Top 5 Tech Trends to Watch at CES

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2011— -- The Consumer Electronics Show is upon us, giving a glimpse into the near-future of tech. Companies from around the globe descend on Las Vegas this week to debut their latest and greatest creations. So what trends can we expect to see out of the world's biggest tech show (and soon into our living rooms)?

This is the High 5: Tech Trends at CES 2011.

5. Internet-Connected TVs

It was all about 3-D TVs last year but consumers have proven that they aren't ready to buy into the technology.

So TV makers are refocusing on what consumers are really hungry for ... more content. The current darling of the tech space is Netflix.

Between Roku, Boxee Box and Apple TV, movie watchers can now stream movies right to their TVs.

So long DVD! And manufacturers such as Samsung, Vizio and Panasonic are putting apps on the televisions themselves. Stream videos from YouTube, audio from Pandora, browse your photo gallery and chat with friends on Facebook or Twitter.

Intel is now even creating chips, or "brains," for TVs, a synthesis of hardware and software that combines connectivity and connection to the Internet.

And as the connectivity gets built into the set itself, we will eventually see the death of those third-party boxes, Roku, Boxee and Apple TV.

4. iPhone Hardware Combined With Apps

When the iPod and iPhone first came out, we saw a lot of products to dock your device.

But the hardware was solely about audio and video.

With the revolution of apps, however, we're now seeing a trend that is taking the hardware one step further and working in conjunction with these applications.

It's no longer just about creating speakers, it's about creating anything you can imagine.

If there's an app for that, manufacturers can create a complimentary peripheral, increasing the power of these Apple devices.

They can transform into anything from a blood-pressure monitor to a meat thermometer.

Such a trend might not get a lot of attention at this CES, but with its lifestyle implications, this is an important step that will truly affect consumers.