5 Big Tech Debuts in 2013

Mobile Operating System From Firefox

Google has one, so does Apple. Why not Mozilla Firefox? The popular browser company, which has felt a pinch in market share compared to its Silicon Valley neighbor (and I mean, neighbor--they are next door to each other) Google Chrome, is dipping its toes into the smartphone pool. Claiming it will be cheaper than Android, the Firefox OS might just have a chance: It will support rich content with HTML5 and tap into the hardware in new ways. For example, the OS might control a phone's camera for slow motion recording or quick, successive shots.

Microsoft's Surface Tablet Pro

The tablet with the funky cover/keyboard combo will likely arrive this fall, but the big splash will come in 2013 with the Pro model, which will have a legit Intel i5 dual-core processor. Why is a Microsoft tablet such a big deal? It’s the future of Windows computing, that’s all. Swipes and gestures on the new Metro interface are one thing, but the Office Touch apps might finally make business users pay attention.

Amazon Kindle Phone

Technically this one is still a rumor, though The Wall Street Journal broke the story recently citing unnamed sources. The device might use a 5-inch display that’s similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note or a 4-inch screen that looks like the rumored iPhone 5. Either way, the Kindle Phone would match up nicely with the Kindle Fire and probably will be just as consumer-focused with custom apps for reading books and watching videos. (No photo of this one, but you can look at the Kindle Fire to the left for potential design cues.)

iPad Mini

The infamous 8-inch version of the iPad has wallowed in the rumor mill for months. Now, some outlets are reporting that the device is actually going into a manufacturing phase. The size makes sense, both in terms of how Apple offers multiple sizes for the MacBook line and as a way for the company to fend off recent challenges by Google (with the Nexus 7 tablet) and Amazon (with the Kindle Fire). That's a regular-sized iPad to the left.

Leap Motion

Gesture control on a tablet has been around for years, but this small device takes it to a new level. Leap Motion sits next to your computer and can detect your hand movements with an accuracy of 1/100 of a millimeter. Without touching your screen, you can flip through photos or reach into a 3D diagram and manipulate objects. For business users, the implication could be as simple as this: a way to answer the phone or give a presentation with just a flick of the hand.