I just re-read the blog post in which I made some predictions for 2007 (See: An eye on 2007). It’s amazing how misdirected you can be in just a few paragraphs. It was fun, though, to think ahead and wonder about what would happen. So, to entertain myself on a calm and quiet New Year’s Day, here are my hopes, thoughts and (small p) predictions for 2008.

1) Google will beta an audio-to-text indexing service

This is a carry-over from last year because I still like the idea. Frankly, Google will have to get in to the multimedia indexing game eventually, so why not now?

2) The RIAA will suffer a blow

With all of the victories it has posted, the RIAA is about due to lose some wind in a court of law. Some lucky person or organization will have the right lawyers to successfully defend itself against an RIAA lawsuit and the victory will be significant, diminishing the force we read about in the paper all-too-often.

3) A single social dashboard

A new tool will facilitate the management of all social media accounts (YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, etc…) and individual Internet properties (blogs, websites, etc…) from a single social dashboard.

4) Local communities will take on a greater significance

Conferences became more popular and grew to unprecedented sizes in 2007 - growing communities from the outside-in. In 2008, social and new media practitioners and the curious public will meet more often in local settings. This will strengthen local networks and help to build communities from the inside-out, finally establishing the communities where they belong.

5) 5000 points of connection

Mitch Joel will finally achieve his goal of having 5000 people in the Six Pixels of Separation Facebook group.

6) The Police will record a new studio album

Hey! They weren’t even supposed to reunite.

Whatever 2008 holds in store for us, I wish everyone a very happy and successful year.  I hope to connect with you at a social/new media event.

Tod Maffin said that the problem with being a futurist is that people hold you to account when you “get it wrong”. So, I will say that this post is a combination of my (ahem) predictions and hopes for 2007.

In no particular order…

1) Podcast and RSS distribution networks will become more influential

They have separated indie bands from those signed to major labels, and they will start to increase the gap between the basement Podcasters and those who produce “gold” or have connections or money — distribution networks will bridge the gap between the producers and consumers via those who can repackage and mass-circulate content to those with influence and large audiences.

2) Apple’s M4A will become widely available

Whether through affordable licensing options or released to the public domain, Apple will make its proprietary M4A file format widely available. In fact, this will be the first step towards Apple making it possible for any portable player to hook into iTunes thus increasing the profile of its powerful online music store.

3) Tracking tools will be developed

Some genius will develop a tool to track and report on Podcast listen details (time of listen, length of listen, fast-forwards, etc…) from a portable or computer player to the creator. Who will be the first? iTunes? Microsoft? iRiver? PodPress?

4) Google will index audio

Google will launch an extremely accurate speech-to-text translator that will index audio content from RSS feeds, leaving PodScope and Podzinger in its wake.

5) Powerful commenting functions

It will become easier for listeners to participate in the conversation when someone rolls out a feature that makes it possible to cache a text or audio comment that will be sent to the Podcast producer the next time the device is synced with a computer.

6) Taking managing the media to the next level

Political parties and companies will eliminate press releases and refuse interviews, replacing them with internally produced Podcasts (audio and video) as a way to manage their public image and press relations. They will create their own reports and sound-bites and publish them through RSS using an open license for reuse by media organizations.

Here’s to the year that was, and the year that will be!