Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Not only do you get to wander amidst displays of all of the latest in gadgety goodness at CES 2009, you also get to hob-nob with some very big names.  We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.  (Heads up for those that somehow did miss the itinerary…it’s all going down in Las Vegas.)

They’ve got it all.  Musicians, sports icons, TV stars…the 2009 International CES will be THE place to be January 8-11th.  As most people know, CES is the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, and they are making it very worth the while of those in attendance.
It all starts a day before the show floor officially opens, on Wednesday, January 7th, with Soulja Boy Tell’Em at the Billboard Digital Music Live! Conference Session in the LVCC.  Soulja Boy has managed to use the Internet to rise to a wicked fast stardom.  Implementing YouTube, ranking in ringtone sales, he definitely has his finger in the online and musical pie.  He’ll be talking about his strategies for it all along with his manager and producer at 10:55 a.m.  Later the same day, Akron and Rio Caraeff will together talk about how “art meets commerce in the digital age”.

Then we have TV coverage of course.  NBC Universal is back as the Official Broadcaster Partner of CES, and will be broadcasting live right from the show floor.  They’ll have The Today Show, the NBC Evening News, Access Hollywood, and CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo on hand for coverage. 

Of course, not to be pushed out of the fun, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is also showing their face in quite a unique way.  To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the gameshow Jeopardy!, SPT is going to be filming daily episodes of Celebrity Jeopardy! on a specially built set right there on the CES show floor.  You’ll also see Dr. Oz, who is a frequent flyer on the Oprah Winrey Show, on hand in the SPT booth to promote his brand spanking new syndicated talk show.  I’m thinking Vegas should give him something to talk about indeed.

The show floor officially opens on January 8th, and thats when the schmoozing with the stars really gets going.  SHARP (the official HDTV of Major League Baseball) is going to have a just about enough MLB all-stars in their booth to form a team.  Just to name a few, they will have Prince Fielder of the Brewers, David Ortiz with the Red Sox, Mets pitcher John Maine, and 2006 Rookie of the Year and 2008 All Star and Silver Slugger Hanley Ramirez.

Baseball not your thing?  More into the Indy Car scene?  You’re still in luck.  For you, Sarah Fisher, Indy 500 driver zooms into the SimCraft Booth on Thursday. Then later they have Akon popping in to promote SanDisk, and still later that evening, Will.I.am with the Black Eyed Peas will be at the Awards Ceremony at the Venetian in the Bellini Ballroom at 7:00.

If you are on the invitation only list, there is a Monster Cable concert at the Paris Hotel, where Diana Ross headlines at 9:00 p.m. Friday night.

There is also a trio of NBA Hall of Famers bringing their game to the Haier America booth.  Clyde “The Glyde” Drexler, “The Chief” Robert Parish, and “Big Red Head” Bill Walton will be on the floor all three days at the LVCC.

And for the gamers out there, be sure to check out the Creative Labs booth in the LVCC South Hall each day.  Fatal1ty Wendell will be there taking on gamers every day of CES.  Fatal1ty become known to gamers in a big way due to his two seasons as commentator on DirecTV’s Championship Gaming Series.

So, there definitely seems to be something for everyone at the 2009 International CES.  Go crazy and live it up!  Because after all….what happens in Vegas…well, you know.