Baltimore’s top 10 tech stories of 2014

It’s been an exciting year in Baltimore tech, a year of change. Jobs returned to the Maryland economy, ridesharing and drones became dominant topics and community leaders took new roles. Even here at Technical.ly Baltimore, we saw new reporters and contributors. Hi, by the way!
Here are the top 10 2014 stories you’ve been reading on Technical.ly Baltimore. They were the best trafficked of the more than 800 articles we published here this year.

1. This drone footage of Baltimore is breathtaking: A drone pilot strapped a GoPro to his craft and flew it around the city. Here’s what he saw.
2. These 18 Baltimore tech firms are hiring right now [NET/WORK]: It was a plug for our tech jobs fair, but it also served up a look at what local companies were adding talent. People clearly wanted to know. And here’s a reminder, our 2015 NET/WORK tech jobs fair is Feb. 19.
3. Elevated Element launches newly-legal drone-photography business: The Baltimore firm (unrelated to the pilot whose video is linked above) is run by an Owings Mills husband and wife team.
4. ZeniMax lays off unspecified number from ‘Elder Scrolls Online’ team: Layoffs were reported from the publisher’s Hunt Valley office, though a spokesman said the company will maintain a support center there.
5. Cease and desist? The fate of ridesharing in Baltimore city: Why firms like Uber and Lyft draw the ire of cab companies.
6. This Ad.com civic hacker is renovating a Baltimore vacant [PHOTOS]: Civic hacker Shea Frederick created a map of vacant properties in the city. Then he decided to take one on himself.
7. Case 9325: Uber and the legality of ridesharing in Maryland: Read about the Public Service Commission’s case against Uber.
8. These Hopkins students are vying for $10M prize in wearable health tech: What if a simple device around your neck could track your heart rate, body temperature and other vital signs?
9. Betamore shakeup: tech anchor announces new leadership, nonprofit status: Jen Meyer takes the helm at the Federal Hill incubator on Jan. 5.
10. A 16-year-old built the winning mobile game at Baltimore Hackathon: Carver Center student Peter Collins conceived the winning project while in class, texted his mom and showed up at the weekend hackathon that evening.