Technology Prediction 2014 - +rep for playing

[Chippiewill]

Like previous years, make some technology predictions before CES. Review predictions after CES and then forget about the thread.

Here are the highlights of last year's predictions:

I predict we might be closer to augmented reality devices, maybe some working prototypes although not too sure.

There's the Google Glass, however I think the occulus rift is another very similar device that we're starting to see.

We may see early prototypes for next generation gaming consoles e.g. the new playstation and xbox

We now know, some of us own, about the PS4 and XBone

A feature pack / update / service pack will be released for Windows 8 by the end of the year.

Clearly spot on.

More 3D programming on main TV.

BBC are already moving into this such as showing Mr.Stink in 3D on BBC HD at Christmas.

Not quite. Instead we get backtracking on the TV front with BBC now stopping 3D broadcast.

Last Year's Thread: http://www.habboxforum.com/showthread.php?t=766933


My predictions:
- SSD prices drop again, I suspect to around 20-30p per GB, no performance increases until SATA 4 though.
- Intel skip the year for their tick-tock cycle and just refresh haswell (We pretty much already know though)
- Apple stop using the number convention for the iPhone so people don't confuse them with the Nexus 6
- Windows 8.2 and maybe some early reports about Windows 9
- Android 5.0: Lime Key Pie

[GommeInc]

- Apple stop using the number convention for the iPhone so people don't confuse them with the Nexus 6

Pretty much agree with this. They dropped it for the iPad with the iPad Air. Not sure what they would call the iPhone, or would they simply opt to call it "iPhone" and let customers name further models themselves, referring to new models officially as the "new iPhone" . Maybe Apple will just label iPhones as 'iPhone 2014', for example. An example could be the Nexus 7. It's seldom referred to as the Nexus 7 2, and is simply called Nexus 7 - what model or mk number it is seems irrelevant or unspoken.

Next year is going to be difficult to predict, with companies being either open with their designs and upcoming product launches, or highly predictable e.g. Apple with their product models or OS updates, Google with Android updates.

Predictions:
- Only because there's been some positive light, that BlackBerry may make a semi-decent return of some sort but it will be short lived.
- Tesla will have difficulties with the launch of the Model S in the UK, with the car not taking to UK roads and UK consumers being put off by the price of electricity, the car itself and advances in petrol engine efficiency making them look away at buying fully electric cars. Possibly a few accidents if battery fires are anything to go by in the US - consider the pot holes and what they will do to it (not sure if Tech related, but seems to be included in Tech articles)
- Samsung remodel their business strategy by not having a phone for every occasion (same as what HTC have done in 2013).
- Windows Phone gets a revamp - maybe a better "official" notification tile to attempt to compete with Android and iOS - it seems to be a quiet phone OS lately so it must be due for something

It's really difficult to predict anything :/ 3D is dying. Curved TV screens may become more and more popular if the LG model gets very far.

[FlyingJesus]

Yet another new console with no genuine upgrades but lots of marketing to make people think that loading up 5 seconds faster is worth £500

[Chippiewill]

Forgot to mention, 4K TV prices reduced to a fifth. Probably a ton to be announced at CES along with some more 1440P 27" monitors.

[iBlueBox]

- More of a push in 4K television content but not a lot. Netflix have already planned on showing House of Cards season two in 4K on select devices that can.

- Wild guess but Apple to start using 4K in MacBooks maybe shown as "Retina 2.0" considering the price of Retina MacBooks have gone down to a standard MacBook now.

- Apple to launch two new products the first being a smart watch, the second being a bigger iPad with a 12.9 inch screen.

[peteyt]

Pretty much agree with this. They dropped it for the iPad with the iPad Air. Not sure what they would call the iPhone, or would they simply opt to call it "iPhone" and let customers name further models themselves, referring to new models officially as the "new iPhone" . Maybe Apple will just label iPhones as 'iPhone 2014', for example. An example could be the Nexus 7. It's seldom referred to as the Nexus 7 2, and is simply called Nexus 7 - what model or mk number it is seems irrelevant or unspoken.

I can see this possibly leading to consumer confusion however with people unsure technically which one is which unless they do as you mentioned and put the year e.g. 2014. I don't really see any issues with the numbering at the moment but I suppose as you get to bigger numbers it might be easier to change it.



Prediction wise I see the Galaxy S5 coming with rumours of an eye scanner. I see a lot of mixed opinions if this is true with some e.g. iPhone fans finding it a gimmick and Samsung fans loving it. I don't see any progression in batteries. I know apple and others are working on concepts that will allow phones to charge via movement like some watches use but I think we've got a while to go for this. Like I mentioned last year, I think again more wearable technology e.g. smartwatches will appear with the possibility of the long rumoured iWatch which if it happens will probably popularise wearable technology far more than currently.
I see the steam box/steam OS taking a big chunk of the gaming market. I think it's a big contender and wouldn't be surprised if it pulled both die hard xbox and playstation fans in. I see digital gaming due to the steam box becoming a lot more popular and possibly due to this far more deals occurring.

Also I can see by the end of next year far more homes being connected to fibre optics and possibly a lot more cloud based technologies/services etc. especially UK based, appearing due to this. 4G will be rolled out a lot more but not sure if it will get a large market share for a while.

Oh and more breakthroughs will be done with driverless cars and robotics

[mrwoooooooo]

4k replacing 3d in everything
4k recording in all major phones
smart watches
cloud things
larger SSDs at cheaper prices
breakthrough in wireless power
etc

[mrwoooooooo]

woops i missed ddr4 memory

[lRhyss]

• Wireless/Contact phone/device charging
• Smart Watches
• Projection from screen maybe? Like this but to a much less extent:

[dbgtz]

Steam OS & machines will flop.
WiiU sales will pick up.
4K won't be as pushed as everyone else in this thread appears to believe.
Yearly pumping of new phones by the companies you would expect.