Digital assistants
Digital assistants rose in popularity with the launch of Google Assistant in the Pixel phone and the Google Home smart speaker. Google Assistant can give you a list of activities, answer search questions and tell you when it is time to leave for your next meeting. It is similar to digital assistants Siri, from Apple, and Alexa, from the American company Amazon. In 2016, Alexa expanded its reach into two new Amazon products, Dot and Tap. The service was made available to other businesses last year. So this year, it began appearing on products not made by Amazon. Each Friday in 2016, Amazon sent subscribers an email with new skills for Alexa. The company also created a page for users to discover Alexa's skills. This year, Apple gave Siri the ability to connect to software programs known as third-party apps. As a result, you can use Siri to order a car with the Uber ride service or find a business with the Yelp mobile app.
Games as the biggest apps
The two biggest smartphone apps this year have been games. Both Pokémon GO and Super Mario Run quickly topped the app charts and broke records. Pokémon GO became a hit over the summer in the United States. The game was reported to have caused 110,000 traffic accidents in 10 days. Earlier this month, Apple began offering the Pokémon GO app on its Apple Watch. Super Mario Run also was released in December. The game is currently at the top of the iTunes Store app charts. 2017 may bring this popular app to the Android operating system.
Hit the road, jack
Usually new hardware is all about what has been added. But the iPhone 7 made headlines because of Apple's decision to build it without a headphone jack - a decision that took "courage" apparently. To be fair, the move helped Apple make the handset more water-resistant, and others - including Samsung - are now rumoured to be considering similar moves.
But the path to a wireless music-playing future was not totally smooth after Apple had problems getting its accompanying AirPod earphones to market after running into manufacturing issues. The hiccup has now been addressed, but a backlog in orders means many users will not be able to pop the new tech into their ear canals until the new year.
Fitbit Flex 2
Fitbit has long been the king of wearable technology, but fitness trackers only work properly if you wear them all the time - and that includes in the shower, the pool, in bed and on a night out. The company's Flex 2 is designed to be ultra adaptable. It's "swim proof", so you can take it in the pool, and the sensor can be removed from the rubber band and put inside a metal pendant or bangle for a night out. The jewellery range is still fairly limited, and perhaps not to everyone's taste, but by making it easier for people to wear their sensors all the time, Fitbit is moving a step closer to continuous tracking.
Microsoft Surface Studio
When Microsoft unveiled the Surface Studio the day before Apple's new MacBook Pro event, tech pundits couldn't wait to pitch the two companies against each other. The result was a resounding victory for Microsoft with this innovative new all-in-one desktop PC. Users can use either a stylus such as the Surface Pen, or a new hockey puck-shaped accessory called the Surface Dial to interact with the screen - as well as their fingers.
The flagship killer
OnePlus is a brand that has become synonymous with the motto ‘Never Settle’ and wants its phones to be known as flagship killers. While flagships still have the edge, OnePlus 3 has certainly emerged as an affordable option with top-notch performance. If one considers the pricing (which is half of what most flagships cost) and the overall performance, OnePlus 3 is definitely a winner. This phone impressed with camera, overall performance and battery life. This smartphone proved you don’t need to pay a bomb to get a flagship-like performance. The company launched the OnePlus 3T recently, and while that is good, both phones are similar in terms of performance and specifications, and 3T is technically a mid-cycle upgrade.
Prisma
Prisma is a photo editing app that's available free for both iOS and Android. It looks a bit like Instagram but instead of simply applying filters to your images, the software uses artificial intelligence (AI) to convert your snaps into a variety of impressive paintings. The app notched up over a million active users within a week of launching in July and has continued to be popular throughout 2016. It was created by a team of Russian developers and links in with your social media accounts - making it really easy to share your creations with friends.
