New operating systems like OS X – LION help merge the best features of iDevices like the iPhone and iPad with more traditional desktop experiences. Think multi-touch gestures and a centralized “App Store” and you’ve got the basic idea. Meanwhile, iOS 5 took a giant leap forward in the notifications department by getting it’s own dedicated iPhone/iPad app. This mean no more interruptions when Im trying to get to the 9th island on Tiny Wings. Another long awaited feature is the ability to edit photos with the native photo app. Also, Twitter is now built in.

While all that OS news is fine and dandy the GIANT news in the room this morning was the introduction of “iCloud”. iCloud brings wireless iTunes syncing to life. You can now re-download any of your previously bought music from iTunes and iTunes will even try to match the content your didn’t get from iTunes and store it in the cloud for your convenience. iCloud also replaces the current version of MobileMe. So, iCloud will introduce all new versions of mail, contacts and calendar and will wirelessly sync all that data to all your devices.

The real kicker here is that the basic features of iCloud are FREE!

Of course there is a whole lot more to discover about today’s announcements so if you’d like to read-up on how the world changed today I suggest hitting up your favorite tech slash Apple blog – Gizmodo, Engadget, AppleInsider, Cult of Mac – for more info. I prefer to wait for the full video of today’s Keynote to be uploaded to Apple.com

To help keep you up-to-date while you wait for the official June 3rd re-launch they’ve got FREE mobile apps for iOS, Android & Palm WebOS that will tell you when the attractions are soft open (aka preview/testing openings) complete with wait times and FastPass return times (if any). Star Tours 2Live also frequently posts photos and videos on location from either Florida or Anaheim.

You can follow StarTours2Live.com on facebook and twitter for all the latest Star Tours news.

“Today Doug Bernards has succesfully completed another one of his famous in dash iPad installations. But this time is different. Today is launch day for the new iPad 2. Thanks to John Rahim’s patience during the long lines outside of the Santa Clarita BestBuy, Doug was able to grind away at the dash of his brand new Ford F150. This video explains it all.” SoundManCarAudio.com

After battling a injured back and a festive holiday sinus infection (that still won’t go away) I was only able to make it to the last day of the show. So, Sunday morning I drove by myself from TFL#! headquarters to Las Vegas, wandered through the Las Vegas Convention Center, then headed home that same night so I wouldn’t miss work on Monday (#dedication). In the middle of it all I took the pictures below and earned this coveted foursquare badge.

SAMSUNG impressed with the lightest weight 3D glasses and this crazy world map made out of LCD TV’s.

Lamborghini’s are always hot. I don’t remember what technology they were trying to show off. I was too seduced by the car itself.

Big news here – Everyone’s favorite iPhone game, ANGRY BIRDS, is being developed into a board game by Mattel.

AUDI

LG wants to make sure you know they make TV’s.

They had a pretty impressive set of smart refrigerators, vacuum robots, stoves/ovens, washers, dryers, etc.

If you’re into INTEL I guess getting your picture taken next to one of their new Core i5 processors is a big deal.

MICROSOFT is attracting the punk crowd to play AGE OF EMPIRES

MONSTER is selling these cool TRON: Legacy Light Disk inspired iPod/iPhone docks.

The guy from CANON was telling us all about the 5D revolution. Would you watch a feature length Hollywood film shot entirely on a DSLR? You might have already.

SONY was one of the few who were showing off glasses FREE 3D technology. It’s a good start but there’s definitely room from improvement.

Sony also had a GREEN HORNET replica and a working 3D camera that you could mess around with.

Sony’s monolithic designed series of TVs.

Besides all this there was 3D everything being pushed in every direction. From camcorders, to game consoles, even 3D heads-up displays for your car that display texts, directions, etc on your windshield. I sure hope someone buys this stuff cause while most of it was cool in theory the practical application in my daily life seems to be missing a step or two. I suppose it’s all a work in progress. No matter what the trip was definitely worth it and Im already looking forward to 2012 CES. Will you be there?

Some lists cop-out and avoid controversy by not putting their items in order from least to most-excited-about, but I will be doing just that! You deserve to know it and they deserve the recognition! Let’s get to it!

5. Black Friday- November 26th

I love this day! I truly do! I have worked in retail for a handful of years and that experience has afforded me with a great appreciation for the chaos-entertainment that day provides! Nothing makes me smile quite like seeing “civilized” people get all primal and fight over mediocre DVDs and their children’s Christmas gifts! Can’t wait!

4. Lil Wayne Gets Out Of Prison - November 5th

I didn’t buy Wayne’s last album- Rebarf… I mean, Rebirth. That doesn’t make me less of a loyal fan, just a different kind of loyal fan. I prefer great hip-hop artists to do what they do best, which is make great hip-hop music. So when Wayne decided to make subpar rock music, my wallet didn’t open. Sorry buddy! Fortunately for other like-minded individuals, we will get a hip-hop album from Weezy soon after he gets out the clink! Some rumors suggest that his new album Tha Carter IV will be released the day he does, but my sources (a.k.a. my common sense) say we are going to have to wait at least a short while! In the meantime, make sure to get your Lil Wayne’s World tee from The Forest Lab!

3. Conan Makes His Triumphant Return To Late-Night TV – November 8th

It’s old news that Conan got screwed over by NBC, so anyone in their right mind should be excited about seeing Conando return to TV screens this November! It’s impossible that TBS could treat him any worse and all signs point to him getting the proper network respect, so Conan will be free to do what he does best- say crazy stuff that’s crazily hilarious!

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Soars into Theaters- November 19th

The last 6 Potter movies have all consistenly been of high quality, with each one being better than the last! When the clock strikes midnight and the 19th is upon us, I will be in the nearest theater with my 3-D glasses on and a goofy-grin painted across my face!

1. New Kanye West Album – “Dark Twisted Fantasy” – November (TBD)

Even the Kanye album I liked the least (808’s & Heartbreak. Easily!) is better than most albums goons put out nowadays, but when ‘Ye decided to make his triumphant return to hip-hop, reason for excitement was a guarantee! Kanye’s post-808’s guest verses on tracks such as the Clipse’s “Kinda Like a Big Deal” and Drake’s “Forever” gave fans hope that he would eventually spend more quality time with hip-hop! The album’s working title Good Ass Job has transitioned into yet another working title- Dark Twisted Fantasy, so don’t be surprised if Kanye changes his mind again before his 5th album is released in late November! Expect production from legends Pete Rock, RZA and Q-Tip, plus plenty of beats from the Louis Vuitton Don himself! Reported features on the album include Kanye apprentices Kid Cudi & Big Sean, along with the Clipse, Rick Ross and Jay-Z. After hearing “Power”, its remix and the just-released “Devil In a New Dress”, I believe it’s safe to say that this is a shoo-in for album of the fall!

-CMC

I do love a good stop-motion video, and the boys at TechRestore have gone to town with the iPhone 4. Sure, we may’ve seen other disassembly videos in the past, but nothing beats a kicking soundtrack and robotic box movements.

If nothing else, it’s a stark reminder of how fragile the iPhone 4 really is, on both the inside and outside. [TechRestore]

UPDATE: If you liked this iPhone 4 video, you should clap your eyes on the HTC Droid Incredible one, which was from two months ago but is a nicer watch (in my opinion). Never underestimate the lure of a hidden red battery.

By now, you’ve heard the story about the unfortunate Apple engineer who lost his iPhone 4 prototype at a bar one evening. Gizmodo, the site which ended up purchasing the prototype, also outed the person who lost it: Gray Powell.

This evening, local Bay Area affiliate ABC7 led off their coverage of tomorrow morning’s iPhone 4 launch with the Gizmodo story. They then went to one of the local Apple Stores to interview the first person in line. What they failed to realize though just how coincidental this man’s name was. Yes, Gray Powell.

Let me repeat this to be very clear: the man first in line to buy an iPhone 4 in San Francisco is apparently named Gray Powell.

Now, I didn’t see the segment, so it’s entirely possible that a mixup in the graphics led to what seems to be an extraordinary coincidence. But the person who tipped this to us did see the segment and thought the name sounded a bit familiar when ABC said it.

So that leaves the possibility that this man in line gave a fake name, perhaps to pay homage to the Apple engineer. But would someone clearly looking for publicity by being the first in line at an Apple Store for such an event really give a fake name? That would be a true fanboy.

Regardless, I’ll play along and assume that this man’s name really is Gray Powell. But then I’m also going to assume it’s not that Gray Powell. All I have to go on is the few pictures other publications posted of the Apple engineer after the incident (and at least one sort of makes the two look the same), but I’m going to go out on a limb and say I don’t think it could possibly be him.

Instead, it appears that the man who lost the iPhone 4 shares the name of a man who will be one of the first to obtain the iPhone 4. Spooky. Or is it?