[ccebook.cn]The World in 2010

Europe
Coolissimo
Nov 13th 2009
The must-haves for 2010
The must-haves for 2010
Do you remember back in 1980 when we all rushed to buy a tape recorder that couldn’t record? They called it
a Walkman. Today, you might be able to pick one up at a charity shop. Thirty years on, what will be the new
icons? Here’s a view from Milan.
Black cars. Silver cars dominated the European roadscape during the 1990s and for most of the 2000s. Black
was for government ministers, archbishops, film stars and Russian oligarchs. Brighter hues were for Germans.
All of a sudden, from Paris to Palermo, it’s back to black (only Amy Winehouse saw that coming).
White wines. From Australia to California and France itself, white wines will have a boom year. Italy’s best
bianchi come from Friuli, Trentino-Alto Adige and Sardinia. Veneto’s prosecco is proving a formidable
competitor in the bubbly stakes. Cheaper than champagne but stylish, easy to drink and prettily named.
Standard mobile-phone charger. At last, micro USB connectors for all! The European Commission has
convinced ten mobile-phone manufacturers representing 90% of the EU market to commit themselves to
standardised chargers. Today, there are over 30 different models, and 50m chargers are thrown out every
year because they don’t fit the owner’s new phone.
Rear-view cameras. These are common nowadays on SUVs and luxury cars,
mostly as part of expensive option packages. Expect them to appear on cheaper
cars. They’re smart, simple and children love them. When you hear “Mum’s on
camera!”, remember to stop.
Washing-up liquid on tap. Just fill up. Why bother with those bulky plastic bottles
that are so difficult to dispose of?
Glass lifts. Once seen only on top of hotels or in buildings designed by trendy
architects, glass lifts are set to become standard fittings, wherever possible. They’re
not just cool but uplifting (obviously).
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