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Buying Guide: Trends to Watch in 2008
Contents
- Trends to Watch in 2008
- Leopard Changes Its Spots
Okay, okay, I know I'm late. Yes, this is the February issue, and I'm just now making my 2008 predictions. But let's face it, unless you're pawing through this issue in the local library (get a subscription, cheapskate) you're probably reading this in January. And January is the perfect time to ponder what's going to happen this year. Why? Because the excesses of the holiday season are over, and it's time to start thinking seriously about how this year will be different. So here are a few things to chew on.
YTO JOINS SEO AS A NOBLE PROFESSION: Search engine optimization began as a naked attempt to game Google, Yahoo!, and others for financial gain. But now it's a respected profession, as necessary for Web development as usability and data modeling. In 2008 YouTube Optimization, or YTO, will emerge as a distinct and desirable skill.
Video is far different from textual content in how it's created, promoted, and consumed. Current schemes designed to drive video virality and pump up viewership revolve around fake message-board postings, paid blogging, and other spamlike techniques. But other emergent video promotion techniques actually help users find more of what they like.
Gaming YouTube will give way to truly useful optimization techniques. And as video becomes an essential part of any Web site (another 2008 trend), figuring out how to get your users to find, consume, and share your videos with ease will become essential. The folks who do it well—and ethically—will be in great demand and should make a lot of money.
VISTA DEATH SPIRAL ACCELERATES: We will see the first service pack for Windows Vista in 2008, but it won't help. The latest version of Windows will remain a bloated, unstable, unappealing, and slow system. Although most PCs will ship with Vista, most users will long for XP. Sure, networking will get better, and maybe the current crop of drivers will improve. But don't hold your breath. By the end of 2008, Vista will be even more despised than it is today.
Oh, and even more bad news for Vista. It'll own a huge chunk of the computer market by December, making it irresistible for hackers worldwide. Expect to see some major Vista nastybots crop up this year—next: Leopard Changes Its Spots >