MUMBAI: The 2006 Consumer Electronics Show highlighted top consumer electronics trends, issues in digital content, imaging technology and policies to name a few.

Present at the show were, Internet heavyweights such as Google and Yahoo!, Kodak, Best Buy, Circuit City Radio Shack and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Kevin Martin.

In a release issued, Yahoo! chairman and CEO Terry Semel spoke on the merging worlds of services and hardware and announced several new services including 'Yahoo To Go', built on an open platform that lets consumers using a PC, cell phone or TV take all of their information and entertainment wherever they go.

Semel also announced 'Yahoo! Go Mobile' , which allows consumers to take their favorite Internet content and services with them on their mobile phones and the 'Yahoo! Widget Engine', which enables users to run small programs on their desktop from alarm clocks to weather forecasts.

Google co-founder and president of products Larry Page gave demonstrations of prototype applications of the popular 'Google Earth' software, including an in-dash version through a partnership with Volkswagen and a real-time version for cell phones.

He also debuted 'Google Talk', an interoperable instant messaging service, 'Google Pack', a free software bundle available for download to enhance the workability of PCs and a mobile search partnership with Motorola.

Page also welcomed CBS Corp. president Leslie Moonves to the stage to announce the new Google Video Store and a partnership between CBS and Google that makes CBS and Paramount Studios television shows available for a small fee through the Google Video Store.

"CBS is number one in traditional media and Google has quickly risen to the top of new media, so this is a perfect marriage of content and distribution," said Moonves.

The 'Google Video Store' will also feature a comprehensive library of video content including NBA basketball games, Sony BMG music videos, cartoon classics and Charlie Rose clips. 'Google Video Store' content can be viewed on a new, downloadable video player for a PC or on the Apple iPod or Sony PlayStation Portable.

Market competition and consumer interests were common themes as CEA president and CEO Gary Shapiro discussed technology policy issues with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin during an Industry Insider session.

Chairman Martin shared his views on the digital television (DTV) transition, content distribution, advances in radio technology, spectrum auctions, indecency and Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) during the hour-long conversation, which included audience questions and answers.

Digital imaging was a main focus at the show with several events and sessions dedicated to imaging technology. Eastman Kodak chairman and CEO Antonio Perez spoke as part of CES' Industry Insiders series on the changing paradigm of the analog camera and the need for growth in the digital imaging sector.

With the introduction of the 'Kodak EasyShare V570' camera, the world's first dual-lens digital still camera, Kodak is practicing what it preaches. Perez said Kodak wanted consumers to take pictures and capture the world as they see it without the burden of carrying many different lenses.

The study 'State of the Market: ImageScape 2006', presented by Ed Lee, director, consumer group and digital photography trends, Infotrends, covered the state of the market in digital photography, trends in sharing digital imaging, the impact of camera phones on the industry and trends in home printing.

At the conference, featured the annual Leaders in Technology dinner and a keynote from News Corp president and COO Peter Chernin.

"We are standing on the precipice of the most exciting time in the content business," said Chernin as he addressed the group of 500 government leaders and executives from the technology, broadcast and motion picture industries.

Characterizing CES as "nothing short of a revolution,"Chernin proclaimed there has never been a more exciting time for the content industry whose purpose is to connect the masses. "The content industry is ceding control to consumers and coming to terms with technology and today's landscape," he added.

While praising the technology industry, Chernin also outlined issues that remain to be addressed by both industries: Interoperability, creating a regulatory environment for broadband and protecting content from theft.

"We're ready to jump in with both feet, but need assurance our content will be protected." Chernin closed his remarks concluding that if these issues are resolved by the technology and content industries, we will reach the golden age of media and technology.

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the prominent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships.