Tara Dunion, sr. director of communications at CEA, interviewed one of the tech world’s top bloggers, Ryan Block, editor-in-chief, Engadget,  Here are his thoughts on industry trends, must-read blogs, meeting girlfriend Veronica Belmont and the International CES .

1. What’s the coolest technology you’ve seen in 2008?

Well, it’s been a couple years in coming, but I am very excited the Optimus Maximus is finally shipping. It’s not the most practical device — I mean, how many people will spend over $1,000 on a keyboard? — but it’s an amazing exercise in what’s possible in consumer electronics when companies follow their imagination. The Roku Netflix box has really made me sit up and take notice, too, but the jury’s still out on the YASTB (yet another set-top-box) effect.

Another thing that’s really surprised me is how netbooks (or whatever you want to call these lower-end ultraportable laptops positioned internet appliances) have exploded into markets around the world, from the Eee PC to the Mini-note to all these dozens of new machines coming out. I really didn’t see that market coming.

2. How has social media changed the CE industry?

I think that it’s made for a much more competitive marketplace, in general. Companies don’t have the same control of the news cycle they once did, which means information makes it to consumers (and competitors) sooner. This raises expectations for quality products, and it forces companies to adapt and one-up their competition. Consumers are also better informed, and products are cycled and improved with greater frequency.

All of this has made the industry a better place, in my opinion. I know a lot of companies long for the old days when they got to relax a little more between product cycles and didn’t have to worry as much about their roadmaps being made public — and I can understand that, to a certain extent. But the effects of these sea changes have really forced companies to push themselves to make better products faster, and in the end how can that be a bad thing?

3. What is your favorite must-read blog besides your own?

My desert island RSS feed would be Techmeme, which is a pretty good way to get a bird’s eye view of what’s going on in the tech sphere.

But if it couldn’t be an aggregator (or Engadget), it might be Michael Gartenberg’s site– he’s right on the bleeding edge and always has great insights about the consumer electronics industry.

4. How did you and Veronica meet? Are there any perks to dating one of the premier female bloggers?

We actually met at an industry event during CTIA a few years back! I invited her to attend an Engadget party we were throwing the following evening, and we just clicked. Both our careers have come a long way since then, though, especially hers. She’s a borderline celebrity nowadays and her star is rising fast! As for perks, well, we’re totally on the same wavelength, so it’s great having a live-in sounding board for things I’m working on. But then again, I have to share all the gadgets with her!

5. What is your favorite CES moment?

Since I’ve been going to CES I try to cover Bill’s keynote every year– so doing it for the last time this year was bittersweet. He and I got to talk before CES was over. it was really strange knowing that’d probably be our last interview with him at Microsoft. But it’s hard to say whether that trumps getting the entire team together, though — CES is the one time every year that Engadget editors from all over the world gather in one place. It’s unbelievable fun.

Photo by Thomas Hawk