G i f t Guide: B e s t of 2 0 0 5
B e s t of 2 0 0 5 : T h e h o t t e s t g a d g e t s a n d g e a r of t h e y e a r If you're reading this issue of HUB: Digital Living, chances are you'll
1.5 ounces), that can store up to 1,000 songs or display up to 25,000
agree that technology is a wonderful thing. But with so many products flooding the marketplace, choosing one over another can
photos on its colour screen. And because it uses Flash memory instead of a hard drive (as with the
be an overwhelmingly difficult task. After all, many of these tech
iPod mini), there are no moving parts so it's ideal for working out with.
toys can cost a pretty penny, plus there's no worse feeling than investing in something that becomes quickly outdated. So, now that 2005 has come to a close, we thought it the perfect time to highlight some of our favourite gadgets and gear of the year.
The nano works seamlessly with the free iTunes software so you can create custom playlists or download podcasts and audio books — all with a couple of mouse clicks. The nano ships in either ultra-shiny black or white. Keeping it so shiny might prove a little difficult however. Apple.ca; $299 for 4GB version.
Best cell phone It seems each week there's a new cell phone on the market, but the
Best digital camera
one that caught our attention earlier this year, and is now available in a
While digital SLRs [single lens reflex) cameras aren't as popular, or as
sleek black finish, is the Motorola Razr V3. At just 1.39 cm thick, 5.3 cm
affordable, as point-and-shoot digicams, it was the Canon EOS Rebel XT
wide and 9.8 cm long [when flipped open), it's one o f the thinnest
that took our best shots this year.
handsets on the market, yet the GSM world phone is packed with a VGA
This high-performance "prosumer" camera features w h a t t h e
digital camera, Bluetooth connectivity for wireless headsets, and the
company calls its "digital trinity:" an 8-megapixel CMOS sensor,
ability to download and play MPEG-4 video clips on its large screen.
Canon's proprietary DIGIC II image processor and compatibility with
Love text messaging and Web surfing? Users will dig the smooth metallic finish and etched keypad created from a single sheet of nickel-
over 50 EF lenses. While serious shutterbugs may turn their nose up at this camera for its
plated copper alloy.
lightweight plastic body, the proof is in the performance.
Motorola.ca; $250 with 3-year Rogers Wireless plan [or $410 without).
Canon.ca; $1,199.
Best MP3 player
Best game system
Thirty million iPod owners can't be wrong. Our favourite is the 4GB iPod
This is a tough one. The Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a killer
nano, a tiny music player [thinner than a no. 2 pencil and weighing just
machine that never fails to impress, but the best gaming hardware of the year must go to the Xbox 360 —not just for what it can do today but where it'll take console gaming in the near future. This sleek white unit has some serious horsepower under the hood s o i t can deliver high-resolution games (720p) and 5.1 surround sound audio. It also has wireless controllers, a removable and upgradeable hard drive and a WiFi card slot to join an existing network, which will be perfect to take advantage of all the Xbox Live features. Xbox.com/ca; 5399 for core system, $499 for premium bundle.
Best PC monitor PC garners and movie lovers, rejoice! The stunning ViewSonic VX924 Xtreme monitor is a 19-inch flat-panel LCD display with an industryleading 3 -millisecond response time, which means your computer games and DVD flicks won't suffer from the common "ghost" trails caused by fast motion (by comparison, many PC monitors sport between 12 and 16 millisecond response times). The display (with 1280 x 1024 native resolution) also boasts a slew of analog and digital connection options and a sleek "floating" body design. Viewsonic.com; $499.99. By Marc Saltzman
4
H U B : Digital Living - J a n u a r y 2 0 0 6 www.hubcariada.corn
