Yearly Tech Recognition 2024 - Evaluating the Year's Best Computers, Gadgets, Complementary Items, and Software Advancements

Yearly Tech Recognition 2024 - Evaluating the Year's Best Computers, Gadgets, Complementary Items, and Software Advancements

The year 2024 saw a significant leap in consumer technology, with AI-powered personalization and automation taking centre stage. Here's a roundup of the year's best products and innovations that made heads turn.

Best Budget Laptop of 2024: ASUS Vivobook S 15

The ASUS Vivobook S 15 was crowned the Best Budget Laptop of 2024. With its high-end features at a wallet-friendly price point, it offers an unbeatable value package for those buying on a tighter budget.

Best Pre-Built Gaming PC of 2024: Lenovo Legion Tower 7i

For gamers, the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i was the standout pre-built gaming PC of the year, delivering top-notch performance and impressive graphics.

Best Mouse of 2024: Logitech MX Vertical Mouse

The Logitech MX Vertical Mouse took the top spot in the mouse category, thanks to its ergonomic design that promotes a natural hand position, reducing wrist strain and discomfort during extended use.

Honours and Achievements

Earnest Yuen, an employee at Microsoft, was honoured as the Microsoft Ecosystem Star of 2024. Meanwhile, ASUS Zenbook Duo 2024 was named Tech Innovator of the Year 2024.

Best Gaming Hardware of 2024: ASUS ROG Ally X

The ASUS ROG Ally X solidified its place as the must-have gaming hardware device of 2024, showcasing what Windows is potentially capable of in the gaming handheld segment.

Partnership and Launch

Microsoft launched its Copilot+ PC initiative in partnership with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor, aiming to revolutionize the PC industry.

Gaming and Entertainment

Age of Empires saw a Lazarus-like resurgence and expansion to new titles. AR glasses from companies like XREAL entered the mainstream, promising a future where augmented reality becomes an integral part of our daily lives.

AI-Powered Consumer Tech

Major AI-related innovations and products launched in the consumer tech sector in 2024 focused heavily on AI-powered personalization and automation, especially in retail, finance, and customer service.

In retail, companies like Amazon and Walmart introduced next-generation AI platforms for hyper-personalized shopping experiences. These platforms personalize product recommendations, pricing, and store interactions both online and in physical locations by leveraging deep learning and retail media insights. Innovations included AI-driven demand forecasting reducing stockouts by up to 65% and geofencing combined with AI to send location-based personalized marketing notifications. Autonomous checkout systems (cashierless stores) using AI-driven smart carts, QR codes, RFID, and machine vision were also further deployed.

In finance, firms like JPMorgan Chase applied AI predictive analytics for portfolio optimization and risk mitigation, while fintech companies launched AI-powered personalized banking assistants and autonomous investment advisors. Ally Financial utilized Microsoft Azure OpenAI services to automate customer service tasks, improving customer engagement.

Beyond these sectors, companies integrated AI internally to improve operational efficiency and client-facing products, such as ADP rolling out AI-driven capabilities embedded in their platforms, and Hershey investing in AI-enabled technologies to drive efficiencies amid supply-chain challenges.

Best All-in-One PC of 2024: HP OmniStudio X

The HP OmniStudio X was hailed as the Best All-in-One PC of 2024, offering a one-and-done solution without compromise, including a keyboard, mouse, webcam compatible with Windows Hello for secure logins, a brilliant 31.5-inch 4K display, adjustable stand, and optional dedicated NVIDIA RTX 4050 graphics.

Best Gaming Laptop of 2024: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14

For gamers on the go, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 was the Best Gaming Laptop of 2024.

Best Processor of 2024: Snapdragon X Elite

The Snapdragon X Elite processor took the crown as the Best Processor of 2024.

Best Gaming Input Accessory of 2024: Razer Wolverine V3 Pro

The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro was recognised as the Best Gaming Input Accessory of 2024, offering reliable performance and addressing stick drift issues with Razer switches for guaranteed longevity.

Best Business Laptop of 2024: HP Elitebook 1040 G10

The HP Elitebook 1040 G10 was the Best Business Laptop of 2024, boasting a new smudge-free chassis, exceptionally lightweight build, built-in 5G, wonderful keyboard, top-tier webcam, solid battery life, and smooth curved design, making it a reliable and minimalist choice for business users.

Best Gaming Headset of 2024: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3)

For gamers seeking the best audio experience, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3) was the Best Gaming Headset of 2024.

Innovations in Dual-Screen Laptops

ASUS iterated on innovation with dual-screen laptops, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in portable computing.

Best Mobile App of 2024: BlueSky

BlueSky, a new platform offering an algorithm-optional, ad-free experience, found a place among various Twitter (X) replacements, emerging as a healthier social media alternative.

Best Windows PC App of 2024: Adobe Photoshop CC 2024

Adobe Photoshop CC 2024 was the Best Windows PC app of 2024, thanks to its Generative Fill tool, which quickly removes unwanted objects, blemishes, and other oddities in a flash, speeding up the workflow for image editing.

Best Keyboard of 2024: Razer Blackwidow V4

For typists and gamers alike, the Razer Blackwidow V4 was the Best Keyboard of 2024.

Best Windows Feature of 2024: Copilot (Voice Mode)

Copilot (Voice Mode) was the Best Windows Feature of 2024, offering a customizable voice model that allows for more natural interaction and is accessible on both phone and Edge sidebar.

Expansion of AI Companies' Toolkit

AI companies like OpenAI expanded their toolkit, further integrating AI into various aspects of our lives.

Best Monitor of 2024: Dell Ultrasharp 34 Curved Thunderbolt Monitor

The Dell Ultrasharp 34 Curved Thunderbolt Monitor was the Best Monitor of 2024, known for its exceptional features such as a 5K resolution, ultrawide-curved design, accurate colors, deep contrasts, 120Hz refresh rate, ambient light sensor, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and sustainability-focused design.

Best Mini PC of 2024: GEEKOM Megamini G1

For those seeking a compact yet powerful PC solution, the GEEKOM Megamini G1 was the Best Mini PC of 2024.

Best Overall Laptop of 2024: Surface Pro 11 & Surface Laptop 7

In a close race, the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 shared the title of Best Overall Laptop of 2024, each offering a unique blend of performance, portability, and versatility that catered to different user needs.

[1] Smith, J. (2024). The AI Revolution in Retail: A Comprehensive Guide. Retail Tech Insights.

[2] Johnson, M. (2024). AI in Supply Chain Management: Trends and Opportunities. Forbes.

[3] Patterson, K. (2024). The Future of Retail: Hyper-Personalization and AI. Retail Dive.

[4] Davis, L. (2024). The Rise of Cashierless Stores: A Look at the Latest Trend in Retail. The Verge.

[5] Baker, S. (2024). AI in Customer Service: The Power of Automation and Personalization. Customer Think.

1. The AI-driven demand forecasting technology in retail reduced stockouts by up to 65%.
2. AR glasses from companies like XREAL entered mainstream markets, promising a future where augmented reality becomes an integral part of our daily lives.
3. In 2024, Amazon and Walmart introduced next-generation AI platforms for hyper-personalized shopping experiences.
4. Geofencing combined with AI was used to send location-based personalized marketing notifications in retail.
5. Autonomous checkout systems using AI-driven smart carts, QR codes, RFID, and machine vision were further deployed in retail.
6. AI predictive analytics were utilized for portfolio optimization and risk mitigation in the finance sector.
7. Fintech companies launched AI-powered personalized banking assistants in 2024.
8. JPMorgan Chase applied AI-powered predictive analytics to improve investment strategies.
9. Ally Financial utilized Microsoft Azure OpenAI services for automating customer service tasks.
10. ADP rolled out AI-driven capabilities for their platforms in 2024.
11. Hershey invested in AI-enabled technologies to drive efficiencies amid supply-chain challenges.
12. HP OmniStudio X was praised for its one-and-done solution with a keyboard, mouse, webcam, adjustable stand, and optional dedicated NVIDIA RTX 4050 graphics.
13. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 was highly regarded for its portability and gaming performance.
14. Snapdragon X Elite was acclaimed for its outstanding performance in a wide range of devices.
15. Razer Wolverine V3 Pro addressed stick drift issues with Razer switches for guaranteed longevity.
16. The HP Elitebook 1040 G10 arose as a popular choice for business users due to its smudge-free chassis, lightweight build, built-in 5G, top-tier webcam, smooth curved design, and long battery life.
17. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (Gen 3) was the preferred gaming headset for its exceptional audio quality.
18. ASUS pioneered innovations in dual-screen laptops.
19. BlueSky, a new algorithm-optional, ad-free social media platform, gained popularity as a healthier alternative to Twitter(X).
20. Adobe Photoshop CC 2024 introduced the Generative Fill tool, simplifying the workflow for image editing.
21. The Razer Blackwidow V4 was appreciated for its versatility and reliability as a keyboard for gamers and typists.
22. Copilot (Voice Mode) was celebrated for offering a more natural interaction experience on both phone and Edge sidebar.
23. OpenAI augmented its toolkit to further integrate AI into various aspects of our lives.
24. Dell Ultrasharp 34 Curved Thunderbolt Monitor was renowned for its exceptional features such as 5K resolution, ultrawide-curved design, accurate colors, deep contrasts, 120Hz refresh rate, ambient light sensor, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and sustainability-focused design.
25. GEEKOM Megamini G1 stood out as a highly efficient, compact, and powerful PC solution.
26. In a close race, Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 shared the title of Best Overall Laptop of 2024.
27. The Surface Pro 11 offered a versatile blend of performance and portability.
28. The Surface Laptop 7 catered to diverse user needs through its superior performance and design.
29. Microsoft's Copilot+ PC initiative, in partnership with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor, aimed to revolutionize the PC industry in 2024.
30. Age of Empires saw a resurgence and expansion to new titles in the gaming and entertainment sector.
31. XREAL entered the mainstream with AR glasses, showing a potential future where augmented reality becomes an integral part of our daily lives.
32. Sony introduced the PlayStation 5 Slim with improved battery life to enhance the gaming experience.
33. Cyberpunk 2077 VR was announced, sparking enthusiasm for an immersive gaming experience in a visually stunning world.

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