2011: The year when it became the norm for the device in your pocket to be the center of your world

[Commentary] As far as years in technology go, 2011 was one for the record books. It wasn’t just about big battles, such as Apple vs. Samsung, Microsoft vs. Google, AT&T vs. the world or Hewlett-Packard vs. itself. It wasn’t just about the growth of apps and the ever-increasing pervasiveness of the Web in our daily lives, although there were plenty of amazing developments in both of these realms. It wasn’t just about hardware or software. And it wasn’t just about toeing the line or trying to hold onto it. It was a year of incredible innovation, progress and excitement. It was a year when — despite all the political and economic chaos around us these days — optimism ruled. And how many other industries can you say that about right now? (Dec 28)