If one word described the focus around the tech industry this year, it’s privacy. From user data mishandling to the private lives of major tech executives having an impact on company cultures, this year we’ve become more aware than ever of when to take control of your own privacy — and when it’s time to speak out.
The Verge 2018 tech report cards
Illustration By Alex Castro / The Verge
Beyond that, 2018 has also been a quieter year for innovation than the last — from gadgets to gaming to smartphones, most products we saw this year have been building on the grounds 2017 broke without many major new hardware releases. So how did some of the biggest tech companies and industries fare this year on The Verge’s annual report cards? In this last week of 2018, we’ll take a look at the past 12 months in technology, and what we can hope to look forward to in 2019.
Dieter Bohn
Casey Newton
Russell Brandom
Chaim Gartenberg
Jacob Kastrenakes
Streaming now accounts for 75 percent of the music industry’s revenue
Dani Deahl
Headphones continue to be one of the fastest improving category of technology, which can be a blessing and a curse for consumers.
Vlad Savov
Adi Robertson
The spirit of nostalgia and DIY hackery is alive and well with gadgets this year. At the same time, we’re all slowing moving toward simpler gadgets that do less in an effort to disconnect.
Dami Lee
This year’s AI-related headlines were mostly negative, but a scandal is better than evil that goes unnoticed. And controversy can, in theory, help us to improve.
James Vincent
What could be viewed as a rebound year for Tesla was in reality more like a roller coaster ride, complete with profitable quarters and more Elon Musk antics.
Sean O'Kane
It’s been one of the most dynamic years yet for SpaceX, from ambitious launches and projects to launching a Tesla Roadster to space. The year has set the stage for an even more eventful 2019.
Loren Grush
Dieter Bohn
Casey Newton
Russell Brandom
Chaim Gartenberg
Jacob Kastrenakes
Streaming now accounts for 75 percent of the music industry’s revenue
Dani Deahl
Headphones continue to be one of the fastest improving category of technology, which can be a blessing and a curse for consumers.
Vlad Savov
Adi Robertson
The spirit of nostalgia and DIY hackery is alive and well with gadgets this year. At the same time, we’re all slowing moving toward simpler gadgets that do less in an effort to disconnect.
Dami Lee
This year’s AI-related headlines were mostly negative, but a scandal is better than evil that goes unnoticed. And controversy can, in theory, help us to improve.
James Vincent
What could be viewed as a rebound year for Tesla was in reality more like a roller coaster ride, complete with profitable quarters and more Elon Musk antics.
Sean O'Kane
It’s been one of the most dynamic years yet for SpaceX, from ambitious launches and projects to launching a Tesla Roadster to space. The year has set the stage for an even more eventful 2019.
Loren Grush
