Okay, I have been there since mid 1990’s. I was one of the guys who always had the latest mobile phone with him, usually several ones at the same time. Very often something you couldn’t buy from the shops yet. I am still known as “phone-guy” among many people. I have been co-founding dot.coms, mobile services, content companies and so on. I still follow the business - and yes, I have one of the latest ones always with me - but the fever is gone. What the heck is happening or am I just getting old?

Just went through all the latest gadgets presented at CES. Nice TV-sets, nice new tablets, some latest for mobile phones as well. But honestly, there was not a one that would make me to desire for one. Not a one. And most probably set of new ones coming out next month in Barcelona. And thousands and thousands nice apps for iPhone, but so few that would really make me to enjoy. Less apps and less enjoyment available at Nokia’s OVI. New Blackberries, so what? New bluerays, new TV sets … No desire for any specific device or service. Maybe I am dead.

In late 1990 and early 2000 the latest mobile phone innovations were interesting, since then most of the stuff are just light add-ons to existing. iPhone was and still is something new, now we have plenty of Android phones flowing in, but still there is nothing that really changes the way you use your phone. It’s still about making a call, writing messages and browsing; all something I have for more than a decade. What’s the new thing here? I remember when color screens came, that was a big step and felt good. And we made so many beautiful business plans for mobile entertainment that time; with pretty light results, I am afraid. Navigation with your phone? Yes, but real navigators are still better. Taking photos with your phone? Yes, but the real cameras are better. Yes, I know the purpose is different but I personally hate phones with bad cameras since there are no use for bad quality photos in this life. Development has been fast but still slow, I feel. Is this like development of automobiles; we were supposed to fly with our cars by this millennium, right? Maybe a wow phone would be one with the most beautiful design and a user interface you can build by own?

Industry leaders are saying - or actually they have had the same stories for years now - that the future is about smart phones. What the heck is a smart phone? It’s still a phone, I think. That cute “Smartness” is linked to all other features the phone has and as those features are worse than in other more specific gadgets, it’s not so smart. I don’t desire for the latest stuff unless we are seeing the next big step. I could see augmented reality being like that; if it’s work, of course. Cordless charging and power would be good and I know there are good ones already, not maybe ready for mass market yet but sure coming. But actually, a real always on/never charged device would be the one. Continuous charging through solar power cells would be a real step forward. And totally cordless connections with everything we have at home or in offices; that would be something.

From end-user point of view the features, or failures, are still surprising practical. Great, bright, beautiful screen is mostly a synonym to bad battery life, so obvious of course. We have one grey-screen Nokia phone as our alarm clock at home (funny, I know) that works easily for months without charging! Great browsing or navigational services require more communication with network and there we are again suffering with battery life problems. Or network problems. Lots of intelligent software brings problems with operating system and everybody has to know the way to boot and restart. And guys, it happens with iPhone as well, let’s be honest.

When the LED TVs came around year ago out I was feeling a light wow effect for a minute. But then found myself thinking what’s the real benefit of slim design? In mobile phones I have not felt any wows for years, outside iPhone launch there has not been anything very cool, you know. iPhones 3GS – it’s still same stuff. Latest Google phones – more like great-managed PR than revolutionary devices. I sort of feel that there are more interesting stuff coming out in forms of airplanes, houses, furniture and cars than consumer electronics. The gadget fever is gone. Or I am old. Or there is a limit how much you can desire for latest gadgets in your life.

After all, cheers for gadgets with high wow factor. I believe, or hope, there will be one again.