New Article: The Top 10 Tech Stories Of 2010

The following article is from Complex Magazine, I'm posting the Top 10 tech stories but for the complete list of 25 (CLICK HERE)


The tech industry experienced as many highs as lows in 2010. As e-readers and Android phones shattered sales records, nearly every major tech company dealt with lawsuits from competitors. While the biggest social-network entrepreneur redefined his image, some of the tech industry’s most popular figures showed that they couldn’t keep their hard drives in their pants. Microsoft proved naysayers wrong with Kinect and an all-new smartphone lineup, while Google introduced a criminally slept-on Internet TV service and dealt with privacy debates surrounding its Street View mapping service. Then, of course, there was Apple, the one company that kept consumers hooked throughout the entire year with its next-gen iPhone and the indomitable iPad—but not without controversy. Overall, 2010 was an entertaining year in tech. From Wikileaks‘ extremist actions to the emergence of 4G, take a look at back at The Top Tech Stories of 2010.


#1. Wikileaks Releases Private Government Documents
Date: April 5, 2010
Complex says: After leaked footage of a 2007 American army assault in Baghdad surfaced on the net, the whistle-blower website created a frenzy all over the world. Wikileaks' creator, Internet activist Julian Assange, quickly became Public Enemy No. 1 with his radical actions: leaking over 92,000 documents related to the Afghanistan War, classified U.S. counterintelligence reports, and other top-secret files that have jeopardized national security and damaged international relations among world superpowers. Governments consider him the antichrist, activists consider him a role model. Us? We just think he’s one of the ballsiest motherfuckers in history. Salute.


#2. Google vs. Privacy Laws
Date: Jan. 12, 2010
Complex says: After Google detected several cyber attacks targeting Gmail users in China, the country banned all Google search sites for not complying with domestic Internet censorship policies. As if one country wasn’t pissed enough, Google managed to make the shit lists of other powerful countries with its infamous Street View project. The Google Maps add-on captured provocative panoramic views and broke privacy laws from the United States all the way to South Korea by collecting private data from unprotected wireless networks. We know Google's hoping for a less tumultuous 2011.


#3. The iPad Is Released
Date: April 3, 2010
Complex says: The introduction of the iPad helped set the standard for what the next-gen portable PC will be by combining the power of a laptop with the mobility of a smartphone. Apple’s latest gem offered a stunning 9.7-inch multi-touch screen with sharp visuals, dope exclusive apps, 3G/wi-fi capabilities, and an impressive 10-hour battery life. Having sold more than 8.5 million units by year’s end, Steve Jobs proved that netbooks aren't the end-all, be-all for portable computing. As RIM prepares to launch its own tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook, and the Samsung Galaxy Tablet gaining heavy momentum, Apple’s already working on its second-generation model, due out next year.


#4. Mark Zuckerberg Steps Into His Own
Date: Sept. 22, 2010
Complex says: Facebook CEO and president Mark Zuckerberg wasn’t crowned Time’s Person of the Year just for running the world's largest social network. The billionaire college dropout served as inspiration for what was arguably the year’s best film, The Social Network. Zuckerberg even turned philanthropist, offering $100 million to help rebuild Newark public schools, and joined Bill Gates' elite contribution campaign, The Giving Pledge, which enlists billionaires to pledge half of their fortunes toward noble causes. That doesn't sound like the brat that was depicted on-screen.


#5. FCC Passes Net Neutrality Laws
Date: Dec. 21, 2010
Complex says: The Federal Communications Commission voted to pass the first of what could be many net neutrality laws—laws that grant Web surfers access to any legal online material from their home, along with set regulations to protect people’s web-browsing rights on their smartphones and other mobile devices. That means you’ll have full access to all legal content: applications, online calling services, etc. Web companies are now forced to implement new techniques for routing traffic and security measures that do not obstruct FCC regulations. Will these new net neutrality laws work? Well, we'll have to see, now, won't we?


#6. The Foxconn Suicides
Date: May 26, 2010
Complex says: The most tragic tech story of 2010 revolves around the suicides at the world's largest electronics manufacturer: Foxconn. Responsible for building parts for every major tech company from Apple to Nintendo, the company suffered 10 suicide deaths during 2010, with rumors of inhumane working conditions and mistreatment swarming media outlets and Internet blogs. Since the tragedies, Foxconn has instituted new measures to help raise awareness and prevent future deaths—installing safety nets on buildings, providing group counseling, and offering 30-percent raises. That's cool and all, but we're still curious to know what goes on behind closed factory doors. There's going to be a movie about this in 10 years.


#7. Facebook Service Outage
Date: Sept. 23, 2010
Complex says: Twitter fanatics poked fun and office workers across the globe nearly died of boredom as the largest social network on Earth experienced service outages for two full days. Facebook officials blamed the problem on a third-party network provider and an “error condition” in their database. According to AlertSite, Facebook functioned at a 38-percent availability rate with a 60-second response time. That’s almost slower than surfing on a dial-up connection.


#8. Android Phones Outperform Competition
Date: May 10, 2010
Complex says: Led by those awesome Droid commercials and its open-source-friendly App Market, Android became the preferred mobile platform in 2010. The Google-powered handsets pushed major sales for Verizon, propelled Sprint’s 4G phones to mainstream success, and spawned several phone franchises—such as the Samsung Galaxy S—to help it move past the likes of the iPhone and BlackBerry. Second only to Nokia in worldwide market share (with 25 percent), Google showed how free software pays in the long run.


#9. iPhone 4 Launches to Antennagate Controversy
Date: June 24, 2010
Complex says: The fourth-generation iPhone offered industry-leading features such as the best media player, biggest app store, and most user-friendly UI, but hardware issues such as fragile Gorilla Glass casing and yellow bands appearing on the touchscreen plagued the first few shipments. Then came Antennagate: a controversy caused by the reception loss that occurred when owners applied a tight grip to the phone’s lower left corner, where the antenna was placed. Instead of replacing phones, Apple opted for a more simple (read: cheaper) solution to fix the problem: offering a free bumper case. Not many dropped-call complaints have been recorded since, but Antennagate and the iPhone will forever be linked. Oh well, you know you still want one.


#10. Facebook Beefs Up Security Rules
Date: May 14, 2010
Complex says: In an effort to strengthen security measures, Mark Zuckerberg's company integrated a new security feature to keep hackers from tapping into users’ personal information. The new feature has been compared to an online banking system, asking members to approve computer or smartphone access for their FB accounts. Unauthorized devices would be blocked from logging in and an email or text message would be sent to warn users of any illegal activity. Considering Facebook hosts over 400 million users, and all that personal information is up for grabs, you can bet everyone is playing it safe right now.