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'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest chats it up with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, during Ballmer's opening keynote address at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Sh

The curtain closed on the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the largest technology tradeshow in the world. A total of 2,700 exhibitors showed off a slew of shiny new tech toys – including a tablet-cell phone hybrid and a gadget-packed model home – to the 140,000 attendees who flocked to Las Vegas to see the latest in consumer technology.

Highlight's reported by TechFlash contributor Skip Ferderber include Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's final – and awkward – keynote address, a new tablet/smartphone from Samsung, a crowd-stunning concept laptop from Intel and 3D TVs that require no glasses.

Ballmer's speech brought to a close his 14-year run as the tradeshow's headlining act as Microsoft and CES part ways, with Microsoft citing problems with the show's January timing. The Redmond giant also made a few announcements – standouts include a confirmation that its lineup of Nokia phones will soon be sold widely in the U.S. and that the Kinect voice/motion sensor controller – a key component of Xbox – will be available for Windows computers Feb. 1.

(Ballmer also was the subject of a lengthy profile by Bloomberg Businesweek this week).

Sixty-two Washington companies participated in CES this year, including Amazon.com, Airbiquity, and Bellevue's iShow Media, whose NextGen Home at the show displayed some of latest technological developments for homes, ranging from do-it-yourself projects to multi-room audio controls to energy-saving products and solutions.

In other Microsoft news, chairman Bill Gates is one of the tech titans planning to visit Myanmar in February, as the Asian country embarks on reforms to strengthen relations with the West. The news follows on the heels of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent (and historic) visit to the state, which was seen as a boost to American diplomacy in South East Asia.

Seattle-based Double Down Interactive, a developer of casino-style online social games, is being acquired by slot machine-maker International Game Technology for a cool half-billion, marking another local gaming company to make a big exit.

Expedia Worldwide President Scott Durchslag has resigned, a little over a year after he joined the Bellevue-based online travel company. Expedia confirmed the news to TechFlash on Thursday but gave no reason for Durchslag's sudden departure.

Here are a few things I'm catching up on:

A faster, sharper iPad 3 is coming your way this March, reported Bloomberg on Friday. Sources familiar with the product told Bloomberg that the newest version of Apple's blockbuster tablet will pack a faster central processor and higher resolution screen, as well as larger battery and the ability to operate on faster networks like LTE.

Apple sold 11.1 of the popular devices – Apple's second biggest source of revenue -- in the fourth quarter of 2011 alone. Despite the arrival of Amazon's Kindle Fire, Apple retains more than two-thirds of the tablet market.

EveryMove, a Seattle startup on a mission to inspire health and fitness, has raised $375,000 in venture funding in what could be a $2.5 million round, according to a regulatory filing. A 2011 TechStars grad, the startup is led by Seattle 2.0 founder Marcelo Calbucci and heatlh care vet Russell Benaroya.

Xconomy reports that EveryMove – which has already partnered with Premera Blue Cross – is developing health-tracking software that will help users get rewards from employers and insurance companies for healthy lifestyle habits.

Meanwhile, Seattle's Walk Score, a website that calculates neighborhood walkability, has raised $1.7 million in equity funding, according to a regulatory filing.

Scott Blanksteen

Scott Blanksteen has left his post as CEO of Seattle-based AppStoreHQ to work as a project manager at Amazon.

At AppStoreHQ, Blanksteen led a company that offers a directory of mobile applications and is working on new ways to make it easier for mobile phone users to find what is important to them.

Blanksteen is a veteran of local mobile companies IceBreaker and Qpass. His move was reported by GeekWire.

Amazon said its Kindle Owners' Lending Library – launched in November – now has more than 75,000 titles, thanks in part to its Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) program, which rewards authors if they agree to make their books available exclusively at the Kindle Store for 90 days. Amazon said KDP authors have earned $1.70 per borrow on their books.

There's also a report circulating from Barclays analyst Anthony DiClemente that Amazon sold 5.5 million units of its Kindle Fire tablet last quarter, up a million from his early estimate of 4.5 million, reported All Things D. DiClemente also estimated that by 2014, the Fire will generate an additional $3.9 million driven by users shopping the Amazon network through its Prime program.