09 Nowember 2008

Popular Science's
'Best of What's New 2008' Awards

The good folks at Popular Science has named their 100 "Best of What's New 2008", a round-up of what they consider the year's most innovative products.

These awards honour innovations that not only influence the way we live today, but that change the way we think about the future, they are well worth considering and make for an interesting weekend read!

For decades, we've fantasized about watching paper-thin TVs, soaring hundreds of feet with personal jetpacks, riding in cars that drive themselves, and re-growing organs. The 21st annual Best of What's New celebrates all of those dreams coming true.

Take a look around here to learn about these achievements and 96 other breakthroughs that, whether long awaited or completely unexpected, are equally amazing. Photos, video, galleries, and more: it's Best of What's New 2008.

Founded in 1872, Popular Science is the world's largest science and technology magazine with a monthly circulation of 1.45 million. Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of new products in search of the top 100 technological innovations of that year.

Gadgets

• 3M MPro 110
• Casio EX-F1 Camera
• BUG Labs' Base and Modules
• Eye-Fi Explore SD Card
• Polaroid ZINK
• Sleek Audio SA6 Headphones
• Vision Research’s V12 Camera
• Livescribe Pulse
• Ugobe Pleo
• Nikon D90
• Samsung AIRAVE
• iTunes App Store
• Amazon Kindle
• Tonium Pacemaker DJ System

Automotive

• 2009 Nissan GT-R
• BMW MyInfo
• Carnegie Mellon’s Boss
• BMW 7 Series Sign Reading Camera
• Audi Harmonic Drive Steering
• Lexus LX570 Wide-View Cameras
• Infiniti EX-35 Self-Healing Paint
• Ford Eco-Boost Engine
• Honda FCX Clarity
• Mercedes SL63 Speedshift
• Ford Capless Fuel Filler

Aviation & Space

• Mars Phoenix Lander
• White Knight II
• GeoEye-1 Satellite
• Kizuna Broadband Satellite
• Large Binocular Telescope
• Martin Jetpack
• Icon A5
• Rocket Racing League
• Boeing Advanced Technical Laser
• DraganFlyer
• Pipistrel Taurus Electro

Computing

• Maxis’ Spore
• Device VM SplashTop
• Adobe AIR
• Qualcomm Gobi
• Microsoft PhotoSynth
• Microsoft Explorer Mouse
• Phoenix FailSafe
• Intel Core Duo Merom

Engineering

• Large Hadron Collider
• Bahrain World Trade Center
• Hillman Composite Beams
• Glubam’s quick assembly bridge
• Kajima’s new demolition method

Green Technology

• Serious Materials EcoRock
• ElectraTherm Green Machine
• Envirofit Clean Indoor Cookstove
• Enphase Energy Micro-Inverter System
• Mariah Power Windspire
• Agroplast All In One System

Home Entertainment

• Sony OLED TV
• Audiovox FPS10 Subwoofer
• Lucas Arts’ Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
• Sonos ZP120 Digital Amp
• Sony BDV-IT1000ES Home Theater System
• Onkyo TX-NR906 A/V Receiver
• Hitachi UltraThin TVs

Home Technology

• Honeywell Specialty Materials Storm-a-Rest
• Craftsman VibraFree Sander
• Home Comfort Zones MyTemp
• Festool Lapex Miter Saw
• Remington PowerMower
• Gorilla Super Glue
• FreshAire Paint
• PF WaterWorks PermaFLOW

Personal Health

• Recellularized Heart
• CellScope
• SensAble
• Toshiba Aquilion One CT
• Fraunhofer Institute’s Magnet-Controlled Gut Camera
• BioXcell INVOcell Fertility Assist Device
• Pro-Neck-Tor
• Nintendo Wii Fit
• Electronic Taste Chip
• Hewlett Packard Smart Drug Delivery

Recreation

• Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 Di2 Electronic Shifting Components
• Poseidon Mk IV Discovery Rebreather
• Speedo LZR Swimsuit
• Schoeller Cold Black
• Atomic Double Deck Skis
• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Sleep Pad
• O’Neill XDS-Air Insulated Neoprene
• Energy Integration Technology Aevex Gloves
• Moog Guitar

Security

• Thruvision T5000 Camera
• Noblepeak Vision Triwave
• Rotundus GroundBot
• Ingenia Technology Laser Surface Authentication System
• Lumidigm Venus Series Sensors
• Raytheon Controlled Impact Rescue Tool (CIRT)
• Landshark IED Robot
• RedX Spray-On Bomb Detector
• ARA Safety FIT-5
• The Streetlab Mobile