Science fiction will become science fact this year when you take virtual-reality vacations and your dishwasher reorders its own soap. Are you ready for a drone that follows you around like paparazzi?
When we gazed ahead at the devices‚ breakthroughs and ideas most likely to make waves‚ two themes emerged. One is liberation: we’re increasingly less shackled‚ be it to a phone charger or a cable subscription. The other is intelligence: as processing power and bandwidth increase‚ our machines‚ services and even messaging apps become more capable.
Voice-operated electronics are poised for a quantum leap in accuracy and intelligence in 2016. Talking offers a more natural way to interact with devices that need complex input but aren’t exactly keyboard-friendly‚ such as TVs‚ sound systems and household electronics. Voice arrived in a big way in 2015 when Microsoft’s Cortana virtual assistant came to Windows 10‚ while Siri and Google Now turned up in cars and TVs.
This year‚ expect voice control on more computers and an even wider range of gadgets‚ including the CogniToys Dino‚ a toy that uses IBM’s Watson to help answer questions‚ and Jibo‚ a talking family robot.
How to get ready: Find a platform and stick to it. Voice systems work better the more they get to know you‚ and Amazon‚ Apple‚ Google and Microsoft don’t always play well with each other. You’ll also need to learn the still-awkward lingo of some systems‚ or else you’ll do a lot of yelling.
Chinese smartphones are big globally‚ but little known to shoppers obsessed with Apple and Samsung. In 2016‚ expect Chinese brands that don’t just undercut on price but bring features from China’s thriving mobile culture. Huawei‚ the world’s third-largest smartphone maker‚ made the Nexus 6P and has declared its intention for a US launch of its flagship Mate 8‚ which also has a metal body‚ fingerprint scanner and large battery. Letv‚ a brand created by Jia Yueting‚ known as the “Steve Jobs of China”‚ is also poised for a big splash. Then the ball’s in the court of the enormously valued startup Xiaomi‚ which has downplayed US launch plans.
How to get ready: If you’re on the fence about buying a new Android phone right now‚ hold off. At the very least‚ don’t sign a service contract that ties you to a handset.
The full picture
SMARTPHONES and point-and-shoots alike are sprouting multiple lenses and sensors to improve image quality‚ capture depth and “see” in 3-D. Some laptops and tablets already contain multisensor cameras – such as Intel’s RealSense – to measure rooms and use facial ID at login. A slim camera called the Light L16‚ due out mid-year‚ goes all out‚ employing 16 lens-and-sensor modules of varying focal lengths to capture massive 52-megapixel scenes.
How to get ready: Don’t invest in an expensive new DSLR camera just yet. With this new multi-lens technology‚ you may soon be able to get better shots from a device that’s a fraction of the size and weight.
Streaming in
TELEVISION’S metamorphosis has only just begun. In 2016‚ look for more streaming versions. Just don’t expect cutting DStv to save you a lot of money‚ as your credit card statement floods with assorted subscription charges. Apps will evolve so that it’s easier to find stuff to watch – and provide new interactive experiences for your home’s biggest screen.
How to get ready: Buy a streaming box or smart TV that runs most of the latest apps. Roku remains the one to beat‚ but the new Apple TV is also a good option given the iPhone maker’s sway with media companies. Decent home broadband and a recent Wi-Fi router will ensure fewer streaming hiccups.
New ways to charge it
WIRELESS charging is the tech industry’s campaign promise: often discussed‚ never quite delivered. This year‚ we may really stop plugging all our gadgets into the wall. First‚ an ugly standards war is resolving‚ with the two leading camps merging into one set of co-operating technologies. (Samsung’s Galaxy S6 actually supports both.) Next‚ more countertops will provide juice. Starbucks in the US already has tables that charge devices wirelessly‚ Ikea has started shipping furniture that does the same. GM‚ Toyota and Audi have it in cars – or soon will.
As more compatible devices arrive‚ many will be capable of faster charging speeds than the sluggish rates currently available.
How to get ready: Keep an eye out for wireless charging stations in airports‚ coffee shops etc. As for buying gear‚ it’s best to wait and see. Definitely avoid the current wireless charging cases.
Smartwatches get smarter
WITHOUT a nearby phone‚ the smartwatches of 2015 don’t do much more than track steps and tell the time. The smartwatches of 2016‚ however‚ will begin to show their independence with built-in wireless‚ including cellular and GPS radios. It could make a big difference for fitness nuts who want to leave their phone at home but still track routes and stay in touch. LG and Samsung recently launched watches with built-in cellular connectivity‚ and other popular models should gain enhanced wireless capabilities‚ too.
How to get ready: Hold off on purchasing a smartwatch for a few months. But once new options are released‚ pay attention to battery life: those new radios could severely affect endurance.
Bluetooth headphones improve
BLUETOOTH headphones are far from new‚ but this is the year you should buy a pair. Improvements to the wireless technology mean no more muffled sound or dropped connections. We’re expecting several truly wireless earbuds in 2016‚ including Bragi Dash and Alpha Skybuds – they don’t even need a wire to connect between your ears. There’s even talk of headphone jacks disappearing from smartphones‚ a casualty of the quest for ever-thinner designs.
How to get ready: You could buy yourself a comfortable pair of Bluetooth headphones‚ like Bose SoundLink‚ or the Jaybird X2 for exercising.
Internet of things
FINALLY‚ there’s a reason to connect household items to the internet‚ thanks to programmes like Amazon’s Dash Replenishment Service. Using sensors built into devices like Brita water pitchers‚ printers and Whirlpool washers‚ it automatically orders more supplies when you’re running low.
How to get ready: Choose products that support capabilities like Amazon Dash. Also‚ look for connected devices that speak a common language like Google’s Works With Nest. — Wall Street Journal
Devices in 2016 to liberate you
When we gazed ahead at the devices‚ breakthroughs and ideas most likely to make waves‚ two themes emerged. One is liberation: we’re increasingly less shackled‚ be it to a phone charger or a cable subscription. The other is intelligence: as processing power and bandwidth increase‚ our machines‚ services and even messaging apps become more capable.
Voice-operated electronics are poised for a quantum leap in accuracy and intelligence in 2016. Talking offers a more natural way to interact with devices that need complex input but aren’t exactly keyboard-friendly‚ such as TVs‚ sound systems and household electronics. Voice arrived in a big way in 2015 when Microsoft’s Cortana virtual assistant came to Windows 10‚ while Siri and Google Now turned up in cars and TVs.
This year‚ expect voice control on more computers and an even wider range of gadgets‚ including the CogniToys Dino‚ a toy that uses IBM’s Watson to help answer questions‚ and Jibo‚ a talking family robot.
How to get ready: Find a platform and stick to it. Voice systems work better the more they get to know you‚ and Amazon‚ Apple‚ Google and Microsoft don’t always play well with each other. You’ll also need to learn the still-awkward lingo of some systems‚ or else you’ll do a lot of yelling.
Chinese smartphones are big globally‚ but little known to shoppers obsessed with Apple and Samsung. In 2016‚ expect Chinese brands that don’t just undercut on price but bring features from China’s thriving mobile culture. Huawei‚ the world’s third-largest smartphone maker‚ made the Nexus 6P and has declared its intention for a US launch of its flagship Mate 8‚ which also has a metal body‚ fingerprint scanner and large battery. Letv‚ a brand created by Jia Yueting‚ known as the “Steve Jobs of China”‚ is also poised for a big splash. Then the ball’s in the court of the enormously valued startup Xiaomi‚ which has downplayed US launch plans.
How to get ready: If you’re on the fence about buying a new Android phone right now‚ hold off. At the very least‚ don’t sign a service contract that ties you to a handset.
The full picture
SMARTPHONES and point-and-shoots alike are sprouting multiple lenses and sensors to improve image quality‚ capture depth and “see” in 3-D. Some laptops and tablets already contain multisensor cameras – such as Intel’s RealSense – to measure rooms and use facial ID at login. A slim camera called the Light L16‚ due out mid-year‚ goes all out‚ employing 16 lens-and-sensor modules of varying focal lengths to capture massive 52-megapixel scenes.
How to get ready: Don’t invest in an expensive new DSLR camera just yet. With this new multi-lens technology‚ you may soon be able to get better shots from a device that’s a fraction of the size and weight.
Streaming in
TELEVISION’S metamorphosis has only just begun. In 2016‚ look for more streaming versions. Just don’t expect cutting DStv to save you a lot of money‚ as your credit card statement floods with assorted subscription charges. Apps will evolve so that it’s easier to find stuff to watch – and provide new interactive experiences for your home’s biggest screen.
How to get ready: Buy a streaming box or smart TV that runs most of the latest apps. Roku remains the one to beat‚ but the new Apple TV is also a good option given the iPhone maker’s sway with media companies. Decent home broadband and a recent Wi-Fi router will ensure fewer streaming hiccups.
New ways to charge it
WIRELESS charging is the tech industry’s campaign promise: often discussed‚ never quite delivered. This year‚ we may really stop plugging all our gadgets into the wall. First‚ an ugly standards war is resolving‚ with the two leading camps merging into one set of co-operating technologies. (Samsung’s Galaxy S6 actually supports both.) Next‚ more countertops will provide juice. Starbucks in the US already has tables that charge devices wirelessly‚ Ikea has started shipping furniture that does the same. GM‚ Toyota and Audi have it in cars – or soon will.
As more compatible devices arrive‚ many will be capable of faster charging speeds than the sluggish rates currently available.
How to get ready: Keep an eye out for wireless charging stations in airports‚ coffee shops etc. As for buying gear‚ it’s best to wait and see. Definitely avoid the current wireless charging cases.
Smartwatches get smarter
WITHOUT a nearby phone‚ the smartwatches of 2015 don’t do much more than track steps and tell the time. The smartwatches of 2016‚ however‚ will begin to show their independence with built-in wireless‚ including cellular and GPS radios. It could make a big difference for fitness nuts who want to leave their phone at home but still track routes and stay in touch. LG and Samsung recently launched watches with built-in cellular connectivity‚ and other popular models should gain enhanced wireless capabilities‚ too.
How to get ready: Hold off on purchasing a smartwatch for a few months. But once new options are released‚ pay attention to battery life: those new radios could severely affect endurance.
Bluetooth headphones improve
BLUETOOTH headphones are far from new‚ but this is the year you should buy a pair. Improvements to the wireless technology mean no more muffled sound or dropped connections. We’re expecting several truly wireless earbuds in 2016‚ including Bragi Dash and Alpha Skybuds – they don’t even need a wire to connect between your ears. There’s even talk of headphone jacks disappearing from smartphones‚ a casualty of the quest for ever-thinner designs.
How to get ready: You could buy yourself a comfortable pair of Bluetooth headphones‚ like Bose SoundLink‚ or the Jaybird X2 for exercising.
Internet of things
FINALLY‚ there’s a reason to connect household items to the internet‚ thanks to programmes like Amazon’s Dash Replenishment Service. Using sensors built into devices like Brita water pitchers‚ printers and Whirlpool washers‚ it automatically orders more supplies when you’re running low.
How to get ready: Choose products that support capabilities like Amazon Dash. Also‚ look for connected devices that speak a common language like Google’s Works With Nest. — Wall Street Journal
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