Here's how to pick the right gift from the rapidly expanding universe of gadgets.
By DAVE GUSSOW
Published November 29, 2004
There's something about gadgets that says holidays. Or is it something about holidays that says gadgets?
Either way, it's no secret that electronics rate high on a lot of gift wish lists. The trick, of course, is finding the right gadget.
In a feature called Gear Envy, Cnet (living.cnet.com), a technology and online media site, lets visitors vote whether they loved or left various gadgets.
The "most loved" top five recently were three high-definition TVs and two digital cameras. The "least loved" top five had three cell phones, one handheld game machine and an MP3 digital music player aimed at kids. What's more, even among the top five, no less than 22 percent of users in the survey for each product said they didn't care for it.
It's not scientific, but the survey provides a couple of lessons: First, make sure you know what the recipient wants. Second, while a gadget may have an initial gee whiz factor, make sure it's more than a novelty.
For the serious and not-so-serious ideas, online resources are available, including Cnet, the Holiday Giving Guide at Consumer Reports magazine (www.consumerreports.org) Engadget (www.engadget.com) Gizmodo (www.gizmodo.com) and a host of price comparison sites.
We've been doing our annual browsing for gadget gift ideas, with Web sites provided where available. Prices are subject to change.
Music mania
[Times photos: Dirk Shadd]
IPOD ART: Devotees of the Apple iPod can dress up their players with Hewlett-Packard’s Printable Tattoos, available at 10 for $14.99.
This is not exactly news: The iPod $299-$499, www.apple.com/ipod) is the hottest of the hot when it comes to MP3 digital music players, as is its smaller colorful cousin the Mini ($249).
It is so popular that just its accessories could fill a news column, such as Altec Lansing's inMotion system $149.95, www.alteclansing.com) a portable, battery-powered speaker system to use with the iPod. One of the funkier iPod accessories is Hewlett-Packard's Printable Tattoos ($14.99 for 10, hpshopping.com), which makes designer covers for the iPod. Users can create their own designs, or download art from www.hp.com/music all done on an HP printer, of course.
But when it comes to portable music, competitors haven't given up, and other models are worth considering. For example, Creative's Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra (www.creative.com $240-$370 has more capacity at a lower price than the iPod, user-friendly software and a rechargeable and replaceable battery.
For more on the iPod and a roundup of reviews of some other competitors, check the Personal Tech archives for June 7 at www.sptimes.com/Technology.shtml
There's a lot more to the music scene than MP3 players, as digital music has been one of the popular pastime of the last few years. A sampling:
Recording Net radio: In days of yore, people would record music from radio on cassette tapes. How quaint. Audio Xtract Professional Edition ($49.99, Jambalaya Brands) lets you record up to eight Internet radio stations at a time, edit out any pesky DJ chatter and, with the wide variety of stations available, from jazz to classical to the British invasion and more, build an impressive MP3 library pretty quickly. Though not all stations broadcast in CD quality, it's the kind of program for which you'll want a big hard drive on your computer. A free trial is available for the company's slimmed-down $19.99 version from Download.com (Windows only). One caution: The recording industry apparently is objecting to this kind of software, though Audio Xtract claims it is legal.
Speaking of tape: One of the frequently asked questions from Personal Tech readers is about converting cassette tapes to digital files, or recording music off the computer. Problem solved: The PlusDeck 2 $149.99, www.plusdeck.com) is a cassette deck for a computer (Windows only), literally. It has to be installed in the computer, so if you're not handy, find a neighbor who is.
More radio: The RadioShark ($70, griffintechnology.com) plugs into a PC or Mac and brings AM and FM broadcasts to the computer. It lets you record as you listen, including acting like an audio TiVo to pause, then resume listening, and it can be set up like a VCR to record favorite shows. All recorded material can be saved to the computer's hard drive.
Dual functions: I'MASPEAKER $25-$35, www.tdk.com is more than a CD carrying case. It plugs into a portable audio device or notebook computer and becomes a speaker system. Batteries not included, naturally.
Streaming sound: Big this year are devices that let you play music from your computer on audio equipment around the house provided it's connected to your computer through either an Ethernet connection or a wireless network. The Squeezebox ($199 and $279, www.slimdevices.com) and Roku SoundBridge ($199.99 and $249.99, www.rokulabs.com) are among the many such devices available. (For more on wireless devices, check the Personal Tech archives for Oct. 25.)
Kid stuff
The hot video games for the holidays, are Grand Theft Auto San Andreas and Halo 2. But these violent adventures probably are not what you want your young children playing. But there are other options.
SPONGE FUN: Fact or Fishy? Trivia with Attitude is a DVD game that mixes in questions about the popular animated Nickelodeon show SpongeBob SquarePants with real underwater topics.
PLAY BALL: The XaviX Port ($79.99), available for baseball, bowling and tennis, plugs directly into a TV or computer monitor. It has a sensor that “sees” the movement of a swinging bat or racket and translates it to the game.
SpongeBob rules: Kids just can't seem to get enough of SpongeBob SquarePants. Fact or Fishy? Trivia with Attitude $24.95, www.nickjr.com) is a DVD game that plops the kids back in front of a TV. They win tokens for correct answers to questions about SpongeBob and real underwater topics.
Gum not included: Serious CD Cardz $9.99 for three pack, www.serious.com) is the 21st century version of collector's cards. The CD-ROM player cards, which load like a regular CD-ROM into a PC or Playstation or Xbox, include NBA, NFL and soccer, and previous collections included Spider-Man and Men in Black.
Off the couch: Okay, so XaviX $79.99 for the XaviX Port, then $49.99 for individual games, www.xavix.com/) keeps the kids in front of a TV, but at least they'll have to get out of their seats. Available for baseball, bowling and tennis, this computer game plugs directly into a TV or computer monitor and lets kids play against the computer or friends. The Xavix Port has a sensor that "sees" the movement of a swinging bat or racket and translates it to the game; the results are seen on-screen.
Juiced for TV: The Juice Box $70, www.juicebox.com) is a multimedia player from Mattel for videos, games and MP3 music. It has its limitations, but its target audience of preteens probably won't mind.
Computer stuff
If all else fails, something for the computer can fill the bill.
Germ warfare: Keyboards and mice can get icky. Crumbs, dirty fingers, nonfatal spills. Ewww So Fellowes Inc. (www.fellowes.com) an office equipment company, has come out with a line of keyboards, mice and mouse pads ($4.99-$89.99) made with Microban, which the company says keeps the devices cleaner by inhibiting bacterial growth.
HIP HARD DRIVE: Mutant Mods offers a complete line of computer parts and accessories that add a splash of color to computer workspaces. See www.mutantmods.com.
ALL IN ONE: The Qosmio from Toshiba is a notebook computer that also can be used as a TV, a DVD player and a personal video recorder. All this functionality will set you back $2,699.
IDENTIFY YOURSELF: Using the Microsoft Fingerprint Reader ($49.99), users can access several password-protected computer functions with a simple touch.
ROBO PAL: Robosapien, described as “almost human” by manufacturer Scientifics, sells for $99.95.
Colorful computing: If you can put neon on cars, why not the computer? Mutant Mods variety of prices, www.mutantmods.com) include LED fans, cables and other add-ons to dress up the ol' beige box.
One for all: Media Center PCs get a lot of ink, but Toshiba's Qosmio $2,699, qosmio.com/ is a notebook computer that also functions as a TV, DVD player and personal video recorder. As Cnet put, "it's not perfect, and it's not cheap," but it packs a lot into a notebook. (For more on computer ratings, check reviews at PC World magazine at www.pcworld.com).
Passe passwords: Too many passwords to remember? The fingerprint doesn't change, and something like the Microsoft Fingerprint Reader $49.99 sold separately, also available built into some new keyboards, www.microsoft.com/hardware) may solve the problem. Users register a fingerprint into the system, then assign that impression password-protected computer functions or Web site accounts.
Sheer simplicity: Computers and the Internet can be intimidating for newbies, particularly older users. SimpleC $26, www.simplec.com) aims to walk people through the process of using a computer in very easy-to-understand steps. It has a free trial version available, and even explains how to fill in the order screen if you buy online.
Reel fun: Verbatim had some fun a few years ago when it came out with CD-R discs that looked like old 45 rpm records. With the focus increasingly going to video, it now has the DigitalMovie DVD-R $5.31 for three pack, www.verbatim.com) that looks like a reel of film.
Around the house
We certainly got to know all the local TV meteorologists a lot better in August and September. (And how can we ever forget those radar images onscreen for days on end?)
If you'd like to do more than watch, a personal weather station might be for you. The La Crosse WS-9018U Ellipse Wireless Weather Station $119.95, scientificsonline.com/ gives temperature, air pressure and humidity, but the snow warning icon probably won't do much good down here. The Modular Weather Forecaster with Clock ($199.95, www.oregonscientific.com) has a funky futuristic look (though it was out of stock when we last checked).
Watering wonder: So you drive home in a thunderstorm and notice all the sprinklers going full bore. Such a waste. The irriGuard Ultimate Rain/Freeze Sensor $179, www.irriguard.com) monitors temperature and rainfall, shutting off the system when necessary. It's controlled wirelessly from inside the house, so you don't have to brave the elements to turn off the system.
Home sweet fingerprint: Is the house key an endangered species? The ArrowVision Model DL210 Fingerprint Identification Lock $899, www.arrowvision.us) uses fingerprint ID and a keypad to gain entry to the house.
I, robot: Since Sony's Aibo (a mechanical dog), we have tried to avoid robotics. But then we couldn't resist mentioning Robosapien, a short, white walking Robot with Attitude ($99.95, scientificsonline.com/), which the company describes as "almost human." It walks and talks and fetches objects, among other things.
Another option: The Room Defender, $32.98 at a British Web site (www.iwantoneofthose.com) Its motion sensors set off an alarm and then it fires foam discs to protect a teen's room from unwanted guests.
Steppin' out: The MP3Run $299.99, www.nike-philips.com) is, obviously, an MP3 music player that you use when you run. But it also tracks distance, pace and time, which you can listen to through the headphones, or later upload the data to a PC.
No heavy metal: Okay, so maybe a stapler isn't high tech. But over at Crate and Barrel, the Staple-free stapler $6.95, www.cb2.com uses strips of paper to bind up to five pages.
A handful
We're mobile and want our gadgets wherever we go, whether for games or communications.
GAME TIME: The Nintendo DS flips open and has two screens, which can show different perspectives of the same game. The new player, at $150, will be in high demand this holiday season.
[Times photo: Douglas R. Clifford]
CRYSTAL CLEAR: High-definition televisions, like this 37-inch Sharp Titanium LCD, are gaining in popularity while conventional televisions have dropped in price dramatically.
Dual appeal: A new game machine always draws a crowd, so expect demand for the Nintendo DS $150, www.nintendo.com/) to make it a hard-to-find gift. The flip-open device features two screens, which can be used to show different perspectives for the same game, and is aimed at teens and 20-somethings. The popular Game Boy Advance still will be available for younger players. Nintendo is getting a jump on Sony's PSP portable, which isn't expected in the United States until early 2005.
Thumbs up: We can't seem to make up our mind whether we want simple, one-function devices, or more complicated devices that do a lot of things. The Ogo $99 for device, $17.99 a month for service, www.attwireless.com/ogo) chooses the latter, sort of, and offers instant messages, text messages and e-mail. It has a small keyboard, good for thumb typing. It is not a phone, however.
Along the same lines, the popular Blackberry e-mail device $200, www.t-mobile.com) now has a model aimed more for consumers. Type on.
It's a cell world: Just when you thought cell phones couldn't do more or couldn't get smaller, they do. Motorola's RAZR V3 $499.99, www.motorola.com) doesn't stand out in a crowd. It's too small. The svelte phone is only about a half-inch thick, about 2 inches wide and just under 4 inches long. It weighs all of 3 ounces or so, and includes Bluetooth wire capability, voice-dialing and, naturally, a camera. (Cnet's review section has an excellent rundown on the latest cell phones.)
Video
An informal survey of Times colleagues who recently purchased high-definition TVs confirmed an important point: Do the research before you buy, but follow your eyes (and budget) when selecting an HDTV. People bought brands and models they didn't expect after visiting electronics stores and checking out the sets firsthand. (See Personal Tech's Nov. 8 report on sorting through buying decisions for HDTV.)
But there's more to video than just TVs.
Tape to digital: Mirroring the questions we get on digitizing music, transferring video from tape to digital or vice versa also comes up regularly. The GoDVD CT-2 $149.95, www.simacorp.com) promises to make the process easy.
Net entertainment: The Internet is on the brink of becoming the focal point of where we get much of our entertainment. The MediaREADY 4000 Internet/DVD Player $449, www.vwbinc.com) lets you create a digital library of music, video and other files, then connects wirelessly to other devices. Oh yes, karaoke, too.
Space saver: For a college student or the space impaired, the StarTech TV Jockey $99, www.startech.com) is a computer monitor that doubles as a TV.
On the road
If there's a road warrior on your list, a few things might make life away from home easier.
NOTEBOOK ENHANCEMENT: BroadbandAccess from Verizon Wireless provides speeds about 10 times as fast as what is available on cell phone networks. It requires a special cord that costs about $100. Service is available for $80 a month in the Tampa Bay area.
High-speed access: Verizon Wireless (www.verizonwireless.com) has gone where no others have, at least yet. BroadbandAccess provides speeds that are about 10 times faster than what is currently available on cell phone networks. It has a few limitations. It works only with notebook computers, requiring the purchase of a special card for about $100, depending on the deal of the day. Service costs $80 a month for unlimited access and is available in 14 markets, including the Tampa Bay region. Site Seeing columnist and frequent traveler Jules Allen gives it a thumbs-up. "The speeds are actually better than advertised," Allen said, also noting that he probably will save money from canceling other services.
Sounds of silence: The Plane Quiet headphones $59.99, www.protravelgear.com) seem to be generating a lot of buzz, so to speak, for their sound quality and noise-cancelling capabilities. On the other hand, we have to wonder about the company's Vibrating Headphones ($79.99) that would rock your ears with bass and subwoofer speakers. Yeow.
Head case: The Sony MDR-G74SL $39.99, www.sony.com) not only folds up for easy packing, it also comes with a 41-inch extension cord if the regular 22-inch cord doesn't quite reach your music player.
Digital cameras
Maybe the best news in digital cameras in the last few months has been the continuing enhancement of features, even for less expensive models. For $150, you can get 3 megapixels of resolution with at least a modest zoom lens.
In general, people looking to get into digital can easily spend less than $300, even $200, and be satisfied. Midrange shooters can spend up to $600 for cameras with 5 or 6 megapixel models, and serious prosumers can go up to $1,500 or so for 8 megapixels and digital SLR models.
Brand popularity in the third quarter, according to the IDC research firm, had Sony at 20 percent, Kodak at 19.8 percent, Canon 16 percent and Olympus 12 percent. About half of the people buying new digital cameras already own one.
Steve's Digicams (www.steves-digicams.com) has a good buyer's guide, where you can choose by price, brand, resolution or other criteria.
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Times corresponent Jules Allen contributed to this report, which used information from Times wires. Dave Gussow can be reached at gussow@sptimes.com or 727 771-4328.
