Marc Saltzman
Movie Entertainment
January 2010
Despite the ailing economy, last year wasn’t without its share of cool tech toys: do-it-all smartphones became a mainstream phenomenon; tiny netbooks replaced clunky laptops at coffee shops; and Internet connected televisions brought on-demand YouTube video, as well as information, to HDTVs across the country.
While it was long overdue, we also saw an emphasis on energy-efficient electronics that are better for the environment and your wallet.
We “tweeted,” “poked,” “tagged” and “pinned.”
But now it’s time to look forward to 2010. What hot gadgets and gear will we be clamouring for over the next year? We gaze into our crystal ball to suggest a few tech trends on the horizon.
Blu-ray Comes of Age
Now that more than two-thirds of Canadians own an HDTV, Blu-ray will finally become the successor to DVD. The high definition disc format had a troubling start, but with falling costs (players below $100) and more reasonably priced movies (under $20 instead of over $30), 2010 will be the year of Blu-ray (and yes, it plays your DVDs, too).
3-D TV
Expect many television manufacturers, beginning with Panasonic, to launch 3-D TV. And no, we’re not talking about wearing those crummy red and blue anaglyph glasses, but high quality, battery-operated “active shutter” glasses for a breathtaking 3-D experience. 3-D Bluray discs will debut in 2010, allowing you to watch in either 2-D or 3-D (on televisions that support the technology).
In the Clouds
Finally, our digital lives will make their way from our hard drives to cyberspace. Everything you might need — documents, photos, videos, music, audiobooks and e-books, contacts, calendar entries and so on – will be immediately accessible, whenever and wherever, on a number of connected devices. Stored on password-protected virtual drives, your data will also be safe from local harm, such as a damaged or stolen computer.
Project This
If you were impressed with the first digital camera with a built in projector (Nikon’s CoolPix S1000pj), you’ll be eager to see smartphones with this integrated technology, expected by year-end. Rather than squinting to watch a movie, TV show or music video on your phone’s two- or three-inch display, you can beam video onto a nearby blank wall (or ceiling, while reclining in bed), at a size comparable to a 40- or 50-inch screen. Speaking of phones, look for wristwatch phones in 2010, beginning with an LG in the spring.
Go with the Flow
Thanks to the success of the Nintendo Wii, other console manufacturers are getting on board the motion-sensing bandwagon, offering players a more compelling way to interact with digital content. Sony will be next, this spring, with its PlayStation Motion Controller, which looks like a wand with a ball on top and can control PS3 games with the flick of a wrist. Microsoft will follow in the fall with the ambitious Project Natal (codename), a device for the Xbox 360 that lets you use your whole body as the controller.