Let’s be honest: Of 8List’s 8 tech predictions for last year, only 3 panned out. Yet when talking about even the short-term future, getting 37.5% right is still pretty good.

So without further ado, here are 8 tech predictions for 2014:
8. Anne Curtis Will Break the 10M Twitter Follower Mark

When you have the well-loved (but at times controversial) celebrity adding around 100,000 new followers every week to her current count of 5.8 million, it’s only a matter of time. At least one analytical tool says that only 10% of her followers are “real”, meaning that they’re the only ones who actually use Twitter on a regular basis, and don’t create accounts just to inflate the influence of their celebrity idol.

Nevertheless, it’s an estimate at best. The tool just looks at a small sample of a Twitter user’s follower base, much like how a survey only asks a select percentage of the population. Having almost 600,000 real people keeping tabs on you through Twitter is also nothing to sniff at, and the same tool also says that Katy Perry has only 20% real followers in any case.

7. 4K Won’t Take in the Philippines

It seems that everyone with money is buying an High-Definition(HD) TV nowadays, from brands like Samsung, Sony, LG, and Toshiba. These kind of TVs (based on LCD/LED and Plasma display technologies) have loads of benefits. They are much slimmer, consume less power, and show clearer images than their bulky and heavy predecessors. Plus buying a TV that everyone in the living room can watch won’t break the bank.

So it’s no surprise that TV manufacturers are pushing a new standard in the US called “4K” (short for 4,000 pixels), which requires investing in new TVs. Imagine your current HD TVs, but with images that are even more clear and vibrant.

The problem is that you can’t watch anything that maximizes 4K right now. With an HD TV you can subscribe to HD cable from providers like SkyCable and Cignal, or watch Blu-Ray Disc HD movies. There are no 4K TV programs on air, nor are there 4K home videos right now.
On top of that, 4K TVs are still very expensive. A 60″ model we saw earlier this year at Abenson’s was selling for over a million pesos! The point is, you won’t see most people buying 4K TVs this year, or for the next five.

6. Goodbye BlackBerry (and Research in Motion)

Last year we said that BlackBerry would survive for at least one more year, and that if their attempts at a turnaround went well, it would start the long road to recovery.

Yet the market has spoken, and despite intriguing offerings like the Z10, BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM) is still on survival mode. There’s some optimism surrounding the debut of new CEO John S. Chen, including a new round of investment.

Despite these developments however RIM may very well find itself looking for buyers interested in the company’s still valuable technology and patent portfolio. Once that happens this year, it’s goodbye BlackBerry.

5. Wearable Tech Will Remain a Bust

Nike revolutionized exercise through Nike+, a wearable gadget line that turned physical fitness into a measurable and shareable experience. Yet few other companies have found the same kind of success from the wearable tech craze. Whether it’s Google pushing its Google Glass portable headset computer or other companies pushing their own vision at tech conventions, it won’t take off for a very simple reason: no one wants gadgets that make them look too techie.

We mock those who walk around with Bluetooth headsets embedded into their ears, because they look like wannabe robots. So can you imagine anyone wearing Google Glass and impersonating The Locutus of Borg?

The only kind of wearable tech that will find continuing success are the discreet ones. Nike+ is something you attach to an armband, or (for earlier models) embed inside your shoe. GoPro enthusiasts won’t look out of place attaching the small camera to their helmet or other kinds of clothing, which is why I think Liquid Image is on the right track.

4. Filipinos Will Ask “Are We Too Mean Online?” Again

This happens on a regular basis: an unfortunate party becomes a victim of cyberbullying and online harassment. Then local pundits will wonder if Filipinos are just too mean online, and call for better regulation of the internet.

It is alarming you have assholes spreading terrible rumors, or posting racist insults directed at the country that beat the Philippine basketball team. Yet it’s human nature. Using the relative anonymity of the internet to publish mean statements is never right, but it’s an old story that news sites have recycled year after year.

3. The Government Will Struggle to Legislate BitCoin

BitCoin is gaining acceptance throughout the world, even as some governments ban it for its perceived risks as a encrypted currency great for anonymous and untraceable transactions. It will attract the Philippine government’s attention as more locals push for its mainstream use (here’s a related Facebook group).

Once that happens, local legislators will file knee-jerk bills that will showcase lack of understanding of BitCoin itself. You’ll see many online Filipinos mock Congress for once again proposing laws that threaten to criminalize a wide range of activities, because of overly vague language. Just like what happened with the Anti-Cybercrime Bill.

2.We’ll Witness the First Mega Video Game Flop

You might know that Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) grossed $1 billion in three days. In other words, it became the fastest-earning entertainment product of all time, beating out even the highest-grossing movies. That’s good news for publisher Rockstar Games, who reportedly spent $265 million on production and marketing costs.

The bad news is that in 2014 another company (or Rockstar itself) will spend millions trying to create (or recreate) its own video game success story, and millions more marketing it. Then it lose massive amounts of money when the game fails to make back the investment. It could turn out like Sahara, a movie that earned well but still failed to recoup its costs, or an ugly mess like Mars Needs Moms, which only earned 26 (US) cents for every dollar spent on it.

The result: an ugly bankruptcy and a long-lasting skepticism on the bankability of video games, which would limit or even rollback any potential innovations (technology- or gameplay-wise) in the industry.

1. All the Major Local News Websites Will Become “Responsive”

Reponsive websites adjust depending on what their device its viewed on. For reference, feel free to view 8List on your desktop, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. You’ll see the content adjust automatically.

When you have established international media organizations like the New York Times finally jump on the responsive bandwagon, you can bet that local equivalents like inquirer.net (of The Philippine Daily Inquirer), mb.com.ph (Manila Bulletin), and philstar.com (The Philippine Star) will follow suit during this year.

This will represent a step forward for traditional publications, since they’ll be making the reading experience for on-the-go visitors much better.

What do you think of these predictions? Share in the Comments Section below.

Rico Mossesgeld

Rico is a frustrated writer, web developer, and tech blogger. Check out rico.mossesgeld.com for more details.

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