Take a tour of the CES floor, CNET-style

CES hasn't yet (officially) begun, but hardware companies have already revealed the buzz-worthy (and not-so-buzz-worthy) tech they'll be displaying and demoing at their booths this year. From unbelievably sharp 4K TVs to smartphone-controlled appliances, companies like Samsung and LG are going all-out.

But not all that glitters is gold, so if you're attending CES, we've gone ahead and made navigating the show floor a little easier on you. This self-guided tour will walk you through the most innovative, important tech that was announced thus far, including some cool demos from guys like Corning and Lexus.

If you like, download a PDF version of the tour, which includes a map with all the stops. Happy touring!

1. Stop by Huawei ("wah-way"), where the Chinese company is placing its bet on phablets. Taking the spotlight is the Ascend Mate, a smartphone with a whopping 6.1-inch HD display. Most enticing, though, is the phablet's 48-hour battery life. South Hall, 30323

2. Nvidia surprised us this year with Shield, a handheld gaming device that looks like a controller with a screen attached. It runs Android games, but it will also stream games, video, and audio from your PC. South Hall, 31269

3. More than ever, Intel is pushing for devices that can be lighter, more dynamic, and faster thanks to its chips. Check out the Ivy Bridge processor, which draws only 7 watts of energy, eye-tracking 3D cameras, and ultrabooks, laptops, and hybrids that take advantage of its efficient technology. Central Hall, 7252

4. Take a quick peek at the Dish booth, where the broadcaster is showing off the latest version of Hopper, now with Sling built in. The DVR lets you stream your recorded programs to your mobile device. Central Hall, 8143

5. At LG, what was once a myth is now reality. Go ahead and marvel at the gorgeous 55-inch OLED TV, a product that will debut in March for about $12,000. Also take a look at smart home appliances, like washing machines and vacuums that can be operated with a smartphone. Central Hall, 8204

6. Corning is demoing Gorilla Glass 3, a scratch- and break-resistant material that is now three times tougher than its predecssor and can be produced in curved shapes. After the demo, you'll be begging for Gorilla Glass 3 on your mobile devices. Central Hall, 14813

7. Could Sony be making a comeback? Feast your eyes on the $25,000 4K TV (a distant dream for most). Then, get your hands on the 5-inch Xperia Z, a smartphone that boasts a 13-megapixel camera, quad-core processor, and seductive design. Feature-packed Blu-ray players are also on display. Central Hall, 14200

8. This year, Samsung is on fire. Its Smart Evolution Kit keeps older TVs up-to-date, while smart kitchen appliances do more than help you cook a meal. But before you go, don't miss Samsung's TV lineup -- its 85-inch Ultra HD TV touts its own floor stand, and a new flagship OLED that lets two viewers watch different programming at once. Central Hall, 12004

9. Head over to the North Hall, where car makers have futuristic prototypes on display, like self-driving cars from Lexus, Toyota, and Audi. Standalone GPS devices are going out of style, but Garmin's moving ahead with an all-in-one infotainment system, while car makers as a whole integrate a wide variety of apps (and even Google Maps!) into their cars. North Hall