Back by popular demand, we’re happy to introduce a four-part series featuring gift ideas for the holidays.
Digital Journal — Published each day this week, we’ll shed insight into the world of technology and entertainment, giving you our picks for the top-rated and newest gadgets.
DigitalJournal.com’s gift guide is published every year, and this year, we also want your tips; if you have a gift idea, drop a comment and share your views with others!
Today’s coverage: gadgets. No shopping spree would be complete without a visit to the technology shelves. For a handy list of what to buy and why, check out our picks for the hottest gadgets your friends and family will want this holiday season.
Nikon D40x Digital SLR Camera
Price: $490-$600 depending on retailer (body only)
When a company updates its predecessor with useful improvements, they deserve kudos. Nikon wins praise for boosting its original Nikon D40 by adding a 10.2-megapixel CCD sensor, compared to the D40’s 6-megapixel sensor. With the D40x, the shutterbug also gets very low noise at higher ISOs, customizable menus, extremely accurate colour quality and a solid comfortable body.
Nikon’s D40x makes a perfect first DSLR for the camera fiend hoping to get with the 21st century. This killer camera surpasses the competition with impressive specs, and it deserves to be recognized among its many competitors on the market.
Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR4 46” LCD TV
Price: $2,500-$3,300
Yes, it’s a pricey gift, but this is the kind of present for an entire family to enjoy. A 46-inch LCD TV with excellent off-angle viewing and accurate colour doesn’t come around too often. Sony’s KDL-46XBR4 sports exceptional black levels and its 120Hz processing smooths out any blur.
Like most LCDs on the market, this Bravia offers 1080p native resolution and a wide range of picture adjustments. Bonus goodies include picture-in-picture mode, a freeze function (ideal for sports highlights), and an Advanced Contrast Enhancer that, well, does just that. And the computer junkie can make good use of the display by turning the Bravia into a massive PC monitor, offering crisp-looking text and zero overscan. A great choice for the gift-giver with deep wallets.
Apple iPhone, HTC Touch
Price: iPhone $400, Touch $150 (depending on contract length)
There’s something about touch-screen smartphones that has telecom carriers and cellphone fanatics frothing at the mouth. Blame it on Apple’s iPhone, which launched earlier this year and earned overall positive reviews. Early adopters loved its sleek design, superior Web browsing experience and integrated MP3 player that surpassed its predecessors. So far.
But if you live outside the iPhone-available countries, you’re limited to few phones that match the iPhones cool factor. Unless you come across the HTC Touch, a powerful touch-screen cell boasting a 2.8-inch screen, a two-megapixel camera-camcorder and the ability to download music tracks wirelessly (using the Bell Full Track Music Service). The phone is offered through Bell, Rogers and Telus, but in Canada, Bell offers the best data plan — only $7 per month for unlimited email and Internet browsing.
If you know someone with a penchant for slim and funky phones, the iPhone or Touch make ideal gifts.
For complete coverage of the HTC Touch, check out this episode of Digital Journal TV.
Mio C520 GPS Car Navigation Device
Price: $400
If you know someone who hates asking for directions while also obsessed with the latest gadget, Mio’s C520 navigator is a good choice. Available at a value-conscious $400, the C520 packs in a lot of features: 4.3-inch touch screen, maps of cities in 22 countries, Bluetooth wireless technology, and text-to-speech functionality. The latter is useful when the driver needs to hear the directions rather than read them. No point crashing because of a gizmo.
Rounding out the GPS unit is music playability, in case robotic intoned directions don’t get the head a-boppin’. A small downfall is the C520’s lack of earphone jack, but this device isn’t long on bonus features outside of offering points-of-interest and a little help to the easily lost.
Belkin TuneStage II
Price: $199
It’s not enough to simply enjoy the convenience of an iPod. You need to amplify those tunes on your home system as well, which is where the Belkin TuneStage II accessory comes in. Using a simple setup, the TuneStage II wirelessly transmits audio from your iPod (including the latest models) to your home stereo. The sound quality is impeccable, and it’s an impressive tool for the iPod owner hoping to super size the listening experience. Also, the TuneStage II works with other Bluetooth devices, like the Motorola Q. What’s not to like?
Apple MacBook
Price: $1,099
Apple’s classic MacBook gets a sassy makeover with an upgraded CPU at 2.16GHz and built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi support. Bumping up the processor speed is the key improvement, so notebook fans would be wise to consider the MacBook and its reputable brand over the many other laptops available.
The screen’s display is 13 inches, while the weight is pegged at 5 lbs, but don’t let that sway you from Apple’s core computer. For the notebook aficionado who prefers function over style, the MacBook is the top choice this holiday season.
Also worth noting is an Apple rumour floating through the blogosphere. According to CNBC’s Jim Goldman, a new MacBook will be unveiled in mid-January, and it’s a notable release for several reasons: the ultrathin notebook is 50 per cent thinner than the skinniest MacBook; it will use flash memory instead of a hard drive; and the cost is $1,500. Stay tuned to find out if the gossip actually comes true.
Lenovo ThinkPad T61 Notebook
Price: About $1,700, depending on configuration
The ThinkPad has won lots of street cred back in the IBM days, and Lenovo continues that legacy by beefing up its T61 notebook line with eye-popping specs: 14.1-inch screen, roll cage to cushion the LCD, four hour battery life, 2GHz processor and top-notch wireless performance through Ultra Connect II.
The T61 is the kind of road-ready notebook ideal for the Web junkie looking to connect everywhere and anywhere. Lenovo made a winner once again.
Dell XPS 420 Desktop
Price: $1,499
Again, this is a gift for Mom, Dad and everyone else in the home. Dell’s XPS 420 Desktop PC can moonlight as the digital-media HQ, since it boasts a feature that accelerates recording and uploading video. It’s also a great system for gaming enthusiasts and high-def fans.
Worth mentioning is the software suite the XPS includes, which goes toe-to-toe with the iMac’s iLife package. The XPS’s Adobe Elements Studio package simplifies video editing, slideshow creation and audio clean-up all in one suite. It makes the moderately expensive price worth it.
Smartparts 8″ Digital Picture frame
Price: $99 depending on retail store
Know someone who has too many digital photos to count? Then consider buying the Smartparts Digital Picture Frame with a 8″ high-definition LCD screen to view digital pictures.
The digital frame slides through pics in any order you want. It can hold 2,000 pics using its supplied optimizing software.
The picture frame will also play videos and music through built-in speakers for the ultimate soundtrack to a custom slide show.
16 GB Creative Zen
Price: $250
This year’s MP3 hoopla may have centred on the iPod’s reincarnations, but Creative’s audio players deserve a second look. Particularly, its flash-based Zen player is a perfect gift for someone seeking the ultimate iPod killer.
Pleasantly compact, the Creative Zen offers a bright brilliant screen to play 16GB worth of video. It’s no mega storage, but the Zen compensates by blasting eardrums with the best volume in the business, and all genres of music sound great. If you’re sick of the same iPod lineup crowding shelves, opt for the less popular (but no less impressive) choice.
Sony HDR-CX7 Handycam
Price: $1,000
Recording high-definition video is all the craze these days, and you can jump on the tech-savvy bandwagon with Sony’s HDR-CX7. Complete with 3.2-megapixel sensor, 20x digital zoom, a 2.7-inch touch-panel LCD and enough functions to make the manual worth a read, this camcorder is one of the best choices available.
Our favourite feature with the CX7 is the fact it records all videos to Memory Stick Pro Duo. This makes the camcorder small and lightweight, and it makes file transfer to your computer painless.
A valuable bonus is the CX7’s ability to shoot stellar still pics, which should output pleasing letter-size or smaller prints. Sometimes, a good gadget can dabble in two technologies and produce something worth buying, or giving.
For complete coverage of the CX7, check out DigitalJournal.com’s previous coverage.
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Tomorrow: Top-rated video games and accessories
– To see DigitalJournal.com’s Software Gift Guide, click here
– To see DigitalJournal.com’s Books & DVDs Gift Guide, click here
– To see DigitalJournal.com’s Video Game Gift Guide, click here
