The end of the year is approaching, which means holiday cheer and dirt-cheap prices on our favorite electronics. It also means that the annual Consumer Electronics Show is right around the corner.

We just got our first little tease for the upcoming event. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) just announced its 2012 International CES Best of Innovations Design and Engineering Award Honorees. This honor gives a nice shout-out to those companies and products that are truly doing something special in the design and engineering departments.

A total of 32 consumer electronics product categories are covered, including the brand-new trend-focused categories of Tablets, e-Readers, & Netbooks, and Software & Mobile Apps. Out of those selections, the CEA narrowed down things a little further for the Best of Innovations. This honors those products with the highest judges’ scores. Expect to see these 17 products get some special treatment at the show, via the Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase. 

“We saw a ten percent increase in Innovations Award entries this year, which highlights the honor and prestige associated with these awards and the robust innovation within the CE industry,” said Karen Chupka, CEA’s senior VP of events and conferences. “We congratulate all finalists for their design and engineering expertise.”

Of course, you don’t have to wait until the show, which runs from January 10-13, 2012, to ogle these products. Check out all of the Best of Innovations Honorees for 2012 in our slideshow.

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.