Who says summer is a slow time for tech? The past week provided us with a cavalcade of products and accessories for us to drool over on Top 10 Tech This Week.
Seriously, this was a big week for consumer tech. Google unveiled a mountain of swag on attendees at Google I/O - including the new Nexus 7 tablet and the Nexus Q - while also showing off some of the latest features in Android and Google TV.
Meanwhile, in New York City, the CEA’s CE Week Line Show showcased some excellent tech in TVs, digital cameras, routers and more. It also gave us a sneak peek at a 4K TV that could represent the future of home entertainment.
Click through the gallery and gaze at products from across the technical spectrum. The best part is that many of the items you can pre-order right now!
1. Westinghouse 4K TV
Photo Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET
At the CEA Line Show in New York City, budget TV maker Westinghouse showed off a preview of a TV that is decidedly upmarket: A 4K TV.
The TV - dubbed the D55QX1 - is supposed to be released the first quarter of 2013. So what makes this 55-inch TV so special? Well, it packs a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 - in other words, four-times the resolution of 1080p.
Mashable's Lifestyle Editor Andrea Smith told us that the picture was so crisp on the television set - she could read small printed text from a few feet away - without her glasses.
Most modern movie theatres use 4K projectors but the tech hasn't hit the consumer space - yet. With Toshiba also planning a 4K release in 2013, we could all experience super-high resolution screens in just a few years.
2. Nexus 7
The 7-inch Android slate was built by Asus and runs the latest and greatest version of Android, 4.1 Jelly Bean. Not only is the device svelte - it's speedy, with a rocking Tegra 3 processor and a high-powered GPU.
Perhaps the most astonishing part of the Nexus 7 is the price. The 8GB variant is just US$199 and the 16GB version is just US$249.
The price, power and latest-generation software makes the Nexus 7 one of the best Android tablets on the market.
3. Nexus Q
At Google I/O, the company also unveiled its first try at first-party direct-to-consumer hardware. Dubbed the "first social streaming media player," the Nexus Q is like a mash-up between a Sonos and an Apple TV.
Using the orb-shaped device, users can stream audio and video content to a TV set, using an Android phone or tablet as the remote control.
We might not be fond of the US$300 price point - and the device might not deliver on all of its promises - but this is a product worth noting if only because of the way Google is experimenting with design and functionality.
4. Project Glass Prototype Glasses
Lots of us want to get our hands on Google's Project Glass glasses but the future-tech is still a far-cry from being ready for consumers. Or is it?
At Google I/O, the company allowed attendees who are willing to pony up US$1500 access to prototype-versions of the next-generation of wearable computing.
After watching the spectacular Project Glass skydiving video, we can't wait to get our hands on this tech - even if it's still in the prototype stage.
5. Eye-Controlled Camera
Wouldn't it be great if you could take a photo with your eyes, just by blinking? In the future, we might be able to do just that!
Design engineer Mimi Zou is working on a prototype of a new type of camera that is controlled by the eye. Dubbed "Iris," the camera uses eye-tracking tech and biometric detection to make it utterly simple for taking photos.
Eye-tracking controls the mechanics of the camera - you squint slightly to zoom, open your eyes to zoom out and you blink twice to take a picture.
Though Zou has a working prototype, a final product is a ways off. Still, even if we never see Iris in the wild, chances are, eye-tracking tech will find its way to future cameras.
via Wired
6. RCA Smart Mobile TV
At the CEA Line Show in New York City, RCA showed off the next generation portable TV set to debut this fall.
The 7-inch foldable LCD TV is unique because it contains dual-tuners to bring in both standard ATSC digital and mobile digital TV broadcasts. That means that family members can watch live, over-the-air free TV from the backseat.
The Smart Mobile TV is also Android-based and can offer access to other Internet functions and apps. The suggested retail price is US$249.
7. Polaroid Z2300 Instant Digital Camera
Also at CEA, Polaroid showed off its upcoming "instant digital camera." The Z2300 is a 10 megapixel digital camera with a built-in photo printer. The diminutive camera can print 2x3" full-colour snaps in under a minute.
Users can also upload their photos to social media platforms and save snaps to an SD card.
The Z2300 will be out later this month and retail for US$159.99.
8. Touch Screen Router
Securifi is bringing what it calls "the first router with a touch screen" to the market. Dubbed the "Almond," this US$80 router can be configured with touch-input, no computer required.
This is great for users who struggle configuring a normal router. Rather than having to visit a hardwired IP address on your PC and fumbling to enter in a password, users can just configure settings directly on the router.
Even better - future upgrades to the diminutive device will allow the 2.8-inch screen to be used as a digital photo frame.
The Almond should debut later this fall for around US$80.
9. Headcase Hair Dryer
Who says hair dryers can't be high tech!
The Headcase is a sleekly designed hair dryer that doubles as an infrared hair-growth stimulator.
While we're not sure if the infrared tech will really stimulate hair growth, we love the design of this male-focused hair dryer.
via Yanko Design
10. Paint-On Batteries
Researchers at Rice University have developed a way to turn traditional battery elements into a liquid that can be spray-painted in layers onto any surface.
In their tests, the scientists at Rice were able to create power sources from ceramics, glass, stainless steel and on curved surfaces.
This type of technology could open the doors for putting batteries on almost any surface in a much more robust way. That could mean that someday, even our coffee mugs might have an Internet connection. Even better - imagine being able to keep your mug warm all the time, thanks to battery powered heat!
Top image: Google Nexus 7
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