We didn't see nearly the wackiness I honestly expected. I think the ups and downs of 2001 got in the way of most of it. However, we have seen some strange stuff. Two products, in particular, stand out in my mind, and both are Springboard modules.

The first is the Raycom Personal Massager, a Springboard module that sends minute electrical currents into your body as an aid to muscle tension.

The second is the JETLOG 24x7 PowerNapping Module. This thing apparently keeps you awake, except during the times you're supposed to sleep for optimal napping. Now, on the surface, this is a crazy idea. But what they're talking about is actually very interesting.

The National Sleep Foundation tells us that nearly two-thirds of American adults (62%) experience a sleep problem a few nights per week or more. Jetlag and on-the-job sleep problems abound in areas from the military to business travelers. And there are ways that can combat these sorts of sleep problems, chief among them being sleeping at the right time. Now, we haven't yet tested the PowerNapping module, but it seems reasonably clear that they're going after a very specific set of people who need help getting better sleep.

We've also seen more than our fair share of genuine craziness, as is the case in any environment where it's easy to write software. I'm not going to focus on those products; they'll be clear enough when you bump into them.

For 2002, I predict we'll see more unpredictable products. Who would have thought that Palm OS devices would be used to shock you and then help knock you out? The next year, I'm sure, will produce even more interesting gadgets.

9. Palm in the enterprise
My 2001 prediction: We've been covering this in-depth in PalmPower's Enterprise Edition at http://www.palmpowerenterprise.com. The more I look at it, the more I'm convinced that Palm handhelds are going to take the enterprise by storm. Stay tuned, you'll see.

I was certainly right on track with this one. We'd only published a few issues of PalmPower's Enterprise Edition as of last January. We've now published more than a year's worth, and the breath of enterprise solutions is astounding. The past year saw Palm continuing to make great strides in the enterprise marketplace. You can visit our month-by-month journey through 2001 and take a look back at all the great enterprise-related happenings of the past 12 months at http://www.palmpowerenterprise.com/issues/issue200201/eyear001.html.

For 2002, I predict more of the same. There's going to be some encroachment by other competitors, but there's no question Palm has the upper hand. There will be a battle over spin, however. Already we're seeing some sadly uninformed analysts reporting that Microsoft has the enterprise locked and that the Palm OS is only suited for the commercial realm. 2002 will continue to prove them wrong.

10. PalmPower search engine
My 2001 prediction: Mrs. Gewirtz didn't raise a stupid boy. I'm not going to do a set of predictions without knowing, with absolute certainty, that at least one of them will come true. PalmPower will have a search engine in 2001.