CES 2012: The top 7 phones at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show

Whereas last year's Consumer Electronics Show was all about Android, the surprise mindshare leader at CES 2012 is Microsoft's Windows Phone mobile operating system. After completely reinventing the artist formerly known as Windows Mobile in late 2010, the company fleshed out and polished up the OS with the current Windows Phone 7.5 iteration. Thanks to a $1 billion partnership with Finnish giant Nokia early last year, as well as strong continued partnerships with handset makers HTC and Samsung, the Windows Phone ecosystem is set to finally come into its own in 2012. Despite not dominating the show floor to the extent it did last year, Google's Android mobile operating system nevertheless managed a strong showing at CES 2012. Motorola announced a brace of powerful smartphones with the Droid Razr Maxx and the Droid 4, LG brought out the 4G LTE Spectrum handset for Verizon, and Samsung introduced a unique entrant to that middle ground between phone and tablet with the 5.3" Galaxy Note on AT&T. Samsung also saw its flagship Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich phone, the Galaxy Nexus, leave Verizon exclusivity for Sprint. Here's our list of of the top 7 phones at CES 2012: 1. Nokia Lumia 900

The Microsoft-Nokia partnership is finally bearing fruit in the U.S., with the much-heralded Lumia family the long-awaited result. Of the 710, 800, and 900 trio, the latter is the most powerful flagship Windows Phone device of the bunch. The Nokia Lumia 900 features a sleek and curvy design — refreshing amidst a sea of sometimes barely differentiated Android slabs. Set to be the world's first 4G LTE Windows Phone on AT&T when it launches in the coming months, the handset literally turned heads on the CES show floor with its sharp looks and 4.3" AMOLED display. Another notable feature is its 8-megapixel camera, which includes an f2.2/28mm Carl Zeiss lens that can snap wide-angle shots and performs admirably in low light settings. 2. HTC Titan II

This successor to the original HTC Titan can lay two world's first claims to its crown: it'll be the first Windows Phone handset to run on a 4G LTE network in the States (courtesy of AT&T), and features a whopping 16-megapixel camera — the highest resolution ever seen on a handset released in the U.S. market. Beyond being the equivalent of Mecca for cameraphone enthusiasts, the HTC Titan II comes with a stable of other hardware specs to match, including a big and beautiful 4.7" Super LCD display, 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor, front-facing camera, and 16GB onboard storage. 3. Motorola Droid Razr Maxx

Launched just late last year, the Motorola Droid Razr is already getting an update in the Droid Razr Maxx. The claim to fame of this new ultra-thin Android device is its extreme battery life: with a reported 21 hours of operation from a single charge, the Razr Maxx essentially doubles that of the original. Launching as a Verizon exclusive, the 4G LTE handset runs the elder Gingerbread version of the Android OS, but a Motorola representative told us to expect an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update in the second quarter of 2012. Also featuring an 8-megapixel camera that shoots 1080p high-definition video, a front-facing camera for video chat, and water-repellent nanoparticles that keep it safer from moisture, the Razr Maxx will be launching on January 26 for $299.99 on contract. 4. Samsung Galaxy Note

Samsung Galaxy Note took the baton from powerful, oversized superphones and ran with it. If you think the Galaxy Nexus's 4.65" screen was big, the Note might make you do a doubletake. At first glance, the Note doesn't look like a phone at all, and you wouldn't be off base if you mistook it for a teensy little tablet. But it isn't just a gimmick: with Android ICS en route, a dazzling Super AMOLED display, support for AT&T's LTE network, and a built-in stylus that's as practical as it is fun, the Note is both flashy and feature-rich. It may pack an unpocketable 5.3" screen, but at 0.38" thick and 0.63 oz., the Note felt quite light and manageable during our time testing it out. One thing's for sure: the Galaxy Note mini-tablet (or is it a mega-phone?) is a bold device. And while only time will tell if consumers will be intrigued or just plain puzzled, we think Samsung's smartphone experiment might just be crazy enough to work. 5. LG Spectrum

If you're sensing a 4G LTE trend by now, you'd be absolutely correct; even Sprint is now ditching its WiMax network in favor of LTE as its primary 4G technology. LG tossed its own contender into that ring with the LG Spectrum. Featuring a 4.5" HD display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 16GB storage, an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash, and support for Dolby Digital Plus, the Spectrum also supports wireless media streaming via DLNA and exclusive access to the ESPN ScoreCenter app. The LG Spectrum will be launching as a Verizon exclusive on January 19 for $199.99 with a 2-year contract. 6. Motorola Droid 4

Billed as the world's thinnest 4G LTE smartphone with a full physical keyboard, the Motorola Droid 4 is an Android slider running the elder Gingerbread version of the OS, but a Motorola representative told us to expect an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update in the second quarter of 2012. If you're one of those smartphone users who never quite fell in love with virtual keyboards, the Droid 4 could be just the ticket for you. When we tested out the QWERTY offering we found the keyboard pleasantly tactile and responsive, though you'll be trading off some physical thickness to get it. The Droid 4 will head to Verizon in the coming weeks for an as yet undisclosed price. 7. Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Sprint

Everything we love about the Samsung Galaxy Nexus — its beautiful 4.65" Super AMOLED display, powerful dual-core processor, and status as the world's first phone to run the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich mobile operating system — will be following the device to a second carrier when it leaves Verizon exclusivity for Sprint later this year. Faced with a surprising dearth of new ICS handset announcements at this year's CES, we're at least happy to see consumers finally get more carrier options for the newest flavor of Android. While sharing most of the specs of its Verizon counterpart including a healthy 32GB of storage, there is one notable feature Sprint's version of the Nexus will include that the original does not: support for Google Wallet, the search giant's mobile payment system based on Near Field Communication technology. There's no word yet on exactly when Sprint will launch the Galaxy Nexus, but it's reasonable to expect availability around the same time the carrier launches its new LTE network sometime mid-2012.

CES 2012: Digital camera makers struggle to keep pace

At first glance, it would appear the camera industry is in trouble. Some of the smartphones introduced at CES have specs that equal or surpass cameras: 16-megapixel sensors, displays as big as 5.3 inches and the ability to shoot HD video at 1080p. Plus, smartphones have much more intuitive interfaces and can instantly upload photos and video to the internet for instant sharing. Which is why more and more people shoot photos and video on their phones, leaving cameras and camcorders at home. To counter this trend, camera and camcorder manufacturers have introduced a number of models that connect to the Internet via WiFi. Some look promising, like Sony’s Bloggie Live, which lets you live stream video to your computer through a web video service called Qik. Some new connected cameras are just plain confusing, though. Take Polaroid’s new “smart camera”, the Polaroid SC1630 Android HD. A phone-like device with a 3x optical zoom lens, it uses the Android operating system, doesn’t have a phone, but does have WiFi, so it can connect to the web. Apparently, Polaroid is in talks with various carriers to include 3G when the device actually launches. Still, when it comes to connectivity, WiFi enabled cameras don’t pose any serious competition to camera phones. WiFi is only available at hot spots, while 3G is available virtually anywhere in major cities. If your town doesn't provide a way to recycle non-rechargeable batteries, it's OK to toss them in the trash. To find out where to recycle rechargeables, go to www.call2recycle.org. A better bet for camera makers in fending off the threat of smartphones is by emphasizing quality and advanced features in a small package. SLR-like, or mirrorless, cameras do exactly that, with sensors as large as those in SLRs, but much smaller bodies. That’s why they’ve been one of the few areas of growth in the camera industry. The photos these cameras capture blow away virtually anything you can shoot on a smartphone. Their acceptance by consumers shows that people still care about capturing quality photos. Fujifilm introduced one such mirrorless model at CES, the 16-megapixel X-Pro1, which has a large SLR-type sensor and accepts interchangeable lenses. It features a high-quality 3-inch LCD, a maximum ISO of ISO 25,600, and a unique hybrid viewfinder that lets you toggle between an optical and electronic view. It also has the same retro, rangefinder-style of body design as other X-series cameras. At the moment, Fujifilm offers three prime, or non-zoom, lenses for the X-Pro1: XF18mm (f/2), XF35mm (f/1.4) and XF60mm (f/2.4 macro). As with most advanced cameras, you can capture Raw files and theres a hot-shoe for an external flash. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but word has it that it will cost around $1,700 and $600 for each lens. Despite any anticipation, this CES came and went without Canon announcing even one mirrorless model. Instead, they got halfway there with the PowerShot G1 X, which has a large sensor that’s almost as big as the ones in their Rebels, but which doesn’t use interchangeable lenses. And, just to show everyone that true SLRs are still very relevant, Nikon was showing off its flagship D4, which will set you back at least $6000.

Rotating Home That Follows the Sun

Normally, when someone asks for the remote, it’s because they want to undertake some serious TV channel surfing. But in one unique home located just 90 minutes north of New York City, playing with the remote control will set the entire wooden house spinning on its axis. This dome home was, in fact, built on an electronically-controlled axle. So with a push of a button, the 3,000-square-foot New Paltz home for sale can rotate 360 degrees. In five orbital minutes, the house will turn one full rotation. The home is listed at $1.2 million. The owners of this circular domicile aren’t constantly on the spin cycle. The feature is used to take advantage of the sun for the home’s solar energy needs. Each season, the home is rotated for maximum efficiency, explained listing agent Anne Rajs. While the home looks similar to geodesic dome homes, it was built using a kit from France called Domespace and is the only structure like it that has been constructed in the U.S. “It does look like a space ship,” said Rajs. “But it’s an amazing home. It’s the coolest home I’ve ever seen.”

The two-story home features 40-foot ceilings centered by the axle. Tall, wedge-shaped windows keep the interiors light-filled and open. The home features bamboo flooring and custom wood and stone cabinetry. The first floor contains two bedrooms and the majority of the living space. A central spiral staircase leads to the second floor which holds the master suite, office and additional balcony space. Although one of the home’s main appeals is its unique design, Rajs believes that the home’s location is a big sell as well. “It’s this beauty of a house in the middle of 28 acres,” Rajs said. “And you can walk to the Mohonk Preserve which has 1,000 acres more of hiking and rock climbing.”

More sales, more luxury in 2012 car sales

As 2011 comes to an end with the pace of auto sales accelerating, it make sense to expect the trend will continue next year. Additionally, it seems likely that that new products, led by the BMW 3 Series and 2013 versions of the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu, will lure buyers in their segments, and also that 2012's biggest auto industry stories could include fulfillment of Volkswagen's promise to grow its U.S. market share. "Volkswagen is one of the largest [automakers] in the world, yet what they sell in the U.S. is peanuts," says TrueCar.com market analyst Jesse Toprak. Volkswagen's U.S. focus was underscored by the opening of a Chattanooga, Tenn., plant in May. Automakers aren't quite ready to issue 2012 sales forecast, but Toprak expects 2012 light vehicle sales of 13.8 million units, up from about 12.8 million in 2011. "The fundamental consumer demand has improved this year and will continue to improve further in 2012," Toprak says. "The myth of pent-up demand has turned out to be at least partially true: Consumers at some point need to get a new car." Widespread projections of continued economic growth, albeit slow growth, combined with a surge in sales in the current quarter, buttress expectations for continued growth in 2012 sales. Among new products, the most important 2012 introduction could well the BMW 3-Series, debuting next month at the Detroit Auto Show, with a market launch in February. "The 3-Series has generated a lot of buzz," says Ed Loh, editor-in-chief of Motor Trend. "This is the bread and butter luxury segment, and I think it will see growth in 2012." Loh says GM will seek to challenge BMW's segment dominance with the 2013 Cadillac ATS, which is slated to make its world premier at the Detroit show. Production will begin next summer in Lansing, Mich. "ATS is a crucial part of Cadillac's expansion," Mary Barra, GM senior vice president of global product development, recently told the Automotive Press Association. "ATS enters the biggest market segment in the global luxury car industry, both in terms of volume and importance." The segment is dominated by German cars including the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4, Barra acknowledged, but: "We've developed a compelling and convincing new challenger."

2013 Lexus GS 350 Sales of Toyota's luxury Lexus GS are also slated to begin early in 2012. "The Lexus GS is coming at a time that is very critical to Lexus, which has been accused of losing its way and making boring cars aiming at the suburbs," Loh says. Toyota President Akio Toyoda "has said 'We need to make more exciting cars,'" Loh notes. In the midsized category, sales of the 2013 Malibu will begin in the first quarter, while Ford will unveil its 2013 Fusion in Detroit. "The new Fusion will be big news," Loh says. "There's a lot of competition in the midsized market. Ford will take on Camry and Accord and also there is worry about the Sonata." The new Fusion will likely come to market late in 2012, he says. GM has intros in several sectors. The new Silverado is expected later this year, while the subcompact Sonic was introduced during the current quarter. "GM has its hopes riding on the Sonic," Toprak says. "The car is not a cash machine at the price point, but it will bring in people who would not give Chevy a chance before." Those new buyers reflect not only improvement in GM's small cars, but also the problems facing Toyota, which suffered from quality issues in 2010 and from production shortages this year following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March. "Toyota will slowly come back in 2012," Toprak says. "But the fear for Toyota is that the competition is so much better now. Five years ago, they would have emerged and claimed back all of the share they lost, because what could you have bought instead besides Honda?

The 340-hp Donkervoort D8 GTO is a Dutch treat

While most of the world's sports-car builders want to wrap their customers in Alcantara and a mini-multiplex of touchscreens, a few builders bravely move the opposite direction towards lightness and speed above any notion of comfort. Joop Donkervoort of the Netherlands is one such trailblazer, and the Donkervoort D8 GTO shows the benefits of not following the crowd. While Donkervoort has been building bespoke cars for three decades, the GTO is an all-new design, meant to herald where the company sees its future. Powered by a 2.5-liter turbo five-cylinder from Audi spinning 340 hp, the GTO only weighs 1,540 lbs. -- about half what even compact cars waddling off the assembly lines carry around. To hit that weight, there's no roof and few creature comforts; the only sop to modern rules is electronic traction control. That combination of mass and force should produce accelerations that would put the Donkervoort in the forefront of European sports cars; the GTO will do zero to 60 mph in about 3 seconds, and on to a top speed of 160 mph. The company says the first 25 GTOs will be special editions complete with a "race" switch that squeezes an extra 60 hp from the engine. The everyday models will arrive in 2013, with prices starting around $130,000.

Dodge brings back the Dart, with an Italian flair

Dodge's newest small car replacing the woebegone Caliber next year will carry the name "Dart" -- the first time Dodge has used that name on these shores in 36 years. This is not grandma's Slant-Six lead sled. Based on the European-only Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the new compact hatch (shown here in the only frontal shot Dodge released) is the first true mechanical combination born of the Fiat-Chrysler merger. Chrysler says the 2013 Dodge Dart will arrive with a choice of three engines, two of which are updated Chrysler four-cylinders suddenly renamed "Tigershark," because it's cool to get nicknames in middle age. To be competitive with the all-new fleet of compact cars in America, at least one model will need to hit 40 mpg on the highway. For those unfamiliar with the proud history of the name, the first Dodge Dart arrived in 1960 as a nod to the Space Age, and persevered as a stoic, low-cost compact car until 1976, often powered by the ancient but bulletproof Chrysler straight-six engine tilted at a 30-degree angle. True Dart fans pay respect to the GTS muscle version of the late '60s, but thanks to its low cost and ubiquity in TV shows of the late '70s -- and even "That '70s Show" -- it became known as grandma's car. For the new Dart, Dodge plans to skip ahead at least a couple of generations. We'll see the real thing at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Cars with the highest theft rates

While some of the best-selling cars in the U.S. also top the most frequently stolen list each year because of their sheer numbers, another look at the statistics reveals which cars by percentage sold are the most likely to by targeted by thieves. According to data recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the car most frequently stolen, based on the number of thefts per 1,000 vehicles sold during 2009, was the $92,000 Audi S8 sport/luxury sedan, with 8.81 thefts per 1,000 vehicles produced. That comes out to just two out of the 227 S8s that were sold in the U.S., so it’s hardly a widespread epidemic. Still, NHTSA’s statistics prove the point that the flashiest cars on the road can also be the most popular – for the wrong reasons. The Ford Shelby Mustang GT had the next highest theft rate for 2009, with 8.61 vehicles per 1,000 stolen. Also in the top five were the sportiest variant of BMW’s midsize sedan, the M5 (7.58/1,000), retro-flavored Dodge Charger full-size sedan (6.47/1,000) and the no longer produced Honda S2000 roadster (5.60/1,000). The remainder of the top 10 list of cars with the highest theft rates for 2009 included the midsize Mitsubishi Galant sedan (5.11/1,000), the full-size Chrysler 300 sedan (4.57/1,000), the Infiniti M luxury sedan (4.32/1,000) the Cadillac STS luxury sedan (4.28/1,000) and the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class luxury sport coupe (3.91/1,000). By brand, the most frequently stolen cars per 1,000 sold, were Chrysler products, with the Chrysler Sebring, Sebring Convertible and PT Cruiser, and the Dodge Avenger and Dodge Caliber making the top 20 in addition to the aforementioned 300 and Charger. General Motors came in second, with four vehicles among top 20, with the Pontiac G5 and G6 and Chevrolet Impala joining the STS. While the Toyota Camry was the most purloined model overall in terms of sheer numbers, at 781 stolen in 2009, it ranked 50th as a percentage of sales at just 1.74 per 1,000 cars. The least-stolen model per capita in 2009 was the since-discontinued Mercury Mariner SUV, with a theft rate of 0.08 per 1,000 units, or a mere two vehicles out of 25,682 sold that year. Fortunately, NHTSA reports that the number of auto thefts reported each year is on the decline. “The agency believes that the theft rate reduction could be the result of several factors including the increased use of standard antitheft devices, vehicle parts marking, increased and improved prosecution efforts by law enforcement organizations and increased public awareness,” according to a NHTSA statement. So what can you do to ensure that thieves won’t target your vehicular pride and joy? Start by correcting bad habits, such as leaving the keys in the ignition when the vehicle is unattended. Keep the windows and sunroof closed, and don’t hide a spare key where an astute crook might find it. If you have a garage, park inside it, not merely out on the driveway, and make sure both entry doors are closed and locked at all times. If you park on the street, choose a spot close to other vehicles, turn your wheels toward the curb and engage the emergency brake to make it more difficult to be towed. Away from home, park in a well-lit or well-traveled area after dark, and avoid using long-term parking lots – take a taxi to the airport instead. Experts also advise having your car or truck’s vehicle identification number (often called a “VIN,” it’s found on the driver’s side of the dashboard at the bottom of the windshield, as well as on the model’s title) etched on the windshield and major components to make them more difficult for chop shops to sell as replacement parts. Beyond the common-sense basics, use an antitheft device, which will often also warrant a discount on your car insurance. A steering-wheel lock like the popular “Club” is simple, inexpensive and can be as effective as costlier alarm systems. A thief wants to get a vehicle as quickly as possible, and anything that might slow him or her down can be enough of a deterrent to instead choose another model on the block. Having a simple ignition “kill switch” installed in a hidden location makes it more difficult for a crook to start a car or truck and drive it away. Advanced vehicle recovery devices like LoJack and General Motors’ OnStar system use technology similar to that employed in satellite navigation systems to help police departments locate cars and trucks if they are stolen. They can be pricey and require a monthly subscription, but if you own an expensive high-profile car, the cost is usually warranted. 10. Mercedes-Benz CL-Class The sportier two-door version of Mercedes' S-Class sedan was taken by thieves at the rate of 3.91 per 1,000 vehicles during 2009. 9. Cadillac STS Buyers of the sporty Cadillac STS sedan were targeted by thieves to the tune of 4.28 per 1,000 units sold. 8. Infiniti M The flagship sedans of the Infiniti line, the M35 and M45 were stolen during 2009 at the rate of 4.32 per 1,000 sold during 2009. 7. Chrysler 300 The stately Chrysler 300 sedan was stolen at the rate of 4.57 per 1,000 sold during 2009. 6. Mitsubishi Galant The midsize Mitsubishi Galant sedan was popular among thieves during 2009, as 5.11 out of every 1,000 sold were stolen. 5. Honda S2000 No longer in production, the sleek Honda S2000 roadster was stolen at the rate of 5.60 per 1,000 units sold during 2009. 4. Dodge Charger During 2009, 6.47 out of every 1,000 Dodge Chargers that were sold were reported stolen. 3. BMW M5 The racy M5 version of BMW's midsize sedan had a theft rate of 7.58 per 1,000 sold in 2009. 2. Ford Shelby GT According to data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 8.61 out of 1,000 Ford Shelby GT sports cars produced were ultimately stolen during 2009. 1. Audi S8 The limited production V10-powered Audi S8 luxury sports sedan boasted the highest theft rate among all cars during 2009, with 8.81 thefts per 1,000 vehicles sold, though this amounts to just two out of a total of 227 units.