iPhone named 'gadget of the year' by Stuff

Apple's popular iPhone has been named the coolest gadget of the year by British technology magazine Stuff, while its said that the iPod was the "greatest gadget ever." The iPhone, which has yet to launch in the UK, took top place in Stuff’s Cool List 2007: "The mobile to end all mobiles pipped all the other top-name entries to earn the planet’s biggest gadget accolade. The touchscreen device redefined how humans interact with their phones as well as offering almost every feature no self-respecting mobile should be without. How could we resist?" Apple's iPod nano was ranked No. 10 list and the iPhone, expected to be available next month through an exclusive agreement with O2, also took the reader's choice award.

"It's the coolest gadget of the year by a country mile," the judges said. "It remains the most impressive piece of technology we've seen this decade - it really must be seen to be believed.

Apple's iPod took the "greatest gadget ever" award by readers of Stuff and The Telegraph’s Digital Life: "The stylish digital music player has dominated the market since its first incarnation in 2001. The odds are you own one, or the person next to you owns one, anyway."

Tom Dunsmore, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, said the magazine chose gadgets based on their "stand-out" quality rather than sales success, functionality or value for money.

"Gadgets are getting more stylish and more desirable every year. This year's list is packed with must-have Christmas gifts so beautifully designed and such a joy to use that they'll appeal to technophobes as well as gadget- lovers," he said.

The Leica M8 camera was second on the list with its "retro-chic stylings" and "legendary Leica optics and full manual control." The judges said it was "easily one of the nicest snappers we’ve stuck in a pocket."

Tonium Pacemaker, which enables DJs to mix music without turntables, was named the third coolest gadget, and the compact Sony Vaio UX1 PC was fourth on the list.