So much, though,  has already been written about the impact of the iPod in the tech press in the past few weeks that I shall not say more.  And now Apple is also dominating the smartphone market with the iPhone (despite AT&T’s efforts) and may soon also add the tablet market to the tally with the rumored upcoming tablet.  This second market is still very much in the wait and see category.

And what of Google and social networking, you ask?  This was the decade when Google rose up to challenge the tech giants, becoming one in the process.  Hell, it became a fucking verb!  Again, so much as already been said by others on each of these topics.  I will not comment further here, except only to say the following:  Google will continue to dominate and social networking will march forward, unabated.  Now, to my predictions.  Note, I already made a prediction about the 2010s being the Decade of Google in a previous post.  I have not changed my mind on this, but I will not add it again here.  Consider these 5 additional predictions.  And so…..

1.  Apple’s market share will grow to 15%. Now, as I mentioned above, I am a Mac user and damn proud of it.  I do consider the Mac to be superior to the PC, OS X to be VASTLY superior to Windows, and I generally do not care for Microsoft at all.  But I will say also clarify my membership in the Cult.  I am a Mac Patriot, not a Mac Nationalist.  I do not want the Mac’s market share to become that of Windows.  I like it that those of us who use the Mac are part of a smaller, tighter community.  But I fear our share of the market will grow.  We will never be as widespread as Windows, and that is a good thing.  There are two major factors which keep the Mac so damn safe:  vastly superior code and small market size.  No system, no matter how well conceived and written, is flawless.  And if the Mac’s market share does increase to Windows-like levels, then the black hats will aim their weapons our way.  We stand a much better chance of fighting them off than the Windows Bunch, I know, but that is the kind of attention no computer company wants.  But, I think Apple’s market share will increase.  The iPod and the iPhone are like gateway drugs, drawing in new converts.  So, I predict a market share rise up to at least 15%, maybe a touch higher.  But not beyond.  Just as these other products will bring more people to the Mac, as well as Apple’s cool factor, Apple’s prices will still keep many from taking the plunge.

2.  Cable vs. the Internet. As battles such as this become more and more common place, endangering people’s access to the shows and programming they enjoy, people will begin to turn more and more to the Internet.  And not just the tech-savvy.  Yes, the techies will lead the way, much as we always do, but the public at large will be right behind us, especially as streaming devices such as the Roku Box and  Apple TV become more widely available.  People will tell the cable companies to go frak (Battlestar Galactica reference, for those not in the know) themselves.  Not to mention the popularity of DVD boxed sets.  The only issues with streaming, especially in this country, remain broadband speed and access.  Although access to broadband will increase in this decade, speed is another story altogether.  Still, I think that people will continue to experience their favorite programming more and more online, as opposed to via the cable companies, at least scripted programming; sports remains a work in progress.

3.  Google’s Chrome OS will revolutionize the operating system.  Just not at first. I commented briefly on Google’s OS earlier this year, when Google first announced it would produce one.  I think that Google will succeed with its new operating system, but not as first.  It will only be available on netbooks to begin with, which is fine, since a netbook requires a small operating system footprint.  Also, since the only thing netbooks are actually good for is surfing the web, having an operating system designed to work exclusively with web applications will be a bonus.  More and more, people are living in the cloud, even if they are not yet aware of it, and I do not see that changing anytime soon.  The question is whether or not Chrome OS will ever survive on the desktop.  I think it will compete in this arena eventually, and will revolutionize the operating system as we know it.  Could we be seeing the emergence of leased software?  Living completely and totally in the Cloud?  Look for Chrome OS to give Windows a run by mid-decade.

4.  Everyone and their mother will produce an e-reader;  most will fail. Here we come to one my greatest ironies: I hate e-readers.  I do.  I really do.  I love the actual physical feel of a book.  The cover art.  The smell of the pages.  The turning of the page.  Yes, books are made of dead trees and take up a lot of space (especially in my library) and collect dust.  But I do not care.  I love books.  This is why I have also always hated audio books.  I enjoy the physical act of actually reading the words. When you listen to an audio book, you are listening to an audio book, not reading it.   But anyway, this diatribe aside, I shall continue.  As I said, I think everyone and their mother will introduce an e-reader.  We already have the Sony E-reader, the Nook, the Kindle, books on iPhones.  I fully expect Wal-Mart to introduce an e-reader.  Target might as well.  I would not be surprised to see Dell or HP get in the market as well.  They will all have wireless connectivity.  Each will access a book store of some kind.  And most will suck.  Really suck.  I think it will still come down to the Kindle.  Perhaps the only thing that could potentially challenge Amazon’s wonder device is the much-rumored Apple tablet.  If/when the tablet does come into existence, I think it will provide a much better and cleaner experience, as most Apple products do.  However, the price of the tablet, which most rumors have in the $700 to $900 dollar range will keep a lot of e-reader buyers from buying it.  Geeks will buy it, of course, but the public at large?  We shall see.  The Kindle looks to continue to dominate here.  I think also we shall see a rise in personalizing e-readers; names, sports logos, etc.

5.  Desktop computing will still be with us by 2020. Laptops are cheaper and more powerful, and smartphones are spreading far and wide.  But desktop computing will still be with us by 2020.  No matter how powerful a laptops become, no matter how cheap and fast cellular service becomes, neither will replace the desktop.  Yes, the desktop may eventually be folded into the concept of a house system, rather like in Tad Williams’ Otherland series, but the desktop will remain.  Desktops are still more powerful, still faster, and still better for certain tasks (editing video and/or audio, gaming) than laptops.  And there is no way in hell, at least currently, you can edit video or audio on a smartphone.  I think people will own multiple computers, much as I do (desktop and laptop), and possibly carry a smartphone as well.  But desktops are not going anywhere.

And there you are.  My 5 tech predictions for the 2010s.  I was thinking of also making a list of 5 people I wish would simply go the fuck away, but much peril that way might be.  I would also need a much longer format for such a list.  The world is, unfortunately, full of annoying people.

1.  Fox News. I am sorry, but do people actually believe this shit?  Hey, I have problems with MSNBC as well, do not get me wrong.  Especially with how MSNBC’s masters are so willing to change formats at the drop of a hat.  (Let us remember in 2001, after September 11th, when MSNBC tried to change itself into Fox News Lite.  Then, when everyone realized how much of a moron Bush was, MSNBC changed direction again to become the voice of the liberal opposition.  Speaking as a liberal, I somehow don’t find MSNBC to be the voice of the liberal opposition;  that is what the non-corporate controlled media does.  But anyway.)  Yes, Fox News.  I wish to see it die and go away, and take all of its talking heads with it.  Do people actually buy this crap as news?  Where is Walter Cronkite, who was on the record as hating cable news, when we need him.  Oh, yeah.  Never before have we needed someone like Cronkite so much.

2.  American Idol. The only somewhat interesting bit about this entire show is the very beginning, when the cock-ups and talentless embarrass themselves just to be on TV for all of 3 minutes.  That is it.  Part of my contempt for this show is born of my contempt for reality TV, part of my contempt for pop music.  I love rock and jazz.  Not this crap.

3.  Reality TV. There are many reasons why people have been fleeing the broadcast networks and seeking salvation with the cable networks; more sophisticated content, better writing, higher quality of programming.  Another is the increasing number of inane, moronic reality TV shows that are steadily overrunning the broadcast networks.  And have you seen some of these shows?  The advertisements alone are enough to decrease your IQ!

4.  The RIAA and The MPAA. If you follow tech news, then you know what I mean.  Enough said.

5.  People attacking fantasy children’s and young adult literature. This one is aimed specifically at people, no matter their political affiliation, who want to attack and ban books.  These people tend to be ultra-religious nuts, but not always.  They attack books like Harry Potter (oh no!  magic, friendship and imagination) or the Twilight (oh no!  vampires and teenage angst) or any other popular series simply because they judge them to be “EVIL!”  Please, people.  Whether the book is imaginative and well-written (Harry Potter) or mindless and horribly written (Twilight), the fact is this:  they are getting kids and young adults into reading.  Isn’t this a good thing?  Don’t we want our children interested in books, amassing large libraries of books?  What is wrong with this?  Who cares if Harry Potter is a (gasp!) wizard?  Is that really important here?  What of the major themes of friendship, love and loyalty?  I am sorry, but there is a huge fucking difference between something like Harry Potter or Twilight or the Vampire Diaries and Mein Kampf! Get over it people.  Be happy your children love to read.  That is a good thing.

So, there they are.  My list of the 5 things I wish to see die and go away in the next decade.  A very angry list, to be sure, but a list of things about which I feel very strongly.  Now if only some of them will actually come to pass…..

1.  The world will completely fail to end in 2012. Let us be clear here.  Every culture has had an “End of the World” myth.  And thus far, none of them have come to pass.  I think the 2012 bit will be yet another one.  Put this one in the same category has Y2K, kids.  It is not going to happen.  Unless Sarah Palin becomes president.  And then the whole universe will end.

2.  Pakistan will fall apart. North Korea is ruled by a despot who is very quickly sending his own people back to the Stone Age.  Iran is working on the bomb, and should also be watched.  But Pakistan already has the bomb and massive internal problems.  The government is weak.  Large swaths of the western half of the country are not under governmental control, but instead ruled by local tribes, some of which have ties to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.  And Pakistan has the bomb.  This, I think, is where a major issue could arise.  What would happen if/when the government fails?  And just who would take control and what would their political leanings and beliefs be?

3.  Obama will be narrowly re-elected in 2012. I think Obama will be re-elected, by a narrow margin, in what will prove to be the most expensive and devise election in American History.  The Republicans will put up a ticket of Mitt Romney and Bobby Jindal, which will appeal to the religious nuts on the right side of the GOP and also to the more moderate side of the party.  Romney/Jindal will lose, but look for Jindal in 2016 or 2020.

4.  Google will not be stopped. This coming decade will be the Google Decade, even more than this decade has been.  This was the decade when Google rose to seize the crown from Microsoft.  The next decade will be when Google rules tech and hammers its competitors into the ground.

5.  Printed newspapers will hang on.  For a while longer at least. I don’t think the printed newspaper is going to die completely yet, although it could be well on its way by decade’s end.  There are still a lot of people, though, that either do not know how to access a newspaper electronically or simply refuse to.  Printed newspapers will continue to cling to life, albeit with a much smaller footprint.  Eventually, however, I think the printed newspaper will die, just not yet.  On a side note, I do think that one of the big dailies will cease printing a daily edition and go completely digital.

So, there you go.  5 small predictions for the next decade.  Next I shall list 5 things I wish to see die in the next decade.  Be warned.

1. Brett Favre will not retire until he is seriously injured. Now I love Brett Favre just as much as many NFL fans do, and I still list him, along with John Elway, as one of my favorite quarterbacks of all time.  But I think it probably is time for him to ride off into the sunset.  The man can still play, although his once seemingly unstoppable domination of cold weather games has greatly slipped in recent years, and the NFL has been lucky to have him for the past two decades.  But I do beginning to worry about his health.  At his age, 40, which is damn old for a non-kicker in the NFL, the likelihood of a serious injury occurring is much greater, especially with the amount of physical damage the man has taken all throughout his career.  I would rather see Favre walk away on his own, than have to retire due to injury, like Steve Young and Troy Aikman did.  Unfortunately, so long as he continues to come back every year, I fear the only way which he will finally retire will be through serious injury.  We do not want to see that, Brett.

2. The Jaguars will move to Los Angeles. Giving an expansion franchise to Jacksonville was a huge mistake.  The history of black outs in the area, due to people not buying tickets and the NFL’s insane local area black out rules, have been proof of that.  Hell, the team did not even sell out a home game this season until week 15, when the Jaguars hosted the then undefeated Colts in a prime time game on (somewhat, since not everyone receives the NFL Network) national television.  Professional football is not succeeding in Jacksonville.  Florida football rules all.  The new stadium plan in L.A. beckons.

3.  The Houston Texans will be the team of the decade. A bit of a stretch, yes, since the team has yet to have a winning season since coming into existence in 2002.  But I have always had a feeling about this team and I think it is a feeling that will bear fruit.  If one does not believe me, then consider the previous history of each of the Decade Teams before each team’s decade of dominance in the Super Bowl Era.  The Packers were a power before the Super Bowl and winning the first two only cemented their place.  In the 1970s, however, the Steelers dominated.  Before 1972, the year when the Steelers made the playoffs for the first time,  the Steelers were a laughing-stock team with a lovable, gentlemanly owner.  Since then, the Steelers have become one of the marquee franchises in not only the NFL, but the whole of North American sports  The Steelers were the first team to win 4 Vince Lombardy Trophies.  The Steelers were the first team to win six.  And before all of this?  They were nothing.  Ditto for the 49ers, who owned the 1980s and won at least 10 games every season between 1983 and 1998.  Before 1981, the year the 49ers won their first Super Bowl, the team had not won a damn thing.  They had competed, yes, occasionally, had not actually won a damn thing.  They were, indeed, the second franchise in the Bay Area after the Raiders.  And now?  The 49ers were the first team to win 5 Super Bowls.  In 5 trips.  The Cowboys in the 1990s won 3 Super Bowls in 4 years, but had already established themselves as a marquee franchise by playing in half of the Super Bowls played in the 1970s.  The Patriots, this decade, were another laughing-stock changing everything, much like the Steelers and 49ers.  Before this decade, the Patriots had been to the Super Bowl twice, losing miserably both times, and especially in 1985 to the Bears.  When I first starting watching football, the Patriots were one of the worst teams in the history of the league.  As were the Colts.  Funny how things change, hey?  Anyway, with 3 Super Bowl victories in 4 trips this decade (should have been 4 out of 4, I will always believe) the Patriots pulled a Steelers and 49ers; becoming an IT franchise.  So, yes.  I pick the Texans to dominate this decade.

4.  There will labor issues. With the owners having opted out of the CBA, and negotiations with the Union reportedly not progressing pretty much at all, I think we are in for a decade of problems.  I think there will be a lock-out in 2011, which will result in a much shorter regular season, rather like in 1982, when 7 games were lost to a players’ strike.  I think this will lead to a short-term deal, ending in a strike in the middle of the decade.  I do not think the labor situation will be completely resolved until sometime in the 2020s.  This will contribute to the failure of extending the regular season beyond 16 games, which is a moronic and irresponsible suggestion to begin with.  What the league needs is not more games overall, but a stable labor environment.  One of the biggest reasons the NFL continues to dominate American sports is due to it being on every Sunday, from September to Super Bowl Sunday.  Also, having teams actually show up and, you know, play every week would also be nice.

5.  The NFL will come to its senses and drop games from the NFL Network. Okay, this one is completely wishful thinking.  But it is one that makes sense to me.  The NFL Network’s live coverage of football sucks.  It really does.  Never mind that a lot of people do not actually have access to the NFL Network, the coverage itself sucks.  Horrible broadcasters, horrible introductions, moronic time.  Thursdays.  Really.  Do you know why, NFL, football on Thanksgiving works?  It is only one day a season!  If the NFL deems it necessary to continue broadcasting live regular season games on the NFL Network, then make the games at least Saturday night games.  Not Thursday.  Idiocy.  Sheer idiocy.

So, here are my predictions of the NFL for the coming decade.  Shall any of them come to pass?  We shall see.

All that being said, I have decided to “resolve” to blog more.  As in a lot more.  As in a lot more than just a random post every eon or so.  Thus, starting with the New Year, I am “resolve” to blog at least once a week.