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Most of us have experienced it at some point: the buyers’ remorse that comes after rushing out, waiting in line, and shelling out our hard-earned cash for the newest gotta-have-it tech that turns out to be a disappointment.

It is an easy error to commit in a world where having the latest tech and being ahead of trends can keep you ahead in life. And with major corporations churning out head-turning gadgets a mile a minute, it can be difficult to know which tech is worth the splurge and which ones you should skip.

2013 has been rife with rumors of tech that looks like it stepped straight out of a Sci-Fi film, but which ones will really be available for purchase, and more importantly, which ones are worth your money?

Rethinc has a list of some of the biggest tech gadgets circling the rumor mill, and details for potential buyers.

iPhone 5s

If you have been holding off on buying the iPhone 5, it might be worth it to hold out a little longer. According to buyersguide.com, if Apple follows its own trends, consumers can expect a new and less buggy version this fall. The 5s will probably be a minor upgrade to the current version. So if you already have an iPhone 5, this one might not be worth running out and buying.

iPad 5

Rumor has it that this model might have a bigger screen and be thinner than the iPad 4. But bear in mind that a bigger screen with less room for a bigger battery could be an inconvenience. Photos leaked in early April of what could be the front bezel of the fifth generation iPad. Some have claimed that Apple is shooting for an October release, but Digitimes claims that potential buyers might see the iPad 5 as early as July or August.

Google Glass

Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt announced that techies itching to get their hands on the glasses of the future can look for them sometime within a year. It is a fair bet that Google Glass will be a pricy addition to anyone’s tech arsenal (early users paid $1,500). So unless you have a use for these already in mind, it might be better to wait on buying.

Amazon Kindle Phone

Rumors of an Amazon Kindle Phone are nothing new. Amazon recently purchased British startup Evi Technologies, further igniting rumors. A new smartphone for Amazon would most likely tap into their existing services, but with details so scarce, even if Amazon announces a Kindle Phone, it might be best to wait until the bugs are worked out.

BlackBerry Q10

BlackBerry announced that the Q10 will come to Canada on May 1^st and the US sometime afterward. Boasting the BlackBerry’s signature physical keyboard, the phone could bring back speed typing. Other than that, the phone does not seem to have any features a user could not get from the older Z10 model. The Q10 could be the phone that catapults BlackBerry back to success, or it could be the company’s last gasp. Unless you have a need for a full keyboard, the Q10 might not offer anything new for smartphone users.

~Lauren Hillhouse 

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This Thursday, Twitter launched its first foray into music with the app Twitter #music. Touted as a way to “surface songs people are tweeting about”, the app allows users to listen to snippets of songs from artists and instantly share what they are listening to.  If a user wants to hear the song in its entirety, they will have to find it elsewhere.

Twitter has announced no plans to make money off of the music itself and with Spotify, Pandora and Rdio already in competition, many are asking what the point is.

It all comes down to advertising. Twitter #music gives users a reason to visit and stay on their site, and also gives advertisers a way to utilize keyword targeting. Fans that follow their favorite artists on Twitter can now hear their latest single. Users can tweet what they are listening to and venues and musicians can respond with advertisements for concert tickets.

Will Twitter #music be able to compete with other music streaming services? The app is already receiving mixed reviews and may not be enough to seriously compete with Pandora, which just registered over 200 million users, and Spotify, which has around 24 million users.

There is no doubt though that the app is stimulating buzz and site traffic for Twitter. With the potential to benefit not only advertisers, but musicians, only time will tell if Twitter #music will amount to more than a 140-character tweet. 

~Lauren Hillhouse

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2006 saw the advent of Twitter. 7 Years later, the website continues to expand and gain new users. In honor of Twitter’s 7th birthday, here are 7 things that happened in the year 2006.

1. Pluto Was Demoted

2. The Steelers Won the Superbowl

3. Justin Timberlake released his 2nd solo album

4. The World Lost the Crocodile Hunter

5. Crash Won Best Picture At The Oscars

6. The Nintendo Wii Was Released

7. And of Course… Twitter Hit the Web

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