It's one of the biggest technology trade shows in the world, and it's less than a week away. No wonder the upcoming International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is already creating a ton of buzz.

PC World reports that the "massive trade show" -- which is scheduled for Jan. 8 - 11 -- will play host to a variety of big tech companies. And while most will keep quiet about their products in the days before CES, we still have an idea of what to expect.

For example, Bloomberg BusinessWeek claims that companies will "seek to wow the audience with connected fridges, iOS-based home-automation products, and dongles galore that will connect everything in your home to some wireless standard or another." It's a vision known as the "Internet of Things."

Also expected at CES is none other than Snooki! (This will either draw in crowds or repel them -- I guess we'll find out.) According to ABC News, Snooki will unveil her new collection of iHip products, including headphones, earbuds, portable speakers and other custom iPhone accessories. "iHip worked with me on incorporating my signature style with the best sound quality and a comfortable fit," Snooki said in a statement.

But not everybody's looking forward to what CES has to offer this year. Lance Ulanoff writes that this is the first year that Microsoft -- which has delivered the keynote since 1999 -- will not be in attendance. Ulanoff also expresses concern over CES's transition into a "mobile electronics event," although he admits it had to happen. "People care far more about the phone in their pocket than they do the HDTV in their living room or desktop computer in the den," he explains.

Are you looking forward to this year's CES?

We're still weeks away from the January 10, 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), and yet it's been making headlines for months.  First, we learned that popular men's television channel Spike TV was named an official partner.  Then, we discovered that video game giant Nintendo is slated to make an appearance at the upcoming trade show.  Today's news, however, is not so positive.

The Washington Post reports that 2012 will be Microsoft's final year at CES.  Microsoft, which has been the show's "anchor company" for years, has decided to pull out after this year's show because "it no longer fits its needs and its timing does not always mesh with its product announcements."

Microsoft's announcement is a particularly huge blow because, according to Wired, the corporation has delivered the keynote at the event for 14 years.  It begs the question:  Now that Microsoft has decided to not appear after 2012, who will take over?  Some speculate that Samsung, which has a dominant seat in the world of Android, may be a good fit.

Others wonder if Amazon, Google or Apple may take over the keynote.

No matter what, the promotional electronics trade show will go on!  As Rotman Epps told Wired, "CES is bigger than Microsoft — it has become the most important place for partners in the tech ecosystem to connect and do business."