Monday, July 30, 2012

trend spotter

The future is around the bend, out of sight. The trend of the road on this bend is a right curve but unless you’ve been down this road more than twice, how do you predict the next change in direction.

Time and money is spent everyday on the task of trend spotting. Knowing what the next big thing will be, can make you some money. Blogging was even a trend once.

I’ve been surprised by many trends, from tattoos to twitter. I’m no trend spotter. My prediction of coming out of this bend in the road onto a nice straight gradual climb could be totally wrong. Instead I will find myself skidding into the bridge-out barricade.


Smartphone usage certainly became a trend in recent years. Do you remember back at the turn of the century (why does that sound like I’m referring to 1900? The last turn was 2000) and the market for the PDA (if you forgot or just missed it - Personal Digital Assistant)? It looked like a trend back then. It didn’t last. Many of the functions moved into smartphones. One feature that worked well on my Microsoft PDA was the handwriting recognition. I don’t understand why that stylus writing technique doesn’t show up in smartphones.

The reason I started rambling on about trends (rambling is not a trend but a habit of mine) is I just read an opinion that said DVDs are out and streaming will replace DVD watching. I don’t think so. My Blue-ray player is not that old and I sure hope to watch more movies with it. However, I have used the streaming feature on the player too.
 

What do I know, I often play music on a CD player.


16 comments:

Rebecca said...

I just bought a car that has a cassette player. Not sure the kids know what it's for but I plan to mess with them a bit because life is too short not to try and fool them that it does something.......but what?

jnoragon said...

By the time I need something, it's no longer carried by any store. I just activated texting, to keep in touch with my granddaughters. On my flip phone. My granddaughter's phone has a keypad. My phone battery is failing and no store carries the battery. It's being shipped by Amazon. I don't spot trends any faster than your average dinosaur.

unknownmami said...

My friend went to buy a new Apple computer and the new ones don't even come with a CD/DVD drive.

lisleman said...

If they are young enough for the Santa stuff you could tell them it also records their behavior in the car for Santa.
thanks

lisleman said...

Dinosaur trending - great name for a company.
thanks

lisleman said...

I know the new sleek thin Mac Air didn't come with any CD/DVD drive. Also the I-pad doesn't have one. I understand the I-pad not having it but I think CD/DVD drives are the best way to load software and save photos.
thanks

unknownmami said...

I'm with you, but my friend said that she couldn't buy the newest MacBook (not the Air) because she wasn't ready to say goodbye to CD's or DVD's.

lisleman said...

after I wrote my reply I went to the Apple site and you and your friend are correct. The newest MacBook does not have a CD/DVD drive. You can get one to attach but that's not the best way to go. Apple still has two models with the drives but if this is a trend than it might not be long before that's history. I sure hope USB connectors stay around for a long time.

Tami Miller said...

Friends of ours just showed us how to hook up our laptop to the TV. We can now view shows or movies we bought through iTunes on the TV. I like the idea of not having a bunch of DVDs on a shelf. It's easier to chose what you want with a click of a mouse.
Having said that, I don't think DVDs will be going anywhere soon.

Tami Miller said...

really? In my opinion I think it's too soon to go without that feature.

lisleman said...

Thanks - It does matter if you plan to buy the DVD or just rent it. Owning the movie makes sense for young kids because they can watch the same movie 50 times. Renting makes more sense to me. I always enjoyed the extras on DVD especially if they had outtakes or making the movie clips. "Something about Mary" has great extras. You are not going to get that streaming.

Bearman Cartoons said...

What is that cool tricked out bug?

lisleman said...

well I think it's a long way off before it's a trend but that is a flying car. Check out the Terrafugia site.
thanks

lisleman said...

I agree - the history of VHS, cassette tapes, etc. has me wondering if the DVD will stay. I sure hope so. It can hold a vast amount of recording. We transferred some home movies on to DVD a few years ago.

Tami Miller said...

How did you take VHS and out them on DVD? I no longer have the camera because they broke. I have tons of tapes though!

lisleman said...

A few back our son had a dozen or so tapes transferred over by a service as a present to us. Very nice present.

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