Nikon Coolpix P6000
Whether you’re feeling bullish or bearish, there’s a tech gift for you in our review of these 10 gadgets.
Nikon’s new P6000 ($500; nikon.com) comes with a built-in G.P.S. unit. It tags every image with its position on the planet, and when the photos are uploaded to Nikon’s consumer site (or Yahoo’s Flickr), the software will sort them by geography. The P6000 also has 13.5-megapixel resolution.—Will Safer.
Casio Exilim EX-Z3000
$300; casio.com
The latest in Casio’s Exilim line of digital cameras, the 10.1-megapixel EX-Z300 comes with a wide-angle lens, a 4x optical zoom, and a processor that adjusts for better low-light shots and less blurriness from shaky hands. It also has an automatic sensor that detects when a subject is moving, helping you take crisper shots. And its videos are iTunes-compatible.
Canon VIXIA HF11 Camcorder
$1,199; usa.canon.com
This is one of the first high-definition camcorders to record video with professional-level clarity. Theoretically, that means its images should look the best—though viewers would probably need a large-screen TV to tell the difference. The HF11 also comes with a built-in 32-gigabyte flash drive, which provides up to 12 hours of recording time.
Oregon Scientific ATC5K Camera
$255; oregonscientific.com
Designed for sports, the ATC5K is shock resistant and waterproof, with mounting grips and straps that let users attach it to mountain bikes, snowboards, or helmets. The camera's body is waterproof to 10 feet, and video can be downloaded to a Mac or PC via a USB cable. The controls are somewhat primitive, and the images can be grainy, but it’s easy to use and fun.
47-Inch LG60 L.C.D. HDTV
$2,300; lg.com
Tech experts have long considered plasma TVs a better bet for screen sizes this large. Now LG has introduced some upgrades, and while large-screen L.C.D.’s used to be more expensive, LG’s new 47-inch L.C.D. TV is reasonably priced. It comes with sensors that measure ambient light in your living room and constantly update the picture’s brightness, color, and contrast.
iLuv i1155 Multimedia Player
$270; i-luv.com
For people tired of squinting at a tiny screen, the iLuv i1155 can show episodes of The Office—or any other iPod videos—on an 8.4-inch display. It also plays DVDs and CDs. The internal rechargeable battery lasts for about four hours, but it also comes with an electrical plug, along with A.V. cables to attach the device to a regular TV, for road warriors stuck in hotel rooms.
Future Sonics Atrio Earphones
$199; futuresonics.com
Future Sonics was founded by an engineer who worked with artists like Hall & Oates and Todd Rundgren. Now, Future Sonics products are used by such music-industry pros as Faith Hill, Lenny Kravitz, and Sting. This latest consumer version can produce a wide range of frequencies and comes with attachments in varying sizes to help block out external noise.
Altec Lansing Bass Speakers
$130; alteclansing.com
Most desktop-computer speakers are plain cubes with subwoofers that get stashed under the desk and become a toe-stubbing hazard. The new system from Altec Lansing puts the bass in the base of each conical speaker, eliminating the need for a third component.
Panasonic Toughbook F8
$2,499; panasonic.com/toughbook
Panasonic makes laptops for the military, but unless you’re heading out on NATO maneuvers soon, the company’s new F8 is probably rugged enough. Shockproof and water-resistant, it can survive a drop from 30 inches. The latest version comes with a 160-gigabyte hard drive, and a technology that allows you to choose from multiple broadband carriers, even overseas.
Asus Eee PC 901
$449; usa.asus.com
For those who need only a compact laptop with the basics, the 2.4-pound Eee PC 901 is almost small enough to be a stocking stuffer. It comes with an 8.9-inch screen and a gigabyte of solid-state memory (so it’s thin and light), and it has a battery life of up to seven hours. Best of all, it’s cheap.
