The improvement and up-gradation of technology is a continuous process and we see a number of products launched with updated technologies. Last year, 2008, saw the launch of the EEE PC, the  MacBook Air, Nokia E71, etc. This year seems no less promising. Let us take a look at the technologies  that are bound to make a stir in the market this year.

Cellphones: Rising Third Party Applications

2008 saw the launch of iPhone 3G, Samsung's Omnia, Innov8, the Xperia. Is something really left to improve in the mobile phone space? Phone display resolutions are piercing the netbook territory. Most smartphones are likely to come with 640 x 480 displays. A lot of graphic improvements are likely to come, but that is really worrisome for the battery life. Camera resolution, storage, processors and other regulars will see the standard jumps. What is going to accelerate in 2009 is third party phone applications, especially the ones working closely with GPS and location-based services. Most of the cellphones will incorporate GPS, and the trend of preferring them to standalone GPS devices have started.

Notebooks with Colors & Technology

Notebook or Netbook? Which is really creating buzz is difficult to say. Every PC manufacturer released a netbook last year to allure the growing user segment. They are capable of doing everyday tasks, easy to carry, and don't loosen your wallet in these troubled times. After sorting out the size and functionality, this year is the time for design and reduced prices to gain prominence. The prices are expected to drop by 10-20%. Sleeker designs, snazzier cases and the plethora of color options will be in demand. Next on the demand will be notebooks with LED backlighting technology. They are lighter & thinner than traditional screens, consume lesser energy, save almost 10 per cent energy, and do not use mercury. You might expect to see the combo dedicated graphics cards and on-board graphics in laptops. It will provide you the option to switch between graphics power and battery stamina depending on the need.

Home Entertainment
After the LCD wave completing a full circle in 2008, 2009 is the time for Full High Definition. Full projectors and HD TVs are capable of displaying all 1920 by 1080 pixels of movie or gaming goodness in all of its sheer visual splendor. In demand will be TVs with energy saving LED technology and ultra thin LCD TVs. In the wake of digital media downloads and piracy, Blu-ray prices needs to aggressively cut down and that would help stimulate some demand.

Personal Media Players

Cellphones have bragged the status of personal media player and that is a real threat to the iPod. Not so is the case currently. 2009 will see the current crop of LCD screens being replaced with OLED screens. Organic LED provides better battery consumption, higher resolution, and better viewing angles. You might also see some connectivity options, like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, incorporated with some of them. Innovation such as the Nike+iPod integration will be the need of the hour as they extend the capability of the device.

Green Hardware & Technology
Green hardware is flooding the market these days. Last year saw some real green developments, from bamboo hard drives to solar gadget chargers. The focus this year would be on environmentalism across the mainstream industry, from reducing dependence on heavy metals and hazardous chemicals to broader recycling programs. Big player like Apple's latest iPod and notebook launches emphasized their environmental consciousness, and other manufacturers are likely to follow the same.

Cloud computing still a way to go
One of the most hyped and awaited developments. It might be still its early days but cloud computing is the one thing that major players are seriously looking at. It is the sign of changing software trends. The operating systems will be online and there would be no need to buy a computer with pre-installed operating system. With the help of this technology, you can boot the always up-to-date operating system of your choice straight off the Internet.