FRAMINGHAM, MA, Dec. 27 -- Digitization of media, expansion of broadband options, proliferation of new converged devices, and collision and consolidation of market leaders will define the top consumer trends in 2005, says a new report.

Accrding to market researchers IDC, 2005 will be a huge year for handheld game consoles and other portable gaming devices. The firm lists Sony's new PSP handheld gaming device and Nintendo's DS as standouts.

The firm also forecasts continued broadband adoption and VoIP.

HDD-based, portable MP3 players will see strong growth. Portable media players, however, will disappoint.

Digital camera shipments will exceed 80 million units, pushing conventional film cameras out. Winners will be Canon and Olympus, at the expense of most consumer electronics vendors -- Samsung, Panasonic and Casio -- and IT vendors -- HP, Gateway, Epson, Creative Labs and Logitech. (Sony, as a digital camera leader, is the consumer electronics exception, IDC says.)

IP video is a hot topic, but rollouts will be minimal in 2005. IP video efforts and offerings are expected to remain largely on the fringes in many regions, says IDC.

Read more ...