JoeKnowTech

At CES 2012, Razer walked onto the floor with something nobody saw coming: a full Windows gaming tablet with integrated game controllers built directly into the sides of the device. The crowd reaction was a mix of "that's insane" and "that'll never work." Over a decade later, it's worth revisiting Project Fiona — because it turned out to be one of the most prescient gaming concepts of the decade. What Was Project Fiona? Project Fiona was a prototype gaming tablet from Razer revealed at CES 2012. The concept featured a 10.1-inch display running full Windows, powered by an Intel Core i7 processor — real laptop-grade performance in a tablet form. On each side of the tablet, Razer integrated controller handles with analog sticks and buttons, creating a device that was simultaneously a tablet and a controller. There was no detachable keyboard, no kickstand — just screen, processor, and controllers. Pure gaming, portable. Why It Was Radical in 2012 In e...

Before Apple Watch. Before Samsung Gear. Before Fitbit became a verb. Sony released a smartwatch in 2012 that most people have forgotten — and that's a shame, because looking back at the original Sony SmartWatch is like watching the first rough draft of a product category that would eventually change how the world looks at wrists. What Was the Sony SmartWatch? The Sony SmartWatch (officially the MN2 SmartWatch) launched in early 2012 as a companion device for Android phones. It connected via Bluetooth and displayed notifications from your phone — calls, texts, emails, social media alerts — on a small 1.3-inch OLED touchscreen. You could also control music playback and use a few basic apps. It was 36.4mm square, water resistant, and came with interchangeable bands in multiple colors. For 2012, that was genuinely forward-thinking design. What It Actually Did Well Notifications on your wrist: This sounds mundane now, but in 2012 it was a revelation. The ability to glance at yo...

In 2012, NFC (Near Field Communication) was a technology that most smartphone owners had never used or even heard of. Sony released Smart Tags — small NFC stickers you could program to trigger actions on your Android phone with a single tap — and I became obsessed with them. Here's why they were brilliant, and why they pointed toward a future most people are only now catching up to. What Are Sony Smart Tags? Sony Smart Tags are small NFC-enabled stickers (about the size of a large coin) that you program using the NFC Smart Tags app on Android. Each tag can be loaded with a set of actions that trigger automatically when your phone touches it. One tap on the tag = multiple phone settings change instantly. Sony sold them in packs of 4, with different colors and designs. You stuck them places — your nightstand, your car dashboard, your desk, your bag — and each location became a context-aware shortcut. How I Actually Used Them Bedside tag (white): One tap when I got into bed tr...