The show's massive floor featured a record 330 new exhibitors as a rebounding world economy boosted company optimism about the tech market. The number of attendees also increased over last year, from 113,000 to 120,000 industry professionals.
While the introduction of 3-D television sets marked the dominant theme of this year's show, Ford's unveiling of a new dashboard control system also sparked huge interest, as did tablet computers, and e-readers. But in a deflating note for the largest technology show in the US the biggest buzz was reserved for two companies that weren't even present.