It's back! One of the biggest tech/gadget/digital events of the year, the Consumer Electronics Show, kicks off tomorrow in Las Vegas. Last year we looked forward to challengers for Apple's iPad, the rise of 3D TV, and smarter smartphones. Here's what to expect in 2012:

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HDTVs: Bigger and better

3D TV didn't quite make the big impact we were expecting last year, but we couldn't get enough of big screen HDTVs. According to Mashable's Lance Ulanoff, 2012 will be the year of giant screens, and could be the year we see Apple's iTV arrive.

Laptops: smaller than ever

Laptops will become thinner, lighter and more streamlined, with HP’s Spectre Ultrabook and Lenovo's T430u ultrabook looking to take on the Mac Airbook in 2012.

Tablets will rise again

Tablets were big news at CES 2011, and there are more to come this year, as manufacturers continue to try to knock the iPad off the top spot. Can Apple hold off the competition for another year?

The end of an era for Microsoft

At the end of last year, Microsoft announced that 2012 would be its last keynote speech. This year, CEO, Steve Ballmer will likely take the opportunity to tout Windows 8, and tablets that will run the update.

Super-smart phones

In addition to new handsets from all the big names: HTC, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and LG, Ulanoff, expects Intel to show one or two reference models for super-phones built around its Medfield (Atom-update) CPU.

Read more about smartphones.

Become more interconnected

This year, Carrier, Phillips, Leviton, Savant and others will show a wide variety of home automation and control solutions and appliances that will allow you to connect via the Internet. In-car internet technology will also be big news, with Ford, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi all expected to show off some new, always connected technologies, in addition to driver assistance advancements and more sophisticated navigation tools.

Gadget-tastic!

What CES is really about. From portable fuel cell batteries, security web cams, flying toys, game gear to walking robots, this could be the year you find that magical gadget you don't even know you need yet.

Which products and technologies are you looking forward to seeing this year? Tell us below…