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A Christmas Wish List for Mobile Geeks and Tableteers

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As always this isn’t a list of gadgets, geegaws, accessories, or Apps. This wish list is about things I’d like to see happen in mobile tech in general. As always I’m an impatient old elf and would prefer to see movement here sooner rather than later.

Here are links to last year’s wish list as well as 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006.

  • Now that we’ve gotten past the “everybody needs to market a Tablet right now” phase and are moving into phase that determines who is really going to compete in this sector, I’d like to see the manufacturers acknowledge that there really isn’t that much difference between their hardware and ecosystems, so we can all move on from the ridiculous lawsuits.
  • I’d like to see Amazon continue to move the Kindle Fire platform forward and become a real player in the mobile and Tablet sector. They have the resources to compete on the one feature that will drive things the most: price.
  • I’d like to see Google really focus on the Tablet space with Android. Honeycomb was a farce visited on us by folks who know better. Let’s hope Ice Cream Sandwich yields a better effort when those “high class” Tablets debut in June.
  • I’d like to see the pace of releases slow down enough so that early consumers aren’t forced to deal with v1.0 issues or greeted with an immediate update.
  • 4G is coming. It’s here in some places. When it works. Great. Now, let’s get some mobile gadgets that can actually use it without depleting the battery so quickly. I’m tired of the one step forward, two step backwards game.
  • Truth in advertising. Is that concept dead, or should we resurrect it?
  • I’d like to see Siri and whatever Google’s answer to that (Majel?) will be really get some laser focus for future development.
  • Apple’s iCloud is full of promise. So are politicians. Until Apple makes iCloud work seamlessly with its desktops and laptops, it’s not even a Beta. The fact that this is a cloud service with out some sort of easily accessible photo storage is laughable.
  • GMail needs to live up to Google’s promises about speed and reliability. I know the push is on social at Google. But I’d rather have reliable and dependable access to email than social features.
  • Let’s have some honest discussion about media streaming, online backup, always-on connectivity, and bandwidth caps.
  • I’d like to see Microsoft really succeed with Windows 8 and what that means for Tablets. I fear it will only partially do so, and that won’t be enough. But I’m hoping I’m wrong.
  • I’d like to see Microsoft’s Windows 8 Tablets bring about a resurgence of Ink Enabled Apps.
  • I’d like to see some acknowledgment from Microsoft that OneNote is indeed a Killer App.
  • I’d like to see the mobile tech and gadget industry move away from the horrible trap it has built for itself with a focus on early sales numbers. First weekend numbers are great to announce, but I’m not sure it is accurate barometer of anything other than first weekend numbers.
  • In fact, I’d like to see the “horse race” for numbers about Apps and activations and whatever become less important.
  • I’m hoping that Rumor Blogging dies a quick and sudden death. At least for rumors that mean absolutely nothing. Yes, company X will be releasing a new version of product Y. Only morons don’t know this to be the case and continuing to ginny up hype about this kind of common sense rumor only shows how little you think of your audience.
  • It really is time for a single sign on that cuts across platforms, business models, and cuts through the nonsense.
  • It is time to admit that there privacy on the web is just an illusion.
  • I’d like to see RIM’s two CEOs step down. RIM needs to be shaken up badly and not just for having drunken employees misbehaving on planes.
  • Thunderbolt. Whoopee! Call me when there are consumer level devices that work with it.
  • As we move deeper into the battle for the living room I hope that at some point we see some forward thinking by the content controllers that acknowledges that they are probably losing money in the long run while they fight to retain control.
  • I hope HP’s move to open source webOS actually becomes something. I have my doubts.
  • I repeat this every year and will until we see some change. CEOs of gadget companies should be forced to unpack or unbox their products on video or when they announce the product.
  • Now that the FCC and US Justice Department have actually shown that they can deal with a carrier and a US corporation (AT&T) in a responsible fashion, I’d like to see Congress at least pretend that it knows what it is doing when it tries to write laws about a technology that it doesn’t understand and doesn’t seem to care about its ignorance.
  • I’d like to see Facebook go through a year without changing anything.
  • I’d like to see an end to Early Termination Fees. Or at least I’d like to see consumers be able to demand rebates when a product that is overhyped doesn’t work as advertised.
  • If your product isn’t ready for reviewers to touch it and use it when it is announced, then don’t announce it.
  • And as always, whirled peas.
2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Dennisvjames

    12/26/2011 at 12:23 am

    Another fantastic totally right on article. Happy holidays Warner!

  2. Anthony Corona

    12/27/2011 at 6:42 am

    Warner, wouldn’t you like to see real inking (with palm rejection) possible for the iPad 3.  This is my wish along with OneNote for Apple.  Question: I’ve been out of the loop for awhile now but need to buy a slate for business use with OneNote.  What’s your current best pick for inking?  Thanks!!!

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