The Year in Review 2008

Google and the iPhone came of age, the economy and Yahoo tanked, and we saw the promise of a first national CTO. Looking ahead: Yahoo's fate, enterprise software as a mass disrupter, and does the Netbook get a do-over?

• A first look at the Windows 7 PDC release

  After months of keeping Windows 7 under tight wraps, Microsoft has finally showed off its long-awaited OS upgrade in public, at the Professional Developers ...

  

• Gallery: 10 most annoying programs on the Internet

  The Internet allows what may have seemed like bright ideas at the time to turn into a stinking pit of misery.

  

• Image Gallery: A look at the T-Mobile G1 Google Android hardware

  The T-Mobile G1 will be coming soon and is the first Google Android device. HTC has been making devices for years and you can ...

  

• Ten free security utilities you should already be using

  Here's a list of ten free security tools you can and should be using to help protect, disinfect and manage your Windows computer.

  

• Gallery: Top 10 free iPhone applications

  A Gallery of my top 10 free iPhone applications.

  

Videos

• 2008: The year in tech

  It's almost time to close the books on 2008. But before we start singing "Auld Lang Syne," ZDNet correspondent Sumi Das and Editor in ...

  

• Top five blogs of 2008

  ZDNet Editor in Chief Larry Dignan counts down the most popular tech blog posts based on traffic for the year. Watch the video to ...

  

• 2009: The year in preview

  ZDNet Editor in Chief Larry Dignan predicts five tech stories he believes will happen in the coming year. Topics include the fate of Yahoo, ...

  

• The lightbulb of the future?

  Silicon Valley's Luxim has developed a lightbulb the size of a Tic Tac that gives off as much light as a streetlight. News.com's Michael ...

  

• A world without Windows?

  ZDNet correspondent Sumi Das talks with senior editor Sam Diaz about new "instant-on" features that allow a PC to boot up without using Microsoft ...

  

• RIM BlackBerry storm (Verizon Wireless)

  The RIM BlackBerry Storm may blow in a frenzy for Verizon Wireless subscribers wanting a touch screen similar to the Apple iPhone. However, there are bugs and performance issues that prevent the Storm from delivering its full potential.

  

• T-Mobile G1

  While we're not in love with the design and would have liked some additional features, the real beauty of the T-Mobile G1 is the Google Android platform, as it has the potential to make smartphones more personal and powerful. That said, it's not quite there yet, so for now, the G1 is best suited for early adopters and gadget hounds, rather than consumers and business users.

  

• Apple MacBook Pro 2008 Edition

  A solid, if predictable, upgrade to the MacBook Pro line, but noteworthy for stealing the MacBook Air's best feature--expanded gesture controls for the touch pad.

  

Stories

• The Year in Review 2008

  Google and the iPhone came of age, the economy and Yahoo tanked, and we saw the promise of a first national CTO. Looking ahead: Yahoo's fate, enterprise software as a mass disrupter, and does the...

  Tags:

  Articles | 12/15/08

• Year in Review: Top 10 most popular posts on The Toybox in 2010

  Based on traffic, here's a look back at our 10 most read posts of 2010, ending with the most popular of them all.

  Tags:

  Blog posts | 12/7/10

• 2011 Year in Review - Microsoft's year

  "Can MS beat Apple and Google to appify the TV" I didn't know Apple and Google successfully appified TV. RE: 2011 Year in Review - Microsoft's year @William Farrel They haven't but they...

  Tags:

  Discussion threads | 12/20/11

• 2011 Year in Review - Android's year

  How much will MS make on Android in 2012 Is it possible that Android will represent a billion dollar business for MS [i]next year[/i]? How much will MS lose on Windows Phone in 2012 @jdakula Is...

  Tags:

  Discussion threads | 12/30/11

• 2011 Year in Review - Apple's year

  A tour of the highs and lows of Apple's year.

  Tags:

  Blog posts | 12/16/11

• 2011: The year Android had Multiple Personality Disorder

  In 2011 Google's Android brought us splits in versions, open source commitment, carrier and OEM implementations, preferred device vendors and application ecosystems.

  Tags:

  Blog posts | 12/18/11

• 7 trends driving electric vehicles in 2012

  Electric vehicle choices will multiply and charging networks will spread, but so will concerns about safety.

  Tags:

  Blog posts | 12/19/11

• 2011: The year mobility reigned Tech Broiler

  Time and time again, Tech Broiler's top stories were all about mobile technology and digital convergence.

  Tags:

  Blog posts | 12/19/11

• 2011 Year in Review - Microsoft's year

  A tour of the highs and lows of Microsoft’s year.

  Tags:

  Blog posts | 12/20/11

• Grading my 2011 green-tech coverage

  I have pledged to get much better about follow-up coverage over the past few months, so up for consideration today is my piece from late December 2010, "11 green-tech stories I want to write in...

  Tags:

  Blog posts | 12/21/11