10 technologies on their way to the scrap heap
Article Link
Angela Mulholland, CTV.ca News
Date: Friday Dec. 31, 2010 7:10 PM ET
Remember the old days when the whole neighbourhood gathered to stare at the first VCR on the block? Remember the VCR?
These days, personal electronics technology moves so fast that even the most sophisticated, tricked-out gadget sold this holiday season will look like the equivalent of an outmoded rotary-dial phone by next year.
CTV.ca, along with technology expert Kris Abel, looked at the electronics and gadgets that are being pushed into obscurity by smarter and snazzier devices. Here's our list of Dead Tech Walking:
1: Camcorders and compact cameras
Sales of camcorders and pocket cameras have been plummeting in recent years, as BlackBerrys and smartphones take their place. And why not, when cellphones can come with 12-megapixel cameras that take snaps almost as good as what a pocket camera can do?
As for camcorders, digital cameras began eating up that market years ago; now smartphones are going further. There are also now tiny video cameras that you can wear on your ear like a Bluetooth device. Some even double as a Bluetooth, and can connect to your smartphone.
True, the options and capabilities of the cameras in our phones are not as sophisticated as a digital SLR or camcorder. Their storage is also limited, as is their battery life. But you can't beat a camera that you can just slip into your pocket -- or use to call your friend. And with phones continuing to evolve, their ability to take pictures will only get better.
2: iPods and other portable music players
Just like cameras and camcorders, smartphones are taking over the MP3 music player business too. Even Apple has become a victim of its own success in a way, as sales of its iPhone and iPad are sucking away sales of its iPod music players. IPod sales peaked in the U.S. in 2008, one year after the iPhone emerged, and have been dropping ever since.
Some suggest that with their low price point compared to a smartphone, there is still a viable market for iPods. That's likely true, but with the music industry changing every month, we won't be surprised to see the iPod completely pushed out soon.
3: Discs of all kinds
Remember those AOL CDs that used to come in the mail? Remember CDs? These days, CDs aren't good for much except as shiny coasters or rear-view mirror decor. As the plummeting sales at HMV and other retailers attest, iTunes and pirated online music killed the CD years ago.
The DVD is likely not far behind. More and more movie lovers are ordering their movies from on-demand services like Netflix.
"Although video games and HD movies will keep discs on life support for a few years yet, an empty spot has already been made for them in the past, right next to audio cassettes and 8-track cartridges," Abel says.
4: GPS devices
If you haven't yet jumped on the GPS bandwagon but are finally ready to do so, don't bother. Smartphones are about to make the external GPS navigation device obsolete. Industry experts say smartphones have already stolen away a lot of the GPS market, especially since Google introduced Android, an operating system that extends Google Maps to phones. Nokia, too, began giving away its own navigation software, Ovi Maps, this year to its smartphone users.
More on link
Article Link
Angela Mulholland, CTV.ca News
Date: Friday Dec. 31, 2010 7:10 PM ET
Remember the old days when the whole neighbourhood gathered to stare at the first VCR on the block? Remember the VCR?
These days, personal electronics technology moves so fast that even the most sophisticated, tricked-out gadget sold this holiday season will look like the equivalent of an outmoded rotary-dial phone by next year.
CTV.ca, along with technology expert Kris Abel, looked at the electronics and gadgets that are being pushed into obscurity by smarter and snazzier devices. Here's our list of Dead Tech Walking:
1: Camcorders and compact cameras
Sales of camcorders and pocket cameras have been plummeting in recent years, as BlackBerrys and smartphones take their place. And why not, when cellphones can come with 12-megapixel cameras that take snaps almost as good as what a pocket camera can do?
As for camcorders, digital cameras began eating up that market years ago; now smartphones are going further. There are also now tiny video cameras that you can wear on your ear like a Bluetooth device. Some even double as a Bluetooth, and can connect to your smartphone.
True, the options and capabilities of the cameras in our phones are not as sophisticated as a digital SLR or camcorder. Their storage is also limited, as is their battery life. But you can't beat a camera that you can just slip into your pocket -- or use to call your friend. And with phones continuing to evolve, their ability to take pictures will only get better.
2: iPods and other portable music players
Just like cameras and camcorders, smartphones are taking over the MP3 music player business too. Even Apple has become a victim of its own success in a way, as sales of its iPhone and iPad are sucking away sales of its iPod music players. IPod sales peaked in the U.S. in 2008, one year after the iPhone emerged, and have been dropping ever since.
Some suggest that with their low price point compared to a smartphone, there is still a viable market for iPods. That's likely true, but with the music industry changing every month, we won't be surprised to see the iPod completely pushed out soon.
3: Discs of all kinds
Remember those AOL CDs that used to come in the mail? Remember CDs? These days, CDs aren't good for much except as shiny coasters or rear-view mirror decor. As the plummeting sales at HMV and other retailers attest, iTunes and pirated online music killed the CD years ago.
The DVD is likely not far behind. More and more movie lovers are ordering their movies from on-demand services like Netflix.
"Although video games and HD movies will keep discs on life support for a few years yet, an empty spot has already been made for them in the past, right next to audio cassettes and 8-track cartridges," Abel says.
4: GPS devices
If you haven't yet jumped on the GPS bandwagon but are finally ready to do so, don't bother. Smartphones are about to make the external GPS navigation device obsolete. Industry experts say smartphones have already stolen away a lot of the GPS market, especially since Google introduced Android, an operating system that extends Google Maps to phones. Nokia, too, began giving away its own navigation software, Ovi Maps, this year to its smartphone users.
More on link
