It’s the start of a new year, and you know what that means? It means it’s time to look ahead at some of the awesome technology that will shine this year! Here’s my list of the top tech to own in 2016:
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4K TV
4K TV’s aren’t something that is brand new to 2016. In fact, we saw the first of these TV over a year ago. They’ve been on sale for a while, but not everyone chooses to buy one. Why? Because there’s not a great deal to watch in 4K at the moment. You only have a select choice of things. Some people think it makes more sense just to buy an HD TV and save the money. But, I think things are going to change this year. More and more things will be in 4K, and there’ll be more reason to buy one. Streaming services are already providing a 4K option on some movies and TV shows. YouTube allows 4K streaming of videos too. Slowly but surely, we’ll see everything become available in 4K.
The great news is, these TV’s are already becoming more affordable. Companies realised that people didn’t want to spend loads of money on a TV that they can’t get full use out of. So, throughout the course of 2015, prices dropped. Now, you can pick up a great 4K TV for not much more than an HD one. And, prices will continue to drop as these TV’s are made more affordable for the general public. If you want a TV this year, you’ve got to go for 4K.
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3D Printers
It may come as a surprise to many, but 3D printers have been around for quite a while. They’ve been used in the health industry for a few years now. Surgeons would construct 3D printed models of the heart to practice procedures on. You may have also seen them used in the car industry to help create model, concept, cars. If you didn’t work in one of these industries, you probably never got to see a 3D printer at work. However, times have changed! Now, they’re creeping into the public market. In 2015, we saw some of the first 3D printers go on sale to the general public. People were amazed because it seemed like such a new and innovative piece of tech. These types of printer let you create models of anything you can think of. There’s the potential for you to make small toys for your kids or wearable bracelets. You can have fun with 3D printing, but you can also take it seriously. Some people are buying them and using them to make items that they sell to others. Essentially, they’re starting a business thanks to their printer.
In 2016, we should see even more of these printers enter the public market. It’s a piece of technology that everyone should try and get their hands on. My advice is that if you want a 3D printer, buy cheap. There’s no use forking out loads of money on some industrial-standard one if you just want one for fun in the home. One thing’s for certain; I can’t wait to get my hands on a 3D printer in 2016!
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Virtual Reality Headset
For years, people have been talking about virtual reality being the next step in the technology world. Being able to immerse yourself in a game is something everyone has always dreamed of. Now, this dream is becoming a reality. There are already some VR headsets out on the market today. A popular and affordable one is the Oculus Rift. Of course, you won’t get crisp graphics and high definition gameplay, but it offers a different thing. What you get is to play some games that transport you out of your bedroom and into a different world. I’ve seen video demos of people playing roller coaster simulation game, and it looks crazy. It’s like they forget they’re sat in a chair at home and actually think they’re on a crazy rollercoaster.
Things look set to get even bigger and better on the VR front this year. Both Sony and Microsoft are developing their headsets, and we hope to see more of them later in the year. There are also manufacturers like HTC that are trying to make a VR headset too. I highly suggest you get yourself ready for virtual reality in 2016, it’s going to be huge. Try and get your hands on one of the headsets available to the public already. The great thing is, there’s still so much to improve on. So, virtual reality is only heading in one direction, up!
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Xbox One/Ps4
Yes, I know I just went on about virtual reality gaming and how amazing it’s going to be this year. But, that doesn’t mean you can forget about more traditional video games. 2016 looks like it’s going to be a great year for next-gen consoles. Both the Xbox One and PS4 have a star-studded lineup of games just itching to be released in the next 12 months. Anyone that’s involved in the gaming industry can’t stop talking about how amazing this year is going to be. We spent 2015 gazing at all the trailers for the new games coming this year. And, now we get to experience them properly! Technology has brought console gaming a long, long, way. Graphics are now incredible, and gameplay speed is much smoother.
So, you’re probably now wondering if I’m going to give you the answer to one of the world’s most asked questions aren’t you? Do you get an Xbox One or a PS4? The simple answer to this is that it doesn’t matter. Both consoles are incredible pieces of tech, and one may suit you better than the other. Take a look at the games lineup for both and see which appeals to you most. If you game with friends, it also makes sense to pick a console they have too.
And that brings me to the end of this list. There you have it, my top four tech things to own in 2016!
