First, our list isn't meant to be a ranking of the best products released during 2008 -- if it were, we would wait until the end of the year to do it, obviously. I can see how the title of the feature could have suggested otherwise.

The story is a ranking of the tech products that have done the most good for the most people since we did this ranking 12 months ago. The products that were the most fun, offered the most productivity gain, or the ones that made everyday stuff easier. People across America have been digging on the utility of their iPhones during the last year, so it made the list. Some people stayed in better contact with friends using Facebook. It makes the list. Hulu simply works, and is a harbinger of what TV will be like in the future. It makes the list. And so on.

Anyway, I hope this helps and thanks for reading. -Mark