There is much to look forward to in 2012 as the latest rumored and hyped technology products make their way to market. From minor tweaking of aesthetics, features and performance to entirely new products, innovative technology can help you manage your business, personal life and entertainment.
Here are some exciting developments to look for.
Laptops and tablets.
* Intel’s Ultrabook, a super-thin and light laptop with high computing performance to compete with MacBook Air, likely introduced by several manufactures. Google Chrome OS notebooks, that come preloaded with only a browser. A Sony VAIO 3D laptop that requires active-shutter glasses. And the Mac OS X Lion that incorporates both iPhone and iPad technology and features.
* A 4G tablet from Sprint. The HP Web OS tablet that could spell serious competition for iPad. Android tablets, maybe from more than one manufacturer. And the iPad 3, with resolution four times that of the iPad 2.
Phones
* Web OS smartphones, perhaps from several manufacturers.
* Verizon service for the iPhone (finally!), and the iPhone 5, rumored to have a very different look.
* Android 4.0 phones, with better interface, multi-tasking and search. You may see some smartphones and tablets that are specially designed for Android 4.0, which is being called the “ice cream sandwich.”
* Windows Phone 7 updates, with more features to compete better with the iPhone and Android.
Entertainment
* Nintendo 3DS, with no-glasses technology, touch screen and stylus inputs. Or Wii U, which has a touch screen controller and HD graphics but supports previous remotes, controllers and games.
* Roku Streaming Stick – this “no more box” technology is rather like a flash drive, enables wireless delivery of movies, TV shows and games to your television. Unfortunately, most TVs don’t yet have the necessary MHL socket.
Support technology
* Windows 8 – major revamp, not just minor modifications, touch-sensitivity should encourage development of touch-screen desktops, whole new look with “widgets” instead of familiar icons
* Quad-core chips in more mobile devices, particularly smartphones, but reportedly even in Windows 8 tablets later in the year.
It’s fun to be among the first to use the latest technology, but maybe you don’t “simply have to have it” just yet. Leading-edge always costs more and inevitably comes with bugs. Waiting for a little while will probably ensure a more reliable and less costly product. And you’ll still be with it.
