In the world of technology a year is a lifetime. The fact then that Apple's iPod, first launched in 2001, won the Daily Telegraph Digital Life's 'coolest gadget ever' award is hughely impressive.
The MP3 player was announced the winner of the gong, voted on by Daily Telegraph readers, last week.
The iPod held off a strong challenge from the TomTom GO 300 satnav to secure the top spot.
Seen as the saviour of Apple, more than 1
10 million iPods have been sold worldwide since 2001.
Top Ten Cool Awards Gadgets
1. Apple iPod
2. Tom Tom Go 300
3. Sky +
4. NES
5 Fender Stratocaster
6. Macintosh Classic
7. Motorola RAZR
8. Leica M3
9. Blackberry
10. Tag Heuer Monaco
As if picking up the award wasn't enough Apple were celebrating again when the iPhone was named 'coolest gadget of the year' by the editorial team at 'Stuff' magazine.
The iphone went on sale this morning in the UK and apple fanatics gathered outside Apple stores throughout the country from early morning to secure one of the hot units.
Amazingly due to the massive demand of customers, shops will remain open until at least 10pm tonight.
However not everyone is convinced by the iphone which combines the old style iPod with a mobile phone.
Some analysts say it is no more than a 'cool toy' and that it is a rip-off at £269 per unit.
Will it be as succesful as the iPod itself? - time will tell. Next week view the Getminted gadget blog for a full review of Apple's latest invention.
