As a tech journalist, I am one of those people that have to stand up and be counted as part of the problem. Seeking out, and subsequently authoring a Jobs story isn't hard to do, and the end result usually equates to a spike in readership. The majority of writers want to be read, and in this beat, writing about Jobs is a surefire way to grab an audience's eyes.

That said, I'm over it.

When Jobs passed away last October, the Internet coverage hit such a high volume, that I was a little surprised that those at Google didn't sue Apple for overwhelming its search engine for a substantial period of time.

World leaders, competitors, celebrities, fellow innovators, and tech journalists lined up to pay homage to the man that helped create some of the most social, yet anti-social tech products to ever exist (iPhone, iPad, and iPod). The tributes made sense then, and arguably still made sense until the end of 2011.

But, here we are now fully entrenched in 2012. Tim Cook is now peddling the big wheel that is Apple, and the company has people peeing themselves with excitement over the prospect of the iPad 3 emerging in the coming months. Yet, amidst all of this, Jobs is still making news.

Columns were buzzing two weeks ago over the fact that Jobs was allegedly working with Neil Young on a new, higher fidelity digital audio service. Then, last week the story about the details of Jobs' FBI profile being released got everyone intrigued, and this week people have been all over the Grammy Award he was awarded posthumously for his contribution to the music industry.

By next week, I'd imagine some story will emerge about how Jobs encountered a grizzly bear in the woods 10 years ago, and escaped its presence by tossing a pair of classic iPods at its face (as if they were ninja stars) blinding the bear, and leaving it concussed.

Maybe a month from now, we will find out that Jobs once considered wearing only white turtlenecks at important events, but gave up on the idea because he didn't believe in the power of stain removal technology.

What I'm getting at here is that there seems to be this scary, continued obsession with Jobs. Sure, some people look at him as the Elvis Presley of the tech world, and will either never accept the fact that he's really gone, or continue to believe that he set the bar so high that no one else should even try to compete.

As a result of this, journalists that either feel that way, or feel as if they need a Jobs story at least once a week (if not more) to appease their readers, are only adding to the problem by continually publishing Jobs related content.

The last time I checked, one of technology's greatest attributes is its ability to continually evolve, and give people insight into what the future may hold. If most people also see it that way, why must we continue to treat Jobs as if he is this God-like figure that we must continually bow at the feet of?

I'm sure he's left a lot of great and fascinating ideas to those that remain at Apple, and that he has left an indelible mark on the lives of so many that he either encountered personally, or influenced indirectly. But seriously, it's time to move on. Let's start looking out for new heroes, and the soon-to-be legendary. These people are certainly out there, and are just waiting for their chance to soak up some of the spotlight.

After all, Jobs was just a man that between great ideas and killer, cutthroat business strategies likely still left the toilet seat up, forgot to bring home milk, and got in trouble for not giving his wife the right answer, at the right time. However, I'm sure the couch he had to sleep on from time-to-time was far more comfortable than the cripplers most dudes have to resort to.

Not too long ago, I had to console someone that was absolutely crushed by an iPhone sync and update experience gone wrong. Precautions were made ahead of the process to make sure that nothing important would be lost, but somehow something still went wrong.

Replaceable, yet annoying to have to re-track down items were erased, and precious memories that can't be recaptured permanently fell by the wayside. Anger, sadness, frustration, and confusion all took hold of the room until it was time to attempt to let the situation rest for a few hours.

What struck me about the whole circumstance was just how emotionally attached we can become to something like an iPhone. Unlike previous generations of phones, a smartphone is not only a communicator, but also a memory bank that can be packed with photos and videos, and apps that have kept you entertained, informed, and distracted, when you needed to be one of those ways. More significantly, a loaded up iPhone represents aspects of what and who we are, and where we've been, and who those experiences have been shared with.

As the realization of what was lost came into the forefront that night, not only did I feel terrible for the crappy misfortune that had been bestowed upon someone close to me, but I also began to wonder how I would feel if such a situation happened to me.

I'd like to think I'd be well prepared enough to ensure that nothing goes too horribly wrong. But, as this situation showed me, sometimes preparation isn't enough. Sometimes bad things happen to good people, for no real reason at all.

I'd also like to think that I'd be able to logically handle the idea of stuff, and important stuff getting lost, and perhaps permanently vaporized. But, I doubt that my brain and heart would allow me to swallow hard and tell myself that everything will be okay, and that things could be way worse.

Of course, I often rail against the idea of being totally devoted to any piece of technology, and often chirp at people that can't seemingly go on without their device(s) of choice. But now, I have to change my tone just a little bit.

While I still don't believe that people should totally rely on technology to keep their most intimate and important items safe, I can't argue with those that think the opposite way. Some people expect this heightened technological landscape to not let them down, and who can blame them?

They spend lots of money, and absorb lots of conversation and marketing content that suggests that they should trust something as random as a phone to keep aspects of their lives stored and saved. Not only that, but these people are fully embracing the now. They want to take advantage of all of the great innovations out there, and they don't want to be like me, and second-guess just about everything. I have to respect that.

To my compadre that fell victim to a rotten apple: I'm truly sorry that your trust in a system and an innovative update left you without so much of what's important to you. It certainly sucks to see a ton of memories get mysteriously wiped away, but by no means should this sink your belief in the iPhone you cherish. I may not always root for this passion of yours, but I can certainly applaud your willingness to explore its every avenue and belief that it'll always serve you well.

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Every year the marketing departments of gigantic, sustained companies, mid-level's looking for high-level attention, and upstarts hoping to make a monster splash, have to sit around their respective offices and try to develop a commercial that's original, visually astounding, funny, and thought provoking enough to encourage the boss to scribe a US$3.5 million (this year's average Super Bowl commercial spot price) cheque for a 30-second spot.

It's a huge risk. There's never any guarantee that any commercial is going to strike the chord in which a company shelled out the big bucks to hit. But if one does, I'm only to assume that the company reaps some kind of reward after the fact.

That said, I'm much more interested in knowing what it's like for those who created spots that ultimately fumbled the ball, dropped the pass, or kicked it wide right, if you will.

When they wake up the next day and discover that the media has put their contributions on the "Worst of" Super Bowl commercial lists, do their stomachs instantly turn as visions of pink slips and want-ads dance in their heads? Does it become time to start hunting for vacant window ledges?

Furthermore, do they somehow think that as soon as they leave their homes, they're going to be chased by pitchfork wielding bosses and an angry mob of online advertising elitists that trash such failures via Twitter and blog posts?

More interestingly, do they really care at all? Sure, it must suck to be creative contributors for a Super Bowl commercial that didn't impress, especially considering the millions upon millions of eyes that saw it. And sure it must be an awful feeling to think about how the higher-ups are going to react to investing heavily in something that died on the screen. But, it's not like these creative dudes created the Super Bowl commercial landscape, and its obvious risk and (potential) reward situation.

This perverted environment has been manufactured and continually expanded by the networks and the National Football League (NFL). They know how wide of a TV audience the Super Bowl will receive, and therefore uses that as a way to justify such incredibly ridiculous commercial spot costs. As a result, companies need to get more bang for their buck, and have to go big, or go home whimpering.

Naturally the commercial makers need to be cognizant of the larger stage in which they're expected to perform upon during the annual event, and should aim for the sky. But, like in the game, there's going to be winners and losers. I hope both they, and their bosses understand that.

There are very few guarantees in life, and when it comes to creative endeavours that are embarked upon with the hope of capturing and influencing a mass audience, there are even fewer guarantees. It's just a shame that nowadays life has to work that way for the artistic types in the commercial development world.

Three and a half million dollars (plus production costs) is a big number to live up to: I don't know if I'd be able to create affectively with such a high figure hanging above my brain. Kudos to those that can, and kudos to those that take their best shots.

As an active consumer, and former retail store servant, I've come to believe that sounds coming out of a place of business's speakers can play a huge role in how the whole operation runs.

When I'm in a mall, or store, I can't help but zone in on the music that's being played. I don't know why I choose to focus on this as opposed to good-looking girls, or stunning sales, but that's just what I do. Unfortunately, sometimes I pay so much attention to the tunes that I can't go on with my shopping experience.

The problem I find is that in-store music, like the radio, primarily caters to the Top 40 fans that would rather subject themselves to a catchy hook and sample, than something a little more original, yet equally fun and engaging. (I also see these people as those that must love smashing light bulbs, and then shoving their remnants straight into the eardrums.)

Seriously, how much Black Eyed Peas, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, and LMFAO is one shopper expected to willingly handle, before going berserk and kicking over a fancy hand soap display stand? I mean, seriously!

I'm sure I'm not the only guy that feels this way. I bet there is a big percentage of people out in the malls, and stores that have as much trouble tuning things out as I do. This means, in some cases, they too are putting the cash and cards back into a desired pocket, and hightailing it away from the awful audio abominations.

I know in-store music is designed to offer up a friendlier, looser, and more tra-la-la-la-la environment. In some cases that can work, but in others, it can annoy employees, make customers (like me) agitated and anxious to run out of the store, and thus leave the retailer with fledgling numbers.

Of course, Top 40 is the popular, and safest route to go. That, and it sure as hell is more appealing than muzak (for the most part). But, would it kill owners and management to spruce things up a bit, and add some more variety?

Like, would it really be so bad that if after whichever overplayed Kelly Clarkson song finished spinning, Devo's Whip It, or the Spin Doctors' Two Princes came on next? Or maybe a little James Brown? Everyone likes to get on up once and awhile.

Wouldn't that be the ultimate compromise? Give the popsters something to jive to, then give weirdos like me something kitschy and classic that may motivate spending more time and money in a place? I don't think it's too much to ask.

Of course, I can't expect management to want to scare away the older demographic by playing the hits of Slayer, N.W.A., or Motley Crue, but I would like to see some flexibility.

Not everyone wants to zone out to the safe bets all of the time. Sometimes being great at business requires taking some risks. Why not start with a playlist that rattles some cages, and go from there?

I got your back!

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1. OLED: LG has already confirmed that it will be showing a 55" OLED (organic light-emitting diode) HDTV. The specs are amazing. It weighs 16.5 pounds, and is under a quarter of an inch deep. Samsung is also expected to show a big OLED television.

Because OLED pixels emit no light at all when they're turned off, blacks are anthracite-deep. But there are some questions around large-screen OLED displays: lifespan (especially of blue pixels), immunity to reflection, and price. At CES 2012, we'll start getting the answers.

2. 4K2K: Another emerging high-end television story is the emergence of flat-panel displays with 3,840x2,160-pixel resolution. LG says it will have an 84" 4K2K "ultra definition" LCD at CES. Sharp may also show a big 4K2K display, likely an 80-incher. As there's no current source of 4K2K content, the primary application for these televisions will viewing upconverted HD video.

Here's a question I have about 4K2K: for a given size (70" say), how close do you have to sit to the screen to see a meaningful improvement over HD? In typical applications, does 4K2K deliver real benefits, or is it primarily relevant to home theaters with projectors and really big screens?

3. Big screens: At CES 2011, Sharp announced it would henceforth focus on screen sizes 60" and bigger. It showed a 70" model, then the world's biggest consumer LCD TV. Halfway through 2012, Sharp launched an 80-incher. Will Sharp go beyond 80" in 2012? It will be interesting to see how other companies respond. Surely, Sharp's success with really big screens hasn't escaped its competitors' attention. Will Sharp retain its title as big-screen king? We'll know in a few days.

4. Small computers: The MacBook Air has been a big hit for Apple, and the Wintel world has definitely taken notice. Intel has been promoting pushing its Ultrabook concept for about a year. At CES 2012, loads of vendors will be showing Ultrabooks. And while Apple got there first, its grip on the ultra-portable PC market isn't nearly as unassailable as it is with tablets. There are loads of people who are firmly in the Windows world who would like an Air-like portable, and who will happily pay a premium of a few hundred dollars over a standard notebook.

For 2012, I'm thinking that Ultrabook-like computers will steal some thunder back from the iPad and tablets. Tablets are great for consuming content, but flawed for creating it. Ultra-portable PCs bridge those two worlds; and they're hitting attractive price points.

5. Computer audio: This steadily growing sector is poised to move from niche to mainstream status, both for headphone and out-loud listening. Audiophile brands like Cambridge Audio, Musical Fidelity and Wadia have moved in that direction; and new brands like Burson Audio and Woo Audio have appeared.

The same is happening in the headphone market. These are boom times for established companies like Sennheiser, AKG and Grado; and we're seeing a stream of new brands like Audeze and HiFiMAN.

Larger audio vendors are rapidly moving into this space. Denon, NAD and Paradigm all have very interesting (and quite different) initiatives around digital and personal audio. More proof that this stuff is hitting the mainstream: Samsung has just announced a hybrid tube/solid-state 2.1-channel digital dock that supports wireless playback via AirPlay and DLNA.

6. Network entertainment: Internet TV (IPTV) was a big theme of CES 2011. It will be interesting to see how TV vendors refine their IPTV offerings this year in terms of functionality, ease of use and responsiveness. And it will be interesting to see how the interfaces evolve. Will we see support for control by gesture, using Kinect-like technology? Will the range and quality of content that Canadians can get from IPTV services evolve?

Network entertainment delivered over the Internet is certainly the future. The question is, how quickly will it arrive? And what barriers will vested interests (telecom companies and lapdog regulators) try to impose?

It's going to be an interesting year.

Take, for example, the "Rogers Innovation Report." The bubbly PR blurb that accompanied the report described it as "a first-of-its-kind survey from Rogers that captures consumer predictions on hot technology topics that impact our daily lives."

It's based on an Internet survey of owners of tablets and smartphones who are also Angus Reid Forum panelists. These are people who have signed up to complete online surveys, and are paid for their participation.

My beef with all surveys - telephone, Internet, whatever - is that they leave no room for nuance. Participants can't say what they think about the subject at hand. They can only indicate whether they agree with canned statements. Those statements are almost always designed to promote the sponsor's agenda, and elicit favourable responses.

So it's not surprising that this group, which by its nature is far more technophilic than most people, thinks technological nirvana is right around the corner. The sponsor's agenda gusts out from between the lines of the survey's breezy statements.

For example, 85% agree that, "The day will come when you can access your family memories that are saved in a central location, from anywhere, anyplace, anytime." O glorious day! Especially glorious for your wireless provider if you access your family memories in another country, or you go over your data limit. Ca-ching!

And 81% agree that, "People will travel lighter as files; documents, music, videos and other content are available to them virtually." My laptop and smartphone are pretty light; but the documents, music, videos they contain weigh nothing at all! But if I'm using a mobile data plan to pull them from the cloud, my phone bill could be rather heavy!

The future is definitely getting faster. "Due to faster speeds, more people will play mobile games, stream videos, music and TV content on their mobile devices," agree 83% of respondents. Guess that means a heftier data plan or some surprise bills.

Wireless nirvana means your provider having its hand on your wallet, almost literally. "More people will use their smartphones to make purchases," say 79% of respondents. "Your smartphone will replace your wallet," say 43%. Phone companies could teach banks a lesson or two about hidden charges. I don't relish the prospect of my phone company being my banker.

Happy New Year.

P.S.: Have you been ROGERed by your telecom provider? Had your Bell rung? TELUS all about it in the comments section below.

It's plain and simple. Don't be one of those individuals that pushes or bumps people out of the way to get a product, and don't yell at the cashier if something goes wrong during the transaction. It's not necessary. I don't care how much of an adrenaline rush you get from the sight of an extraordinary deal, or how much stress is remaining in your system from the holiday rush. Being a jerk to fellow shoppers or store employees is inexcusable, whether they push your buttons ornot. Be the better person, and move on.

2. Set a Budget

It's certainly easy to spend until you're broke (or even worse, deep in debt), but don't do it. If you do, chances are that a few days after the Boxing Week rush is over for you, you'll look at your latest acquisitions and realize that at least half of them were knee-jerk purchases. From experience, it's way better to sit there and say, "Man, I should've bought x and y," and be able to afford groceries, than to look at the bags and receipts and wonder,"Hmm, maybe I should attempt an all water diet this week."

3. Have a Plan

Too many times I have found myself circling stores, malls, and cities for the greatest deals. By lunch my legs are cramped, my head is throbbing, and I begin despising my fellow shoppers because, like me, they have fallen victim to the temptation of taking advantage of as many deals as possible, as opposed to determining ahead of time which deals to pursue. By figuring out what you truly want/need during Boxing Week, you will save yourself some energy, money, and from having to pose in the fetal until all feels right with the world again.

4. Eat

Food courts suck on Boxing Week, and restaurants (to the enthusiastic shopper) take too much time out of the shopping day to truly be enjoyed. Nevertheless, one must eat. I don't care if it's energy bars in the pockets, a picnic basket in the backseat, or setting up a mini grill on a patch of grass by the mall to cook some frankfurters can on the fly. Eating is a must. The nutrients will keep you functional and stop you from becoming that person that faints straight into the display model of the must-have big=screen TV.

5. Have Fun

Boxing Week can be overwhelming, but it should be fun as well. It's exciting to be able to get something you or your household truly need, for a bargain basement price. Sure, the crowds, traffic, and cash outlay can lead to an absolute freak out; but try to resist. It's only shopping, and there are far more things in life to get stressed about. Not being first in line, or not coming away with a certain product shouldn't be some of those things.

Now, saddle up and ride!

Photo by: Graur Razvan Ionut
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