Apple Pi

Article first published as Apple Pi on Technorati.

As the 2012 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is about to kick off in Las Vegas, Nevada, there is always an 800 pound gorilla in the room that no one will admit is there. Apple. The company that hasn't exhibited at CES since 1994, yet they draw all the attention. It seems everyone feels the effect of their shadow.

For example, every company that proudly releases a tablet, it is compared to the Apple iPad.

That new ultra thin laptop, shot down in flames as it gets compared to the Apple Macbook Air.

Microsoft focuses all their efforts with ZUNE to compete with the iPod, yet Apple leaves them all in the dust.

What makes this year different than any other? Well, this year, the gorilla has grown to a mighty 1600 pounds. The iLounge area of the CES show, where companies display their accessories compatible with Apple products, has grown from 4,000 square feet in 2010, to an unbelievable 88,000 square feet this year. You do the math!

CES could take over all of Las Vegas Boulevard, and the square footage of devices that are Apple compatible and interface with Apple keeps growing exponentially every year.

The lineup of companies trying to compete and release products and devices that will equal or surpass Apple is.. amazing.

This year, the key buzzword is "ULTRABOOKS", and in fact, LG even has what they are calling a "SUPER ULTRABOOK".

All this leads to the obvious question, "Where is this all going to end?"

The truth of the matter, is that each successive year, CES is in fact progressively more and more about Apple than anything else, as everyone tries to compete, and is overshadowed by Apple.

The only success a company has, is NOT by making a competing product, but by making an accessory that is compatible with Apple gear.

It's becoming increasingly like the Oscars: the award for best performance goes to the A-List Superstar that doesn't bother to show up.

So have fun in Las Vegas, enjoy the sights and sounds, you are in "Sin City" after all, but the only real show to go to is the Mac World Exposition in San Francisco.