Top Tech Success Stories of 2024

In recent years, reflecting on the past 12 months has often brought feelings of sorrow. However, 2024 has surprisingly shown a greater presence of positive developments in technology than negative ones. Despite ongoing challenges such as the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, global dissatisfaction, and political unrest, this year also provided moments of joy and innovation that have captured public interest.

LocalThunk

Many might not recognize the name LocalThunk, a Canadian game developer who has kept his identity under wraps. However, his creation, a game titled Balatro, has emerged as a monumental success in the indie gaming scene this year. Since its release in February, the wacky game, likened to a full-scale sequel to poker, has sold millions of copies across multiple gaming platforms. It has gained significant recognition, securing a spot on various best-of lists for 2024 and earning a nomination for Game of the Year at The Game Awards.

Balatro’s immense popularity has not only established LocalThunk among the elite solo game developers but also inspired crossovers with other gaming franchises and even led to a physical card deck based on the game. Remarkably, LocalThunk has expressed a commitment to keeping the intellectual property free from associations with gambling, stating that he has formalised his will to prevent any potential licensing to gambling enterprises.

Bluesky

After months confined to an invitation-only beta phase, Bluesky officially opened its doors to the public at the start of 2024. The platform, which began with just over 3 million users, has since skyrocketed to over 25 million users, attracting elements of celebrity and political engagement from former participants on other social networks. Bluesky remains an underdog, facing stiff competition from platforms like Meta’s Threads. Nonetheless, it has surged in popularity, especially following political events, and has influenced features in competitor platforms.

Despite existing challenges, such as enhancing user verification methods, Bluesky exemplifies a promising model for an open, decentralized social platform. While it may not yet rival Threads in user base, the platform has captured attention for its commitment to fostering a different approach to social interaction, moving away from advertising-driven models.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

The market for foldable phones has seen an array of innovative designs over recent years, but Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold has refined the concept by emphasizing simplicity. This device integrates a familiar outer phone design with an expansive inner screen that mirrors the size of a tablet when unfolded. Along with its sleek aesthetic and impressive camera quality, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold stands out for its enhanced build quality while remaining portable.

While it might come with a higher price tag, its performance and usability show significant advancements over previous foldable models. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold exemplifies how innovation in the smartphone realm continues to evolve.

AR Glasses

Augmented reality has long been a buzzword, yet tangible progress in the form of standalone AR glasses has been elusive. However, 2024 marked a turning point with the introduction of Snap’s second-generation AR Spectacles and Meta’s Orion AR glasses prototype. This development illustrates a clear commitment from tech giants to bring AR capabilities into practical use.

Although still in the early stages, with challenges such as weight and cost to overcome, the advancements indicate a growing potential for AR applications. Both companies have made strides, with Snap collaborating with various developers to build apps, while Meta is focused on internal innovations to enhance usability.

ASUS Zenbook Duo

The ASUS Zenbook Duo showcased the ongoing evolution of laptops, distinguishing itself with its dual-screen design. Featuring two 14-inch OLED displays and a lightweight build, the laptop offers a robust performance coupled with versatility. The wireless physical keyboard enhances portability and convenience, allowing for various configurations that suit the user’s needs.

At a competitive price point compared to similar premium notebooks, the Zenbook Duo reflects how laptops can innovate beyond conventional designs, catering to multitaskers with its dual-display functionality.

DJI Neo

Entering the content creation space, the DJI Neo drone made waves this year with its user-friendly design and advanced features. Priced affordably, it enables creators to capture high-quality aerial footage without requiring extensive experience. Despite some limitations regarding drone safety and video quality, the Neo stands out as an accessible tool for aspiring videographers.

Notably, DJI’s commitment to enhancing creative capabilities is evident, opening up new possibilities that were previously difficult for many to achieve.

reMarkable’s Paper Pro

The reMarkable Paper Pro has made a significant impact in the realm of distraction-free writing tools, addressing previous shortcomings of its predecessor. Offering a larger display, improved internal specifications, and color rendering capabilities, this device has risen to prominence, becoming essential for those seeking to avoid digital distractions and focus solely on their writing.

While the device may come with a high price tag, its superior functionality and design elevate it above competitors, making it a worthy investment for dedicated users.

NotebookLM

For many technology enthusiasts, Google’s NotebookLM emerged as a highlight of 2024. This innovative application synthesizes information into dynamic podcast-style dialogues based on inputted documents or links. Its ease of use and accessibility makes it a standout tool for those seeking engagement with their content in a new format.

While it still exhibits some of the flaws commonly associated with AI, including inaccuracies in pronunciation and occasional misinterpretation, NotebookLM represents a step forward in merging AI with user content consumption, indicating fertile grounds for future developments in this space.

PC CPU Competition

The competitive landscape for PC CPUs has evolved significantly, especially with the emergence of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips, which challenge the longstanding dominance of Intel and AMD. These new mobile chips emphasize efficiency and performance gains in a changing market. As chip manufacturers continue to innovate in AI processing capabilities, the focus on improving user experience with Arm architecture makes this an exciting time for PC technology.

While the industry navigates this transformation, the potential for expanded capabilities and competition promises an interesting evolution for computing technology in the years to come.