Gadgets and electronics have become such a huge part of our lives that it’s hard to imagine a Christmas morning in any family where they aren’t included in the pile of gifts under the tree. Every year the envelope gets pushed further as more features and power are packed in. This has also led to an explosion of apps, making phones and tablets even more powerful.
iPhone 4S
Steve Jobs passed away this year, and the emotional reaction from millions of people indicates his ability to create gadgets that impacted our lives by entertaining us and making us more productive. The iPhone remains the ultimate gadget, and Apple delivered another hit with the iPhone 4S. Many were hoping for a big leap forward with the iPhone 5, but Jobs tabled that effort and instead focused in the 4S which offered significant improvements to the iPhone 4. It was a good decision as Jeff Morgan explained. The camera has been upgraded and Siri has become a sensation. Also, the new iCloud service syncs your contacts, photos and more automatically. Take a picture on your iPhone, and minutes later you can access it from your computer without connecting your phone. It’s all available in the cloud.
iPad 2
Apple products are obvious choices so we’re not uncovering hidden gems here, but at this time you just can’t go wrong with these products. A number of companies tried to join the tablet revolution this past year but most of them stumbled badly. With his death and the subsequent book by Walter Isaacson, we’re learning more about Steve Jobs’s attention to detail and his obsession with integrating hardware and software. For that reason, most of the other tablets fell flat as other tech companies just couldn’t match the user experience offered by the iPad.
That said, the iPad is expensive, so you can look at other tablets if you’re on a budget. The Kindle Fire from Amazon has generated a ton of buzz and it sells for only $199. You get access to the Amazon store so it’s very convenient and it’s on the Android platform so you know that there will be hundreds of apps available. Yet the reviews have been mixed and it might be worth waiting for the 2.0 version. The prices on tablets should plummet for years to come so it doesn’t make much sense to spend more than $200 unless you’re going with the iPad.
WOWee Slim portable speaker
You’ll be amazed when you plug this tiny gadget into your MP3 player or phone and turn on some music. Of all the gadgets we’ve tested recently, the WOWee ONE Slim Portable Speaker is one of our favorites. It’s about the size of a deck of cards and easily plugs into any device with an audio jack. All of a sudden you can have a party. The WOWee turns flat, solid surfaces like tables, counters, bumpers, hoods and truck beds into bass-filled sound systems using patented gel technology. The sound changes depending on the type of surface and you can really feel the base on some surfaces. It’s perfect for events like tailgates as it provides about 10 hours of tunes and can turn your grill/cooler/hood into a high-end sound system for the whole parking lot. It’s also great for impromptu parties as it can fit in your pocket, computer bag or glove compartment. Take it on a trip and have parties in your hotel room or by the pool. The possibilities are endless and kids will love it as well. It seems like everyone listens to music alone these days with their headphones, so the WOWee makes it easier for everyone to share and enjoy music.
Canon EOS Rebel T3i
It’s amazing how good cameras are getting these days, and now they capture incredible video in HD as well. This Canon is smaller and lighter than their professional models but has all of the features most shooters would need along with an 18-megapixel CMOS senor. It’s also great if you’re into video as it takes full-size 1080p HD video at 30 frames per second. It’s also compatible with all of Canon’s lenses, so the days of needed a heavy duty camera along with a separate camcorder are over. It’s listed at a reasonable $899 but you can find it for less so keep it in mind for the creative person on your list.
HP ENVY 14 Beats Edition
This line of notebooks is built to deliver great sound with Beats Audio™. HP partnered with Dr. Dre to create a superior audio system featuring a redesigned headphone jack to reduce ground noise, a discrete amplifier for more power, a dedicated audio Island to minimize fan noise interference and a Function + B to engage Beats Audio. The laptops also have aggressive styling with a brushed aluminum cover, soft-touch surfaces, and a red backlit keyboard and they are powered with the Intel® Core™ i5 processor2 with Turbo Boost Technology6.
Amazon Kindle
E-readers have become very popular so you ought to consider one for many people on your shopping list. As we mentioned above, the Kindle Fire is very inexpensive for a tablet at $199 but you might want to wait for the 2.0 version as they improve the device. But if you’re looking for a simple e-reader as opposed to a tablet computer, you can’t go wrong with the less expensive Kindles. The Nook is a solid e-reader as well, but with the Kindle Fire, Amazon has demonstrated it’s going to be aggressive in the tablet area as well. Over time you know that the Amazon ecosystem will always be there and will continue to expand. Amazon seems committed to take on Apple so you can always add one of their tablets later and it will sync perfectly with the simpler Kindle.
V-MODA Crossfade M-80 headphones
There are so many different headphones on the market these days – especially when every rapper who’s ever had a hit single has to have his own line – that it’s hard to tell one from the other, but V-MODA has been in the game long enough that you can feel safe knowing you’re investing in a quality product. Though they may not be as stylish as some of the other premium headphones, the Crossfade M-80 has a streamlined look, with military-level durability and the option to custom engrave the metal shields on either earcup. They’re also extremely comfortable thanks to an ergonomic steelflex headband that bends and twists to your every demand, as well as some really soft ear cushions that allow for long sessions without any of the usual discomfort. We’re hardly experts when it comes to sound quality, but the M-80 delivers a satisfying and robust listening experience that makes its price tag a little easier to swallow for audiophiles who refuse to compromise quality just to save a few bucks.
