Aside from the 4G TVs, this year's Consumer Electronics Show offered some useful new gadgets for journalists. What might you really want to buy -- and what's not quite ready for journalism prime time yet?

CES is always a mix of concept/prototype products and gadgets you can buy now (or soon). The trick is figuring out what might be most useful and affordable -- and then deciding whether to go for the best you can get now or hold out for future tech advances or price drops.

Lauren Hockenson of the 10,000 Words blog noted three journalism tech trends that might factor into your technology purchases near-future tech purchases. Here are the trends she spotted, plus some extra context:

1. Not-so-pricey smart cameras with serious optics. At CES, Polaroid (yes, that Polaroid) debuted its iM1836 model -- the first Android-powered camera with a removable lens, making it a tool for pro-quality photojournalism. This camera will be available in this spring ($399).

It's not the first Android-powered camera. Last year Samsung debuted its Galaxy Camera, which has a telescoping (but not removable) lens and is really more of a consumer-level device -- despite its higher price tag ($499-$549). And Nikon debuted the Coolpix S800c, another single-lens consumer product with the more reasonable price of $349.95.

What's the big deal about Android in a camera? Instant online photo sharing, straight from the camera, via wifi or a wireless carrier data plan. Sure, you can do that with a smartphone -- but the optics of smartphone cameras typically leave much to be desired.

2. Fast, simple, on-the-go chargers. While smartphones can be great mobile reporting tools, the battery life of those devices often leaves much to be desired, especially with the intense ways journalists tend to use them, and especially if you're often in locations with spotty or weak data network connections. Hockenson mentioned the emerging technology of fuel cell chargers, such as the Nectar model -- which is interesting, but pricey ($299 for the charger and the cells amount to $1/charge).

Meanwhile, back in the land of chargers you might actually want to buy today, PC World gave a rundown of 13 interesting chargers from CES.

3. And, of course, mobile. Especially mobile video. Hockenson noted: "Imagine recording an ultra-HD video outside with your smartphone and then wirelessly sending it to a television in the newsroom for everyone to see. That's possible today with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 and a whole series of interactive, mobile-friendly TVs."