I think that it is safe to say that 2012 is going to be amazing to technology. Finally stepping into the products that have been promised by companies for the last five years, the 2011 IFA conference was full of prototypes that would be released on the market in the coming year. I was drooling then, but now I am beside myself with excitement for some of these unbelievable gadgets that are set for sale in the next twelve months.

There are so many that it is hard to pick just a a few. But these are some of the best that have been confirmed, and there are a couple of rumored devices sure to get your nerves tingling right along with mind.

Toshiba 3-D TV

In 2010, Toshiba announced that they were releasing a line of 3D TV sets that could be viewed without glasses in Japan. This was, for all intents and purposes, a beta stage in the development. They sold fairly well and had some positive feedback, but there were too many glitches and problems for a mass release. Especially on the International market.

Then, this year, they showed up at IFA with their perfected model. The sets work by giving different messages to the left and right eye to create the illusion of depth without the need to wear special glasses. This gives you a 3D effect, straight from the television. While they aren’t going to be huge sellers in their first generation, this signals a definite game changer in graphic technology that has me pumped about the future of TV sets.

Samsung Note

This is an exciting smartphone/tablet that works as a sort of hybrid between the two. Also launched at IFA 2012, it generated a great deal of interest thanks to the “S Pen”. This is a stylus that can be used to write and send hand written text messages and notes, along with other functions that make it unique.. It also has the largest screen you can find on a smartphone, at 5.3″, and some great graphics capabilities. You can use programs like Powerpoint, view full web pages and more.

I anticipate this will be one of the most exciting releases of the year.

Sony Personal 3D Viewer

This is more of an interesting – but probably disappointing gadget. Sony created a futuristic visor you put over your eyes that allows you to get a theater-simulated experience wherever you are. It offers 3D HD capabilities by using two screens, one for each eye. It can also be used for video games to better integrate the user into the experience.

It is a very cool idea, and I am thrilled to see that we are finally getting into a place where ideas like this can become a reality. But until they come up with a more efficient design, this might not take off.

LG’s PenTouch

Apple Airplay began the frenzy, now here comes the competition. This service allows you to connect through your PC on a touchscreen remote, which then transmits content onto your television. It is basically the first Airplay alternative that will hit the market, with a nearly identical design. The difference is that it has nothing to do with Apple, which can only improve it.

Rumors:

There are two major rumors about the year 2012. Those are about the iPad 3 and the Nokia Lumia 900.

The first is, as we all know, the newest generation of iPad. Speculation has been ripe all year about when the third generation would become available, and whether or not it would be so soon after the iPad 2 release. But with the iOS 5 update and the way cleared for more attached to Apple TV and Airplay, a new tablet seems like it would be a logical jump. No official date information yet; I guess we will have to wait for someone to leave a prototype in a California bar.

Second, we have the Lumia 900. Rumored to be one of the latest Windows-based smartphones, there have been whispers about the release for awhile. But now there is some word from Engadget that it might be coming in February. The Lumia is said to have a 4.3″ touchscreen display and a single core 1.4 Ghz processor. Hopefully, it will have a higher number of apps by then to take advantage of.

What gadgets are you looking forward to in the new year?