Users can instantly download books, magazines, newspapers, television, radio, movies, and other forms of software to their highly portable personal communication devices.
hitTwo blind graders agree (D7, rule D16). Not in the audit sample (D11).
Grader A: hit
By 2009 users could download books (Kindle over Whispernet, from 2007), music, video and apps directly to portable devices (iPhone, iPod touch). Smartphone ownership reached 35% of US adults in May 2011. Download was fast but not always 'instant'.
Test: At least 20% of users by 2011: 35% of US adults had smartphones in May 2011; 32% had gone online with a mobile device by April 2009.
Amazon Kindle (Wikipedia) (2007-11-19): Kindle launched November 2007 with Whispernet wireless delivery and no monthly fee.
In 2009 users could download books and newspapers (Kindle Whispernet, 2007) and music, TV and movies (iTunes on iPhone/iPod touch) directly to portable devices.
Test: Capability test: available to mainstream device owners by 2009.
Wikipedia: Amazon Kindle (accessed 2026-09-28): Kindle Nov 2007, 6-inch 167 ppi e-ink; Amazon e-books passed paperbacks Q4 2010 and print overall early 2011.
Wikipedia: iPhone (1st generation) (accessed 2026-09-28): 2007 iPhone: flash storage, multi-touch screen, no physical keyboard; 6.1M units sold to mid-2008.
All captured fields
rank
65
kind
decade_prediction
section
Communication
subject
Instantly download media to portable devices
target year
2009
timing
in
position
Chapter 9, "2009"; item Communication 8 in Kurzweil 2010, p. 56
confidence
high
note
Wording as reproduced by the author in "How My Predictions Are Faring" (2010); book page not given there. Subject label is the essay's own item heading.