The cause is largely marketing, the result a proliferation of incompatible devices. You can't make money on software, only hardware, so design a niche gimmick, not a Big New Idea. Again, systems research loses out. 20 Things to Do Startups are too focused on short time scale and practical results to try new things. Big corporations are too focused on existing priorities to try new things.
Startups suck energy from research.
Work on how systems behave and work, not just how they compare. Concentrate on interfaces and architecture, not just engineering. Try to give a cool demo. Universities, in turn, should explore ways to let students contribute to long-term projects. Measure success by ideas, not just papers and money.