Cisco's recent announcement that it was closing its Flip mini-camcorder business got us thinking. It's pretty clear that today's smartphones, with their excellent HD video cameras, are partly to blame for the Flip's demise. But how many other consumer products and services - digital or analogue -are being killed off by the big, bad smartphone?
MP3 players and camcorders are all dying because of smartphones
We've assembled a list of likely victims here.
MP3 players
When was the last time you carried a digital music player that couldn't do a dozen other things, too? When Apple unveiled the original iPhone in 2007, the die was cast: Portable audio devices incapable of doubling as gaming machines and web browsers would slowly fade away. And the latest iPod Touch, which includes FaceTime video chat, is essentially a Wi-Fi video phone itself. Yes, the iPod Classic is still around, but its days may be numbered. And though Apple continues to ring up immense profits, its iPod business has been in decline for some time.
Portable game consoles
The Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP are still selling, but these portable game gadgets seem like relics from an era when people used mobile phones strictly to make and receive calls. Today's smartphone, of course, is a gaming juggernaut: App stores for Apple and Android handsets offer tens of thousands of games. So why carry around a separate game console? And though console makers are stepping up their efforts, the smartphone guys are right there with them. Do you crave a new Nintendo 3DS for glasses-free 3D gaming? Well, 3D smartphones like the LG Thrill and HTC EVO 3D promise a similar thrill.
Point-and-shoot cameras
An inexpensive point-and-shoot probably takes better pictures than your smartphone. But before long, the humble phone camera will match or surpass the photographic prowess of its point-and-shoot brethren. The latest handsets - in particular, the iPhone 4 - capture crisp, clear images that many users consider suitable for scrapbooks and slideshows. Pretty soon, you'll park the point-and-shoot in the cupboard for good.
Personal video players
Remember Archos' lineup of portable media players? How about Apple's iPod Video 5th Generation? Both were built for video and audio consumption, two capabilities that have since migrated to the jack-of-all-trades smartphone. And today's plus-size handsets, such as the HTC ThunderBolt - with high-resolution, 4in-or-larger displays and net speeds capable of handling HD video streaming - are the final nail in the coffin. The stand-alone portable media player is a goner.
NEXT PAGE: Voice recorders
- The devices that are dying because of smartphones
- Voice recorders
Comments
Al said: Comparing a smartphone to a DS and calling it a relic is a little naive to say the least as smartphones games just dont have the same depth Any real gamer would sooner play a real RPG than some of the dull touchscreen monstrosities available for smartphones Theyre not comparable gaming platforms as the audience is completely different Only idiots buy smartphones as they are using their gaming credentials as their main reason for purchase Just like only an idiot buys a PSP just because it can play music Just because it can do something doest mean that its good at it
Nd said: Maps I generally agree but if youre out amp about a map is so useful to get the bigger picture Also they dont tend to need charging get stolen or break
John said: Apple are a load of poo
Owen Gingernuts Lucas said: I cant remember my roadmap ever running out of power though -