Top tech stories of 2011

From product launches to a flubbed merger to privacy disputes, these were the stories that had gadget and tech policy geeks talking.

5 Seconds

00:00

Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder and chairman, died Oct. 5 at the age of 56, due to complications from his battle with pancreatic cancer. Jobs died just a day after Apple introduced the iPhone 4S, and the polarizing executive reportedly worked until the day he died. A eulogy written by Jobs’s sister, author Mona Simpson, shared that his last words were “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”

Danny Moloshok / Reuters

Google’s bid for cellphone maker Motorola Mobility — it’s biggest ever at $12.5 billion — ramped up the rivalry between the company and tech rival Apple. The acquisition would give Google critical access to Motorola’s extensive patent portfolio and raises the possibility that the Android software maker may get into the hardware game.

Kimihiro Hoshino / AFP/Getty Images

Facebook faced a lot of changes and challenges in 2011, from its privacy settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over changes to its network settings to its ambitious new scrapbook-like layout of user profiles. Launching ahead of the new format, Facebook also announced "frictionless sharing" partnerships that allow users to opt-in to linking services such as Spotify to their accounts for automatic sharing.

Paul Sakuma / AP

Amazon's launch of the $199 Kindle Fire sparked conversation about the low-end tablet market and the way consumers use tablets. A device used more for media consumption than creation, the Fire is a direct sales portal to Amazon's services.

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

The HP TouchPad flew off shelves when the company slashed the base price of the tablet from $400 to $99, showing manufacturers that there was a real demand for low-priced tablets. Even a dud product like the TouchPad was a hot item when it fell below $100.

David Paul Morris / Bloomberg

AT&T and T-Mobile proposed a $39 billion acquisition, but that bid has failed after the companies faced opposition from the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. AT&T was confident that it could get the deal pushed through with approval from regulators based on its past lobbying successes, but found itself working from an outdated playbook.

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

The iPhone 4S was one of the most hotly anticipated devices in the history of consumer electronics and the crown jewel of this new handset was the Siri "personal assistant" software. Designed to help users set appointments, conduct Web searches and send messages using only their voices, the software has helped the phones fly off shelves since its October debut.

Oli Scarff / Getty Images

In January, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the nonprofit association tasked with managing the Internet’s addresses, known as domain names, will begin taking applications from anyone with $185,000 and a desire to reserve their own suffix on the Web. The group oversaw the launch of .xxx last week. Coming after ICANN’s review process could be .god, .abortion, .sex and .georgetown, as well as thousands of others, but there is opposition from copyrights holders and consumer advocates who say the program will be too confusing for the average Web user.

/ Illustration by JESS3

The Federal Trade Commission gave its final approval to its settlement with Google over the Google Buzz rollout Monday. The commission approved the settlement with a 4-0 vote. The settlement, first announced in March, requires Google to implement a full privacy program and agree to regular, independent privacy audits for the next 20 years. Google has discontinued Buzz, and since turned its efforts to its new social networking site, Google+.

/ AP

The iPad 2, the second Apple tablet, incorporated long wished-for features such as dual cameras and a thinner, sleeker form factor. The device has been popular and managed to remain on top of the tablet market despite a slew of competitors running Google's Android system.

Pichi Chuang / Reuters

Social media took a front-and-center role in the Arab Spring and other social protests this year, as organizers used products such as Twitter and Facebook to set up meetings and deliver their messages to a worldwide audience.

/ AP

There was furious Internet debate over policies from Facebook and Google requiring the use of "real names" to register for social networking sites. Google, with the introduction of its new Google+ social network, fielded complaints from users who said the policy to require real names put political dissidents and others in danger. Meanwhile, prize-winning author Salman Rushdie had to fight with Facebook for the right to have his pen name on his Facebook page instead of his given name, Ahmed Salman Rushdie. The debate raised questions about the value of anonymous online comments.

Ben Woloszyn / AP

In April, Sony suffered a massive breach in its popular PlayStation Network that allowed the theft of names, addresses and possibly credit card data belonging to 77 million user accounts, in one of the largest Internet security break-ins ever.

Yuriko Nakao / Reuters

British actor Colin Firth, star of "The King's Speech," is interviewed during dedication ceremonies for his new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Every year, many DVDs of movies still shown in theaters are sent by movie studios to Oscar, Golden Globe and other awards voters. Every year, some of these discs are copied, and the movies end up being shared online, where they can cut into movie-ticket and DVD sales. In October, House Judiciary committee chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) introduced the Stop Online Piracy Act to -- surprise, surprise -- stop online piracy. The Motion Picture Association of America is, unsurprisingly, one of the lead voices supporting the bill. Opponents of the bill include Web firms such as Google.

Reed Saxon / AP

Technology companies have been locked in battles over software patents for much of the past year. In December, the International Trade Commission imposed a small ban on HTC devices -- a battle indicative of a much larger war between Apple and HTC and other Android-based smartphone makers. Apple has sued HTC, Motorola and Samsung over copyright infringement, but many of the largest tech companies are scrambling to protect themselves by buying up patents to use as ammunition in the intellectual property cases. Google's acquisition of Motorola was likely largely about patents, and the company also tried -- and was outbid -- to purchase patents from Nortel.

Mark Lennihan / AP

A hack at the e-mail marketing firm Epsilon leaked the names and e-mail addresses of customers in April. The notices said that only customer names and e-mail addresses were compromised in the breach. Several companies, including Best Buy, also warned consumers to be on the lookout for phishing scams.

Wade Payne / AP

The hacker group Anonymous stages a demonstration at a BART station. The group has claimed responsibility for hack attacks of the Arizona police, the U.S. government and the Turkish government, which made many headlines.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

A U.S. Air Force crewman sits on top of the fuselage of a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules aircraft in June. Lockeed Martin suffered a breach in May.

Chris Ratcliffe / Bloomberg

A visitor tries a Sony Computer Entertainment PlayStation Vita portable video game player at a launch event in the company's showroom in Tokyo. Sony aims to revitalize its game business and lure consumers increasingly turning to Apple Inc.'s iPhones for entertainment.

Haruyoshi Yamaguchi / Bloomberg

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey left the microblogging company in 2008 but came back this year. In the past few months, several Twitter employees have left the nest as Dorsey changes the guard after Evan Williams resigned as chief executive.

Mark Lennihan / AP

Hewlett-Packard announced in October that, contrary to a plan championed by its former chief executive, it will keep its PC business. HP currently has the largest PC business in the world. The announcement, made in a press release, comes a little over a month after HP replaced former head Leo Apotheker with Meg Whitman, former chief executive at eBay. "It’s clear after our analysis that keeping [personal systems group] within HP is right for customers and partners, right for shareholders, and right for employees,” Whitman said in a statement. “HP is committed to PSG, and together we are stronger.”

Anonymous / AP

Former eBay head Meg Whitman was appointed as HP's new chief executive in September, succeeding Leo Apotheker, who lasted less than a year in the job. Whitman, known for her work leading eBay and her failed run for California governor in 2010, took over at a tumultuous time for HP and some questioned whether her skills from leading eBay would translate to running one of the biggest hardware manufacturers in the world.

Pool / Reuters

Netflix abandoned its widely panned decision to separate its DVD-by-mail and Internet streaming services because it would make them more difficult to use. Its stock has been tanking ever since.

Microsoft Windows President Steven Sinofsky introduces the new tablet running a test version of its touch-enabled Windows 8 at the Build conference in California. The new system is designed to work on tablets and desktop computers.

Alex Gallardo / Reuters

An LG Display 3D TV set is displayed next to rival company Samsung's TV set for comparison at the headquarters of LG Display in Seoul. 3D TVs were predicted to be a big trend at CES in January 2011 but never panned out.

Truth Leem / Reuters

A screen shot of the Google Plus social network is shown. Google, frustrated by a string of failed attempts to crack social networking, designed the service to tie together all of its online properties, laying the foundation for a full-fledged social network.

/ Reuters

Steve Jobs unveiled the iCloud storage system in June 2011. Apple is using iCloud to retain its dominance in the smartphone and tablet markets amid fresh competition from devices powered by Google Inc.'s Android software.

David Paul Morris / Bloomberg

A LightSquared booth is shown at the Satellite 2011 Convention in Washington. Federal officials said that LightSquared’s proposed mobile satellite network would interfere with “the majority” of global positioning system receivers and pose dangerous disruption to airline safety systems. LightSquared disagreed with some of the findings.

Jeffrey MacMillan / For The Washington Post

Rovio Entertainment Oy, the creator of the "Angry Birds" mobile-phone games, will open its first retail stores this year in China. The popular mobile game has enjoyed much success this year as it became available on more platforms, including the Chrome browser, game consoles and social networks.

Keith Bedford / Bloomberg

Samuel J. Palmisano, chairman of the board, president and CEO of IBM, second from right, is applauded as he rings the New York Stock Exchange opening bell to commemorate the 100th anniversary of IBM.

Richard Drew / AP

Featured Photo Galleries

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 29: Serena Williams of USA stretches to plays a forehand in her women's singles first round match between Serena Williams of USA and Virginie Razzano of France during day three of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

French Open results: Serena Williams loses, Maria Sharapova cruises

The American tennis star lost in the first round of a Grand Slam event.

Winnie Pajcic, 9, holds on to a railing as she leans back in the wind during a visit to Stockton Park in Ortega, Fla., in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Beryl on Monday May 28, 2012. Beryl came ashore early Monday near Jacksonville Beach with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Kelly Jordan)

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more in the day in photos

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more.

Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more in animal views

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more.

ANNAPOLIS, MD- MAY 29: Graduates cheer as the Blue Angels fly over during the 100th anniversary of the United States Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremonies in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. U.S Sec. of Defense Leon Edward Panetta gave the graduation address. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

U.S. Naval Academy graduation

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave the commencement address at the ceremony.

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 26: Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez (C) performs with dancers during the Q'Viva! The Chosen Live show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 26, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Lil Jon, Eddie Van Halen, Mariah Carey and other celebrities.

Doc Watson, bluegrass and folk legend, dies at 89

The blind singer and guitarist was a Grammy winner, known for his flat-picking style of guitar playing.

Henry, a calf, sustained a head wound and required stitches after being slashed over the weekend.

Farm animals attacked in Fairfax

A calf, two goats and a chicken were slashed over the weekend at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon.

COVINGTON, LA - MAY 14: Brother Emmanuel Labrise of St. Joseph's Abbey prepares a casket for lining on May 15, 2012 in Covington, Louisiana. Louisiana law forbids those who are not licensed funeral directors from selling caskets. And since Hurricane Katrina leveled the timberlands that once provided the main source of funding for the abbey, the monks have attempted to make a living by building and selling simple cypress caskets. The monks won their first round last year, and have a hearing at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in June. (Photo by Sean Gardner/For the Washington Post)

Louisiana monks fight for the right to sell coffins

Federal court case pits a group of monks against the funeral home industry.

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.