The last couple weeks in technology have been extremely boring. Sure, the Dell Hybrid was announced, but that was about it. It looks like Engadget, Gizmodo, and Techcrunch are in a battle to manufacture news about the iPhone to boost page views. But, personally, I am not interested. It is a cool device, but it is not for me.

So, what technology am I looking forward to?  Here is a brief list…

1. Windows Mobile 7—I have been really impressed by everything that has been coming out of Microsoft’s design department lately—Window Vista’s Aero interface, Xbox’s UI, and the Zune OS.  So, I have really been looking forward to a WM7 announcement.  The first leaked screenshots look promising.  They suggest a more Vista-like design aesthetic.  I hope the company continues to move in this direction.  I would also like to see the company borrow heavily from the Zune UI.  This is one of the best small screen UI’s on the market.  I would also like to see Microsoft throw some weight around and incorporate the Zune Marketplace, Xbox360, and Windows Media Center integration.  The coup de grâce for me would be to see it launched in the US over a number of devices including the beautiful HTC Touch Diamond.  Now, lets hope the Microsoft doesn’t drag its feet for another year getting the update out (ala Vista).

2. Android—Continuing on the Mobile phone topic, the second piece of technology that I am looking forward to is Android.  Unlike WM7, I am less excited about the interface for Android.  The first screens look pretty boring.  However, the beauty behind the Android technology is not its design, but its openness.  Android has an unpredented level of openness.  This will provide developers and designers with a lot of freedom for configuring the UI.  I think this will create a “homebrew” market of sorts for interfaces in which you can configure your interface to match your personal tastes.  And, with almost no restrictions placed on developers, I think we will see the majority of innovative applications be introduced with this device.  In terms of devices, it looks like the HTC Dream will be the first to market.  But, we can expect a number of form factors in the coming years.  However, like WM7, we are still waiting to see the first devices utilizing the OS.  Hopefully, we will see Android phones sooner than later.

3. XBox360 Dashboard Update—The new dashboard has been announced and it is looking really good.  And, the addition of Netflix has made the XBox360 the premier multimedia platform for your TV.  A big win for Microsoft would be to fully integrate Vista, Zune, 360, and WM7 into a single integrated platform.  Tight integration would mean being able to access the Zune marketplace, transfer Netflix rentals, and access your XBox360 stats (and possibly games in the future) from all devices.  This might seem a bit far fetched, but I think this integration is a must for Microsoft to keep up with the Jones.

4. Wii MotionPlus—As a new Wii owner, I am especially looking forward to the Wii Motion Plus.  This add-on promises to bring full 1:1 motion between the controller and the screen.  This will enable a number of new experiences on the console.  If done right, I think that this will allow publishers to create fully immersive gaming environments.  Now, lets hope that Nintendo can take care of their supply chain issues and actually get the accessory and games into the hands of its eagerly awaiting public.

5. Mini Laptops- I am currently in the market for a laptop.  But for me, a laptop is an extension of a desktop.  I want something small that I can use to surf the Internet while watching TV.  But, I also want it to be fully capable, just in case, I want to lug it to school to take notes or give a presentation.  The two products I am most interested are the HP Mini-note and the Dell Mini.  These are both little laptops that seem up to par.  My ideal device would have a 9″ screen, a 2 hour battery life, be able to run Vista Aero with no performance degredation, and be around $700-900.

So, those are the top 5 technology products that I am looking forward to through the end of this year.  What are you looking forward to?

This entry was posted on Friday, August 8th, 2008 at 7:17 am and is filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.