Most people can’t predict the future. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try. Here are the most important predictions we have for the Android operating system in 2013:
Android will arrive on PCs
Google already has an operating system for PCs. It’s called Chrome OS, and it looks a lot like Android. However, Google will undoubtedly try to merge Android and Chrome OS in 2013 in order to create the ultimate PC operating system.
Chrome OS is good for netbook users who need to connect to the internet – nothing more. It basically requires an internet connection in order to be functional, and Chrome OS certainly has its shortcomings. With Android, those shortcomings could disappear and Android would achieve its goal of being available on just about every type of device in the world.
Android-powered Project Glass will appear on retail shelves
The tech community collectively drooled over the Project Glass video released last year. Sure, walking around with superpowered glasses on your head would be cool, but is it actually feasible? Could you actually buy a pair from Best Buy or other major retail stores before the end of 2013?
Phandroid suggests that Google will need to partner with a major sunglass brand like Rayban in order to make Project Glass a reality. Because let’s face it: nobody wants to walk around outside looking like they took a wrong turn off of the Star Trek set.
If Google can partner with any major eyewear retailer, Project Glass could truly take off. Which means assisted vision/augmented reality devices could be on store shelves before the end of 2013.
Nokia switches to Android
This one may or may not come true. There appears to be quite a bit of conflict within Nokia about whether or not to shift away from Windows Phone 8. Nokia is the world’s largest OEM of Windows Phone 8 devices, but even so, its sales have been disappointing.
Nokia isn’t a bad company. It makes some fantastic devices and its mapping app is particularly impressive due to its always-available-offline capabilities. But many in the tech community feel that Nokia’s powerful new devices like the Lumia 920 are being held back by Windows Phone 8. If Nokia switches to Android, it might be able to turn dismal sales figures around.
Wifi charging will become more popular
Wifi charging technology has been whispered about for a few years, but it hasn’t yet taken off. It’s always seemed too slow or too expensive to be a realistic option for the average consumers. But that could change in 2013.
Most would agree that battery life is the one big problem that all mobile devices have. Whether you’re on a smartphone or a tablet, mobile battery life can be incredibly frustrating. And forward-thinking Android manufacturers might want to add Wifi charging capabilities to their devices in order to improve battery life while making devices thinner than ever before.
That way, your smartphone would be 100% charged every time you left your work or home network – or even a coffee shop. With free public Wifi networks opening just about everywhere, we might soon live in a world where our devices are always charged up – even when they haven’t been connected to an electrical outlet in weeks.
Is it possible? Sure. Is it likely to become popular before the end of 2013? Maybe not. But five years down the road, I sure would like to see my devices charging over the nearest wireless network without having to manually plug them into the wall.
Thicker phones with better battery life
It’s easy to dream about a future with no battery life restrictions. But here’s something that’s far more likely to occur: Android manufacturers will stop trying to make thinner devices and instead focus on improving battery life by offering thicker devices with heftier batteries.
After all, the main complaint about Android devices – and all mobile devices – is that their battery just doesn’t last as long as it needs to. Consumers would rather have 10 hours of extra battery life than a case that’s 1mm thinner, and manufacturers will likely start to realize that in 2013.
So, instead of having an Android that is only millimeters thick, you might have one that is 1cm thick and can last for 24-48 hours. What’s more important to you?
Another round of powerful and innovative Android devices
2012 was an exciting year for Android. We saw the release of the best-selling Android smartphone of all time, the Galaxy S3, as well as powerful and innovative devices like the Note 2 HTC One X, and others. In 2013, our favorite Android manufacturers will release another round of updates for their devices. And if these updates are as innovative and forward-thinking as they’ve been in the past, then 2013 will be the best year in Android’s history.
From the Galaxy S4 to the Note 3 and new Nexus devices, we can’t wait to see what Android manufacturers have in store for us this year. And One Click Root will be there to cover it all.
