The Techerator Team, January 2011

The holidays are over and the new year is here, time to recover from your multiple food-induced comas and get back to work (or school). But before the year 20-double-matchsticks gets under way, we here at Techerator decided to take a  look back at what 2010 brought us.

So here it is: our Best Tech of 2010.

Evan Wondrasek

Web-based Applications and Synchronization

Though not a new concept in 2010, it was something I took advantage of more than ever. WordPress, which is the software this website is built on, lets me and the Techerator writing staff collaborate together online no matter where we are. The interface can be used though a browser without installing any software, and I’ve even written articles from my mobile phone.

With applications like Dropbox, I’m able to sync my documents and media across every computer I use. When I was in college this was critical for keeping my homework accessible on the go (especially when I was away from home for 18 hours with my netbook), and now that I’m working full-time, I find it equally useful.

Although incredibly useful, even my Dropbox usage is being replaced with something else – Google Docs. I’m finding an increased need to collaborate with others on documents, whether planning my wedding or simply sharing a document. Google Docs lets you work with others on a document at the same time, in real-time.

Google Docs is available through any browser so I can easily run a complex, macro-filled spreadsheet for Techerator’s finances just as I would in Microsoft Excel, and access it anywhere I go.

New Gadgets in General

Kindles, Android smartphones, netbooks, tablets, iPods, iPads – the better they get, the more similar they become. I can browse the web from all of these devices, send updates to Twitter and Facebook, and they all support apps (in some form or another). With this level of sophistication in gadgets, it makes me giddy to think back to my childhood days when I thought a laptop computer was the most amazing gadget ever.

Android

The Android operating system and its smartphone hardware companions have easily been my favorite tech in 2010. Instead of rambling on about how great it is, I’ll simply leave you with a picture of my desk:

Kevin Ivanca

Instant Streaming

This sort of idea has been building for the past decade, and it really showed in 2010. Things like Netflix, DVR, and Hulu all give people instant video gratification and enjoyment. Gone are the days when one had to bow down to the movie mogul’s schedule and the TV network’s programming. Thanks to instant streaming and video recording, one can gain video enjoyment at their own personal expense and time. Power to the people!

DLNA HDTVs

Speaking of instant streaming, who doesn’t want a high definition TV that can download Netflix movies and connect to your computers via your network? Now that every device is online, it seems idiotic to keep them from connecting to each other and sharing pictures and videos. If you want to see the future of the living room, don’t look at 3D technology. Look at DLNA.

Google

Now this company had quite the marathon year. Enhanced Google Mapping and Navigation, a better organized Gmail via Priority Inbox and spam filters, the continuous expansion of the Google Android OS and its application market; all this and more were graciously given to us in 2010 by the deities at Google.

And what, pray tell, do they have in store for 2011? Tablets that can actually beat out the iPad? Telepathic communication via brain implants? Robots programmed with snarky comments to provide comic relief? I guess that is for Google to know and us to find out.

Jacob Bean

Android Smartphones

2010 marked the year that I switched from the Blackberry Storm to a Motorola Droid. I’ve come to love the Android operating system, and the phone itself performs smoothly. The camera takes great quality pictures, Google Voice integration is awesome, and customization with Android is unbelievable because it’s open source!

Photoshop CS5

In April 2010, Adobe launched their CS5 creative suite which I’ve come to love. Although I’ve used Dreamweaver and Illustrator, I’m more familiar with Photoshop and saw some awesome improvements from CS4 to CS5. The reason CS5 is superior over CS4 is because it has made complex selection easier, improved RAW to JPEG processing, added new and updated filters, automatic lens correction and an easier-to-use user interface that was much easier to navigate then its predecessor.

Kevin Schulte

Android

Android has been around for a while, but 2010 was the year it blew up (in a good way). The original Motorola Droid came onto the scene late in 2009, but in 2010 we saw Android on dozens of different phone models, portable media players, $100 tablets, $600 tablets, and everything in between.

Thanks to my Android smartphone, I normally don’t even bother taking my laptop on short trips. 95% of the tasks I might need to accomplish on the road I can take care of quickly and easily with my phone, without having to lug around a much bulkier laptop. Also, being a giant nerd, having a near constant Internet connection on me at all times is incredibly awesome.

Apple’s iOS

iOS and Android on the same list? Yes, absolutely. Having never owned an Apple product in my life, this August I bought a new iPod Touch to take advantage of some of the awesome content available in the App Store.

iOS is pretty bland out of the box, but once you jailbreak your device (a necessity in my opinion) you can do all the things Apple doesn’t want you to do. Thanks to Cydia (an App Store-like environment for jailbroken devices), you can install tons of awesome applications not approved by Apple that any self-respecting tech geek would want to fully take advantage of their iPhone or iPod. To quote the great Dustin Patterson, after jailbreaking your iPod, “it’s a whole new device.”

PlayStation 3

Sony will look back on 2010 and see it as the year that the PlayStation 3 finally succumbed to every console maker’s worst nightmare – easily accessible piracy. Prior to 2010, the PS3 had managed to avoid something that all other current consoles, both home and portable, had fallen to relatively quickly.

One of the major selling points of the original PlayStation 3 was the ability to natively install Linux, granting programmers, amateur and professional alike, access to IBM’s Cell processor. However, Sony decided to omit this feature in the Slim revision of the PS3, and after noted hacker George Hotz found an exploit requiring the PS3′s OtherOS feature that granted him hypervisor level access to the Cell early in 2010, Sony released a required system update that completely removed the ability to install Linux on all PS3s.

Instead of putting a stop to tinkering with the PS3′s internals, this move drove the hacker community into a fervor, resulting in an arms race between Sony, releasing frequent mandatory system updates containing nothing but “security features,” and the hacker community, quickly bringing down any roadblocks Sony managed to erect. The arms race may have finally come to a conclusion, thankfully, as at the end of 2010 a group of hackers presented a method to sign homebrew applications with Sony’s private encryption keys, essentially allowing you to run whatever you want on your PS3 with no way of Sony easily stopping you, even with system updates.

An unfortunate byproduct of this breakthrough is that it makes piracy on the platform trivial, but if you want to believe the hackers responsible, it was a consequence brought on by Sony themselves when they removed the ability to install Linux.

Bryant Sombke

Microsoft Visual Studio 2010

As a .NET and, more importantly, a SharePoint developer, nothing made my 2010 more joyous than Visual Studio 2010. It comes with many new SharePoint project templates that make developing new web parts, workflows, event receivers, and more, easy as pie. I no longer have to manually write mountains of XML to create a .wsp package to deploy to my SharePoint farms. It also knows automatically which process to attach the debugger to, making SharePoint debugging almost as seamless as a regular .NET web application.

Firefox 4 Beta

I’m really loving the Firefox 4 Beta release. Upon first use, I noticed immediately the influence Google Chrome has had on the browser market, as Firefox 4 borrows the minimalist UI design from Chrome, moving the tabs to the top of the window and hiding the ancient Menu bar inside an aesthetically pleasing “Firefox” button in the top left.

Of course, Firefox 4 has all the customizability that Firefox users have grown to love, but it also runs faster and has a smaller memory footprint, leaving more precious MBs for the rest of your running applications. Look for the release of Firefox 4 in 2011 to reestablish Firefox as a forerunner in the browser industry.

TurboTax

This program not only is easy-to-use and saved me time, it saved me thousands of dollars. As a recent college grad, a newly wed, and owner of my first home, I don’t appreciate many things more than Uncle Sam returning my hard-earned cash. TurboTax basically holds your hand through the entire process of filing your taxes, and it took me only about half an hour to file my Federal return, along with one State return each for North Dakota and Minnesota. You do have to pay for filing State returns, but it’s a ton easier than doing the math myself. I mean, that’s what computers are for, right?

I’m definitely using TurboTax again in 2011 and I would recommend it to any fellow taxpayer.

Reis Pritchard

Internet Explorer 9

I hate to sound like a Microsoft fanboy here, but they are making some smart decisions in my opinion. Address bar + tabs are uniform, the way they always should have been. No unnecessary space is taken up, and pinning websites like Facebook can definitely be helpful to some.

Fii0 e5 Heaphone Amplifier

I got some great studio monitor headphones for Christmas, but I’ve had my Fii0 e5 amplifier for some time now. Unless you’re a big audiophile, this amp is sure to make a difference in your music-listening experience, and will actually pick out sounds and hidden melodies you never knew existed. It’s really the only amp I know of for about $20, and it works.

Looking back at 2009

Want to get even more nostaligic? Check out our 2009 Staff Picks for our Favorite Web Apps and Favorite Gadgets & Tech.

Have we changed? Flip flopped? Descended into lunacy? Share with us in the comments.

Staff Picks: The Best Tech of 2010 is a post from Techerator.com.

Related posts:

1. Staff Picks: Top Gadgets and Tech of 2009
2. Staff Picks: Top Web Apps and Software of 2009
3. Techerator’s Holiday Gift Guide 2010

This list will be updated as new guides are published, so keep checking back for new ideas!

Commuter’s Gift Guide

by Bryant Sombke

Technology has drastically increased the number of entertainment options the typical day-commuter has for the boring trips to and from the office. Whether your loved ones take the train, bus, or carpool with others, here are five great gift ideas that they are sure to love.

Gamer’s Gift Guide

by Kevin Schulte

Gamers can be a tricky bunch to buy for. Taste in games varies wildly, and if you’re unlucky you might accidentally buy Kinect Sports for someone who was hoping to play Fallout on Christmas morning. Talk about embarrassing.  This guide will give you great tips for PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS, and Sony PSP.

Snowboarding and Skiing Gift Guide

by Derek Johnson

Do you have a skier or snowboarder on your Christmas list, but have no idea what it means to shred the gnar or hit the deep pow? Worry not, because buying them anything on this list is sure to give them the same tingly feeling as making first tracks on virgin snow (it’s a good thing, trust me).

Gift Guide for the Whole Family

by Jacob Bean

Shopping for the whole family – grandparents, parents, teens, preteens, and kids – can be a big challenge.  Being a person that loves shopping, let me give you a little guidance for buying gifts for each of these groups, and some gifts that the whole family can share together.

Delightfully Expensive Gift Guide

by Kevin Ivanca

It’s a cold hard fact of holiday gift giving: you don’t always get everything you asked for. For five years during your childhood, you asked for the $200 Star Wars Millennium Falcon Lego building set, but did you get it? No. You always got the $30 X-Wing set.

So for all of those people out there with high-priced gadget wishes this Christmas year, don’t get discouraged.  Here are some Millennium Falcons to consider placing on that holiday wish list.

… more guides coming soon!

Techerator’s Holiday Gift Guide 2010 is a post from Techerator.com.

Related posts:

1. Techerator Holiday Gift Guide: Gamer’s Edition
2. Holiday Gift Guide: Something For The Whole Family Edition
3. Holiday Gift Guide: The Gifts You Want (But Can’t Necessarily Afford)

To those of you reading Techerator from the United States: Happy Thanksgiving!  We decided to take a break from the tech today and instead tell you what our plans are for the holiday weekend.  Feel free to tell us your plans in the comments at the bottom of this post!

Above all, we’re thankful for all our readers, subscribers, commenters, followers, and fans.  Thank you for your continued support!

Evan Wondrasek

I took an overnight train back to my hometown in rural North Dakota and got back early Thanksgiving morning.  I found it to be pretty challenging to sleep on the train, but I managed to sleep through almost the entire trip (including a 2-hour delay in the city where I went to college).

Now that I’m home I’m going to put up the Christmas tree with my family, take my mom shopping for TVs on Black Friday, and play Munchkin and Halo Reach with my friends.

Oh, and did I mention how excited I am for turkey dinner, riced potatoes, and fruit salad?

Jacob Bean

The holiday season is always my favorite time of the year! I love Thanksgiving. I don’t love it just for the food, although that’s a great part of it, but more because I get a chance to be with family. This will be the first year that I’m going to be having Thanksgiving with my sister since early 2000 and the first time I will  ever have Thanksgiving with my five-year-old niece.

It’s going to be a fun day! We plan on watching the Macy’s Day Parade as usual, then spending the day in the kitchen cooking, followed by the Thanksgiving meal. Later in the evening we plan on decorating the house for Christmas and putting up the tree in addition to playing board games and games on the Wii.

The rest of the weekend will probably consist of shopping, movies, hot chocolate, tubing/skiing and attending the city’s annual tree lighting. Let the festivities begin!

Kevin Ivanca

When it comes to Thanksgiving, the Ivanca family partakes in an untraditional traditional way.  Please, let me elaborate.

The year was 1987.  The economy was booming, the Minnesota Twins had just won the World Series, and three couples who worked together realized that none of them were going home to their respective families that Thanksgiving.  So they decided to meet up at one of their homes to celebrate the holiday regardless.  And thus a non-relative family tradition was born.  Currently the tradition calls for rotating between these three families and their homes…and although we are not hosting this year, it is always a blessing to see them and reminisce.

Normally as part of the tradition, we all jump on over to the movies after the Thanksgiving meal and sit down for some tri-family entertainment.  In 2002, this movie tradition took on a form of its own when the first “Harry Potter” came out.  Since then, we have tried to catch every Potter movie afterwards (if it comes out in November of course), and you will surely see all of us at “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” on Thanksgiving Day.

I honestly don’t know what we will do once “Part 2” comes out, but I guess we’ll cross that bridge when it comes.

Nick Post

I traveled to my hometown from my college town, and I plan on going to my grandma’s house for Thanksgiving (but the weather will probably stop that).  If we can’t go there, we plan to stay with my parents and siblings that I haven’t seen since Christmas.

I’m taking a short vacation and will be back at work on Friday!

Happy Thanksgiving from Techerator! is a post from Techerator.com.

Related posts:

1. Happy New Year!
2. Happy Holidays!
3. Subscribe to Techerator with the Techerator Extension for Google Chrome

Evan Wondrasek

1. Android-based Phones – I bought a Motorola Droid on launch day and have never been so happy with a gadget.  This phone has all the hardware necessary to utilize Android’s wonderful multitasking, and I’ve seen leaps and bounds with application development over the past few months.
2. Netbooks – I’m away from my apartment more than ever this year, but I haven’t had to make any compromises because of my Asus 1005HA. (which I reviewed).  Modern netbooks offer plenty of processing power and batteries that can keep you going all day.  It can be a little difficult working on a tiny screen, but you can’t beat these devices for their stuff-in-your-backpack portability.
3. Xbox 360 – I’m not a big gamer like some of my fellow contributors, but I’ve really enjoyed some of the great titles that have been released in 2009.  More than anything though, I use my Xbox as a media center to stream Netflix Instant Watch and video files from my PC.
4. iPod Touch – Until I bought my Droid, this was my go-to device for mobile browsing and entertainment.  Despite the fact that I was limited to wifi access, I typically would reach for my Touch before my laptop.
5. Growing 3G Mobile Networks – Everybody is arguing about “who has the best 3G network” – but have we forgotten how amazing this technology is in the first place?  The internet on my mobile phone is considerably faster than many DSL connections, so if you’re using a mobile phone on 3G right now, take a second to appreciate how awesome this technology is.

Dustin Patterson

1. Netbooks – Netbooks are my favorite technology of 2009. I purchased my netbook this year and am really glad I did (I’m actually writing this article from it right now.) Ever since I purchased it, my netbook has gone with me almost everywhere I go. [Check out our 5 reasons why a netbook might be right for you]
2. Atom Processors – Tied in with my number 1, this little guy has help to push the netbook market to where it is today. With their ultra-low voltage requirements and small form-factor, these small yet powerful processors are the core of today’s mobile computing technology and show that big things really do come in small packages.
3. USB 3.0 Devices – Although none have been released yet, 2009 showed some major development of consumer USB 3.0 devices. I’m looking forward to 2010 when we will be able to transfer at 0.4 GByte/s (almost a full CD in a second).
4. Solid State Drives – I took an interest in solid state drives this year when I purchased my netbook (which does contain an SSD). Although not quite mainstream, solid state drives are definitely the future of consumer storage with their faster speeds and higher reliability rates. I look forward to when I am able to purchase a larger SSD in the coming year.
5. Android Smart Phones – This year was the year for the Android-based phone. With the highly anticipated release of the Motorola Droid on the Verizon network, many people are now able to get their hands on a powerful and customizable phone powered by Android. Although I do not have one for myself, I look forward to purchasing an Android-based phone in the coming year.

Reis Pritchard

Kevin Schulte

1. Playstation 3 – I finally picked up a PS3 this summer, and it quickly turned into my favorite console of the current generation.  Great exclusive games, a Blu-Ray player, and free online play make the PS3 hard to beat.  Plus you can install Linux on it.
2. Motorola Droid – I don’t personally have one (yet), but it’s impossible to not acknowledge that there’s finally a killer phone for the Android platform.
3. Creative Zen X-Fi – Of the iPod alternatives I looked at, the Zen X-Fi was the most attractive choice. It does everything I want at a very reasonable price. As a bonus, it comes with earphones that sell for around $50 if purchased separately.
4. Hard Drives – Hard drives were in the spotlight for computer hardware this year. Solid state drives have continued to drop in price and rise in speed, and high capacity traditional drives dropped to dirt cheap levels.
5. Logitech G500 Gaming Mouse – My old G5 bit the dust this year, and I picked up a G500 to replace it. It takes everything good about the G5 and perfects it, and takes every complaint I had about the G5 and fixes it.

Derek Dahlen

1. XBMC Media Center - The open-source XBMC Media Center (formerly Xbox Media Center) software is my HTPC solution of choice. With a large development community creating new features and eliminating bugs, XBMC continues to be my go-to solution for media playback on my TV.
2. Google Android Phones - I’ve been playing around with Android for quite a while now, and am thoroughly impressed with how the mobile OS is shaping up. With the lag time in updates from phone makers and providers, rooting your Android phone and performing updates to the latest and greatest versions is a must.
3. Windows 7 - Windows 7 released in fall of ’09 with an incredible adoption rate. With Microsoft’s free beta program, they created quite a bit of hype from geeks across the globe. If you’re still on Windows, you should definitely be giving 7 a look.  [Check out all of our guides about Windows 7]
4. Nvidia Ion Netbooks - Nvidia’s ION platform has given netbooks the ability to perform semi-intensive video activities that netbooks have desperately needed. (Watching YouTube in HD, 720p video playback) I think these netbooks are going to blow up in 2010.
5. Intel Core i5 750 - With low prices and excellent overclocking ability, Intel’s Core i5 has finally given enthusiasts an affordable path to a 4 Ghz quad-core solution.

David Carman

1. Large Hadron Collider – It’s awesome.  Still not convinced?Image courtesy Ethan Hein
2. Smartphones – I don’t have one but they are a huge leap forward in terms of personal and portable computing.  Navigating NYC is so much easier with my brother’s iPhone than it would be without it, we are using it constantly.

Patrick Vinge

1. Drobo – The best on-site back up solution of all time.  With the ability to add hard drives together to create a backup, you can’t have a safer set up.  Expandable up to 16 terabytes, Drobo can be a solution for commercial applications as well.
2. Unibody Macbook Pro – The most solid laptop made today, with amazing performance from the hardware.  The only drawback?  Price.
3. Solio Hybrid 1000 Solar Charger – This is a light weight USB solar charger for backpacking and camping.  It takes about 4 hours to fully charge an iPod, but when your hiking all day long and it can clip to your pack it is a great tool to keep your music playing.
4. T-Mobile G1 – The original Android phone has continued to receive updates while many others have stolen the limelight. This phone works great and supports almost all new Android applications.
5. Linksys WRT54GL – This is one of the older Linksys routers, but still can be the core of any good (and cheap) home network.  Easily has the greatest pool of third party firmware released, giving it the ability to compete with any major corporate level routers.

Michael Green

1. Android Smart Phones –  I use my Motorola Droid A LOT. It is so nice to have a smartphone because I am always connected, and I frequently find myself using my phone to do random Google searches that I would otherwise have to go find a computer to perform. I also find that since I have gotten my phone I am using my desktop computer much less than I used to. As lazy as it sounds the most annoying part of using my computer is waiting for it to start up and with my smart phone I don’t have to wait for anything. I get up in the morning and check my email from my bed in a matter of seconds all I have to do is unlock my phone and open up the Gmail app.

Staff Picks: Top Gadgets and Tech of 2009 is a post from Techerator.com.

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1. Staff Picks: Top Web Apps and Software of 2009
2. Staff Picks: The Best Tech of 2010
3. Save Energy and Lower Your Electricity Bill without Losing the Tech You Love

Evan Wondrasek

1. Gmail – I’ve been using Gmail for a few years, but 2009 was definitely the year where I got the most out of it.  I love being able to import mail from several accounts into one Gmail account and keep them all organized with Multiple Inboxes.  [Check our our guides about Gmail]
2. WordPress – You might not know this, but you’re using WordPress right now.  This website (and thousands of others) all use WordPress to create and manage content.  Just like all my favorite applications, WordPress supports plugins so you can expand it far beyond it’s core functionality. WordPress is some of the highest quality free software I have ever used.  [Check out our guides about WordPress]
3. Twitter – I might be referred to as a Twitter addict.  I might also have a few Twitter t-shirts in my closet. Those allegations aside, Twitter has turned into my favorite social network and I find I’m getting more out of it every day.  If I ever have a problem (especially tech related), I typically Tweet about it first and my great group of followers can provide a solution.  [Check out our guides about Twitter]
4. Firefox and Google Chrome – Is it cheating to list both of these in one spot?  I think not!  Firefox has been my favorite browser for years, but in the last few months (most notably when Chrome started offering support for extensions) I’ve been using Google’s browser almost exclusively.  Now if only Chrome supported a legitimate version of Tree Style Tabs…  [Check out our guides about Firefox and our articles about Google Chrome]
5. Android – I fell in love with Google’s mobile operating system when I got my Motorola Droid.  Even though the Android Market is small and most applications are in early versions, I’ve discovered some fantastic applications that could never see the light of day in Apple’s app store (like the Google Voice app).

Dustin Patterson

1. Dropbox – Dropbox is a great way to sync your files across multiple platforms including different operating systems and other portable devices.  The ability to share files and folders with other Dropbox users creates a great collaboration environment that I have been able to take advantage of this year.  [Checkout our guide Dropbox]
2. Twitter – Probably one of the most talked about services of 2009, Twitter is a great way to keep up with people you know personally, and those you don’t. I have found Twitter to be a great way to keep up with people I’m interested in including directors, musicians, bloggers, and other tech enthusiasts. [Check out our guides about Twitter]
3. Hulu – Although Hulu has been around for a couple of years now, I found myself watching more content on Hulu than on cable or over-the-air television this year. By having added a larger number of shows and easiler ways to access the content with software like Hulu Desktop, Hulu is one of my top web apps for 2009.
4. Evernote – Evernote is one piece of software that I am still incorporating into my daily usage. With an essentially unlimited number of uses, Evernote allows you to keep track of just about anything. Its rich editor is available in both a web interface and desktop application and also has apps for many portable devices.
5. Vibe Streamer – Probably my favorite piece of software this year, Vibe Streamer allows me to stream my music library to any computer with a Flash-enabled web browser. Whether I am at work or on the run, I always have my Vibe Streamer page open and am able to listen to anything from my music library with a couple clicks.  [Check out our guide on Vibe Streamer]

Reis Pritchard

1. CCleaner – Every computer’s ‘apple a day’, though in my case it’s more like 10 bushels.  I use it constantly to remove digital junk from my computer. [Check out our guide to CCleaner]
2. Steam – This online gaming network for PC brings Xbox LIVE to it’s knees in my biased opinion.
3. Xmarks – I fell in love with this online bookmark management system after they announced support for the Google Chrome web browser. [Check out our guide to Xmarks]
4. WLAN Optimizer – A very small, relatively unknown tool that has given me huge relief with my Vista and Windows 7 installations.  One of its features cancels the background scan for new networks and has fixed many people’s wireless issues (particularly in gaming and audio/video streaming).
5. Netflix – Online movie rentals and instant streaming via PC, Xbox 360, PS3, and many other devices.

Kevin Schulte

1. Gmail – Is there really any question why this is on here? Gmail makes other web based e-mail services look archaic and unusable. [Check our our guides about Gmail]
2. Bruce Schneier’s Blog – Bruce’s musings on security are always relevant, entertaining, and informative. There’s a reason why he’s at the top of his field.
3. Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - Definitely ranks as one of my favorite web comics. While everyone loves XKCD, it can be spotty at times. Zach Weiner churns out consistently funny material on a near daily basis.
4. Dragon Age: Origins – BioWare at their finest. Dragon Age delivers with a top notch storyline and classic BioWare gameplay that brings back pleasant memories of Neverwinter Nights and the Baldur’s Gate series. Without a doubt my personal game of the year.
5. Rock, Paper, Shotgun – The authority on PC gaming. I’m amazed at how much information RPS is able to produce every day. If it’s relevant to PC gaming, RPS has it covered.

Derek Dahlen

David Carman

1. Twitter – I really used it a lot this year.  I Started following a lot of cool people and found it to be a great tool to communicate with new people as well as current friends.  [Check out our guides about Twitter]
2. Amazon – Used it a lot more this year than most, not for any specific reason but I just found myself ordering more and more from it versus other places.
3. Hulu – As Hulu included more and more shows I find myself watching more and more on Hulu instead of using other methods to get TV.  In fact, I didn’t get TV when I moved into my apartment, and I don’t even feel like I need to.

Patrick Vinge

1. Dropbox – Dropbox has been around for awhile now but with the ability to upgrade space for free now by inviting people, it is better then ever.  This year we have also seen a lot of Dropbox “hacks” to bring out the full potential of the service.  [Check out our guide to Dropbox]
2. Twitter – Twitter is huge and only getting bigger.
3. Google Voice – The single most useful Android app released to date.  Google Voice’s transcription service isn’t spot on yet but it is coming along nicely and honestly, having a “close enough” transcription works for me.  [Check out our guide to Google Voice]
4. Pandora – Recently I have been reaching my monthly maximum limit over and over again, but you can’t ask for much more then 40 free hours of music a month.  [Check out our guide to using Pandora without a browser]
5. Quicksilver – A must install app on all systems running Mac OS X.  With the ability to launch and search applications in one quick keyboard shortcut, it will save you a considerable amount of time.  Windows users should check out Launchy for a suitable equivalent.

Michael Green

1. Firefox – I had previously been an Internet Explorer user and I am really glad I made the switch.  I really like all of the options for add-ons.  I love the Folders 4 Gmail Greasemonkey script because it shortened up the length of my labels A LOT.  [Check out all of our guides about Firefox]
2. Gmail – I have been using Gmail for a while but after reading about getting organized in Gmail and utilizing filters to sort my messages, I really like the way Gmail works for me now.  I have set up a couple of filters to send my work emails to a folder which skips my inbox so my phone doesn’t blow up every time I get a work email which is great.
3. Clone DVD by Elaborate Bytes and AnyDVD by Slysoft - With this combination of programs I have been able to burn every DVD I own to make backups.  AnyDVD is a decryption program that is updated at least 2 times a month to account for the most recent DVD protection codes.
4. DVDShrink and Mediacoder iPod/iPhone Edition - With DVDShrink I am able to reauthor DVD’s so that I can save just the main title of a DVD as an ISO file.  DVDShrink also allows me to adjust the compression ratio on the title I am saving which is nice because it saves a lot of room in the end when I put the file onto my phone or iPod for watching.  Mediacoder takes the ISO file and converts it to an MP4 file.  This program program has a friendly UI, but sometimes it takes around 3 hours to convert the ISO file into an MP4. Both of the programs are free so that is a definite bonus to be able to convert any DVD into an MP4 for free.
5. Microsoft Excel – If I made this list in order of most useful programs this would be my #1 and not my #5.  As an engineer I really don’t have any idea what I would do with out Excel.  I use it in just about every one of my classes and it saves me a lot of time.  I have been using the 2010 beta version lately but it seems to be pretty similar to the 2007 version with some changes in paste options being the biggest thing that I have noticed.

Staff Picks: Top Web Apps and Software of 2009 is a post from Techerator.com.

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