Our top tech picks for 2013 include several pieces of hardware, some apps and a few old favorites that continue to make waves.

Hardware 2013

Without a doubt it was a big hardware year. Tablets are saturating the market while tech enthusiasts and investors search for “the next” gadget to disrupt the market.

Google Glass

While Google Glass is little more than an interesting sideshow at the moment, its reality shows what future tech may hold. Envision if you will average glasses or sunglasses with Google Glass type function. Complete with internet browsing and presumably dictation through a microphone in the frames for text, email and the like.

Yes, Google Glass looks ridiculous and that’s okay because it’s simply the first in what’s sure to be a line of wearable tech moving forward.

Smartphones

Without a doubt the best smartphone of 2013 is the HTC One. It can be debated until smartphone owners are blue in the face, but we stand behind that statement. Samsung and Apple seem to always share the spotlight when it comes to popularity, but the market needs competition to further innovation. For all of HTC’s struggles as a company the last 12+ months, they deserve immense credit for delivering what is an absolutely brilliant piece of hardware in the One.

Gaming Consoles

We could debate Xbox One versus Playstation 4 all day long and one will always outshine the other depending on how they’re viewed. Fact is, this may be the last true gaming console generation. Xbox One is already much more than a gaming console and many would say a detriment to itself. Sony has integrated more online social aspects that are maturing now with Playstation 4. By the time gamers and console makers are ready for the next generation of consoles, it simply won’t be enough to be ‘just a gaming console’.

Should we feel sad that this may be the last true gaming console generation or perhaps nostalgic about past generations? Yes, though there’s no need to panic. Game makers are delivering games at an unreal pace to every tech device they can. Mobile gaming is exploding, PC games are resurgent and new manufacturers such as NVIDIA (Shield) are delivering dedicated gaming units.

It’s impressive to see what Microsoft and Sony have delivered and we commend them for delivering possibly the last true gaming consoles. There’s no doubt each are worthy of mention for top hardware in 2013.

2014 Watchlist

Keep an eye out for Steam Machines. Steam is moving forward, if not slowly, with their own gaming device. They’ve labeled it “a powerful new category of living-room hardware” which points to more than gaming, but that remains to be seen.

Tablets are shifting towards larger models. Don’t be surprised if 7” tablets begin to fade away as new larger models flood the market.

PCs aren’t dead despite news to the contrary. However, Google’s Chromebooks are now starting to realize their potential and others are noticing. With everything online and cloud based, the Chromebooks offer a distinct advantage for some. That number will grow as cloud adoption continues.

Another watch item from Google is the Chromecast. Sure it’s getting a ton of hype now, but let’s watch what happens when it starts to hit its stride or better yet spawn something more from the minds at Google. Either way, grab a Chromecast now for $35 and enjoy inexpensive cable-like viewing.

Apps 2013

Mobile apps are an absolutely immense category to narrow down and dissect. The fact is, the app market is saturated both in iOS and Android. To stand out and make an impression you’ve either got to have a monumentally grand idea or improve tenfold over similar apps. We picked a few of our favorites from 2013 and hope you get the same kind of warm fuzzy feeling from them.

Simplenote

Not new in the traditional sense, it was new to Android in 2013. Long an app on iOS, Simplenote is, as you’d expect, a note taking app. As many of you know, we’re huge fans of productivity type apps and Simplenote falls into that category. It comes from Automattic, Inc., the makers of WordPress mobile. There are several key reasons Simplenote makes our top apps for 2013 list.

1. It’s super lightweight. Leave the fluff and extra junk at the door because Simplenote has none of it. At less than 600k, this app is like a feather compared to some.
2. The interface is nearly prestine. It’s so clean you almost feel bad cluttering it with notes.
3. If you’ve tried Evernote and didn’t care for it or even found it to be too much for your needs, then Simplenote is the option you’re after.

We won’t harp on it too much, but if you haven’t tried it yet, then start 2014 out with a new app.

Download for Android

Download for iOS

Cal

Cal comes from Any.do, the makers of ..well.. Any.do. If you’re not familiar, Any.do is a to-do, reminder, sort of productivity type app to keep you on target with tasks. Cal is basically a replacement for your other calendar apps. It’s still new so it lacks a few features that a true Google Calendar has. And while we aren’t huge fans of Any.do, Cal manages to improve on something every smartphone has – a calendar.

It’s attractive interface is super clean and sharp. It uses just enough graphic to spice things up and of course syncs nicely with Any.do to wrap your tasks into your calendar with ease. If you’re someone who likes to have their schedule at the ready and appreciates a very legible interface, then Cal should be on your list.

Download for Android

Download for iOS

Game Apps

We could literally go on forever with all the game apps. Needless to say, there were some standouts.

Real Racing 3

EA’s racing game has enjoyed plenty of ridicule for their freemium model and some of it deservingly so. However, their Real Racing 3 is visually fantastic and has sparked numerous copy cats in the mobile markets. With nearly 80 vehicles, RR3 has given gamers plenty of variety to play with. Fairly regular updates have provided new tracks and competitions and continued to keep the game interesting.

Real Racing 3 gets high marks for guiding the racing category of the market in the right direction (aside from the freemium in app costs that is).

Download for Android

Download for iOS

Injustice: Gods Among Us

Meant as a companion app to the console version. Injustice is quite fun on its own for those that don’t have time to spend in front of a console. Again, based on a freemium type model – Injustice provides achievement based reward with expensive upgrade options. The system is done well and not nearly as overwhelming as some other freemium games. The graphics are slick and for the most part gameplay is consistent.

Download for Android

Download for iOS

Old Favorites 2013

Evernote

We might be beating a dead horse with this one, but the fact is there is no better note-taking, productivity app than Evernote. It is an all encompassing tool that anyone can use. One of our readers spoke up about their experience and how they struggled to find a “practical use” for Evernote. Turns out it was easy once they stopped thinking so much about it. Now their Evernote account is used for storing warranties, manuals, recipes (in conjunction with Evernote Food) and a slew of other everyday things.

The real surprise from Evernote this year was their foray into physical goods. The Evernote gear is somewhat cheesy, but at the same time a testament to it’s popularity and following. Another physical good is their ScanSnap scanner. They partnered with Fujitsu to deliver a high quality device for taking all those loose piles of paper and sending them directly to Evernote notes. Although pricey it’s a real godsend to those looking to go completely paperless.

Download for Android

Download for iOS

Apps Everyone Should Be Using

Pocket

Save anything and everything for reviewing later. Don’t have time to read it now, but the headline looks interesting? Share it to Pocket and view it later. Need to follow a how-to found online, but need it later not now? Share it to Pocket and it’s there.

Download for Android

Download for iOS

TuneIn Radio Pro, Spotify & iHeart

TuneIn, Spotify and iHeart complement each other perfectly. iHeart has most radio stations and those it doesn’t are likely found on TuneIn. TuneIn is also great for radio broadcasts of sporting events, something any fan can appreciate. Spotify delivers everything those two don’t by way of user selected music. Spotify’s new free Playlists playback allows for greater control over selection of songs played. With their immense library of music, there’s very few songs missing.

Download iHeart for Android

Download iHeart for iOS

Download Spotify for Android

Download Spotify for iOS

Download TuneIn Radio Pro for Android

Download TuneIn Radio Pro for iOS

Any Cloud Storage App

If you aren’t using a cloud storage service, then what are you waiting for? There are literally a half-dozen excellent choices with more than a dozen other quality options. Every smartphone owner should be utilizing one to save those precious photos and other data accumulated on mobile devices.

For ease of use you can’t go wrong with Dropbox. Want something closer to your everyday routine? How about Google Drive (for Gmail users) or SkyDrive (for Outlook.com users). Our other favorite is Box although we’re disappointed they don’t give Linux users more love.

Security

Wondering where all the security apps and info are? We intentionally left that info out. Reason being that users need to dedicate more attention to security, not a passing thought in a “best of” list. With this year’s revelations and events, 2014 is going to be a pivotal year for users in securing their information. Look for an early year 2014 Security Checklist post with a bunch of suggestions for keeping you and your information out of other’s hands.

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Apps like Pinterest and Evernote are no doubt in use by many current Android users. Those with new Android devices, perhaps given as gifts this holiday, might benefit from looking through apps such as Pocket and Pixlr Express.

11 of the 12 are free so they’re definitely worth a look. With a market stuffed full of apps and is ever expanding, this list offers a nice way to quickly grab some apps to fit those niches you didn’t know you had.

You can view the entire list by following the link below. Have a favorite of your own? Let other readers know in the comments!

Google Play Best Apps of 2012

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Google has been, not so quietly, introducing service after service lately. With those services comes cloud integration and as such mobile access. The downside of all those services is that they’re scattered and access is separated between apps. Not any longer. Google Play is the newest re-branding from Google. It combines several media sources into one cloud supported navigation area.

Google Play combines apps from the former Android Market, Google Movies, Google Books and Google Music to deliver a full service media destination. Moving forward, as users update their Android devices they’ll notice that the Android Market is now replaced with Google Play. All media (movies, music, books, apps) items are stored in the cloud which means syncing is instantaneous as long as you’re using your Google Account.

For those living in the US, all services are available. Users in other countries will be limited to just apps or a combination of other services, falling short of a complete entertainment hub. Google Play is a positive, logical step forward and probably should have been done sooner. Combing all media entertainment under one umbrella should make cross-promotion easier and increase overall visibility for lackluster services like the seldom promoted Google Movies.

Some may view this as another attempt to mimic Apple, since iCloud has been available for some time now. The similarities are visible and while Google Play may look like an attempt to copy the competition, this re-branding move is more common sense than an attempt to duplicate an Apple product.

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There may be several reasons for changing ownership of a document. Perhaps a project started by one person is being passed onto another, maybe the docs account is being deleted and the files need to be associated with a new owner, or maybe the ownership responsibility just needs to change. Whatever the reason, knowing how to change owners is a nice bit of information to have around.

How to Change the Owner of a Google Doc

1. Open the Google doc that needs to change ownership.
2. Click the blue ‘Share‘ button in the upper right corner.
   
3. In order for ownership to change, the future owner must already have access to the document. To give access to the document, enter the gmail address of the person who is to take ownership of the document in the ‘Add people’ field at the bottom of the ‘Sharing settings’ window.
   
   Note: The new owner needs to have a gmail account in order to accept ownership of the Google doc.
4. Click the green ‘Share & save‘ button.
   
5. You’ll notice the new user is now listed in the ‘Sharing settings’ window. Click the drop-down to the right of the owner’s name and select ‘Is owner‘.
6. Click ‘Share & save‘.

Note: There can only be one owner for a document. Once you relinquish ownership, the new owner can revoke your rights entirely to the document.

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Browsers are probably the most used application on any computer system regardless of operating system and hardware configuration.  They are the visual window to the web and the number one tool for interacting online.

Without drudging up the past and reliving the evolution of the browser we’re going to take a look at a more recent trend in browser development.  Speed.  Microsoft’s Internet Explorer long controlled the browser market as they were the dominant operating system.  Now users have many more choices available, in fact just listing them all would be a paragraph unto itself.  Suffice to say, browsers have become very important to users and their online experience.  Now with so many choices, some are trying to differentiate themselves as ‘the most this’ or ‘the most that’.  The conversation has shifted towards speed with Google leading the way, or are they?

Google Chrome Sets the Bar High

Google’s offering has become a beacon for competing browsers.  The Google Chrome browser has been designed to be fast in all aspects of browsing.  Google has identified the most important factor to users surfing the net.  Speed.  Users want information faster and they want online applications and in-browser games to run faster.  The demand for quick access and fast browsing has propelled Chromeas a major competitor in the browser race.

Chrome has been tested by various random speed tests and third party benchmark testing.  While some are more thorough or detailed than others, the overall results show Chrome to be a leader in browser speed.  As a result, Chrome has forced the hand of other browser developers to put more emphasis and focus towards browser speed.  Even if speed is not the most important factor for you while online, the positive effects from browser development towards faster browsing will improve your overall experience.  Browsers like Safari and Opera have already started making speed one of the most important factors in current and future development to remain competitive.

The Competition

Opera development has rolled out a pre-alpha release of their web browser which shows incredible speed increase in javascript.  If Opera is able to maintain the speed increase shown in the pre-alpha version, users could see a very impressive alternative to Google’s Chrome.  At very least Opera will be a close second in speed to Chrome unless additional enhancements to the other browsers are added , Firefox included.

As mentioned, without some more attention to speed from the Mozilla team, Firefox is likely to slip in market share as users become more informed about alternate browsers and seek faster and faster browsing experience.  That’s not to say Firefox isn’t making improvements to speed, in fact the 3.6 beta 1 shows some real progress in speed when opening multiple tabs.  Additionally, memory consumption has been a real focal point and 3.6 beta 1 shows impressive results.  While not directly speed related, memory consumption on older or slower machines is very important.  It stands to reason that browsing speed will increase as memory usage decreases.  While those improvements will benefit the user, there is still much to be done to make up ground on Chrome.

For those wondering about Internet Explorer advancements, there really isn’t much to say.  IE is slower than all the browsers mentioned in this article but at the same time Microsoft does not make robust announcements about upcoming advancements in their browser technology.  Does that mean they are not working on creating a faster browser?  No, but it does mean we likely won’t know until they release an update.  IE is still playing catchup in some areas and so we will have to wait and see if they have shifted focus to point towards speed and faster browsing.

Conclusion

Bottom line is, whether you are a fan of Google or are scared to the bone, the Chrome browser has elevated the development of browsers with regards to speed.  In the end, it doesn’t matter who wins the award for fastest browser, what does matter is that all browsers will be competing for the title.  When all browsers are pushing the limits of browser speed, we all win.  Their competitive nature will benefit all users.  We will search faster, gather information quicker and better utilize time online.

If there is one prediction to make, it’s that browsers are sure to change over the next decade and likely become a far more integral part of our current desktop experience.

While it would be nearly impossible to cover all browsers, those listed in this article are regarded as top tier in terms of popularity and so we chose to focus our efforts towards them.

Which browser do you think will excel in the area of speed?  How do you think browsers will evolve over the next decade?  Your opinions are welcome, so let us know!

Thanks to our readers and visitors for the past year.  Please let us know what you would like to see in the year to come and what topics we can further explore for you.  We’ll do our best to improve as we move forward.  From all of us at GeekITDown, Happy New Year!

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