friends as they watch programming and see what’s trending among their social circles.
The digital age is having a bigger impact on the entertainment industry than ever before.
The number of people opting to stream movies is approaching parity with those who watch them on DVD, according to Deloitte’s sixth “State of the Media Democracy” report: Some 42% of the people surveyed said they had streamed a film in the past six months versus 51% who watched on DVD, Blu-ray or VHS.
We’re likely 
to hear a lot about 4K before the end of today – press conference day at CES – but the first couple of sets have already made their debuts.
LG has announced a trio of 4K sets, measuring 60, 72 and 84 – yes, 84 – inches). Each boasts a staggering resolution of 3480×2160 and they’ll be available this July. Toshiba, meanwhile, showed off a 55-inch, glasses free 4K set last night.
OLED – or 
organic light-emitting diode – has been one of the longest running legends in consumer technology.
The screens, which are incredibly vibrant and accurate in their color technology, have been shown as prototypes, usually just no larger than 15 inches, but release dates have always been nebulous, due to the incredibly high cost of the technology. LG, however, appears ready to jump in at this year’s CES.
Microsoft’s appearance at next month’s Consumer Electronics Show will be its last.
The tech giant has announced, via its corporate blog, that it will no longer host a booth or deliver the show’s annual keynote speech after 2012.
Microsoft 
is breaking up with the Consumer Electronics Show.
The tech giant has announced via a company blog that this year’s keynote and exhibit booth will be its last at the show – a notable departure, since the company’s keynote has long been the unofficial kickoff to CES.
Chris Morris: Journalist 