2011 Technology Outlook

As with previous years, January is the perfect time to look at what new technologies and products will be coming our way in the new year. The theme of 2011 will be primarily around mobile computing: new phones and tablet models with faster data services to make them more useful. So let’s take a look!

Apple
Since Apple has become the trendsetter in mobile communications and consumer electronics, let’s look at what they have in store for the new year. Probably, the most significant move will be to introduce the iPhone at Verizon in the first quarter. This move has been long overdue, as customers have been fed up with AT&Ts poor wireless reception and customer service. There are also speculations that the new Verizon iPhone may support the recently announced 4G data service, but newness of this technology makes it a costly proposition for integration into the iPhone.

On other fronts, Apple introduced the Mac App Store on January sixth, essentially extending the success of the iPhone App Store to its Mac products. Apple is banking on this App Store to increase its Mac market share, which has been stuck at five to seven percent of the overall computer market for years. And, a new version of the iPad with an integrated front camera and possibly USB ports is also planned for this year.

Google
2010 proved to be the year for Google to make a noticeable dent into the Smart Phone market with its Android operating system. This trend is expected to continue this year, with Google gaining more market share at the cost of Blackberry and iPhone.
Google is also expected to release its Chrome operating system on Netbooks this year, bringing the cost of these machines even lower, which were until now loaded with a costly Microsoft operating system. Chrome is supposed to make the machines faster and easier to use, thanks to its Linux foundation.

Faster Data Services (4G: LTE & WiMax)
Although many of us love the benefits of a data connection on our Smart Phones, the availability and speed of the connections are not always ideal. Well, the carriers have been long at work, planning the next generation of data services, with Sprint & Verizon having introduced them in 2010.  The service is generally termed 4G (for 4th Generation), which comes in two competing technologies called LTE (Long Term Evolution), and WiMax (a stronger alternative to WiFi,). Of course, the two are not compatible, and you can’t use your existing phone or data card to get on the 4G network. 4G promises faster and more reliable connections -- similar to what you get for a broadband connection at your home. New phone models and data cards are already available from Sprint and are expected to roll out from Verizon shortly. AT&T does not yet have a timeline for rolling out 4G services.

NFC
Another technology worth mentioning is NFC or Near Field Communication. Although a mouth full of a name, it’s the technology that’s expected to replace credit cards in the future. The idea is to be able to use your cell phone to pay for stuff at the cash register. NFC uses a new communication technology that’s targeted for secure financial transactions between the phone and the receiving instrument at the register. Of course, for NFC to be successful, majority of the registers would need to be upgraded, which could take several years. Nevertheless, you’ll start seeing NFC advertised as a feature on cell phones starting in 2011.

Faster, Cheaper, Better Continues
And last but not least, existing consumer electronics products and technologies will continue their never-ending trend of becoming cheaper and better than their predecessors. To name a few, SSDs (Solid State Drives) will become more affordable and common, especially in laptop computers, as memory vendors innovate to bring the costs down. Tablet computers, such as the iPad, will continue to gain share in the portable computing space, affecting laptop shipments. Online streaming video content from the likes of Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube will continue to expand in depth and breadth, threatening the traditional TV broadcasters and movie theaters. And of course, there is promise of newer 3D TVs that don’t require glasses.

So it looks as though 2011 will be a very exciting and game-changing year for the technology industry, and consumers will reap the benefits. Happy New Year!