Mossblog

Mossberg’s Best and Worst Products of 2010

December 24, 2010 at 8:00 am PT

This week on WSJ Digits, Walt shared his thoughts on his best and worst reviewed products for 2010.

Taking Walt’s top spot this year was none other than Apple’s iPad. For a 1.0 product, the iPad was amazing. With the new iOS 4.2 operating system and its huge selection of apps, the iPad continues to stay ahead of the competition.

High-speed 4G networks in the United States took the second spot. As the world goes more mobile, the availability of faster networks is critical. Today, 3G networks are bursting at the seams, and the promise of these networks will be something to watch closely in 2011.

Tied for third were the Samsung Galaxy S and the Apple iPhone 4. The Galaxy S is representative of the powerful force that Android has become within the smartphone marketplace. Despite no longer being the only game in town and all the initial controversy over its antenna, the iPhone 4 is still the best overall smartphone, according to Walt.

Turning his attention to his worst reviewed products for 2010, Walt gave the Dell Streak tablet a thumbs-down. Calling the Streak a tweener, he believed this Android device was too big to be a phone yet too small to be a tablet.

While no company got it right when it came to integrating the Internet with the television, Google TV was certainly not ready for prime time. Walt felt that it was basically a geek product, with a confusing user interface and clumsy keyboard options. Finally, the TiVo Premiere was another product that failed to meet Walt’s expectations. As a TiVo fan and user, he felt TiVo Premiere, with its cluttered interface, shared Google TV’s shortcomings. Simply put, the execution was not there, and the price was too high.

Walt did stress that these products might be great someday, but 2010 was not their year.

Walt’s Best Products of 2010

Walt’s Worst Products of 2010

Tagged with 1.0, 2010, 3G, 4.2, 4G, Android, Android Feature, antenna, Apple, Apple Tablet Feature, apps, best, carriers, Dell Streak, Digits, Galaxy S, Google, Google TV, high-speed, Holiday Product Roundup, interface, Internet, iOS, iPad, iPhone, iPhone 4, keyboard, networks, operating system, options, review, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy S, smartphone, tablet, television, The Wall Street Journal, Tivo Premiere, top, tweener, user, video, worst, WSJ

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http://twitter.com/ros_jo Jordan

I totally agree!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=586988848 Maris Berzins

One thing to note is that not all Galaxy S’ are created equal. If you had reviewed the AT&T Captivate, you’d likely have added it to your Worst list. The hardware shortcuts that were taken, along with all the crapware, has made it one of the more hated devices. Being in the mobile software business, we pretty much see them all and this device was uniformly hated.
http://srikardhanakoti.blogspot.com/ Srikar D

I Totally agree with Walt’s choices.
Anonymous

To quote MacDailyNews (http://macdailynews.com/index......nts/27962/):

“…it’s quite interesting that Mossberg awards the Samsung Galaxy S a “tie” with Apple’s iPhone 4, especially after one considers the following quotes from Mossberg’s own review of the Galaxy S:

• “I’ve been testing the first two Galaxy S phones [...]… neither has all the features of Apple’s latest model, like a front-facing camera for video calls or an ultra–high resolution screen…”
• “To my eye, the Galaxy S screens [...] were slightly less sharp.”
• “Android still isn’t quite as smooth as the iPhone’s software…”
• “[...] the new phones can hold up to two gigabytes of third-party apps [...] which, unlike the iPhone, places limits on total app storage.”
• “Like other Android phones, the two Samsung models offer… far fewer [apps] than the iPhone…”
• “Galaxy S models don’t come with a program like iTunes, which allows easy synchronization with content on a PC or Mac.”
• “I also wasn’t crazy about the home, search and other buttons on these phones, which are [...] not easily visible until you touch the panel and light the buttons up. That, in effect, means you have to touch twice to use them.”
http://www.newser.com/user/52007115/1/chas-m.html chas_m

I’m sure you’re going to get some howling about the TiVo selection, but I agree about the price.

And yes, Apple haters, the iPad *is* magical and revolutionary. Not the device itself — it’s what happens to people when you give them one that changes things.

As for the Galaxy S — it’s a very nice first try, but to place it (even as a “representative” of the overall half-finished Android overall) on the same tier as the iPhone 4 is just some lip service to the Fandroids. I invite nearly anyone who doesn’t own a propeller-beanie to compare the S to the iPhone 4 head to head and see which one they will (pretty obviously) end up with.
Anonymous

I did, and ended up with an Evo.
Anonymous

Walt’s knock on TiVo is really a cheap shot. whatever its shortcomings, it is far better than the Cablco’s DVR’s – the only real alternative for non-hobbyists – which he failed to mention. its UI was cleaned up a lot from Series 3. and for us hobbyists, it uniquely lets you transfer recordings from all CATV channels (not just Clear QAM channels only like Eye TV) to your computer to edit and keep (i got some great stuff) and also works great with SlingBox for remote viewing (which is super on the iPad). but i guess Walt doesn’t know beans about stuff like that.

as a putative professional journalist, he should at least have gone back and updated his March review before citing it again now. TiVo did in fact update the Premier software to address some issues he noted, and also released a very well done iPad remote app two months ago.

Walt, your bad.
Anonymous

Why is that I have to set my browser User Agent to be “Mobile Safari 3.2.2 — iPad” to see your video? Clearly you have an HTML5 version working but you don’t show it on a Mac that has Flash disabled/deleted.

Is it that you are technically not able to get it to work? It really makes no sense. I can’t imagine many Mac users preferring Flash to HTML5 H.264 video.

Major FAIL.
http://www.google.com/profiles/113822548614648329809 Kspraydad

Why is it that you can’t understand that locking yourself into only ONE possible upgrade path (in terms of who makes your hardware) by choosing iOS is NOT attractive to some people? If I was choosing I’d choose the S anyday over an iOS device as it doesn’t lock me in to one hardware provider in he future.
http://rendion.myopenid.com/ render

Walt, there are no 4G networks in the united states nor are there likely to be any. Why dont you do us all a favor and recognize that 4G is a standard with speeds at 100MB.

By plying the bullshit lie of 4G marketing you only prove to be a schill.
Anonymous

Dude. no way man this is like WAY cool. Seriously.

http://www.online-privacy.ie.tc
Anonymous

I probably would role with (1) Kinect, (2) iPad, (3) WP7. Not sure if Mossy reviewed the Kinect, but this was the best product of 2010 (and it wasn’t even close).
http://www.facebook.com/ethanpelton Ethan Pelton

I use both platform, and the iPhone is a few steps behind the Evo in most categories. I haven’t used a Galaxy S, but if its better than the Evo, that’s one sweet gadget.
http://www.facebook.com/ethanpelton Ethan Pelton

1)Kinect 2)iPad 3)Evo

Not sure how the iPhone was even considered, unless by sheer popularity.
Anonymous

Can’t wait to see how RIM’s Playbook will compete with the iPad. The iPad is a game changer though, a leap forward in integrating technology into our lives.
Anonymous

No Kinect? Stop hating Microsoft, you old man!
http://twitter.com/zec Zec

Agree completely. Google setback is evident. You can’t put PC in TV.
iPad is success and I don’t know what to do with domain names like ipadindia.com / ipadindia.biz, or some others mediaipad.com/net. Anyone ?
Anonymous

Hello? There’s really no reason a person cannot switch to a different OS smart phone if she wants to. And, certainly, it is no harder to switch from the iPhone than it is to switch from an Android phone.

And, buying an Android phone ties you to Android apps, many of which will not even work on other Android devices. Your lock-in claim about iOS is silly. At least iOS apps can be used with the iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HJS3UVH4BTV6OEO6EINW7RGNXU Aaron

No Microsoft Kin?
http://twitter.com/mikehenriquez Mike Henriquez

I think he meant that while you may be locked to Android apps you can always change the hardware from all the different companies and with iphone or ipad you are locked with both HW and SW.

I have both a Galaxy S phone and an iPad and as much as i love both, i have to say that sometimes i find myself looking for the menu or back button on the iPad, i think that in a year or two Android will be as polished as iOS and when that happens i don’t see any real reason why to continue using iOS devices besides them being some kind of status symbol.

Right now i have to agree whit Mr. Mossberg about the iPad being a superior product when compared to any available Android tablet and thats why i bought it but I’ll have to check this comment i am writing in one year.
http://twitter.com/MichaelDubnik Michael Dubnik

Its Mossberg, why are you surprised. My grandfather prefers his rotary phone to the new fancy cell phone we got him. Mossberg would be one of the last people I listen to for product or tech opinions.
http://twitter.com/kylea311 Kyle A

Seriously flawed and unsubstantiated BS.. Have you used the Dell Streak? Dell may have botched the release and is delayed in releasing Android 2.2, but the device simply has a big enough screen to help you manage email account, social networking, etc. It is actually slim and can slide in most pockets…
http://twitter.com/Judgeless Sean Havanas

Sometimes people are out of touch. I predict 5” displays will be standard on future cell phones. The key is to make them thin with very small borders.

I would bet money when Apple releases a 5” iPhone it will be the best thing since sliced bread according to Mossblog.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FUMRUOES7MHR3Q7L37ZMPSXLAY passinthru

Android phones tie you to Android apps? Pretty silly statement considering that most of the popular apps are available on all smartphone platforms.

I can’t think of a single IOS app that I haven’t replaced with an Android app just as effectively. I don’t miss my iPhone and its crummy AT&T service for one minute.

The IOS apps are pretty useless if 50% of the time your network is unreachable.
http://www.facebook.com/ethanpelton Ethan Pelton

Yes, Mossberg does seem out of touch. I don’t really know anything about him, but I guess he caters to the very tech un-savvy.
Anonymous

Take it from an attractive woman. Five inches are inadequate. I can see so much more on my iPad.
Anonymous

You protest too much. If the Streak was all that, the members of The Wee Thingy Club would not have to overact to perceived slights.
Anonymous

Walt continues to un-impress me.
http://twitter.com/Judgeless Sean Havanas

The biggest problem with the Streak is people compare it to a tablet. It is a very thin phone with a large display. It fits in your pocket a lot better than an iPhone but the screen is 5” compared to 3.5” found on the iPhone. You will never fit a iPad in your pocket.

3.5″ is very inadequate. That is what is great about Android phones, they are many models using a 2.8” to a 10.1” display. Apple only has two models huge and tiny.

It is foolish on many levels to carry an iPhone and iPad every where to go.
Anonymous

I love my Streak!
http://twitter.com/kenadak kenadak

Really, the Dell Streak is his worst product of 2010? Hardware wise, it was great when it launched; still within acceptable levels today. The software however, was woefully outdated and buggy. With the official release of 2.2 for the Streak out and available, (this is still 2010) the Streak is in line with the best android phones out there. I replaced an iPhone 4 with the streak due to the abysmal proximity sensor on the iPhone, and I’m still happy with my decision. Here’s a better choice for worst product of 2010: the Microsoft Kin? they advertised the hell out of that little phone and Verison and Microsoft botched the launch so bad they pulled the plug in less that 6 weeks. How did that miss this list.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=40306800 Lucas Moller

How much does Mossberg get paid per positive Apple review? Give credit where credit is due, the iPad is NOTHING without dedicated developers. When released it was an oversized iPod Touch – through well designed Apps the platform became something quite useful, though I find my streak just about as useful as most everyday iPad users. Oh, and I can carry it ALL THE TIME, it fits in my pocket no problem (I wear skinny jeans).
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FZSEHENIYA24LGKOHVW6H4WQHY Greg Mays

How does the battery life on Evo compare with the iPhone 4?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FZSEHENIYA24LGKOHVW6H4WQHY Greg Mays

Agreed. None of my Macs have Flash installed. It’s about time we gave up on 8-track tape players, Colecovision, … and Flash.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FZSEHENIYA24LGKOHVW6H4WQHY Greg Mays

While Kinect is interesting and suprisingly good for a Microsoft product, I can’t imagine it being in the top 3. I want to see it at work with a “real” title, not the silly ones that are out now. When do we get a Kinect Halo title? Windows Phone 2007 phone? A 2007 phone in the top 10 of 2010? Not hardly.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FZSEHENIYA24LGKOHVW6H4WQHY Greg Mays

KEYWORD: “propeller-beanie”
http://www.facebook.com/ethanpelton Ethan Pelton

Not as good, but its about 20 hours and I don’t do international travel too much, so no big deal for me. I plug it in each night. If I foget, I have to get it plugged in when I get to work.
Anonymous

the iPad is a technology device. There is nothing magical or revolutionary about it.

Apple = Brand
Apple sales stuff based on the reputation they have earned, and well so they have earned. They have capitalized on that brand and good for them. But I always laugh at people who call it magical. Congrats you have been caught up in the marketing buzz words of 2010.

As for revolutionary, why don’t you do some research into a little company Apple bought called Fingerworks.
Anonymous

Your hilarious Greg if you think that by you not installing flash on your Mac that Flash will somehow die lol.

Wow that dumb comment made my week ahaha. Thanks.

Why don’t you go check your favorite band’s website, or perhaps take a few clicks over to look at those new 2011 cars from the auto manufacturers, or perhaps check out that new movie website you want to see.

OH WAIT YOU can’t because you don’t have flash. Sucks for you!
Anonymous

You know what’s hilarious Greg… again you make me laugh. It’s how stereotypical most of you mac users are. You live in a bubble.

In your world nothing else technologically exists unless it’s an Apple product or an Apple accessory.

It’s a WINDOWS 7 PHONE. not Windows 2007, there is no such thing.

It’d be like me saying. How could you really expect that new Mac OS, what’s it called Cheetah, to even be half as good and Bobcat. Seriously Mac OS Bobcat is way better.

LOL again, thanks for the laugh. Additionally, Kinect wasn’t ever intended for 1st person shooters in my opinion. It’s designed to provide a better way to interact with Xbox 360 and games that support real life motion. Such as Sword games. Sports games, etc.
Anonymous

the mac people are hilarious. they are like the jihadists in that everything apple is the best and everything else is not. which is why they are such a small segment of the overall tech world with their media fanboys supporting them.
http://twitter.com/TimWetter TimW

Why the world hangs on the words of an elderly Apple Fanboy is beyond me. Ever considered writing anything un-biased? eg. actually describing Apple’s flawed iDevices, rather than playing a Steve Jobs lapdog!
Your best and worst list shows your failing mental abilities, if it’s not Apple, it just doesn’t count.
Please retire and allow ‘Real’ reviewers to take over
http://twitter.com/TimWetter TimW

Keep it biased by removing comments, typical gutless american attitude. scream for freedom of speech then change it when it suits
http://www.androidpolice.com/author/jaroslav-stekl/ Jaroslav Stekl

Two things:
1.) I’d put the EVO 4G and the iPhone 4 in third rather than the SGS, as Samsung has yet to upgrade its phones to an OS more up-to-date than Eclair.
2.) How was the Dell Streak more of a fail than the BB Torch?
http://www.androidpolice.com/author/jaroslav-stekl/ Jaroslav Stekl

I’ve used both the EVO (in fact, the EVO is my daily driver) and several versions of the Galaxy S (including Sprint’s own Epic), and the EVO 4G is the winner, hands down. Not sure why the SGS is on this list but Sprint’s first WiMax device isn’t.
Anonymous

maybe not Google tv” but we dumped cable for Netflix this year and haven’t looked back.
Anonymous

got Netflix on out Wii, cut the cable tv, and never looked back.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_DHRF2MUDA2LE7EUPT6PCEJM2IQ Anonymous

So basically, Mossberg is an Apple shill. I bought a Streak this year as my first smartphone, and I think it’s great. Like most people, Mossberg seems to want to cram it into one of two rigid categories: tablet (for which it’s allegedly “too small”) or phone (for which it’s allegedly “too big”). The beauty of the product is that it’s a little bit of both. I can’t imagine surfing the Web on my wife’s dinky iPhone screen as much as I do on my Streak, yet it’s still slim enough to fit in my pocket. It’s like having two devices in one.

I’m not brand-loyal, so I’ve never understood what motivates Apple fanboys. If there were an Apple product that did what I needed, I’d own one and sing its praises. But I took a Macbook Pro back to the store this year and went back to my crummy old $300 Toshiba Satellite, which does just as much as the Macbook that cost three times as much. People like Mossberg would apparently drool over a cardboard box if it had a shiny Apple logo on it.
Anonymous

You folks should just assign Mossberg to a section of the web site called “I love Apple.” BTW, what does this mean: ” I am not an objective news reporter?” I read it in Mr. M’s ethics statement. Mr. M is a very funny (and obviously no longer hard working) guy. Nice gig for Mr. M but what is the point of reading his articles?
Anonymous

Google TV was definitely flawed, but was it really worse than the Kin?

Mossberg’s Best and Worst Products of 2010

Walt’s Best Products of 2010

Walt’s Worst Products of 2010

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