Shiny and New: 10 Things to Anticipate in 2010

Shiny and New: 10 Things to Anticipate in 2010
by ALONSO DOMINGUEZ SANCHEZ TERUEL
Published: Mon Mar 29, 2010
Let's face it, we live for novelty. The faint hint of new gets us off like nothing else. Be it world phenomena, fashion, architecture or a quirky gadget, we crave the forthcoming and the expectation kills us. Here are 10 anxiously anticipated gadgets, places and events arriving in 2010. We can't wait. Can you?


The Apple iPad
What: A 9.7 inch personal computer tablet, operated entirely by a touch screen
Who: Apple
When: The first generation goes on sale April 3rd
Where: www.apple.com
Why: As with all Apple products, resistance is futile.



Soho House Berlin
What: six floors, 40 rooms, three restaurants and a rooftop pool in a pre-war architectural paragon in East Berlin
Who: Soho House, www.sohohouseberlin.com
When: May 4th (announced)
Where: Torstrasse 1, Berlin
Why: A tan looks better from atop a former GDR official building.



Takashi Murakami Takes Versailles
What: An exhibit by the famed "Japanese Andy Warhol." This will be his first large-scale retrospective in France, which will be in the Hall of Mirrors and the apartments of the King and the Queen.
Who: Artist Takashi Murakami
When: 12 September - 12 December 2010
Where: Versailles, France
Why: Jeff Koons' controversial exhibit at the palace left us wanting more.



Kenmare Lands in Nolita
What: NY's restaurant du jour gives the displaced, grungy denizens of Beatrice a place to call home.
Who: Nur Khan (Rose Bar), Paul Sevigny (Beatrice Inn) and Joey Campanaro (Little Owl) are behind the counter and every A-lister in town on the tables.
When: Now
Where: 98 Kenmare Street, New York, NY
Why: Olivier Zahm, Chloe Sevigny and Anouk Lepere need a new hang out spot in New York.



Alexander McQueen's New Creative Director
What: The eagerly awaited announcement of the fashion genius successor
Who: Officially, no name yet, but unofficially, Gareth Pugh's future is looking bright indeed.
When: Soon, very soon
Where: Keep checking insider blogs
Why: Lady Gaga needs a new oufit, pronto!



Wireless Electricity
What: Exactly that, no more wires
Who: Eric Giler , CEO of WiTricity. Check out his demostration at the TED conference last year, www.ted.com.
When: Rumour has it, we should see the first hint of commercial use by the end of the year.
Where: Eventually every household in the world
Why: Wires are just ugly.



3D TV
What: 3D television, plus 3D glasses, Avatar in 3D BluRay, the works
Who: At the moment, Phillips seems to be at the head of the pack.
When: The first fully commercially 3D TVs should be available by May.
Where: China and Japan have released their own 3D TVs and the West will follow shortly.
Why: Why should geeky 3D glasses be limited to theatres alone?



Masdar City
What: The world’s first carbon neutral city
Who: The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC) and Brit firm Foster & Partners
When: Possibly the end of the year. Though the completion date has been changed several times, so there are strong doubts the project will be completed as scheduled.
Where: UAE
Why: Why not?



Shanghai Comes Out
What: Shanghai’s 2010 Expo will explore the potential of urban life in the 21st century.
Who: 200 countries from around the world
When: 1 May - 31 October 2010
Where: Shanghai, China
Why: According to Shanghai's 2010 Expo website, China owes its successful bid to “the expectations the world's people place on China's future development.“



Seven Billion People
What: World population to hit seven billion
Who: You, me and billions more
When: It's predicted to happen in November, but the US will provide more accurate data after the census in April.
Where: Earth
Why: The 2012 end-of-the-world theorists need more arguments to favour their predictions.