By 2020, there will be a quarter billion connected vehicles on the road, enabling new in-vehicle services and automated driving capabilities, according to Gartner, Inc. (www.gartner.com).

During the next five years, the proportion of new vehicles equipped with this capability will increase dramatically, making connected cars a major element of the Internet of Things (IoT), says the research group. Gartner forecasts that 4.9 billion connected things will be in use in 2015, up 30% from 2014, and will reach 25 billion by 2020.

"The connected car is already a reality, and in-vehicle wireless connectivity is rapidly expanding from luxury models and premium brands, to high-volume midmarket models," says James F. Hines, research director at Gartner. "the increased consumption and creation of digital content within the vehicle will drive the need for more sophisticated infotainment systems, creating opportunities...

Merkle | RKG (www.merkleinc.com), a customer relationship marketing firm, has released its Q4 Digital Marketing Report, which covers trends in paid search, SEO, product ads, social media, display advertising, comparison shopping engines, holiday trends and more.
Overall, paid search spending was up 21% in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2014, as click traffic increased by 14% and cost-per-click (CPC) rose by 6%. Google Product Listing Ads (PLAs) continue to show impressive growth and accounted for nearly 30% of retailer Google search ad clicks in Q4 2014. Advertisers also saw strong holiday growth overall, with retailer paid search revenues up 20% over last year.

In December, Yahoo became the default search option for Firefox in the US, supplanting Google after its ten-year run. Accounting for the percentage of search traffic coming through Firefox along with the switchback rates of users opting to go back to...

While early implementations of V2V-equipped vehicles will start appearing in the next years—partially driven by Europe’s C2C-CC consortium—wide-scale deployments should not be expected before 2020, according to ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com).

"Industry awareness about the importance of V2V and V2I is clearly gaining momentum, largely driven by its expected key role in enabling driverless vehicles, as stated by NHTSA in its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Begin Implementation of Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications Technology. It has prompted car OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] such as GM announcing a 2017 Cadillac CTS model to be equipped with V2V technology from Delphi, in conjunction with the Super Cruise ADAS solution. Other OEMs such as Toyota and Audi are also committed to V2V," says ABI Research Vice President and Practice Director Dominique Bonte.

The supplier ecosystem is...

Year-over-year survey results from FatWallet.com show consumers flip flop on when to find best TV deals, ranking Black Friday just ahead of Super Bowl sales this year, while 1 in 4 now choose to stream TV programming.
 
The survey reports 26% said they will purchase a new TV this year (38% under age 30) and only Black Friday ranks higher than Super Bowl sales when asked when they’re most likely to make a TV purchase. The survey also reveals that their purchasing decisions are influenced most by price (45%), and one-in-four now stream the majority of their TV programming.

Key survey results for those that said they will purchase a new TV this year:
° 25% will buy during Black Friday; 17% will buy during Super Bowl sales (32% in 2014); 4% during Cyber Monday.

° 53% will spend $500+ (up 18% over 2014); 28% will spend $700+ (up 17% over 2014), 43% with annual income +$75k; 19% will spend less than $300 (up 26% over 2014), 33% with annual income under $30k....

Market intelligence firm ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com) finds the penetration of embedded telematics in new vehicles will increase from 13.4% in 2014 to 52% in 2020.

"While penetration levels of embedded connectivity in vehicles continue to grow steadily, it remains challenging for car OEMs to convince users to pay for built-in connected car services," says says vice president and practice director, Dominique Bonte. "While initiatives such as allowing adding connected car systems to shared data plans by GM in the United States are definitely going to boost uptake, full penetration is unlikely to be achieved solely through consumer-led drivers."

Perceived value of safety services or in-car Wi-Fi hotspots simply aren't big enough (yet), especially with free smartphone integration "tethering" standards such as CarPlay and Android Auto expected to become widespread in the next years, he adds. ABI...

A new survey from the IDC research group (www.idc.com) revealed that the most important characteristic to ensure satisfaction in communicating with a company is the ease of use/simplicity of process.

According to the survey, on average, 65% of respondents said they were satisfied with the communication options available. The 18-24 and 25-34 year age groups were the least satisfied, both with 62% satisfaction with the breadth of channel options compared to 65% overall. Seventy-one percent of respondents said that communicating with a company using their preferred channel is very important.

"Companies need to support the communication needs for all of their customers as they have a wide range of preferences. This means ensuring customers are supported on 'newer' channels, such as social media, as well as on 'traditional' channels, even as newer channels grow and evolve," says Melissa O'Brien, research analyst,...

User-generated content (UGC) or more broadly speaking, short-form video (from services like YouTube and Dailymotion), has become far more than cats playing the piano, according to ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com).

Companies are using viral ads to extend brands and reach a wider breadth of customers than traditional media channels. Professionally generated short-form content also allows consumers to view video (e.g. news) in bit-sized manageable chunks, ideal for today’s hectic lifestyle. The revenue potential for short-form video is expected to approach US$13 billion by 2019, carrying a six-year CAGR [compound annual growth rate] of 18.5%.

"As the overall online video market evolves we anticipate the value for short-form video will rise in kind. Multi-channel networks (MCNs) that work with content contributors and advertising agencies targeting services like YouTube are finding suitors and...

Despite strong growth of 12.9% in 2014, worldwide semiconductor capital spending is projected to only grow 0.8% in 2015, to US$65.7 billion, according to Gartner, Inc. (www.gartner.com). Capital equipment spending will increase 5.6% in 2015, down from 11.3%in the third quarter 2014 forecast, as the largest spenders adopt conservative investment strategies, notes the research group.

"Equipment spending outperformed capital spending in 2014 and will continue to do so in 2015, a situation that will reverse in 2016. Total capital spending will grow 0.8% in 2015, compared with 8.8% in our previous forecast," says Bob Johnson, research vice president at Gartner. "As we get better visibility into individual company spending plans for 2015, it is apparent that caution is a prevailing sentiment, with the exception of memory where manufacturers are adding capacity in response to favorable market conditions."

In 2015,...

According to ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com), Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and BMW continue to comprise the top three players in the consumer Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) market. They outperform competitors either in terms of the degree and significance of their innovation, or in how effectively they make their systems available to consumers – sometimes in both, according to the research group.

As mass-market OEMs [original equipment manufactureres] have strived to offer affordable ADAS solutions to their customers, luxury brands have sought to distinguish themselves either by increasing the sophistication of their systems, or by offering their systems across more of their model range. Most have adopted a combination of these approaches.

Western Europe maintains its position as the largest market for ADAS, due in no small part to the inclusion of such systems as criteria in Euro NCAP ratings...

Weak mobile customer service is harming customer engagement, according to Gartner, Inc. (www.gartner.com). No rallying principle in the enterprise matters more than the creation of superior customer engagement and IT leaders will need to innovate in engaging customers on all channels and have the metrics to choose the right projects. 

"Marketing may fill the sales funnel, and the sales department can close a deal, yet it is the overall impression of the enterprise generated by the quality of customer service that differentiates one enterprise from another," saays Michael Maoz, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. "Translating this general and departmental customer engagement concept into operational components across the enterprise is transforming the definition of customer service from an isolated function into an enterprise objective delivered across all points where the customer "touches” the...

Younger home and apartment dwellers are a surprising new buyer of appliance insurance because of the technology now embedded in everyday appliances. Why? Insurance today is designed for replacement, not repair.

"The Internet of Things now digitally connects people to their appliances, including their washing machine and dryer, refrigerator and other technology that controls the home experience with the tap of a phone," says David Anderson, director of Product for nationwide appliance insurance company, Protect Your Bubble. "This advanced appliance technology, coupled with the fact that we simply replace our appliances instead of repairing them, is a catalyst for why younger home dwellers are embracing what their parents once thought of as unwise – appliance insurance."

In 2015, around 38 million homes across the world are expected to have a Smart Home system. Connected home shipments are expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 67% over the next five...

Increase in cross-border travel has led to growth in the global e-passport and e-visa Market, which is expected to post a CAGR [compound annual growth rate] of 30.17% from 2014-2019, says research firm TechNavio (www.technavio.com).

The global e-passport and e-visa market is also experiencing high adoption of hybrid smart cards. These smart cards have shared storage and processing of information, which eliminates the need for multiple cards and ensures easy handling.

"Hybrid smart cards not only secure user information, but also have the option for MIFARE functionality, which is a technology owned by NXP Semiconductors," says Faisal Ghaus, vice president of TechNavio. "MIFARE functionality increases transaction speed, has enhanced security features, is reliable, easy to use and is expected to drive the Global E-passport and E-visa Market in the coming years."

Furthermore, third generation e-...

New data from Parks Associates (www.parksassociates.com) shows that 62% of U.S. broadband households never back up their data to an online storage service, despite options available from companies such as Carbonite, Acronis, and Backblaze.

This finding reveals a huge addressable market for cloud-based storage in 2015, as consumer consumption of digital content is on the rise. Smartphone users in U.S. broadband households spend 18 minutes on average per session when using streaming music apps, which exceeds time spent on gaming, social media, or video apps.

"As the connected consumer achieves greater mobility, device storage becomes a limiting factor for consumer content, prompting a shift to cloud-enabled storage and access," says Glenn However, research analyst, Parks Associates. "Starting at CES and throughout 2015, we will see CE makers and online technology companies leverage cloud-based...

Global desktop monitor sell-in revenue rose 7% in the third quarter of 2014, as average selling prices (ASPs) rose just over 10%. According to a new report from DisplaySearch (www.displaysearch.com), now part of IHS, worldwide desktop PC monitor shipments declined just over 3%, to reach 34 million units.

"Sales margins for desktop displays have declined over time, and manufacturers are now trying to reverse that trend with bigger sizes and improved features, to justify higher prices," says Hidetoshi Himuro, director of PC/IT market research for DisplaySearch. "In the face of tablets and notebook computers with integrated displays, demand for desktop monitors is shifting toward higher display quality and resolution, with improved performance for professional operation and computer gaming."

In order to improve PC display penetration rates, average screen sizes have been steadily increasing. For...

It has been a breakthrough year for indoor location for retail, with ABI Research’s quarterly indoor location technology tracker forecasting deployments to approach 25,000 by the end of 2014, up more than 100% on 2013.

"Vertically, the bulk of deployments are in clothing, big box, grocery, and shopping malls in 2014, driven by a variety of applications such as customer analytics, offers/coupons, product search, staff management, and navigation," says ABI Research Senior Analyst Patrick Connolly. "Looking into 2015, we can expect to see the quick serve restaurant (QSR) market growing with a significant demand for queue management technologies as illustrated by companies like Starbucks and Taco Bell which launched queue-skipping smartphone applications in 2014.”

He adds that we're seeing growth across all major technologies, including BLE, Wi-Fi, and audio, with 2015 being an important year for handset-based location, sensor fusion, magnetic field, and LED. Regionally,...

According to a new report by Allied Market Research (www.alliedmarketresearch.com) the global connected cars market is forecast to reach $141 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR [compound annual growth rate] of 32.7% during the period (2014 - 2020).

Integrated connectivity solutions segment is expected to emerge as a preferred connectivity solutions for connected cars, surpassing embedded connectivity solutions segment in 2016. North America currently garners major market share and would maintain the position throughout the forecast period.

The availability of faster communication networks, advanced connectivity solutions and a user friendly interface should drive global connected car market, says Allied Market Research. Also, an enhanced driving experience, offered by connected cars and favorable rules and regulations across numerous countries will fuel the market growth.

...

According to a new Market Data forecasts from ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com), it will take more than five years for 5G to reach 100 million subscriber mark — two years longer than 4G.

4G subscriber growth was much faster than with previous generations, fueled by the capabilities of increasingly powerful smartphones and the availability of 4G devices. 5G subscriber growth will likely be a bit more muted at first due to the increased complexity of 5G cells and networks, but will pick up in 2023.

"There are a number of commonalities between countries that are early builders of 5G networks. They have a large population, of which a large percentage is living in urban areas. They also have many companies pushing the envelope with IoT strategies. These countries will drive 5G subscriber volumes" says Research Director Philip Solis. "These are the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, and the United...

Work on new technologies that will form the foundation of 5G standards has been occurring for the last few years; however, the formal standards process has just begun, according to ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com).

The research group says a range of major vendors are working on all aspects of 5G including; Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Huawei, and Nokia Networks and device, semiconductor, and IP vendors including Intel, InterDigital, Qualcomm, Samsung, various mobile operators, academic bodies, and start-ups as well.

"These companies are all waving their 5G flags, although 5G definitions and visions remain very vague," says Research Director Philip Solis. "But this is not merely marketing. These companies are most certainly putting a stake in the ground with regards to contributions to 5G that will leverage their work, competitive strengths, and most crucially, patents. But this is not merely...

The debate between individual privacy and public welfare continues to escalate in the aftermath of Apple’s release of the iPhone 6, which gained heightened attention for revealing that this latest smartphone will include automatic, end-to-end encryption.

When an iPhone owner now uses any feature of an iPhone 6 operating system, their communications will be securely encrypted—essentially unreadable to anyone who didn’t send, receive or store data on the phone. So secure is this new privacy provision, Apple itself can’t access the contents of an iPhone 6, even if access is requested by law enforcement.  Google’s recently released Android smartphone provides data encryption as well.

While enhanced commitments to privacy and security from Apple and Google have been largely met with open arms, law enforcement has strongly opposed encryption, arguing it will impede criminal investigations and threaten national security. The Ddirector of the FBI and the Attorney General...

According to new data from the IDC (www.idc.com), the large format printer (LFP) market recorded year-over-year growth of 0.6% in the third quarter of 2014 (3Q14) with more than 78,000 units shipped. This marks the fifth consecutive quarter of worldwide shipment growth. Shipment value declined -4.0% year over year to nearly $782 million.

"The third quarter is often the softest quarter of the year in the global large format market," says Phuong Hang, program director, Worldwide Large Format Printer Tracker. "While global shipments are ahead of 2013, hardware revenue is essentially flat for 2014 so far, due primarily to vendor price promotions."

The top five wide format printer manufacturers make up over eighty percent of global wide format shipments, but only two-thirds of revenue. With manufacturers like HP, Canon, and Epson dominating the aqueous segment, this points to the maturity of the conventional aqueous...

The total market for powered smart cards will rapidly expand from slightly under US$300 million today to more than $1.5 billion by 2017, $4.6 billion by 2019, and more than $13 billion by 2021, according to a new report from industry analyst firm NanoMarkets (www.nanomarkets.net).

Almost exclusively powered smart cards have been targeted at one-time password (OTP) functionality to provide an extra security layer during consumer financial transactions, and that has been the envisioned golden goose for this technology. Other potential applications such as secure identification (public and private sectors) and medical information continue to tantalize, but have yet to approach anything that would present significant alternative markets.

What we're now seeing is a growing realization that while "EMV" smart-card chip/PIN standardization (named for the widely adopted Europay-MasterCard-Visa standard for...

ABI Research (www.abirsearch.com) estimates that 676 million 4G LTE handsets will be shipped in 2015, growing 204 million units from 2014. Furthermore, ABI Research estimates that the total number of LTE connected devices shipped worldwide will exceed 1.89 billion units by end 2019, demonstrating the need for infrastructure and spectrum to support the stellar growth in the industry.

"With the proliferation of larger screen smart devices driving up the insatiable appetites for content and faster speeds, ABI Research estimates that there will be 350 commercial LTE networks forecasted by 4Q 2014," says Cheri Wong, research analyst at ABI Research.

What's more, LTE-Advanced is now commercial on 20 networks in 14 countries. To cope with the demand for higher data rates, FDD/TDD LTE carrier aggregation trials are starting to take place. For example, Ericsson, SingTel, and Qualcomm demonstrated a downlink...

A large installed base of cloud gaming capable devices, big brand names entering the cloud gaming market, and improving network performance will drive cloud gaming to new heights in 2015, according to a new report from Strategy Analytics (www.strategyanalytics.com). The report notes that:

° PlayStation Now and NVIDIA Grid Game Streaming Service will reach nearly 30 million devices by year-end 2014 and will grow 500% to almost 150 million by year-end 2015.

° Game streaming is more resource intense and lag-sensitive than OTT video streaming, so cloud gaming companies must be mindful of acceptable trade-offs in quality of experience and network performance requirements in order to reach a significant portion of the market.

° Primarily to support and profit from backward compatibility, Strategy Analytics expects other major players in the gaming industry to jump into the cloud gaming...

With the release of OS X 10.10.1 the Spy decided to take another try with Yosemite and installed it on one machnine. Seeing none of the problems he experienced with the beta at WWDC, he eventually installed on three machines--a late 2007 MacBook Pro seventeen inch (emergency unit), a 2013 Retina MacBook (main one at work), and a Westmere tower MacPro (home).

So far all has gone well, though there has been no opportunity to test the fusion space where Mac OS X and iOS 8 meet called Handoff. However, he has had time to view the flat, nearly lifeless-looking dialogue boxes in both, and does not see them as an improvement. Bring back oh bring back my skeuomorphism to me.

And, yes, he did activate his iPhone 6 Plus on the Fido network with a cheap prepaid plan. A month in, he's used some two loonies worth of the ten he deposited. But, you ask, Fido, when it's owned by arch bad-guy Rogers? Well, it is run as a separate entity, and it is the cheapest thing going, until 7-...