Best Gadgets of 2009
Despite slowdown paring down consumer spending, 2009 was a hot year for product launches. The year saw some of the coolest technology debuts and makeovers across categories: mobile phones, media players, software, Netbooks ...
Almost all the big daddies of the tech world, from Microsoft to Apple to Google, Nokia to Samsung to HTC rolled out a number of feature-rich products.
Almost all the big daddies of the tech world, from Microsoft to Apple to Google, Nokia to Samsung to HTC rolled out a number of feature-rich products.
Some received applause for fine looks, others for their attractive pricing, and some for their out of the box thinking. Some made headlines for smashing high-end multimedia features.
Here are some of the biggest technology launches that became talking point of the year 2009.
Here are some of the biggest technology launches that became talking point of the year 2009.
Apple iPhone 3G S
This year's hottest smartphone launch came, yet again, from Apple! In June this year, Apple launched iPhone 3G S, the upgraded model that offers faster speed and better features. iPhone 3G S can perform tasks up to 3.6 times faster than the previous second-generation model. Apple claims that it is the 'most powerful iPhone ever made.' The phone now boasts of a more acceptable 3 megapixel camera along with video capturing, auto-focus mechanism and editing capabilities.
Users can shoot high-quality VGA video in portrait or landscape mode. They can also edit videos and share them. The new version also has a built-in digital compass that helps users locate their way. Another sorely missed feature 'cut-copy-paste' was introduced in this version. The new iPhone also has MMS capability and offers multimedia messaging, allowing users to send each other pictures from the phone.
iPhone 3G S also has a landscape keyboard. Users can rotate the phone to landscape mode to use a larger keyboard to run apps like mail, messages, notes and Safari.
This model also boasts of improved battery life. Apple claims the new model supports up to 12 hours of talk time, 30 hours of audio, 9 hours of Wi-Fi, 10 hours of video playback, and five hours of 3G talk time.
This year's hottest smartphone launch came, yet again, from Apple! In June this year, Apple launched iPhone 3G S, the upgraded model that offers faster speed and better features. iPhone 3G S can perform tasks up to 3.6 times faster than the previous second-generation model. Apple claims that it is the 'most powerful iPhone ever made.' The phone now boasts of a more acceptable 3 megapixel camera along with video capturing, auto-focus mechanism and editing capabilities.
Users can shoot high-quality VGA video in portrait or landscape mode. They can also edit videos and share them. The new version also has a built-in digital compass that helps users locate their way. Another sorely missed feature 'cut-copy-paste' was introduced in this version. The new iPhone also has MMS capability and offers multimedia messaging, allowing users to send each other pictures from the phone.
iPhone 3G S also has a landscape keyboard. Users can rotate the phone to landscape mode to use a larger keyboard to run apps like mail, messages, notes and Safari.
This model also boasts of improved battery life. Apple claims the new model supports up to 12 hours of talk time, 30 hours of audio, 9 hours of Wi-Fi, 10 hours of video playback, and five hours of 3G talk time.
Google Chrome OS
Google-Microsoft rivalry turned fiercer this year. The search giant showed off its Google Chrome OS, saying that some lower-end PCs called Netbooks will run on it in the second half of 2010.
Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight OS that will initially come pre-loaded on select models of Netbooks. Google announced that the open-sourcing code of Chrome OS is free, accessible to anyone and open for contributions.
Google-crafted Chrome OS will be tailored exclusively for applications hosted as services in the Internet "cloud." This means that every application on Chrome OS will be a Web application. This according to Google will improve speed and security, as users won't be installing applications on their systems.
As for system requirements, Chrome OS will run on either x86 or ARM processors. But, hardware manufacturers will have to use solid-state drives as Google OS won't support hard drives.
Google-Microsoft rivalry turned fiercer this year. The search giant showed off its Google Chrome OS, saying that some lower-end PCs called Netbooks will run on it in the second half of 2010.
Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight OS that will initially come pre-loaded on select models of Netbooks. Google announced that the open-sourcing code of Chrome OS is free, accessible to anyone and open for contributions.
Google-crafted Chrome OS will be tailored exclusively for applications hosted as services in the Internet "cloud." This means that every application on Chrome OS will be a Web application. This according to Google will improve speed and security, as users won't be installing applications on their systems.
As for system requirements, Chrome OS will run on either x86 or ARM processors. But, hardware manufacturers will have to use solid-state drives as Google OS won't support hard drives.
Windows 7
Arguably the year's biggest launch came from the World's top software giant Microsoft which launched its latest OS Windows 7.
Among key features, the OS packs Aero, Shake, Peek, Snap, Jump Lists and a redesigned Windows Taskbar which makes it easy for users to do more with photos, music, movies and videos. Other features include HomeGroup, Play To, Windows Live Movie Maker and Remote Media Streaming.
The new system which promises to be faster, less cluttered and has touchscreen features, is available in six editions.
Arguably the year's biggest launch came from the World's top software giant Microsoft which launched its latest OS Windows 7.
Among key features, the OS packs Aero, Shake, Peek, Snap, Jump Lists and a redesigned Windows Taskbar which makes it easy for users to do more with photos, music, movies and videos. Other features include HomeGroup, Play To, Windows Live Movie Maker and Remote Media Streaming.
The new system which promises to be faster, less cluttered and has touchscreen features, is available in six editions.
Amazon Kindle
Bookworms hated reading on computer screens and found those of mobile phones too cramped. Amazon came up with the perfect solution -- a light weight e-book reader that lets you browse and download books over the air and look snazzy too.
In February this year Amazon launched Kindle 2, a light weight e-book reader that lets users browse and download books. Featuring 16-level grayscale display and improved battery life, Kindle 2 offers 20% faster page-refreshing, a text-to-speech option to read the text aloud, and overall thickness reduced from 0.8 to 0.36 inches (9.1 mm).
Kindle 2 packs 2GB of internal memory of which 1.4 GB is user-accessible. According to Amazon Kindle 2 can hold about 1500 non-illustrated books. In Oct, Amazon announced an international version of the Kindle 2 with a built-in 3G (HSDPA) and EDGE/GSM wireless modem for connectivity in over 100 countries.
Bookworms hated reading on computer screens and found those of mobile phones too cramped. Amazon came up with the perfect solution -- a light weight e-book reader that lets you browse and download books over the air and look snazzy too.
In February this year Amazon launched Kindle 2, a light weight e-book reader that lets users browse and download books. Featuring 16-level grayscale display and improved battery life, Kindle 2 offers 20% faster page-refreshing, a text-to-speech option to read the text aloud, and overall thickness reduced from 0.8 to 0.36 inches (9.1 mm).
Kindle 2 packs 2GB of internal memory of which 1.4 GB is user-accessible. According to Amazon Kindle 2 can hold about 1500 non-illustrated books. In Oct, Amazon announced an international version of the Kindle 2 with a built-in 3G (HSDPA) and EDGE/GSM wireless modem for connectivity in over 100 countries.
Microsoft Bing
Microsoft this year also unveiled its revamped search engine Bing in yet another attempt to take on Web giant Google. The Bing unveiling is surely one of the biggest Microsoft launches of this year.
Unlike Google, Microsoft said Bing is not a search engine. The software giant dubs Bing as a "decision" engine, rather than a search engine. According to Microsoft, Bing helps people in making decisions.
Bing offers several features that are not automatically available on Google such as instant excerpts that allow users to see the contents of a page without actually clicking on it and a sidebar detailing related searches.
Another key feature is Save and Share. The feature not only saves your search history, but also allows a user to refine it. Users can delete searches, go back to them, and save and share them.
Microsoft this year also unveiled its revamped search engine Bing in yet another attempt to take on Web giant Google. The Bing unveiling is surely one of the biggest Microsoft launches of this year.
Unlike Google, Microsoft said Bing is not a search engine. The software giant dubs Bing as a "decision" engine, rather than a search engine. According to Microsoft, Bing helps people in making decisions.
Bing offers several features that are not automatically available on Google such as instant excerpts that allow users to see the contents of a page without actually clicking on it and a sidebar detailing related searches.
Another key feature is Save and Share. The feature not only saves your search history, but also allows a user to refine it. Users can delete searches, go back to them, and save and share them.
Apple iMac
Apple refreshed its iMac line-up in October this year following the big launch of iPhone 3G S in June.
The updated iMacs come with bigger screens -- 21.5 inches and 27 inches, compared with previous models' 20 inches and 24 inches. The 27-inch model features a 2560 x 1440 pixel screen, offering 60% more pixels than the previous 24-inch model.
The 21.5-inch models are available with 3.06-GHz or 3.33-GHz Intel Core Duo processors, and the 27-inch models come with quad-core 2.66-GHz Core i5 and 2.8GHz Core i7 processors, in addition to the Core 2 Duos to the options list.
Memory sizes of 4GB are standard across the board (with a maximum of 16GB), as are 500-GB or 1-terabyte hard drives. A 2-TB drive is an option for all iMac models as a Configure to Order (CTO) option.
Graphics options for the Apple's updated iMac range runs from Nvidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphics to ATI Radeon HD 4670 and Radeon HD 4850 discrete graphics.
Unlike the previous iMac, which had a black plastic back, iMac's new range comes in an all-aluminum case.
Apple refreshed its iMac line-up in October this year following the big launch of iPhone 3G S in June.
The updated iMacs come with bigger screens -- 21.5 inches and 27 inches, compared with previous models' 20 inches and 24 inches. The 27-inch model features a 2560 x 1440 pixel screen, offering 60% more pixels than the previous 24-inch model.
The 21.5-inch models are available with 3.06-GHz or 3.33-GHz Intel Core Duo processors, and the 27-inch models come with quad-core 2.66-GHz Core i5 and 2.8GHz Core i7 processors, in addition to the Core 2 Duos to the options list.
Memory sizes of 4GB are standard across the board (with a maximum of 16GB), as are 500-GB or 1-terabyte hard drives. A 2-TB drive is an option for all iMac models as a Configure to Order (CTO) option.
Graphics options for the Apple's updated iMac range runs from Nvidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphics to ATI Radeon HD 4670 and Radeon HD 4850 discrete graphics.
Unlike the previous iMac, which had a black plastic back, iMac's new range comes in an all-aluminum case.
Samsung Netbook N140
They year was high of Netbook with major laptop makers stepping into the market of new breed of mini-laptops. Korean giant Samsung launched an ultra-sleek Netbook N140 powered by Windows 7 OS.
Targetting both home and enterprise users, Samsung N140 comes with a 10.1-inch LED Backlit display and a spillproof keyboard. The Netbook supports 11 hours with a 6 cell battery and has 250GB hard disc drive.
In addition, the Netbook promises high multimedia experience and SRS effects that produce clear High Definition 3D sound. Weighing 1.27 kg, N140 packs an array of wireless communication technology and data-sharing capabilities. Other key features include three USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a 3-in-1 memory card reader. The Netbook is priced around Rs 24,990
They year was high of Netbook with major laptop makers stepping into the market of new breed of mini-laptops. Korean giant Samsung launched an ultra-sleek Netbook N140 powered by Windows 7 OS.
Targetting both home and enterprise users, Samsung N140 comes with a 10.1-inch LED Backlit display and a spillproof keyboard. The Netbook supports 11 hours with a 6 cell battery and has 250GB hard disc drive.
In addition, the Netbook promises high multimedia experience and SRS effects that produce clear High Definition 3D sound. Weighing 1.27 kg, N140 packs an array of wireless communication technology and data-sharing capabilities. Other key features include three USB 2.0 ports, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a 3-in-1 memory card reader. The Netbook is priced around Rs 24,990
Bhuvan
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) took a leap into satellite imagery of geographical regions with the launch of Bhuvan, India's mapping application website.
Similar to Google Earth or Wikimapia, Bhuvan is a web-based 3D mapping tool which uses images taken over a year by ISRO's seven remote sensing satellites, including Cartosat-1 and Cartosat-2.
The application will allow users to have a closer look at any part of the subcontinent barring sensitive locations such as military and nuclear installations. The satellites can capture images of objects as small as a car on a road.
This would provide a user with images having resolution up to 10 meters. The degree of resolution showcased is based on points of interest and popularity, but most of the Indian terrain is covered upto at least six meters of resolution with the least spatial resolution being 55 meters.
Like Google Earth, Bhuvan allows users to view cities and other places of interest, looking perpendicularly down or at an oblique angle, with different perspectives.
Bhuvan will provide local information, specifically of major towns and cities of India. Several local problems like floods, famines, infrastructure development, lack of education and administration would be addressed in a better way through this system.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) took a leap into satellite imagery of geographical regions with the launch of Bhuvan, India's mapping application website.
Similar to Google Earth or Wikimapia, Bhuvan is a web-based 3D mapping tool which uses images taken over a year by ISRO's seven remote sensing satellites, including Cartosat-1 and Cartosat-2.
The application will allow users to have a closer look at any part of the subcontinent barring sensitive locations such as military and nuclear installations. The satellites can capture images of objects as small as a car on a road.
This would provide a user with images having resolution up to 10 meters. The degree of resolution showcased is based on points of interest and popularity, but most of the Indian terrain is covered upto at least six meters of resolution with the least spatial resolution being 55 meters.
Like Google Earth, Bhuvan allows users to view cities and other places of interest, looking perpendicularly down or at an oblique angle, with different perspectives.
Bhuvan will provide local information, specifically of major towns and cities of India. Several local problems like floods, famines, infrastructure development, lack of education and administration would be addressed in a better way through this system.
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