Top 10 Tech Trends of
2014 Brought to you by the Experts at Experts Exchange.

1 Windows 8 will continue
to DECLINE in popularity. Microsoft will release Windows “next” codebase early: late 2014 or 2015 instead of 2016, as planned.

“meh” Windows 8 was released
this year with a heard round the world. Even though the 8.1 release brought back the sorely-missed Start Button, the latest Microsoft OS seems to be going the way of Vista. Microsoft will have to kick up the production on the next version to restore their place in the market.

2 Fewer companies will manufacture
tablets as profit margins plunge. Despite their growing popularity, they will NOT replace computers.

Computerworld reported that even though
Kindle Fire, Apple iPad, and Microsoft Surface are being marketed for productivity on-the-go, a survey of tablet owners revealed that less than 10% of users had intentions of using tablet computers instead of laptops. It might take another generation to make old habits die hard.

3 TV+ Internet = one
in the same: Tighter integration of internet and TV will lead to the demise of cable and satellite subscriptions, similar to what happened to newspapers.

More people every month are
“cutting the cable” ; replacing highpriced TV services with connected devices that open up a buffet of a la carte media options.

4 Smartphones and other mobile
devices will become more attached (wired or wireless) to other hardware, such as cars, refrigerators, homes, security cameras, gaming consoles, toys, etc

You can already start your
car, or run your home appliances from your smartphone. There seems to be no limit to what we are interested in connecting to our phone. Next up, your phone will drive the car, make dinner, AND plan your birthday party.

5 HTML 5 will continue
to grow in popularity, and more functionality will be added.

In mid-December, W3C announced that
the HTML5 definition is complete and will likely be a standard by the middle of the year.

6
Flash will DIE.

Apple fans have been calling
for the DEATH of Flash for years, predicting its end since, what, 2008? They may finally get their wish in 2014. The prevalence of mobile (especially iPhones) assures the final days of Flash are upon us.

7 Social Mining: Will continue to
expand; privacy and compliance practices will dominate.

This year’s “big data” buzz
will make way for the next big thing in information collection and management- mining data in the cloud of social media. With all that rich user data we are making available for the taking, social sites will need to take more responsibility for protecting their users while remaining profitable.

8 Web development will go
from a traditional server with serverside language connections to a web service that can more easily be ported to multiple configurations (hosted/cloud) and uses (app/website).

In 2014, it will be
difficult to name a technology that won’t have some kind of cloud integration. Software as a Service (SAAS) is quickly becoming the gold standard for effective software solutions. Application developers should take note, and go to the cloud to succeed.

9 Rise of the VIRTUAL
MACHINES. The built-in integration of Hyper-V in the newer OS's, plus workstations that are powerful enough to support it well, will result in expanded use of VM's.

Productivity is always a paramount
priority in business. Virtual Machines make working with remote systems faster and more efficient, putting your team ahead in the game.

10 Blended technologist career roles
will continue to emerge. Universities and other educational institutions will continue to diversify their curricula to support this.

In today's world, technology skills
are required in all jobs. Whether you are in finance, HR or software development, tech skills will help you get ahead. Online knowledge from services like Coursera, Lynda, or Experts Exchange allow anyone with an internet connection to learn new tech skills, and improve their career options.

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is the network for technology professionals. With unparalleled access to technical experts, verified real-world solutions, and diverse educational content, we enable technology professionals to solve difficult problems, make better decisions, and build expertise on their own terms. By enabling personalized skills development and relevant professional exposure, Experts Exchange powers the growth and success of technology professionals worldwide. ! Survey Methodology Predictions were submitted through a survey of Experts Exchange qualified Experts in December 2013.