Well, that was new - most promising products
Posted January 24 2008 12:45 pm by zero
Tags: 2007, gadgets, innovation
Innovation is the key that drives this crazy industry of ours, so it’s only fair to honor those who are innovative. PC World has compiled a list of the 25 Most Innovative Products in 2007, and it gives a good overview of some of the advances made over the past year. To this humble blogger, the most important ones are the ones that aren’t just one-off products, but rather the ones that drive a whole field of innovation. Cherry-picking a few off the list:
- Amazon Kindle
This product is great because it has the potential to bring e-book reading to the mainstream. While there have been other e-readers in the past, Amazon’s unique combination of service, via WhisperNet, and huge digital library serve to drive the Kindle to the next level (remind anyone of iPod + iTunes?). Once it becomes a little more cost effective, expect this market to really start flourishing. - Apple iPhone
Apple’s genius combination of great execution and pervasive advertising has struck gold again. While the idea is not new - after all, heavyweights such as Palm, Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and the RIM Blackberry have been in place for years - Apple has served to bump up the stakes and bring this former niche market into the mainstream. Now, everybody wants to be able to be able to check their e-mail and watch YouTube on the go - not just business power users or early adopters. Despite being the new kid on the block, the iPhone has already snatched 27% market share and surged ahead of Windows Mobile. Look for this market to expand much faster in the coming year - especially with Google’s Android around the corner. - Facebook API
Facebook API has allowed users to get a more customized feel to their Facebook experience - always a good way to expand a social networking venture. While some claimed that this opened the door to the corruption of the previously clean Facebook interface, the popularity of the new gadgets is undeniable. Even hardcore Facebook purists will at least have an app like SuperPoke. The customization has also attracted MySpace users in droves and helped push ahead the already budding social network widget industry. Just ask Slide.
What are your favorites?