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Year in review: HD DVD died, smartphones thrived

The year in gadgets was marked by a DVD format war, the iPhone 3G and a parade of would-be iPhone killers, and--like everything else--the economic downturn.

5 min read
Gadgets

HD DVD died, smartphones thrived

By Leslie Katz
Staff Writer, CNET News
Published: December 22, 2008, 4:00 AM PST

Early into 2008, the seemingly interminable duel between HD DVD and Blu-ray officially ended when Toshiba waved the white flag and declared it would stop producing HD DVD players. Shortly thereafter, the studios still backing HD DVD withdrew their support and said they would get behind Blu-ray.

But while Blu-ray won the battle, it hasn't yet won the war. The growing popularity of digital downloads, combined with the relatively high prices of Blu-ray players and discs vs. inexpensive, so-called upconverting DVD players, kept many consumers away. And so far, Blu-ray adoption has been relatively low.

As the next-generation format war finally wound down, however, other battles were brewing apace. Apple unleashed its iPhone 3G in July to great fanfare, with at least three high-profile competitors--T-Mobile's G1 Android phone, RIM's BlackBerry Storm, and Nokia's upcoming N97--immediately cast as possible "iPhone killers."

iPhone 3G launch
Credit: James Martin/CNET News
As the iPhone 3G went on sale in July, a crowd was eagerly waiting outside
the downtown San Francisco Apple store.

Also battling it out for market dominance were makers of Netbooks, the one product boosting the PC industry's fortunes amid inclement conditions. Given this year's economic downturn, it made sense that the smaller, cheaper PCs would grab consumers' attention, and PC makers paid heed. At times it seemed that every week brought news of yet another company getting in on the mini-notebook trend.

The economic downturn loomed large in corners of the gadget world beyond the PC market, however, with layoffs hitting gadget and game makers including Sony, TiVo, Electronic Arts, and Motorola.

Among consumer electronics retailers hit hard was Circuit City, which filed for bankruptcy protection after a series of poor earnings reports, and after entertaining a $1 billion buyout bid from Blockbuster. To some consumers' delight, the chain's bankruptcy has meant liquidation sales at closing stores, but not necessarily the big-ticket-item discounts some had hoped for.

Consumers did enjoy sizable bargains on HDTVs, which so far appear to be avoiding a recession-related hit. In North America, shipments are still increasing 17 percent year over year, according to DisplaySearch data.

Those hunting for MP3 players also got nice price cuts on Microsoft's flash-based Zunes.

Camera buffs welcomed the arrival of four higher-end SLRs that considerably expanded the market for "full frame" cameras equipped with relatively large sensors the size of a frame of 35mm film. First was Nikon's 12.1-megapixel D700, Nikon's attempt to offer a lower-price option to the D3. Second was Sony's Alpha A900, with an as-yet unmatched 24.6 megapixels. Third was Canon's 5D Mark II, a 21.1-megapixel sequel to the acclaimed but elderly 5D. Last and still not publicly available is Nikon's $8,000, 24.5-megapixel D3X, which will take on Canon's 1Ds Mark III.

And take this one as good or bad news, depending on your perspective: 2008 proved to be yet another banner year for the indomitable force known as Hello Kitty gadgets.

2008 Highlights

It's official: Toshiba announces HD DVD surrender

Consumer electronics giant says it will stop producing HD DVD players, effectively conceding the high-def format war to Blu-ray.

February 19, 2008

Photos: Scenes from the iPhone 3G launch

From the slow lines to the computer snafus, we take you through the early morning launch of the device at Apple's downtown San Francisco store.

July 11, 2008

BlackBerry Bold debuts in North America

Rogers Wireless is the first North American carrier to sell the BlackBerry Bold, a souped-up version of the Curve.

August 21, 2008

Sony recalls about 438,000 Vaio laptops

Company says irregularly positioned wires near the notebook hinge, or dislodged screws inside the hinge, can cause short circuits and overheating.

September 4, 2008

Android era begins with T-Mobile's G1

T-Mobile's unveiling of the first phone powered by Google's Android software will be only the beginning of a long effort to rewrite the rules of the mobile communications industry.

September 24, 2008

iPhone users say 2.1 software update delivered

The results are in and according to iPhone 3G owners, the 2.1 software brought improvements and fixed problems.

September 26, 2008

Apple polishes up MacBook line

The notebooks get some bodywork done by "brick," plus gain solid-state drives, graphics by Nvidia, and more. Macs, Apple says, have momentum.

October 14, 2008

Circuit City files for bankruptcy

The struggling electronics chain says that it's seeking Chapter 11 protection and that it will raise its projected job cuts to about 20 percent of its staff.

November 10, 2008

HDTV prices: Black Friday comes early, stays late

With the nosedive in the economy and retailers facing increasingly bleak sales, HDTV prices are starting to fall early.

November 17, 2008

Wii leads the way on healthy Black Friday

Retailers had reason to smile on the popular shopping day, as consumers went in search of bargains--especially on electronics shelves.

November 30, 2008

Nokia's mystery device? The Nokia N97

Nokia officially unveils the Internet-focused Nokia N97, a full-QWERTY smartphone with a touch screen. Will its style and substance compete with the iPhone, G1, and BlackBerry Storm?

December 2, 2008

BlackBerry Storm firmware update rolled out

Hours after rumors of a firmware update release, Verizon Wireless officially publishes the software update schedule for the RIM BlackBerry Storm.

December 5, 2008

Additional headlines

SlingPlayer for BlackBerry coming in 2008

Thanks to PS3, Sony enjoys spoils of HD fracas

Funai to distribute Philips TVs in U.S., Canada

The Netflix Player is a great start, but where's my Hulu box?

Report: Blu-ray wins DVD format wars, but faces battle

Meet the first multitouch consumer laptop: HP's TouchSmart tx2

I want to believe: Reflections on my Zune year

Hands-on with Netflix streaming to TiVo

Sony cuts costs, but not brand problems

PlayStation 'Home' open beta launches

 
Gadgets

HD DVD died, smartphones thrived

By Leslie Katz
Staff Writer, CNET News
Published: December 22, 2008, 4:00 AM PST

Early into 2008, the seemingly interminable duel between HD DVD and Blu-ray officially ended when Toshiba waved the white flag and declared it would stop producing HD DVD players. Shortly thereafter, the studios still backing HD DVD withdrew their support and said they would get behind Blu-ray.

But while Blu-ray won the battle, it hasn't yet won the war. The growing popularity of digital downloads, combined with the relatively high prices of Blu-ray players and discs vs. inexpensive, so-called upconverting DVD players, kept many consumers away. And so far, Blu-ray adoption has been relatively low.

As the next-generation format war finally wound down, however, other battles were brewing apace. Apple unleashed its iPhone 3G in July to great fanfare, with at least three high-profile competitors--T-Mobile's G1 Android phone, RIM's BlackBerry Storm, and Nokia's upcoming N97--immediately cast as possible "iPhone killers."

iPhone 3G launch
Credit: James Martin/CNET News
As the iPhone 3G went on sale in July, a crowd was eagerly waiting outside
the downtown San Francisco Apple store.

Also battling it out for market dominance were makers of Netbooks, the one product boosting the PC industry's fortunes amid inclement conditions. Given this year's economic downturn, it made sense that the smaller, cheaper PCs would grab consumers' attention, and PC makers paid heed. At times it seemed that every week brought news of yet another company getting in on the mini-notebook trend.

The economic downturn loomed large in corners of the gadget world beyond the PC market, however, with layoffs hitting gadget and game makers including Sony, TiVo, Electronic Arts, and Motorola.

Among consumer electronics retailers hit hard was Circuit City, which filed for bankruptcy protection after a series of poor earnings reports, and after entertaining a $1 billion buyout bid from Blockbuster. To some consumers' delight, the chain's bankruptcy has meant liquidation sales at closing stores, but not necessarily the big-ticket-item discounts some had hoped for.

Consumers did enjoy sizable bargains on HDTVs, which so far appear to be avoiding a recession-related hit. In North America, shipments are still increasing 17 percent year over year, according to DisplaySearch data.

Those hunting for MP3 players also got nice price cuts on Microsoft's flash-based Zunes.

Camera buffs welcomed the arrival of four higher-end SLRs that considerably expanded the market for "full frame" cameras equipped with relatively large sensors the size of a frame of 35mm film. First was Nikon's 12.1-megapixel D700, Nikon's attempt to offer a lower-price option to the D3. Second was Sony's Alpha A900, with an as-yet unmatched 24.6 megapixels. Third was Canon's 5D Mark II, a 21.1-megapixel sequel to the acclaimed but elderly 5D. Last and still not publicly available is Nikon's $8,000, 24.5-megapixel D3X, which will take on Canon's 1Ds Mark III.

And take this one as good or bad news, depending on your perspective: 2008 proved to be yet another banner year for the indomitable force known as Hello Kitty gadgets.

2008 Highlights

It's official: Toshiba announces HD DVD surrender

Consumer electronics giant says it will stop producing HD DVD players, effectively conceding the high-def format war to Blu-ray.

February 19, 2008

Photos: Scenes from the iPhone 3G launch

From the slow lines to the computer snafus, we take you through the early morning launch of the device at Apple's downtown San Francisco store.

July 11, 2008

BlackBerry Bold debuts in North America

Rogers Wireless is the first North American carrier to sell the BlackBerry Bold, a souped-up version of the Curve.

August 21, 2008

Sony recalls about 438,000 Vaio laptops

Company says irregularly positioned wires near the notebook hinge, or dislodged screws inside the hinge, can cause short circuits and overheating.

September 4, 2008

Android era begins with T-Mobile's G1

T-Mobile's unveiling of the first phone powered by Google's Android software will be only the beginning of a long effort to rewrite the rules of the mobile communications industry.

September 24, 2008

iPhone users say 2.1 software update delivered

The results are in and according to iPhone 3G owners, the 2.1 software brought improvements and fixed problems.

September 26, 2008

Apple polishes up MacBook line

The notebooks get some bodywork done by "brick," plus gain solid-state drives, graphics by Nvidia, and more. Macs, Apple says, have momentum.

October 14, 2008

Circuit City files for bankruptcy

The struggling electronics chain says that it's seeking Chapter 11 protection and that it will raise its projected job cuts to about 20 percent of its staff.

November 10, 2008

HDTV prices: Black Friday comes early, stays late

With the nosedive in the economy and retailers facing increasingly bleak sales, HDTV prices are starting to fall early.

November 17, 2008

Wii leads the way on healthy Black Friday

Retailers had reason to smile on the popular shopping day, as consumers went in search of bargains--especially on electronics shelves.

November 30, 2008

Nokia's mystery device? The Nokia N97

Nokia officially unveils the Internet-focused Nokia N97, a full-QWERTY smartphone with a touch screen. Will its style and substance compete with the iPhone, G1, and BlackBerry Storm?

December 2, 2008

BlackBerry Storm firmware update rolled out

Hours after rumors of a firmware update release, Verizon Wireless officially publishes the software update schedule for the RIM BlackBerry Storm.

December 5, 2008

Additional headlines

SlingPlayer for BlackBerry coming in 2008

Thanks to PS3, Sony enjoys spoils of HD fracas

Funai to distribute Philips TVs in U.S., Canada

The Netflix Player is a great start, but where's my Hulu box?

Report: Blu-ray wins DVD format wars, but faces battle

Meet the first multitouch consumer laptop: HP's TouchSmart tx2

I want to believe: Reflections on my Zune year

Hands-on with Netflix streaming to TiVo

Sony cuts costs, but not brand problems

PlayStation 'Home' open beta launches