Top 10 Post-Internet Developments In Entertainment; From Full Movie Downloads To Skype

Technology has always impacted how we live our lives, from major medical advancements, to smaller every-day conveniences. The creation of new technologies and improvements to existing concepts are often the catalyst for revolutionary change. Entertainment is one aspect of life which has been, inarguably, profoundly shaped by technology. Take for example, full movie downloads; thanks to the endless possibilities afforded by the internet, it is now possible to watch a major motion picture virtually anywhere access is available!

1. Movie Downloads

Movies have been a beloved form of entertainment from conception, when black and white, silent and blurry moving images were first captured on camera. Over the years, technological developments have had a profound influence over how movies are both produced and enjoyed.

Today's movies and theater venues barely resemble their humble beginnings. Movies can now be seen on a gigantic IMAX screen; in the privacy of one's home on a flat screen; in-flight embedded on the back of a passenger seat; or in its newest, most high-tech form, downloaded with the click of a button onto laptops or even cell phones.

2. High-Definition Television

The United States was first introduced to HDTV technology in the early nineties, and the first public broadcast occurred in 1996. Due to early cost restrictions, it did not become a widely accessible mainstream staple until after the millennium. Now there are a multitude of television channels exclusively devoted to High-Def programming.

High-Def technology enables viewers to experience content in previously unthinkably realistic detail. Nature shows and sports events are particularly enhanced by the crystal clear depictions high-def provides. The quality is so great that some sports fans now prefer staying at home, watching a game on high-def to attending live. At home there aren't nose-bleed seats, over-priced snacks, rowdy fans, traffic, etc.

3. DVR

In this age of instant gratification, DVR technology allows television viewers to effectively create their own programming schedule, watching what they want, when they want. Not only can viewers customize programming, but also no longer need to wait out commercial breaks. With DVR, viewers can fast forward through commercials in mere seconds.

DVR also allows for the review of real-time content. One major advantage of this rewind component is that sports fans can now create their own instant replays. Previously fleeting, short-lived moments from live television are now recorded and replayed ad nausea ala Janet Jackson's 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.

4. iTunes

It is hard to believe but iTunes was first released less than a decade ago. In January 2001, MAC introduced the inaugural version of iTunes to consumers. Many revisions followed, and upgrades and improvements continued to be made. ITunes has had a profound impact on the music industry at large, from artist development and promotion to product distribution.

In addition to providing an immediate shopping experience, iTunes helps listeners find music they would have never been exposed to otherwise. One of the many benefits iTunes provides is customized new music recommendations. Artists and songs are suggested based on previous selections.

5. KINDLE

While the jury is still out on kindle's adoption by the masses, it has generated a lot of interest from early adopters. Kindle allows readers to instantly download thousands of books to one compact piece of equipment. It presents a major departure from the traditional book reading experience.

Kindle offers many benefits to travelers and vacationers. Kindle owners can take along a virtually endless supply of reading material, unhindered by limited bag space or heavy hard-covers.

6. SKYPE

As the formerly abstract concept of a global community becomes reality, means of remotely communicating with distant friends and family have evolved. People around the world are choosing to spread their wings and experience life away from hometowns. As society spreads, social networks have become wider as well.

Skype not only offers a bridge to family and friends in far off places, it does so at no extra charge. Anyone with access to an internet connection can connect with both audio and video to a fellow skyper, enjoying an experience that is the next best thing to an in-person visit.

7. MySpace

Speaking of keeping in contact with remote friends and family, MySpace revolutionized modern communication at large. MySpace created an entirely new platform for self expression, interpersonal exchanges and large-scale group networking. Countless hours have been spent reconnecting with long-lost high school sweethearts, childhood pals and distant relatives.

The groundwork laid out by MySpace paved the way for the arguably more successful social network, Facebook, and the highly influential, Twitter.

8. YOU TUBE

What iTunes did for music, You Tube has done for video. The website has essentially democratized broadcasting, allowing every individual with a camera and computer the opportunity to capture a worldwide audience. Where viewers were previously limited to the programming selected by corporate networks, You Tube offers an endless stream of content.

Not only have the viewers benefit from You Tube, but the site has been the medium for a plethora of life-altering success stories. Content creators who have gained immensely large viewers now enjoy international notoriety, and talented but anonymous posters have caught the eye of influential star-makers.

9. iPhone

The iPhone was the first mass consumed piece of technological equipment to provide conveniently portable access to internet's infinite content. While laptops have existed for years, their size and weight limit portability. The iPhone is small enough to be stored conveniently in a regular pant pocket and light enough to not weigh anyone down.

Taking into considering the thousands of useful, fun and creative applications designed exclusively for the iPhone, in addition to general internet access; the device's potential for entertainment is truly endless.

10. Online Poker

A mainstay of both casino card parlors and home games, poker has been played for over two hundred years. However, it was not until 1998 that the first online poker site emerged. Since then, online poker has become a wildly popular form of adult entertainment.

Online poker gives any individual instant access to a pickup game or tournament twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Its impact has been illustrated at recent World Series of Poker events where the best of the best compete for major stakes. Online poker players are increasingly represented at the tournament's final table.