HDTV flat screen televisions dominated, with 3D, Internet-enabled and ultra-thin and flexible screens on display.  New sets with on-screen interactive “widgets” to click to additional information and services were demonstrated by Yahoo!, Intel and Samsung.  Using this functionality, consumers can check their stock portfolios, the weather, sports or a host of other activities.  There were also Blu-ray devices with the ability to access the internet for movies from Netflix with a simple click of the remote.  Tru2way digital set top technology, wireless HD capability and location-aware GPS capability increasingly built into most new products were also featured.  Increasingly, the “always connected” promise of the Internet was featured in an array of devices with location awareness which likely means that targeting applications will rapidly increase to small personal devices we carry in everyday life.

“It’s clear that electronics companies are focused on making products work better and faster and with an eye toward styling and design.  Simplicity is key, as is providing tangible “connected” value to consumers.  Having attended a number of these shows, I was genuinely impressed with the innovation on display, despite a turbulent economy in 2009″ said Scott Brown, SVP, Digital Platforms for Nielsen.

Other key highlights of the show included:

• LG Blu-ray players with built-in streaming for Netflix, CinemaNow and YouTube
• Samsung Blu-ray players with WiFi
• Blu-ray players at the $200 price point
• Significant advances in audio technology for mobile products and gaming applications from Dolby
• CruiseCast, in-car satellite TV service from AT&T
• DVR hard drive capacity expansion
• LG Watch Phone, featuring a touch screen interface, stereo Bluetooth, speakerphone and built-in music player
• NETGEAR’s new portable Internet video player
• Hitachi’s gesture controlled television

Visitors to Apple’s site logged the longest average stay-times.

“Even with the weakening economy, an unstable stock market and a rising unemployment rate, Black Friday traffic to online retail sites grew at a double digit rate this year,” said Ken Cassar, vice president, industry insights, Nielsen Online.

Black Friday Online Conversations and Consumer Perceptions

• Not surprisingly, shopping incentives were a key part of Black Friday discussions. The terms “deals,” “sales,” and “doorbusters,” referring to deep discounts intended to get shoppers in the door, were all closely associated with Black Friday.
• Specific retailers were also mentioned in relation to Black Friday, including Sears, CVS, Wal-Mart, JCPenney, Staples and Circuit City, among others.
• Consumers discussed specific products and gift ideas, including high definition televisions, video games, laptops and toys.

See Nielsen Online’s Black Friday BAM here.

The Nielsen Online Holiday eShopping Index is comprised of over 120 representative online retailers across twelve categories, and acts as a barometer to gauge the level of activity at online shopping destinations during the holiday season. The Index illustrates increased shopping activity through category growth.

View the complete report.

Read coverage of Nielsen’s findings in TIME, the Financial Times, by the Associated Press and Bloomberg, and on CNET.com, NPR.org, and Digital Daily.