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.

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

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 included a “Deep Fusion” software trick that merges eight photos into one for more detail and clarity.

The two-lens iPhone 11 starts at US$699, a lower price than usual, while the three-lens iPhone 11 Pro models (with better battery life than previously) start at US$999.

Echo Auto

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 lets 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.

Is Google’s Nest Hub Max worth the loss of privacy in your home?

Sonos Move/Echo Studio

Sonos’ first battery-powered portable Wi-fi- and Bluetooth-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 other Sonos speakers you may have in the house that usually only work with Wi-fi, and adds Bluetooth for portability. It is pricey at US$399, but the sound is fantastic.

If portability doesn’t matter, Amazon’s US$199 Echo Studio, just released, is the best sounding Echo speaker on the market, rivalling the Sonos.

Galaxy S10

AirPods Pro/Echo Buds

There was lots of activity this year in the Bluetooth earbud space. Apple updated its popular AirPods line with a Pro model that, while pricey at US$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 – and they don’t look as dorky as the original model.

GoPro Hero 8

In the awesome photography category, the Hero 8, from GoPro, substantially improved from last year’s models with even better stabilisation, 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 US$750 with the kit lens, can do speedy autofocus just 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 US$1,000 Mavic, nor is the image as wide. But at US$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 also fits easily in backpacks or purses – it’s that small, and unlike many tiny drones, this one is not a toy.