However, there are many indications that 2020 will be a more exciting technology year. A number of news have already leaked, and here are seven of them I’m looking forward to the most.
Microsoft Surface Neo. A foldable computer with dual screens and a magnetic keyboard. Yes, Microsoft’s new computer Surface Neo is different from most we’ve seen so far – and it’s also suitable as a tablet and notepad.
The launch is expected to take place at the end of next year, and manufacturers such as Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo also have similar products in the works. Maybe 2020 will be the year when a whole new kind of computer is born.
Windows 10X. Microsoft is developing a new version of Windows for dual screens. It has, among other things, a more modern Explorer and a Start button without live panels. Let’s believe leaked Microsoft document there are also plans to use it in mainstream PCs, which would be the biggest change since Windows 10 launched in 2015.
Windows Update. Regardless of what happens with Windows 10X, a “regular” update will come in spring (20H1). It is expected to give us users more power over which updates to install. This is a long-awaited return to the way it was in Windows 7.
5g. In 2020, the new generation mobile network will be launched in Sweden. In Finland, where I often work, it has already happened. Here you can surf mobile without a maximum cap for up to 1,000 Mbit/sec – for around SEK 500 a month. But the really interesting thing about 5g is not the speed, but that the technology makes it possible to connect other than mobile phones and computers.
Foldable screens. This year, several mobiles with screens that can be folded have been presented – and next year we can choose between the Huawei Mate X, Samsung Galaxy Fold and Motorola Razr. As always, the first generation has a crazy price tag and many childhood ailments, but soon the technology will become both mature and accessible to ordinary people.
E-sim. When Motorola introduced the Razr, it wasn’t the foldable screen that caught my interest. I was stuck because the phone only launches with e-sim. There is thus no physical SIM card, only an electronic one. Many smartwatches already use the same technology, and in 2019 all Swedish mobile operators received support for e-SIM. I’m hoping the Razr and others jumpstart the trend – and free us from the antiquated hassle of little plastic cards to hook us up.
Microsoft Edge. On January 15, Microsoft will release a new version of the Edge browser – and what we’ve seen of the beta versions is promising. I think everyone wins if the rather sleepy Google Chrome, which totally dominates the market, gets real competition.