These aren’t predictions.  There’ll be a separate post for that  These are simply the ten things I want to see happen next year.  Some are technology/internet based and some aren’t.  The list might seem random and eclectic, but that’s just how my mind works.

1. No More DRM – I hate DRM.  I love iTunes.  I want apple to get it’s act together and drop DRM from the iTunes store.  Just dropping it though won’t be enough.  They need to make music previously purchased by consumer convertible so that we/they can remove DRM.  Oh, and they need to make this reverse conversion free.
2. Crystal Pepsi – I want Crystal Pepsi back on the market.  They were too ahead of their time, when Pepsi release it.  It tasted/tastes great and Pepsi should consider bringing it back.
3. U.S. Auto Consolidation – We don’t need as many U.S. auto companies as we have and we don’t need as many product lines as we have.  I’d love to see GM and Chrysler merge.  I’d also like to see Ford get rid of brands like Mazda and Mercury.  We aren’t dumb, the Ford Taurus and the Mercury Milan are essentially the same car.  Hey GM, we don’t really need GMC, Saab, Saturn, and Buick.  Let’s consolidate and focus on making 1 or 2 car lines really good.
4. Hiring Smart People – Can we please stop hiring the same type of people?  It amazes me that as progressive as we’ve gotten we still hire archaically.  We still ask for X years of experience, Y type of degree, and of course the requisite MBA preferred.  Companies need to hire smart people that have a good pedigree.  If they keep hiring for specific titles and use old school boxes to define candidates, they’ll never evolve.
5. Better Tools To Measure Social Media – Vitrue is cool.  Twist is nice.  Google Trends is ok.  But, there just isn’t a real legitimate tool to measure social media impact easily.  We have great tools like Quantcast and Compete, to measure web demographics and traffic, but we’re still lacking in the social media measurement department.  You’d think this is one of the big things Google would be working on.
6. Google Chrome For The MAC and Flash Support for the iPhone. – Simple.  We have Chrome for the PC, but we don’t for the MAC.  Should be a no brainer.  Not having Flash support on some level is ridiculous for a product that touts itself is giving the consumer the web in their pocket.  Tsk Tsk.
7. An Alex Cross TV Series – James Patterson’s books are great.  The two movies based on the Alex Cross books, Along Came A Spider and Kiss The Girls, were solid.  Given America’s love for cop dramas, this should be a no brainer.
8. Real Time Web Integration For Cars – I want my car to provide web access for use in the Heads Up Display (think traffic, directions, sports scores) and for my laptop to connect to.  This really should be easy, no?  We have satellite radio.  We have live/real time traffic updates, so why not go the extra mile and offer web access.
9. The TSA Become Consistent and Logical – Why do some airports make you take off your shoes and others don’t?  How come O’hare requires me to take off my belt, but MSP, doesn’t?  MSP doesn’t require me to show my boarding pass anymore when going through security, but JFK does.  Even though all items get x-rayed, passengers can’t take wrapped presents on a plane.  If this is how grocery shopping was, we’d change how we buy.  But, the TSA and the airline industry have us by the short ones.  We gotta fix this.
10. Serious Challenger To the iPhone – I don’t think the Google Android platform is the answer.  So long as Apple has a lock on the OS and the hardware, it’s going to be tough for someone to challenge them. But, it’s not impossible.

As I stated in my presentation on micro Interactions, we come in contact with hundreds, if not thousands of brands every day.  I’m always fascinated by the brands we hold near and dear to our hearts.  The brands that we’ll never switch away from.  The brands we recommend unequivocally.  The brands we are most passionate about.  I’ve been taking a mental inventory of the brands and products I come across on a daily basis.  Given my love for top 10 lists, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 brands/products I’m most passionate about.

1. Dyson – I own two of them.  The DC14 Animal and the Root 16.  They make vacuuming a joy; but then again I’m a clean freak.  I use the Root 16 every day to clean my car.
2. BMW – I’ve owned a Suzuki, Toyota, Chevy, Oldsmobile, and a Jaguar in addition to the BMW’s I’ve owned.  There is no car that excites me like a BMW.  The styling, handling, design, engine, etc. are all flawless.  Sitting behind the wheel is the experience I look forward to every day.
3. Breitling – People who don’t “know” buy a Rolex.  People who do get a Breitling.  This isn’t to say Rolex is a bad brand.  There’s actually 2 Rolexes I want to buy, but when it comes to telling time (a watches primary job) there is nothing better.
4. Nike – I wear the shoes, the shorts, the shirts, etc.  I have the Nike+ system.  There commitment to innovation is what keeps me a fan.
5. Grey Goose – I’ve tried other Vodkas, but none ever live up to the flavorless taste of Grey Goose.  I want my Vodka to be like water.  I should be able to drink it on the rocks and have it be smooth as silk.  Effen vodka is a close second, but for me it’s a Goose and Tonic.
6. Red Bull – The taste, the can design, and effect of the drink all exceed my expectations.  If it weren’t unhealthy, I’d drink cans of Red Bull like people drink water; 8 cups a day.
7. Pepsi – When I go out and the waiter says sorry we don’t have Pepsi, would you like a Coke?  I say no.  It’s that simple.
8. Apple iPod – The brand Apple, I’m not such a fan of, but the iPod is something I can’t live without.  I have owned the following iPods: Shuffle, Nano, Mini, Touch, 2 iPod Videos, and 1 generation 1 iPod.  I also have two iPhones.  Yeah, I like the iPod.
9. Tivo – There is no substitute.  I know there are other options out there.  I’ve used several of the competitors’ products and none of them stack up.
10. Klipsch – When it comes to speakers, I’ve demoed dozens of brands and there is none better than Klipsch.  Our house is wired with Klipsch.  The sound is pure, the efficiency high, the quality fantastic, and the look stylish.