Tech & Gadgets
Gift guide: 10 great tech toys
Tech & Gadgets
Gift guide: 10 great tech toys
Holiday shopping's upon us and we've found 10 great tech toys for everyone on your list. These fabulous gadgets make perfect gifts - and they're not just for geeks. From the latest in cell phones to portable printers and 3D TVs, anyone on your list will be happy to find any one of these great gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.
1 Blackberry Torch
Perfect for the die-hard Blackberry fan, the new Blackberry Torch offers up the best of two worlds. It's got the super-cool, iPhone-esque touch screen but the slideout keyboard means that typing is a breeze. It boasts a sleek design and features a 5 MB camera, an enhanced music player and ‘pinch-and-zoom' technology that allows you to maximize your browsing experience and get the most out of the phone's large screen. Blackberry users will love this gift -- guaranteed. Prices vary. Contact your local carrier for details.
2 iPad
There's a reason why there were lineups outside Apple stores across the country when the iPad was launched. It's a revolutionary way to surf the Internet, and manage emails, photos and videos. The intuitive touch screen displays whole web pages in a readable font and changes from portrait to landscape when rotated. Breeze through websites, emails, photos and videos by tapping, flicking and pinching with your fingers. The 9.7-inch screen even turns into a full sized keyboard when typing is required. We just love the iPad! From $549, Apple Store.
3 WiFi Kobo
When Kobo launched earlier this year, it was one of the best e-readers to hit the market. Well, it just got a whole lot better and it's the perfect gift for the avid reader on your Christmas list. The new Kobo wireless e-reader offers readers on-the-go access to the Kobo bookstore, meaning that users can download books anytime, anywhere. With the capacity to hold about 1,000 books and featuring an e-ink technology that mimics the printed word on a page, Kobo is the most affordable e-reader on the market and is sure to be one of the best gifts you give this season. $149, indigo.ca.
4 LG 3D LED TV
With 3D televisions being all the rage this year, it's hard to decide which one to choose. Well, LG Electronics is making it easy for you with their vast line of 3D TVs starting at only $1800 for a 47" model. This TV has the incredibly crisp screen of LG's other LED TVs, but the addition of the 3D capability means you can enjoy compatible flicks in the comfort of your own home. Plus, it's super slim, so you can rest assured that it will blend in seamlessly to your friend's home decor. The perfect gift for the stylishly sleek tech lover. From $1800, Future Shop.
5 Philips Fidelio DS3000 docking speaker
No matter how often you try to keep your desk looking clean, it usually ends up looking like a jumbled mess with all the gadgets, cords and cables. That's why we love the Fidelio docking speaker from Philips -- apart from having crystal clear sound, the desktop wonder has a sleek shape that will take up little real estate in your workspace. No worries if you don't have an available outlet -- the Fidelio runs on battery power, too. So whether you're playing music, setting your mP3 player's alarm clock or charging your iPod, the Fidelio has you covered in style. $80, Apple Store.
6 HP Envy 17 3D Notebook
The gamer or movie buff on your list will not be disappointed with the HP Envy 17 3D notebook. This 17-inch screen notebook delivers a personal movie viewing experience in 3D like no other. With active shutter glasses, the HP Envy 17 3D displays movies in crisp and clear detail. This superior notebook also boasts 2 TB of storage, enough to store games and movies without fear of running out of space. Also equipped with one of Intel's latest processors, this amazing notebook has no problem keeping up with multiple apps. Aside from all the wonderful things this notebook can do, we adore the sleek look of the ultra-thin, brushed aluminum case. MSRP $2000, hpshopping.ca. Available in Canada in December.
7 Canon SELPHY ES40 Compact Photo Printer
Printing on the go is a piece of cake with the Canon SELPHY ES40 Compact Photo Printer. This small, portable and cordless printer can print credit card and postcard-sized photos anywhere - in black and white or colour. It even allows the user to preview and edit photos on a 3.5-inch colour screen before printing. Adding fun effects to photos is easy with built-in speech bubbles, stamps and frames. Having problems printing? The Canon SELPHY ES40 is there to help with the Voice Guidance feature. This hand-held printer is so easy to use and we love that pictures can be printed directly from a camera, memory card or Bluetooth device. $200, Canon Canada.
8 Kinect for XBOX 360
No controllers required -- that's what makes the Kinect for XBOX 360 so unique. Customized avatars allow the user to start a game with the wave of a hand and jump in and out of a game without pressing any buttons. Even watching movies and listening to music is easy with the Kinect. The wave of a hand and a sound of a voice is all you need to access a multitude of games, movies and streaming music. Ideal for families, the Kinect for XBOX 360 will get everyone moving and playing together with action games that are suitable for all ages. $150 and up, Future Shop.
9 Kodak Playsport
The ultimate video camera for the adrenaline junkie, this camera was built for adventure. The Playsport is waterproof (up to three metres), super stylish, shoots awesome HD video and even has built-in editing capabilities. With room for up to 10 hours of video with an expandable SD/SDHC slot (up to 32 GB) the user will never have to worry about missing any action. Shooting in quality 1080p HD video just got so much easier and that's why we love this camera. Plus, we can't help but get giddy over its stylish colours that were inspired by the environment. $150, Kodak Canada.
10 Sony Dash
The Sony Dash is an entertainment powerhouse that can keep you entertained, informed and on time for work. It is a personal Internet viewer that displays full-length movies, TV shows and websites, and can also be used as an alarm clock. Small and portable, the Dash also displays recipes from favourite websites while cooking in the kitchen. With over 1,000 apps available for almost anything, checking weather, stock quotes, news and staying connected on social networking sites is effortless. $230, sonystyle.ca.
Comments