LAS VEGAS, USA: The 2009 International CES opened with the world's largest debut of consumer technology products from 2,700 companies, including 300 new exhibitors, and keynote addresses from industry leaders. Produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2009 International CES, the world's largest tradeshow for consumer technology, runs through Sunday, January 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA, opened his 2009 International CES keynote on Thursday morning with the debut of an innovative new video platform from Yoostar, which featured personalized footage from classic Hollywood movies. Shapiro noted that this "personalization meets content" technology epitomizes what CES is all about: innovation, technology and enhancing life. Shapiro discussed how the consumer technology industry is resilient and will lead the way to economic recovery. He also announced CEA's plans to work closely with president-elect Obama, the nation's first digital president, who was elected on a message of change.

To assist the new Administration and Congress in evaluating technology legislation and its impact on our innovation economy, Shapiro announced that CEA is launching an Innovation Checklist. It is a simple test for any legislation that touches technology: Does it create jobs? Does it spur new technology? Does it encourage the best and brightest to come to the U.S.? Does it reward risk taking? Does it promote exports? Will it help deploy broadband? Shapiro stated these simple questions ask Washington to do no harm to the technology companies that are the economic backbone of our nation.

Sony's president and CEO, Sir Howard Stringer, kicked off his opening keynote address at the 2009 International CES by unveiling the "CES Seven," key imperatives for creating the critical user experience. These included the concepts that products should interact seamlessly across industries, be service-based, multi-functional, support open technologies, advance the new shared experience, create new value chains and be green. Stringer stated that Sony intends to create the total Sony experience so that by 2011, 90 percent of Sony's product categories will connect wirelessly to the Internet and to each other.

To help illustrate Sony's cross-platform entertainment strategy, offering content and services at home and on the go, Stringer was joined onstage by a variety of entertainment stars, including Tom Hanks, Usher, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Reggie Jackson, Dr. Oz and John Lasseter.

In addition, Stringer announced a host of new Sony products, including the Wi-fi Cyber-shot camera which allows people to send photos to a networked Bravia TV, as well as to websites, blogs and photo sharing sites and a new Internet-enabled alarm clock, created in cooperation with Chumby, that provides personalized content, including news, sports, weather, music, videos and Internet radio.

Stringer also announced a partnership with MTV Networks to deliver 2,000 hours of programming for Sony's Video Delivery Service, a new line of Eco TV products that are 40 percent more power-efficient than current models and the new Sony Vaio P series Lifestyle PC, a full-featured lifestyle PC that fits in a jacket pocket, is wireless and has built-in GPS.

In the Thursday's SuperSession "Connect2Car: The Automobile's Convergence with Consumer Electronics," top industry executives discussed efforts to increase efficiency and effectiveness of in-vehicle technologies. Moderated by SEMA's John Waraniak, panelists provided solutions to improving the quality of the traveling experience, including the implementation of more efficient HMI, telematics and eco-friendly technologies. Panelists recognized that the industry is going through tough economic times, but encouraged automakers and suppliers to take advantage of the opportunities driving change.

During the SuperSession "What Will They Think of Next? Consumer Technology in 2025," a panel of industry experts moderated by Kara Swisher, co-executive editor, All Things D, discussed what the future might hold for consumers and the industry. The experts predicted a world without wires, stressing the importance of wireless networks, the advances of 3D technology and content, and how the everyday consumer device will be Internet-enabled.

To demonstrate his message of "The Future is Fusion" at Thursday's Industry Insider presentation, Dirk Meyer, president and CEO of AMD introduced several of AMD's industry partners, including LucasFilm Ltd., LightStage/OTOY, MTV, HP, AlienWare and Electronic Arts. Meyer noted that the CE industry needs to become more collaborative in order to provide users with more options and a more personalized computing experience. The audience enjoyed demonstrations of advanced computer graphics including real-time rendering, gaming via cloud computing, a new super gaming PC- the Dragon System – and both ultra-thin and personalized notebook computers.

At the "Wireless Meets Consumer Electronics: The Fundamental Shift to Mobility" SuperSession, senior executives from Intel, Panasonic, Nokia and Verizon Communications discussed what wireless means to the industry and to future opportunities. The panel agreed that wireless technology helps give consumers a user-friendly experience with the content they want, while getting them out of the house and into the world. They concluded that the potential of the 4G network will lead to an explosion of new devices and capabilities.

Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney-ABC Television Group, delivered Thursday afternoon's Industry Insider address at the Hilton Theater. Sweeney spoke about the ways Disney and ABC are providing entertainment and news content across various platforms for consumers to enjoy in their home or on the go. "Digital devices equal consumer content connectors," Sweeney said, as she described the changing ways consumers are being entertained. Sweeney also discussed ABC and Disney's position of creating original and supplemental online programming, noting that online content adds a new experience for fans, context to current shows and drives future storylines. Sweeney also delighted many in the crowd by showing a sneak-peak from the series premiere of Lost.

At CNET's Next Big Thing SuperSession, "the cloud" was announced as the next big thing in consumer technology. The session focused on three aspects of connecting to and experiencing "the cloud" - devices, services and connectivity. The panelists noted that the challenge facing manufactures, content and service providers is to provide consumers with a seamless process to connect and have access to their devices. Consumers want to have a personalized experience and are starting to demand quality over convenience.

During the afternoon CES keynote address Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Ford Motor Company, showcased the latest additions to the Sync infotainment and connectivity platform. Joining recent Sync additions, such as 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report, were personalized traffic reporting and driving direction features. Mulally also unveiled Ford's new concept of a totally configurable cockpit, developed in collaboration with Sharp, Microsoft, Sony and Nuance, and featuring SmartGauge with Eco Guide fuel economy capabilities.

Additionally, the inaugural Global Media Awards were held on Thursday evening, a program jointly produced by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and CEA. The awards program, held at The Venetian, focused on technology and content programming.