(Column) - It wasn’t too long ago when companies started integrating as many features as they possibly could to outdo each other. There was innovation, true competition and an abundance of new features, but that soon changed when features weren’t a commodity, but rather a standard. Even the quality of products has reached a ceiling nowadays. In fact, the only thing differentiating quality products from one another is their price point and appearance. And as far as features are concerned, they are all there, but with different names.

With that said, I’m noticing a new trend in consumer electronics lately - simplicity. Let’s be honest here. How many of us want gadgets that are loaded with thousands of buttons, look bulky and cost significantly more than what we can afford? Thankfully, companies are now starting to embrace the more economic model, thereby making consumer electronics more mainstream than they were a few years ago.

That’s not to say economically friendly gadgets lack a serious amount of features. They do not. They might not have some of the more advanced or updated features, but seriously, how many of us regularly use all of the features that are provided to us in MP3 players, cameras or other digital devices? The really nitty-gritty options are designed for activity fanatics who can’t live with standard configurations and need more control than an average person. Even as an enthusiast, I hardly ever work with an equalizer option on music players unless I absolutely need to, which rarely happens.

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