Top 5 Gadgets of 2009

As the year 2009 comes to an end, Youth Ki Awaaz brings to you the Top 5 series. The Top 5 series will consist of the Top 5 gadgets, movies, inventions and much more that happened in 2009. Below is the first post to this series, "TOP 5 GADGETS OF 2009"

1. Motorola Droid It started with a massive and mysterious advertising campaign that was clearly targeted at Apple's iPhone. When the secretive marketing dust settled, Verizon unveiled the Motorola Droid, a challenger to iPhone's recent dominance in the smart phone market.

Droid features Google's Android operating system and is the first phone to come with Google Maps Navigation preinstalled. It has WiFi networking capabilities, a 3.7-inch (9.4-centimeter) touchscreen, sliding QWERTY keyboard and a 5-megapixel camera that's designed to take crisp pictures in dim light [source: Topolsky]. Droid comes with an Arm Cortex A8 CPU, which is the same processor in the iPhone 3GS. That CPU, paired with 256MB of RAM, is one reason Droid runs applications faster than most comparable smartphones. The extra horsepower also means Droid captures 720 x 480 video clips with ease, and unlike iPhone, it can run multiple applications at the same time [source: Topolsky]. But does powerful hardware and a selection of unique applications mean Droid will hack out a place in iPhone's market share? That remains to be seen, but one verdict is in for sure -- competing products are finally catching up to the iPhone in terms of usability and features. That's a big deal, especially for all of you who really adore gadgets but can't afford all of the high-priced fun.

2. Fitbit It's one thing to present fascinating new technologies to the gadget-happy masses. It's another thing when you refine existing technologies to help people improve their lives in new ways. The Fitbit merges existing products into a new suite of tools that may help you get into better physical shape.

The central product driving the Fitbit is a small accelerometer (similar to the one in Nintendo's Wii controllers) that clips onto your clothing. As you move throughout the day, Fitbit tracks how much physical activity you performed. During the day, you can access your personal Fitbit Web page and enter the types and quantities of food you eat. And at bedtime, you slip the device into a wristband to track the quality of your sleep. Every time you pass the wireless base station, your Fitbit transmits data to your account on Fitbit.com. There, you can see how many calories you've burned, the number of steps you've taken, calorie intake and sleep quality. Because the Fitbit works best for walking motion and isn't waterproof, you can't use it for activities such as bicycling or swimming; however, you can enter these activities manually in your online profile. Ultimately, Fitbit is a painless way to see how your physical activity, diet, and resting habits affect your overall quality of life. Unlike similar devices, it costs only $99, and there's no recurring fee to use the Web site. If you can fit it into your routine, Fitbit will take the guesswork out of tracking your exercise and eating behaviors. With numbers and goal-setting metrics at your fingertips, you'll have access to a tool that encourages consistently better lifestyle choices.

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