After nearly 20 years at the CES show, Microsoft will bow out to pursue new “innovation.” In a good-natured opening, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association Gary Shapiro reminisced about the organization’s relationship with Microsoft — in a “you better come back, or else” sort of way. 

Steve Balmer and Ryan Seacrest gave us a peak (peak being the operative word) at Windows 8, Windows Phone 7 updates, new Xbox entertainment integrations, and interactive TV applications. And in a bizarre twist, a “tweet choir” made an appearance, singing Twitter updates about the keynote. Hopefully this only brushed the surface of what Microsoft plans to bring to the table this year.