2010 is going to be an exciting year for technology! Here are the hottest up and coming gadgets that you can expect to see this year…

By Patrick Stafford – www.smartcompany.com.au

2010 is going to be an exciting year for technology! Here are the hottest up and coming gadgets that you can expect to see this year…

Nickon S1000PJ
Virtually all handsets come with mobile cameras in today’s market, but it’s widely accepted a stand-alone device will generally deliver a better result than a lens used within a phone’s framework.

The Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ is one of the hottest of its kind. The camera itself delivers 12.1-megapixel quality images, with a 2.7-inch viewing monitor, while the Nikon image processing technology renders these images within the camera itself.

It also comes in a silver or black casing, along with a 5x zoom lens. A new type of automode allows the camera to automatically choose the best setting based on the contents of a photograph, while five extra functions reduce blur and the effect of shaking.

But the camera’s draw card is its projection technology. The S1000PJ gives customers the ability to instantly share photos and videos by including a one-touch projection technology. Users simply point the camera towards a flat surface, and photos and images can then be shown on a screen up to 40 inches long – a feature sure to impress tech-heads.
 
Xbox Natal
Microsoft caused a stir at the E3 conference when it announced its innovative new gaming peripheral, Xbox Natal. The device, a thin strip encasing infa-red sensors and a camera, is designed to fit above a television screen similar to the Nintendo Wii, but captures full body movement in order to control on-screen action.

Analysts were blown away by the device’s accuracy, which uses technology developed by Microsoft to pinpoint 48 different locations on a user’s body to mimic their movements including slight figure waves to facial expressions – no controllers necessary.

The best thing about this upcoming gadget is that it isn’t just a concept. Microsoft displayed a number of users playing games with the device, along with a number of gaming journalists, and has said the device will completely change the way its Xbox console is marketed.

The downside is that no release date has been set, but if industry rumours are to be believed the Natal device will hit shelves late 2010.

Dyson Air Multiplier
Most of these gadgets have a thousand tricks and features, but the Dyson Air Multiplier’s concept is simple – it’s a bladeless fan.

Purely designed for showing off, this circular gadget rests on a cylinder and delivers an uninterrupted flow of air. The device works similar to a vacuum, routing the air up the bottom canister and through the circular barrel on top.

The result is a fan which allows curious onlookers to fit their entire hand through the device without hurting themselves.

The device costs $US300 for the 10-inch model and $330 for the 12-inch, and while the massive noise may make some gadget fans hesitant, there’s no doubt this unique device would make a great addition to any office.
 
iPhone 4.0
Since 2007, Apple has released a new iPhone each June at its World Wide Developer’s Conference, and according to analysts this year will be no exception. Although no serious leaks or rumours have emerged, most industry experts are satisfied the tech giant is currently working on the fourth-generation of its groundbreaking handset.

And not only will the company announce a new gadget, the fourth generation of its iPhone OS will likely be released, giving owners of the iPhone 3G and 3GS models enough reason to keep their handsets for another year.

But what features will the new iPhone provide?
No serious leaks have emerged, but the next model is tipped to include a new casing design, an OLED screen, a camera on the phone’s front to include video-conferencing, a model with 64GB of memory and, as some have even suggested, a removable battery.

But perhaps the biggest demand is for the iPhone 4.0 software to include true multitasking, allowing users to operate more than one app at a time. But until Apple announces its regular mid-year press event, tech-heads can only dream.

Optimus Tactus Keyboard
Smartphones are the hottest touch-activated gadgets around at the moment, but analysts suggest the next wave of innovation will see other objects include touch-activation – including keyboards.

The Optimus Tactus is a keyboard without keys. Instead, the whole device is a touchscreen which can take the shape of whatever the user needs, based on software installed on their computer.

The device can take the shape of a natural keyboard, but can also contain individual “keys” for use with programs, complete with the software’s logo on each key. Essentially, the Optimus Tactus can be whatever you want it to be – even a video screen.

So far, the Art Lebedev Studio has only released concept art for the device, but some analysts have suggested a release date could be pinned for late 2010.

4G-capable smartphones
The rise of 3G networks changed the face of the mobile industry, allowing smartphones to connect to faster speed internet networks paving the way for the rise of mobile social media and connectivity. Now, 4G networks are the next frontier.

Testing has already begun in the US, with telco Verizon now deploying a network based on technology known as “long-term evolution”, a precursor to 4G networks.

The network is essentially the same, users are not required to change the ways they use and interact with handsets – it’s just much, much faster. Analysts say peak speeds on the new networks could be up to 300Mbps, opening the way for mobile video conferencing and high-definition viewing.

Microsoft Office 2010
It seems just yesterday that Microsoft surprised its user base with Office 2007, completely changing the way users interacted with its popular software for the first time in over a decade. But the Office 2010 suite is expected to shake things up once again.

The 2010 suite will feature a built-in screen capture tool, background removal features, a protected document mode, new templates and permissions and a newly designed “Office” button. The “ribbon” template, new to 2007, will also be refined, with a universal interface to appear in all the suite’s programs.

The release of the suite will also coincide with the introduction of Office Web Apps, online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and One Note, designed to compete with Google’s free offerings. While they won’t include the full features of the suite itself, 2010 could be the year Microsoft finally learns to trust the cloud.

3D Technology
The cinema has begun to embrace 3D technology again, but better technology is now making it easier for consumers to watch interactive games and movies within their own homes.

Earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show, Samsung revealed a 3D 22-inch high-definition monitor. Other manufacturers are quickly catching up, and a number of 3D based displays are scheduled to hit the shelves in 2010.

The only downside is cost. The latest 3D monitors require high-end graphics processors, and these will set you back several hundred dollars.

Windows Mobile 7
With so many players in the smartphone market, it’s easy to forget Microsoft’s Windows Mobile software is one of the dominant producers of mobile operating system software. Next year the company plans to release Windows Mobile 7, the next generation of its mobile OS.

The software was initially scheduled for release this year, but delays have pushed it into the second half of 2010. It is expected to include a totally new user interface, a new version of Office Mobile, an accelerometer function, which could include support for games, and a new media player.

The company has kept its new software no secret, confirming leaks from tech blogs and analysts. But based on the reception from tech journalists given access to the new software, Windows Mobile 7 could very well put Microsoft back on top of the mobile OS market.

Solid state hard drives
Most entrepreneurs don’t have time to worry about installing new hard drives, but the upcoming release of cheaper solid state drives should excite even the most technologically ignorant business owner.

These hard drives differ from traditional models by having no moving parts whatsoever, making them less noisy and more resilient to damage. But best of all, they’re faster – much faster.

According to SanDisk, some solid state drives can boot up a Windows Vista-powered computer in less than 30 seconds, from pressing the “on” button to opening a program. If you’ve ever spent precious minutes waiting for a program to load when you could be getting some work done, you need to seriously consider buying some solid state drives.

The only downside, as with all technology, is cost. A 500GB hard drive will cost you about $80, but an equivalent solid state version will set you back as much as $2,000.

Dual-screen laptop
This year has given rise to the netbook, stripped-down versions of laptops relying on cloud-based software to minimise the amount of hard space needed for bells and whistles. But an Italian company is taking that concept a step further, removing a keyboard altogether to create a dual-screen laptop.

V12 Designs released a concept version of the “Canova” laptop two years ago, but production hasn’t been scheduled since the art’s release. However, the company has suggested 2010 could see a release date for the device.

It’s essentially two touch-screens hinged together, and is marketed towards graphic designers, students and eBook readers. Using a touchscreen keyboard may seem out of place on such a large device, but based on the hype this upcoming device has generated it’s a sure bet tech fans will be quick to adapt.
 
Apple Tablet
Forget software, keyboards and gaming devices – this is the most anticipated device of the year. Ever since a Wall Street analyst predicted Apple would release a tablet computer early in 2009, experts and bloggers have fantasised over what the gadget would contain.

No official data has been released, but a host of leaks and rumours have kept Apple’s upcoming device alive on the internet – manufacturing allegedly taking place in Asia – discussions with media companies regarding new LP formats for a larger tablet-sized product and the leaks from developers regarding apps for a larger touchscreen.

The device is rumoured to come with 3G connectivity, allowing it to access the internet at all times. An improvement on the App Store is also rumoured to coincide with the release of the device, with new program capabilities expected to be introduced.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster was the first to say Apple would release a tablet device to bridge the gap between its iPod Touch and low-end MacBook. It’s expected to cost between $US500-700, and will cater to a wider group of customers than low-end netbooks offered by rival manufacturers.

One thing is for certain – Apple changed the face of the music industry with its iPod. Could the Apple tablet, rumoured for release in the first half of 2010, do the same for laptops?