First with phones, and now with desktop browsers, apps are continuing to make inroads into our daily digital lives. But reading this article about the success of the NCAA tournament streaming app, it made me wonder how apps will ultimately fare in this evolving ecosystem.

I distinctly recall an event at the AFI in Hollywood back in 2001 (or so) when CBS was touting the integration of CSI (the original one) into a digital component that would augment the TV series. I was curious who was making money off the ads that shared space in the browser window, how that money was allocated, and who controlled the real estate on the page.

Likewise, now that apps are proving to be popular for video and music, what role do the stakeholders, such as sports leagues, telecoms, broadcasters, etc. have in determining how they are managed, especially in terms of who can buy and sell advertising, who gets a piece of the action, and so on? And the more interesting question is whether this will be just a phase in the evolution of digital media distribution. I suspect that there are other technologies on the horizon poised to supplant the popularity of apps. One thing I’ve learned from watching MySpace, Sony, Blackberry, BitTorrent, Digital Audio Tapes (DAT), etc. is that, when it comes to technology, the consumer is both fickle and flighty. Loyalty is not to be counted on.

In particular, I continue to be underwhelmed by the advances in connected televisions. I would have thought that their central position, both physically and figuratively, in most Americans lives, would have them be more interactive, more connected, and largely essential to the consumer. What I also find interesting is the appeal of Amazon’s Echo, which may be the next big thing. It is slow catching on, but that may be more a matter of Amazon taking a cautious approach to its rollout. But the possibilities are breathtaking, and may just be the first of the alternatives to the app – at least, as we know of it today.

Watch this space!