Gallery: Gear of the Year
01apple-ipad-2-2
We have to admit it, our jobs are pretty cool. We get to test all the latest gear, usually before everyone else gets their hands on it. We break in the newest products -- phones, tablets, cars, shoes, earphones -- for a week or so, pressing all the buttons and getting it dirty. Then we write up our impressions to help you decide whether it's something you should consider buying. With that last bit comes a huge level of responsibility, and often some anxiety. But for the most part, it's a really fun way to earn a living. Granted, there are [heaps of sucky products](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/12/2011-tech-fails-oof/) to wade through, but when you get to test a real gem, it's a rush. Listed here are our favorite products we tested in 2011. Not necessarily the best-rated, or even the best-in-class, but the products that stood out in our minds and made lasting impressions on us -- the stuff we most enjoyed surrounding ourselves with this year. Apple iPad 2 ------------ It's hard to find a corner of the computer industry the iPad didn't affect in some way -- touchscreens, software distribution, processors, sensors, web design, materials. Regardless of how you feel about Apple's products or its business practices, you cannot deny that the iPad has proven to be a very big deal. With the introduction of the [iPad 2](http://www.apple.com/ipad/), Apple slimmed down and sped up the original design, making it easier for us to slot one into our lives. Researchers, students, gamers and musicians are all flocking to the device, finding new ways to incorporate it to their workflows. And of course, consumers have a new platform for watching videos, sending e-mails, playing games and just tapping around the web on the couch. It's not an essential device -- we already have laptops that do all of these things well, and $500 is a lot of money -- but it's a damn cool addition to the quiver. [Read Brian X. Chen's review of the iPad 2](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/03/ipad-2/). *Photo by Jim Merithew/Wired*
02samsung-galaxy-nexus-2
Samsung Galaxy Nexus -------------------- For the last couple of years, Android always felt like it was still "getting there" as a mobile operating system. Now, with Android 4.0, aka Ice Cream Sandwich, it feels like it's truly matured. Google's OS was designed for use on both tablets and phones with minimal differences. The first smartphone implementation of ICS shipped on the [Galaxy Nexus from Samsung](http://www.google.com/nexus/). The $300 phone is a joint venture between Samsung and Google, and thus the purest expression of Android 4.0. With a big, sharp screen, tons of new features and a sleek, minimalist hardware design, it's a show pony, Android's supercool concept car of the future. It runs on Verizon's 4G network, so speeding isn't only allowed, it's encouraged. [Read Mike Isaac's review of the Galaxy Nexus](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/12/galaxy-nexus/). *Photo by Ariel Zambelich/Wired*
03amazon-kindle-touch
Amazon Kindle Touch ------------------- It took a long time for Amazon to add a touchscreen to its massively successful e-ink reader. But now that [it's here](http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Touch-e-Reader-Touch-Screen-Wi-Fi-Special-Offers/dp/B005890G8Y), we can't imagine ever going back. Also, the company took care to get it right -- the touchscreen is mapped to make flipping pages easy no matter which hand you use, and the on-screen keyboard and menus are much better than the ones on competing devices. There are some caveats. It's a $100 device dedicated to displaying text, so it's really only good for reading books. If you want apps and games and Twitter and movies and a real web browser, consider a full-sized tablet or a [Kindle Fire](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/11/kindle-fire/). But if you're a serious reader, this is your go-to machine. And if you're only a casual reader (or even a begrudging one) you'll find yourself blowing through books faster with this thing in your life. [Read John Abell's full review of the Kindle Touch](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/11/kindle-touch/). *Photo by John Abell/Wired*
04apple-macbook-air-3
Apple MacBook Air ----------------- We'll probably look back at Apple's 2011 refresh of its [MacBook Air](http://www.apple.com/macbookair/) as the most influential shot fired in the ultrabook revolution. [Intel's initiative](http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/sponsors-of-tomorrow/ultrabook.html) to drive the PC industry towards creating thin, light and highly portable machines was given a big kick towards the goal with the new MacBook Air. Now everyone's adjusting their playbook to follow Apple's lead. Common arguments against the Air: It is underpowered and under-equipped. It's true, with an ultrabook, you do trade some brawn and some flexibility (and, in many cases, a DVD drive and a swappable battery) to get the extreme portability. But after months of daily use, we've seen that ultrabooks have been able to satisfy the needs of almost all consumers. The $1,000 starting price tag on Apple's entry is a bit steep, but it's still the machine to beat. And nearly everyone is trying -- we saw a half dozen ultrabooks this autumn from the likes of [Toshiba](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/11/ultrabooks-for-everyone-toshiba-joins-the-fray/), [Lenovo](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/11/lenovo-u/), [Sony](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/11/sony-vaio-z/) and [Acer](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/10/acer-aspire-s3/), and more are undoubtedly on the way next spring. Historical importance aside, it's just an awesome notebook. It's got a great display, the keyboard is comfortable and the trackpad is one of the best we've used. [Read Erik Malinowski's review of the MacBook Air](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/07/macbookair/). *Photo by Jim Merithew/Wired*
05soundfreaq-sound-stack
Soundfreaq Sound Stack ---------------------- Speaker docks for your smartphone or iPod are getting nudged aside. They're bulky and expensive, and most of us just hook up our phone to either our existing stereo or some cheap speakers. But discerning audio lovers insist on owning a dedicated system (or two) that sounds great. And if it gets along really with your phone, that's a bonus. Our favorite dock system from this year is the [Sound Stack](http://www.soundfreaq.com/SFQ-03_Home.htm) from Soundfreaq. It charges any reasonably current iOS device, but it also pairs with any mobile device over Bluetooth -- Android, BlackBerry, laptop, tablet or otherwise. It doesn't do [AirPlay](http://www.apple.com/itunes/airplay/) (and considering the shaky usability and device exclusivity of Apple's still-not-there streaming platform, you likely won't miss it) but it does everything else right. And it sounds and looks awesome. It's a $400 device. You can buy an excellent pair of powered speakers for that money, but we'd recommend giving the Sound Stack a listen before you do, especially if you're an [Rdio](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/08/rdio-ipad/) or [Spotify](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/epicenter/2011/07/spotify-android-music/) nut who relies heavily on mobile apps. Match the convenience and quality of the Bluetooth wireless streaming with the stunning audio available through the dock connector, and you may be won over. [Read Michael Calore's review of the Sound Stack](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/11/soundfreaq3/). *Photo by Jon Snyder/Wired*
06spot-ajax-2
Spot Ajax --------- The matte-black [Ajax](http://spotbrand.com/bikes/product-page/ajax-belt/) looks stealthy, and it's even more so once you ride it. Though materials and build play a part in the Ajax's silent operation, the main reasons are the 8-speed internal [Shimano Alfine](http://www.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/0/alfine.html) hub and [Gates belt drive](http://www.carbondrivesystems.com/) at the heart of the bike's derailleur-free drivetrain. All gearing is internal, meaning no derailleurs to break, bend, or fall out of tune. Internal hubs even let you shift gears without pedaling -- a godsend for urban commuters who forget to downshift before stopping at red lights. With the Ajax, Spot takes the simplicity and dependability further by replacing the chain with a belt, like the ones found on automotive engines. The durable belts, made from layers of polyurethane, rubber and carbon-fiber strands, don't need lubrication, either -- no grease stains on your chinos. It all adds up to one badass bike for the to-and-fro commuter, and our favorite urban velocipede we tested this year. It's $1,700 for the model with the belt drive. The chain-driven version is $1,400. [Read John Bradley's review of the Spot Ajax](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/04/spot-ajax/). *Photo by Jim Merithew/Wired*
07ford-2012-mustang-boss-302
Ford 2012 Mustang Boss 302 -------------------------- Let's get one thing out of the way: This is the best Mustang ever built. Which makes it one of the best muscle cars ever built. Which makes it one of the best cars ever built, period. Which means you should probably go out and buy one, even though it costs $41,000 -- a big chunk of change for a Mustang. For a normal person, the ordinary, 412-hp Mustang GT has absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's a $30,500 brawler that handles better than anything with a live rear axle has a right to. But the [2012 Mustang Boss 302](http://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/2012mustangboss/) goes above and beyond the GT on which its based. Upgrades include a razor-sharp, track-oriented suspension, a 7500-rpm (!), 444-hp 5.0-liter V-8, a shorter limited-slip rear-axle and various aerodynamic bits aimed at increasing high-speed grip. The front brakes are 14-inch units borrowed from Ford's 550-hp Shelby GT500. Oh, and there's a killer, Annie-get-your-bell-bottoms graphics package meant to recall Ford's 1969-1970 Boss 302 Trans-Am racing special. Ask your dealer nicely, you can get a red ignition key, dubbed TracKey, that unlocks aggressive throttle programming and a blissfully lumpy old-school idle. One more thing: It has side pipes -- exhausts that *exit under the rocker panels*. Gurgle. [Read Sam Smith's review of the Mustang Boss 302](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/06/mustang-boss/). *Photo by Sam Smith/Wired*
08olympus-pen-e-p3-2
Olympus PEN E-P3 ---------------- Within the budding niche of compact system cameras -- small-bodied cameras with larger sensors and swappable lenses -- the stand-out this year was this entry from Olympus. Actually the company's third stab at the CSC space (using a design aesthetic borrowed from its original mid-century PEN system cameras) the [E-P3](http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1573) came loaded with great new features. First and foremost, the $900 camera has one of the fastest autofocus systems we've ever used, and it makes a huge difference when you're trying to blast through as many frames as possible during critical moments. Also, a new touchscreen control lets you pick any point in the frame with a tap -- the camera instantly focuses, then fires the shutter. You just tap the screen to take pictures, it couldn't be easier. Lastly, the chips are better. Olympus has improved the speed of its image processor and the low-light performance of its Micro Four-Thirds sensor. On top of those consumer-friendly features, you get a camera with excellent versatility. The lenses are interchangeable, so you can carry a piece of glass for every application -- wide-angle, macro, a fast lens for low light -- and forgo the bulk of a DSLR. [Read Jackson Lynch's review of the PEN E-P3](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/07/olympus-pen3/). *Photo by Jackson Lynch/Wired*
09bowers-wilkins-c5-headphones
Bowers & Wilkins C5 Headphones ------------------------------ In-ear headphones are sort of a love-them or hate-them affair: love them for their unmatched level of isolation and the high detail afforded by the tight fit; hate them because good sound requires a secure fit, and many models refuse to sit just right in the ear canal. With its [C5 headphones](http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Headphones/Headphones/C5/), British hi-fi company Bowers & Wilkins has largely solved the problem of the fit with a design that loops a small section of the audio cable to keep the earbuds in your ear, gently maintaining the small amount of inward force required as you walk around. After testing [scads of earbuds](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/11/buyingguide-earbuds/) over the years, we were seriously impressed by this tiny detail, a "why didn't anyone else think of that" moment. With that point nailed, all that's left to judge them on is the sound. No problem there -- while there's a good deal of bass favoring going on, the C5s in general exude a luxuriously warm and surprisingly open sound that will handle almost every genre with aplomb, particularly rock. They're $180. Like everything else the company makes, that's not exactly cheap. But for a killer pair of in-ear headphones, that's a good buy. [Read Bryan Gardiner's review of the C5 headphones](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2011/09/bw-c5/).
10jawbone-jambox
Jawbone Jambox -------------- The Jambox isn't new (we first reviewed it in [late 2010](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2010/11/jawbone_jambox/)) but we felt it deserves a spot on this year's best-of list for one simple reason: Nearly everyone on the Wired products team picked up their own Jambox and carried it everywhere all year. The [tiny wireless speaker box](http://jawbone.com/speakers/jambox/overview) is super-portable. It fits in your carry-on luggage easily when you fly, slips into a picnic basket, stays out of the way in hotel rooms, bathrooms, or on the mantle during dinner parties. It pairs to any Bluetooth device, and the battery lasts around eight hours and charges over regular USB. Oh and if a call comes in, it works as a half-decent speakerphone, too. It's $200, which seems expensive when you consider the sound it pumps out is neither super-loud or super-crisp. But like everything else in the mobile category, you trade quality for convenience, and the Jambox is so small and so easy to carry around, the upsides vastly outweigh the downsides. It's still one of our favorite gadgets -- with or without [the chain](http://jawbone.com/jamchain) that turns it into audio neckwear. *Photo by Jon Snyder/Wired*
