We're proud to announce the start of the 8th Pocket-lint Gadget Awards, the UK's longest-running awards dedicated to gadgetry, entertainment technology and gizmos.

As with the last 7 years, the aim is to find and celebrate the best tech and gadgets from the last 12 months, so you know what to buy when you head down the shops or go online.

Pocket-lint's vigorous vetting process means that all the products up for nomination need to have been seen by a member of the Pocket-lint team (over 400 items, so far) and were available somewhere in the world between December 2010 and December 2011.

However, rather than leave it up to a small panel of judges, basically, the Pocket-lint team; the Pocket-lint Gadget Award winners are decided by scores of leading journalists from around the world, a select team of super judges, and you, the public.

We believe this makes the Pocket-lint Gadget Awards by far the fairest and most representative within the tech industry - more so than any other.

Therefore, come Awards day, you can ensure that when we announce what the must-have gadgets of the year are, they'll be just that - must have.

This year's categories are: 

- Best digital camera

- Best laptop

- Best app

- Best game

- Best TV

- Best tablet

- Best mobile phone

- Innovation of the year

- Product of the year

Nominations for the award categories are being taken now, and the final list (five per category) will be announced on Monday 14 November. The winners will be unveiled at the 8th Pocket-lint Gadget Awards gala on 29 November 2011.