Bitcoin Forum

I am reading a lot about side chains and other changes to Bitcoin.  Is there any place I can look that could give me some very high level ideas of what is coming up.  Maybe if there's nothing out there some of the people could help here by giving some rough time estimates.  Hoping for some good advice from the members of this community that will help me and others learn more about the future of the Bitcoin platform.

Tons of applications that can be implemented within the blockchain seem to be the next big thing. Look at those videos for some pretty mindblowing ideas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nOfHpOFhN8

Well there are a lot of things, and I'm not sure where to start. As far as changes are concerned, we've yet to see what is going to come out of the block size debate (i.e. are we going with a increase in blocksize or sidechains, lightning network or something else). We should see pruning implemented completely (hopefully) in the next major version (0.12?), which is partially implemented now.
We've yet to see Gemini exchange released (Winklevoss), which should be fully regulated and built on rock-solid compliance.

Adoption and investments keep growing and we can not really know where this will lead us. We are yet to see a big online retailer such as Ebay or Amazon to start accepting Bitcoin (which some of us are eager to see). The block reward should also halve in 2016 (July 27th).

search and read about Sidechains and Lighting Network. But there is even more stuff like smart contracts and more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pyVvq-vrrM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zVzw912wPo

I thought the key benefit that the Ethereum has over Bitcoin is smart contracts?  So if Bitcoin could have smart contracts then what would be the benefit of anyone using Ethereum over Bitcoin?

Simply put, none. Ethereum should not be mentioned outside of the altcoin section. Bitcoin can upgrade and add just about any technology if needed.
Just don't mention it anymore, or else we are going off topic.

The question is which one and when?

Bitcoin can adopt that of course. and just look at the VC funding, the people who work with BTC / build BTC companies etc etc and compare that with Ether... ;D


@LaudaM

both. one by one .  :P
but the Sidechain project has a better funding...


...pruning is nice too of course (for us geeks  :P).

my Crypto Kingdom with paper tigers running free to eat the grass

A lot imporving for bitcoin, especially with app platform which integrate with bitcoin, someday i believe you can buy/(use a service) anything with bitcoin.
And you can follow the bitcoin news for more update, some news from bitcoin core developer (http://cointelegraph.com/news/115048/bitcoin-core-developer-proposes-177-yearly-block-size-growth-still-no-white-smoke).

There are a lot of things that are getting tackled upon within the bitcoin network--from side chains, block size increase, VC money pouring into the economy, smart contracts and so on. Aside from the expected block reward halving next year, 2016 will be an exciting year for bitcoin. Many companies are already turning their heads on to bitcoin, but this time it's for real. Mix the block reward halving and continuous adoption and you'll get what everyone wants to: boom in price.

Well there are a lot of things, and I'm not sure where to start. As far as changes are concerned, we've yet to see what is going to come out of the block size debate (i.e. are we going with a increase in blocksize or sidechains, lightning network or something else). We should see pruning implemented completely (hopefully) in the next major version (0.12?), which is partially implemented now.
We've yet to see Gemini exchange released (Winklevoss), which should be fully regulated and built on rock-solid compliance.

Adoption and investments keep growing and we can not really know where this will lead us. We are yet to see a big online retailer such as Ebay or Amazon to start accepting Bitcoin (which some of us are eager to see). The block reward should also halve in 2016 (July 27th).

Some indications from banks are showing that 2016 would be the Year of the Blockchain. Most banks has started with developments regarding private Blockchains and have already recruited people from the Crypto currency scene to help them. Example : Frank Schuil, CEO & co-founder Safello & Barclays group.

My guess < without a crystal ball > for the turning point, would be late 2016.  

This.

As far as I can see, lots of financial companies and institutions have been building their private blockchains. In theory, this should generate positive marketing for BTC, at least as a side effect. We ll know in a few months.

iam reading about bitcoin several hours a day and lost the overview because there is too much now  :D

faster transaction,better nodes,and better price ;D

These guys have made some really optimistic predictions about the price of bitcoin in the next year:
http://moneymorning.com/2015/11/10/2016-bitcoin-price-predictions-looking-at-600-and-beyond/

More merchant will accepting Bitcoin, so we can easily spend our Bitcoin on almost everything.
Well at least, I wish.

Next is introducing BTC to the mainstream market and to people not involved in internet marketing in any way.

Bitcoin needs to become more common to the "regular" internet users as a safe and anonymous payment system IMHO.