Looking in the Crystal Ball

I mentioned it before, I think in a few years we'll have gone mostly to an entirely electronic music collection, meaning MP3's or such on hard drives & toss the CD's out the window.  I'm referring to mainstream of course - I still have some virgin vinyl in my collection, but never use it anymore.

Music purchases will be thru the web, downloaded like I-tunes.  Satellite radio will feature limitless internet radio choices.  HD-digital radio will go the way of Betamax.  Our home stereo/TV and car stereo will be an extension of the home PC.  Head units will be modelled after this.  (don't get that one, sound quality ain't very good).  You will be able to grab the 200gb HD from your headunit, snap it into the computer thru USB (or hell, wireless in your driveway), transfer all your new music in 30 secs & be done.

By 2015, having a CD hanging from your rearview will be the equivelent of fuzzy dice today.  Before all that, I think we'll go to DVD's from MP3-CD's, roughly 10x the size.  Just waiting on the DA converters to be taken seriously.

Just looking in the crystal ball.  Any thoughts on this?

Yes, look in that crystal ball again and tell me if Bose, Sony and Audiobahn are still in business.

Bose - yup, still around.  You may not like them, but innovation sells.

Sony - are you kidding?  Half of Japan unemployed?

Audiobahn - long overdue, they finally close shop.  Ironically, as if controlled by the mother ship, all equipment bearing their logo congeals into a Jello-like substance.  But like a weed in your yard, the vacuum they leave is filled by 6 new imposters with names like "Thumper XT," "Dakota Pulsetek," and "Three Gerbils Under the Hood."

By this time, gasoline costs over $8/gal, so hybrid cars take over the road.  Bad news for us, 'cos the electrical system now spins the wheels, meaning every 100 watts we add costs us 10 horsepower.  Brands like "3 Gerbils" suddenly take off...

Very amusing. But, I feel you must have put new batteries in your Crystal Ball, because alot of that will likely evolve. Alot of that has already, in some close form.

I don't like the $8 dollars per gallon gas prediction, though it is good for our industry (oilfield). Don't care for the hybrids that much, too new of technology for me to jump on the bandwagon. And the meer fact, as you have stated, people will be more likely to stray from stereo systems in their car, besides the real enthusiasts, as the price range will more costly, having to upgrade half the electrical sytem to support aftermarket component current draw. We have that already, but not to the extent of the whole vehicle relying mainly on electrical.

I do like the Audiobahn prediction though, there will be many disappointed Audiobahn enthusiast, though, but not one here. Would be glad to see them go!