Technology products launches that shaped 2015

As 2015 rolls to an end, I have selected a few of techy products that shaped the markets during the year. Of course this selection is selective at best. But one thing is sure: the products are top of the range in their categories.

Oculus Rift, the ultimate gamer’s pal
For gamers, 2016 will be a year they take their game to another level (all pun intended). Imagine being immersed in the world of the game you are playing! Nope, not you just punching those keypads, but actively involved in the reality of the game itself. Yeah. That’s what Oculus Rift headset brings to the table.

Oculus, the virtual reality firm acquired by Facebook last year, said on May 6 that it would begin shipping its Oculus Rift headset to consumers early next year after years of development.

“Today, we’re incredibly excited to announce that the Oculus Rift will be shipping to consumers in Q1 2016, with pre-orders later this year,” the company said in a statement early in the year.

The headset, designed for immersive gaming and other applications, has built a strong following among developers and has won praise from analysts for limiting the motion sickness which affects users of virtual reality (VR) gear.
Gamers, welcome to paradise!

Move over Macbook, Surface Book rocks
How I love Macbook. I used to dream of owning one till Microsoft resurrected itself and dropped Surface Book on my laps. Well, not really on my laps. Could laps have handled the features of Microsoft’s first laptop?

What makes Surface Book rock is that it can be used as a full laptop, while also capable of being detached to become a big tablet. It features a 13.5-inch touchscreen, a huge 12-hour battery life and a Microsoft-designed keyboard good enough to rival Apple’s MacBook. The highlight of it, though, is Microsoft’s crazy snake hinge which allows the screen to be turned around in just about any direction, and even be detached completely.

To be able to make it become a tablet, Microsoft has put all the hardware in the screen portion of the laptop itself, while making an optional graphics ship available for those who want it within the keyboard portion.

At its thickest point it is around the same size as Apple’s MacBook Pro, but Microsoft says it is twice as powerful. Of course, all that power will cost you, with the Surface Book starting at $2295 in its base Intel Core i5, 128GB storage and 8GB RAM variant.

Tesla Powerwalls…you’ve got the power
As I compile this piece, the power distribution company and I are having a serious fight. So, it seems. For straight 10 days, I have had to rely on my generator set for power supply and the DISCO could care lesser. I hope for an end-of-year miracle because this is a fight I can only win substantially if I have Tesla powerwalls. Yes, there is something called powerwall: a technological gift Tesla gave to the world in 2015 sans the annoying sound of generator.

Powerwall is a home battery that charges using electricity generated from solar panels, or when utility rates are low, and powers your home in the evening. It also fortifies your home against power outages by providing a backup electricity supply. Automated, compact and simple to install, Powerwall offers independence from the utility grid and the security of an emergency backup.

Tesla home batteries maximize the usefulness of your solar panels and offer a variety of backup electricity supply solutions. You can even go off the grid and say au revoir to your DISCO.

Apple watch…sleeker than your best watch
It delivers important information when and where you need it. Helps you easily perform everyday tasks in seconds. Instantly connects you to the people and things you care about most. All while keeping precise time. Yes, it’s a watch. But unlike any you’ve ever imagined. It is an Apple Watch.

Apple Watch was the first new product line introduced by Apple, the culture-changing company behind iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Macintosh computers since 2010.

While it has been dogged by poor sales, the features of an Apple Watch have such wowing effects that can only make you wish you have one on your wrist.

You can receive and respond to notifications in an instant; track your daily activity; control your music using only your voice and pay for groceries from your Apple Watch.

With Apple Watch, important information and essential features are always just a raise of the wrist away.