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TECH TONIC HOT
STUFF!
Like
every year, even in 2014, phones will get smarter, computers will get
faster, cameras will capture more pixels, and screens will display those
clearer. We will see newer versions of operating systems. There will be
better iterations of devices, and you’ll probably ditch your old faithful
for a new shiny. But this feature is not about mere upgrades. Not at all.
It is about cutting-edge tech that’s only been seen in research labs till
now… and some of these are still prototypes. Regardless, all of it is…
As small as a memory card
The Edison is Intel’s latest
experiment in miniaturisation. This Linux-based ‘computer’ – the size of an
SD card – comprises a 400MHz dual- core processor, integrated Wi-Fi, and
Bluetooth 4.0. The chipmaker even has an app store designed for the
platform, making Edison a highly customisable miniature computer that can
be put to myriad uses, including in wearable gadgets. As a proof of
concept, Intel outfitted baby clothing with Edison as well as sensors that
could track temperature, breathing, and motion. They also kitted an LED
coffee mug with Edison, and wirelessly connected both the micro computers.
When the baby was happy, the sensors in its clothing conveyed the data via
Edison to the coffee mug (in the parent’s hand) to display a happy green
smiling face, but when something went wrong, that face turned red… Expect
to hear and see more of Edison this year. Intel plans on getting it out
into the market within the next few months. In fact, it has already
announced a $1.3 million ‘Make It Wearable’ competition, including $500,000
that will be awarded to the most innovative developer.
Lots of ‘Steam’
A few years ago, Valve,
developers of best-selling titles such as Half Life, Counter Strike, and
Team Fortress envisioned a future where games could be delivered via the
Internet straight to computers. That was the beginning of Steam – an online
distribution service that brought gamers and content together.
As part of the next step, Valve envisioned consoles
– built by different vendors – that would replace PCs. These boxes would be
equipped to handle all of Valve’s offerings. And the concept of a Steam Box
was born.
These machines would not be a ‘one size fits all’.
Each hardware manufacturer could design its own configuration, and at
different prices, so long as all those machines are optimised for Steam.
Well, recently, 13 vendors – including Alienware,
Gigabyte, Zotac, Falcon Northwest and Digital Storm – unveiled their own
versions of this console. And since Steam boasts of a catalogue of over
2,000 games, it is in a unique position to digitally distribute titles at a
discount of up to 75% – and this can only mean good things for gamers.
So while Sony and Microsoft slug it out for console
supremacy, they just might find Valve creeping up on them. As for us, we’re
glad Steam Box is no longer plain vapourware.
Dual-boot tablets
If you’re out shopping for a
tablet, you’re forced to choose an operating system, whether Android, iOS
or Windows. But guess what? A new set of slates – ready to hit the market
as early as February – will support Android Jelly Bean as well as Windows
8. This means, you can (at boot-up) choose which OS you want to run.
The first of these devices, interestingly, is
Micromax’s Lap Tab – a 10-inch slate that’s powered by a dual-core 1.4GHz
Intel Celeron processor, 2GB RAM and with 32GB storage.
Similarly, Asus has also announced the Transformer
Book Duet TD300 – a hybrid laptop-tablet combo that boasts of some killer
hardware under its hood, including a 13.3-inch Full HD IPS display, an
Intel Core i7 processor, 4GB RAM, and a choice between a 128GB solid state
drive (SSD) or a 1TB hard drive.
Now the only thing left to see is whether the
strange bedfellows, Google and Microsoft, are okay with the arrangement…
All about the curves
A few years ago, manufacturers
glibly convinced us that we really needed flat screen TVs. And we,
gullibly, believed them. But now, once we’ve upgraded, the same chaps are
telling us that curves are the new thing. Last year, Samsung unveiled a
simple curved screen prototype. This year, they went a step further. The
South Korean giant has built an 85-inch ultra high-definition (UHD) TV that
looks like any other flat-panel television. But press a button, and both
its vertical edges start moving forward to reveal a bendable screen. The
resulting concave display is – supposedly – engineered to recreate a
theatrical effect; bringing the edges closer to make the viewing experience
more immersive. And then there is Panasonic that can’t quite decide whether
screens should be concave or convex. They’ve built a prototype that curves
in as well as out. Well, we’re not sure if bendable UHD screens are
immersive or not. But yes, in the next couple of years, expect almost every
TV maker to throw curved displays at you. And you can expect them to cost
much more than the sedan in your parking lot!
Modular PCs
Putting together a computer is
not everyone’s cup of tea. You have to choose the right motherboard,
microchip, graphic card and power unit. And that’s only the beginning.
Then, you have to work your way through all the cables; connecting the
fans, hard drives, DVD writer and what not…
Well, Razer – a company known for its gaming
hardware – has been working on Project Christine that will make assembling
a personal computer as easy as playing with Lego blocks.
Need a new machine? Simply pick up the modules you
want: processor, graphic card, storage, system monitors with digital
readout, collection of ports, and simply plug it into a grid. Project
Christine uses PCI-Express architecture that automatically syncs the
components.
Each of Christine’s modules is self-contained,
liquid cooled and uses noise cancellation to make for a silent, but
flexible computing system. As of now, Razer hasn’t fixed a price or
disclosed a release date for this modular set-up, but we’d definitely like
to see this one hit stores in the near future.
Super bowl
All of us have that place where
we drop our keys and keep our mobile phones, Bluetooth headset, and MP3
players as soon we reach home. Well, Intel is working on a ‘bowl’ for this
purpose that will not only be a repository for your electronics, but also
charge the devices. Of course, your gadgets will also need to be compliant.
As of now, Intel’s Smart Bowl prototype – measuring 10-inches in diameter
and which uses magnetic resonance technology – only charges Intel’s smart
headset. But the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) – with members from
industries such as consumer electronics, mobile services, automotive,
furniture, software – recently announced a global certification programme
called Rezence for wireless charging, so this tech might make its way to
your home sooner than you think.
Master chef
They’ve been making waves for
quite a while now, but this year, 3D printers are vying for a spot in your
kitchen! Yes, you read that right. US-based 3D Systems has invented the
ChefJet that’s capable of printing candies, cake icings and other edibles.
The printers, due out later this year, will be available in two variants.
The basic model will deliver single colour prints, while the ChefJet Pro
will deliver full colour confectionary.
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