iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods Named to Time Magazine's Best Gadgets of the Decade

[Iconoclysm]

HUGE Apple fanboy here, but there is nothing so special about AirPods that they belong on this list. As someone who has bought and used wireless earbuds for YEARS before Apple got around to them, I can honestly say that Apple did not produce the first nor the best wireless earbuds available.

You did not use truly wireless earbuds for "YEARS" before the AirPods. The first wireless earbuds came along in April 2015, AirPods launched in December 2016. The Bragi Dash is the only competition the original AirPods had...and none of the competition even with wires pair so easily or had battery life on par.
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Really? Really? A big iPod touch, iwatch, and tampon strings.

Yes, what's it like ridiculing industry changing devices with childish insults only to be proven wrong on an astronomical scale?

 

[theluggage]

The only ones I'd quibble with are the Apple Watch and Chromecast.

Not because the Watch is bad, but because the "killer app" for smartwatches has turned out to be fitness tracking - a market that was created by the FitBit.

As for Chromecast... well, I guess - under the rules of the game where it has to be post-2010 and you have to pick a single product.

The industry as a whole actually deserves a big raspberry for not establishing a reliable, single standard for streaming from a mobile device to a TV.

The real gadget of the decade should probably be Netflix as (arguably) the prime mover in the development of streaming, on-demand original TV. Although its arguably not a "gadget" is there really still a clear distinction between "gadgets" and the services they deliver (see: Chromecast, Amazon Echo)? Although Netflix started before 2010, the watershed was the 2013 releases of House of Cards and Orange is the new Black which established "straight to streaming" as a world apart from "straight to video".

 

[Iconoclysm]

I returned my Watch 5 (cellular) and the Air Pods because I was stuck between AT&T and Apple store employees for nearly 4 hours getting the watch to work.
In. The. Apple. Store. 4 hours. Apple blamed ATT, ATT blamed Apple. Both lost my business. I returned the Air pods as a further insult to poor customer service on Apple's part.

Or, you mean, you trusting ATT over Apple... Nobody else was in that Apple store for 4 hours, right? I rarely hear of such a thing. But ATT? Yeah, all the time. They likely don't understand eSIM nor the number sharing functions of the watch, which is why you were stuck there.
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The only ones I'd quibble with are the Apple Watch and Chromecast.

Not because the Watch is bad, but because the "killer app" for smartwatches has turned out to be fitness tracking - a market that was created by the FitBit.

As for Chromecast... well, I guess - under the rules of the game where it has to be post-2010 and you have to pick a single product.

The industry as a whole actually deserves a big raspberry for not establishing a reliable, single standard for streaming from a mobile device to a TV.

The real gadget of the decade should probably be Netflix as (arguably) the prime mover in the development of streaming, on-demand original TV. Although its arguably not a "gadget" is there really still a clear distinction between "gadgets" and the services they deliver (see: Chromecast, Amazon Echo)? Although Netflix started before 2010, the watershed was the 2013 releases of House of Cards and Orange is the new Black which established "straight to streaming" as a world apart from "straight to video".

I'd argue the killer app for smartwatches is NOT fitness tracking or Fitbit would have been the king of the market. The killer app is actually health tracking, doing more than just tracking your steps or heart rate.

As for Netflix, they're totally dropping the ball now. They threw a lot of money at some shows that would have wound up on HBO or the like anyway, then their quality gave way to quantity, and now it's just a complete mess. They scared a lot of competition into dipping their toe into the water, mostly screwing the consumer in the long run. But the next decade will probably show Disney+ as the leader.

 

[dcpmark]

You did not use truly wireless earbuds for "YEARS" before the AirPods. The first wireless earbuds came along in April 2015, AirPods launched in December 2016. The Bragi Dash is the only competition the original AirPods had...and none of the competition even with wires pair so easily or had battery life on par.

Sorry for turning more than a year into years, but yep..... my Bragi Dash and then Bragi The Headphones had no trouble pairing with my iPhones, did everything and more that the first AirPods did, and were WAY better than Apple‘s first attempt as they sealed your ear canal rather just hang in your ear. Even if Apple had released the Pros at the time they released the originals, Bragi should have gotten the nod.

 

[patentshark]

I guess AirPods with integrated 5G wireless will have to wait for Time's list for the next decade... 🤪

 

[Iconoclysm]

Sorry for turning more than a year into years, but yep..... my Bragi Dash and then Bragi The Headphones had no trouble pairing with my iPhones, did everything and more that the first AirPods did, and were WAY better than Apple‘s first attempt as they sealed your ear canal rather just hang in your ear. Even if Apple had released the Pros at the time they released the originals, Bragi should have gotten the nod.

"Trouble" pairing is not the same thing. And no, they didn't do what the first AirPods did in that regard, and they cost twice as much. They had worse battery life too. How is that "everything and more"? You don't give these types of awards to the first to do them, you give them to the one that made it a household item.

 

[eawmp1]

For anyone looking for the first real conception of an iPad, look here.
Star Trek Deep Space 9, Season 3
Episode 16
31:00 mark, it's clear, this is where the idea of the iPad first came from.
Make no mistake about it. It's clear and obvious.

2001:A Space Odyssey

 

[realtuner]

So 3 of the 10 are from Apple.

Cant innovate, my ass.

 

[jimbobb24]

2010 was last decade. This decade ends in another year. But I think we have all moved on from those definitions.

Also, list is mostly ok. A car...hmmm. Nest - first modern SmartHome device deserves more recognition than a controller. They also ignored Microsoft Surface.

 

[TheFluffyDuck]

OK I’ll bite. How did Apple Watch ever start as a luxury fashion item? The gold Apple Watch was rarely mentioned on stage or in press releases and certainly wasn’t marketed by Apple.

Here are a few news articles for your perusal:

https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/7/12839686/apple-event-2016-smartwatch-luxury-watch-market
https://9to5mac.com/2019/03/27/apple-fashion/
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2015/apr/28/apple-watch-jess-cartner-morley-phone
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...essed-the-fashion-world-idUSKBN0M528V20150309
https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashi...h-win-over-the-fashion-industry/2015031015820

 

[jmgregory1]

The MacBook Air didn't belong to the list because it was originally released in 2008. So it belonged to the previous decade.

Gotcha. Wasn't thinking about the original model, but rather the second-gen version, which is the one I bought (I got a 2011 model), introduced in 2010. That's when they completely ditched the hdd and went full ssd, as well as going to the now ubiquitous wedge shape. It was so popular that Intel effectively cribbed the design and promoted using it to their PC partners as a way to fend off lagging PC laptop sales.

 

[JimmyHook]

Here are a few news articles for your perusal:

https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/7/12839686/apple-event-2016-smartwatch-luxury-watch-market
https://9to5mac.com/2019/03/27/apple-fashion/
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2015/apr/28/apple-watch-jess-cartner-morley-phone
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...essed-the-fashion-world-idUSKBN0M528V20150309
https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashi...h-win-over-the-fashion-industry/2015031015820

None of your pointless drivel changes the fact that it is the gold standard of watches now. Literally outsold EVERY standard and smart watch. Every fitness watch has been deemed inferior to Apple Watch in overall features. Every example of a fitness watch or smart watch will lack at least one important feature the Apple Watch has and there’s nothing you can ever say to change that or the crazy sales numbers.

 

[EightyTwenty]

AirPods?!

Is this supposed to be a joke? They’re just wireless ear buds.

What a crappy decade if friggin’ ear buds make the top 10 tech innovations.

 

[dcpmark]

"Trouble" pairing is not the same thing. And no, they didn't do what the first AirPods did in that regard, and they cost twice as much. They had worse battery life too. How is that "everything and more"? You don't give these types of awards to the first to do them, you give them to the one that made it a household item.

Agree to disagree that the original AirPods were ever a “household item,” even among iPhone users that comprised approximately 50% of the US population, and far less globally.

 

[EightyTwenty]

So 3 of the 10 are from Apple.

Cant innovate, my ass.

iPad was Steve Jobs era Apple.

 

[Iconoclysm]

2010 was last decade. This decade ends in another year. But I think we have all moved on from those definitions.

Also, list is mostly ok. A car...hmmm. Nest - first modern SmartHome device deserves more recognition than a controller. They also ignored Microsoft Surface.

There is absolutely nothing revolutionary about the Microsoft Surface. I've owned 5 of them including the original Surface RT. Not sure why you think it even deserves a mention.
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Agree to disagree that the original AirPods were ever a “household item,” even among iPhone users that comprised approximately 50% of the US population, and far less globally.

AirPods, by themselves, would be the 32nd largest company in the United States. Over 100 million have been sold. In just 3 years. Compare that to a video game console, for instance...100 million of them is the de facto leader each generation (between 5-8 years) and is literally a household name. There's no agreeing to disagree here, these are facts.

 

[redheeler]

iPad and AirPods I agree with, but Apple Watch?

The MacBook Air didn't belong to the list because it was originally released in 2008. So it belonged to the previous decade.

Prior to 2010, the MacBook Air was an expensive luxury item. The 2010 drop in price is what made it ubiquitous.

 

[Iconoclysm]

AirPods?!

Is this supposed to be a joke? They’re just wireless ear buds.

What a crappy decade if friggin’ ear buds make the top 10 tech innovations.

See, this is how all innovations are defined by naysayers.
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iPad and AirPods I agree with, but Apple Watch?

Prior to 2010, the MacBook Air was an expensive luxury item. The 2010 drop in price is what made it ubiquitous.

But have you checked to see if it made Time's 2009 list?

 

[dcpmark]

AirPods, by themselves, would be the 32nd largest company in the United States. Over 100 million have been sold. In just 3 years. Compare that to a video game console, for instance...100 million of them is the de facto leader each generation (between 5-8 years) and is literally a household name. There's no agreeing to disagree here, these are facts.

So now your changing it to “household name” instead of “household item”? FYI...the common understood usage of “household item” is one that virtually everyone HAS around the home, not just has heard of.

Anyway, I’m assuming your AirPods sales figures are global, since they are inaccurate for US sales figures, but are quite impressive nonetheless. That is, until you compare them to the number of phones sold during same 3 years, which was around 4.5 BILLION cell phones. That would mean that only 1 in 45 people bought AirPods.....hardly the “household item” you first claimed they were.

 

[confessJason]

You did not use truly wireless earbuds for "YEARS" before the AirPods. The first wireless earbuds came along in April 2015, AirPods launched in December 2016. The Bragi Dash is the only competition the original AirPods had...and none of the competition even with wires pair so easily or had battery life on par.
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Yes, what's it like ridiculing industry changing devices with childish insults only to be proven wrong on an astronomical scale?

It was not too long ago that many macrumors’ members shamed these products and Apple for having made them. Are you suggesting that we were collectively wrong? I refuse to surrender. The iPad is a big iPod touch. Useless. The top-rated comment for iwatch was “it’s hideous.” And the AirPods ridicule themselves for looking and making its wearers look like imbeciles.

 

[Breaking Good]

I remember when Time magazine use to write newsworthy articles. Sadly, that "time" has long since past.

It seems Time's only claim to fame these days is selecting a controversial figure to call "person of the year" or top ten lists. So sad.

 

[ersan191]

Oculus should prolly be on this list.

 

[44267547]

Not a shocker with the Apple Watch and AirPods. Wearables is a huge segment for Apple right now and will continue to grow given their advancements with health features with the Watch. Of all of Apple products right now, the Apple Watch has the brightest future, as it’s no longer just an ‘accessory’ to the iPhone, it’s becoming its own device And part of somebody’s lifestyle for health related reasons.

 

[Seanm87]

AirPods?!

Is this supposed to be a joke? They’re just wireless ear buds.

What a crappy decade if friggin’ ear buds make the top 10 tech innovations.

The list isn't top 10 tech innovations. Its top 10 gadgets. Innovation isn't the criteria.

 

[gaximus]

iPad - 2010 - Only just scraping in this decade there But yes it has been pretty revolutionary. Although sales of tablets are now slowing.
Apple Watch- After a rocky start as a failed luxury fashion accessory. It finally found its place as a sports watch, not that revolutionary.
Airpods - Yeah they are pretty neat. But Not up there with iPhone and iPad. They are an evolution of headphones, not a revolution.


What about VR headsets? Honestly as for as gadgets going that is far more revolutionary than any of Apple offerings this decade (iPad excluded).

I have a VR headset. I use it maybe once a week, I also have an iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods, I use them daily.

The list is also about most important products, not revolutionary products. Apple Watches have literally saved lives.