CES Day One Recap

LAS VEGAS (TheStreet) - The glitz and glamor of Las Vegas is certainly an appropriate backdrop for the Consumer Electronics Show, as companies demonstrate their best and brightest products for the world to see.

From televisions to tablets, to smartphones and flying cars, CES 2013 has certainly been interesting, with companies clamoring to show off their new wares. Some firms offered creative ways to get their message across, from QR codes on business cards containing in-depth presentations to rubber bracelets containing NFC chips. Companies at CES are doing everything they can to woo consumers.

Here are three of the more interesting announcements/unveilings during the first day of CES:

1. SAMSUNG

Samsung put on a brilliant show during its press event, and clearly has Apple (AAPL) on the brain, announcing several new stunning televisions.

Samsung's new television sets for 2013 are not only beautiful, but allow for more connectivity and interaction with the devices than ever before. Samsung Smart TV provides more interaction with content and partners than any other TVs. The new Samsung flagship F8000 television is a sight to behold, with its LED screen and incredibly beautiful picture. The OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) TVs with built-in speaker systems look like a work of art. If Apple is going to make its own television, it has its work cut out.

2. NEST THERMOSTAT

Even though Apple does its own product unveilings away from the frenzy of CES, it's clear the tech giant's on people's minds in Las Vegas. This was obvious when I visited Nest, which was showing off its new thermostat technology, and just so happens to get its inspiration from Apple. Founded by two former Apple employees, Tony Faddell and Matt Rogers, Nest offers a new take on the thermostat, helping consumers save money on their heating bills by regulating temperature via iOS and Android smartphones. Taking a page out of Apple's book, the thermostat is sleek looking and incredibly easy to use. Though Rogers wouldn't tell me how many customers Nest has, I can bet it's quite a few. This is one name to watch, for sure.

3. CES ITSELF

As this is my first time at CES (and Las Vegas), I was taken aback at the sheer scale of the event, and also how well organized it is. Reports suggest that around 200,000 people have come from all over the world for the show. I was amazed to see everything run like clockwork, with minimal delays and no hitches. Bravo to the people at CES for continuing to put on amazing shows.

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