• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, January 11, 2011

Monday-morning quarterbacking of the Consumer Electronics Show: When it comes to future TV hardware/software/digital services, it's hard to place a bet: Google TV? Apple TV? Roku? Hulu? The networks doing their own individual thing? Forget keyboards, joysticks, iPads -- what about "gesture" entertainment technology?

One thing's for sure: No one wants to be left out of any possible future connected TV/entertainment world. Surveys forecast a 75% U.S. penetration of Internet-connected TVs in homes in four year. No one wants to be left behind, and everyone has a few fingers in different pies.

The good news: There is a lot of business going on. The bad: Consumers -- especially those looking at the long term -- are still scratching their heads , frustrated over having to make immediate purchasing decisions that'll most likely be as lame as two-year car leases with heavy penalties for paint scratches.

At CES, there is still much momentum around 3D televisions, and services like Google TV and Roku and others that provide expert navigation over a wide ocean of video possibilities. Yahoo -- perhaps a much-maligned brand to some in the digital world -- is even in the hunt with its Yahoo Connected TV.

The problem comes down to marketing. Consumers look for the tea leaves: Is there a convincing sales pitch here, and -- better still -- are there the necessary friends and family buzz? Advertisers and sponsors are a further step behind , waiting to see where the market actually is.

Take a closer look: What can one make of Internet-connected TVs services like Google TV or Apple TV, when even the most reticent of media marketers are rolling their eyes? If traditional TV content providers such as ABC, Fox, NBC, and CBS, aren't interested, consumers are surely not going to jump, especially in our more cost-conscious media entertainment world.

Here's the good news: Media-savvy consumers need something when their old technology isn't working. They'll make the best choices they can -- be it TV Everywhere from Comcast or Time Warner, or TV set/services with strong Netflix or Hulu Plus connections.

Right now, it's a TV jungle out there. It's hard to see what's down the road when there's lots of entertaining animals, leaves and bugs flopping in your face.