MUMBAI: Handset manufacturer HTC's Hero phone which uses technology developed by internet giant Google has been voted as the gadget of the year in the 2009 Stuff gadget Award.

The phone, which has a five megapixel camera and a 3.2in screen, uses the Android operating system that allows users to access emails, the internet and texts easily.

Fraser Macdonald, one of the judges at the 2009 Stuff Gadget Awards, said, ''With the HTC Hero, we've finally got a phone that fully exploits the potential of the Android OS to be as clever and as sexy as the iPhone.''

Apple's iPhone 3GS picked up awards for Phone of the Year and Readers' Gadget of the Year at the ceremony organised by Stuff magazine last night at London's Dorchester Hotel.

The award for Audio Gadget of the Year went to the Spotify website which allows users to access any song they want legally and for free.

The Sony KDL-40WE5 television was crowned Eco Gadget of the Year for its energy with saving features, including a sensor which dims the screen when it senses you have left the room.

Stuff Gadget Award nominees were judged first and foremost on their capability - whether they make our lives easier, or more fun or, preferably, both. But, our judges also awarded points for innovation, and for sheer cool factor.