Besides a break from selfies and tweeting, what people really need is a quick tech roundup for early 2015. And we here at Mandatory are the ones who are going to give it to you (along with a ton of selfies and tweets, too).
Hard Gadgets: Apple Watch, Canon Rebel T6i & Digital Polaroids
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With Apple Watch finally about to appear this April starting at $349, more big tech gadgets are making their way onto the dance floor, like Canon's latest T6i and T6s models. With an impressive 24.2 megapixel capability (an impressive jump from the T5i's 18 MP), Canon boasts that their new Rebel series is no longer an entry level camera, sporting a fold-out touchscreen, proper control wheel and LCD digital panel that normally appear on higher level DSLRs. Available in April starting at $899, the T6i is more in the realm of Canon's 70D model and offers HD video recording that will please videographers.
![new tech products, 2015 tech gadgets]()
Polaroid recently released their Socialmatic, a long awaited digital polaroid camera that looks like a giant real life Instagram icon. A fun 14-megapixel camera with a front 2-MP selfie camera (that's better than an iPhone 6 Plus), Socialmatic, priced at $299, will soon be all the rage with its Android capability and built-in ink printer, creating 2x3 photos that can peel into Polaroid stickers.
![new tech products, 2015 tech gadgets]()
In other camera news, Olympus takes things up several notches with their retro style OM-D E-M5 Mark II and its foldout touchscreen and interchangeable lenses, but the real kicker is that its 16 MP sensor can work in ultra high-res mode and shoot eight photos, stitch them together and produce one 40-megapixel image. The camera has been given a huge overall in its outer layout and video capabilities as well, and its body is available starting at $1099.
![new tech products, 2015 tech gadgets]()
This month will also see AT&T exclusively acquiring the latest BlackBerry Passport ($200 on contract) and Classic ($50 on contract) models. The Passport comes in with a 4.5" document-friendly touchscreen and 13-megapixel camera, more interactive and user friendly than any previous BlackBerry.
Software Updates: Apple Removes iPhoto, Windows 10 Release & iOS 9 Demands
![new tech products, 2015 tech gadgets]()
Apple's iOS 9 isn't expected for announcement until their summer conference, but everyone is already buzzing about changes they'd like to see in the fall after the recent iOS 8 update.
Until then, we've got a quick update from Apple for iPhoto, and by update we mean they're killing off iPhoto and Aperture on your desktop and replacing it with a Photos app with the same icon as the one found on the iPhone. It's cleaner, matches the Yosemite upgrade from last year and -- best of all -- it's free. It's faster, zooms better, organizes and integrates with iCloud beautifully. It syncs with your mobile devices, so like Photo Stream on your phone, it'll have everything you take with your device, and you can edit from there, just like iPhoto but better. And the upgrade is set for download this spring.
![new tech products, 2015 tech gadgets]()
Windows 10 is another big software update, a cohesive always up-to-date operating system with the classic Start button and universal apps that works together to make your experience on every device smooth. And with the help of Cortana, holograms and interconnectivity with Xbox, everything is just easier with Windows now. And when you upgrade, they keep you updated for life, starting this summer when it gets released.
Announcements: Apple Electric Car & LG's All-Metal Smartwatch
![new tech products, 2015 tech gadgets]()
Aside from Apple announcing that their new HQ is to be completely solar powered, and rumors that their future apps could be as large as 4GB and their iPhone 7 could come out this year (just after the 6S model), the tech giant also announced plans to design their first electric car. The car is rumored to be named Titan, still in the design phase, that would compete with Elon Musk's Tesla. Though the electric Apple car is simply a prototype being worked on, this isn't to say it'll actually be released to the public, but with Apple, nothing is out of reach.
Atop of the ensuing release of Apple Watch comes LG's all-metal smartwatch, Watch Urbane, a luxury appendage that features an all-metal body -- gold and silver -- connected to fine leather strap accompanied by a built-in Android savvy heart monitor. The cost and date of when this LG item can be up everyone's sleeves is yet to be announced.
Innovations: Mattel's Virtual View-Master, CogniToy, Glow-in-the-Dark Nissan
![new tech products, 2015 tech gadgets]()
With new gadgets comes new innovation, and the biggest innovation in the news is Google's reinvention on our childhood picture toy, Mattel's View-Master. It's now reinvigorated with an interactive virtual experience that lets kids travel virtually at moving images instead of the old still images. Set to appear in the fall, the 360-degree virtual View-Master experience adapts to today's tech savvy kids, and probably a few of the lesser-traveled adults too.
Piggybacking off that is another kid's toy innovation, CogniToy, a cognitive computer inside a smart, squeezable dinosaur. Bridging the gap between childhood and adulthood is the speech enabled, Internet connected, personalized mobile education inside of a toy that will not only making learn fun; it'll make it consistent. By pressing the toy's belly like any other stuffed animal, this magnificent invention engages in lessons, stories, jokes and unique development exercises on a personal, customized basis with the child, helping them excel faster and in an enjoyable manner.
![new tech products, 2015 tech gadgets]()
And finally, the innovation from the man inventing self-cleaning car paint is the clever, stylish and safety-minded glow-in-the-dark Nissan prototype. Hamish Scott has created Starpath, a colorful coating that absorbs the sun's rays, then emits them at night in a bright glowing color. Though it's not the first time this idea has come up, this paint job is said to last 8 to 10 hours after the sun goes down for 25 years, which is perfect for those of us who are too stupid to realize our lights aren't on during our drive home from the bars.
![new tech products, 2015 tech gadgets]()
The car hasn't gone into production yet, but it's likely only a mater of time before it's up for public consumption. The only downside? The people of New York probably won't get much glow out of their car this time of year.
Hard Gadgets: Apple Watch, Canon Rebel T6i & Digital Polaroids
With Apple Watch finally about to appear this April starting at $349, more big tech gadgets are making their way onto the dance floor, like Canon's latest T6i and T6s models. With an impressive 24.2 megapixel capability (an impressive jump from the T5i's 18 MP), Canon boasts that their new Rebel series is no longer an entry level camera, sporting a fold-out touchscreen, proper control wheel and LCD digital panel that normally appear on higher level DSLRs. Available in April starting at $899, the T6i is more in the realm of Canon's 70D model and offers HD video recording that will please videographers.
Polaroid recently released their Socialmatic, a long awaited digital polaroid camera that looks like a giant real life Instagram icon. A fun 14-megapixel camera with a front 2-MP selfie camera (that's better than an iPhone 6 Plus), Socialmatic, priced at $299, will soon be all the rage with its Android capability and built-in ink printer, creating 2x3 photos that can peel into Polaroid stickers.
In other camera news, Olympus takes things up several notches with their retro style OM-D E-M5 Mark II and its foldout touchscreen and interchangeable lenses, but the real kicker is that its 16 MP sensor can work in ultra high-res mode and shoot eight photos, stitch them together and produce one 40-megapixel image. The camera has been given a huge overall in its outer layout and video capabilities as well, and its body is available starting at $1099.
This month will also see AT&T exclusively acquiring the latest BlackBerry Passport ($200 on contract) and Classic ($50 on contract) models. The Passport comes in with a 4.5" document-friendly touchscreen and 13-megapixel camera, more interactive and user friendly than any previous BlackBerry.
Software Updates: Apple Removes iPhoto, Windows 10 Release & iOS 9 Demands
Apple's iOS 9 isn't expected for announcement until their summer conference, but everyone is already buzzing about changes they'd like to see in the fall after the recent iOS 8 update.
Until then, we've got a quick update from Apple for iPhoto, and by update we mean they're killing off iPhoto and Aperture on your desktop and replacing it with a Photos app with the same icon as the one found on the iPhone. It's cleaner, matches the Yosemite upgrade from last year and -- best of all -- it's free. It's faster, zooms better, organizes and integrates with iCloud beautifully. It syncs with your mobile devices, so like Photo Stream on your phone, it'll have everything you take with your device, and you can edit from there, just like iPhoto but better. And the upgrade is set for download this spring.
Windows 10 is another big software update, a cohesive always up-to-date operating system with the classic Start button and universal apps that works together to make your experience on every device smooth. And with the help of Cortana, holograms and interconnectivity with Xbox, everything is just easier with Windows now. And when you upgrade, they keep you updated for life, starting this summer when it gets released.
Announcements: Apple Electric Car & LG's All-Metal Smartwatch
Aside from Apple announcing that their new HQ is to be completely solar powered, and rumors that their future apps could be as large as 4GB and their iPhone 7 could come out this year (just after the 6S model), the tech giant also announced plans to design their first electric car. The car is rumored to be named Titan, still in the design phase, that would compete with Elon Musk's Tesla. Though the electric Apple car is simply a prototype being worked on, this isn't to say it'll actually be released to the public, but with Apple, nothing is out of reach.
Atop of the ensuing release of Apple Watch comes LG's all-metal smartwatch, Watch Urbane, a luxury appendage that features an all-metal body -- gold and silver -- connected to fine leather strap accompanied by a built-in Android savvy heart monitor. The cost and date of when this LG item can be up everyone's sleeves is yet to be announced.
Innovations: Mattel's Virtual View-Master, CogniToy, Glow-in-the-Dark Nissan
With new gadgets comes new innovation, and the biggest innovation in the news is Google's reinvention on our childhood picture toy, Mattel's View-Master. It's now reinvigorated with an interactive virtual experience that lets kids travel virtually at moving images instead of the old still images. Set to appear in the fall, the 360-degree virtual View-Master experience adapts to today's tech savvy kids, and probably a few of the lesser-traveled adults too.
Piggybacking off that is another kid's toy innovation, CogniToy, a cognitive computer inside a smart, squeezable dinosaur. Bridging the gap between childhood and adulthood is the speech enabled, Internet connected, personalized mobile education inside of a toy that will not only making learn fun; it'll make it consistent. By pressing the toy's belly like any other stuffed animal, this magnificent invention engages in lessons, stories, jokes and unique development exercises on a personal, customized basis with the child, helping them excel faster and in an enjoyable manner.
And finally, the innovation from the man inventing self-cleaning car paint is the clever, stylish and safety-minded glow-in-the-dark Nissan prototype. Hamish Scott has created Starpath, a colorful coating that absorbs the sun's rays, then emits them at night in a bright glowing color. Though it's not the first time this idea has come up, this paint job is said to last 8 to 10 hours after the sun goes down for 25 years, which is perfect for those of us who are too stupid to realize our lights aren't on during our drive home from the bars.
The car hasn't gone into production yet, but it's likely only a mater of time before it's up for public consumption. The only downside? The people of New York probably won't get much glow out of their car this time of year.