Call 2010 the year of the smartphone and mobile software. Phones like the Motorola Droid X,
the HTC Incredible, and the Apple iPhone 4--and the many creative apps
we liked this year--made this the largest category of products in the
PCWorld 100.
Google Android 2.2
Smartphone operating system; included with phone Mobility led the tech industry in innovation in 2010, and amid a flourishing array of great mobile products, we found one consistent standout this year: Google Android. Expected to eclipse Apple's iOS in market share by year's end, Android brings powerful apps, a slick interface, and extreme customizability to a host of phones and tablets available across a multitude of carriers. As a result, Android provides selection--the one thing that the iPhone platform can't promise. Add to that mix a flexible browser with Flash 10.1 support, OS-wide voice control and dictation features, and a rapidly expanding app ecosystem, and Android 2.2 (aka "Froyo") is the OS to beat in the burgeoning mobile age. (#1 in the PCWorld 100)
Google Android 2.2 coverage | android.com
In Video: A Look Inside Android 2.2 'Froyo'
Samsung Epic 4G
Smartphone; $249 with Sprint contract Out of all the Android phones that launched this year, the Epic 4G is definitely the best. The nicely designed physical keyboard--paired with the 4G-network goodness and front-facing camera--makes it hard to beat. Additionally, the gorgeous display and Samsung's MediaHub make it the ultimate entertainment smartphone. (#8)
Samsung Epic 4G review | sprint.com
Instapaper
Mobile app; free This app, available for many platforms, pulls just the words and images from a site and sends them to your mobile device, so reading on the go is a snap. With Instapaper's browser plug-in, you simply find an article you're interested in and click ‘Read Later' to make the cleaned-up version show up on your phone or tablet. (#9)
Instapaper coverage | instapaper.com
Apple iPhone 4
Smartphone; starts at $149 with an AT&T contract Despite initial concerns, the latest iPhone is a stylish, attractive groundbreaker. This phone screams design elegance and has the software and gorgeous display to match, as well as the richness of the Apple App Store at its command. (#13)
Apple iPhone 4 review | apple.com
Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 OS, but the HTC HD7, which uses it, is one impressive handset with its 4.3-inch WVGA display, kickstand, and 16GB of memory. Throw in Netflix streaming, Xbox Live, and the Zune player, and you have a fantastic entertainment phone. (#15)
HTC HD7 coverage | htc.com
Droid X was one of the hottest phones to debut this summer, sporting a 4.3-inch display and 8-megapixel camera. And it got even better with the Android 2.2 OS upgrade, which delivered Flash content to its speedy Web browser. (#25)
Motorola Droid X review | verizonwireless.com
bump the phones together, and the item transfers. It even works between iPhones and Android devices. (#36)
Bump coverage (Android) | Bump review (iPhone) | bu.mp
personalized magazine, on the fly. Swipe through pages of photos, videos, and your friends' pearls of wisdom, or choose from feeds featuring content aggregated from popular Web destinations. (#44)
Flipboard review | flipboard.com
Android handset's ability to replace core phone elements such as the SMS client, show them Handcent SMS. It's configurable and simple to use, and it sports features that put nearly all other SMS apps to shame. (#46)
Handcent SMS review | handcent.com
Droid Incredible also sports an excellent camera and slick design, making it one of the best Android phones on Verizon to date. (#47)
HTC Droid Incredible review | verizonwireless.com
Major League Baseball app lets you monitor every big-league game, watch highlights, and listen to each game live. If you subscribe to the MLB.tv service, you can watch every out-of-market (nonlocal) game. (#49)
At Bat 2010 for iPad review | mlb.com
Angry Birds combines simple physics with sheer luck, and skillfully utilizes the iPhone 4's display and multitouch controls. (#54)
Rovio Angry Birds review | rovio.com
virus scan for every app you download, helps you track your handset if you lose it, and lets you back up your phone's data. It's so easy to use, you'll hardly know it's there--until you need it. (#56)
Lookout Mobile Security review | speakerphone with easy-to-locate buttons clips to your car's visor to manage your phone calls. It also allows you to listen to streaming audio through the car speakers. (#65)
plantronics.com
produce a New Yorker cover. (#66)
Taptrix Brushes review (iPad) | Taptrix Brushes review (iPhone) | brushesapp.com
Pulse News Reader is designed to be more visual, promoting leisurely reading. It's an attractive--and enjoyable--alternative to traditional RSS apps. (#67)
Alphonso Labs Pulse News Reader review | alphonsolabs.com
stereo headset attaches earbuds to a unit that clips to a shirt and can switch between calls and music. If you prefer, you can use your own headphones with it. (#74)
jabra.com
lose weight, faithfully recording what you're eating is a big help. This straightforward app lets you enter your food intake right after each meal on your iPhone or iPod Touch. (#76)
FitNow Lose It review | itunes.apple.com
zombie-bashing defense title appears on several platforms, but the iPad version is arguably the best. Excellent multitouch support and the frenetic pace will keep you tapping frantically, while a wide variety of minigames keeps things feeling fresh. (#79)
PopCap Games Plants vs. Zombies HD coverage | itunes.apple.com
headset's lightweight shell, which fits snugly in your ear. Offering excellent sound quality, it easily overcomes the clatter of the big city or a busy household. (#82)
Jabra Extreme review | jabra.com
Sprint's reliable and reasonably fast 3G network. Bonus: no contract to sign. (#83)
Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk Plans coverage | virginmobileusa.com
Grooveshark, which streams any song you want right to your phone. A best-of-both-worlds cross between Pandora and iTunes, Grooveshark supports playlists, and you can even download songs for offline mode when you don't have service. (#85)
Grooveshark for Android review | mobile.grooveshark.com
fifth-generation iPod Nano and the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit. (#87)
polarusa.com
request a cab, see how far away it is on a map, and pay for the whole ride on your Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, or PalmOS handset. (#88)
RideCharge Taxi Magic coverage (Android) | RideCharge Taxi Magic coverage (iPhone) | taximagic.com
task-management apps available for the iPad and iPhone. The drag-and-drop operation makes task tracking simple, and the powerful tagging, search, and sorting features keep you organized. (#90)
Bitalpha Taska coverage (iPad) | Bitalpha Taska coverage (iPhone) | bitalpha.com
Google Android 2.2
Smartphone operating system; included with phone Mobility led the tech industry in innovation in 2010, and amid a flourishing array of great mobile products, we found one consistent standout this year: Google Android. Expected to eclipse Apple's iOS in market share by year's end, Android brings powerful apps, a slick interface, and extreme customizability to a host of phones and tablets available across a multitude of carriers. As a result, Android provides selection--the one thing that the iPhone platform can't promise. Add to that mix a flexible browser with Flash 10.1 support, OS-wide voice control and dictation features, and a rapidly expanding app ecosystem, and Android 2.2 (aka "Froyo") is the OS to beat in the burgeoning mobile age. (#1 in the PCWorld 100)
Google Android 2.2 coverage | android.com
In Video: A Look Inside Android 2.2 'Froyo'
Samsung Epic 4G
Smartphone; $249 with Sprint contract Out of all the Android phones that launched this year, the Epic 4G is definitely the best. The nicely designed physical keyboard--paired with the 4G-network goodness and front-facing camera--makes it hard to beat. Additionally, the gorgeous display and Samsung's MediaHub make it the ultimate entertainment smartphone. (#8)
Samsung Epic 4G review | sprint.com
Instapaper
Mobile app; free This app, available for many platforms, pulls just the words and images from a site and sends them to your mobile device, so reading on the go is a snap. With Instapaper's browser plug-in, you simply find an article you're interested in and click ‘Read Later' to make the cleaned-up version show up on your phone or tablet. (#9)
Instapaper coverage | instapaper.com
Apple iPhone 4
Smartphone; starts at $149 with an AT&T contract Despite initial concerns, the latest iPhone is a stylish, attractive groundbreaker. This phone screams design elegance and has the software and gorgeous display to match, as well as the richness of the Apple App Store at its command. (#13)
Apple iPhone 4 review | apple.com
Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 OS, but the HTC HD7, which uses it, is one impressive handset with its 4.3-inch WVGA display, kickstand, and 16GB of memory. Throw in Netflix streaming, Xbox Live, and the Zune player, and you have a fantastic entertainment phone. (#15)
HTC HD7 coverage | htc.com
Droid X was one of the hottest phones to debut this summer, sporting a 4.3-inch display and 8-megapixel camera. And it got even better with the Android 2.2 OS upgrade, which delivered Flash content to its speedy Web browser. (#25)
Motorola Droid X review | verizonwireless.com
bump the phones together, and the item transfers. It even works between iPhones and Android devices. (#36)
Bump coverage (Android) | Bump review (iPhone) | bu.mp
personalized magazine, on the fly. Swipe through pages of photos, videos, and your friends' pearls of wisdom, or choose from feeds featuring content aggregated from popular Web destinations. (#44)
Flipboard review | flipboard.com
Android handset's ability to replace core phone elements such as the SMS client, show them Handcent SMS. It's configurable and simple to use, and it sports features that put nearly all other SMS apps to shame. (#46)
Handcent SMS review | handcent.com
Droid Incredible also sports an excellent camera and slick design, making it one of the best Android phones on Verizon to date. (#47)
HTC Droid Incredible review | verizonwireless.com
Major League Baseball app lets you monitor every big-league game, watch highlights, and listen to each game live. If you subscribe to the MLB.tv service, you can watch every out-of-market (nonlocal) game. (#49)
At Bat 2010 for iPad review | mlb.com
Angry Birds combines simple physics with sheer luck, and skillfully utilizes the iPhone 4's display and multitouch controls. (#54)
Rovio Angry Birds review | rovio.com
virus scan for every app you download, helps you track your handset if you lose it, and lets you back up your phone's data. It's so easy to use, you'll hardly know it's there--until you need it. (#56)
Lookout Mobile Security review | speakerphone with easy-to-locate buttons clips to your car's visor to manage your phone calls. It also allows you to listen to streaming audio through the car speakers. (#65)
plantronics.com
produce a New Yorker cover. (#66)
Taptrix Brushes review (iPad) | Taptrix Brushes review (iPhone) | brushesapp.com
Pulse News Reader is designed to be more visual, promoting leisurely reading. It's an attractive--and enjoyable--alternative to traditional RSS apps. (#67)
Alphonso Labs Pulse News Reader review | alphonsolabs.com
stereo headset attaches earbuds to a unit that clips to a shirt and can switch between calls and music. If you prefer, you can use your own headphones with it. (#74)
jabra.com
lose weight, faithfully recording what you're eating is a big help. This straightforward app lets you enter your food intake right after each meal on your iPhone or iPod Touch. (#76)
FitNow Lose It review | itunes.apple.com
zombie-bashing defense title appears on several platforms, but the iPad version is arguably the best. Excellent multitouch support and the frenetic pace will keep you tapping frantically, while a wide variety of minigames keeps things feeling fresh. (#79)
PopCap Games Plants vs. Zombies HD coverage | itunes.apple.com
headset's lightweight shell, which fits snugly in your ear. Offering excellent sound quality, it easily overcomes the clatter of the big city or a busy household. (#82)
Jabra Extreme review | jabra.com
Sprint's reliable and reasonably fast 3G network. Bonus: no contract to sign. (#83)
Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk Plans coverage | virginmobileusa.com
Grooveshark, which streams any song you want right to your phone. A best-of-both-worlds cross between Pandora and iTunes, Grooveshark supports playlists, and you can even download songs for offline mode when you don't have service. (#85)
Grooveshark for Android review | mobile.grooveshark.com
fifth-generation iPod Nano and the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit. (#87)
polarusa.com
request a cab, see how far away it is on a map, and pay for the whole ride on your Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, or PalmOS handset. (#88)
RideCharge Taxi Magic coverage (Android) | RideCharge Taxi Magic coverage (iPhone) | taximagic.com
task-management apps available for the iPad and iPhone. The drag-and-drop operation makes task tracking simple, and the powerful tagging, search, and sorting features keep you organized. (#90)
Bitalpha Taska coverage (iPad) | Bitalpha Taska coverage (iPhone) | bitalpha.com