Every year, it seems our new gadgets are rendered obsolete by the new, big technology releases. 2014 is no different, and these are the biggest, most revolutionary gadgets we’ll be able to get this year.
Google Glass
You’ve probably heard about Google Glass all throughout 2013: commentators and early testers raved about the wearable computer, saying it ushered in a new era of connectivity. Essentially, they said, we’d all be wearing our mobiles and tablets in the future, and Google Glass was the first step. Little by little, they have been rolling out the Glass, first letting influential people try them out, then letting more and more people have a go. It’s expected to be put on sale soon, so you may be able to own a part of computing technology – provided you fly to the US to buy it, and you’re prepared to part with “less than $1500“.
iPhone 6
With the recent release of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, tech experts have begun talking about the iPhone 6. Why? Because traditionally, Apple have released an S version of a previous phone about six months to a year before a new number model is released.
Generally, rumours point to a phone that is released sometime in 2014, and most think it will be in the summer. They also speculate about features, including Near Field Communications (where you tap the phone on a reader to exchange information), three different sizes and a new operating system.
None of this has been confirmed by Apple, though, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
Ultra HD, UHD, 4K and 8K televisions
Is this another race, like the one between Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs? No, all of these televisions are basically the same thing. Instead of the 1920 × 1080p resolution on an HD TV, these bad boys have a resolution of at least 3840 x 2160p – and some have even higher resolutions. UHD televisions have even sharper images, and they can show a much broader range of colours.
This isn’t new technology, though. Digital cinemas have been using 4K technology for years now. It’s just that now, manufacturers can shrink the technology enough to fit into a regular home, without needing the projectors and stadium seats.
These new capabilities mean broadcasters are eagerly figuring out how they can best use the technology. They are trying to figure out how many features they can pack into their subsequent programming updates, and right now, it seems everything is up for grabs. The TV manufacturers seem to universally accept this as the future of televisions, so if you’re going to buy a brand new TV model, it’s likely to be Ultra HD.
Apple television
As with the iPhone 6, the Apple television is not so much a product you can buy as something you can speculate on in the run-up to the official announcement. We’ve talked about the rumours here, but they really only keep growing. In fact, many think Apple’s own brand of television will be announced soon, and it may even be on sale in time for next year’s Christmas.
It is all still speculation, but it seems like it will be a reality sooner rather than later.
XBox One and Playstation 4
The new computer game battle isn’t between pixelated plumbers and turtles with an attitude problem: it’s between Microsoft’s XBox One and Sony’s Playstation 4. If this past Christmas is anything to go by, the Playstation looks like it will emerge the bigger of the two systems, and it’s even predicted to outsell the XBox by 30%.
Still, XBox One isn’t going softly into that good night, as it does have its own smaller legion of dedicated fans. Still, Microsoft will likely drop the price in a bid to boost sales soon, so this battle isn’t over yet.
Home appliances that access the internet
If your tech reporters and experts aren’t talking about any of the above, they are talking about “the internet of things”. Unless you know what that phrase means, though, you might be tempted to think they’ve gone off the deep end. In fact, “the internet of things” refers to how our appliances and other things are increasingly able to connect to the internet.
Why does my fridge need Twitter, you may be thinking, and it’s a good question. It doesn’t, really, but you may like to be able to control its temperature settings when you’re out and about. You may want it to track the food levels in it, and email you a shopping list every week. With the internet of things, this will soon be standard.
Imagine leaving the house, and being able to turn on the washing machine so the load is finished washing when you get back. Being about to turn off your oven remotely – or just check that it is definitely off. Emailing your kettle from your driveway, so you can have a cuppa the minute you get in. It may sound far off, but experts believe this is the year we’ll see most appliances come with some access to the internet.
According to our sources, these are the biggest gadgets of 2014. Which ones are you eager to get your hands on? Which are you happy to let pass you by?
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