Reading the e-leaves to forecast the next trends in technology

It's time to dust off my crystal ball for some predictions for the new year and new decade.

The timing is good, as today's column is my 600th, which reminds me just how far this whole Internet thing has come since my first piece back in May 1998.

Now, a look forward, as I review the 150-plus messages in my inbox from companies wanting to show off their new products at the International Consumer Electronics Show, which runs Thursday through Jan. 10 in Las Vegas.

Some of the things you'll be hearing a lot about in the new decade include electronic reading devices, like the Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook and Sony Reader. These were hot items during the just-completed holiday giving season, with Amazon.com reporting for the first time more sales of e-books than paper-copy books on Christmas Day. Look for more e-readers shortly, including ones with larger formats and color displays.

Apple may also be entering the market with a new device that could accommodate e-reading. I don't think Apple will be a follower here, though; the company historically has been a game-changer. Think back to the iMac, iPod and iPhone as examples of products that revolutionized industries.

The buzz in the online rumor mill about a new Apple device has folks wondering whether the gizmo will be more of an enlarged iPod Touch or a smaller, redefined MacBook. Stay tuned for more news in a few weeks.

The world of smartphones and mobile computing will also kick things up several notches, as Google is set to unveil its Nexus One mobile phone. The gadget will run on Google's Android operating system and will give consumers some real choices.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based search engine giant has scheduled a press event featuring demonstrations of some type of product for Tuesday. Given the timing, this demo will probably steal some of CES' thunder.

Other hot topics for the new year and decade include mobile computing, as in connecting to the Net as you motor down the highway. Microsoft Corp. and Ford Motor Co. have teamed up for some demonstrations at CES, and look for many more as connectivity spreads.

I believe all laptops and other mobile computing devices will have built-in connections to the Internet, much like the Kindle "Whispernet," which works in the background to download items while the device runs.

Also look for more pay-as-you go content, including video from the networks and independent studios. The television and computer will continue to meld into a single device, and downloading content on demand will be commonplace very soon.

You'll also see more people watching video on their mobile devices and they'll be paying premiums for the really good, unique content.

Next week: Fun from CES.

Share your Internet story with me at agibes@reviewjournal.com.