Christmas will be here before we know it, and many stores have already begun their Black Friday sales ahead of the traditional day-after-Thanksgiving date. With this rush to get in on the Christmas bargains, here are the top 10 ideas for Christmas 2010 gifts from the world of technology, sure to impress geeks, electronics enthusiasts, and gadget lovers.
10. Apple MacBook Air 11-inch
The latest in the MacBook Air line, this slimmer and lighter weight notebook comes with a newly improved, lower price tag, too. Featuring an 11.6″ backlit LED, widescreen display, the petite computer runs the Mac OS Snow Leopard operating system. Up to 5 hours battery life, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, built-in webcam, memory card slot, 2 USB ports, and Mini DisplayPort slot round out the extras to the core of the machine, which comes in 1.4GHz or 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 dual processor options. Flash storage is either 64GB or 128GB and RAM is either 2GB or 4GB, depending on the model. nVidia GeForce 320M graphics help you make the most of every one of the 1366 x 768 pixels.
9. A Very Special Heart
A Very Special Heart comes in a necklace or key chain option, and houses a hidden USB device for connection to any computer. It holds medical conditions, medications, and allergies information. Non-emergency information like passports, social security cards, and birth certificates can be included with an owner-only password. It translates its stored information in 7 languages. This eye-catching filigree heart comes in rhodium silver or 18k yellow gold.
8. Carbonite Online Backup
While not so much a gadget or electronic, this online backup system installs a small background application on your computer, which runs silently and searches for new and changed files to backup. When it finds a new or changed file it automatically backs it up to Carbonite’s secure data center, where it’s stored in case you need to restore a lost or deleted file – which can be done in a few mouse clicks. Carbonite encrypts data twice for security and privacy in transmission. It involves a yearly membership fee.
7. Wacom Bamboo Pen and Touch
This sleek tablet has both pen and touch inputs, making it ideal for designers and artists. It has a 4.9 x 3.4″ touch area and a 5.8 x 3.6″ pen area. Included are Adobe PhotoShop Elements and Nik Color Efex Pro programs. And as it’s relatively inexpensive ($99) it’s a great low-cost investment for beginners and professionals alike.
6. iPad
It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyways, the iPad will have sold close to 10 million units by the end of the year, making it the most successful piece of electronic equipment on the market. With enough apps to make your head spin, WiFi and 3G versions available, coupled with 10 hours worth of battery life, the iPad is the must have gadget of 2010, we would suggest getting your loved ones this present now, for fear of shortages as Christmas approaches.
5. Crosley Radio Memory Master II
The CR2413A Memory Master II is a turntable device that allows you to record vinyl and cassettes to CD without the hassle of adapters or complicated computer savvy. Recording from older media is as simple as a push of a button. With a built-in radio, it’s a great nostalgia device for listening to old music, too. It supports 3 different record speeds: 33 1/3, 45, and 78 rpm. It’s also USB enabled for a computer connection.
4. Apple TV
The new and improved Apple TV is far smaller than its predecessor, now able to be slipped into almost any home entertainment setup with ease. It comes with an unobtrusive remote and a free remote app for Apple devices. It connects to the Apple TV service via either WiFi or ethernet. Stream content from iTunes, Netflix, YouTube, Flickr, and other popular services. Some critics note the television selection available on Apple TV doesn’t stand up to competition from Amazon’s on demand service, but it’s hard to beat the versatility of services covered by Apple TV.
3. Xbox 360 Kinect
The latest in Xbox gaming technology is setting the world in fire, one calorie burning session at a time. Set to blow Nintendo Wii out of the water, Xbox 360 Kinect camera peripheral allows you to control games with your body, tracking total body movements. It also features a standard voice recognition option that lets you communicate vocally with your Xbox, rather than using a controller or your arms and hands to control menu options. It comes bundled with a suite of addictive games that really show off its single and multiplayer capabilities. Watch out Wii, a new trend in physical gaming has come to town.
2. Apple iPod Touch 2010
Enjoy the iPhone experience with no carrier costs. This newest iPod offers a high definition camcorder, front-mounted camera, omnidirectional integrated microphone, video calling, retina display, and other flashy features. As a result it’s fully capable of making VoIP calls via 3rd party apps. And as you’d expect, it runs applications with ease. CNET calls it the “iPad that fits in your pocket.”
1. Amazon Kindle
The 3rd generation of Kindle offers a library of hundreds of thousands of books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs available for reading. It comes standard with a free 3G wireless network connection and stores up to 3,500 eBooks. Its flexible display options including 8 different fonts, some of which are extra-large, make it accessible to most people. It’s far lighter weight than earlier generations, displays images, plays MP3 and AAC audio files, and totes a lower price tag than any Kindle before it. Kindles are very en vogue and its popularity, impressive features, and overall usefulness propels Amazon’s golden child to the top of our list.
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