1. Windows 8 will continue to decline in popularity and Microsoft will release the next version of Windows earlier than planned in late 2014 or 2015 to regain market share. 2. Fewer companies will manufacture tablets as profit margins decrease, and tablets will not fully replace computers despite growing popularity due to most users not planning to use tablets as their primary device. 3. Tighter integration between the internet and TV will lead to a decline in cable and satellite subscriptions similar to what happened to newspapers as more people replace expensive TV services with connected devices and a la carte media options.

1. Top 10
Tech Trends of
2014
Brought to you by the Experts at Experts Exchange.

2. 1
Windows 8 will continue to DECLINE in popularity.
Microsoft will release Windows “next” codebase early:
late 2014 or 2015 instead of 2016, as planned.

3. “meh”
Windows 8 was released this year with a
heard round the
world. Even though the 8.1 release brought back the sorely-missed
Start Button, the latest Microsoft OS seems to be going the way of
Vista. Microsoft will have to kick up the production on the next version
to restore their place in the market.

4. 2
Fewer companies will manufacture tablets as
profit margins plunge. Despite their growing
popularity, they will NOT replace computers.

5. Computerworld reported that even though
Kindle Fire, Apple iPad, and Microsoft
Surface are being marketed for productivity
on-the-go, a survey of tablet owners
revealed that less than 10% of users had
intentions of using tablet computers
instead of laptops. It might take another
generation to make old habits die hard.

6. 3
TV+ Internet = one in the same: Tighter
integration of internet and TV will lead to the
demise of cable and satellite subscriptions,
similar to what happened to newspapers.

7. More people every month are
“cutting the cable” ; replacing highpriced TV services with connected
devices that open up a buffet of a la carte
media options.

8. 4
Smartphones and other mobile devices will
become more attached (wired or wireless)
to other hardware, such as cars,
refrigerators, homes, security cameras,
gaming consoles, toys, etc

9. You can already start your car, or run your
home appliances from your smartphone.
There seems to be no limit to what we are
interested in connecting to our phone.
Next up, your phone will drive the car,
make dinner, AND plan your birthday party.

10. 5
HTML 5 will continue to grow in popularity,
and more functionality will be added.

11. In mid-December, W3C announced
that the HTML5 definition is
complete and will likely be a standard
by the middle of the year.

12. 6
Flash will DIE.

13. Apple fans have been calling for the DEATH
of Flash for years, predicting its end since, what,
2008? They may finally get their wish in 2014.
The prevalence of mobile (especially iPhones)
assures the final days of Flash are upon us.

14. 7
Social Mining: Will continue to
expand; privacy and compliance
practices will dominate.

15. This year’s “big data” buzz will make way for
the next big thing in information collection and
management- mining data in the cloud of social
media. With all that rich user data we are making
available for the taking, social sites will need to
take more responsibility for protecting their
users while remaining profitable.

16. 8
Web development will go from a traditional server with
serverside language connections to a web service that
can more easily be ported to multiple configurations
(hosted/cloud) and uses (app/website).

17. In 2014, it will be difficult to name a technology that won’t
have some kind of cloud integration. Software as a Service
(SAAS) is quickly becoming the gold standard for effective
software solutions. Application developers should take note,
and go to the cloud to succeed.

18. 9
Rise of the VIRTUAL MACHINES. The built-in
integration of Hyper-V in the newer OS's, plus
workstations that are powerful enough to support it
well, will result in expanded use of VM's.

19. Productivity is always a paramount priority in
business. Virtual Machines make working with remote
systems faster and more efficient, putting your team
ahead in the game.

20. 10
Blended technologist career roles will continue to
emerge. Universities and other educational institutions
will continue to diversify their curricula to support this.

21. In today's world, technology skills are required in
all jobs. Whether you are in finance, HR or
software development, tech skills will help you
get ahead. Online knowledge from services like
Coursera, Lynda, or Experts Exchange allow
anyone with an internet connection to learn new
tech skills, and improve their career options.

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Survey Methodology
Predictions were submitted through a survey of Experts Exchange qualified
Experts in December 2013.