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8bit Joystick.com's Predictions for 2005
Here are my predictions for 2005.
Media
The FCC will finally allow Ala Carte cable TV access but they will let big media get even bigger. People will get more and more of their news from the Internet and the line between national and international media outlets will grow non existent. The end of The Simpsons will finally be announced and the new Ren and Stimpy show will be a big hit. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy will be the surprise movie hit of the summer. Star Wars Episode III will not suck because Jar Jar Binks will die in it.
Tech and the Internet.
Customers will get more aware of DRM and will voice their concerns with their pocketbooks. People will turn to open systems and formats over proprietary DRM restriction based formats. Mozilla Firefox will grow to over 20% browser usage. Copy restricted audio CDs will be introduced into the US marketplace and they will be resisted and eventually dropped in favor of old fashion CDs. More places offering Wifi will figure out that it can be more profitable to give away than try to sell access. People will finally realize that Cell phones will not make you cool and there will be a large class action lawsuit over the dangers of driving while on a cell phone.
Apple
Apple will sell a hell of a lot of sub $500 iMacs to PC users who are fed up with the security holes of Windows based PCs. The Macintosh will finally get a really good port of OpenOffice.org and Macintosh games will get pretty good. Apple will make PVR Mac OS X based media player device.
Microsoft
The Xbox Next will be out in extremely limited numbers in Christmas 2005 but there will not be any good games until mid 2006. Corporate customers will get cold feet over Windows Longhorn due to the demand for new hardware and trusting MS on a totally new security concept.
Nintendo
The N5 Revolution will have a hard drive, Xbox Live style on line networking, Backwards compatible with the Gamecube will act as a wireless networking hub with the Nintendo DS and the Gameboy Evolution.
Sony
The PSP will be a big hit but the battery life problem will be a major concern. Third party battery solutions will be bigger than Gameboy Advance lights. Penny Arcade and PvP will make tons of jokes about it.
Game systems
N-gage will be discontinued. The PS3, Xbox Next and N5 Revolution will all be unveiled in the same week at E3 but they will not be out until 2006.
National Issues
Outsourcing, inflation, deficits, lack of health coverage, and currency devaluation will be major problems facing the US of A . Iraq will still be a bloody violent mess in 2005. The Internet will allow the progressives from all over the world to communicate and collaborate internationally. The European Union will grow much more influential on the international stage. There will be no big cross party reconciliation and political divides of 04 will remain just as heated through 06 and 08. This is a country of eternal progress and rebirth. Things will probably get worse before things get better but they will on the long time line.
Personal
I will probably move in 2005 and grow up a bit more and turn 28. The Kitties will continue to be furry and picky eaters. I will upgrade this site to MT3.
Jake at January 2, 2005 
Rants
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Comments
Dude, these aren't predictions--some of these are already happening (ex: PSP battery life, etc).
Also, why do ALL of your blog links link to wikipedia? Kinda lame...
Posted by: joe at January 2, 2005 7:31 PM
Because I like the Wikipedia. It is often more informative than an official website especially for items that do not have official sites
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at January 2, 2005 8:46 PM
Because wikipedia is the sole-source solution to evrything HIP! Isn't that COOL Joe?!
You too can be "hip". all you must do is log on to wikipedia.ORG and tell those corporate B*stards to shove it!
Heh. I love it.
Posted by: pete at January 2, 2005 9:16 PM
The Wikipedia is rapidly updated and evolves when new information is out on a topic. It is also quick and efficient when trying to explain a topic like DRM. Since it is free to use under a GNU license you can quote it with no problems. There are no ads and the pages age well since they don't turn into 404 dead links after a month.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at January 2, 2005 9:48 PM
be careful what you wish for - IT MIGHT COME TRUE.
although I have to say: most of your "predictions" will not become true.
Posted by: Jim at January 3, 2005 12:32 PM
Jake...you are getting a lot of negative comments recently. That is interesting.
I have a prediction for you...
Napsters new service will eclipse Itunes.
Although I love Itunes and it is a really good service...Napsters service is going to be 14.99 a month and will allow you to download 10,000 songs a month for that paltry fee.
If you have broadband, you will be like me...signing up.... and downloading SH*TLOADS of music onto my cheap, external, USB Hard drives.
(yeah that is plural HARD DRIVESssssss)
I am setting up a network of drives exclusively for music and video.
Then...if I choose to...i will simply delete my account on Napster at the time of my choosing.
Napster is getting really good press and they are able to get the word out on thier new service for free through the media outlets. That is something that Itunes has not been able to do. They have to buy media time through commercials. That gets expensive. This is a trend that could be very interesting technologically.
Napsters library is very extensive and i could pick and choose which service to use when I want to if I cant find a song on Napster...I will just bite the bullet and pay a buck for an Itunes song that I can't find on Napster.
Then...I simply port that music into my Itunes library and continue to use it for organization...which is its biggest strength. Well, that...and its beatiful visuals.
That is my prediction so you folks can call me wrong if i am wrong.
Later...
-Pete
Posted by: pete at January 3, 2005 11:05 PM
Napster is selling DRM protected WMA files while Apple is selling their own DRM protected ACC files. If you have a WMA enabled player then you are much more likely to use Napster but Apple has the most popular portable digital music player so they have a built in audiance for selling music via iTunes.
My question is will you still be able to access the music files you download after you cancel the napster account. Are the all you can download music actual purchases or just rentals that can only be unlocked while you are a paying customer?
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at January 3, 2005 11:59 PM
"Macintosh games will get pretty good".
Haahahaha haha haaha he he he....hahah ahaha ha.
No but seriously they were always good, well, the five best selling titles they port across from PC every year.
Posted by: Kyle at January 5, 2005 3:59 AM
I am serious. I was a die hard mac only user from 1984 to 1999 and I tell you things were bleak and dull when it came to game and Mac users have in a hundred times better today then they did a decade ago. The Mac does not need every game just like it does not need every application but it has enough really good games to keep the mac users happy but If you are a Mac user who is an absolute die hard gamer then I would get an Xbox to go with your iPod. Hell it all used to be Myst and Marathon on the Mac.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at January 6, 2005 12:33 AM
Is Apple really going to sell a $500 computer that runs OSX ?
Posted by: Kenny at January 6, 2005 11:26 PM
A lot of people think so. Apple is now suing ThinkSecret.com that leaked the story so I would think it is pretty true. We will find out at Macworld. I think it is next week.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at January 7, 2005 12:20 AM
