PopCulturez Fall Gadget Preview

The fall is the perfect season to release new gadgets. The holiday season is right around the corner and these electronics will be flying off the shelves.

Apple’s iPhone 5 is rumored to be coming out in September. Apple tries not to tip their hand when they are releasing a new product, so a lot of the potential features of the new iPhone have not been confirmed.

The new Apple product may feature a larger, four-inch screen. It should be available in either black or white, just like the most recent iPhone 4s. The newest installment of the iPhone also appears to have a smaller dock at the bottom, and the headphone plug will be down there next to it (as opposed to its typical position at the top of the phone).

Since the iPhone 5 will be larger than previous models, it has the potential to have more battery life. As an iPhone owner, I believe battery life is definitely something that could be improved.

Apple is not going to stop after the iPhone 5 is released. It has also been rumored that an iPad Mini could be released before the end of September. It is said that the iPad Mini will have a screen measuring 7.85 inches, compared to the original iPad, which was 9.7 inches. Apple already released a new iPad, the third generation iPad, this year on March 16.

Sony are expected to release a new tablet this fall. The 9.4-inch Sony Xperia Tablet is set to be available to the public in September. Prices for the new tablet are anticipated to be between $400 and $600.

The Sony Xperia Tablet will be different than the Sony Tablet S that was released in 2011. The newer tablet will be much thinner, measuring in at less than half an inch thick, and also has front and rear cameras, and speakers on the back of the device.

Nintendo is expected to be releasing a new video game console in the fourth quarter of 2012. The new gaming system will be called the Wii U.

Nintendo’s newest product will feature a new remote, called the Wii U GamePad, which has an embedded touch screen. This screen allows players to play their game, even if the television is not on. A more traditional controller will be released for the game as well, called the Pro Controller, which has two analog sticks.

The Wii U will feature backwards compatibility. This means that most games from the Wii will be playable on the new system. This is like how Playstation games could be played on Playstation 2 when it was released.

These are all products that will probably top a lot of wish-lists when December rolls around. Sony and Apple will be fighting for the lion’s share of the Tablet business, while Nintendo hopes to once-again revolutionize the gaming industry. Apple’s iPhone 5 is sure to generate a lot of noise, seeing as everyone always seems to be drawn to the latest and greatest cell-phone technology.

Gadget-wise, this fall, so far, looks to be all about upgrading, with some new treats thrown in…

-Ed Morlock