December 2011

This has been a bittersweet month. On one hand we got to celebrate the best the gadget world has to offer at our 2011 Gadget Awards. They're bigger than ever this year; 20 categories, including six voted by you, the geniuses who use www.stuff.tv. It's been a hell of a year for gadgets, with tablets and smart TV gaining ground and 'the cloud' going from a weather-referencing geek mystery to something your Big Brother-addicted aunt drops into everyday conversation.

On the other hand we were hit by the news that Steve Jobs, Apple's joint founder and mastermind of the i-gadget era, passed away. As an architect of the digital world, Steve will always have a special place in our hearts. Steve's loss will no doubt be keenly felt. But if the iphone 4S is anything to go by, Apple will continue to create fine gadgets. We've got a full test of the company's best Smartphone yet – and its amazing Siri voice control system. It's sure to make many a Christmas list – which handily brings me to our gift guide kicking off. Start shopping now and you might even finish before the big day.

What's inside