Top 10 gadget innovations of 2009

The Gadget Show  Thursday 31 December 2009

It’s been a massive year for tech innovations – from iPhone 3.0 to Sky 3D, gadgets can do more, work better and amaze us with stacks of stunning features. Here’s our pick of our favourite 10 innovations of 2009.

Sky 3D
Confirmed in Spring, Sky 3D has gone from a pipedream to a burgeoning reality. A full Sky 3D channel will launch next year, after trialling live sports broadcasts and gigs from Abbey Road studios. The best bit? It all works on the Sky+HD framework, so you don’t need a special receiver. Just a 3D TV in your front room.

iPhone 3.0
It seems an eternity since iPhone 3.0 was unleashed. The new software pushed the iPhone into new territory, with iTunes rentals direct from your blower, tethering, bolstered streaming and a slicker web experience all round. And it finally brought lacking basics such as MMS and cut and paste to the mobile.

Google Android 2.0
Yet as good as iPhone 3.0 is, Android 2.0 is really the gamechanger. It didn’t land until November, but when it did, with Google Maps Navigation, bulked up browsing, better inboxes and camera skills to batter Apple’s effort, it shocked everyone. Google Maps Navigation alone has gazumped standalone satnavs and pricey add ons like the TomTom iPhone app.

Windows 7
Given an official airing at CES 2009, but not outed until 22 October, Windows 7 is undoubtedly Microsoft’s best ever OS. Improved functionality, a dock for getting to apps easier and none of Vista’s infuriating frills. Plus with touchscreen support, it’s led to a stellar line up of all-in-one PCs with proddable screens.

OS X Snow Leopard
On the surface, it didn’t look like Snow Leopard was much of a leap from Leopard. But Apple’s new OS delivered plenty of neat refinements, with a rejigged Expose, better doc management through Quick Look and a speedier all round performance. Open CL and GCD will see it kick into gear in 2010 too, as will the redeveloped iChat, perhaps with an iPhone tie-in.

Project Natal
The single biggest story in gaming in 2009, Project Natal wowed everyone with its controller-free controls. Hit balls with your hands, drive cars with a make believe steering wheel and shoot enemies by flexing your fingers. When Microsoft let us play at E3, we were amazed at just how accurate it was. Here’s hoping that £50 price tag is on the money.

Sony Motion Control
But Microsoft didn’t have it all its own ay in LA. Sony Motion Control’s bizarre control, coupled with Wii-beating accuracy showed just what the big boys have learned from Ninty. The Big S’s efforts leave Nintendo’s old-school Wii looking distinctly second best. Plans for Dreamcast games with a casual edge should have Sega fans salivating too.

Spotify mobile
Spotify has been one of the biggest stories of 2009. And it’s mobile apps have led the charge. The Spotify iPhone app and Android app caused a huge stir, with offline playlists and syncing over Wi-Fi. But for us it was Spotify for Symbian, with its 3G syncing skills, that showed us just how serious the Swedes were about taking their music streaming service mainstream.

Sky songs
While Spotify’s mobile effort was massive, Sky Songs points the way to the future. The streaming plus downloads model is the music industry’s great white hope. And at £6.49 a month for unlimited songs and a selection of MP3s to keep, Sky Songs is out in front. Napster is hot on its heels, but for us Sky Songs shows where tunes are going in 2010.

Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ
The Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ could be any old compact camera, with its 2.7inch MCD and 12 megapixels. But it’s the pico projector slapped on the front that makes it one of 2009’s best innovations. It means live slideshos of your favourite stills or regular movies, all without getting your pals to crowd round the tiny screen.