http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/13/technology/13flip.html
The simplest answer could have been the smartphone doing what the flip camcorder does. Since flip camcorder is an iconic disruption example, I need to get back to you on this. There has to be material out there from the ‘disruption authors’ concerning this subject. It’ll be curious to hear what they have to say.
But the key word from that article to remember is ‘speed’. Flip Camcorder went from ‘hot product’ to obsolete’ in record speed. This was much faster than previous disruptive products.
The point is that the world is speeding up. Cycles are moving faster and faster. It is the way how things will be in this New Era.
A decade or two from now, the rise and fall of the Flip Camcorder will be considered ‘slow’ because things in the future will be moving way faster than they are today. And that is scary! =)