SETUP: When it comes to tech, there�s always something better coming in a few
months. It�s just part of the Sisyphean hell you buy into when you love shiny digital
stuff. So let�s acknowledge that and run down the Top 5 tech gear we�re all waiting for
in 2011.
#5: HP�s WebOS Tablets. These are highly awaited not only because they look like
they�re gonna� be hot, but also because if they aren�t we�ll all gonna� roll around in
stitches over the latest cock-up of the once great Palm platform. Look for new WebOS
phones in early 2011 as well. That will HP�s major netbook market share could spell an
ecosystem ready to take on Apple.
#4: Passive 3D TV. Big news at CES this past January was the TV industry pushed
away from the bottle long enough to sober up and realize we don�t want to wear
expensive, prioprietary glasses to watch 3D TV. So inexpensive, hopefully universal
passive tech is on the agenda for 2011. The irritating part is that its basically he same
tech already used in 3D theaters, so couldn�t they have offered this right from the get?
#3: Dual Core Smartphones. When you hear the smartphone is tomorrow�s computer,
you can stop laughing. This year we get the first dual core phones like Moto Bionic and
Atrix, and LG Optimus 2X. Dual core CPU�s can do more, do it faster, and get better
battery life. They also tend to have 4�+ screens, HD in and out, 8MP cameras and, oh
hell, just put your laptop eBay.
#2: iPad 2 When it comes to tablets, nobody even has a glove on Apple yet and they�d
like to keep it that way. So just as the other guys are gearing up their first tablets, Apple
wants drop its iPad 2 and try to blot out the sun over the mess of Android, WebOS and
even Windows products. iPad 2 rumors center on dual cameras, super high res display,
maybe a dual core CPU and more ports than just damned dock connector. But honestly,
if all they did was make it slimmer and lighter, home run. The other guys tablets all look
like they should sleep in a stall.
If you want to know what ain�t hot for 2011, check out my recent Top 5 Technologies
Not to Bet On, at least not if that�s the kid�s college money you�re wagering.
OK, the #1 most anticipated product of 2011: iPhone 5. If only because of its sheer
presence in the world, this is the one to watch. Rumors abound about a total redesign,
which is a little hard to imagine. Smaller? Bigger? Curved? Covered in velvet? More
concrete are expectations of NFC for making contactless payments and just one model
that works on both CDMA and GSM, now that Verizon�s in the game. Most oddsmakers
think a 4G iPhone ain�t happening until the 4G networks are fully debugged and rolled
out, something Apple�s happy to let the other guys sort out the headaches on through
2011.
Thanks to the visionary thinking of our David Carnoy whose top 12 coming tech of 2011
inspired this list. Check it out on CNET.com.
I�m Brian Cooley.
