TECHNOLOGY
THE story of personal technology in New Zealand this year seemed to be about us catching up with the rest of the world.
Two of the most important companies in technology will soon be operating here and everyone can finally experience firsthand Uber and Netflix.
Our internet speeds also caught up with others and we now have faster service than Australia while also getting more affordable plans.
But just as we catch up with other countries, we also launch services to compete with others.
Semble, a mobile payment company, launched an app that could eventually take on Apple Pay and Lightbox’s online streaming service will give Netflix a run for its money.
Technology is constantly changing and Kiwis are lucky to have access to products and services that keep us up to date. This was the year television streaming really hit the mainstream in New Zealand. Spark launched Lightbox, VideoEzy went online and then Sky TV and Netflix announced they were launching services. Our viewing habits will change forever, with people now having multiple options to get their television fix. The company that is taking the taxi world by storm arrived in Auckland and Wellington. Kiwis in these cities are now able to use their smartphones to get a ride. Taxi companies in New Zealand have been slow to react as Uber looks to expand to other places around the country. Kiwis are guzzling data like never before and most internet providers this year released unlimited data options at reasonable prices. This bodes well when more people sign up to online television streaming services where they will need extra data to watch their favourite shows. The next step in New Zealand for the internet will be boosting the number of people on fibre. Anyone who banks with Westpac was able to leave their wallet at home and just take their smartphone. Mobile payments started small, but with Kiwi outfit Semble working with BNZ and ASB, more people will have soon use their phones instead of eftpos. By the end of next year you’ll wonder how you survived without it. Apple teased the world with a glimpse of its smartwatch in September but it won’t be available till next year. However, most other manufacturers have one on the market as buzz continues to build around the devices. However, they are still not a must-have device but they are doing their best to lure consumers in with increased advertising. Apple finally joined the supersized phone party with the release of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus which quickly become the most popular phablet (a cross between a phone and a tablet) in the third quarter of this year. The phablet trend is growing exponentially, as big phones now account for 10 per cent of smartphone sales. While they seem a bit cumbersome at first, having a big screen for reading and viewing content is proving to be a big draw. The hacking of computers formed an integral part of our general election after Nicky Hager published information about goings-on in the National Party. Overseas, Sony was hacked, with confidential correspondence and company details used to embarrass the company and forcing them to stop releasing a movie, an unsettling precedent which is likely to be only the start of high-profile cyber attacks. Social media is an increasingly large part of the tech world and the latest trend is the move away from open platforms such as Facebook to more closed platforms that allow for more private, one-toone and group messaging. Apps such as WhatsApp, Snapchat and Kik dominate the rankings in Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store. While it’s mostly young users flocking to the apps, it won’t be long before they are more widely used. We are all gamers now. With the rise in games for mobile devices nearly everyone is part of a multibillion industry that is bigger than music and movies. The top game of the year, according to Apple, was Threes, a puzzle game with a unique design. Gaming will continue to be a part of our tech culture.