Let's start with...
1) 3D everything.
This year, we saw the spread of 3D technology, with big major 3D movie releases like "Up" and "Avatar". Now, it's time to bring 3D from the silver screen to the home. Yes, expect to shell out that credit card and wear dorky glasses, because 3D's the new big thing in TV. There has been 3D TV prototypes on display in various exhibitions, and 2010 is probably the year this technology matures and goes a bit more mainstream. You can start thinking about watching the World Cup in South Africa or Singapore Youth Olympic Games in stunning 3 Dimension. Oh, and your PS3 or XBox 360? They might go 3D, too. Just make sure you look at the price tag first before you say you're buying one. I mean, as with any new tech, it makes a debut with a high price tag, before it starts to depreciate and become outdated with newer models. Take the "wait-and-see" approach with this one. For all you know, it could all go heading for the rocks as HD-DVD did.
2) Apple iSlate.
So many analysts have been talking about this. Heck, it's been talked about in mainstream media. And the rumours say Jobs has been working on this for years, and he's happy with it, and thinks it's ready now. So, this has to be either a really good product, or a big media hype, or just a hoax that the fake-rumour mill in Cupertino has been putting out to make the analysts look like fools. But I think this is real. I mean, the last time Apple introduced something revolutionary, it's the iPhone, in 2007. Before that, it's the iPod in 2001. it took 6 years to go from iPod to iPhone, so maybe it should take 3 to go from iPhone to iSlate as their new big thing. The big question now is: what's the big selling point of the iSlate? The iPod was a music player, which then evolved into a video, music, photo, web browsing, games, and tip calculator device. What does the iSlate bring to the table, other than a larger screen? Many have said it'll be a nice book reader, to compete with the Kindle. Could that be it? Speaking of the Kindle...
3) Digital Books - eReaders.
We have the Sony eReader. We have the Amazon Kindle. We have the Nook. We have lots of eReaders to look out for at CES next week. Maybe the Apple iSlate, too. The eReader seems to be to 2010 what the Netbook was to 2009. Or at least that's what you might see, according to Tech blogsites. Let's just wait and see as various tech companies throw their own device into this tech cauldron.
4) 4G.
Not much on 4G actually reaching your hands (unless you're in the US, in which case, get ready), but I suspect you'll hear more about 4G being tested by telcos worldwide. Look out for this!
5) HD video.
Yes, 3D is coming. But until there's more HD content, 3D (which is using HD) will still lag behind HD adoption. You'll see more HD video recording devices, especially prosumer devices like the Canon PowerShot G12 or maybe an upcoming Canon 60D.
6) Google.
The web company that's trading at $620+ per share (as at 2 Jan 2010, 1:22AM, After Hours Trading). They'll probably have a couple of things coming in 2010. Does the Google Chrome OS netbook excite you? OR perhaps their Android OS/Google Nexus Phone? What about Google Wave? I mean, love it or not, Google is Google.
7) Green Tech.
Copenhagen didn't work out as well as anyone had hoped. But that's no excuse for not going green. Low energy-consuming LED TV/monitors, improved GPU/CPU/battery tech, etc.
8) App Stores.
Ever since Apple opened up the App Store for the iPod and iPhone, every other manufacturer of consumer devices have been trying to emulate their accidental success. Android has their Marketplace, BlackBerry has App World (it's not a theme park), Nokia has Ovi, you get the point. This year, App Stores will continue to grow from strength to strength, as we see more app stores, and apps to go on these app stores.
9) Social Networking.
Will Twitter start to die out? Will Facebook be the new Friendster? Will something else catch on with the average consumer and take over them?
10) Airport Security.
With the recent Christmas Day 2009 foiled terrorist attack, we have seen the US, Netherlands and Nigeria tightening their airport security. Specifically, they are adopting the Full-body X-Ray scanners. These things might go global in 2010. We'll see.
11) ?
Nobody saw the Mac catch on from 2006, with the abrupt Intel switchover. Nobody saw the Zune become a flop, in spite of Microsoft's experience from other media devices, like the XBox. I didn't see the netbook becoming the "in" thing of 2009. What will 2010 bring, apart from the things I mentioned above? Only time will tell...
So there, 10 things (plus one unknown) to look out for in the tech arena in 2010!
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