Matt Leeser2013-05-24T19:36:28-04:00Matt Leeserhttp://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=matt-leeserCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Matt LeeserGood old fashioned elbow grease.Top Tech Trends for 2013tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.23448282012-12-31T19:00:00-05:002013-03-02T05:12:02-05:00Matt Leeserhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-leeser/
Here are the tech trends everyone will be talking about in 2013:
1) Tablet domination
2012 was the year of the smartphone (there are one billion in use and half of the UK population owns one). And now that the world has woken up to the joy of apps, it's inevitable that 2013 will be the year of the tablet. Once again, Apple must be credited for kick-starting the market with the iPad, but there are plenty of desirable rivals that can undercut its price (Google's Nexus, Kindle Fire HD) and outgun its features (Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1). With Microsoft recently entering the fray with its Surface, the battle for tablet dominance is really starting to heat up. Tablets are likely to outsell desktop PCs and netbooks in 2013, thanks to better-than-HD-resolution screens, thinner designs, improved interaction with TVs and prices that dip below £100.
2) Laptop/tablet hybrids
At present the tablet market is a three-horse race between Apple's iPad, Android and Microsoft. With all three systems offering an intuitive, enjoyable way to consume media, but they're less than perfect when it comes to hard work like creating presentations or editing spreadsheets. Microsoft's Windows 8 is likely to steal some market in 2013, due to this, combining the power of a traditional desktop system with a more finger-friendly tile interface. A swathe of much-anticipated Windows 8 tablets are due to launch in early 2013, but more significant is the emergence of a new breed of hybrid machines like the Lenovo Yoga and similar 'touch and type' computers from brands like Acer and Sony. These lightweight devices feature touch-sensitive screens and keyboards, will bring touch and type computing to the masses - usable in tablet mode for media consumption, or as a laptop for working. In the near future we can expect all computers to have touch screens.
3) Flexible displays
While a battle is raging to create low-powered, high-performance processors that will drive the next generation of tablets and convertibles, the most visible changes will be in display technology. We'll see the first Full HD smartphones at this year's CES, and plenty of 'better-than-HD' tablets too. It's also very likely we'll see the first commercial applications of another new display technology - flexible screens. These will allow the creation of phones and tablets that aren't simply flat slabs - and also opens the intriguing possibility of bendable gadgets and big screens that can fold away when you're not using them.
4) Smarter TV
The idea of combining the internet and TV has been a technology holy grail for over a decade. But it's only with the advent of hugely popular video streaming services like iPlayer and Netflix that it really makes sense. And while many new TVs feature web connections and smart TV services, the growth is smart TV is being largely driven by new set-top boxes from the likes of YouView and Freesat, which combine digital broadcast TV and on-demand services. 2013 will see a proliferation of small, cheap set-top boxes that bring the power of the internet to the big screen and allow streaming from tablets and smartphones.
5) Even-higher-definition TV
The first Ultra HD screens will arrive in 2013, offering four times the resolution of high-definition. This means delivering a staggeringly realistic picture and the ability to show 3D content in better-than-HD quality. As with 3D, ultra HD is likely to suffer from the lack of content available but that could change quickly. Many professional video cameras already shoot in Ultra HD - or '4K' as it's also known - and in 2013 we'll see the first consumer cameras that can shoot at this resolution too.
6) OLED
The most significant reason to upgrade your television in 2013 is a new screen technology called OLED, which delivers incredibly vivid and lifelike pictures on screens that are few millimetres thick. OLED screens work with existing HD broadcasts, with the immense contrast giving a previously unimaginable sense of depth. You'll already find OLED screens on high-end smart phones and tablets, but in 2013 you'll start to see them on big-screen TVs too, with price tags between £5000 and £10,000.
7) New consoles
More people are playing computer games than ever before, thanks to smartphones and tablets but trying to convince them to buy a dedicated console is a huge challenge. This is why Nintendo's new home console, the Wii U, comes with its own tablet as part of the motion-sensitive controller. The Wii U is the first major home console launch for six years, and is likely to herald announcements about the new PlayStation and Xbox consoles at next summer's E3 gaming show. These consoles are expected to be significantly more powerful than their predecessors, but also feature built-in motion sensors and are even rumoured to ship with their own augmented reality headsets that overlay your TV screen, and its environs, with 3D graphics and information.
8) Wearable technology
Microsoft, Apple and Google have all filed patents related to the development of augmented reality headsets - glasses that overlay what we see with context-relevant information. Google has demonstrated its Project Glass technology and even put prototype devices on sale. With smartphones already offering augmented visions of the world, it remains to be seen whether there is demand for this sort of Terminator-style vision of the future but it's likely that we'll see plenty of show-stopping augmented reality at CES.
9) Cooler cameras
Camera-toting smartphones have affected sales of low-end compact cameras, but they've also inspired innovation at the higher end of the camera market. 2013 will see a deluge of retro-styled compact system cameras. With high-quality optics and classic design, cameras like the forthcoming Sony RX1 and Fujifilm X series are reviving the tactile magic of film photography - while delivering picture quality that smart phone users can only dream of.
10) 3D printing
The technology that's causing most excitement in geek circles right now is 3D printing. It's already possible to buy your own desktop 3D printer, download 3D files from the internet, and print them out in plastic in the comfort of your own home. In 2013, it's likely that at least one of the big printing brands will push to make the technology mainstream, ushering in what could be the biggest revolution in manufacturing since Henry J Ford perfected the moving assembly line.
11) Energy saving
Eco-conscious shoppers have long been hunting out energy efficient designs around the house, from the now omnipresent energy saving bulbs to home appliances with high efficiency ratings, but 2013 promises to deliver a whole range of new and exciting energy saving products. Some of the latest designs mean that every day electricals are using less energy, with televisions that bypass standby mode completely and telephones that stop charging when the batteries are full. Expect to see a lot more of these kinds of innovations and maybe even products that cut energy bills by producing their own power!]]>Making Sure You Buy the Right Tablettag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.22103492012-12-04T19:00:00-05:002013-02-03T05:12:01-05:00Matt Leeserhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-leeser/
Here are my tips on tablet buying:
It's understandable that many people may have not yet bought a tablet due to the sheer amount of choice, or have simply gone for the iPad option without considering anything else. Getting the wrong tablet can be a source of frustration simply because it doesn't work the way you want it to. Before deciding on a tablet, customers should take a good look at exactly what they'll be using it for, to get the tablet that fits both their budget and needs. At John Lewis, our partners are all fully trained to be able to offer the best independent advice to help customers make the right choice for them, and all our tablets come with a two year guarantee at no extra cost.
The platform: One of the major decisions when buying a tablet is deciding which platform you want to use. Once you've been able to settle on one, it helps to narrow down your options considerably. Out of the three operating systems, the iPad's iOS will be the most familiar to many people. It is a great choice for anyone who already has an Apple device, as the interface is very similar, and it is designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing Apple accounts via iCloud. The Apple Appstore is very well populated and you will find apps to suit most things you can imagine wanting to do on a tablet, and share certain app purchases with your iPhone or iPod Touch.
In the same way that committed Apple fans will already have an Apple account, Android tablets integrate well with existing Google accounts. For committed Google fans, especially those familiar with Android phones, then the Android platform is a solid choice. Android gives users a lot of freedom as to what they can do with device, with home-page widgets giving extra functionality without even having to launch an application. If you're more ambitious in how you use your tech, love all things Google, and want more freedom over how you use your tablet, then Android might be the choice for you.
The final operating system choice is the newly launched Microsoft Windows 8. Designed with touch screen interfaces and tablets in mind, but giving users the choice to alternate between the new-look tiled interface, or the more familiar Windows desktop look. This is a great choice if you currently have a computer running Windows and use Microsoft Office programmes regularly like Word, Excel or Powerpoint.
Once you've decided on your operating system, you can start thinking about the form factor of your tablet. Broadly speaking, there are two types of device, designed to be used in different ways. Smaller 7" devices, such as the Google Nexus 7 and the newly announced iPad Mini, are focussed around portability and entertainment. If you're looking to watch films or read books on your commute, or even a bit of internet browsing, then these are for you. Larger devices, such as the ASUS Transformer Pad or the iPad, while being a bit less portable, are much more capable of 'serious' tasks. Writing long emails, intensive browsing, or even a bit of work, is much easier to carry out on tablets of this size.
Samsung's Galaxy Note is a great choice for those who are heavy tablet users as it has a high definition screen and comes with a stylus pen which makes note taking and detailed work much as simple as if you were using paper and pen! It's worth pointing out that the functionality of whatever tablet you choose can be upgraded with the careful choice of the right type of accessory. Bluetooth keyboards, such as those from Microsoft, Apple or Logitech, can make it much easier to type out long emails, especially on smaller devices.
One of the last choices to make is whether you choose a model that only offers Wi-Fi connectivity, or one that also features mobile 3G data, like that on a mobile phone. If you're only planning on using your tablet at home or work, then a Wi-Fi model is your best bet, as it will keep the costs down. If you're planning on using your tablet on the go, whether for work or play, 3G will ensure you will always have access to the internet. While Apple's iPhone and some Android phones will allow you to create a personal Wi-Fi hotspot that you could connect your tablet to, bear in mind that this could push you over your mobile phone's data allowance, so a dedicated 3G plan for your tablet would be the ideal solution.
A final point to remember is that although it is easy to find 10" Android tablets for a quarter of a price of an iPad, this type of deal is often too good to be true, as corners will have been cut to reduce costs. This will mean a less powerful, slower device, often running an older version of Android, using a less sensitive resistive touchscreen, compared to the highly accurate capacitive touchscreen which is standard on more expensive tablets.