- Culture
- 23 Jan 15
A round-up of 2015's hottest gadgets & gizmos.
It’s 2015, the year Marty McFly visited in Back To The Future II. So have the predictions come true? Are we going to wear high-spec glasses, use video conferencing, and watch crappy sequels in 3D? Um, we are, actually.
Back in the 1980s, when that film was made, the Sony Walkman was a permanent fixture on every teenager’s belt. This year, Sony brings the music-playing device back albeit without cassette compatibility. The Sony NW-ZX2 has a 60-hour battery life, 128GB memory, and goes on sale soon. In February, hippy hero Neil Young is launching his Pono music player, which plays high fidelity audio. With 2015’s release of Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, you can catch up on new romantic beats through the SMS Audio Star Wars headphones, out May 4.
Affordable television takes a leap into 4K: resolution so high it will leave your cheeks stinging. Panasonic has a range of 4K TVs and camcorders, Sony is getting robotic with an Android television, and size matters for Samsung with a 105-inch TV.
Throw away the Selfie Sticks and disappear into your own private universe with virtual reality headsets, including Oculus Rift, Samsung VR, and Sony’s Project Morpheus. Sporty types can turn into cyborgs with wearable tech, such as Lepow’s HiSmart bag, Smart B-Trainers, and Epson Active heart-rate monitors.
Record your antics on Sony’s 4K Action Cam, a GoPro rival. Giroptic 360cam is a full HD 360 degree camera; IC Real Tech has a dual lens camera for 720-degree video.
In 2015, every household object becomes a sentient creature. Prepare your feeble mind for Smarter’s Wi-Fi Coffee Machine, XYZprinting’s 3D Food Printer, Kevo’s smart lock, or WattUp, which wirelessly charges devices from 20 feet away.
McFly’s hoverboard has not come to pass. Instead, we get ZBoard 2 Blue (smart skateboard), the Gogoro (smart skooter), and Rollkers (electric roller skates). Nike is making Back To The Future sneakers, complete with self-tying laces, though. Great Scott, Marty. The future has arrived!