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The countdown to Black Friday has begun, and all of the bloggers, analysts, and observers are starting to roll out their predictions for 2013. There's a mixed bag out there, with some real visionaries hitting the mark, and some that just don't quite get it; but regardless, it's time to throw in my own two cents.

The barrier to entry for gaming developers, as is the case with much of development today, is diminishing, and this is a positive development. Particularly for lower-end but equally fun 2D games that are playable on Android or iPhones, SDKs are readily available and inexpensive, and there are ready-made venues for selling your product.

Lower production costs for video and movies—thanks to digital video production tools—has given rise to more successful indie producers, distributors and content outlets. Many years ago, when there was black and white television and three networks, there was little choice for someone who produced content.

Today’s startups are turning the traditional model of “how to” on its head. Startup entrepreneurs, particularly in the tech sector, start out by seeking advice—and that’s never a bad thing.

Every company, large or small, wants to have new product launches like Apple. Every time Apple releases something, the anticipation is palpable, and on the first day of release there are lines snaking out of the Apple stores around the block all over the country. How do they do it?

The emerging model for software development has come to a point where it must transcend the underlying technology. Some of the most interesting software companies never make it, because they develop useful technology but that's where they stop.

I remember when automobile brands were highly distinctive. If you were to see a '59 Cadillac DeVille driving down the street, there was no question that it was a Caddy. Studebaker, made right here in my hometown of South Bend, Indiana, was another classy shop, with world-class design that stood out from the pack.

Facebook's IPO didn't go as planned, and now the share price is dropping. Wall Street is doing what it usually does in such cases. They over-react. They make a lot of noise about how the 28-year-old Zuckerberg should step aside and let a professional CEO take over.

New technologies appear every day, but there are a handful of technologies—or more accurately, meta-technologies—that are changing the world. Cloud computing is one of them.

Tech and Internet startups are some of the most unique businesses in the world, not just because of the innovative technology they create, but because of the highly unusual culture and work environment they tend to cultivate.

[chunklet] flickr/dierken

Microsoft has entered into the startup investment world in a big way with its Bing Fund, an angel investment fund and incubator.