GBTV #245 | 1st Annual State of Gadgetry Address

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We released the first Brief December 23rd, 2005. A month later during the State of the Union Address, I thought it would be fun to do an annual State of Gadgetry Address. This is the first one.
There have been five devices that really blew me away in the last year: The iPhone, Drobo, the Gateway ONE, Nintendo Wii and Evolve all have done something unique in the market. I hope that in the next year we start to see a move away from incremental improvements in functionality and cosmetics. I want to see more leaps forward in usability, design and simplicity.
What do you think? What were your favorite product introductions in the past year?
18 Comments
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Cali, I like the idea. I really like the Grand Canyon Background.
My Family’s favorite item this year was the new ipod nano. The tiny screen is awsome. My kids love it and I will probably have to buy at least three more to make everyone happy.
We love the show!
Wow, Grand Canyon looks great.
Just think, when Apple’s Leopard comes out this month, you can have the Canyon behind you anytime you wish. LOL! ;-)
Looks like fun guys!
Sorry, forgot my favorite product.
That would be The iPhone hands down.
I can’t see not having it, I use it every day at work, on the road or at home. I now “really” keep in touch with friends and family. I even can watch GeekBrief away from home on it or follow my other pod shows on twitter.
Great camrea too.
I’ll probably be the only one to say this, but my favorite device of the past year is the Apple TV. Television that was just 24 hours past it’s broadcast was the killer app that got me to buy my first iPod, and the Apple TV was an evolution of the 5G’s video capability. I like TV, but I want to be able to watch it on my schedule, and I prefer not having to plan ahead (as in setting a VCR or DVR). I like shopping for television the way I’d shop for groceries; I don’t have to wait in the store parking lot to catch a box of corn flakes as it’s thrown off the back of the truck, why should I have to do that with television?
Good point, Dave. It was definitely in my Top 10. Apple TV was huge for us, as podcasters, because it put Geek Brief on the TV right beside The Daily Show. How cool is that!
Just a note: I appreciate that when you guys mention a particular show’s sponsor (whether it’s a movie, or, say, Intel helping with trip logistics) - you mention it and then you drop it and continue on with the show!
Robert :o)
Cali, GeekBrief on my big screen is cool beyond the telling.
Hey Cali,
I saw on your twitter that you forgot your firewire cable…I’ve been hanging on to a page from a magazine which showed a really cool bag for cables…go to http://www.builtny.com
I saw it after we went to NYC for a week with two cell phones, portable DVD, digital camera, and iPod - I had never traveled with that many things that needed cables!! I can only imagine what you all travel with!
Anyway, it looks cute!
:) kathy a
Hello Cali,
Device favorite for this year is hands down the iPhone. However, the issues with cut and paste, contacts quick find, and for goodness sake - “click” dialing a number directly from an email!! My ugly black berry’s have offered these features for years. Here’s to hoping the iPhone REALLY completes the end all be all in 2008.
I LOVE YOUR SHOW!
Steven
Is JOTT a product or a service? It would be at the top of either list for me. And perhaps in today’s digital economy services are just virtual products - so a thing doesn’t need dimension to be a product.
GREAT content. Is it my monitor or did you need some fill lights on our face to offset the brightness in the background?
WOW! How early did you get up to shoot that brief?! No crowds and a nice rising sun glow on the canyon.
I’m sitting on the gadget/consumerism fence and have been since the Sony discman! I love to see & read about new stuff but I no longer jump on everything that comes out. It has gotten out of control; people standing in line for days to buy an iPhone??? Every teeny bopper running around with a cell phone and/or an mp3 player? You forgot a Firewire on this trip, Kathy has a bag for all her wires and lugged all those gadgets on her trip - why? Actually I know why because I went to NYC for 2 weeks too, with 2 young kids & a wife! It’s for the convenience but we all forget to account for the inconvenience of having these conveniences!
The State of Gadgetry Address is a great idea and the setting for its first delivery was superb! Have a safe trip back home and don’t forget any gadgets lying around your hotel room!
PS: you should make a GIA t-shirt!
Great show… as usual.
I have to throw my vote for the iPhone as gadget of the year with much respect going to the Drobo. I’ve been on the fence about getting a WI, but with 3 young(ish) kids, I may pick one up anyway this Xmas.
And not to pick nits but… is it necessary to call a show the “First Annual” of anything? There was only one of those so far. Couldn’t just waited Maybe just the “Inaugural State of Gadgetry Address” would have sufficed. Then next year.. add “Second Annual…”
Oh well. Keep up the GREAT work!!
@Jim: I’d say Jott is a service. We were going to add Signal as a favorite, but we were dealing with hard candy in the list, and adding Signal was too much like, “Which one of these things is not like the other?”. :)
A day too soon! What wonderful news. I nominate the iPhone SDK for 2008.
Cali,
You requested an more open environment with a SDK for the Iphone. Well a day later Apple fulfilled your request (well, a promise to deliver one soon). Now we know who has the POWER!
Cali, What made you say “No!” at the end of the blooper section of the show?
Oh, My favorite gadget this year has to be the iPhone.
@David: I have no clue! Right after I said no, I said “You made me nervous”, then I laughed. We don’t know what that was all about, but it was funny. :)
Did you see the bird fly behind about 2min in? Totally Cool. I like my Jawbone Bluetooth ear piece.