Technological advances highlighted in summer 2010

When it comes to technology, the summer of 2010 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent history. Newspapers, magazines and the Internet are all abuzz with the latest offerings, and even more impressive gadgets and gizmos lie on the horizon. Below you'll find a list of some of the summer's hottest technology products, all on the cutting edge of the future of tech.

The iPad: Any self-respecting technology list for 2010 starts with Apple's iPad. Steve Jobs and company are once again boldly attempting to introduce a completely new product into the market, but will the iPad be the next iPhone? Released in early April, both critical and popular response has been mostly positive, but it remains to be seen whether the masses will ditch their laptops in favor of the keyboard-less tablet. Not far behind, other companies such as HP, Dell, and even Google have announced plans to develop similar products.

At the moment, Apple is selling only WiFi models of the iPad. On the horizon are 3G models, capable of browsing the Net anywhere 3G service or higher is provided. With bandwidth-heavy applications threatening to slow down everyone's experience on the iPad's 3G provider's network, some are considering waiting until 4G is available for the device.

4G Internet: Mentioned briefly above, 4G Internet by Clear is the next revolution in connectivity. From dial-up to DSL to broadband, wired Internet has continued to increase in speed over the past decade, and now wireless Internet is ready to make the same leap. ClearWireless 4G is available in select markets now, but Internet users should expect the service to roll into new cities throughout the summer of 2010, making wireless infinitely more accessible and convenient.

Location-based social networking: Most people are familiar with Facebook, currently boasting more than 400 million members across the world, as well as the micro-blogging site, Twitter. But for those looking toward the future, location based networking sites like Foursquare, Brightkite, Loopt and Gowalla seem to be what's ahead. Indeed, the social networking giants mentioned above are rushing to integrate this kind of technology into their service, which connects users with friends based on their location, allowing for meet-ups and a little friendly competition.

Online TV: Millions of Americans ditched their landlines in the first decade of the 21st century. Today, it appears that standalone televisions might be primed for a similar fate. Services like Hulu and Netflix have made it possible to enjoy streaming television shows over the Internet on your computer screen. Whether this means customers will leave TV behind remains to be seen, especially considering that 3D TV is looming on the horizon.

The only thing hotter than the temperatures this summer is the slate of new technology available to consumers. Each offers something special, so take a minute to explore which options could improve your daily life, and make your technology experience easier and more fun.

Courtesy of ARAcontent