This week, the tech came rushing at us at a frenetic pace, more futuristic than ever. Even though all of the products and designs we picked this week look like they came straight out of a science fiction movie, some of them harken back to their heritage in the previous century.
This week, we spotted a trio of sensational smartphones, two of which are now available and one that might be in a few months. We found a couple of the most exciting aircraft we’ve seen in a long time, a watery hotel with the most spectacular view ever. Add to that a couple of devices that will ease the burden on road warriors and an astounding audio device whose powerful punch belies its diminutive stature, and you have a complete complement of technological goodness.
Browse through our Top 10 Tech This Week, where even if you haven’t had a spare second to check the pulse of the week’s technology, we’ll catch you up right here in short order.
1. Samsung Galaxy S III
My, my - isn't this a lovely phone? The heavily anticipated Samsung Galaxy S3 III was finally revealed this week, and it looks just as beautiful as its spy pics. The third-generation handset in the Galaxy series improves upon its forebears, bringing a relatively huge 4.8-inch touchscreen, a faster camera with near-zero shutter lag and the latest Ice Cream Sandwich version of Android.
It's packing serious horsepower under its hood, too, running a 1.4GHz quad-core processor that Samsung says is twice as powerful as its predecessor, and consuming 20% less battery power. It even has speech recognition capabilities similar to the iPhone's Siri. I particularly like its "Pebble Blue" colour, but it's also available in white, shipping this month in Europe and everywhere else in the world this summer.
2. Boeing Sonic Cruiser Program Revived
Just when I started thinking purely energy-efficient planes were going to be the state-of-the-art for the next few decades, rumours start to fly about the revival of Boeing's Sonic Cruiser supersonic airliner.
Boeing Sonic Cruiser
Ditched nine years ago for the energy-efficient Dreamliner, Boeing recently applied for new patents for this Sonic Cruiser, including jet engines moved to the top of the wings and many other cost-effective and energy-efficient refinements.
Now it's reportedly a lot cheaper to build a supersonic aircraft like this, and the scuttlebutt is that the project is back on the front burner. If Boeing could just add some of the recent anti-sonic boom tech to this way-cool design, we might be scooting from coast-to-coast in no time flat before too long.
3. Water Discus Hotel
Water Discus Hotel
Once a dream in the fantasy world of a creative architect, now this underwater hotel is in the planning stages of its initial construction. The Water Discus will be a luxury hotel off the coast of Dubai, allowing its guests to sleep in luxury rooms under the deep blue sea, right there in Davy Jones' Locker.
Water Discus Hotel
The hotel will be built by a Swiss shipbuilder, with 21 guestrooms situated at a depth of 33 feet. That's just about right for scuba divers, who will enjoy a diving centre complete with airlocks and a decompression chamber. According to its builders, advanced technology has recently made it practical to build such a magnificent structure, making it safe and cost-effective.
Check out that view!
4. LiquidMetal iPhone
With reports of the upcoming iPhone running rampant, one talented designer decided to show us what a LiquidMetal iPhone might look like. The result is this spectacular rendering, depicting the new iPhone with a larger widescreen, virtual home button and that weird new metal with its otherworldly characteristics.
To enjoy the full complement of pics from all angles, take a look at the full LiquidMetal iPhone gallery of this beautiful concept, which might be surprisingly close to the actual iPhone's appearance when it's delivered to its fanatical customers this fall.
5. Energizer Wrap-Around Smartphone Chargers
Attention travellers, you're probably tired of the mess and inconvenience of a bag full of chargers, and Energizer has been trying to fix that for you. Available in a variety of iterations for power outlets or car charging, these are thoughtfully designed USB chargers that cost less and are better designed than the ones Apple and other smartphone manufacturers provide.
I especially like the way you can wrap its cable around itself, collapse it into itself and fold up its plug, making the whole thing compact and tidy. The US$17 wall charger lets you know when your device is fully charged by turning off its cool blue light. Want.
6. Volta Volaré High-Performance Aircraft
Behold, “the most technologically advanced private aircraft available anywhere on Earth” that takes off and lands on electric power. But don't worry about running out of batteries - the Volta Volaré GT4 is a hybrid plane, with its gasoline engine taking over when the battery runs down to within 25% of its charging capacity.
This is not just some pie-in-the-sky idea, either - this pricy US$495,000 airplane is now ready to order.
7. Samsung Ivy Bridge Ultrabook
Ultrabooks with the new ultra-efficient Ivy Bridge processors are right on the edge of existence, and one of the first out of the gate to announce such a laptop is Samsung, giving us a peek at its Series 9 Ultrabook with the latest Intel processor.
This thin 15-inch beauty will be packing the latest Intel HD graphics incorporated into its Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor. Samsung's not saying when its new laptops featuring Ivy Bridge will be available, or at what price, but I'm looking forward to these energy-efficient laptops that are even faster than their predecessors.
8. HTC One X
While that Samsung Galaxy S III was grabbing all the glory this week, we tested an HTC One X smartphone, which our intrepid reviewer Emily Price thinks is one of the best Android phones ever.
It's exceptionally thin at just a third-of-an-inch, and the highlight is its screen, which Emily called "easily one of the nicest screens I've ever seen on a smartphone." And she's seen a lot of smartphones.
So...Fantastic camera, amazing display, brilliant design? Count me in. Available on AT&T May 6 for around US$200.
9. Audyssey Audio Dock Air
Announced a few months ago but just now hitting the streets is the Audyssey Audio Dock Air, a compact powered speaker that at first glance might not look like it can do much. But I got one here at the Midwest Test Facility and gave it a close listen this week, and I was highly impressed with its punchy, crispy and powerful sound.
It's easy to hook it up to Apple Airplay, letting you control your music wherever you have access to Wi-Fi (if you don't have an iOS device, there's an AUX port to plug in any audio gadget). When I sat in front of it, its speakers on either side gave surprising stereo separation. And even given its diminutive size, it pumps out an impressive amount of bass - although it can't crank the thump as much as we've heard out of larger speakers, it's quite satisfying.
The only downside: an annoying 5-second delay when you want to skip forward or back in the music, although adjustments to volume are instantaneous. And then there's its steep price - listing at US$399.99 - but we found it around the web for around US$356. If you're looking for portable sound that packs a powerful punch - and you have the bucks to spare, put this one on your shortlist.
10. Jaguar Electric Car
Jaguar Electric Car
Just look at this scary XKX Jaguar Electric Roadster, crouched down and ready to pounce all over you. This concept by Albanian designer Marin Myftiu plays off an old favourite of mine, the Jaguar XK-E from the '60s, bringing it forward to the 21st century with electric power that's regenerated by piezoelectric cells embedded in microscopic ripples on the car's skin.
Jaguar Electric Car
Another interesting innovation is its disappearing mirrors that slide into the car when it's parked. But it's the aerodynamics that excel in this forward-looking design, helped along by side deflectors that take wind away from the engine and direct that speed-killing airflow around the wheels.
Jaguar Electric Car
This is certainly one badass-looking design, but who knows if it will ever be built? However...
Jaguar Electric Car
...Jaguar designers might want to take a close look at this, noticing its adherence to the company's heritage, perhaps deciding to create such a masterpiece someday in an attempt to compete in the emerging electric sport scar market.
Scary angle!
Top image: LiquidMetal iPhone (left) and Samsung Galaxy S III (right)
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