Digital Trends' Gift Ideas for Tech Lovers

Digital Trends rolled out some hot gadget ideas you can give away for the holidays.  We added some stuff up we thought would be a worthwhile idea to entertain.

PhotoCredit: Microsoft

Xbox 360 with Kinect bundle: $300

Gifts don’t get much better than an Xbox 360; it’s literally all fun and games. We recommend spending a little extra loot for the Kinect bundle, which includes an Xbox 360 with a 4GB hard drive, one wireless controller, the Kinect motion-sensor controller, and a copy of the family-friendly Kinect Adventure game. The only problem is that you might want to keep this one for yourself.

Where to get it: The Xbox 360 Kinect Bundle with Kinectimals game starts at $300 on Yahoo! Shopping.

CNET's Most Anticipated Tech Products in 2012

In anticipation for the new year, CNET comes up with a list of anticipated gadgets for 2012. This is my personal list as I had deleted some which I think should not be included and added a little bit of data about each gadget. Of course, the usual disclaimer is there that this gadgets may or may not well be introduced into the market as they are in the development stage and companies would not want to spoil the fun and end up spoiling their profits and marketing.
We put up the companies' selling point of the products and added the opinion of CNET's game experts. So here goes:

Nintendo Wii U

Image credit: Nintendo

Nintendo's next home console is introducing a revolutionary new touch screen controller with precision motion controls and full HD graphics that can continue a gaming session on the portable controller even when your TV is off.

Best Smartphones for Everyone

Choosing the right smartphone is a daunting task. Potential buyers need to think through several factors including cost, features, performance and more. The good news is that with several dozen quality smartphones on the market, there will be options that serve your specific needs and interests.

So whether you are seeking a smartphone to play games, get more work done, give to your children or just run reliably throughout the day, there are plenty of options to consider. Here are the best.

Best smartphone for business

While most professionals know about the BlackBerry, the business phone that deserves more attention and runs on a familiar Microsoft platform is the Dell Venue Pro. This enterprise-focused smartphone, which is available for T-Mobile and AT&T subscribers, is an elegant-looking device with its 4.1-inch AMOLED display and slide-out keyboard. With sizable buttons and pronounced tactile feedback, the Dell Venue Pro is great for typing emails and taking extensive notes on the fly.

Housekeeping Gadgets

Photo Amazon.com

The Mop of the Future

Since the days when Rosie the Robot cleaned up after the Jetsons, Americans have dreamed of a better way to clean. And while we have yet to invent a full-fledged robot maid, cleaning technology has advanced by leaps and bounds.

So if you’re still using a mop and broom to clean around the house, we recommend putting them in the closet and checking out some of the fancy new ways to keep your space clean. From vacuuming robots to self-cleaning litter boxes, the future of cleaning is here.

Photo: irobot.com

Roomba

When it comes to futuristic cleaning technology, the Roomba is the 800-pound robot in the living room. (Okay, it’s more like eight pounds.)

Introduced nearly a decade ago by consumer robotics company iRobot, these tiny robots hover around your house vacuuming your floors, using infrared technology to sense and avoid obstacles.

When it’s done it will return to a docking station to charge, and all the maintenance you need to do is empty its dustbin and occasionally clean the thing. Depending on which generation and model you get, you can pay anywhere from $200 to $600.

The Roomba is not only convenient for those who can’t be bothered to vacuum, it’s also a source of endless entertainment, used as everything from a kitten transportation system to a robotic DJ.

Laptop Computers for Everyone

We looked at laptops for every type of user: the student who needs a superlight classroom companion, the multimedia multitasker who wants a powerful desktop replacement, and plenty in between. The following five aced our tests.
Lenovo IdeaPad U260

Starting at $700 ($999 model tested)

Pros: This tiny, 3-pound 12.5-incher was the darling of consumer testers, thanks to the simple keyboard, trackpad, and navigation (plus its sleek cover, in orange or brown). It booted up and transferred files in seconds, and has a superb battery — we got 6.5-plus hours on a charge.

Cons: With less-than-stellar audio and video quality and a petite screen, it's not ideal for watching movies or listening to music.

Photo: Lara Robby/Studio D

Starting at $1,134 Apple MacBook Pro 13"

($1,199 model tested)

Pros: The MacBook Pro (or, for $100 more, the super-slim Air 13") was a winner even with begrudging PC fans. Highlights: its multi-touch trackpad, speedy processing, admirable screen and sound, impressive battery life (6.5 hours), and its weight — just 4.5 pounds.

Cons: Fewer ports than most. With just two USB slots, you may not be able to connect, say, your external drive, camera, and mouse at once.

VideoLan's VLC Media Player

I used to utilize different media players for different media files. Quicktime for 3gp files, Media player for mp4 and mp3 files, and many more. But that was all before I encountered VLC Media Player. It basically meets all my media player needs. It plays just about all the media files in my computer, does not take up much data space and basically operates as good in Windows as in Linux or Mac. I recently encountered an article introducing VLC and featuring some features that even those VLC users like me don't appreciate much.


For those who are not familiar with VLC, I highly recommend it and would advise you to give it a try and I think you will not regret it. For those who use the media player already, you may be interested with these other features that you have not noticed before.

FireFox 4 Browser is Out!

Since abandoning Internet Explorer, I always had a thing for Firefox. It opened my eyes to the world of internet browsers. When I was a budding computer geek, I used to think that Internet Explorer is the only browser available. For the information of everybody, I did not have a formal training about computers and I was only introduced to the tech world by my father who studied programming. It was love at first sight and so I continue to expand my interest and knowledge about computers until today. 


A friend had recommended Firefox to me and I was open to the idea since Internet Explorer doesn't really offer the flexibility and security I need when it comes to Internet. But after a while, I have come to realize that Firefox is really not that special specially after discovering Google Chrome which what I am using now. Firefox can't really beat Chrome when it comes to speed and convenience. So not long ago, I switched yet again. So to try to entice us back to Firefox, they released the latest version which is Firefox 4 with added features and plug-ins/add-ons to make or enhances its functionality. These are some things that you may want to look at and consider Firefox once again:

HAving Troubles with my PSP

I was having trouble with my PSP lately. I've been meaning to sell it in order to have enough money to buy an iPod Touch. Well I have no grudge against PSP but the iPod Touch is more appropriate for my lifestyle and my techie needs.

Bubble Bobble Evolution

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Breath of Fire III

One of the best RPG games I played. I like the graphics with all the effects of the story mode. I also like collecting various equipments for the characters and eventually upgrading their capabilities. I hope you enjoy it.

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Tablets

They said that 2010 was supposed to be the Year of the Tablet. It did not happen — the flood of product was not the hype that it was expected, as many manufacturers awaited a more tablet-friendly operating system from Google. So, once more: 2011 will be the Year of the Tablet. Several new models have either been released, or are in a very advanced state of preview.

Apple iPad

Apple introduced the second version of its iPad on March 2. The newer version is slimmer, lighter and has both front and rear-facing cameras. The devices can be bought to operate on either AT&T or Verizon's 3G networks. Competitors are cropping up with increasing frequency, but the iPad remains the dominant tablet on the market.

Device                                Apple iPad

Operating System     iOS

Apps                                    40,000 + iPad apps through the Apple App Store; 

300,000 + compatible iPhone apps

Flash Support           No

Multitasking                 Yes, with the newest iOS upgrade

Screen                            9.7" 4:3 IPS screen

Screen Resolution    1024 x 768

Camera                          Front and rear-facing cameras

Ports                                   Apple dock connection, HDMI

Navigation                       Compass, assisted GPS (3G version only)

Storage                               16, 32 or 64 GB

Wireless                            Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G (some models)

Estimated Battery Life              10 hours

Dimensions                     9.5" x 7.3" x 0.34"

Weight                                1.33 pounds

Wireless Plan                 $15 or $25 a month via AT&T (No contract); $20 to $50 a month via Verizon

Price                                    $500-$830

Bliss Island

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Bomberman

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Ape Quest

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Astonishia Story

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Avatar: The Last Airbender

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WestWard IV: All Aboard!!!

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