Surf report: Best gadgets of 2012

• Dropcam allows users to keep an eye on home while away
• Dyson DC44 vacuum is pint-sized, but a "much-needed appliance"
• Pill from Beats by Dre outputs terrific range and clarity from a small speaker

What a wild ride 2012 has been. We landed a rover on Mars, collectively groaned as Apple introduced a new adapter and indulged in too many Twinkies as we mourned a great American snack company.

Let's not forget we also tested a number of awesome gadgets. After revisiting the Surf Report and Weekend Gadget Bag archives, I wanted to highlight some personal favorites that debuted this year.

Home automation: Belkin WeMo

What's not to love about home automation on the cheap?

Over the summer, Belkin launched two new products: the WeMo Switch and WeMo Sensor. Together, these create a robust motion-detecting home-automation setup powered by an iOS app. With each retailing for $50, this modular network is easy to build upon.

After plugging an electronic appliance into the WeMo Switch, which works as a standalone component, you use the corresponding app to program rules for turning on and off devices. For instance, if you often fall asleep with the television on, you can specify a rule that automatically turns off the TV at 1 a.m. Once you introduce the WeMo Sensor, you can build an even smarter home, one that can, for instance, automatically turn on the lights when you enter the door and turn them off when there's no activity in the room after 15 minutes.

While I consider the WeMo a game-changing product, my main gripes still stand. Belkin could improve the app experience so rules co-exist harmoniously, and the hardware should be streamlined so it doesn't take up so much surge-protector real estate.

Home monitoring: Dropcam

I originally suggested Dropcam as a Father's Day gift idea for the overprotective dad. But the Wi-Fi video-monitoring camera released earlier this spring allows dads and non-dads alike to keep an eye at home when away.

Sporting a wide-angle lens, the image quality is fantastic for a home-monitoring setup, able to record an entire room while allowing you to pan and zoom for a better view. Aided by an infrared camera, the Dropcam ($149) performs surprisingly well in the dark, capturing video that's clear enough for you to make out details of faces. Email and mobile alerts will provide further ease of mind, calling your attention when the camera detects motion or audio events. A subscription service, Dropcam DVR will also let you record and store video to the cloud beginning at $9.95 a month.

Home appliance: Dyson DC44

As a dweller in a shoebox-sized apartment, I've gotten smart about carefully curating items with plenty of utility. One of the best examples is Dyson's Digital Slim DC44 Animal, released over the summer. While a vacuum is a much-needed household appliance, this pint-sized one won't take over the closet floor, instead resting comfortably on a bookshelf when not in use.

Despite its petite stature, the DC44's power and price tag ($400) are not inconsequential. With a hand wand, the Digital Slim can function much like its full-sized older siblings, stretching high to remove dust from the tops of shelves and low to reach deep into carpet pile. Featuring Dyson's signature cyclone technology, the DC44 has about double the suction power of its predecessor, the DC35. The newer model also features increased battery capacity, capable of running 20 minutes continuously or eight minutes in boost mode on a full charge.

Bluetooth speaker: Beats Pill

Hunting for a Bluetooth speaker with a $200 budget? You have more options than you can count.

I've tested a number myself, but to date, my favorite has been the Pill from Beats by Dre ($200). Released in the fall, the Pill outputs terrific range and clarity with its four one-inch drivers. Given the brand's fondness for bass, it's surprising how full and even the audio is. Furthermore, distortion, which usually plagues diminutive speakers, is not much of an issue here. Not to mention, the use of Near Field Communication is a clever way to pair speaker to phone.

Gadget protection: Drake Laptop Duffel

When it comes to gadget protection, there's no shortage of bags in a sea of backpacks, totes and messengers. But Hex's Drake Laptop Duffel ($99.95), which debuted in the fall, stands out for its stylish exterior and utilitarian size.

A laptop duffel might seem like an unusual combination, but it's a marvelous hybrid between a weekend bag and briefcase. Despite the slim form factor, the space can hold a few days worth of clothes, organize your files and protect your gadgets with soft fleece-lined compartments. Even if you put up an out-of-office reply, work never stops following you. So when laptop, tablet and phone are in tow on your getaway, the Drake Laptop Duffel is an outstanding bag to carry it all.

E-mail Alice Truong at techcomments@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter: @alicetruong.