2017 COULD BE A BANNER YEAR IN TECH
It’s been a while since we’ve had a year that promises exciting new consumer innovations, but 2017 is shaping up to be a banner year for cutting-edge buyers who are willing to shell out for the hottest new technology.
From a new Tesla to an overhauled iPhone, here are the ones I’m most looking forward to:
• Sleep Number 360 Smart Bed: This promises to customize your side of the bed — from personalized firmness to comfort and even footwarming. According to Sleep Number, this mattress will get to know you. For instance, it may adjust automatically to your favorite reading position at 11 p.m. It knows what time you like to start the day, and an alarm will gently wake you during your lightest stage of sleep around that time. But here’s the real game changer: the war on snore. Let’s say your partner begins to snore. According to Sleep Number, the bed will actually raise your partner’s head and end your misery. And, the ideal mattress settings will change based on your position. If you happen to roll over mid-sleep, the software is supposed to notice your new position and change its settings to optimize your comfort. These are bold claims! The SleepIQ app will report how well you slept in the morning, as well. Since Sleep Number’s beds can go all the way up to $7,000, it’s safe to say this bed will be pricey. But how many of us truly like our mattress anyway? • Tesla Model 3: Delivering 215 miles on a single charge, the Model 3 is the most affordable Tesla yet, coming in around $35,000, not including tax breaks and credits. It’s designed to attain the highest safety ratings in every category, and if its predecessors are any indication, it will exceed them . About 400,000 people have pa id $ 1 ,000 to reserve theirs, which is a good sign for the zero-emissions vehicle. If the Model X that I tested for a few days is any indication, the Model 3 will be well worth its price tag and hopefully will set a new standard for affordable electric vehicles. Target shipping dates are for late 2017.
• iPhone 8: I find myself on a daily basis disappointed with my iPhone 7, and really wishing I hadn’t upgraded. The lack of a headphone jack and the fact that my phone has never successfully backed itself up are just two of the myriad issues. But I’m willing to give Apple one last chance before I switch to Android, and that’s why I can’t wait for the iPhone 8. Improved waterproofing, a bezel-free, curved OLED screen and wireless charging are just some of the potential innovations of the phone, which will mark Apple’s 10-year anniversary of the original iPhone. It will likely cost north of $600 and debut in September.
• Xbox Project Scorpio: Expected to launch sometime before Christmas with a yet-to-be announced price, the next Xbox is already being billed as the most powerful console ever made, with uncompromising 4K ultra-high definition gaming resolution and nearly five times the power of Xbox One. With a highfidelity virtual reality experience expected, it’s unclear exactly what that will entail. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft will simply be more compatible with existing headsets like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, or if it will involve some version of Microsoft’s own HoloLens, which is a cool $3,000.
• LG Smart Instaview Refrigerator: Smart refrigerators are actually starting to feel tempting, and this one may be the best yet, in part because it’s basically Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa inside your refrigerator. This new flagship fridge will feature a 29-inch touch LCD display, which instantly turns transparent with two knocks on the screen, letting you look inside at the contents of your refrigerator without having to open the door. Not only can you use the voice assistant best known for powering the Amazon Echo, but you can also use LG’s app to see the contents of your refrigerator while you’re shopping for groceries.