2012 is nearly over and 2013 is about to begin. It’s that time of the year where we start to analyze trends and envision the future of the PC industry moving forward.
So what kinds of new advancements can we expect to see in 2013? How is the computer world going to get better? Let’s find out! Here are our top four tech trends that will continue to emerge as we move towards 2013.

Cross-platform apps

Computer apps weren’t really a thing until Windows 8. There were software programs and desktop widgets, but apps – like the ones you see on smartphones and tablets – didn’t exist on desktop and laptop computers.
Windows 8 brings a genuine app store to the PC operating system. From the Windows Store, computer users can download apps for popular websites like Twitter and ESPN, or they can simply check the weather. It’s a different type of PC experience, and it’s one that will continue to grow in importance throughout 2013.

But as we move towards 2013, a new trend will start to become more important: apps EVERYWHERE. Instead of just seeing apps on your tablets, smartphones, and home computers, you could start to see them on your cars, TVs, coffeemakers, and dozens of other electronic devices.
In short, the world as we know it is about to become significantly more automated. I don’t know about you, but to me, having useful apps on every electronic devices sound awesome and maybe a little frightening.

Hybrid cloud computing

It’s no secret that 2012 has been the year of cloud computing. It’s been one of the biggest buzz words of the past year, and even the least tech-savvy businesses have experienced the benefits of moving to the cloud.
In 2013, cloud computing will continue to grow. But a new trend is starting to emerge within cloud computing: hybrid cloud computing. Businesses have realized that they can experience all of the benefits of cloud computing with none of the downsides by integrating a mixed cloud and local storage system on their networks.

If that sounds too complicated for you, then look at it this way: cloud computing stores data in remote servers. Local computing stores data on servers within the business’s computers. Hybrid computing combines the level of control of local computing with the convenience of cloud computing – features that will undoubtedly appeal to any business.

Better mobile networks

If you don’t have a 4G LTE-enabled smartphone yet, then you’re missing out on the fastest type of data available today. 4G LTE coverage is expanding rapidly across North America and other parts of the world, and with maximum speeds of up to 100mbps, it’s giving our mobile devices power like they’ve never seen before.

Unfortunately, existing 4G LTE networks can’t provide speeds anywhere close to 100mbps. Although the capability is technically there, existing technology can’t quite keep up. Not to mention our data plans – how quickly would you burn through your data plan if you could download at speeds anywhere close to 100mb/s?
In any case, mobile devices have skyrocketed in importance over the last few years, so look for 4G LTE networks – and mobile technology itself – to advance in leaps and bounds as we move forward. And with those advancements, you can expect our smartphones to do cooler things than ever before – and do them in a fraction of the time.

Multi-screen integration across devices

We have so many different computers around our home that it can be difficult to keep track of which device does what. There are computers in our TVs, smartphones, tablets, desktops, laptops, game consoles, remote controls, and plenty of other electronic devices.

As we move towards the future, these devices will become more and more integrated. They’ll work smarter and better together, which should make switching between different devices as seamless as possible. Simply flick a switch and your TV signal could beam to your tablet, allowing you to walk around the home and watch TV at the same time.
We’ve already seen the forefront of this technology with services like Xbox SmartGlass or even the mobile packages offered by many TV service providers. In 2013, look for our devices to work smarter with one another than ever before.