Best Tech of 2013: A Year End Wrap-Up of the Biggest and Best Technology Releases of 2013

The year is almost over, and like most, 2013 was a year full of surprises, successes, and disappointments. This was equally true when it came to the new products that tech companies released to the public. Here is my list of what I thought were the best and biggest products of 2013.

Cameras

Sony QX10/QX100 Camera Lenses:

With the release of their pair of "smart lenses", Sony took a completely new approach to smartphone photography. Will this be the way more cameras work in the coming years?

Canon EOS 70D:

Though Canon didn't update many of their DSLR camera lines this year, the newly released 70D, featuring a brand new dual pixel autofocus technology, might hint at what direction Canon plans on taking their entire lineup in the coming year. Can't wait to see what 2014 holds for Canon!

Smartphones & Mobile Accessories

Samsung Galaxy S4 & Note 3:

Though Samsung's attempted launch of the smartwatch, dubbed "Galaxy Gear", fell flat, their two leading smartphone lines continue to fly off of the shelves. Whether you want a smartphone or a phablet, they have you covered.

iPhone 5s:

Apple's yearly update to their iPhone line was met with the usual roar of combined outrage and praise. Unlike the 5c (which is essentially a iPhone 5 with a splash of color), the 5s actually introduced a few new features to the smartphone world, namely the power of 64bit processing.

Pebble Smartwatch:
Funded through the power of Kickstarter, the Pebble Smartwatch is the first truly successful wearable technology to hit the market (sorry Galaxy Gear, maybe next year). Where other smartwatches have tried to essentially be a smartphone on your wrist, the Pebble has embraced simplicity and somehow it worked.

Media Devices & Gaming Platforms

Xbox One:
Finally, after 8 years of waiting, Microsoft updated their ever-popular Xbox line with the release of the Xbox One. While many people were disappointed once they saw the huge increase in price compared to the modest increase in specs, the update was still a big deal considering how long we had to wait for it.





Sony PS4:
Coming in at $100 less than its arch nemesis Xbox One, Sony's Playstation 4 has also received slightly better reviews than the Xbox One. There shouldn't be any rush to come to a conclusion though; given Microsoft's and Sony's track record of updating their respective gaming platforms we should have several years before the next generation is released.




Google Chromecast:

Google jumped into the media streaming device market this year with their release of the Chromecast. Costing less than half of what its competitors (mainly the Apple TV and Roku HD) sell for and supporting virtually every major operating system, the Chromecast shows us that Google doesn't mess around when it releases a new product.

Desktops, Laptops, & Tablets

Apple's New Mac Pro:
While mocked by some for its exorbitantly high price tag and resemblance to either a tissue box or Darth Vader's helmet, the release of the new Mac Pro marked the first time that Apple has really changed anything up and stepped outside the box (literally in this case) since the passing of Steve Jobs.







Amazon Kindle Fire HDX:
With extremely competitive pricing, near instant customer service thanks to the "Mayday" button, and a revolutionary display, the Kindle Fire HDX 7" & 10" lineup just got a lot hotter. Of the three main tablet lineups on the market (iPad, Nexus, and Kindle), the Kindle HDX line saw the biggest jump forward when its third generation hit the market this year.

Apps, Video Games & Software

Grand Theft Auto V:
Receiving extremely high critical acclaim and being the fastest selling entertainment product in history easily earns the fifth installment of the Grand Theft Auto series a spot on this list. I mean come on; the game generated more than $800 million in worldwide revenue in just the first 24 after it was released!




Apple iOS 7 & Mavericks:
Apple redressed its mobile operating system in bright (what some have called tacky) colors all while adding new features and redesigning their included apps. On the Mac OS front, Apple running out of cats to name their operating systems after also marked the end of having to pay to upgrade your computer's software, and another step towards the likely merger of iOS and Mac OS in the increasingly near future.



Vine - Create & Share Beautiful Looping Videos:

Released a year ago this coming January (it was only a year ago?), the Vine app was the fourth most downloaded app in the AppStore this past year. It's amazing what people can do in just 6 seconds.