0 The 20 Best New Gadgets Of 2011

A year ago we were perfectly content with 3.5-inch smartphones, single-core tablets, and laptops that weighed seven pounds.

Now look how far we've come.

A lot has changed in the gadget world in 2011. We put together the top 20 that changed things (for better or worse) this year

HTC Thunderbolt:

Several months later, the HTC Thunderbolt probably seems pretty unremarkable. Single core processor. Android 2.2 Froyo. No 1080p HD video recording. But this was the first LTE phone, and the first to prove people want faster data speeds than what 3G could offer.

Why it's important: The Thunderbolt kicked off the LTE craze on Verizon. Now AT&T is starting to come out with its own line of LTE phones. Sprint has plans for them next year.

MacBook Air (Summer 2011 refresh):

This summer's refresh of the MacBook Air was a doozy: Backlit keyboard, faster processor, and a new Thunderbolt port. It's easily one of the best ultra-light laptops you can by.

Why it's important: The MacBook Air set the standard for the new wave of light and thin Ultrabooks we've seen at the end of this year. Asus, Acer, Toshiba, and others have already taken a stab at competing with the MacBook Air. Next year we're expecting to see dozens more. This is a whole new genre of mobile computing.

Motorola Xoom:

For the most part, the Motorola Xoom is a dud. But it was the first tablet to run Google's tablet-optimized OS, Honeycomb.

Why it's important: The Xoom was the first stepping stone for all Android tablets. Each new Honeycomb tablet was better than the next. The Xoom got them all started.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime:

Who knew Asus could wow us so much? The new Eee Pad Transformer Prime is a sturdy, gorgeous Honeycomb tablet that is the world's first to use NVIDIA's new quad-core Tegra 3 processor. The result is a blazingly fast device capable of handling impressive 3D graphics.

Why it's important: This is the first mobile device powered by the Tegra 3. Next year, several more are expected to use the same processor. But the Transformer Prime will always be the one to live up to.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

For the second year in a row, Samsung won the right to partner with Google to usher in a new Nexus device. The result was the Galaxy Nexus, a massive smartphone with a 4.65-inch touchscreen. Aside from the impressive hardware, the Galaxy Nexus is the first phone to run the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Why it's important: The Galaxy Nexus is Google's new flagship phone for it's latest OS. ICS has bee rebuilt from the ground up, and proves that Google keeps getting closer and closer to catching up with Apple's superior iOS.

Nook Simple Touch:

The Nook Simple Touch was a few months ahead of its time when it launched in June this year. Not only was it an excellent buttonless e-reader, but page turns were insanely fast too. Now you can get it for just $99. Even better, it's ad-free, unlike the $99 Kindle Touch.

Why it's important: Barnes & Noble's future depends on its e-readers and tablets now. The Nook Simple Touch is just as good as the Kindle Touch without the bothersome ads.

iPhone 4S:

On the outside, you may not notice a huge difference between the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. But it's the inside that counts. The iPhone 4S has a zippy dual-core processor and a camera that takes some of the best photos and video we've ever seen on a phone.

Why it's important: The specs are great, but what really matters is Siri, Apple's voice-controlled assistant on the iPhone 4S. Although Siri is still in beta and hardly perfect, we're interested to see how it learns and gets better at intelligently completing tasks.

Sifteo Cubes:

Sifteo cubes are tiny 1-inch devices that you download apps and games to. Each cube is aware of its relation to the other, making the possibilities for games nearly endless.

Why it's important: If Sifteo cubes take off, they could bring in a whole new genre of gaming and interactive learning.

Kindle Fire:

Despite lukewarm reviews, Amazon's Kindle fire is selling like crazy. The company won't give specific numbers, but "millions" have already been sold, it says. The Fire only costs $199, which is $300 cheaper than the iPad. While you sacrifice some polish and functionality for that price, the Fire is still a decent tablet for the casual user.

Why it's important: The Kindle Fire has the potential to disrupt the tablet market. At just $199 it could force Apple to offer a cheaper version of the iPad next year. We'll see.

Nokia Lumia 800:

After Nokia and Microsoft made their partnership official, Nokia went straight to work on the Lumia 800. The new flagship Windows Phone is only available in a few select countries right now, but truly demonstrates the power of the underrated WP7 platform.

Why it's important: This is the phone that could make or break Windows Phone 7 for good.

Kindle Touch:

Remember when analysts, bloggers, and other tech lovers were begging Amazon to release a $99 Kindle? Well, it did. The Kindle Touch ditched the keyboard in favor of touch input. And it's only $99 if you're willing to put up with a few ads and offers.

Why it's important: By offering a sub-$100 Kindle, Amazon is changing the e-reading game. It knows it can make plenty of cash off books and services on the Kindle. This is the perfect price.

Samsung Galaxy S II:

Samsung's Galaxy S was one of the most popular Android phones of 2010. It's big brother, the Samsung Galaxy S II, has seen even better success. Reviews have been stellar, and you can get it on most major carriers in the U.S.

Why it's important: This is Samsung's flagship phone, and one of the biggest threats to the iPhone. Each new Galaxy phone keeps getting better.

iPad 2:

After defying critics in 2010 with the success of the first iPad, Apple wowed us again with the iPad 2. It has a faster dual-core processor, thinner and lighter body, and rear and front-facing cameras. 

Why it's important: The iPad 2 is still the gold standard for tablets.

Verizon LTE MiFi Hotspot:

Verizon's LTE network is the best we've used. This year, we got our first taste with the carrier's MiFi hotspot. Since then it has been a savior for those who need an Internet connection everywhere. (And for us tech bloggers covering live events with crappy Wi-Fi.)

Why it's important: Verizon has the largest LTE network. Thanks to the MiFi, all your devices can connect from one hotspot.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

After the iPad 2 debuted in March, Samsung had a major "uh-oh" moment. It was about to release a 10-inch Honeycomb tablet that was thicker and slower than what Apple was offering. Instead of rushing the device to market, Samsung made the smart move and went back to the drawing board. The result was the ultra-thin Galaxy Tab 10.1, one of the best iPad alternatives around.

Why it's important: The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the very best Android tablet you can buy today

Nintendo 3DS:

Who says 3D is just a gimmick? Nintendo's 3DS broke new ground this year by being the first major portable console that displays 3D images without glasses.

Why it's important: As more gaming goes mobile, Nintendo depends on the 3DS to keep it competitive with games on iPhone and Android. Plus it's a breakthrough in affordable 3D technology.

Nest:

People went nuts when an ex-iPod engineer decided to go on his own and make a...thermostat? The result was the Nest, a stylish thermostat that is smart enough to learn your habits and adjust your home's temperature automatically. 

Why it's important: The nest proves that even the most mundane appliances can look gorgeous and be functional too.

iMac (Spring 2011):

With each refresh, the iMac keeps getting better. This Spring the iMac got a refresh adding a Thunderbolt port for super fast file transfers. It's one of the most powerful consumer-grade desktops you can buy.

Why it's important: The iMac isn't cheap, but it's easily the best desktop on the market. If you have the cash, load it with a speedy solid state drive and take your computing to the next level.

Verizon iPhone 4:

For years Verizon customers were dying for the iPhone to come to Big Red. In February, their prayers were answered. The iPhone 4 was a huge success on the carrier, and gave way to more Apple gadgets including the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S.

Why it's important: Until this year, the iPhone's biggest problem was that you could only get it on AT&T. The Verizon iPhone proved other carriers were finally ready to get on board. By the time the iPhone 4S launched in October, Sprint joined too.

Nook Tablet:

Barnes & Noble's Nook Tablet isn't perfect, but it is great for it's cheap $249 price point. The screen is gorgeous, plus there's a SD card slot so you can load up to 16 GB of your favorite movies, music, photos, etc. to the device. 

Why it's important: There's a huge opportunity for Barnes & Noble to capitalize on the Nook Tablet in the coming months. If and when it launches a store for downloading movies and music, it'll finally be able to stand up to the Kindle Fire.