The New Year is here, and for a sizeable chunk of the population, it means only one thing — cutting-edge technology which is sleeker, better and faster.
The New Year is here, and for a sizeable chunk of the population, it means only one thing — cutting-edge technology which is sleeker, better and faster.
From smart wearables to virtual reality, 2016 will redefine the way the consuming public approaches mobile devices, which have gone from being purely utilitarian gadgets to technology that has integrated itself into every aspect of one’s life.
Kicking things off will be the annual Consumer Electronics Show, popularly known as CES. The annual electronics expo is held at Las Vegas in January every year and more often than not, sets the tone for technology for the year. However, one needn’t wait for the CES to get a sense of where mobile technology is headed this year.
Where mobile devices are concerned, this will partly be a transitional year vis-a-vis security solutions as device manufacturers make the leap from conventional device security technologies to biometric security. Samsung, Apple and One Plus, to name a few, have already adopted fingerprint scanning to varying degrees of success.
With its Lumia flagship line-up (950 and 950xl), Microsoft took the path less travelled and incorporated iris scanning into its phones. While Windows Hello is still in the beta stage and is more miss than hit, it can only get better as the year progresses. More and more device makers are expected to ditch the traditional PIN, password or pattern used to secure devices and embrace biometric security.
This year, as every year, will see Samsung’s new flagship line-up, and, if last year’s offerings (Galaxy S6, S6 Edge and Edge Plus) are anything to go by, the S7 phones can really push the envelope. Whether or not the same can be said of Apple remains to be seen. Lenovo and One Plus are also expected to release pocket-friendly devices with extremely powerful hardware, standing up to smartphone giants. With Microsoft’s long-rumoured Surface phone set for release in after October 2016 and Nokia’s rumoured return to the smartphone market, the smartphone segment is excitingly poised this year.
Motorola’s new Moto X Force sports a shatterproof display. The phone will likely launch in India in January. Shatterproof displays might seem like a no-brainer for every manufacturer as, with more and more phones focusing on pixel density and screen size, a near indestructible display will certainly be the X-Factor.
Windows Continuum is another tantalising prospect. Though limited in its use currently, the possibilities of plugging one’s phone in to a display via a dock and turning it into a full-blown computer are enormous.
Virtual Reality is slowly taking shape around us, pun fully intended. Microsoft’s HoloLens and Google Cardboard stand to potentially alter the landscape of user experience, whether it be movies or videogames or everyday smart device usage. Microsoft’s HoloLens is presently at the development stage and focused on gaming experience. Samsung has also been working with Oculus to generate VR content. Last, but not least, expect the markets to be flooded with more smart wearables. Over the last year, the wearable segment made a big splash through bands and smartwatches. And the trend will likely continue with Microsoft (Band), Apple (Watch), Motorola (Moto 360) expected to tweak and finetune their smart wearable segment to bring out better, more powerful devices.
