Here’s a few more in my series of predictions for the new year:
A smarter address book!
Yes, we’re more connected than ever via social networks, but I can rarely get the right contacts to sync back and forth between my computer and my phone. Yes, google’s new contact sync is killer, and apps like soocial have a lot of promise, but we should be even further than that by now.
Based on some brainstorming done a couple years ago, with a buddy in colorado, I’m imagining an app thats more like skydeck and zentact mixed with highrise. Your address books is your most valuable asset, and right now its spread across gmail, facebook, linkedin, and plaxo. And its rarely where you need it most, on your phone, the most relevant device when actually interacting with people.
People are working towards this new address book from scratch with the small new companies like skydeck or highrise, an the big boys like Linkedin and Plaxo are also moving this way. Bernard over at ReadWriteWeb seems to be on the same path with his suggestions for linkedin to “Add a touch of integration with email, a pinch of basic CRM capabilities. Roll it all up into the biggest business contact graph on the planet”. Throw in some reliable contact syncing, and I’d pay money for that!
To take over your TV!
My year with an Apple TV helped prove to me (and my roommates)_ that we’ve crossed the threshold with on demand video entertainment. There is enough content out there that you can be entertained, without having to sell your soul to the cable companies. Combine this with the less-than engaging experience provided by cable boxes and DVRs, I think its now time to go mainstream with web based media in the living room.
Over the last year or two I’ve found myself watching youtube more and more in social environments on a TV. Using Seeqpod, you can DJ a party and have music videos come straight from youtube. Sites like hulu are providing the content and the monetization to make it happen, if you can get it on your tv. And thats where Boxee, the Apple TV, and the Xbox netflix deal come into play. No to mention, who wouldn’t mind cutting back on that cable bill during an economic crisis?
My name is Evan Bartlett, and I'm all about connecting people and finding better ways to do things. Every day life should be approached with the eye of an entreprenuer, so here's where I'll hash out my ideas on the intersection of sales, community, and product!
