by the Mashable Tech Team
Narrowing down the top 12 tech products of the year is no small task. The breadth and depth of the consumer technology world gets larger every year, now encompassing such novel categories as wearables, 3D printing and, uh, dongles.
Best Software 2016
But this year more mature product categories shined the brightest. Smartphones, laptops and e-readers saw some truly exemplary devices join their ranks. And among software, the most recent iterations of well-known franchises captured our attention the most.
We reviewed may of these products at Mashable. Of that group, some succeed enough (both when stacked against competitors and on their own terms) that we'd recommend them to others, and we award those candidates with our seal, Mashable Choice.
by the Mashable Tech Team
Narrowing down the top 12 tech products of the year is no small task. The breadth and depth of the consumer technology world gets larger every year, now encompassing such novel categories as wearables, 3D printing and, uh, dongles.
Best Software 2016
But this year more mature product categories shined the brightest. Smartphones, laptops and e-readers saw some truly exemplary devices join their ranks. And among software, the most recent iterations of well-known franchises captured our attention the most.
We reviewed may of these products at Mashable. Of that group, some succeed enough (both when stacked against competitors and on their own terms) that we'd recommend them to others, and we award those candidates with our seal, Mashable Choice.
But only a few of them are true standouts — the kind of product that overshadows many, if not all, others in its category. Here are Mashable's picks for the best products of the year, ranked on quality and impact.
The Best Free Antivirus for 2014 lab tests chart Cleaning Up the Mess In the lab results chart, you may note that Sophos also gets high marks from the labs. However, the labs aren't testing Sophos. Find the best software in Amazon Best Sellers. Find the most popular software including mac, windows, business, development, tax, office, finance, programming and games software.
Sony A6000
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12. Denon Envaya DSB-200
Reply Jenni February 8, 2014 at 3:00 pm. Budget Ease was VERY easy to set up. I liked the overall layout. HOWEVER, although the app is free, it is NOT a free service. If you want to set up your budget through their website and use it in conjunction with the app it is $6.99 per month.
The $199 Denon Envaya DSB-200 offers a mature design to the often overly flashy Bluetooth speaker. It's a practical gadget that emits beautiful sounds with plenty of bass. (Thanks to two 2.25-inch speaker drivers and a 4-inch passive radiator.) One drawback is that it needs to be recharged often, but the sleek design make it a solid option for anyone in search of a powerful wireless speaker.
It's a simple, sleek, serious-looking speaker that wouldn't look out of place in Warren Buffett's office.
11. Apple iPad Air 2
Apple's latest flagship tablet -- the iPad Air 2 -- is unarguably the best that the company has yet produced. It's lightweight and incredibly thin, but the tablet technology isn't quite the leap ahead that other, earlier iPad models have been for their time. Still, the Touch ID fingerprint sensor is a welcome upgrade that adds a good deal of security and convenience. It still starts at 16GB for $499, but you'll probably want to opt for the 64GB option ($599) if you plan on downloading many apps.
The 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display
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10. Adobe Ink and Slide
Adobe's new hardware combo -- the Ink Bluetooth-based iPad stylus and Slide digital ruler companion -- can help your learn to draft and draw. Think of it as digital pen and paper, which allows you to draw any shape on your iPad. The tools work with software (formerly known as Adobe Sketch and Adobe Line) called Photoshop Sketch and Illustrator Line. At $199.99, it's a bit expensive for an accessory, but it's a good tool for aspiring artists. Best windows for macbook pro retina.
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Adobe's attention to detail is evident in everything from the product packaging to the company's ingenious solution for charging the Bluetooth-based Ink digital pen.
9. Amazon Kindle Voyage
The Amazon Kindle Voyage e-reader is probably the closest thing we have to technology that looks and acts like an actual book, with the caveat, of course, that it can refresh itself without wasting tons of paper. It's thin and lightweight, and the Kindle Voyage has a crystal-clear image quality. The price might be a bit steep for some readers -- $199 -- but it's as premium as e-readers come.
8. Acer Chromebook C720 i3
The latest Acer Chromebook C720 is one of the best Chromebooks around. It has a fourth-generation Intel Core i3 processor that allows you to multitask with ease, something many Chromebooks struggle to do. It's as close to 'real' laptop as a budget-friendly Chromebook is likely to come. The base price for the C720 with 2GB of RAM is $349.99.
Adobe Ink and Slide
Free 2d cad drawing software. Mashable
7. BlueAnt Pump HD
The BlueAnt Pump HD Sportsbuds are wireless earbuds that make a good gym companion. The headphones have no cords, of course, as well as good audio quality. Bonus: They're waterproof. At $93, these are good option for the fitness-focused gadget enthusiast.
I feel okay wearing these things on public transportation, without being singled out as the guy who forgot to take off his workout headphones.
6. Apple iMac Retina 5K Display
The 27-inch iMac With Retina 5K Display has an incredibly beautiful screen, and it's probably's the best all-in-one computer available. It's a huge technical achievement that Apple was able to pack such power into the iMac's very thin display. It even uses less power than older models without sacrificing any visual impressiveness. Even though it's not cheap -- selling for $2,499 -- the newest iMac is not overpriced for what it offers.
5. Mario Kart 8
Everyone loves Mario Kart. And while the Wii U isn't exactly bursting with success, Mario Kart 8 is one of the console's most popular offerings. On its own, the game (which costs about $51.99) is one of the series' best in years. It has wonderful HD graphics, surprising race tracks and, of course, an all-over-the-place multiplayer option.
It's a more complete experience than we've seen in a few generations, that delivers a rush of speed on every turn of the track.
Amazon Voyage
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4. Sony A6000
Sony continues to be the go-to for reasonably priced lightweight cameras. The Sony A6000 is mirrorless camera that's a sure-to-please option for photographers of all skill levels. It has outstanding image quality, good speed and a lightweight design. In a mirrorless world, Sony's nimble Alpha rules, and you can find it as low as $450 (without the lens) from the likes of Best Buy and Amazon this holiday.
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 4
The Galaxy Note 4 is Samsung's flagship smartphone. It's a state-of-the-art 'phablet' -- toeing the ever-moving line between smartphone and tablet -- and has a crazy-sharp (5.7-inch) Quad HD display. The Note 4, which starts at $299 (with a contrac), also has a not-shabby 3,220 milliamp-hour (mAh) battery, plus the Galaxy Note's signature accessory: the S Pen stylus. It can be a bit bulky, but otherwise it has all you could want in a phone.
Big-screen phones are everywhere now, but the Galaxy Note 4 makes the phablet feel special again.
2. Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 is supposed to be the 'tablet that can replace your laptop.' Even though it doesn't succeed at being the perfect version of either, it's as good an 'everything' device that we've got. Starting at $799, the Surface Pro 3 offers powerful computing technology in a lightweight tablet, though the snap-on type cover doesn't quite Download audio mixing software for pc. make it a laptop. Still, the large 12-inch display, the digital pen and the multi-position kickstand make this one hard to pass by.
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Apple iPhone 6
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1. Apple iPhone 6
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The blockbuster tech item of the year, of course, is the iPhone 6. At 4.7 inches, the smartphone's display is just big enough, while its larger twin sibling, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, is definitely for phablet lovers only. It has a beautiful design, a great camera and easy-to-use features that make Apple's latest offering above almost all else. Putting it over the top is iOS 8, which brings a host of abilities, chief among them Apple Pay, the company's convenient and possibly revolutionary platform for mobile payments. And as other smartphone prices creep up, the iPhone still starts at just $199 (with a contract).
Apple iPhone 6 is a worthy successor to all the iPhones that have come before it. It's attractive, solid, well-crafted, powerful and exciting.
Mashable Tech Team:
Pete Pachal, Lance Ulanoff, Adario Strange, Christina Warren, Samantha Murphy and Chelsea Stark
Photos:
Dustin Drankoski and Christina Ascani
