Tech Trends of 2017: The Best Gadgets

Matthew Kronsberg takes a look back at the technology worth looking into

The Master & Dynamic MA770 speaker. Photo: Bloomberg

Will we look back on 2017 as the year we lost our faith in the belief that technology can “do no harm?” Whether it was the reports of toxic workplace culture found in Silicon Valley darlings, much-hyped products that failed to deliver, the risks of artificial intelligence, or the omnipresent conundrum of fake news, the tide seems to be turning against the digital apologists.

Bluetooth sound can look good

It’s no secret that for less than a hundred dollars, you can get a perfectly decent-looking, decent-sounding Bluetooth speaker. This year, New York-based startup Master & Dynamic threw down the gauntlet with its release of the MA770, designed by architect David Ajaye. Created with custom-made concrete, this speaker weighs 35 pounds and makes a strong impression, even with the sound off. But striking as the form is, function comes first. The sound is rich and fills the room, making it the rare work of stereo architecture that’s as impressive in the dark as it is in daylight. €1,515;masterdynamic.com