Happy New Year 2008

Happy New Year 2008!. Ok, it's early in the 2008 and it is always interesting to attempt to forecast out what may occur this year. Last year, I predicted that Google would do something unexpected and they did. Android was something entirely unexpected. Google Presentations was inevitable.

So what does 2008 bring? I think we will see Blu Ray become the HD standard as HD-DVD starts fading away. The reason for this is the Sony PS3. Additionally, just last week Warner Brothers announced that they will no longer support HD-DVD.

Apple Mac OS X will attain a 10-15% or greater market share of personal computers and start making headway in the business sector. This is based on the trend that has been 2007 for Apple.

Linux will become more significant as new devices like the Asus Eee PC, Nokia 810, and alternative ultra portable internet devices based on Linux start being used as the replacement of notebook computers. The mobility, power, inexpensive portable storage, solid state disks (SSDs), ubiqutous WiFi, and rich web applications are making this possible. These new devices have been disruptive in nature and are rapidly becoming the preferred devices.

Mozilla Firefox has attained a 35% market share globally according to Browser Statistics as of Nov 2007. The increase in Firefox usage will continue throughout 2008 and move in the 40% range at a minimum.

New phones using Google Android will redefine smartphones and the ultra portable internet devices market. This will be disruptive to the status quo wireless industry. It will be nice to be able to develop in Java for the Android based devices. What will be nicer is eventually a Firefox browser running on Android. If the services are right, 2008 will be the time for me to get into the smart phone market as user. Up to this point, the Apple iPhone is a step in the right direction. Based on all this, I think Microsoft's Windows Mobile will be the loser.

As they have done in the last few years, I think Google will do something unexpected again in 2008. Apple will refine its products and continue to make cool stuff that everyone wants. Sony will finally get its online 3-d immersive virtual reality business established and leverage the PSP and PS3. Microsoft's market share will continually take hits from all fronts. Java will continue to get larger because of Android, Apple, PS3, Blu-Ray, and just because there has been so much innovation and revival within the Java community in the past year.

Other than that, 2008 will be yet another exciting year of information technology innovation!