At one point during CES, I was asked if I was tired yet of hearing about the “connected home” and the “next generation” of electronics. My reply was an exasperated “yes.” While I’m excited to experience the whole new world of media made possible by the marriage of television and the Internet, I’m troubled by the lack of innovation beyond the current HD obsession. It was exciting back when the products finally bridging the gap between TV and PC were merely ideas and sketches in the R&D departments of consumer electronics companies, but as the dreams of the consumer electronics idealist become more and more of a reality, it’s impossible to ignore the big question of “what’s next?”

As we reach the 1080p plateau, it’s a matter of giving consumers time to adopt the new technology before we’ll begin to see the “next big thing.” In the meantime, the 2009 digital TV deadline grows ever closer and service providers appear well equipped to handle the crossover. Sure, the industry as a whole is moving as a wolf pack eager to simply fulfill the promises they’ve made to consumers over the last decade, but they’ve poured too much sweat and agony into making the services available to hold them accountable for lack of innovation.

Another thought that struck me as I walked the show was that a consumer electronic device is sold by capability. And behind that capability are the service providers (like Cox Communications) that unlock the potential of the device. The providers may stand in the shadows, but they’re the stars when it comes to delivering media capabilities. After all, what’s the use of a video-capable mobile phone without streaming media over high-speed wireless, or an HD display connected to analog cable? The lesson: service providers are just as much a selling point for a consumer electronic as the brand of the device.

Tony Brown is currently studying journalism as a freshman at the University of Missouri. He just wrapped up his second trip to the CES.