Disney+ tops our best tech of 2019 list

Jefferson Graham | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Netflix, Hulu, Disney+: Is streaming still cheaper than cable? Cable watching may still be more popular than streaming, but as Disney+ and others join the battle, will streaming remain the cheaper option?

If you had told parents in 2018 that Disney would start a new streaming service that would show a few classic titles from the library, offer some cartoon reruns, a Marvel film or two and a Star Wars film per month, most people would probably think that was a pretty great deal.

And what if they upped the ante, and threw in a few more classics, more 'toons and Marvel titles, some B and C library titles from the 20th Century Fox library that Disney now owns? That would still sound fantastic.

So when Disney decided to actually throw in virtually its entire vault, from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm, plus National Geographic and Fox, new originals like the Star Wars spinoff the Mandolorian and a new live-action take on the "Lady and the Tramp," and charge just $6.99 monthly, it's not a hard decision to pick Disney+ as the best new tech of the year.

Nothing else even comes close.

Sure, Disney will probably jack up the monthly rates in 2020, once it gets to a critical mass of consumers. But for now, we streaming fans got quite the gift for 2019.

So in time for Cyber Monday, we offer some more tech 2019 notables:

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

For years, Apple has released new editions of the iPhone that were minor iterations over the last model. Then this year, it actually made some major changes. It followed Samsung's lead in adding an ultra-wide-angle lens, copied Google Pixel with "Night Mode," to shoot great looking photos in near darkness and a "Deep Fusion," software trick that merges eight photos into one for more detail and clarity. The two-lens iPhone 11 starts at $699, a lower price than usual, while the three-lens iPhone 11 Pro models (with better battery life than previously) start at $999 and $1,099.

Echo Auto

No product I purchased this year was used more often. Like every day. Amazon brought Alexa to the car, easily for just $49.99, and charges my phone at the same time. I had used an Anker product for this, the Roav Viva, which sometimes could interact with the personal assistant, other times couldn't. Echo Auto consistently let me voice-command music selections, make phone calls and ask the occasional query. It couldn't read me voice directions by command, although once I opened Waze the directions came through loud and clear. That's a flaw that needs to be addressed, but for now, thanks, Amazon, for letting us groove to tunes for such a reasonable price.

Google Nest Hub Max

Last year's pick as the best product of the year got the new and improved treatment from Google in one very important area: size. The 7-inch screen that I thought could be larger this year is, at 10 inches. I use Google Photos to back up all my photos, the Max is a terrific photo frame. It does a beautiful job of presenting me with highlights from the most current snaps, as well as play YouTube audio and video clips, show recipes (not my thing, but it can be done) and all the other usual Google Assistant features.

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Sonos Move/Echo Studio

From a video display to a connected speaker that isn't, there's the first battery-powered portable Sonos Wi-FiBluetooth-connected speaker. The Move is for those times when you want to put a speaker outside, bring it to the beach, on camping trips, and still be able to bark commands to it via Alexa or the Google Assistant. At home, it connects to the other Sonos speakers you may have in the house that usually only work with Wi-Fi. The Move adds Bluetooth for portability. Pricey at $399, but the sound is fantastic. If portability doesn't matter, Amazon's $199 Echo Studio, just released, is the best sounding Echo speaker on the market, rivaling Sonos.

Galaxy S10

The folks at Samsung don't get enough credit for making phones that rival the iPhone in great tech. This year's S10 family (there are three models) also has the three lenses (ultra-wide, wide and portrait), a beautiful AMOLED screen and the ability to add expandable storage. The family starts at $549 for the S10e, $699 for the S10 and $729 for the S10+.

AirPod Pro/Echo Buds

There was lots of activity in the Bluetooth earbud space. Apple updated its popular AirPods line with a Pro model that, while pricey at $249, gets my nod for three very important reasons. They stay in the ear! They sound fantastic, the best-sounding earbuds I've ever worn. They don't look as dorky as the original model. Amazon also released excellent earbuds that don't sound as great as either edition of the AirPods, but they are way more affordable, at $129 and answer to Alexa, which the Pods won't do.

GoPro Hero 8

In the awesome photography category, the Hero 8, from GoPro, substantially improved from last year's models with even better stabilization and introduced a new body form that makes it easier and less cumbersome to attach to things.

Sony A6100

Yes, the iPhone and Galaxy cameras are so good they have replaced the basic snapshot for most people, in good light. But there are times many of us want a real camera, like for sports, indoor shots with poor lighting and more professional looking portraits. This 2019 Sony camera is a great choice for those looking to step up into the world of small cameras. It sells for around $750 with the kit lens, can do speedy autofocus as well as more pricey professional Sony cameras, shoot silently and has a mic jack and flip LCD screen, two vital components for vloggers.

Mavic Mini

The Mavic Mini, the latest drone from DJI, doesn't shoot in 4K video like the big-boy $1,000 Mavic, nor is the image as wide. But at $399, and smaller than an iPhone, it flies easily and is a great entry-level drone for those looking to get their feet wet in droning without spending a fortune. It fits in the backpack or purse – it's that small, and unlike many tiny drones, this one is not a toy.

Hulu, for $2!

In 2019, we saw streaming become more popular than ever, and pricing in certain areas become way more competitive. We thought Disney+ at $6.99 sounded pretty awesome, but how can you beat Hulu for $1.99 monthly?

It's a last-minute deal that expires Dec. 2 and consumers qualify only if they're new to the service or if they've been away for at least 12 months. They also don't get to participate in the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ $12.99 bundle. Hulu offers NBC, ABC and Fox TV, originals like The Handmade's Tale and movies.

It's no Disney+, but at $1.99 a month, there's still plenty to watch!

Readers: What tops your tech favorite list for 2019? Fill me in on Twitter, where I'm @jeffersongraham