The 20 Best Gadgets of 2011

 

 

HTC Thunderbolt From Verizon 

The HTC Thunderbolt was Verizon's first attempt at a 4G phone, and it passed our tests with ease. Download speeds consistently ranged between 8 megabits per second and 12 mbps on Verizon's LTE network, which runs circles around the HSPA+ handsets that AT&T and T-Mobile try to pass off as 4G.

HTC ThunderBolt $623.00 - $999.99 Check Prices

Nintendo 3DS 

Sure, the Nintendo 3DS launched without a huge stable of games, and under fire by an increasingly vibrant smartphone market, but let's not lose sight of the technical feat at hand: It's a handheld 3D games machine that doesn't require glasses. That's just plain cool, even if Mario's missing at the moment.

Nintendo 3DS 

Motorola Atrix 4G 

Putting aside the visionary but tragically-overpriced laptop dock, Motorola's Atrix 4G is still a smartphone heavyweight, with a 1 GHz dual-core processor and 4-inch, 960-by-540-pixel resolution o its qHD display (Retina who?). Bonus points for the built-in fingerprint reader, which unlocks the phone with just a swipe.

Motorola Atrix 4G (AT&T) $0.01 - $79.99 Check Prices

Sony Handycam HDR-TD10 

We've seen dual-lens 3D cameras before, but Sony's Handycam HDR-TD10 is the first to sport two imaging sensors and two processors to match. The result is is 1920-by-1080 resolution video in each channel for 1080p 3D video playback. The HDR-TD10's 3D preview screen, which uses a parallax barrier to simulate depth, is a nice touch.

Sony Handycam HDR-TD10 $949.00 - $1,499.95

Apple iPad 2 

The timing of Apple's iPad 2 was as much a statement as the device itself, getting to market before most competitors could launch their first-generation tablets. Apple products will always have haters, but for most 10-inch tablet seekers, the thinner, lighter, and faster iPad 2 leaves very few reasons to consider the competition.

Apple iPad 2 family 

Samsung Series 9 

Apple's Macbook Air may be a marvel to look at, but, well, it's a Mac, and some of us just prefer Windows. Enter the Samsung Series 9, which has its own svelte style and premium materials. The frame is built from aircraft-grade aluminum, and the trackpad and keyboard are a joy to use. Starting at $1,150 for the 11-inch model, the Series 9 is pricey, but surely there are some Windows users who can afford a bit of luxury.

Samsung Series 9 $862.00 Check Prices

Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 

Hand it to Asus for launching the first Android Honeycomb tablet that significantly undercuts the iPad on price: $399 for the 16 GB model. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer also differentiates from the competition with an optional keyboard and trackpad. The dock includes full-size USB and SD jacks and its own battery, allowing users to get some serious work done.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 $354.99 - $409.00 Check Prices

 

Casio Tryx 

An ordinary digital camera at first glance, the Casio Tryx has an outer handle that swivels and rotates, so you can prop it up like a tripod or grip it in the fist like the now-defunct Flip. Get it? It performs tricks! Sigh.

Casio Tryx (white) $359.00 Check Prices

Casio Tryx Digital Camera (Black) $99.99 - $119.99 Check Prices

Barnes & Noble New Nook 

Barnes & Noble's Nook didn't get off to the greatest start when it launched in December 2009, but the new version aims to forget the past and start fresh. Gone is the color Android navigation screen on the bottom. In its place is a full E-Ink touch screen, powered by infrared sensors around the edges. Finally, Barnes & Noble seems ready to take on Amazon's Kindle.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 

Business users needn't be shut out of the thin-and-light laptop party. Although Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 isn't as svelte as a Samsung Series 9 or Macbook Air, it's ready to travel at 3.8 pounds and 0.65 inches thick. Its rugged design--minor spills won't fry it--and respectable performance are undermined only by weak battery life of under four hours. There is an optional external slice available for those who need the juice.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 $ Check Prices

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 

Rated by PCWorld as the best DSLR for under $1,000, Canon's Rebel T3i packs plenty of bells and whistles for entry-level users. A 3-inch LCD flips out and swivels, and built-in flash control lets users trigger remote flash units without a separate wireless controller. Video capture is available at up to 60 frames per second, and there's a neat video snapshot function that automatically cobbles together short clips.

Canon EOS Rebel T3i $599.00 - $649.00 Check Prices

 

Dell XPS 15z 

Okay, so Dell's XPS 15z doesn't win points for originality, but Windows fans surely won't fault Dell for offering MacBook Pro aesthetics in a much cheaper package. The XPS 15z's base model sells for $999, compared to $1,799 for the cheapest 15-inch MacBook Pro. Insert unicorn tear joke here.

Eye-Fi Mobile X2 

Although the Eye-Fi brand has been around for years, the Eye-Fi Mobile X2 is the company's first SD card to connect directly to iPhones and Android phones over Wi-Fi. That means you can transfer photos from camera to phone, and then share them on Facebook or Twitter or wherever--with no wires and no PC.

Eye-Fi Eye-Fi Mobile X2

T-Mobile G2x (with Google) 

LG's beast of a smartphone hits all the high notes: A dual-core 1 GHz processor, an 8-megapixel camera, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, HDMI out, and support for T-Mobile's HSPA+ network. The T-Mobile G2x's minimalist hardware design gets out of the way, as does the software, which runs a pure, stock version of Android.

T-Mobile G2x (with Google) $498.95 - $999.99 Check Prices

  

Fujifilm Finepix X100 

The Fujifilm Finepix X100's retro stylings are so cool that no one will question whether you know what you're doing. But beyond the facade lies an excellent camera, with built-in lens filters, a DSLR-size sensor, and an F2.0 lens. So what if there's no optical zoom? You'll want to get in close so the subject can get an eyeful of that camera body, anyway.

Verizon iPhone 4 

After years of rumor and speculation, the Verizon iPhone 4 finally arrived last February. It's not much different than the AT&T version, except that it actually excels at making phone calls from notoriously unreliable places--like New York and San Francisco. Unsurprisingly, metro geeks rejoice in unison.

Apple 32GB iPhone 4 (CDMA, Verizon) $423.00 - $599.00

 

 

Livescribe Echo Smartpen (2GB) 

Lots of writers rave about the Livescribe smartpens, which use special paper to create digital backups of handwritten notes, while recording audio that's synced to every stroke. But they've always been a bit pricey at $150 and up, not including the paper. A new 2 GB model, the Echo, sells for $99, pushing Livescribe into impulse-buy territory. And a new service called Livescribe Connect allows the pen to send files to Facebook, Evernote, Google Docs, and other online sources.
 

ThinkGeek iCade 

ThinkGeek's iCade was only supposed to be an April Fool's Joke, but the idea of a tabletop arcade cabinet powered by the iPad was so awesome that ION went ahead and built it. The $100 cabinet is best-suited for Atari's Greatest Hits, a suite of classic video games that just doesn't feel right without a proper joystick and buttons.

Amazon Kindle with Special Offers 

Hardware-wise, there's nothing new about the Kindle with Special Offers, but Amazon's onto something with its ad- and discount-subsidized e-reader. Priced at $114--$25 cheaper than the ad-free version--it quickly became the most popular e-reader on Amazon's Website, and customer requests prompted Amazon to launch a 3G version for $164. And so begins the era of ad-supported hardware.

Amazon Kindle with Special Offers (Wi-Fi/3G, 3rd generation)

Amazon Kindle Keyboard with Special Offers (Wi-Fi, 3rd generation)

Samsung Nexus S 4G 

The Sprint version of Google's Nexus S 4G by Samsung almost didn't get a spot on this list. After all, it's just the Nexus S that debuted on T-Mobile last year with a speed boost courtesy of Sprint's WiMax network. But then, Google and Sprint announced their ambitions for smartphone-based payments with Google Wallet, allowing users to buy stuff at select retailers by tapping their phones to a Mastercard kiosk. Sprint's Nexus S will be the first phone to support it.

top 19 gadgets in the world

Motorola Atrix 4G

One day, the mobile phone will do double duty as the CPU of a full-fledged laptop. The Motorola Atrix 4G takes a big step down that road. The Atrix would be a powerhouse based on its smartphone chops alone: a dual-core 1GHz processor running Android 2.2, a GB of RAM, front- and rear-facing cameras, and access to AT&T’s future 4G network. But the phone is a game-changer because of its Laptop and HD Multimedia docking systems. As soon as you plug the phone into either dock, a full-fledged Firefox browser launches, your Android apps scale up in size, and you leave thumb-typing behind. The multimedia dock has three USB ports and an HDMI port, so it can power a living room worth of entertainment gear. And the laptop version makes the phone the center of a mobile system with a nearly full-size keyboard and monitor—and the potential to cut pounds from many a road warrior’s gear. (price not set.)

Motorola Xoom Tablet

 

In the tablet free-for-all that promises to characterize 2011, the Motorola Xoom will be a principal challenger to the Apple iPad. It hits one cutting-edge mark after another: Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system, ample power with a dual-core 1 GHz processor, a GB of RAM, and both front- and rear-facing cameras for video conferencing as well as shooting photos. The screen is big: 10.1 inches with a wide 16:10 aspect and a resolution of 1280 x 800. For now, the Xoom is a step ahead of the competition when it comes to connectivity. The first Xooms will launch on Verizon’s 3G network in the first quarter of 2011, and the company promises that those units can be upgraded to the 4G LTE network in the spring. (Units shipping in spring will be on 4G from the start.) And HDMI compatibility means that the Xoom can share its video with a home entertainment center

Samsung LED 8000 Series TV

 

There's a lot to like about Samsung's 8000 Series LED TV—it's LED backlit, 3D-capable, and packed with services and apps people might actually use, such as Skype and Facebook. What we love about it is the stunning industrial design. Samsung's engineers whittled the bezel down to just 0.2-in, increasing screen size without increasing the overall footprint, and creating a picture that's more otherwordly portal than TV monitor. The series will be available this in 46-in., 55-in. and 65-in. sizes, starting at $2800.

 

Samsung 9 Series Laptop

 

For better or worse, any superslim laptop these days is bound to be compared to the MacBook Air. And it seems that Samsung's new 9 Series laptop has taken a pretty sweet shot at Apple's thin sliver of a computer. The 13-inch Series 9 is just a tiny bit slimmer at .64 inches, and a few feathers lighter at 2.89 pounds.

But it also packs a far-more impressive Intel i5 processor and 4GB of RAM, plus USB 3 connectors and built-in WiMax and a "Durolumin" alloy shell that Samsung claims is several times stronger than aluminum. Samsung produces much of the memory used in SSDs, so unsurprisingly, the Series 9 has a built in solid-state drive that boots Windows 7 in just 12 seconds. The design also is far sleeker than the Air, the price, however, is less sleek, at $1600.

Garmin GTU 10 GPS Tracker

 

A Garmin rep told us that this tiny GPS module was initially invented for pet owners to track their furry friends. But we think its small size (think, Bic lighter), long battery life (up to four weeks) and waterproof construction make it suitable for much more. Stuff it in the pocket of a potentially wayward child, pop it in the glovebox as a low-cost LoJack, or hide it in a suitcase full of cash to relive your No Country for Old Men fantasies. Garmin even envisions elite marathon runners carrying one of these, allowing fans to track them as they plow through a course. A Web interface makes it easy to home in on the device's location. $200

Casio Tryx Camera

 

The classic camera brick has long been in need of a refresh, and Casio delivers a deft twist with this contorting 12-megapixel (1080p for video) shooter. A multitude of hinges enables it to fold, bend, hang from a hook, perch on a table and even flip its 3-inch screen for a well-aimed self-portrait. The price: $250.

Cobra Phone Tag

 

Hidden in Cobra Electronics booth at CES was a simple, but imaginative little tech idea: The Phone Tag. This little keychain works as a two-way alarm between itself and your smartphone. It establishes a Bluetooth link with any iPhone, BlackBerry or Android device (each platform will have a downloadable app), then, when your keys get out of range of your phone, you get an alert on either device, and can even make both devices chirp like a homing beacon to help you hunt them down. So your phone can help you find lost keys or your keys can help you find your phone. Clever, but no word yet on pricing, Cobra says the device should be available in the spring.

Intel 2nd Generation Core Processors (“Sandy Bridge”)

 

2011 is the year of the fully integrated processor. Intel has done a total redesign of their Core processor architecture, integrating graphics processing onto the CPU chip and seamlessly distributing tasks across processors to deliver a 40 to 50 percent increase in performance for tasks such as transcoding and gaming. Also, with Intel’s Turbo Boost technology, individual cores can automatically overclock themselves when multiple cores are not in use.

Toyota Entune

 

The car-maker's new Entune multimedia system uses a phone's data connection as a way to connect a car to the cloud. Using a dedicated Entune app, compatible phones can access a suite of Toyota-curated apps (from the cloud), which are then displayed on the car's head unit by way of a Bluetooth connection. The apps can then be controlled on the touchscreen head unit, or through voice control. At launch, Entune will offer access to five in-car apps: the Pandora and iheartradio music services, Microsoft's Bing mobile search, Opentable (for booking dinner reservations), and Movietickets.com.

Toyota claims that this approach will allow for a huge amount of upgradeability in the future, allowing them to keep the system fresh by adding and subtracting Entune apps over time. It also keeps consumers from having to sign up for multiple data subscriptions, since it piggybacks on your phone's connection. And while Entune boasts a sophisticated (Toyota calls it a "casual language") voice recognition system, at launch it will only work with a single app: Bing Mobile. The company claims it will eventually spread to the rest of the suite, but until it does, users will still find themselves poking at to the dash.

Entune will be available on new vehicles beginning later in 2011, but Toyota isn't announcing the exact models until the Detroit Auto Show next week. At launch, the system will be compatible with Apple, Android, and Blackberry smartphones, as well as select feature phones. However, Toyota told us they want to bring it to every phone they possibly can, so we can expect it to soon pop up on other operating systems, such as Windows Phone 7 (an OS Toyota called out to us as "a priority").

Kodak EasyShare Sport Camera

 

The gimmick-free Kodak EasyShare Sport has no built-in Wi-Fi, no automatic face detection and—amazingly—no optical zoom. Instead, it's just a pocketable, reliable, waterproof 12-megapixel camera at a price (just $80!) that won't break your bank if you accidentally leave it by the beach.

Celestron SkyProdigy

 

Telescopes that automatically align to their target might seem like they'd bring stargazing to the masses—no more tinkering!—but their reach is somewhat stunted by astronomical price tags and wait times (it can take 10 minutes for them to align themselves). The $700 automatically aligning Celestron SkyProdigy 130 costs half as much as the competition, and zeroes in on its target celestial body in just three minutes. The secret: An onboard camera that detects where in the sky the scope is pointed.

Sony 3D Bloggie MHS-FS3 Camcorder

 

Previous generations of Sony's Bloggie were decent takes on the Flip style of dead-simple, web-worthy camcorders. Now, the Bloggie 3D one-ups the entire category, retaining the slim profile and pop-out USB arm, while shooting 3D HD video with two lenses. The display is a 2.4-in. glasses-free 3D screen, which is fun, but the real story here is price. At $250, consumers can dip a toe into the supposed 3D revolution. Even if it fizzles, they'll still have an 8GB pocket camcorder that shoots 2D just fine.

 

Nike Plus Sportwatch With GPS by TomTom

 

The Nike Plus running system, first released in 2006, has been an innovative running technology from the beginning. In the first edition, a pedometer-like accelerometer embedded in a Nike shoe connected with the iPod Nano to store downloadable stats and give on-the-fly feedback. Later, Nike upgraded the system to be compatible with more iPods, the iPhone as well as a Polar heart rate monitor. There were still downsides: You had to buy a limited selection of Nike shoes that were compatible with the Nike Plus chip, accuracy was lacking and uploading information to your computer (to use Nike’s truly stellar run tracking site) wasn't straightforward.

Thanks to a partnership with GPS heavyweights TomTom, the latest Nike Plus system, announced at CES 2011, has reached its potential. With built-in GPS, the Nike Plus shoes are no longer necessary to track your run (but if you choose, they can act as a backup when you're out of range to get a signal), and thanks to a USB port built into the watch band, downloading your run information requires a simple plug. The functionality is simple (there are only three buttons), the backlit memory LED is crisp with large, easy-to-read letters and the connectivity with the Nike Plus website tracks your running record, congratulates you on PRs and gives friendly reminders that you haven't run all week. The watch is out April first and will cost from $199 to $299.

AMD Fusion

 

The product of AMD’s acquisition of graphics processor maker ATI in 2006, this integration of CPU and graphics processing technology on a single die allows computers that would previously have required discrete graphics processors to run high-powered gaming applications and HD video with a single-chip solution. The Fusion platform also delivers massive power savings relative to performance, giving laptops all-day battery life without compromise.

Vizio Cinemawide LED LCD HDTV

 

Sure, a typical HDTV's 16:9 aspect ratio might qualify as "widescreen" in some book, but for real cinephiles looking for a widescreen theater experience at home, there’s a still room for improvement—especially since many movies are shot at a wider aspect ratio. The Vizio Cinemawide LED LCD HDTV has a 21:9 aspect ratio—meaning you can watch "CinemaScope" 2.35:1 movies at their native resolution, without black letterboxing bars. And, unlike other ultra-widescreen models we’ve seen in the past, these are actually slated to be released in the United States.

LG LW5600 Series 3D LED TV

 

47-in. & 55-in. LED-backlit, ful 1080p. Uses passive 3D glasses (any kind will work, including the ones in movie theaters). Comes with four pairs. No pricing, but available second quarter this year.

Chevy Volt with Powermat Inductive Charging

 

Inductive charging is pretty neat. An inductive charging pad built into your car is head-slapping, why-isn't-this-standard-on-every-model-in-the-world neat. Starting with the 2012 Volt, Powermat's cordless charging pads will be standard, or an available option (details haven't been hammered out). What might seem like a novelty now could provide even more futuristic cache to the Volt, and become as common industry-wide as power windows.

Microsoft Avatar Kinect

 

Avatar Kinect will be a free update for Xbox Live Gold members that uses the sensor to track facial expressions as well as body movements, then use those to animate your on-screen Xbox avatar. Avatar Kinect will also have several virtual “sets” in which Xbox Live users can gather with their avatars (sports desk, lawn chair circle). These environments could prove to be Second Life-style novelties, but the facial tracking technology has some serious potential. Consider that movie digital effects crews spend millions to accomplish the type of motion capture that Microsoft has managed to pull off with a $150 accessory.

 

Recon Instruments Recon-Ready Ski Goggles

 

The Android-powered micro-LED screen in these goggles turns average skiers into cyborgs, displaying everything from GPS-enabled trail maps to your current speed and altitude. If that's not cool enough, it can sync with Bluetooth compatible devices, creating an in-goggle viewfinder for a camera, or display songs or incoming calls. Recon plans to release an open API for the goggles later this year, allowing developers to build custom apps that will be hosted for free on the company's site. For now, the technology is incorporated in Zeal Optics goggles for $399 (polarized) or $499 (photochromatic), but the system will be available as a snap-to-fit add-on in a range of goggles this year.

 

Holiday fun christmas games

Holiday Fun:

Christmas Games

Hide and Sock Christmas Mayhem     Santa's World Tour Santa's Quiz     Christmas Post Where's Rudolph?     Present Pileup Chimney Challenge     Night Before Christmas Santa Online Coloring     Mr. Carrot Face Cranberry Christmas Fudge     Ashton's Family Resort Deep Freeze     Santa VS Jack Santa Claus Room Decor     Snowline Christmas Tree Light Up!     Sleigh Away My Christmas Room Decor     Naughty or Nice Patchworkz Xmas     Snowy Meltdown Adventure Elf      Attack of the Mutant Artificial Trees Christmas Gifts       Christmas Drag & Drop Puzzle Super-Santa Ski Jump              Gingerbread Jigsaw Puzzle Santa Balls     Tech Toyland Dodge to the Lodge   Christmas Jigsaw Puzzle Christmas Word Search     Trim-a-Tree Candy Cane Drag & Drop     Christmas Match Game Holly's Tic Tac Toe     Santa & Rudolph Slide Puzzle Christmas Word Jumble