Editor's Picks: Best Products of 2010
By Robert Archer
It was quite a year for consumer electronics. Bob Archer takes a look back at his favorite products of 2010.

It was quite a year for consumer electronics in 2010, which took on some changes that could be considered both evolutionary and revolutionary.

An evolutionary development included the emergence of LED in the projection market. On the revolutionary side, Apple's iPad has not only impacted personal computing, it's also redefining the way luxury control and automation companies engineer control solutions.

And products like turntables and 3D projectors and displays have helped reinvigorate decades-old technologies like vinyl and 3D video. Some of the standouts in those categories can be considered both evolutionary and revolutionary because of the growing interest consumers are developing in analog audio and stereoscopic video.

I had the opportunity to spend quality time both at home and at tradeshows with many exciting products this year. Here's a snapshot of my favorites.



Apple iPad
When Apple introduced the iPad, it instantly changed the way people perceived mobile computing and the residential control and automation market. The custom installation world recognized the potential of the iPad and, in a struggling economy, adopted the affordable iPad in lieu of pricey hardware.

Avatar Blu-ray
“Avatar” broke all kinds of box-office records and single-handedly re-ignited interest in 3D. Despite the fact that when “Avatar” was first released on Blu-ray it didn’t include a 3D version - the Blu-ray 3D is now available through Panasonic - the movie still looked stunning and is a reference video release.

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