Topics: Mobile

Public Vote Prematurely Gives 3G iPhone 'Gadget Of The Year' Title

Posted by Eric Zeman, Sep 17, 2008 11:12 AM

Sorry, citizens of the United Kingdom and Stuff Magazine readers, but 2008 is far from over. How could you hold your "gadget of the year" vote before Android-based phones are available in the market? And what about all the problems the 3G iPhone saw in its first two months of availability?

I just don't get it. Did the U.K-based version of Stuff hold this vote the very first week the 3G iPhone was available? Everything seemed rosy for the 3G iPhone the first week it was out. It took about seven days for users to really begin to notice issues as they became more accustomed to their new device. Issues facing the 3G iPhone (reception, crashes, etc.) have been very well documented just about everywhere. Did Stuff's readers get the same product I did?

Despite all the problems, Apple's phone has won over users in the U.K., where it continues to see strong sales.

It seems unjust, though, that Stuff held this little competition before a slew of important new products -- such as the HTC Dream, the BlackBerry Bold, et al. -- hit the market. These are sure to be serious contenders for the "gadget of the year" title. Instead, the iPhone was stacked against Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Nintendo's Wii Fit, and the B&W Zeppelin iPod speakers. What?!? Three gaming consoles and a set of speakers? That was the competition?

Stuff stands by its readers. "Having our readers vote for a number of the awards has been fascinating," said editor Fraser Macdonald. "They are the ones out there on the street buying gadgets and so they are a great barometer."

Personally, I would have voted for the PlayStation 3. That thing rocks.

As 2008 plays out, we'll have to see how the gadget landscape is altered these last few months. Perhaps Google's Android will have more of an impact than we expect it to. Then again, perhaps it won't.

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