2013 was a lost year for tech.

[unnamedny]

http://qz.com/161443/2013-was-a-lost-year-for-tech/

I would have to agree with this article. CES 2013 had nothing interesting last January and no breakthrough technologies were introduced this year, only upgrades to what we already have on the market. What a shame!

 

[D-U-R-X]

But wouldn't that mean that there should be great things to come in 2014?

 

[unnamedny]

Google glass makes you look like a tool
Most smartwatches look too nerdy and lack battery life
Nokia came up with it's ridiculous 41mp phone
Smartphone makers came up with nothing but bigger screens to make phones as an comfortable as possible to increase it's battery life.
3d Tv's are useless in most cases
Delivery drones by Amazon? I'd like to see that...

List goes on and on.

 

[unnamedny]

But wouldn't that mean that there should be great things to come in 2014?

yes and no. Companies are finding ways to make money without making too much effort using their brains to deliver anything revolutionary. So who knows, things might get even worse

 

[D-U-R-X]

Is the glass half full, or half empty?

This year did bring the next gen of gaming consoles (PS4/Xbox One)...

 

[unnamedny]

Is the glass half full, or half empty?

This year did bring the next gen of gaming consoles (PS4/Xbox One)...

Again its just a minor upgrade, long overdue because Xbox 360 has been around for 8 years. and now they sell you same controllers for triple price. Also its reported some Xbox One has Blu ray reader issues and they don't know how wide spread that is.

 

[saptech]

Companies are finding ways to make money without making too much effort using their brains to deliver anything revolutionary. So who knows, things might get even worse

I don't know ... if Tmobile stay the course on their wireless ideas and with Motorola coming out with the Moto G, things are looking brighter.

 

[kate]

The article didn't mention the progress made with self driving cars, which many would say is an impressive advancement in the technology world.

 

[EarlyMon]

http://qz.com/161443/2013-was-a-lost-year-for-tech/

I would have to agree with rgis article. CES 2013 had nothing interesting last January and no breakthrough technologies were introduced this year, only upgrades to what we already have on the market. What a shame!

How about the DIAL (discover and launch) protocol, pioneered by Chromecast?

It's likely to appear in your next TV.

http://gigaom.com/2013/12/13/chrome...ternational-plans-and-maybe-even-new-devices/

One blogger has called it the most important addition to the TV ecosystem since HDMI and DLNA. Imo, more so than DLNA because most set makers really borked that.

It came out in January 2013 that Netflix and YouTube (together responsible for over 50% of North American broadband traffic) were going to develop the protocol, and it was productized by July.

And it will change the way you watch TV.

Sounds like a breakthrough to me.

 

[unnamedny]

Guys, article is talking about things which are released in 2013. and nothing great came out. I can argue the same way that we now know what's happening on Mars thabks to Curiosity, but that does not count if you look at this year alone it hasn't been bright.

 

[unnamedny]

I don't know ... if Tmobile stay the course on their wireless ideas and with Motorola coming out with the Moto G, things are looking brighter.

Moto G is just another smartphone nothing extraordinary. It is xheaper than most, but in sooner future you will be able to buy even beter smartphones even for less. Not sure what you mean Tmobile.

 

[unnamedny]

The article didn't mention the progress made with self driving cars, which many would say is an impressive advancement in the technology world.

Article is aimed at consumer electronics widely released in 2013.

 

[unnamedny]

How about the DIAL (discover and launch) protocol, pioneered by Chromecast?

It's likely to appear in your next TV.

Chromecast in 2014: an open SDK, big international plans and maybe even new devices — Tech News and Analysis

One blogger has called it the most important addition to the TV ecosystem since HDMI and DLNA. Imo, more so than DLNA because most set makers really borked that.

It came out in January 2013 that Netflix and YouTube (together responsible for over 50% of North American broadband traffic) were going to develop the protocol, and it was productized by July.

And it will change the way you watch TV.

Sounds like a breakthrough to me.

I've changed the way I watch TV 3 years ago, by building HTPC, I can watch anything on it. So Chromecast does not sound like a break through to me. Not to mention it only works with Google pre selected services, not everything. If it was actually streaming all regular cable channels to make it an actual internet TV and get rid off xable box in your house that would be a break through. If cable providers allowed to unbundle the channels you want that would be a revolutionary.

Some companies are going to offer Hybrid OS PCs which will be able to load windows, iOS and Android apps and games without any emulators. Now that sounds like a breakthrough too me, but it's coming in 2014.

 

[shmn]

I agree with the article.

I see my current smartphone, the Galaxy S4, as the 2013 poster-child for this sentiment. The phone is capable but is not innovative in any way. As a matter of fact, all the hyped features are pretty much useless and pointless and nothing more than marketing points used to hide the lack of anything fresh.

And these new smart-watches...ugh.

 

[EarlyMon]

I've changed the way I watch TV 3 years ago, by building HTPC, I can watch anything on it. So Chromecast does not sound like a break through to me. Not to mention it only works with Google pre selected services, not everything. If it was actually streaming all regular cable channels to make it an actual internet TV and get rid off xable box in your house that would be a break through. If cable providers allowed to unbundle the channels you want that would be a revolutionary.

Some companies are going to offer Hybrid OS PCs which will be able to load windows, iOS and Android apps and games without any emulators. Now that sounds like a breakthrough too me, but it's coming in 2014.

I've been using an HTPC since early 2009.

Welcome to the club.

When you understand what Chromecast is, how it works, and how easily it works - better than your HTPC for the functions it has so far, you're going to wonder why you waited.

The device has essentially one app - an HDTV browser.

It is by every way imaginable a breakthrough technology.

Unlike an HTPC it will not obsolesce over time as Flash and DRM changes. It will never have too little memory.

To say it fails because it only supports Google approved services is like saying that HTPC fails because it needs the internet or that cable fails because it needs a wire or satellite TV fails because it needs outer space.

And unlike those 3 options, the buy-in is $35.

It was developed and brought to market in 2013.

I've met your challenge with a valid answer.

PS - and yes, over the course of nearly 5 years, I have upgraded my HTPC, including full unit replacements to keep up with the times. Yes, I have an HD PVR on it.

PPS - I'd been running OS X, Windows, Linux and Android x86 on the same machine going on 2 years ago.

Not sure why you think that would be a breakthrough.


Anyway - the breakthrough is the DIAL protocol, as pioneered by Chromecast.

 

[mikedt]

Think 2013 was the year of the Android smart-TV. They started appearing last year, but now every new TV I see seems to be running Android.

What else happened:
China Mobile, the world's largest carrier finally gets the Apple iPhone.
Blackberry sales in China are officially zero.
I ditch Windows forever and go totally Linux.

 

[EarlyMon]

Think 2013 was the year of the Android smart-TV. They started appearing last year, but now every new TV I see seems to be running Android.

That's the renamed Google TV.

 

[unnamedny]

I've been using an HTPC since early 2009.

Welcome to the club.

When you understand what Chromecast is, how it works, and how easily it works - better than your HTPC for the functions it has so far, you're going to wonder why you waited.

The device has essentially one app - an HDTV browser.

It is by every way imaginable a breakthrough technology.

Unlike an HTPC it will not obsolesce over time as Flash and DRM changes. It will never have too little memory.

To say it fails because it only supports Google approved services is like saying that HTPC fails because it needs the internet or that cable fails because it needs a wire or satellite TV fails because it needs outer space.

And unlike those 3 options, the buy-in is $35.

It was developed and brought to market in 2013.

I've met your challenge with a valid answer.

PS - and yes, over the course of nearly 5 years, I have upgraded my HTPC, including full unit replacements to keep up with the times. Yes, I have an HD PVR on it.

PPS - I'd been running OS X, Windows, Linux and Android x86 on the same machine going on 2 years ago.

Not sure why you think that would be a breakthrough.

Dual-Booting Windows-Android ASUS Tablet Passes Through FCC | TechnoBuffalo
I was talking about this kind of devices. While I read many articles about tech, know a little bit of programing I will never attempt to put a dual boot OS into my PC, and I suspect that 99% of people would not attempt (or know how to try) it either. Now having a device which already has this feature is now a news, but it has never happened for masses.

Saying PC needs an internet is like saying Car needs an engine. Now Chromecast depending on preselected apps is like iPod depending on iTunes. So I'd say getting an AVI video to your phone and not being able to play it through your favorite player is neither freedom or great innovation. I had an Asus wireless HDMI device which could have been connected to laptop same way as Chromecast. Also not to forgetit has connectivity issues, latency issues, I know it did not give that ability with smartphones, but it was 2 years ago.

And lets agree that even if in your opinion it's such a great invention, it's just one successful device out of many failures and practicly no inovation devices released this year.

I think if someone comes up with TV with build in windows OS and sell it with wireless keyboard and mouse that will be a far cooler breakthrough. As you said why do I think it's a breakthrough is because noone actually came up with it im one package. Same as Hybrid boot devices.

 

[Rxpert83]

The thing about innovation and "breakthrough" inventions... They're a result of progress made by others and improved on. If you're only seeing incremental changes its because your timeframe is too short.

If tech business don't innovate they disappear. Just because nothing you perceive to be mind blowing made it to market it a 12 month period doesn't mean innovation is slowing down or stopping.

The baby steps continue, one foot after another. Gauging innovation by looking at only the final product is missing the vast majority of the overall story. Its flipping on the TV for only the final minute of each game and trying to use that to determine who you're going to draft in your fantasy team.

 

[argedion]

I think if someone comes up with TV with build in windows OS and sell it with wireless keyboard and mouse that will be a far cooler breakthrough.

I had my tv connected to my windows computer when I had Windows. So this would not be anything of a "breakthrough" Also that someone would have to be Microsoft as Windows is a proprietary system and MS keeps it locked down. I also use a TV for a monitor on my Linux System. I have both wireless keyboard and mouse and can watch anything I like with a tv card. So to me this is nothing "innovative" in my eyes.

 

[mikedt]

I think if someone comes up with TV with build in windows OS and sell it with wireless keyboard and mouse that will be a far cooler breakthrough. As you said why do I think it's a breakthrough is because noone actually came up with it im one package. Same as Hybrid boot devices.

I thought manufacturers had already tried that, a TV with a PC in it. Both Sony and Lenovo made them. But I don't think it's that appealing sat on the couch using a keyboard and a mouse. Seems to have gone completely to smart-TVs running Android, no Microsoft, no Windows, no keyboard, no mouse.

Think MS basically killed Home Theater PC, in favour of Media Center.

Do we really wish to see minimise and maximise buttons on our TV sets?

 

[EarlyMon]

Actually, I believe in virtual machines, not multiple boot partitions. I tend to think of dual booting as pretty lame tbh.

If nothing else, Chromecast is ready for the masses, just like your ASUS tablet.

And to say that it has the same Google dependency as an iPod on iTunes just means that you haven't visited our Chromecast forum and gotten straightened out on what it is and how it works.

The only Google service it requires is for Google DNS, which is what my home network uses anyway.

That's the sum total of Google reliance besides the setup that works with either Android or iOS or a web browser.

And it is not similar in operation to other HDMI devices from two years ago, last year or this year. It's unique.

And I won't agree that DIAL/Chromecast was it for tech this year. Wearable computing, available since the Oqo well over a decade ago, is already getting more compact - have you seen the wristbands for example? Not the big gear watches - the wristbands.

If flip phones replacing the walkie talkie bricks was a breakthrough, then surely the wristbands are as well.

Here's another breakthrough this year -

http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2013/oct/neutron-microscope-breakthrough.cfm

How about this one -

http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/rep...-improve-telecommunication-technology-1939658

Or -

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolo...worm-is-breakthrough-for-artificial-life.html

Or -

http://phys.org/news/2013-10-scientists-breakthrough-solar-technology.html

Or the explosion in 3D printing materials and tools this year?

And if that isn't a list of breakthroughs to you, then you're going to have to be kind enough to tell me exactly what your criteria are, because so far, I don't get it.

 

[unnamedny]

Actually, I believe in virtual machines, not multiple boot partitions. I tend to think of dual booting as pretty lame tbh.

If nothing else, Chromecast is ready for the masses, just like your ASUS tablet.

And to say that it has the same Google dependency as an iPod on iTunes just means that you haven't visited our Chromecast forum and gotten straightened out on what it is and how it works.

The only Google service it requires is for Google DNS, which is what my home network uses anyway.

That's the sum total of Google reliance besides the setup that works with either Android or iOS or a web browser.

And it is not similar in operation to other HDMI devices from two years ago, last year or this year. It's unique.

And I won't agree that DIAL/Chromecast was it for tech this year. Wearable computing, available since the Oqo well over a decade ago, is already getting more compact - have you seen the wristbands for example? Not the big gear watches - the wristbands.

If flip phones replacing the walkie talkie bricks was a breakthrough, then surely the wristbands are as well.

Here's another breakthrough this year -

Breakthrough in neutron microscopy - E & T Magazine

How about this one -

New breakthrough could help improve telecommunication technology - Sci/Tech - DNA

Or -

Wriggling worm is breakthrough for artificial life - Telegraph

Or -

Scientists make breakthrough solar technology

Or the explosion in 3D printing materials and tools this year?

And if that isn't a list of breakthroughs to you, then you're going to have to be kind enough to tell me exactly what your criteria are, because so far, I don't get it.

I would consider Chromecast if it just transfered whatever is happening on my phone, so there would be no limitations on what you can stream to your tv.

Stick to the article, bringing nano tech into consumer electronics is a nonsense, I'm surprised you did not mention nuclear collider already.

3d printing is not a news anymore.

Smartphones were a breakthrough, Internet, LTE, electric cars, fiber optics, IEEE 802.16, gps, tablets etc. How many successful revolutionary technologies this year brought us. We have not seen anything really new in a while.

Biggest breakthrough I'm waiting for is a battery which may allow last cellphones or other devices for weeks, maybe a hydrogen fuel cells are getting there.

 

[EarlyMon]

I would consider Chromecast if it just transfered whatever is happening on my phone, so there would be no limitations on what you can stream to your tv.

Both HTC and Samsung produced that in 2012, and the broader implementation of that is Miracast, built in as a "new" Nexus feature. Pretty much the same thing exists with an iPhone and an Apple TV.

Look for the possible return of this app to Chromecast when the SDK goes final.

Lack of device mirroring is a big complaint among those wanting it with Chromecast but that was not its primary intended use case.

In any case, the SDK has already adopted the ability to discern attempts to bypass DRM so even if Chromecast does somehow pick up device mirroring, don't expect it to mirror everything.

Not sure why you want me to stick to an article that I consider whining and not valid.

PS - still would prefer your definition of breakthrough.

The examples are well and good, but leaves us with a sort of "I know it when I see it" deal.

If LTE - a GSM modification - qualified as a breakthrough, DIAL certainly must.

 

[sfbloodbrother]

Google glass makes you look like a tool
Most smartwatches look too nerdy and lack battery life
Nokia came up with it's ridiculous 41mp phone
Smartphone makers came up with nothing but bigger screens to make phones as an comfortable as possible to increase it's battery life.
3d Tv's are useless in most cases
Delivery drones by Amazon? I'd like to see that...

List goes on and on.

I have to agree there wasn't too much innovation this year.