With so many sites doing their "biggest tech stories" of the year articles, what tech stories mattered the most to you? Here's my list in no real order.
- Microsoft reports record first quarter revenue. Is there anything Microsoft makes that isn't shrouded in negativity? The Xbox One, Windows Phone, Windows 8/RT, Internet Explorer, even Inori Aizawa was attacked and she's not even supposed to be taken seriously! And yet Microsoft has remained financially sound.
- Microsoft buys Nokia's hardware & services division. Can't say I'm too surprised as this was probably the next logical step for Microsoft. Nevertheless, this will play a significant part in Microsoft's future. Plus the H&S division will make for a nice little bump in revenue.
- The death Spiral of any phone company that isn't named Samsung or Apple. Some companies have stabilized while others remain in free fall. HTC, for example, might get purchased next year if things don't start improving. And gawd don't even get started on BlackBerry.
- Canceling my Xbox One pre-order. It's been a long time since I didn't get a new console at launch. I also considered getting a PS4 as well. Then I looked at the launch lineup for both systems and decided neither were ready for prime time.
- The new Kindle Fire HDX doesn't suck. The woefully underpowered OMAP in the original HDs drove me insane. Web browsing was practically impossible due to lag. I didn't buy one because of it. The new Snapdragon in the HDXs is great and makes the entire experience enjoyable. Bought one for the Misses.
- Buying a Surface 2. It has completely changed my mobile lifestyle. It's nice having a mobile device for both media consumption and productivity. It has come in handy a few times for work when I needed to type some stuff on the go. And I'm always reaching for my tablet now instead of my phone.
- AT&T gives in, starts offering discounts for people out of contract. $15 bucks off isn't much but it's a start. Maybe T-Mobile's UNCarrier strategy is actually having an impact. Even AT&T's CEO mentioned that the days of phone subsidies may come to an end and carriers have to find new ways to stay competitive/profitable.