Editor’s note: Every December the ReadWriteWeb team looks into the murky depths of the coming year and tries to predict the future. How did we do last year? Well, Facebook didn’t go public, Google Wave didn’t make a comeback, and Spotify didn’t make it to the U.S. But our forecasts for Google Chrome, cloud computing, Facebook and something we called the “iTablet” were spot on. What’s in store for 2011? All this week we’ll be posting our predictions. Let us know your prognostications in the comments.
1: Facebook/Google fight turns out well for end users in 2011 as both companies release tools and services to make our lives better, while competing to be the top Web destination worldwide.
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2: Google Music Launches! It’s awesome! …But it’s not as good as iTunes because it offers music only – not videos. I’m going with a Q1 2011 launch date on this one. And maybe an Amazon partnership, too.
3: In-app purchases take hold as new way to monetize apps, but the trend almost drives you nuts as even the silliest, most useless free apps try to make an extra buck through in-app purchases and virtual goods. (Want even more fart sounds? Check out the premium sounds here, only 99 cents each!)
4: Everyone rushes out to buy the Verizon iPhone. Later, Apple reveals the iPhone 5 with NFC built in. Everyone rushes out to buy that too.
5: Did I say NFC? Oh yes I did. We get a glimpse of the future of mobile commerce this year, but retailer buy-in won’t happen in the next 12 months, sorry shoppers.
6: iPad continues to rule the tablet PC world, beating its Android competitors with ease. However, tablet computing as a trend continues, eating away at desktop/notebook/netbook sales.
7: Thanks to an increasingly diverse landscape of mobile platforms, developers turn in large numbers to HTML5.
8: Apps stores. Everywhere.
9: Badges fade in popularity.
10: Foursquare, not as fun as you first thought.
11: Facebook Places. More fun than you first thought.
12: Facebook Messages. Nope, still doesn’t kill email. Nice try, though!
13. Chrome OS launches on netbooks to middling sales. People prefer tablets now.
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