newobservations : Shopping and Product Reviews

You might not see iPods on Paris runways, but electronics have undergone a transformation from a utilitarian necessity to a fashion accessory. While electronics aren’t exactly replacing jewelry as a status symbol - bling is still the thing - the types of gadgets a person can’t live without speaks volumes about his or her lifestyle.

Those in the halls of power can’t live without a BlackBerry - nor can Hollywood celebrities, it seems. Keeping in touch - anywhere, anytime - makes everything from cell phones to Bluetooth to PDAs must-haves. The popularity of electronics hasn’t escaped the notice of those in the automotive world, as microchips have migrated from those controlling the vehicle’s on-board computer system to the automotive accessory of the year - the Global Positioning System (GPS).

There are, of course, the ubiquitous headsets, which are connected to cell phones, MP3 players, or - for the electronics fashionista - the iPod nano. On any give airline flight, passengers will have a mind-boggling array of electronics on board to entertain them or keep them otherwise occupied. Computers, music players, and portable gaming devices all appear once cruising altitude is reached. With the plethora of must-have electronics devices, it’s a wonder that today’s travelers have room to pack their clothes!

Electronics have also begun to accessorize the home. When the X-Box 360 sold out before Christmas 2005, eBay sellers raked in the cash for the must-have gaming console, which sold on the auction site for $1,000 or more. Plasma and LCD televisions are proudly displayed on walls, while microchips are finding their way into our kitchen appliances. While true wireless integration is still some time away, the stage is being set for complete interactivity among all our electronic devices.

Luckily for consumers, the cost of electronics goes down with the passage of time. The newest and greatest must-have is sure to be priced at a discount within eighteen months, and will grace the clearance aisle a year after that. In the meantime, those of us who don’t have the cash or the desire to keep up with the trends on the fashion runways or the trends in the world of electronics can continue to observe how the other half lives.

Whether you’re shopping for birthdays, graduations, or the holidays, finding great gifts for kids can be difficult. Although you’re inundated with television commercials touting the latest toys and electronics, and the choices may seem overwhelming, most toys and electronics fade as fast as a sheet of wrapping paper left out in the sun. The trick to buying gifts for kids - whether they’re your own or someone else’s - is to select toys and electronics with longevity. Here are some suggestions:

Gaming Consoles: An Xbox, a Playstation, or a GameCube is a great gift for boys and girls who are into gaming. As the child grows and develops, his or her tastes in games may change, but the gaming console will still be useful. Even as new generations of gaming consoles are developed, the Xbox, Playstation and GameCube will continue in popularity, in large part because there are so many video games available for those platforms.

Video Games: If you’re shopping for a kid who already has a gaming console and who is an avid player, video games make the perfect gift. Prior to making a selection, it’s helpful to know which video games your intended recipient already owns and what genre of games he or she enjoys. When choosing a game, pay attention to its rating: a rating of “E” is for everyone, a rating of “T” is for teens, and a rating of “M” is for adults. You may also want to check websites that have video games reviews to ensure that the title you’re selecting is considered to have good playability.

Toys: Selecting the proper toys is greatly dependant upon the ages of the children for whom you’re buying gifts. There are many electronics toys available for children ranging in age from toddlers to teens. When choosing electronics toys, it’s best to think long-term. The best toys are versatile enough to grow with the child, so that he or she can enjoy them for years, rather than months.

Jewelry: Little girls and big girls alike love jewelry. A keepsake piece, such as a bracelet or necklace, will be something she will treasure for the rest of her life. Costume jewelry is also fun for a variety of ages. Little girls can use it to play dress-up, while teens can use costume jewelry to accessorize according to the latest fads. Elementary-age girls will also love jewelry craft kits, so that they can create their own masterpieces.

Sports: Whether the kid is a player or a fan, you can’t go wrong in selecting a sports-related gift. From a jersey with his favorite player’s number to a soccer ball she can use for practice, a sports gift will always be appreciated.

As technology becomes more refined, electronics companies are offering consumers and businesses a number of cutting-edge products. Following is a rundown of some of the top electronics companies and their latest offerings:

Nokia: Nokia, notable for its cell phones, has taken the lead in promoting mobile phone imaging. In events ranging from the London terrorist bombings to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, traditional news media relied on cell phone images of citizen journalists to bring viewers up-to-the-minute pictures of unfolding events. Moblogs - a combination of weblogs and mobile phone images - is gaining popularity on the Internet. Nokia plans to take advantage of these phenomena by continuing to refine the cell phone picture quality.

Sony: Sony has its proverbial fingers in every piece of the electronics pie, from televisions and digital cameras to computers and MP3 players. Sony’s latest hit is the VAIO notebook computer, which takes multimedia technology to the next level. In the VAIO, Sony has integrated software with hardware that allows you to watch television shows and record them to DVD as well as manage your music and create CDs. Sony is the leader in mobile computing innovation.

Apple: Although Apple continues to command only a small percentage of the personal computing market, it has captured the imaginations of digital music aficionados. Apple continues to rank number one with its iPod, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle. With iTunes, Apple is aptly able to provide both the content and the hardware for the digital music revolution.

Fujitsu: Fujitsu provides both consumers and vertical markets with computing solutions. From notebooks and Tablet PCs to scanners and printers, Fujitsu has the computer market covered. Fujitsu’s latest work in security biometrics, called PalmSecure, has earned the company awards such as “Best of Innovations” at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Panasonic: Panasonic offers an incredible range of products for both consumers and businesses. Panasonic’s consumer products include DVD and VCR players, cameras and camcorders, phones and fax machines, and computers. Panasonic’s plasma televisions have a “Wow!” factor that can’t be beaten - especially their line of framed plasma TVs that incorporate home décor into cutting edge technology.

Viking: Viking brings electronics to the kitchen with its high-end appliances. Viking is the gold standard - or in the culinary world, the stainless steel standard - of kitchen appliances. Its ranges incorporate electronic controls, and its refrigerators and outdoor grills turn amateur chefs green with envy.
a superior viewing area, while their proprietary image processor allows for three frames per second for up to 60 JPEG frames in a burst.

Canon: Canon makes a variety of electronics for businesses and consumers, but their cameras are among the most innovative of those on the market. The Canon EOS 5D is one of the world’s smallest and lightest full-frame digital Single Lens Reflex cameras. A 2.5-inch LCD screen provides

This is only a sampling of what some of the leading electronics companies are offering. Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung, Toshiba, Siemens, and Wolf are also among the industry leaders offering innovative solutions for both businesses and consumers.

The Sony network Walkman has a storage capability of no less then 20GB and its battery power is sufficient for more then 40 hours of continuous music. It’s small, certainly compared to its storage capacity. The Walkman has a slim aluminum case that fits nicely into your hands. It really looks like a cool state of the art piece of technology.

The operation of the Sony NW-HD5 is very intuitive. Still this Walkman comes with a lot op options. The hard-disk of the Walkman is equipped with the so-called “G-Sensor” technology that protects it to sudden shocks and movements. The clear 1.5 inch dot matrix LCD screen is nicely illuminated at will. So you see there are plenty of pluses with this device.

But on the minus side there are some, in our opinion unforgivable, omissions. The equalizer and performance improving capabilities will only work if you play Sony’s own ATRAC3 files. You can only add music to the player by using the program SonicStage that converts WMA files automatically to the Sony ATRAC3 standard. Using the Windows Explorer to manage your files is almost impossible. And to top it all off, if you want to be able to use the NW-HD5 with multiple computers you will have to register with Sony’s own music service. Otherwise that is off limits. Finally, the NW-HD5 has no remote control.

Let’s face it the Sony NW-HD5 is a nice piece of technology, but by adding so many limitations and conditions on its usage this device loses all of its attraction. Our advice is: “Let Sony know that we don’t like the limitations they impose on us by buying another player”.

It just doesn’t make sense that Sony is trying to force consumers into using their standards and placing a multitude of limitations on them if they don’t want to comply.

The ultra slim iPod Nano is not much bigger than a couple of credit cards set end to end and about as wide as a pencil. When the iPod Nano was first shown in a high tech gadget website, no one even believed it was real, how could it be, where was the battery? How could that little thing hold any songs in it? Most thought it was merely another Apple gimmick, not so, the iPod Nano is really and yes it is really cool. Most personal tech writers are giving it the first prize for the 2005 greatest gadget.

The iPod Nano has two configurations; the two gigabyte version which hold 500 songs and the four gigabyte version which holds 1,000 songs. Of course for this level of performance is such a small device, well lets just say you are going to have to pay the price. The down dirty model is $199.00 and the prices go up from there. The iPod Nano is as thin as a pencil and as powerful as juke box.

How small is it? Very small; only three and a half inches by an inch and a half and the width of a number two pencil. And get this it only weighs 1.5 ounces. But don’t lose it, as anything that small is bound to get lost. The LCD custom screen is also about the coolest thing you ever saw, it is very bright and one and a half inches.

The battery life of this thing is over 12 hours and the new Apple Patented click wheel makes it extremely easy to use. The iPod Nano also has all the ports and docking connectors needed to integrate it just like you would any other iPod. Let’s face it you need this to get through 2006.

The Christmas so many of the most popular iPod Models sold out, with some stores forced thru customer demand and hostility at times; to make waiting lists, when the new stock came in. Why are so many iPod Models sold out? Well, Apple started a new craze, which is without borders and age groups niches. Everyone wants the new iPods and many have their sites on the iPod Mini, yes it is small, but only in size and name.

The iPod Mini comes in four gigabytes and six gigabytes and that is approximately 1000 songs and 1500 songs respectfully. The prices are not too bad, but most places are sold out until mid January to early February and many stores already have waiting lists, which exceed their estimated new stock shipments. The earbud earphones are excellent and make it very pleasurable to take a walk around the block or jog thru the park with ease, no discomfort at all. The backlit screen and customizable menu make it very favorable compared to other versions.

The iPod Mini comes with an 8-hour battery life, which could be longer, especially if you go hiking for the weekend and do not have a place to plug in for a recharge. But all in all there are few complaints from those who own them, most reviews give the iPod Mini very high marks indeed. So you need this in 2006.

The iPod Shuffle is the one to get, but they are sold out for now, but do not despair more are on their way and should arrive in by January 15-20 they say. The iPod Shuffle, which holds 240 songs, is compact, easy to use and extremely popular with all ages. The Christmas Rush had the Official Apple Website completely sold out on the third day and even Best Buy knew they would not last. Target sold out as well, as a matter of fact if you can find any left you are doing well and a lucky duck.

The iPod Shuffle is preferable to most folks because it has a one-gig hard drive, but Apple says it is also coming out with a smaller version of the iPod Shuffle soon too. Your other choices are to buy the iPod 512 Megabyte model which is a little less expensive and still holds over 120 songs which should be plenty for most people.

Best Buy and other large electronic box stores indicated that since the iPod Shuffle sold out and they will be replenishing supplies in mid January they noticed a 10% rise in over all store gift certificates, as parents were quick to use the gift certificate option so their kids could still get the iPod Shuttle, the version of choice after the Holidays were over.

Apple admits it did not realize the incredible trend it had started until after it placed all the orders, now the factories producing the iPod Shuttle are running full tilt just to make sure they do not run completely out for a second time. The iPod Shuttle; you need this for 2006.

Satellite Radio coming to a car or SUV soon near you? If you do not have satellite radio yet you are missing out on one of the greatest consumer technologies of all times. Sirius Radio has it going on with 200-channels of every type of music you could possibly ever think of along with news, weather and sports. And soon Shock Jock Howard Sterns will be coming at you live from the Heavens, a place you know he will never get to visit in the after life!

What makes Sirius so good, why should you get it in you car? Well, have you ever noticed the person next to you singing away in their car, happy as a lark, so you flip thru the channels to see if you can find which song their lips are moving to? Ever done that before? Sure you have, but have you noticed lately you cannot seem to find the station they are on? Do you know why? Because they are not listening to the local boring stations, they are listening to Satellite Radio, with many stations having no commercials, just solid music playing in the era and venue of your choosing.

They have it all, every type of music you love and all the ones you hate too. But since you can choose all you can do is smile on the way to work or play, as you are out to have a very nice day. There are talk shows, network news, business news, comedy; both gross and reserved. You name it Sirius has got it for only $12.95 per month and all you need is the radio portable or in your car and its yours. You need this in 2006.

It didn’t start with eBay, though these days it’s the word on everyone’s lips when you mention shopping for computers and other electronics online. Computer parts and electronics were among the first products sold online, and continue to be the best-selling items of all types through online discount venues. That should come as no surprise to anyone - after all, merchandisers sell to the market, and where else do you find a ready market for computer and electronics items than among an entire world of computer users?

The fierce competition for your electronics dollars is nothing but good news for you,
the consumer. Because there are so many dealers out there competing for your
business, you’ll find the lowest prices possible on everything from DVD players and
DVDs to the latest styles of mobile phones to video games and game boxes.
Wholesale electronic sites are selling computers and computer equipment, computer
games, speakers, stereo equipment and mobile phones at deep, deep discounts that
will let you get far more power for your pocket money.

Are you looking for a new computer? Whether you’re a duffer or a hacker, you’ll find
just what you’re looking for at online computer shopping sites that offer the best
web deals around. You can pick up a hot box for your machine for $20 or less -
compare that to retail store prices of $75-$200 for a computer case with specialty
detailing. Need a new hard drive for your work horse machine? You can pay $90 for
one on sale at your local electronics store - or you can shop around at the discount
online electronics stores and find one for as little as $39.

You’ll find similar deals on other electronics - DVD players for less than $50, and
DVDs for $5 and less, stereo speakers at discount prices in all the best names, and
cell phones and mobile phones for as little as $10. Even better, because you’re not
confined to what’s inside the four walls of a brick and mortar store, you’ll find an
enormous variety of the best electronics items from all over the world - without
shopping all over town for the best deals.

Because the online shopping craze started with electronics, you’ll find some of the
best deals around are on electronics items. Online discount sites can and do take
advantage of low, low prices from offshore wholesalers in China and Taiwan to offer
you the best deals on names like Bose, Sony and Aiwa. You’ll find even better deals
on electronics items made in the same factories to the same exacting standards -
without the name on the front.

If you’re looking for a great deal on a new computer, a set of speakers, a mobile
phone or accessories or any other electronics item, start your search for the best
price at online discount shopping sites. You’ll never even have to leave your desk.

Hi-tech gadgets are getting smaller and smarter.The LG VX9800 for Verizon is grabbing alot of people’s attention these days and it is becoming increasingly more popular.The success behind this LG phone is because of it’s unique conceptual and functional design.Even Time Online questions if it is a phone, “or a tiny, but surprisingly loud, boombox?”
Good question, just what is it?

Besides functioning as a phone, camera, MP3 player, and PDA because of it’s QWERTY keyboard, the LG VX 9800 features a Mini SD memory card slot so it is somewhat of a miniature communications center. In my opinion, this LG phone isn’t a smartphone on par with a Treo 650 but it certainly is a tremendously versatile multimedia phone.

The major innovation with LG VX9800 is the VCAST. So if you are commuting by train or bus to work, now you have what you have always dreamed about- just ‘flip’ open the cover of the LG VX 9800 and enjoy your favorite entertainment with the richness of broadband crystal clear on a 65,000-color screen (128 x 160 pixel resolution)in stereo.

At first glance, even though its obviously not a laptop, LG 9800 kind of resembles one. I’ve seen it categorized as a flip phone which certainly doesn’t do it justice. What we have here is more than a typical flip style phone.LG and Verizon have combined to bring us a super multimedia entertainment phone that is already making an important conceptual change in cell phone development.