What gadgets and gizmos are we looking forwarding to getting our hands on this coming year? Here's a look at the top most-anticipated tech products of 2012.
David Carnoy
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Once again Nintendo is trying to revolutionize the gaming industry with a system that has a new controller with an embedded touch screen that allows you to continue a gaming session on the portable controller even when your TV is off.
On a more mundane level, this Wii supports 1080p visuals and is backward-compatible with all Wii gaming accessories and games. That latter trait may be its biggest selling point.
No word on pricing or exactly when the Wii U will hit the market, but Nintendo says it will be in stores in 2012.
2 of 16 Image by Josh Long/CNET
Google Ice Cream Sandwich products
The first Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) smartphones have just started trickling out onto the market. Loads more are coming in 2012. Yummy.
3 of 16 GeekGloss
iPad Mini
Will Apple do a 7-inch iPad? Some say no, some say yes, particularly with the success of Amazon's Kindle Fire. We hope Apple does go small. $299. 16GB. Slam dunk.
4 of 16 Sarah Tew/CNET
Better, more-affordable ultrabooks
Forget those underpowered Netbooks. The ultrabook is the new Netbook. We already saw the price for these lightweight machines head into reasonable territory in 2011. Now we look forward to the next batch offering similar performance for even less money.
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Next-gen MacBook Air
Rumor has it that the next generation of MacBook Pros and Airs will get new designs, and we may very well see a 15-inch Air.
Will the Air get even slimmer? Why not?
6 of 16 James Martin/CNET
More-affordable Apple AirPlay products
In case you don't know what it is, Apple's AirPlay is a wireless streaming feature available on Apple mobile devices that allows you to stream audio and video over Wi-Fi. However, except for Apple TV and AirPort Express, AirPlay-compatible products tend to be pricey (most are speakers).
They could all stand to shave $100 off their list prices (and more in some cases). Hopefully that will happen in 2012.
7 of 16 Sarah Tew/CNET
Kindle Fire 2 (and Amazon's 10-inch tablet)
The Kindle Fire's been a big hit and it isn't even that great. Just imagine what the Kindle Fire 2 will be like. And oh, Amazon may well release a 10-inch tablet that undercuts the iPad's price significantly. Can't wait for that to happen.
8 of 16 Guilherme M. Schasiepen
iPhone 5
For those of you who waited all 2011 for an iPhone 5, we've got news: you get to do some more waiting in 2012.
When we'll see the iPhone 5 launch is anybody's guess, but whether it's released in June or November, it seems like a safe bet that it will have a new design and most likely support for 4G networks.
9 of 16 Guilherme M. Schasiepen
Apple iTV
Rumor has it that Apple will enter the TV market in 2012 with a set that will be a game-changer and once again turn another market on its head. We'll believe it when we see it.
10 of 16 Guilherme M. Schasiepen
iPad 3
Everybody's waiting--and expecting--an iPad 3 with a higher-resolution display. If the past is any indication, hear all about it in February or March, with a release soon after.
11 of 16 Jenny Sun/CBS News
PlayStation Vita
Sony's next-generation handheld gaming device is slated to arrive in the U.S. on February 22, with dual analog sticks, a touch screen, and graphics that rival the PS3's. The Wi-Fi version is priced at $249 and the Wi-Fi/3G version will cost $299.99 (3G service plan extra).
While many think the Vita has an uphill road, it also has the potential to be a much-needed hit for Sony, which has lost a lot of luster in recent years.
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Wider LTE (4G) rollout
We'll see lots more 4G phones in 2012--and hopefully lots more 4G service coverage with true broadband speeds.
13 of 16 Sarah Tew/CNET
Nook Tablet 2
Barnes & Noble continues to do a lot of things right with its color Nook products. One request for the next model, most likely due to arrive in November: a little Bluetooth, please.
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Nikon D800
The much-anticipated successor to the full-frame Nikon D700 was supposed to arrive in 2011. Alas, it didn't. Word is this rumored 36-megapixel prosumer camera will finally launch in early 2012. Price tag: We're guessing somewhere just south of $3,000.
15 of 16 Digital Photography Review
Canon 5D Mark III
Like the Nikon D800, Canon's full-frame follow-up to the EOS 5D Mark II was widely expected to arrive 2011. It failed to arrive, and was most likely delayed by the combination of the Japanese earthquake/tsunami and Thailand flood tragedies.
The current 5D Mark II costs around $2,000. This one will start out higher, most likely in the $2,500 range.
16 of 16 Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET
Windows 8
Unity is the theme with Windows 8, as Microsoft is bringing the Metro UI found on smartphones and Xbox 360 to the PC and tablets. Word is a beta may be out as soon as February with the final product ready to ship on PCs in late fall.
