After a 12 months that concurrently felt for much longer and far shorter than 12 months, we have dragged ourselves throughout the end line to 2023. Moderately than bore you with our private new 12 months’s resolutions, we’re as a substitute discussing what we would like tech corporations to perform in 2023 to make this subsequent 12 months higher.
I beforehand wrote about how 2022 was a irritating 12 months for the tech business, with all types of damaging developments that we wish to see reversed. With a attainable 2023 recession on the horizon, there’s each purpose to assume this 12 months can have its fair proportion of issues. However we’re additionally excited in regards to the adjustments, enhancements, and new units that 2023 will deliver.
After pooling all the brains behind Android Central, we have provide you with our 2023 tech wishlist for the way the Android ecosystem ought to develop this 12 months.
Shruti Shekar, Managing Editor: Let’s get again to enterprise and take issues extra significantly
If there’s one factor that I can take away from 2022, it is how corporations pushed folks with unhealthy advertising and marketing to purchase costly, lackluster merchandise at a time of a recession, and never caring in regards to the essential issues like their staff.
Android Central’s Michael Hicks wrote a improbable article about how irritating it has been to see the tech house deteriorate in a method that we haven’t seen in years earlier than. “Main manufacturers like Amazon, Cisco, HP, Meta, Microsoft, and Twitter have shed tens of hundreds of staff in whole, largely citing the necessity to restructure amidst the current financial downturn,” he writes. Including that Meta had the worst of the layoffs. However amidst these layoffs, corporations have been shedding cash into ideas (just like the Metaverse) that will or is probably not profitable. I’d like for that to alter — a lofty want, I do know.
However what I imply by that’s I would love each tech firm on the market to pay attention to how essential these ideas are and weigh them towards the individuals who work tirelessly to make them occur. Be smarter about the way you’re investing your cash and be smarter about not firing divisions throughout one of the economically tough occasions.
Individuals do not care about buzzwords or dramatic product launches; they care about how these merchandise are literally helpful to them.
Talking of economically tough, I’m additionally actually uninterested in corporations pushing merchandise that aren’t even thrilling and are priced so excessive it could require you to get a mortgage to buy. Let’s get critical about this, folks don’t care a few cellphone or a smartwatch if it appears to be like precisely the identical because the earlier 12 months ( you, Apple). Individuals don’t care about buzzwords (immersive, AI, Metaverse), and so they absolutely don’t care about all the cash you threw right into a superbly and exorbitantly additional media presentation. Individuals care about how these merchandise are ACTUALLY helpful to them. Individuals care in regards to the worth it is going to deliver to them. So can we begin releasing merchandise that really appear…effectively…new?
And on that last be aware, I really need corporations to take advertising and marketing significantly. In order for you your product to succeed, CARE about your advertising and marketing and to whom you’re advertising and marketing to. Meaning the language you’re utilizing, the nations you’re advertising and marketing to, and the way in which it’s introduced. It’s not all the time in regards to the influencer who must create a video for TikTok, it’s additionally in regards to the work-from-home mother or dad who has to juggle one million issues.
All that to say is, I feel a very powerful factor that I’d wish to see in 2023 is what’s the actual social objective of those tech corporations. What are you doing outdoors of simply promoting merchandise to generate profits, are you advertising and marketing for folks to really do good on this world, are you being real? What are you able to do extra to make a higher impression in our world, once we know our future is all about tech?
I care about expertise lots. I stay it and breathe it, however one factor I for certain have acknowledged is how a lot tech corporations don’t learn the room. And I hope that in 2023, we see a extra acutely aware effort in altering that.
Jeramy Johnson, Editor-in-Chief: Extra ‘sus’ in tech
No, I’m not attempting to make an Amongst Us reference three years too late; quite, I’m speaking about sustainability. Whereas I applaud corporations like Amazon, Acer, Google, and Samsung (amongst others) for quickly making sustainability a tentpole function of their advertising and marketing and, extra slowly, their manufacturing, I need MORE of this in 2023.
Units must last more with higher repairability in 2023.
Don’t simply make extra of your merchandise with sustainable supplies (I imply, sure, do extra of this), however perhaps make fewer merchandise (when it comes to amount and portfolio dimension). Help your merchandise for longer and make them extra repairable and replaceable (kudos to corporations like Acer, Samsung, and Framework right here). Care for your workforce up and down the provision chain. Use much less wasteful packaging.
One firm that does a improbable job of that is Fairphone. I’d like to see it deliver its round enterprise mannequin to a wider worldwide viewers — particularly (and maybe selfishly), to incorporate North America. I need to have the ability to observe what I preach and help corporations that basically and actually stroll the stroll on the subject of sustainability.
Michael Hicks, Senior Editor of VR & health: Samsung, begin caring about health once more
Once I reviewed the Galaxy Watch 5 Professional, I discovered it spectacular as an Android watch…not a lot as a health watch. When it launched the Galaxy Watch Lively 2 in 2019, its options and software program had been fairly cutting-edge for a mainstream watch. Then it spent the following few years focusing extra on well being options, letting Apple and Google take the lead for informal health tech.
Samsung Well being is a stable basis to construct upon, now that Google has turned its focus to Fitbit Premium, to the detriment of Google Match. I am not asking Samsung to make an equal to Apple Health+, but it surely does want extra strong exercise monitoring instruments for cyclists, runners, and gymnasts. Apple has customized exercises with dynamic pacing monitoring, plus the flexibility to race towards previous map routes — all issues Samsung ought to have the ability to pull off.
Samsung wants to enhance its software program as a substitute of specializing in {hardware} for the Galaxy Watch 6.
I am additionally ready for Samsung and Apple to offer us the equal of Garmin Physique Battery or Fitbit Each day Readiness. They’ve put in a lot effort making correct sleep monitoring figuring out how effectively you slept and the way a lot power you will have. The subsequent step is to inform customers their present power stage primarily based on sleep and health information, then alter each day step and exercise objectives accordingly. However maybe that is asking for an excessive amount of.
Samsung has reached the breaking level for what number of well being sensors it might probably squeeze right into a watch, and it hasn’t even activated its Galaxy Watch 5 temperature sensor but. By the point the Galaxy Watch 6 arrives with Put on OS 4, I need to see precise software program progress, as a substitute of specializing in {hardware} enhancements alone to promote extra watches. Google will not assist because it desires to promote Fitbit subscriptions, so it is as much as Samsung to do the job itself.
Namerah Saud Fatmi, Editor of Equipment: Common equipment for wearables (fairly please!)
We’ve had the privilege to witness a number of pretty wearables make their debut this 12 months. Samsung unveiled the good Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Professional duo, in all of its overpowered Put on OS 3 glory. Google joined within the enjoyable with the Pixel Watch and varied Fitbit trackers. Let’s additionally not neglect about all the brand new goodies from Fossil, Mobvoi, Garmin, and Amazfit in 2022.
As a girl with dainty wrists, I used to be notably overjoyed with the petite (and lovely) Pixel Watch — although most folk weren’t happy with the singular dimension choice in any respect. However, there’s no disputing that the overwhelming majority of Android smartwatches launched this 12 months had been large hits.
Proprietary bands and chargers make the wearable market way more difficult than it must be!
What’s irritating is that every one these improbable smartwatches and health trackers have exceedingly poor help on the subject of equipment. Watch bands are often each dear and proprietary, and the smartwatch charging scenario is horribly convoluted. We’ve acquired propriety chargers that differ per model, generally even per mannequin! *scoffs in disgust*
Between distinctive pin connectors, horrible third-party choices, and costly new-fangled chargers, the smartwatch world is in absolute turmoil. Wishing for common accent help for wearables could sound like a pipe dream at this level. Nonetheless, it’s primary on the checklist of issues that I need to see in 2023.
Andrew Myrick, Senior Editor of Chromebooks, Wearables, and Tablets: Pixel Fold or nothing
It may appear odd that my largest want for 2023 is for the Pixel Fold to return to fruition, provided that my areas of experience are largely elsewhere. However very like our Telephones Editor, Nick Sutrich, I’m nonetheless infatuated (learn: obsessed) with foldable telephones. In the remainder of the world, Samsung’s competitors is heating up, however these of us right here within the States don’t get to expertise many alternate options to the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Whereas I’d like to see the likes of the Oppo Discover N2 or Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 made accessible, we’d have a greater probability of seeing a snowball in hell. We might import them, however it could be much more costly than paying retail worth for the Fold 4. Then, we’d have to leap by way of a bunch of hoops in hopes of getting the Play Retailer to work correctly, and might need to cope with some compromises.
A foldable cellphone with the identical digital camera energy and prowess because the Pixel 7, paired with the spectacular Tensor G2, is a dream that I don’t need to quit.
So as a substitute of praying for one thing that can by no means occur, I’ve set my sights on Google. The Pixel Fold has been rumored for fairly some time, and it appears as if the cellphone will lastly come to fruition in some unspecified time in the future in 2023.
Ever since I acquired my fingers on the Galaxy Z Fold 2, I’ve questioned what a foldable cellphone expertise can be like if Google had been on the helm. I’m already anticipating compromises, primarily as a result of Samsung’s been enhancing the software program on foldable telephones on a constant foundation, whereas that is Google’s first try.
However having the identical digital camera energy and prowess because the Pixel 7 in a foldable cellphone, paired with the spectacular Tensor G2, is a dream that I don’t need to quit. I’m keen to concede that the expertise won’t be as much as snuff, however Google’s current work to enhance the pill expertise for Android apps could be sufficient to bridge the hole and make it one of many greatest Android telephones of 2023.
Oh, and as a bonus, it could be actually good if Google made the Pixel Fold appropriate with the identical USI stylus we’re anticipating to see launched alongside the Pixel Pill.
Derrek Lee, Information Editor: Put on OS coming into its personal
It’s been an fascinating couple of years for Put on OS. Samsung was the one participant with a Put on OS 3 look ahead to practically a 12 months, and at the same time as we finish 2022, there are solely three different OEMs with Put on OS 3 smartwatches, and two of them are powered by good however ageing chipsets. However there are some good indicators that we’re gearing up for the primary actually thrilling 12 months for Put on OS smartwatches.
I’d like to see extra smartphone OEMs like Motorola and OnePlus leap again into the ring with Put on OS.
I talked about this earlier than, however Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chipset seems like one thing to actually stay up for. It’s a massively improved chip over the Snapdragon Put on 4100+, promising higher efficiency and extra low-power modes to Put on OS watches. Don’t get me fallacious, Put on OS 3 runs effectively on the present Snapdragon chip, but it surely feels a step behind the Galaxy Watch working Samsung’s Exynos W920.
We had been anticipating to see a smartwatch with the brand new chip earlier than the top of the 12 months, but it surely didn’t materialize. Meaning 2023 ought to hopefully be the 12 months once we see the primary examples of what Put on OS 3 is admittedly able to on smartwatches not bearing Samsung’s identify or chips. It’s an opportunity for Qualcomm to show that it’s taking this as significantly as Google seems to be.
What I’d like to see is extra smartphone OEMs leaping again into the ring. Motorola launched just a few smartwatches in 2022, however none used Put on OS, and OnePlus additionally prevented Put on OS with its wearables. On condition that these two corporations have a presence within the U.S. market, having Put on OS counterparts would actually increase visibility and present how the OS can actually complement their particular person smartphone experiences.
In Motorola’s case, I’d love for the corporate to take its smartphone technique and apply it to Put on OS. Meaning giving us high-value, low-cost smartwatches that don’t price an arm and a leg, making it simple for anybody to choose one up. In OnePlus’ case, the corporate might customise Put on OS to match OxygenOS.
Additionally, LG could now not be within the smartphone market, however the firm continues to be making tablets. Having produced a number of the greatest Put on OS watches previously, I’d like to see LG make a comeback in some form or kind.
Nicholas Sutrich, Senior Content material Producer: 2023 would be the greatest 12 months ever for VR
I really like my Meta Quest 2. I even love the Quest Professional even though it’s terribly overpriced, and I’m extremely proud of the progress Meta has single-handedly made within the VR market. If it weren’t for the Quest, VR would nonetheless be a distinct segment phase of the bigger gaming market.
However we want competitors. Stat.
John Carmack — whose fame stretches a long time due to his legendary coding work on video games like Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein, to call just a few — simply left Meta after working with the Oculus crew for practically a full decade. He truly joined Oculus in 2013, a full 12 months earlier than Meta acquired the corporate, and ultimately spun out Quest headsets in 2018.
Carmack’s departure alerts some probably massive adjustments at Meta, but it surely’s unlikely that his departure will truly change an entire lot regardless of his strongly worded letter of resignation. In any case, he did beforehand step down from his extra senior position as Oculus CTO in 2019 when he turned the consulting CTO.
I am hoping 2023 would be the 12 months Meta lastly will get some actual competitors within the standalone VR house.
It’s clear that every one is just not excellent at Meta HQ. Given the quite public nature of Carmack’s complaints previously — and even not too long ago — the corporate appears to be like prefer it must work on making its software program and R&D divisions considerably extra environment friendly as evidenced by the truth that the Quest 2 simply acquired a efficiency improve in a single day with only a software program change. I’ve acquired little doubt that Carmack’s departure will not less than be a wake-up name for senior management at Meta.
Greater than that, although, I’m hoping that 2023 would be the 12 months Meta lastly will get some actual competitors within the standalone house. Whereas the PS VR2 launches in simply two quick months, that costly headset nonetheless requires an costly (and hard-to-find) PS5 to function.
I’m hoping HTC will actually ship once they announce a correct Quest competitor at CES this 12 months, one thing the corporate teased simply final week. HTC’s prior standalone headsets have proven actual promise and the corporate’s Netflix-like Viveport service delivers spectacular worth, but it surely’s been coy about releasing these headsets within the U.S. to compete immediately with Meta till now.
Pico simply launched the Pico 4 again in October and is gifting away a whopping six free video games with the headset while you purchase one earlier than January 10. Pico is one more firm that has made stable headsets previously however isn’t committing to a U.S. launch simply but.
Even when each of these hopes don’t pan out, we’re not less than getting the Meta Quest 3 close to the top of 2023. Present rumors recommend that the brand new chipset that can energy Meta’s subsequent consumer-grade headset shall be 100% extra highly effective than what’s discovered within the Quest 2, an essential step for getting standalone VR headsets nearer to the constancy supplied by PC VR or PS VR headsets.
It’s all very thrilling, to say the least!
