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Five Online Predictions for 2007 (or, everyone is is writing theirs so why can’t I!)

Olly S — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 12:56:10 +0000

Well it’s the new year and my blog has certainly suffered from a considerable amount of neglect in the last few months. This in part is because my blogging efforts (not to mention real life efforts) have been swallowed up by this. However, I thought it would be fun to start the year by first, actually writing a new post, and secondly writing the post of the moment which everyone seems to be doing, so without further ado here are my online predictions for 2007:

1. Foldera will launch and so steady but not monumental growth towards the year end.

After months of ever diminishing public opinion in Foldera (in the last 9 months it has gone from the next-big-thing to the-latest-vaporware), the product will launch publicly in Q1 2007. The product will be flooded with new interest and service will suffer due to the demand. After a few hiccups, the service will see steady but not monumental growth towards year end with 2008 looking potentially very exciting.

2. OpenID will see widespread adoption across the internet except with the big players

OpenID will be widely adopted in the blogging / community-driven / open source web sites and services but the Googles / Yahoos / Microsofts of this world will still stick with their own legacy systems.

3. Plaxo will reach Tipping Point

Plaxo will reach the tipping point in 2007 where the benefits of being a member will outway the annoyances of not being one! Through the use of their Open API widget, localisation in Plaxo 3.0 and the soon-to-launch AJAX calendar they will see growth in 2007 reach 30 million users and the natural courting of the big players for a buy out will duly follow.

4. The Big Players will augment their search results with social data

This year we will see the big players (read Google, Yahoo & Microsoft) begin to augment their search results with human-tagged results, the first step in a gradual move away from depending wholely on algorithmic search. Yahoo, especially, is in an excellent position to begin doing this with its del.icio.us database. I already find myself turning to del.icio.us for certain types of search knowing that the results will be better. If you use firefox and don’t use del.icio.us then I strongly receommend the search plugin available here. The reason for the change will be the realisation that the new search players who are already in this field are producing more accurate and useful results for their users.

5. The iPhone will be runaway success

Despite the fact that Apples new iPhone device will have plenty of things for end users to grumble about, it will be far and away the slickest, easiest to use, braggable, got-to-have gadgets of 2007. Sure it may be pricey, but people who have been waiting to get a new portable media player and a new phone this way may be able to kill two birds with one stone with this one. For gadget nuts, road warriors, early adopters and appleoholics this will be too much to resist.

Also, on a side note, there has been a lot of speculation since its announcement on the device being closed platform, but I have come to the conclusion that this will not affect its appeal as much as people might think. It will be crazy for Apple not to distribute software apps for the phone through iTunes. If it is truly closed off for external developers then Apple will need to work hard internally to satisfy its users – which I’m sure they will. However, the smart move would be for Apple to let 3rd party developers build for the platform and then distribute them only through iTunes with Apple taking its cut on the sale price (and also have approval on quality to keep the unit running bug free)….

Well that’s five. Not a huge number but I will come back to them in a years time and see how I did….

Perks of the World Traveller

Olly S — Mon, 08 May 2006 11:13:09 +0000

Having been upgraded to Business class on my flight back to the UK two weeks ago, I felt that my years of flying back and forth from China to the UK were at last being rewarded with some perks. This made yesterdays events even more satisfactory – I arrived at the airport where they told me that since they were overbooked, if I would fly tomorrow, they would give me a free flight� and a 650 quid BA voucher or 350 pounds in cash. At firest I dismissed it but suddenly began to think that it might be worth doing – it was not absolutely vital that I arrived back in Beijing today� anyway. Also, the money meant a free return flight home at a future date. It really seemed too good to be true so i took them up on it. The only downside was that I then had to get home again having been dropped at the airport.

Foot on the brake but the wheels still turn….

Olly S — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 11:16:14 +0000

A few on friday, a few more on sunday, one last night. I see it is very much an organic process. I’m chiselling away at those irresistible urges one day at a time….

“What harm could one do?”

Olly S — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 08:21:44 +0000

Okay, I actually smoked 3 cigarettes last night in a moment of weakness…

What can I say?

The truth is it is very hard to resist when surrounded by chain smokers. Blame delegation in action….

However the guilt today has hardened my resolve and I think I am even more commited as of today. We shall see. Friday tonight….

Quitter

Olly S — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 05:05:49 +0000

I woke up on tuesday morning with the usual part-ashtray feeling and decided enough was enough. I cleared the house of empty fag boxes, dumped the ashtrays at the back of a cupboard and hid all the lighters in a drawer. No distractions. No temptations. No fags.

Thursday today and so far so good except for the massive increase in gum chewing. Almost had a hickup last night when I found an open pack under the sofa which I had missed, but managed to resist smoking one. They say the weekend is the real test. Let’s see if i can make it beyond 9 months which was my last effort…

One day at a time. I’ll keep you posted.

Marmite delivered globally!

Olly S — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 07:56:32 +0000

Recently I discovered I was running low on the great British institution that is Marmite. I did some some Googling and to my great surprise discovered that it is for sale on Amazon.com. Worldwide shipping! Brilliant!

Knightons Portrait

Olly S — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 17:33:52 +0000

I was browsing the web earlier and somehow stumbled upon a drawing of the house I grew up in. It seems the new owners must have had it commissioned. Amazing what you can find on the Interweb.

UPDATE: My father spoke to the new owners and apparently the artist saw a picture of the house in the sunday times magazine and copied it. Explains why some of the details are wrong. They said they hadn’t planned on buying it – could have something to do with the fact that it’s actually not all that good. Interesting none the less…

Problems Submitting Comments

Olly S — Fri, 12 Aug 2005 03:17:46 +0000

It seems that there was recently a problem with submitting comments to posts. This should now be working. Please let me know if you still have problems by emailing me at: “olly” @ “saltedlolly.com”. Thanks.

Mongolian Rug

Olly S — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 14:52:02 +0000

I bought this beautiful rug in Mongolia which you can see here modeled by Robbie.

Mopedophiles No More

Olly S — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 12:16:32 +0000

Today is my birthday. Generally a day for receiving but as I left the office just now I discovered that it is also a day of taking away. My groovy red scooter has been stolen. Never again shall I cruise the highways of the ‘Jing in such style. I hope the thief gets hit by a bus. Bastard.