Reader's picks: Top 9 upcoming gadgets in 2012

Here's a list of some of the major upcoming 2012 gadgets and products from Get Ahead reader Vishal Narsian.

Vijay is a Mumbai-based commerce graduate currently working in a software company.

1. Apple iPhone 5

No doubt, the Apple iPhone 5 is one of the most anticipated gadgets this year. Apple launched the iPhone 4S, which disappointed its fans very much. Although the device has some nice changes under the hood, including the addition of voice-recognising personal assistant Siri and an excellent 8-megapixel camera, the phone looks quite identical to iPhone 4, its predecessor.

The upcoming phone from Apple is expected to sport Apple's latest and greatest A5 processor chip, iCloud service, higher-resolution camera, and a 4-inch screen size.

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2. Apple iPad 3

Along with the iPhone 5, fans are also eagerly expecting the release of iPad 3, which reports indicate has been scheduled to be launched in February next year. The new tablet, in competition to Samsung Galaxy Tab will feature a new, thinner and sleeker design, down nearly 20 percent in size compared to the iPad 2. It will also support full touchscreen HD display with a screen resolution of 2048 x 1536.

Apart from that, the iPad 3 will have a lighter battery, reducing the weight of the tablet. However, the battery is reported to cost 20 to 30 percent more than the current iPad battery, and will have a longer battery life.

It is also expected that the iPad 3 will have a wireless charging technology, which will be able to charge the battery and transfer data wirelessly.

Also Read: Get Ahead Gadgets and Gaming

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3. Windows 8

The next version of Windows is yet another, most anticipated product after the Apple iPhone 5 and iPad 3. Windows 8 offers a number of new features from its all new UI to Windows App Store and improvised security features.

Windows 8 has got an interactive UI called the retro-style design, which shows the most important information to you, embodies simplicity, and gives you full control over it. The UI is designed to provide a fluid and intuitive interaction and navigation with touch, or a mouse and keyboard.
 
Microsoft released a Developer Preview of the Windows 8, which is currently in pre-beta version. The developer version shows off the current stage of the OS. It is available for free download at the official Windows site.

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4. Quad core mobile devices

Dual-core is old now. Welcome Quad-core. It is said that Quad-core smartphones with high resolution screens and graphics will take over in 2012 and nVidia Tegra 3 and Qualcomm Snapdragon are battling out for the fastest quad processor in the mobile market.

Chip maker Nvidia says that smartphones featuring its Quad-core Tegra 3 processors may arrive in the first half of 2012. Meanwhile, Qualcomm indicates that its quad-core Snapdragon will make its appearance in Windows 8 tablets in the second half of 2012.

Some of the features that a Quad-core smartphone would offer are:

• Advanced video and photo edition
• Multi-tab web browsing
• High-end graphics games
• Improved voice control and or gestures
• Better multitasking

Also Read: Get Ahead Gadgets and Gaming

Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.

5. Xbox 360 Update

The next generation of the Xbox is expected to arrive in 2012. This would be a direct competition to the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo'sWii U. The following features will be included in the next Xbox update:

• New personal and social features including Cloud storage for game saves and Live profile
• Beacons and Facebook sharing
• Enhanced family settings
• Integrated voice and gesture controls across the dashboard and in apps
• Bing voice search (available this year in the US, UK and CA)

Recently we saw the new Xbox 360 Dashboard update. The look and feel of the new dashboard is probably the most noticeable difference, which sports a Windows 8, Metro-style interface.

Also Read: Get Ahead Gadgets and Gaming

Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.

6. PlayStation Vita

With the huge success of PlayStation Portable selling over 71.4 million units worldwide, Sony is all set to release the next version of the PSP called as the PS Vita. The gaming console packs a quad-core graphics processor, which is even impressive than the iPad 2.

It looks quite similar to the PSP, however without any doubt the Vita is more impressive and elegantly designed. It sports a 5-inch OLED multi-touch capacitive touchscreen, 24-bit color with a resolution of 960 X 540 qHD and has pixel density of 220 ppi.

It is also reported that the PlayStation Vita has both front and rear cameras with supporting features such as face detection, head detection and head tracking that can be used for personalization and customisation.

Also Read: Get Ahead Gadgets and Gaming

Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.

7. Wii U

In competition to Sony'sPlayStation Vita, Nintendo is set to release the next version of its gaming console called Wii U, which is the direct successor to the Wii. Nintendo unveiled the Wii U in it's press conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 on June 7, 2011.

It is the first console from Nintendo to produce 1080p high-definition graphics, featuring a new controller with an em-bedded touchscreen. Nintendo showcased a prototype version of Wii U, which features a touch screen over 6-inches wide and contains a built-in microphone, speakers, gyroscope, accelerometer, rumble and camera.

The Nintendo Wii U will also feature internal flash based memory for media storage and game save data, however the system will also support external SD card and USB HDD support allowing users to expand storage capacity. It is expected to be released sometime after March 2012.

Also Read: Get Ahead Gadgets and Gaming

Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.

8. Apple HD TV

Speculations around the Internet indicate that Apple is preparing to release a high-definition television set. The TV is expected to come in 15 to 19-inch range powered by the company'smobile operation system, iOS. The TV, however, is not only used to play videos, but also play games, run applications and providing you control over social networking sites, like Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

Apple had launched Apple TV, a set-up box used for streaming video to a television, which was first released on January 9, 2007.

It is expected that such a TV set from Apple would be available in time for the 2012 holiday season.

Also Read: Get Ahead Gadgets and Gaming

Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.

9. Samsung Galaxy S3

After the hugely successful Samsung Galaxy S2, it is rumored that Samsung has been busy working on the next version of the smartphone Samsung Galaxy S3. It is expected that the device will feature a Samsung Exynos 4212 processor clocked at 1.8GHz and an ARM Cortex A9 chip, which will offer a 25 per cent performance boost and a 30 per cent reduction in power consumption.

It is also expected that the Galaxy S3 will most probably be powered by Google'slatest OS Android Ice Cream Sandwich. Rumors indicate that Samsung may unveil Galaxy S3 at a similar time to the iPhone 5.

Also Read: Get Ahead Gadgets and Gaming

Are you a gadget/gaming wizard/afficianado? Would you like to write on gadgets, gaming, the Internet, software technologies, OSs and the works for us? Send us a sample of your writing to gadgetsandgaming@rediffmail.com with the subject as 'I'm a tech wizard/afficianado' and we will get in touch with you.