News Report Online

What happens if you don’t catch the latest hot trend in time? You could end up losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. That’s why it’s important to be aware that not all trends are as hot as they seem. It may sound counterintuitive, but the way to beat a trend is not to jump on the bandwagon just because everyone else is doing it. Instead, make your own predictions based on your personal experience and knowledge base microwaves bed bath and beyond.

1. Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii was the hot gaming console in 2006, 2007 and 2008, but then sales dropped off dramatically. Many gamers said it was too kiddy or that there weren’t enough games for adults. In 2009, Nintendo released a new version of the product, just a few months before Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PS3 were scheduled to hit the market. But the revised Wii wasn’t enough to save it from declining sales. There are still plenty of these sitting around in stockrooms. You can get them used for $150-$175—sometimes less—and they are still worth considerably less than they were originally sold for as new items. Don’t buy these!

2. Apple iPod Touch

Apple had such great success with the first generation iPod back in 2003, but the company stumbled with the second and third versions. The iPod Touch, a smaller version of the original music player, was released in October 2009…ten months after Apple’s iPhone hit the market. But don’t be fooled by this date: Apple had been working for over 18 months on an iPhone-like product that could only be used on a wireless network instead of being used as a standalone device. This happened roughly one year after they were originally rumored to be releasing such a device. Many people assumed that it would be released alongside the iPhone and it would take some of its thunder away, but they were wrong.

3. Google Adsense

Google has been in the online advertising business since 1999, but it wasn’t until 2006 that they started getting big with their Adsense program. The company had been working on their own ad network for so long that, despite many rumors to the contrary, it was actually a very good idea. By 2008, sites began adopting the Adsense program and starting taking advantage of its opportunities. Especially popular was the ability to make money from “sponsored” links or ads that were placed in front of their users while they shopped. When the company announced their new policy of placing ads on a handful of sites that would be paid for by all users, there were problems within the company and many companies ended up suing them. It was also around this time that Google dropped their Adsense from Chrome as well. But don’t worry…that’s not always a bad thing! You can take advantage of Google’s Adsense program to earn some extra cash!

4. Apple iPhone

Apple released their own smartphone in the fall of 2007 and it looked like it was going to be a huge hit. In fact, it sold over 12 million units during its first quarter in sales alone. No one had ever seen anything like it…until the Blackberry Storm hit the market in early 2008. This new smartphone was essentially a watered-down Apple iPhone with a physical keyboard. Apple sued RIM for patent infringement but lost (but was awarded over $600 million). While Apple hasn’t released exact numbers for their iPhone sales, many analysts feel that it has been losing steam and may have peaked as far back as 2007. Don’t buy an iPhone unless you get one at a very good price: it’s worth considerably less now than when it originally came out!

5. iLife

In the fall of 2007, Apple released their iLife suite of products for its customers to use on their computers. These included applications for video editing, music editing and audio, photo editing, and even a movie creation program. The problem was that the iLife program was riddled with bugs and confusing features, which made it unusable most of the time. Even worse is that Apple allowed people who had purchased applications to download them again without having to pay anything! This occurred shortly after releasing an update that wasn’t compatible with some older versions of iTunes. Not only were users ticked off, but they were also extremely skeptical about future software releases from Apple. In some instances, people started buying software from alternate companies that had a better reputation. Let’s just say that Apple missed a golden opportunity for themselves and for consumers at the same time.

6. Insane Clown Posse

Insane Clown Posse has been around since 1990 and is one of the biggest acts in rap music. Their face-painted antics have become legendary and have earned them multiple Grammy Awards over the years, as well as being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But with all this exposure, it’s no surprise that other rappers have taken advantage of their image by copying them and “getting their jib” on.