Buzz Out Loud Lounge: 2008 predictions

do all cameras

I predict that digital cameras will reach a stage of competence that enables them to provide music, take pictures, and handle data and voice at a level equal to the stand alone devices people use now. My Samsung Sync already stores 2 gigs of music on a micro SD and a 4 gig card just came out. The quality of the sound via speakers or phones is unbelievable for a device of that size. The photo taking ability is very limited with a 2 meg capacity. Once the photo function improves to that of say a 4 meg camera with some of the camera's features, the phone will replace my Kodak Easy Share for general photo taking. For specialized photos such as birds at a distance for example a competent zoom with image stabilization will still be necessary.
Data transmission needs to improve and flexible menus will all help make the phone an all in one device .

Fewer will enter Software Engineering Tech/More shall leave

I think the trend in 2008 will be the realization amongst tech executives, and CTO's in general, that the young are avoiding IT/Soft. Dev. like the plague because of the outsourcing and H1B initiatives. Nobody wants a dead-end carear.

I also believe a noticeable trend of senior level developers and architects leaving the field for MBA's and management positions. Simply put, the United States Corporate culture does not value technological degrees and believes engineers are a commodity. You can earn more with an MBA and two years experience than you would as a 20 year software architectural position.

I hope corporate America is correct in that it can find talent overseas because they sure wont find it within the United States and talent from overseas wont be allowed within the borders of America which leads to the last prediction. The H1B program will not be expanded at all by Congress. It is radioactive with the American public and the tech industry lobbyists don't seem to realize this.

wireless connectivity for businesses will drop

To many things in our environment cause wireless devices to jam up.

Businesses are being picked clean of their private customer data due to problems with security which is being further weaken by easy access of wireless connectivity.

I predict that more and more functions of high security connectivity will move back to a wired format until true control of data encryption can be put in place and wireless LANs have a truly functional way to keep unauthorized persons out.

Beyond the Minds Eye

This will be the year of the GNOME and huge leaps in Gene technology. After the Democrats win the 2008 election , they will grant Scientists full stem cell research and Universities all over the US that have had their research grants sacked due to a bankrupt nation, will be given the funds they need to discover what the naked eye can't see and certainly Bush's naked mind. Um hum. I think we will see a lot of video rental stores closing this year. Netflix will release it first true video on demand network that allows people to download movies to their FOB and consumers using the USB on their LCD TV will be able to view movies at home. Maybe Apple will profect their iTV and users will be able to download movies to their computer and iTV will suck them in wirelessly to your TV as the iTVPort. Hopefully this will dawn the age of commercial free TV. AMC will monopolize the movie screen business ... all the small private movie theatres will be consumed. Apple will re-release their i-Book, competing with Amazon and Sony's ePaper books. ePaper will also replace all newspaper print ... it is 2008 why are we still using paper or wasting it. All you hedge fund soybean investers will be happy Detroit will announce a commercially available car that runs on soybean fuel. The US will be developing a wireless grid on all the highways to prepare for the first hands free self-drive vehicle. This program will be funded by Google, with Virgin timing in, to create hovering verhicles that seamlessly never break, in use yes air to fuel the vehicles. Other automotive companies will adopt BMW's Hydrogen 7 technology as BMW teams up with an Asian Automaker to release an affordable hydrogen car. Companies will wake up to the realization that you don't have to pay someone to come to work 5 days a week, for 40 hours to work on a computer, and instead move the workforce home. The work from home program will become more of a reality, companies will save 10's of millions of dollars and instead of building huge ugly tower buildings will build virtual companies. The work at home employees will be given 3 month vacations to spa's, free fitness memberships, and brain therapy to keep their bodies and minds tuned. Beer and wine taps will be fueled by beer and wine tap networks, simply order your Beer or Wine of the month, and tap your cool bubbly at the press of a button. Bottle water will become more and more expensive, as a hot summer will create reductions in a state wide water table. Rising water levels due to continued melting glaciers will result in Venice disappearing from the map.

Predictions

1. Mac OS X will continue to whittle away at Windows' market share.

2. The iPhone will the device of the year, with developers dramatically expanding it's capabilities.

3. Many will upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows XP.

4. Linux will not gain any significant ground.

5. The Zune will continue to suck.

6. John C. Dvorak will continue to get it wrong.

7. Apple's new sub-notebook will be a hit.

8. iTunes rentals will be successful.

9. The Beatles will come to iTunes.

10. UMPCs will continue to go absolutely nowhere.

11. Apple will back BluRay. Format war may end.

12. Mac market share will top 15% or greater.

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