The hottest gadgets for 2010

There’s nothing better than a hot new gadget, and 2009 had plenty of them. A plethora of smartphones, laptops, netbooks and software have given technology fans enough to keep them satisfied over the past year. With new features and services released every month, it’s becoming harder and harder to keep up with the industry’s innovation.

The rise of the applications market, new smartphones, touch screens and more powerful processors have ensured our day-to-day interactions with technology is becoming faster, easier and simply more entertaining.

But tech companies are continuing to innovate, with more goods on the way over the next 12 months. Here are the top 10 gadgets of 2009, and another 10 of the hottest gadgets to look forward to in 2010.

The top must-have gadgets of 2009:

iPhone 3GS

While the iPhone 3G first debuted in Australia to a massive reception in June 2008, this year’s release of the updated 3GS model was even bigger.

The gadget had benefited from two years of strong reviews and the sustained growth of its App Store as more developers, even some Australian, got in on the action. But many users resisted, hoping Optus and Telstra would reduce their prices and offer higher-capacity download packs.

Consumers’ prayers were answered when VHA offered the iPhone 3GS on a number of plans, reducing the price of the hit device. Optus and Telstra soon followed by price reductions of their own, and the release was a hit with the device selling out even in the pre-order stage.

Apple hasn’t released detailed figures for Australia, but analysts suspect there are several hundred thousand iPhone users in the country. So why the hype?

The iPhone 3GS is the most powerful smartphone on the market. It boasts the typical features of a touchscreen, iPod media player functions, Wi-Fi, 3G capability, “push” email functions, calendar and contact integration with Exchange servers and a three megapixel camera.

Additionally, the new OS 3.0 software also released this year gives the phone a faster speed, with multimedia messaging, tethering, longer battery life and voice dialling support. Higher graphics functions have enabled developers to create high-end applications, while in-application commerce has given these creators entirely new revenue streams.

And with the huge App Store providing over 100,000 apps from games to useful everyday utilities, the iPhone craze isn’t about to die any time soon.

Kindle

Australia is beginning to catch up to the e-reader craze, which has been ongoing in the US for some time. The decision by online retail giant to release the Kindle internationally has been touted by analysts as a move that could spark Australians’ interest.

The device, which costs $US259, allows users to read books, newspapers and magazines tailored for the gadget. The Kindle connects to a 3G network in order to access Amazon’s library of over 280,000 books, with most around the $US10 range.

The best part – no subscription or data plans are needed to take advantage of the gadget’s wireless connectivity. While the Kindle is facing competition from the Barnes & Noble Nook, along with a variety of other e-readers, analysts say the Kindle remains the clear market leader.