Another year has come to an end, and we've chosen our top picks for 2008. Like years before, this year saw many highs and lows in the world of tech products and services, and we've decided to throw the spotlight on some of our favorites. So, gather around. It's In Tech Today's Top Picks for 2008!

Smartphone: iPhone & BlackBerry Bold
No one can deny the success of the iPhone, since its launch in June of 2007, but 2008 brought a new version of the iPhone to eagerly awaiting consumers - the iPhone 3G. Upgraded with new 3G capability and a built in GPS, the iPhone 3G was an instant hit. It's lower price and sleek looks brought in many who had been holding off on purchasing an iPhone, sending sales soaring, and gaining Apple a bigger share of the cell phone market. Apple didn't stop there, however. With the launch of the App Store, the iPhone upped its game. It was no longer a cool phone with Internet capability and iPod functionality. It became a VERY cool phone, with Internet capability, iPod functionality, and the ability to transform itself into a portable gaming device, business device, and gave itself numerous other uses by simply adding applications from the App Store built into iTunes. 2008 proved the iPhone could still hold its own against the competition, and that's why it has earned a place on our list.

2008 also saw some contenders in the category of iPhone competitors. Although most of the new devices released to compete with the iPhone couldn't even come close, for BlackBerry lovers the BlackBerry Bold proved to be a great alternative for anyone looking for a solid business device that also knew when to let lose and have some fun. The BlackBerry Bold kept true to its roots, choosing not to alienate the loyal followers the BlackBerry has managed to gather over the years, and added in a few new features in the process. With a sharp, colorful screen, suited to display anything from spreadsheets to movies on the go, the Bold took the stance of being the iPhone alternative, the phone to have to give consumers all of the business features they may need, while still providing some of the fun of other devices during times when just wanting to relax is most important. Unlike the BlackBerry Storm, which tried too hard to be like an iPhone instead of a BlackBerry, and debuted to mixed reviews because of it, the Bold can proudly hold its own in this category, and earned its spot on our list.

Gear: SCOTTEVEST
From jackets, to pants, to shirts, and even hats, no one does it as good as SCOTTEVEST. With a full line of clothing for both men and women, designed to look good while allowing the wearer to carry all of the electronic devices and other items so many of us have come to depend on, SCOTTEVEST is known for its incorporation of numerous hidden pockets into clothing items, which in turn expands their functionality. The best part - the hidden pockets really do hide the items you carry, leaving none of the unsightly bulges that can occur when you try to stuff your phone, keys, media player, and digital camera, for example, into pockets that were not meant to hold more than one or two things at most. With SCOTTEVEST, however, that problem is solved. Want to carry your phone, keys, wallet, media player, digital camera, a book, and even a water bottle with you while you're out and about, and not only feel as if you aren't even carrying them, but look like you aren't carrying them either? SCOTTEVEST has you covered. The weight management feature, which is built into their clothing items, allows you to carry all of the items you want to bring with you, while distributing the weight, so you never feel loaded down. The numerous pockets are also designed to lay flat and comfortably, so it never looks like you're carrying all of things you have with you on any given day. The clothing even features a patented system that allows you to run the wires from your headphones, for example, from a device in your pocket up to earbud holders near the collar, so you can enjoy your music while concealing all of the cords. How great is that? As for travel, you can carry all of your electronics and other important travel documents right in the clothing. When you reach the security station, simply remove your jacket or travel vest (leaving everything in the pockets), run it through the x-ray, pick it up and put it back on at the other side, and be on your way! It makes travelling a breeze. For everyday use, to business use, to travel, SCOTTEVEST provides you with the clothing you need to help make your life a little easier, and earns a well deserved spot on our list. We can't wait to see the new itmes they have in store for 2009.

Gaming Console - PlayStation 3 (PS3)
Though some Xbox and Wii users may disagree, we've chosen the PlayStation 3 as our top pick gaming console, not only because because it is a solid gaming machine, but it also happens to be one of the best Blu-ray players on the market today, giving consumers more for their money, and a great addition to any home media system. With added features and updates released regularly, Sony is clearly looking to make the PS3 the dominant gaming platform, which is good news for owners of the PS3, as they can count on it being supported by Sony down the road, and good for gamers in general, since healthy competition in the marketplace creates new features, new games, and more media content for everyone, regardless of platform.

Portable Media Player: iPod
When it comes to portable media players, no one dominates the market more than the Apple iPod. Whether it's the iPod Nano, the iPod touch, iPod Classic, or iPod Shuffle, Apple has made it easy to carry music, games, audiobooks, and other media files with you on the go, and it has done so with great style and innovation for years. 2008 saw updates to the iPod line, like a newly designed thinner video Nano, and a slimmer iPod touch, both of which are not only good looking, but very easy to use. There is no denying that the iPod is a very good portable media playing device, and has changed the way people listen to music. That is why iPods still reign as the kings of the portable media playing world, and why they have landed on our list.

Portable Camera: Flip MinoHD
With 4GB of internal memory, 720p video, and a customizable design, nothing beats the Flip MinoHD for capturing quick video when out and about. Made to be a portable video camera you can carry with you anywhere, the MinoHD allows you to record up to 1 hour of HD video, which you can then edit by plugging the camera directly into your computer's USB port. You even have the option to upload your video directly to a number of popular online services, including YouTube. At a price of about $229, the MinoHD is hard to beat for an inexpensive HD video camera for casual recording.

Portable Computers: Netbooks
As laptops seem to be replacing desktops quicker than you can say portability, a new portable computer market has emerged as a favorite among those looking for most of the features of a good laptop in a package the size of a thin paperback book. Enter the netbook. Netbooks, like the Dell Mini 9 pictured above, allow users who need more than a smartphone and less than a full laptop to do simple computing tasks, surf the Internet, write e-mails, and edit documents, all while only having to carry a device that weighs little and takes up hardly any space. Running on Windows XP or Linux, netbooks have proven themselves to be an inexpensive alternative to a full-featured laptop, or a not so portable desktop computer. They are perfect for travel, casual use, and ideal for students. With SSD hard drives increasing in size, and more options being able to be fit into the netbook's tiny casings, these small computers should prove to be a popular alternative for some time to come.

e-Readers: Amazon Kindle
If you love to read, then the Amazon Kindle is for you. Small, lightweight, and able to download books without having to be attached to a computer, the Kindle can hold several hundred books in its built-in memory, and several thousand, with the addition of a standard SD card. Using e-ink to display electronic paper, the screen looks and reads like regular paper, and doesn't have the glare problem that other e-readers have had in the past, making reading your electronic books, just as enjoyable as reading a paper book. The one feature that makes the Kindle stand out over the competition, is the device's built-in EVDO modem, allowing you to download books directly to the device no matter where you might be. No need for a Wi-Fi connection or a computer's USB port. The Kindle makes getting books on the go easier than buying them in a store. Add in a selection of more than 200,000 books, the ability to download magazines, newspapers, blogs, and even play back your favorite music, and you can see why the Amazon Kindle is our choice for favorite e-reader, and why it has earned a place on our list.

Downloadable Video: Netflix
Run to the store to rent a video? No way. Why bother when you can download a movie right to your PC, DVR, or other media device, all without ever having to leave the comfort of your home. Although there are other downloadable movie services such as those provided from Apple's iTunes and Apple TV, as well as the Unbox service provided from Amazon, Netflix makes the grade for this list, not only for being able to download movies and TV shows whenever you want to, but for also allowing its service to be integrated into other popular media devices, including the Xbox, TiVo DVR, and Blu-ray players. Though you have to have an account to enjoy the features Netflix has to offer, their monthly pricing is fairly low, and well worth the money, if you like to rent movies regularly.

Digital Video Recorders (DVRs): TiVo
What more can you say about a DVR that has become so popular over the years that its very name not only identifies it, but also acts as a verb for recording your favorite TV shows? TiVo is well-known for not only being one of the best DVRs on the market, but many now "TiVo" their favorite shows, even if they don't own an actual TiVo. Sure, cable and satellite companies provide customers with DVRs, but unless it's a TiVo, those customers don't know what they're missing out on. The TiVo line of HD recorders, for example, not only allows you to record your favorite shows in high-definition, but its dual TV tuners allow you to record two shows at once, while watching a third, download movies and TV shows from Amazon Unbox and Netflix, watch YouTube videos, and watch your favorite podcasts, all right out of the box. If you're looking for a single device that will allow you to watch TV on your own schedule, and offer you features like renting or purchasing movies and purchasing TV shows without ever having to leave the house, then TiVo is right for you. It's easy to use, easy to set up, and is a great addition to any home media setup.