2013: Talk Gets Cheaper, TV Gets Smarter

Personal technology never stops changing. Some new products and services are game changers, like Apple's (AAPL) iPhone and iPad. Others are clever twists or refinements, like each successive version of Google's (GOOG) Android platform, which gets better and better. Others are bold gambles, like Microsoft's (MSFT) new Windows 8, which hopes to combine both a tablet experience and a traditional PC environment in one operating system. But there's always something new, from large companies and small ones. So here are a few things consumers will likely see in technology in 2013. Many of these began to take shape in the past year, but will be stronger trends in the new year. Another trend I expect to see in 2013 is an expansion of apps and devices that let people wirelessly control many everyday objects, from light bulbs to appliances, using low-powered networks and smartphones or tablets. And we'll likely see more smart devices with such intelligence built in, similar to the Nest intelligent thermostat, which is Wi-Fi powered. These are just a few of the trends likely to mark the consumer tech landscape in 2013. Others will also be prominent, most notably the continued reliance on the cloud, or remote servers, to store content and work collaboratively. One thing is sure: There are certain to be developments that will surprise us all, and can't be forecast here.