Brighthand's Predictions for 2003

Steve · 12-31-2002, 09:10 PM

Read what Brighthand's Ed Hardy and Steve Bush think's in store for the coming year at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Predictions_for_2003

pixelator · 12-31-2002, 09:54 PM

Could you guys perhaps summarize what your predictions actually are? Maybe I'm a tad foggy from New Year's Eve ale, but I didn't really grok much in the way of specific or even general predictions. Amusing banter, tho

b

imported_heov · 12-31-2002, 10:12 PM

although i got the predections from reading the article, as pix said, it might be easier if you bold them in your article, since you bold in other articles...

Nice predictions... I don't know about ppc being based on embedded xp in 2k3.... I think it will stay on CE... people still just want simple PIM and music- not everyone wants to type a report or play a presentation from one. PPC may turn out to be what Palm-size PC was and in the end, fail... too much at once.... better to stick to the basics and get better at those as Palm is doing...

Any predictions from apple

(i just had to ask)

Timothy Rapson · 12-31-2002, 10:33 PM

By now PDAs were supposed to be everywhere. Instead their sales are falling off. Palm is winning by watching their sales drop less than PPC. That can't be good for the overall PDA world.

Why is this? The recession? I think it is because of cell phones. You can get a new phone with a very crisp color screen and camera for $350. Some color screen phones are going for $99 already (with contract.) Of course, you are going to wind up paying more than that with the cost of the contract, but that is not how the consumer sees it. He just sees the $99.

I like my Clie. I could see how millions of people could get a $150-200 Axim, Sony T600+, or some such to use as a portable word processor, game system, music player, Internet connection, and more. But I am not so sure it is ever going to happen. Phones are going to happen.

Hope I am wrong.

pixelator · 01-01-2003, 03:36 AM

It just wouldn't be a thread without a "Palm is winning" comment by Rapson.

b

Vexel9 · 01-01-2003, 11:49 AM

Hey Ed & Steve,

Great article! Reading your conversation was quite entertaining. Ed, no knock Ryan on but you are sorely missed on PIC. It hasn't been the same since you've left.

Steve, good on you for scooping up Ed. He's an invaluable PDA resource!

mas90guru · 01-01-2003, 12:40 PM

Predicitons:

Palm+HandSpring+Danger+RIM Merger.

No way these all stay independents. Having Gee-Whiz technology is not enough.

Palm has the PDA apps
Handspring the Treo
Danger the auto synch and web browsing
RIM the push email.

This will be a perfect combination that will happen unless one of the bigger players (telco) starts snapping up the parts piecemeal.

FWIW

imported_tony_cspc · 01-01-2003, 02:29 PM

The company that acquires/merges with RIM and its technology will win the handheld battle.

I have the 6710 and even thought its PIM apps are less than stellar, screen is still monochrome, I can't listen to MP3s or look at pictures of my kids, it has become my primary device because it keeps me in constant communication with my corporate email, my personal email, and with basic WAP browsing.

It is also incredibly easy to use. Give it to your executives and they ask "how do I get my mail?" you tell them, it'll just show up and you are a hero to them. (Especially if their other option is connecting via PPC to the internet, logging into a VPN, and synchronizing their inbox)

It is an amazingly addictive tool. The fact that they have added a tri band phone makes it an amazing executive tool for global travels

If you don't believe the Blackberry to be a valuable tool, then you have never had one in your hand for a week or so. But add a color screen, better PIM apps, an SD Slot and an MP3 player....oh boy.

mas90guru · 01-01-2003, 02:59 PM

Also take a look at how the T-Mobile Sidekick handles synchronization. Granted it isn't perfect. Everything I enter on that little Sidedick immediately shows up online on the T-Mobile site perfectdly synchronized. And I haven't had to fool with a sychronizaiton cable or turning on my computer.

A killer app is going to be the Palm sized device, with the PALM apps, that does always-on email (push) with web browsing that is fast like the Sidekick and auto synchs like the Sidekick in a Treo like form factor.

Handspring migh actually be irrelevant because I don't think I'd pay just for a pretty handset.

imported_tony_cspc · 01-01-2003, 03:06 PM

The Sidekick still doesn't have a corporate synch solution...so it will be a while before we pull it into our environment. The RIM uses all kinds of security to ease our executive's worries. But in a perfect PDA world, they would both be implemented in to different PDAs...one for consumers, one for corporates....