It’s hard to believe that another year has slipped by. In the world of technology everything is developing at lightning speed, so now is a good time to recap on the greatest hits of 2015. This will also give readers some ideas for Christmas gifts, as most of the products we have featured this year are highly desirable… they are “must haves”.
Using the available technology, Facebook provides a good ratings platform. Each fortnight when this article is published, we also run the same product on the Cool Stuf Facebook page with a link to the article, so we have an idea of the reaction, or uptake on the product being reviewed based on the number of “likes”.
So here are some of our “greatest hits” of 2015, as voted by you, the followers of the latest tech trends.
LENOVO YOGA 830 TABLET
RANKING: 1
Reviewed: June 26, 2015
Facebook likes: 2,191
Lenovo was the number one choice of our readers in 2015 based on its innovative design and attractive price point.
Weighing less than 300g an under 8mm thin, with an 8-inch High-Definition Infinity screen the YOGA 830 delivers a vivid, colorful viewing experience, both indoors and outdoors with 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution. Lenovo YOGA 830 also comes with twin front speakers with the powerful surround sound of Dolby audio for a convincing in-your-face experience.
What you said on Facebook: “Yep, already have one, using it rait nau.”
MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 4
RANKING: 2
Reviewed: October 30, 2015
Facebook likes: 2,111
Microsoft jumped the fence in 2015 from software to hardware, and gave birth to a product that is a generation beyond both its tablet and laptop parentage.
The laptop-killing design from Microsoft also showed that the market is shifting its focus away from laptops to notebooks. Surface Pro 4 has the proportions of a sheet of paper so that it feels familiar in your hands. It goes from tablet to laptop in a snap with the multi-position kickstand and improved keyboard. Powered by Windows 10, Surface Pro 4 turns from a tablet into a full powered laptop while running all of your desktop software.
What you said on Facebook: “Surface Pro…best!”
SAMSUNG GALAXY S6
RANKING: 3
Reviewed: April 17, 2015
Facebook likes: 2,050
In 2015 Samsung said that the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are “two of the most beautiful smartphones ever.”
The S6 design is bold and fresh. Gone is the usual plastic cover in favor of a stunning matte aluminum alloy frame with Gorilla Glass 4 on the front and back.
What you said on Facebook: “Technology at its best…wow, what a mobile. Another eye catcher for me”
BOSE QUIET COMFORT 25
RANKING: 4
Reviewed: January 9, 2015
Facebook likes: 1,590
We love music in Papua New Guinea, so it’s no surprise that the Bose QuietComfort 25 headphones were one of our most-liked products in 2015.
After all, the QuietComfort 25 is the best pair of headphones that Bose has ever made, and Bose is one of the best audio brands in the world. The quality of the noise cancelling is incredible, and the sound quality that goes hand in hand with it is of a similarly high level.
What you said on Facebook: “I got one, I love it, listen to more music than I ever did before”
iPHONE 6s
RANKING: = 5
Reviewed: October 2, 2015
Facebook likes: 1,492 likes
The latest iPhone came on to the market in 2015 looking pretty-well much the same as the previous model.
But appearances can be deceiving.
Deep down there were revolutionary changes that now put iPhone 6s at the forefront of mobile technology.
What you said on Facebook: “Sydney Apple Store m launchim disla phone to 25th September 2015 n everyone in Sydney and around the world came purposely to witness and be the first to purchase… Honest ol man wild na pulap lo outside lo gate early as 5am just to be the first to purchase a phone”
MEIZU M2 NOTE
RANKING: = 5
Reviewed: October 16, 2015
Facebook likes: 1,492 likes
Hot on the heels of the iPhone6 came our review of the Meizu M2 Note.
Mei who?
Meizu is pronounced may-zoo and it is a product out of China. It will cost you less than K700 – probably about a third of what you would pay for a Galaxy or iPhone.
Smart phone, smart choice, and not just a smartphone, but a tablet – a phablet.
The device has received very favorable reviews around the world as one of the best budget smartphones on the market.
What you said on Facebook: “After all…all smartphones are Chinese made”
NIKON COOLPIX s2800
RANKING: 6
Reviewed: March 20, 2015
Facebook likes: 1,274 likes
In our March 20 review we compared digital cameras up against smartphones and offered some entry-level cameras from the Nikon Coolpix range.
The S2800 is an attractive example with its 5x optical zoom and automatic scene detection technology. Heaps of other features will put you in the picture when it comes to digital photography.
What you said on Facebook: “It’s really good…I have one n the quality of that particular brand is too good…Go for it guys…its da best”
APPLE iWATCH
RANKING: 7
Reviewed: May 15, 2015
Facebook likes: 1,117 likes
Apple CEO Tim Cook described the new Apple Watch as “the most personal device we’ve ever created.”
If you or your Christmas-gift target own an iPhone 5 or later then the Apple Watch is a must-have accessory. There are three different models of Apple Watch including a Sports Edition, with strengthened ion-X glass. There is also the up-market Apple Watch Edition with 18-carat gold cases in yellow or rose with a sapphire crystal and exquisitely crafted bands and closures.
What you said on Facebook: “Finally !!!!!!”
We also reviewed other smartwatches including the Pebble range in our September 18 review. Pebble has the advantage of being compatible with both Apple and Android devices. Just a thought, as you do your shopping.
These are just a handful of products that trended well on Facebook in 2015. There are other tech products available as Christmas gifts that also featured on our pages this year. Memorable examples were the Fitbit, Mini Boom-box Speakers and the coffee-makers featured only two weeks ago.
No matter what the gift, remember it’s the thought that counts…and I guess you can’t get any more thoughtful than a high-tech gift. There’s a lot of thought goes into these products! Happy shopping and have a Merry Christmas!