I can't predict that, nor can anyone really. We can take guesses and look at market trends to get an idea, but hey, you never know.
What I do want to know is what direction are we going towards in convergence. It seemed that we were going towards integration of phone, PDA, and media player functions. This has been done, many are happy with this mix. We have cameras on most phones these days, but these cameras are bad for the most part. Lately, I have seen an increase in phones with killer cameras. Are we moving towards leaving the camera at home time?
I have the Nokia N95, I don't use it, but that has nothing to do with the phone. It's a superb phone, has killer add ons, and a wonderful camera. One of the best cameras that I have used on a phone. Recently I caught an article featuring a phone that looked like a camera 1st and phone 2nd.
So, what do we want. A camera/phone integration with a great camera? I don't. I want a decent camera, or leave it off. It's nice to have a "decent" one to catch that impulse snapshot, but I prefer toting around a big camera when I want to take great pictures.
What I do want, is something I have envisioned for a while. I want a phone that is more of a handsfree device. A phone that doubles as my Laptop, PDA, media player, and yes... a decent camera. The size could be about the size of an HTC Advantage. Instead of holding it up to my head, Throw it in the backpack and use a great quality Bluetooth headset.
So, which way do you think we are heading and which way do you want to see us move towards? What is the "put everything else down" integration you are after?
With the recent Wi-Fi flash memory cards for digital cameras, I think there's a shift to focus on making the camera connected, either to send the digital pics stored on the card to another camera, computer, printer, digital printing shop, etc. I think the convergence we have seen that has happened to the cellular phones may be going to the cameras. I think that adding GPS to a camera may seem "out there'" but it may happen some day.
Of course, I want the most functionality with the least amount of weight possible. That being said, I don't like the idea of wasting potential, either. For me, I evaluate my gadgets in two categories:
1 - The gadgets I use every day. (i.e. cellphone)
2 - The gadgets I rarely use, but am glad I have when I need them (i.e. camera)
Until technology allows me to have a single device that can match the quality and battery power of the separate devices, I'll prefer to have them separate (right tool for the right job). Like Chris, I want a decent camera on my phone (You never know when that award winning picture-of-the-moment will come).
Setting that major technological leap aside, I think companies should think about low-cost peripheral augmentations. So, when I want to take higher quality pictures, I can snap a lens add-on to that half-inch cellphone lens and snap away.
However, that opens the door for annoying proprietary device issues...
Well, with Richard's Taser + Mobile Music article, it becomes obvious to me that in the near future, my dog's microchip ID will also sport a realtime tracker that satellites will be able to pickup, along with cellphone so i can call her home when she runs away again.
Seriously though, I really like the convergence of devices, but a heretofore unmentioned problem is that when the camera portion of your device craps out, you will obviously need to surrender your cellphone, your GPS, your music player, your pager, your PDA, your kitchen sink, and your Video-conference device in order to get the camera repaired. Better start getting used to that idea...
It iwll be all about connectivity and convergance.
It it isn't integrated in a housing, it will easily connect to a PAN.
BT handsfree in a car for your cell, will meet remote displays in the car for your devices, so you can leave your phone, pda, pmp in your bag or pocket and still control it via an external display/control interface.
The same for in your home. a intelligent remote that can manage more than just the TV/VCR/DVD... but also your pmp and camera and camcorder
all integration or convergance
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Don't kid yourself's, we'll all have little chips installed into our heads, with tiny speakers inside one ear and a microphone on one cheek, so people can call us directly. No more need for gadgets. Point your finger at the TV and it kicks on.......it'll happen within the next 5 years.
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