Highlights from the opening day, Thursday, of the Consumer Electronics Show included:

HDTVs are getting thinner and bigger.

This is the year of 3D, with all of the same TV manufacturers showing off a variety of displays that work with either glasses, or create a 3D-like effect automatically on screen.

Palm gave the public a first look at the Pre, with a touchscreen like the iPhone that slides away to reveal a keyboard, and it can run many applications at once.

Microsoft announced it was releasing a beta version of Windows 7, effective immediately.