With technology advancing exponentially, so too are the number of new gadgets flooding the market. There are indeed so many gizmos coming out on a daily basis that it’s almost impossible to keep track of them.
10. Sony 4K TV
With everyone already owning an HDTV, it was inevitable that manufacturers would eventually start pushing the next big thing. Sony is one of the first with its 4K TV, with the 4K standing for the more than 4,000 pixels along its width, making it twice as sharp as a regular 1080p model.
9. MakerBot Replicator 2
The future is almost here, with 3D desktop printers coming down in price rapidly. The MakerBot Replicator 2, for example, sells for $2,200. Once these things fall under $1,000, the world will change dramatically.
8. Philips Hue Connected Bulbs
Ever wondered why the walls in future home conceptualizations are always starkly white? It might be because the future of home lighting lies in total user control, which is what Philips Hue Connected Bulbs do.
7. Google Nexus 7
Up until this year, the tablet market essentially belonged to Apple and its iPad. But then lo and behold, Google came along with the Nexus 7, a seven-inch tablet that hit all the technical specification sweet spots.
6. Nest Learning Thermostat
The promise of the smart, connected home has been around for ages, but it’s only now starting to become a reality with the ubiquity of smartphones, tablets and digital connectivity. The second-generation Nest Learning Thermostat uses algorithms that adjust to users settings, so it fluctuates home temperatures based on their behaviors.
5. Nintendo Wii U
There’s been a debate raging for years about whether Nintendo, the storied Japanese video game company, should stop making hardware. With each successive new generation of game consoles, the company staunchly marches ahead to its own beat with hardware that is dramatically different from competitors.
4. PlayStation Vita
Similar to the Nintendo hardware debate, there’s also considerable discussion over whether the portable gaming system space is dead. With tablets and smartphones eating into that casual, mobile space with cheap, quick games, the business case for high-end, expensive systems seems to be evaporating.
3. Samsung Galaxy S3
Just as the tablet market belonged solely to Apple before 2012, so too did the smartphone segment. Sure, Android phones together made up a larger overall share, but no single device was able to match the iconic iPhone – until the Galaxy S3 came along, that is.
2. Powerbag
This one is completely a personal pick, but I’ve been lusting over the Powerbag since I saw my friend’s a few months ago. The idea is simple: it’s a backpack that has an internal battery, which you can use to recharge your various gadgets.
1. iPad Mini
Google’s Nexus 7 (and perhaps Amazon’s Kindle Fire) may have set the standard on seven-inch tablets, but Apple’s iPad Mini raised the roof on them. The smaller tablet was my hands-down favorite gadget of the year, simply because it’s so much lighter and easier to use than its larger cousin.
