Top 10 CIO.com Stories of 2009

1. The Worst U.S. Cities to Work in IT

IT workers have their choice of many great U.S. cities for work and play (Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle), but what are the cities that you probably should avoid? Here’s a very unscientific, highly subjective and unapologetically snarky list of our least favorite U.S. tech job locales.

2. Penguins, Lizards and Apple’s X Factor: How Famous OS Logos Got Started

Ronald McDonald and the NBC Peacock may get more TV air time, but today’s operating systems have cool logos, too. Google, Apple, Microsoft and the Linux crowd crafted mascots ranging from cute lizards to circles of life. Here we look at the origins of the logos and look ahead to their future.

3. 20 Goofy USB Gadgets & Gizmos You’ll Love

We scoured the Web for the world’s wackiest USB-powered gadgets to dress up and differentiate your desktop or cubicle – and annoy entertain coworkers. These 20 gizmos, from cubicle stink-busters to toasters that print the morning news on your breakfast, could lower the stress quotient at even the highest-pressure offices.

4. Forget iPhone 3G S: Eight Great New iPhone Alternatives

Apple unveiled its latest smartphone offerings this week, in the form of two new devices: the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3G S. That’s all fine and good for Apple fanatics; you can have your spiffed up iPhones. Here are eight more devices we like just as much – or more – than Cupertino’s new mobile wares.

5. Cubicles Gone Wild: 13 Wacky Workspaces

The office cubes you are about to see are definitely not what Herman Miller (the furniture company responsible for the modern day cubicle) had in mind. Every office has its colorful cube-dwellers, but these may make your office mates seem tame.

6. Windows 7 in Pictures: 10 Cool Desktop Features

In anticipation of Windows 7 being released into the wild on Oct. 22, here is an up-to-date pictorial guide to the most compelling navigation and networking features of the OS.

7. 20 Best BlackBerry, iPhone Apps for Summer Travel

Smartphones and summer vacation, like oil and water, simply don’t mix? We beg to differ. Just because you employ your BlackBerry or iPhone for work, doesn’t mean it can’t play hard, as well. The following 20 applications, 10 for BlackBerry and 10 for iPhone, are guaranteed to enhance any getaway – and help you realize the full potential of your mobile device.

8. Smartphone Stocking Stuffers: 15 Hot Accessories and Add-Ons

CIO.com’s mobile guru Al Sacco scoured the Web for the best and most affordable stocking stuffers sure to bring joy to the hearts of smartphone-lovers this holiday season – iPhone, BlackBerry, Window Mobile, Palm and Android users alike. With our smartphone accessory gift guide, you can quickly please every handset hound on your list.

9. Free BlackBerry Downloads: Five (More) Essential Apps

There’s no shortage of free BlackBerry downloads for your RIM smartphone. The real challenge is not simply locating freebies, it’s finding quality free BlackBerry software. That’s why we put our thumbs to the keyboard and came up with five of the best free BlackBerry downloads on the Web.

10. BlackBerry Bling: The Hottest – and Priciest – Pimped-Out BlackBerrys

For the CrackBerry addict who has it all: These 10 BlackBerry smartphones and related accessories will break the bank—some cost tens of thousands of dollars! But if only the best will do, check out these swanky handhelds and accessories, from diamond-studded cases to custom BlackBerry purses in python.