By Kenji Hall

CEATEC

Japan's annual electronics show, CEATEC, offers gadget-lovers a chance to see the latest pie-in-the-sky concepts from high-tech manufacturers. The Oct. 6 Oct. 10 show is also a chance for industry insiders to boast about the tiny innovations in batteries, wireless connections, and circuit boards for everything from portable consumer gadgets to massive undersea cables. At CEATEC, Japan's electronics makers often display what they think of as the next big thing. This year's theme: 3D TVs. Panasonic, Toshiba, Sony, and Sharp all offered demonstrations of their technology.