As the year 2014 draws to a close, there are a number of technology-related news and events that individuals will think on. The rapid emergence and seemingly saturated market of wearable tech is a major talking point, as well as the latest developments to the functionalities of mobile devices. Unsurprisingly, there were thousands of devices released throughout the year, garnering both positive and negative feedback.
Reflecting on the popularity of tech gadgets throughout 2014, here is a list compiled in no particular order of some of the most coveted devices for the 12-month span:
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
While it may not be as big as “there’s an app for that”, as far as 2014 goes there is arguably no tagline as popular as “the tablet that can replace your laptop”. Microsoft’s 12” tablet – the Surface Pro 3 – ranked right up there among the most in-demand tech products of the year.
The gadget is lightweight to say the least – weighing in the region of 2 pounds – but has the processing power to rival many laptops on the market, as it could be acquired with the fourth generation i3, i5 or i7 processors. With multiple kickstand positions the Surface Pro 3 can be adjusted to suit the most comfortable use in just about any environment – work or play. Additionally, with Windows 8.1 Pro the gadget supports an actual operating system, while being compatible with the desired apps.
In terms of accessories, a fully functional keyboard and the highly praised Surface Pen are just a few of the lot that more than justifies the tagline. Expectedly, it ranks as one of the best 2-in-1 selections on the market.
iPhone 6/ iPhone 6 Plus
It is quite possible that the iPhone 6 and its “big brother” the iPhone 6 Plus are gadgets that everyone would have expected to be a part of this list. In the hours leading up to it release, hundreds of individuals across the world were forming lines in front of Apple stores to be among the first to get their hands on the company’s latest smart phone.
Both devices were released on September 19, and they instantly went about setting new Apple records with relative ease. Within the first 24 hours of availability, there were more than 4 million units of the series sold, with the three-day sales figure standing at over 10 million. To add to that, the iPhone 6 was reported to be the most searched device for the year.
Among the many responses for the demand of the devices was the increased display size – iPhone 6 is 4.7” and the 6 Plus is 5.5”, and the improvement in the storage capacity – all of 128 GB.
Samsung Galaxy S5
Similar to just about every smart phone manufacturer, Samsung unveiled its latest generation – the Galaxy S5. With its February 24 launch, the device instantly ranked among the highest Android-operated options available on the market.
Among the number of new features introduced was a fingerprint scanner that grants the user access to the device. With the safeguarding of personal information increasing in importance with each day, such a feature goes a far way in growing consumers towards the product.
Pebble Steel
In a year that wearable devices were arguably the biggest phenomenon of the technology industry, it would have been difficult to produce such a list without mentioning a gadget from the lot. There were a number of fitness bands and smart watches that attracted attention, but it was the Pebble Steel that really stood out.
One of the most notable features of the Pebble Steel is that it is compatible with both Android and iOS operating systems, unlike other similar devices that were only functional with select gadgets from the respective tech companies. It also has an impressive 7-day battery life span with a full charge.
Interestingly, there are many who praised the device for its simplicity. It facilitated some of the more desired features such as receiving notifications, reading text messages and controlling music while leaving the more phone-suited functionalities to the phone – such as making phone calls.
Sony PlayStation 4
Also making its way into the 2014 “most wanted” list is the eighth generation gaming console from Japanese company Sony – the PlayStation 4. The gadget introduced a number of new features that helped it to stand out among its competitors, being the most sold console in each month since the start of the year.
An improved processing ability was among the upgrades of the device, but another feature that many raved about was the socially incorporating “share” button on the DualShock 4 controller. This feature allowed real-time game streaming from friends as well as the uploading of content to some of the more popular social media platforms.
In truth, there are a number of other gadgets that could have made this list. The FitBit for instance, was arguably the most popular fitness tracker throughout the year, and there was the Amazon Kindle Fire and the iPad tablets. It can hardly be argued, however, that the gadgets mentioned were not among those that individuals craved throughout 2014.
2014 Year in Review: Most Sought-After Gadgets
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