What more possibly could they offer consumers?


As I sit back and think what might be coming to the consumer AV market in the near future, I can only think that there will likely be more integration between the internet and home entertainment media - maybe more access to home automation from the intenet, from cell phones, etc. So, what is posibly left for the AV industry to suprise us with here in the next ten or so years from now? I mean, sure, they'll likely be offering higher resolution video potentially, upscaling to 4k, etc. But really. How important is that to the average consumer who will have nothing more than a 55" flat pannel tv? I think it's not a big deal accross the board. And certainly the HD video disc is gunna go away, and all will stream over the net, it appears. (surely, they won't make a killing selling 4k HD discs, cause discs sales are slowing down) Only those who do UBER LARGE displays, projection systems, etc, will really get any benefit here...the sucess of which is no more likely than the "mass-less" exodus from people buying 720p displays going up to 1080p flat screens, or DVD discs to BluRays, and so on?
Face it. Who's gunna swap out there 1080p 50" LCD tv for the same size in 4k? I would submit about as many as who did the same in upgrading from 2D HD tv's to switch to 3D LED TVs!!! -Yeah, exactly.
Beyond the obvious melding of streaming videos and internet through your TV/Media center, and all TV being integrated with the web, what other supprises could be coming to the consumer in the Audio/Video arena?
I could possibly immagine Holographic images hovering in my room, with virtual surround froma single sound source, possibly. But maybe higher end sound procesing or even more surround speakers to have to place around the house? Can't even get my fiance to go with more than the two that are built into our TV!!!...let alone 9.2 or 11.2, etc!
Let's face it, we are more intregued by how smart our phones are, and that segment seams to be ever evolving. I mean it was like, what, less than 3 years ago that the Motorola Razor was the hottest selling phone on the market?! - YYYYYEEIIKES!!!
I just can't envision anything that'll be coming our way for AV, anytime soon, that will be a major game changer, or the "next big must-have-thing!" And unless the gaming industry is picked up by 40-somethings and the aging, how impactful is going to be wrap-around video gaming screen setups in your closet?
I'm visionless for what could be coming at the present, personally. All i can see for the next decade is my 7.1 channel receiver (I'm barely using 5.1 channels of it, and mostly 2 ch stereo) with my Ipod connected, my Netflix enabled BluRay player for HD and streaming, and my 1080p JVC projector and light rejecting projector screen. Beyond this, I can't envision much else
avgoround
I think Kodak felt the same way in 1889. Soon to be gone. Hey a 134 run is not bad. What will Apple be offering in 2150?
01-05-12: Rcrerar
The forty+ male is the fastest growing segment in the video game industry today.

Please share your source for this information,I'd love to read it.
It does cause one to wonder, what more could be invented to improve on what we have at our finger tips. I am afraid that as our entertainment becomes more and more intergrated with computers and internet distribution, and the reproduction technology continues to improve, will we actually get better sources? Or will the quality decrease as it has by the use of compacted files. I know that some argue that a high quality DAC and MP3 files can rival that of, for example SACD. I just have difficulty in believing that to be true. So as not to drift to far from your comments, I wonder if it will actually be better, or just a device to create motive to purchase. So will it be a way to drive the market or will make life better. Convenience can be a two edged sword. The microwave is quicker and provides a tastey edible meal, but isn't a home cooked meal better. Will we trade overall quality for convenience?
Just a thought from a "old fashioned" mentallity. One last thought, as we grow more dependant on the internet for our intertainment and we allow it to interweave with our lives, will privacy become obsolete?
"Everything that can be invented has been invented." -Charles H. Duell 1899

Even if that quote is an urban legend, you understand the point. The answer to you question is simply, much much more than you can possibly imagine.
Privacy is obsolete now, credit bureau knows more about you than the KGB knew about their worst enemy.