Tech
innovations for the rest of 2013 that will blow your socks off
LAST DECEMBER, most tech
journalists rounded off 2012 with the prediction that 2013 would blow the socks
off anything that 2012 had to offer. Thankfully most of these hyperboles have
fallen right on target. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is out and selling millions, the
HTC One has made serious waves, BlackBerry has the Z10 and the Q10, Microsoft
has announced the Xbox One, Google Glass has intrigued the world, the Basis
Band is out to rave reviews and the world of personal trackers is on fire! Do
we have much left for 2013? Actually we’ve just scratched the tip of the
iceberg. Here’s how the rest of 2013 will look like.
SCANADU SCOUT: The Star Trek
tricorder comes alive to bridge the link between technology and health. Place
it on your forehead and it gives you an immediate analysis of your body; all
the stuff a doctor does. It measures your temperature, blood oxygenation,
stress level, gives you a medical-grade electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood
pressure reading, and gives you a full blown urine analysis (with an add-on
kit). This disc-like device could predict you’re coming down with something
before it happens
COOL LEAF TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD:
Almost everyone seems to think that this seductive looking device is the next
big thing. What’s not to like? It’s a flat, shiny, touchscreen keyboard, very
light with beautiful backlighting modes. The only problem: typing sucks like it
does on all touchscreen devices. With no tactile feedback, this is like
drumming your fingers against your table – never a good sensation.
LOOXCIE LX2 WEARABLE VIDEO CAM: It’s
a camera for your ears and you wear it like a Bluetooth headset. It streams
EarCamlevel video right to your phone (iOS or Android), has internal memory and
can also upload directly to the web. It’s a hybrid of Google Glass, Sports
Action-capturing cams, and a plain weird accessory.
BLACKBERRY Q5: The BB 10 phone for
the rest of us. After breaking the hearts of all BlackBerry users who don’t
have R40,000 of spare change to plonk down for the Z10 or the Q10, the Q5 may
well be the tipping point. By the time this economy BB phone is out, BBM will
be on all other platforms and the true test of the BB strategy will come into
play. Overall this is a nice-looking device, thin, colourful and very hip. Has
to be sub-15k to make a difference.
iPAD MINI RETINA: This one is a
given. The real thrust of iPad sales are now from the Mini. Expect the same
body and shell, slightly souped-up specs, more internal storage and a retina
screen. On the smaller sized display, that will be a feature to make those on
the fence jump right in.
MOTOROLA X: Google bought them out
and the world expected a tectonic shift in smartphones. Instead, Google
downscaled Motorola, withdrew from many countries and continued with the most
boring phones. Enter the Motorola X, touted as the world’s most powerful
Android phone, ever! Stock Android, no gimmickry and smoking hardware. Can the
X take on the S4?
APPLE WATCH: After the Pebble watch
and half a dozen other contenders, Apple will try to own the most premium real
estate in the world – your wrist. The Apple Watch will play nicely with your
iPhone and give you all the info off it, plus add some functionality. Should
sell well as the iFan Boys will offer their wrists up for adorning in droves.
NOKIA 41-MEGAPIXEL LUMIA: This one
is in the bag too. With steady sales of Lumia phones, the 520 selling in
serious numbers and the Windows interface finally gaining traction, the
41-megapixel Pureview will be an incredible flagship for Nokia. This better be
a good-looking phone. The previous Pureview didn’t get purists excited.
iPHONE 5S/6: I really hope they call
it the 6 as somehow this whole S thing is kind of a downer and makes the
product seem like a stop-gap filler. Completely revamped, allnew OS, totally
different look and feel, a fingerprint scanner, wireless charging and a bigger
fullHD screen. That’s the wish list. Now how much gets delivered is Tim Cook’s
prerogative.
APPLE TV: A lot of speculation,
great hype and serious noise. May I go out on a limb and say this: you’re not
going to get an Apple TV to hang on your wall this year. So power that one off
for now!
THE NEXT SAMSUNG NOTE: For many, the
Galaxy Mega phones seem to have cut the legs off any future Note phones. Not
true. The next Note will up the ante with a full-HD screen and will take the
stylus-aware usage of the phone to a new level, plus throw in some typical
Samsung-ish jiggery-pokery where they will be able to fit in a bigger screen in
a thinner, smaller frame. Between the S4 and the next Note, Samsung will laugh
all the way to the bank.
Many more products will dot the tech
calendar in 2013. HTC may have the One+, Sony will take Xperia levels higher
and get the PS4 out, Asus and Lenovo will bring in more astounding products,
and jaw-droppers may appear from unknown companies inventing stuff at breakneck
speed. Like everyone said six months ago, 2013 continues its journey to become
a true ‘socks-blower-offer’ year.
- Rajiv Makhni Rajiv Makhni is managing editor, Technology, NDTV and the anchor of GadgetGuru, CellGuru and Newsnet3
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