(Special Report) - We are at a point where the technology industry is all about looks and sex appeal. At least that's what the companies are saying. We could choose to believe them knowing that a lot of consumers are demanding sleek electronics, instead of beige, boring boxes hosting the hardware, but, as you know by now, CES was terrible this year, and a lot of companies resorted to changing a few things here and there to add flair to their existing product line. That could be another factor. Either way, sexy looks were all the rage this year. And that looks to be the future.

At least companies are getting smarter about creating fashionable accessories. They aren't treating consumer electronics as gadgets for the technologically savvy, they are meant to be fashion accessories with their own pockets in women's purses and jackets. They are meant to be shown off, just like jewelry and companies are making sure to deliver on our expectations. All's well, right? Although this sounds excellent, we really have to wonder if this is the state of the technology industry going forward.

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New patterns and color schemes are what we should look forward to in 2008. Have we gotten this complacent? We don't mind the flair, but let's be a little serious about this, and not turn this into a joke. It was utterly annoying to hear the following answer to our question, which happened to be a popular one: "What do you expect 2008 to look like for your product portfolio?" and their answers: "New designs, looks and attractiveness." We didn't even know how to react. "Is that all?," we asked. "Yes, that seems to be the primary trend." They were tripping over one another to let this genius of an answer out of the bag. "No comment," would've been a much better response.

Ah, well, there you have it, folks. Looks and sex appeal. Bring on the gadgetry porn for a year filled with passion, or lack thereof.

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