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2005 was a good year for gadgetry.  The iPod finally added video support, got an able-bodied competitor in the Zen Vision: M, Xbox 360 brought a new level of gaming to High Definition TV owners, and dual-core processors made a very strong debut.  2006 should be an equally if not more exciting year and we’re already looking forward to a whole slew of new product releases.  In no particular order, here are the top 5 I’m just itching to get my hands on…

Playstation 3/Nintendo Revolution

The Xbox 360, despite its issues and lack of great games out of the gate, is a great system with a ton of capabilities.  I’ve had mine since launch day and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The PS3 is said to be every bit as powerful but should have better games.  Although we don’t have a release date yet nor solidified specs, expect it to drop late 2006 in Japan, maybe not until 2007 in the US.  Either way, I’m really looking forward to what this thing can do.  If it’s a decent price at launch, I’ll pick one up, although relatively reliable reports say that it will be around $500, quite a hefty price for most of us.  The Revolution, simply because of its crazy controller, is definitely also atop my list of things to see.  Whether or not a wireless, gyroscope-ridden controller will be a viable alternative the competition is going to be interesting to see.  I can see it being a ton of fun for baseball or mario or something, but what happens when your friend throws his best fastball and you swing right into his face?  Or try to set the hook right into a lamp next to you?  I’ll just have to wait and see, it seems.

Intel’s Dual-Core Laptop Processor, aka Yonah

2006 could be the year Intel makes a roaring comeback after losing the speed title to AMD.  Running on Intel’s new 65nm processor, Yonah will be the first dual-core laptop processor available and should replace the Pentium M/Centrino platform as the dominant chip in high-end laptops.  The Yonah represents the first processor to feature some of Intel’s new micro-processor architecture, as netburst finally finds its grave.  Because of this, Yonah’s performance will be vital to Intel’s image and success of ensuing desktop and laptop processors.  It will have 2mb of unified L2 Cache (not 1mb per core, just 2mb for both to use), and should be nearly as efficient as an Athlon 64 x2, while obviously offering far lower power consumption and heat generation, as it is a laptop chip.  This should DEFINITELY be interesting to see, particularly also how the desktop chips, like Conroe, stack up to whatever AMD has out at the time.  Check out AnandTech for more info. 

Windows Vista

As Windows XP begins to get a bit old and Apple’s newer OSes sport some pretty nifty features, Microsoft is preparing to release its newest Operating System.  Windows Vista will offer amazing eye-candy, including transparent windows and a 3D desktop as well as useful features like a built-in RSS feeder and a sidebar full of useful information.  I’ll definitely look forward to checking out the new OS and what it can do in terms of security.  As everyone knows, that has always been Microsoft’s downfall and Apple’s triumph.  If Microsoft can actually do something revolutionary to keep users safer, I’ll be very impressed, but we’ll just have to see.  According to infoworld, vista will be released in the 4th quarter of 2006.

The Newest Crop of Smartphones

From the i-mate JasJar to the Verizon XV6700 to the First Palm device sporting a Windows Mobile OS, the Treo 700w, things look exciting for the mobile professional in 2006.  These devices sport all kinds of cameras, various input devices, varying screen sizes, and some will even add wifi (finally) to their features list.  It looks like you may not have to sacrifice performance for convenience anymore.  Check out MobilitySite’s preview of each of these by clicking the names above.

 

OLED/SED TVs and HD-DVD/Blu-Ray

While not exactly a mobile gadget, the era of the giant, incredible quality, affordable TV may begin in 2006.  Engadget has reported that Toshiba will release an SED TV (50”)  in early 2006.  SED, similar to OLED, will mean a TV with full HD resolution, ridiculous contrast ratio (in the neighborhood of 100,000:1, if we’re lucky), sub 1ms response times, and thinner than plasma TVs.  OLED TVs may not be out quite as quickly, but the technology itself is bright, crisp, thin, and CHEAP to produce.  However, don’t expect these early models to come cheap, simply because they’re new and will be in high demand.  Entire walls covered by TVs based on this technology should be entirely possible, within a few years.

While these monstrous, gorgeous quality TVs are being released, so will High-Definition movies.  HD-DVD and Blu-Ray both offer ridiculous amounts of storage in sizes like current DVDs, which means that movies in full 1920 * 1080 resolution should become common as the technologies are adopted.

The upshot?  By the end of 2006, we’ll all be watching High-Definition movies on 150” TVs after we’re finished playing our High Definition video-games, all the while using our phones to manage contacts, use VoIP, remotely-administer networks, and talk on the phone.  OK, maybe not, but these much anticipated technologies should be making their way into our hands by the end of this new year.  Happy New Gear!…er, Year!

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Chris Leckness (3571 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook

Chris Leckness is the Owner/Administrator of Mobilitysite. He is a Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices and a member of the exclusive focus group, Mobius. Chris runs a Mobilitysite, GotZune, and a few other smaller sites and blogs. His personal blog is chris.leckness.com.