A phone for the Facebook junkie, the first Android handset and the next edition of Windows. The year ahead is a busy one for the wired generation. Here’s a preview.

iNQ 1
The social networking phone
This one’s for the Facebook addict. iNQ1, the unofficial “Facebook phone” by British mobile operator 3, is not exactly an eye-catcher but a compact slider. The embedded Facebook app lets you manage your account, send messages, post on walls and view photos from the phone. New messages, pokes and requests sent by your friends are pushed to the phone and can be viewed along with SMS, chat and email, in the message inbox. The phone also merges your phone, Facebook, Skype and Live Messenger contacts. Its 3.2MP camera takes right-sized pictures that can be directly uploaded to your Facebook album via the integrated menu selection.

Windows 7
The Seventh Wonder?
The next version of Windows for PCs promises faster booting and shut-down and will make routine tasks like connecting and syncing devices, Internet browsing and managing a home network easier. And unlike the incompatibility-with-old-applications issue that was a bearbug with Vista, Microsoft is assuring Windows 7 will run on any PC and work with any programme that works today with Windows Vista. With Device Stage, Windows 7 will enable people to get more from the devices they use most often with their PC, such as cameras, phones and printers. Windows 7 will also make it easier to use home audio-video systems and other networked media devices to play music, watch videos and display photos on Windows-based PCs.

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