The 20th Century has been all about one thing: innovation. Every year we have new technologies and new advancements that further progress our society. 2008 was no different and offered its own assortment of technological innovation and hot gadgets.
Below is a listing of some of the most beneficial, and some of the most popular gadgets and gear to come out of 2008. They serve to improve your home, the economy, or life in general.


1. Slingbox SOLO

The Slingbox SOLO is a media unit that allows you to watch your TV from anywhere, either on your laptop or on your cell phone. The SOLO syncs to equipment such as your set top box, DVR, or satellite system and transmits HD-quality signals to wherever you are. You can watch your own TV from work, from China, or from the North Pole. The system costs a mere $179.99.


2. Amazon Kindle
The Amazon Kindle, like previous e-book readers makes use of a backlight-free E Ink display to display texts as an alternative to paper books. It only uses power when loading new pages and can last for hundreds of pages between charges. The Kindle’s key feature is a high-speed EVDO antenna that allows fast downloads from Sprint. The Kindle is available for $359.



3. Intel Atom Processor

Not only is the Atom super small (47 million transistors on a single 26×26mm chip), but it is super efficient, with a power range from 1 watt to 2.5 watts. What the Atom brings to the market is the possibility to bring computer-level power into smaller formats, further evolving the potential for portable devices.


4. Roku Netflix Box
If you have a Netflix account, then with the Roku box you will never have to wait for your movies to come in the mail ever again. The Roku connects to your TV and, through your home network, streams more than 12,000 movies and TV shows for free. The box costs $99, and requires a Netflix subscription.



5 .Apple iPhone 3G

The iPhone has been a top seller ever since its debut, so it comes as no surprise that it would be one of the hottest gadgets of 2008. It doesn’t handle email as well as the BlackBerry line, and as a phone, it is no better than most others, but it started a revolution. Available for $199.



6. Wii Balance Board (and Wii Fit)

Wii Fit is one of those games that seeks to reinvent the video game genre by becoming a more practical family-oriented home utility, rather than a simple game. Combined with the Wii Balance Board, it becomes a full exercise training experience allowing you to do anything from aerobics to hula hooping.


7. Livescribe Pulse Smartpen


Typical smart pens copy the movements of the pen and digitize the handwriting for later manipulation on a PC, but the Livescribe Pulse also uses an integrated microphone to record and retrieve audio. With a tap of the pen point to the appropriate handwritten segment, the pen will play the associated recording. The Livescribe goes for $149.


8. Nokia E71 (with Up to 20 Days of Standby Time)


There were a lot of cell phones in 2008, and a lot of them were somewhat lacking. The iPhone 3G was notorious for its battery life, and the BlackBerry Storm had software that left a lot to be desired, for example. The E71, however, was one of the better reviewed units. The E71 looks very good, has a fully developed OS, and a battery life that lasted not hours, but up to 20 days.


9. Potenco PCG1 Power Generator


The Potenco PCG1 is a pull-cord generator that can be used to generate electricity for portable gadgets with greater efficiency than other hand-cranked devices. Perfect for use in remote regions of the world, the generator weighs 14 ounces and has both an internal NiMh battery and a mini-USB output jack. Two minutes of pull-cord effort can be converted into 40 minutes of talk time on a cell phone. Available for $99.


10. Nissan Around View Monitor


Nissan’s new parking system allows you to see 360 degrees around your car. Standard parking systems only show a rear view, but the Nissan Around View Monitor uses ultra-wide-angle cameras positioned strategically around your vehicle and synthesizes the images into a bird’s eye view on-screen. Packages start at $1950.