Last year was a blast!!! At least in the electronic and gadget industry, as we witnessed the release of a variety of ground-breaking devices. Proof? The Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC One X, Note 2, Lumia 920, Nexus 7 and so on. Anyways, as we move on to another fresh year, here is the list of electronics we are expecting to see... Ready? Here's no. 10...
10. Vertu Ti
Flooded with 'Class' and technology, the Vertu Ti is truly the first new phone model they have presented after they parted ways with Nokia. It is also their first Android smartphone. Vertu have done a nice job in making sure the specs are up-to-date as possible. There is a dual-core 1.7Ghz CPU with 1GB RAM and 64GB of in-built storage. It's got an 8MP camera capable of recording 1080p video plus a 1.3MP front camera. It also runs on Android 4.0 ICS with a custom UI (Sweet!!!)...
At 3.7-inches the WVGA display on the front is not as big as on the recent super-phones but Vertu claims these are the biggest sapphire crystal glass panels they've built. The body is made out of Grade 5 titanium, and there is a set of stereo speakers, tuned in collaboration with audio maestro's 'Bang&Olufsen'. Enough already!!!
At 3.7-inches the WVGA display on the front is not as big as on the recent super-phones but Vertu claims these are the biggest sapphire crystal glass panels they've built. The body is made out of Grade 5 titanium, and there is a set of stereo speakers, tuned in collaboration with audio maestro's 'Bang&Olufsen'. Enough already!!!
9. iPad 5
You don’t think Apple is done building their Death Star, do you? In another move that is sure to separate consumers from their cash, the iPad 5 will likely be ready sometime later this year. Expect it to share some touch screen technology from the iPad Mini to make it lighter and slimmer.
Sure enough, the iPad Mini is selling well and the iPad 4 is still hot in the market. But it is likely that Apple will look to solidify their reign of the tablet market in the face of Microsoft’s 'Surface' by pushing the iPad 5 along. Meanwhile, an iPhone 5S is probably in the works, if not a full-blown iPhone 6... Good year ahead, Apple folks!!!
Sure enough, the iPad Mini is selling well and the iPad 4 is still hot in the market. But it is likely that Apple will look to solidify their reign of the tablet market in the face of Microsoft’s 'Surface' by pushing the iPad 5 along. Meanwhile, an iPhone 5S is probably in the works, if not a full-blown iPhone 6... Good year ahead, Apple folks!!!
8. Xbox 720
Yes, you heard that right!!! Latest tech reports on Microsoft’s next console – tentatively named the Xbox 720 or Xbox Loop, state the chipset has already been in production and game developers are working hard on new titles. The machine should be on shelves in time for Christmas, 2013. (Not so far ahead...)
Rumors that the new Xbox will simply be an update to the existing 360 are bunk, same to the theory that it will run on Windows. What is likely is that, the system will launch at a cheaper price than the 360. This could mean a new Microsoft console for under 115 Omani Riyals ($300). You can bet the new console will be smaller than its predecessor and that Microsoft will continue to push the Kinect peripheral. Despite the company’s interest in casual and motion-based games, expect the next Xbox to continue Microsoft’s appeal to hardcore gamers. Yup, we're waiting, alright!!!
Rumors that the new Xbox will simply be an update to the existing 360 are bunk, same to the theory that it will run on Windows. What is likely is that, the system will launch at a cheaper price than the 360. This could mean a new Microsoft console for under 115 Omani Riyals ($300). You can bet the new console will be smaller than its predecessor and that Microsoft will continue to push the Kinect peripheral. Despite the company’s interest in casual and motion-based games, expect the next Xbox to continue Microsoft’s appeal to hardcore gamers. Yup, we're waiting, alright!!!
7. Android Key Lime Pie
Yes. You may not have got Jelly Bean on your brand new phone yet, and yes, the OS was only released a few months ago. But, that certainly does not stop Google from unveiling their latest Android incarnation- The Key Lime Pie. With what experts may be saying are clues, the new name has been officially accepted and used ever since. It seems that Chip-builder Qualcomm appears to have inadvertently confirmed the arrival of the Key Lime Pie with a leaked document detailing the development of Android, and that Key Lime Pie is listed for the second quarter of 2013.
The current version of Android is the 4.2 Jelly Bean. Jelly Bean made its debut on the Google Nexus 7 tablet and the Nexus 4 phone, so fingers crossed for a cool new Nexus phone to show off Key Lime Pie. Buying a Nexus device is usually the only way to guarantee you get to play with the latest version of Android, since updates can take a while to hit your phone. Heck, at last count Ice Cream Sandwich, the previous version before Jelly Bean, had only just reached a quarter of Android phones. Pity!!!
The current version of Android is the 4.2 Jelly Bean. Jelly Bean made its debut on the Google Nexus 7 tablet and the Nexus 4 phone, so fingers crossed for a cool new Nexus phone to show off Key Lime Pie. Buying a Nexus device is usually the only way to guarantee you get to play with the latest version of Android, since updates can take a while to hit your phone. Heck, at last count Ice Cream Sandwich, the previous version before Jelly Bean, had only just reached a quarter of Android phones. Pity!!!
6. Apple A7 Chipset
The iPhone 5 may only be 4 months old. But yes, as any other apple device it too should be getting an update soon – the iPhone 5S probably – but what could that update be? The closer we get to launch, the more likely it is one of the parts suppliers will let something slip, like the motherboard of the new phone.
According to the sources, the number of CPU cores and amount of RAM have both been doubled, meaning the A7 chipset packs a quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz and 2GB of RAM. The RAM clockspeed will reportedly take a hit, though – going from LPDDR2-1066 to LPDDR-800. The GPU will reportedly be PowerVR SGX554MP4 (quad-core) like in the iPad 4, up from SGX543MP3 (tri-core) in the iPhone 5.
According to the sources, the number of CPU cores and amount of RAM have both been doubled, meaning the A7 chipset packs a quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz and 2GB of RAM. The RAM clockspeed will reportedly take a hit, though – going from LPDDR2-1066 to LPDDR-800. The GPU will reportedly be PowerVR SGX554MP4 (quad-core) like in the iPad 4, up from SGX543MP3 (tri-core) in the iPhone 5.
5. Nokia EOS
Nokia's 41-megapixel sensor, which was showcased for the first time at MWC 2012, bought a whole new dimension to the camera-phone arena. And after its recent success with the 808 PureView, it was only a matter of time before Nokia would bringing its class-leading sensor to the Lumia lineup.
Reports suggest that the 41-megapixel Lumia device will be dubbed EOS, and the smartphone is expected to launch in the summer in the US. Unfortunately, there are no confirmations on the specifications of the device yet. The Lumia EOS is expected to capture images with about 5 megapixel resolution, using oversampling, just like the 808 PureView did in its default Auto mode.
It would also use the Nokia Lumia 920's floating lens technology, which is actual optical image stabilization - a first for a smartphone. Combining the two technologies could result in a smartphone too tempting for cameraphone lovers to resist, regardless of their opinion on WP8. Whaddup!!!
Reports suggest that the 41-megapixel Lumia device will be dubbed EOS, and the smartphone is expected to launch in the summer in the US. Unfortunately, there are no confirmations on the specifications of the device yet. The Lumia EOS is expected to capture images with about 5 megapixel resolution, using oversampling, just like the 808 PureView did in its default Auto mode.
It would also use the Nokia Lumia 920's floating lens technology, which is actual optical image stabilization - a first for a smartphone. Combining the two technologies could result in a smartphone too tempting for cameraphone lovers to resist, regardless of their opinion on WP8. Whaddup!!!
4. iPhone 5S
*Yawn* Another set of leaked images of an Apple device have leaked in this month. And reportedly, these are the upcoming iPhone 5S variants.
Not much is known about the phone though. which is speculated to be announced at some point this year, possibly alongside the iPhone 6. According to the leak, the Apple iPhone 5S is expected to be both stockier and cheaper, with a plastic casing 8.2mm thick, compared to the 7.6mm aluminum unibody of the current flagship. There are rumors of it being available in up to six colors as well.
Hey, also remember that leaked news are never 100% true, so take the news with the usual pinch of salt. And a bit of pepper too, if you're an Apple fan.
Not much is known about the phone though. which is speculated to be announced at some point this year, possibly alongside the iPhone 6. According to the leak, the Apple iPhone 5S is expected to be both stockier and cheaper, with a plastic casing 8.2mm thick, compared to the 7.6mm aluminum unibody of the current flagship. There are rumors of it being available in up to six colors as well.
Hey, also remember that leaked news are never 100% true, so take the news with the usual pinch of salt. And a bit of pepper too, if you're an Apple fan.
3. Ubuntu OS
Ooh ooh... Smartphones specifically designed and built to run on Ubuntu mobile operating system are going to start shipping later this year. And it seems app developers and Ubuntu enthusiasts will have access to the Linux-driven OS as early as the end of this month when Canonical is going to release a special ROM for the Galaxy Nexus.
What more can we say. We love Ubuntu...
What more can we say. We love Ubuntu...
2. Sony PlayStation 4
86-64 AMD processor with an integrated 8-core ‘Jaguar’ CPU and GPU, capable of delivering 1.84 TFLOPS of performance, 8GB of GDDR5 memory with around 176GB/s of memory bandwidth, Dual Shock 4 controllers, 3D cameras and much more, is what the PlayStation 4 offers to its loyal customers.
So what are you waiting for. Pre-order this beast-of-a-machine now. Or at-least when it is new, so that you can skip any disappointments when the new Xbox is released. We can assure you that till then, this will remain the most powerful gaming console ever. And with promising games lined up for release this year, PlayStation fans are surely in for a treat... (SWEET!!!)
So what are you waiting for. Pre-order this beast-of-a-machine now. Or at-least when it is new, so that you can skip any disappointments when the new Xbox is released. We can assure you that till then, this will remain the most powerful gaming console ever. And with promising games lined up for release this year, PlayStation fans are surely in for a treat... (SWEET!!!)
1. Samsung Galaxy S IV
Wait up guys, before you order any new and flashy phone. Because the "next best thing" in the tech industry is due for release in a couple of weeks. Yes, it's the new Galaxy S IV. Or simply what we call here, the successor of the much loved SIII.
As usual, there are a lot of rumors going around too. Some say it will go with the SII's blocky design whereas others deny. But what we know is that the Samsung Galaxy S IV will sport a 4.99" Super AMOLED display with Full HD resolution, an Exynos 5 Octa chipset with 8-core processor, 8-core Mali-T678 GPU, 2 GB RAM, 13-megapixel rear camera with 1080p video recording and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The smartphone will also be powered by the latest Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Well, that puts it in contention for first place in the net-book industry. Trust me!!! Anyways we also expect to see a lot more ground-breaking features, and a bigger battery to support all the meat. We'll update you as soon as the phone is released. So stay tuned...
As usual, there are a lot of rumors going around too. Some say it will go with the SII's blocky design whereas others deny. But what we know is that the Samsung Galaxy S IV will sport a 4.99" Super AMOLED display with Full HD resolution, an Exynos 5 Octa chipset with 8-core processor, 8-core Mali-T678 GPU, 2 GB RAM, 13-megapixel rear camera with 1080p video recording and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The smartphone will also be powered by the latest Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Well, that puts it in contention for first place in the net-book industry. Trust me!!! Anyways we also expect to see a lot more ground-breaking features, and a bigger battery to support all the meat. We'll update you as soon as the phone is released. So stay tuned...
Thank you so much for reading our compilation of the "Top 10 tech goodies to look out for this 2013". However, if you feel we have missed out on something very important feel free to write it down below in the comments. We hope to keep you updated on all latest the releases, and more. Cheers.
-Alvin Emmanuel Thomas
(Editor-in-Chief) {yep, that sounds good...}
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