Giftology Tech Gift Guide

8 - Giftology

| 2010

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

Giftology Holidays 2010

Come Come in in and and sign sign up up for for

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217-234-8133

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Tech Gift Guide

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Gift Certificates Also Available.

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» Grab ‘n’ Go: eReaders & Tablets » Xbox & PS3 in Motion » The Coolest Gadgets for Home

2 - Giftology

| 2010

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

jg-tc.com

2010

Home, Sweet Home . . . . . . . . . 3

Giftology

High-tech upgrades know no bounds – even when it comes to an alarm clock

2010

Books Un-Covered . . . . . . . . . . 4 The best gadgets for the (geeky) bookworm on your list

Music To Their Ears . . . . . . . . . 5

High-tech toys bring us some of the greatest joys of the season – and some of the biggest headaches. But not this year. From the technophile who has everything to the person who doesn’t have a clue, our guide will take the guessing work out of gadgets and help you find that perfect shiny something for everyone on your list. Happy shopping!

Whether it’s an audiophile who spends his evenings enjoying LPs or the commuter who sneaks in a podcast on her way to work, without the right headphones, it’s all just noise

Everybody On Your Feet . . . . . . 6 The Wii stands alone no more. With the introduction of Kinect for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Move, gamers the world over will be taking a more active role in their video game adventures

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That white Xbox 360 coupled with the new black Kinect sensor may look a bit odd on the media console. Those who would rather keep it monochromatic and stylish can take their gaming consoles back to black with the new Xbox 360 model or opt for the new Wii bundle.

The new Xbox is thinner, includes more ports and storage and runs more quietly than the older model, all at the same price. The newer model includes touch-sensitive power and eject buttons and a more angularly designed controller, which more closely matches the new system’s design. Another update is the Kinect-specific connector, which is a more powerful USB port; older Xbox 360s require a separate power supply for the Kinect.

The Nintendo Wii now is available in black and comes with the addition of Wii Sports and the MotionPlus enhancement device for the Wii Remote at the same price of the previous bundle.

Nintendo Wii

New Wii Titles

It was the first motion-sensing console out of the gate back in 2006, and Nintendo’s Wii still covers the broadest demographic in sales. In addition to the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers, the system offers the Wii Zapper for crossbow and shooting games, the Wii Wheel for driving games and the Wii Balance Board for fitness games. The experience of classic games like Super Mario Brothers and Tetris becomes complete, interactive immersion.

And when gamers tire out from all the movement, they can kick back and watch a movie or TV show streamed from Netflix – subscription required, of course.

Super Mario Galaxy 2, Nintendo, $49.99 wii party, Nintendo, $49.99

© CTW Features

The Wii Bundle retails for $199.99 and comes with the console and two games: Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort.

Happy Holidays GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE FOR CHRISTMAS

800 CHARLESTON AVE., MATTOON, IL PHONE/FAX (217) 235-3731

|

Giftology - 7

6 - Giftology

| 2010

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

Everybody

Feet

Carpet Volleyball:The Kinect for Xbox 360 brings inmotion gameplay right to the living room

The Wii stands alone no more. With the introduction of Kinect for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Move, gamers the world over will be taking a more active role in their video game adventures CTW Features

V

ideo-gaming couch potatoes are so yesteryear. In 2010, gamers must get on their feet to conquer feats in seventh-generation gaming systems. Two new consoles debuted this year with actionpacked adventures for all ages to enjoy. Gift-givers, compare specs below to decide which gaming system will help loved-ones make all the right moves.

PlayStation Move Perhaps “Move” is short for “move over.” The new Sony game

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controller for PlayStation 3 has carved out a space in the motioncontrol gaming world just in time for the holiday season. Armed with the motion-sensing controller, gamers will explore highdefinition worlds powered by high-def Blu-ray media. The variety of games includes dance, sports, family fun and action.

For those games requiring navigation through on-screen characters, gamers may opt to try the new navigation controller’s analog stick in place of the Dpad of the PS3 game controller.

Whether gamers are pantomiming a golf swing or kungfu kick, the PlayStation Eye USB Camera captures their every move. Built-in vibrations

surge through the motion-sensing controller and help gamers feel like they’re in another world.

Up to four motion controllers can be connected to the system at once, so there’s room for friends and family to join in on the experience.

Gamers will need the PlayStation 3 home console and PlayStation Eye USB Camera in addition to the new game controller to get moving in

game play.

The PlayStation 3 Sports Champion Move Bundle is $399.99, but Move components are available for individual purchase.

New PS3 Titles Compatible with PlayStation Move Sorcery, Sony Computer Entertainment, $39.99 SingStar Dance, Sony Computer Entertainment, $39.99 Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition, Capcom, $39.99

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2010

Home, Sweet

OnYour

By Taniesha Robinson

jg-tc.com

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134 Dettro Drive Mattoon

Gamers and their limbs are the motion controllers in Microsoft’s new Kinect for Xbox 360. The Kinect sensor, which features an RGB camera and depth sensor and microphone, has full-body 3D motion capture, facial recognition and voice capabilities.

There’s no need to memorize commands like you do in handheld gaming. “You simply step in front of the sensor and Kinect sees you move, hears your voice and recognizes your face,” says Mike Delman, corporate vice president of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business. Clothing or furniture in the room won’t affect game play. Motion-game players can join the Zumba party, go on a Kinect adventure in outer space and even take a joy ride. However, as imagination takes flight, they should be careful not to trip over that ottoman in the living room.

The sleek black Kinect sensor plugs into any Xbox 360 and retails for $149.99. The Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect is $299.99.

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Home

High-tech upgrades know no bounds – even when it comes to an everyday object like the alarm clock Sony Dash Personal Internet Viewer How’s this for an alarm clock?

In addition to waking them up from a nap, the Dash keeps them up-to-date with e-mail and social networking sites with apps for Gmail, Facebook and Twitter, in addition to streaming content from Netflix, YouTube and Pan-

dora. Or, they can simply hit the snooze button on the 800x480 LCD touch screen.

Price: $199.99, sonystyle.com for dealers

Dyson Air Multiplier No, you might not be thinking fans in the middle of winter, but

these Dyson devices are worth getting excited about. The bladeless “fans” draw in air and amplify it up to 18x. No blades or grille make them both safe and easy to clean. The multipliers are available in table, tower and pedestal models.

Price: $229.99 to $449.99, dyson.com for dealers

Sonos ZonePlayer S5 If they want to stream music from your iTunes library to any room in the house, well, there’s an app for that. The Sonos Controller app turns any iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch into a remote that plays music directly from a computer or hard drive to any room with a Sonos ZonePlayer S5 all-in-one wireless music sys-

|

Giftology - 3

tem. Control volume, change tracks and – if you have more than one S5 in the house – even sync up songs, all from your Apple iOS device. Music services Last.fm, Napster, Pandora, Rhapsody and SIRIUS all instantly stream, too.

Price: $399.99, sonos.com for dealers © CTW Features

4 - Giftology

| 2010

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier nism is 20 percent faster, readers can easily rush to the juiciest part of a novel.

Amazon Kindle DX $379.99

Get all of the features of the Kindle, globally, on a larger 9.7inch display. Readers can share their favorite passages with friends via Facebook and Twitter from home or abroad in more than 100 countries.

Barnes & Noble nook

Books

Un-Covered The best gadgets for the (geeky) bookworm on your list Amazon Kindle $139.99

The latest generation of the Kindle makes it easy to lighten the load in a backpack or briefcase. Owners can carry up to 3,500 eBooks in the device –

which weighs less than a typical paperback novel – and stay on the go for nearly a month (with Wi-Fi off) on a single charge. Although the new Kindle has a crisper display and double the storage of the previous model, it’s nearly 2 ounces lighter. And because the page turning mecha-

Gift C ard

kings c o t S ir Fill the Cards from ll ift with G s County Mdaat ocate os the Crty Mall Is ConvetninienMtlayttLoon 6

Coun y Eas Rte. 1 Cross 57 On North Side roadwa 700 B cess From In o is asy Ac p light, Mall With E to S . d r 5 PM st to 3 Hours: Noon Exit We

Mall Sunday .

- 9PM • Thanksgiving M A 0 1 r y e a ft d A r g tu rtin y-Sa e, Monda day Hours Sta hop Alamo Steakhous es To S , Holi

r GNC ine Sto Dept., que, Many BFanks, The Shoeks, Claire’s Bouti Stylists,

Hair er & nboo ristoph rman, Walde k, Regis e ney, Ch io Shac s Shoes, JC Pen ark, Elder Be co Bell, Rad s ayle eo, Ta dary Foods, P ter Hallm Kirlin’s , Premiere Vid Cen egen h L lt a ’s e k m H c o y H&R Blo , Maurices, M s Communit le ils ffet, Co llular One, Pro Na u B o b e Jum orks, C vices Super Body W er Bath & unity Blood S Comm

$149.99

The entire collection of up to 1,500 eBooks stored on a nook can be browsed with quick swipes of a finger via a 3.5-inch touch screen. Nook features include lending eBooks to friends for a 14-day period, Sudoku and chess games and access to exclusive content whenever you visit a Barnes & Noble bookstore. The 11.6-ounce device also can double as an MP3 player.

Borders Kobo eReader $139.99

At just under 8 ounces, the Kobo eReader is perfect for a little light reading. Flexible fonts display on its 6-inch screen, and readers can peruse content with

a comfortable grasp thanks to the device’s quilted back. This lightweight device, now with WiFi, still carries up to 1,000 titles and allows readers to turn up to 8,000 pages before recharging.

The cover image of a reader’s current book displays on the screen even when the eReader is off, just like a print novel.

BeBook Neo $249.99

BeBook Neo users select books from third-party eBook stores and can decide for themselves from which retailer they’d like to purchase a book. Google or Wikipedia can be accessed through Neo’s Wi-Fi connection, and its freescale processor allows fast browsing. Readers also can sketch and mark up texts thanks to the eReader’s WACOM touch panel technology.

The Tablets Apple iPad $ 4 9 9 TO $ 8 2 9

PRICE TBD

$399

Readers also can access titles from various eBook vendors via the Alex eReader. This device ups content interactivity by enabling readers to explore hyperlinks embedded in the eBooks. Alex’s browser brings readers the entire web in true color on its 3.5inch touch screen while the 6-inch screen above displays the eBook content.

2010

|

Giftology - 5

Music To Their Ears Whether it’s an audiophile who spends his evenings enjoying LPs or the commuter who sneaks in a podcast on her way to work, without the right headphones, it’s all just noise

While Apple’s iPad doesn’t solely fall into the eReader category, this tablet computer features the iBook application fresh with loads of content ready for download via the iBookstore.

Also available through the store are enhanced books with words, pictures, and audio and video, which allows readers to more deeply experience content. The app also bookmarks pages and stores notes so readers won’t lose their place or thoughts.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

Alex eReader

jg-tc.com

This Android-powered iPad competitor, equipped with the Readers Hub e-reading application, comes straight from another galaxy. Its digital library can be accessed using the 7-inch touch screen with multi-touch zoom. Samsung also unleashes multimedia content to entertain readers, who can share reactions via videoconferences with the Galaxy Tab’s 3-megapixel camera.

Cruz Reader $199.99

Readers can view the story just about however they’d like on the Cruz Reader’s full-color 7inch touch screen. With just a rotation of the device, content switches from portrait to landscape orientation. The e-reader features a web browser and WiFi and also can be docked to function as a digital picture frame.

–Taniesha Robinson

A

t first glance, you wouldn’t think there’s much to talk about with headphones. One end into your music player, the other into the ear, right? Well, not quite. If you have frequent travelers, teens or music maniacs on your holiday shopping list, you can amp up their audio experience with some higher-tech headphones than what they’ll get packaged with their iPod. You can break down the headphone universe into three basic groups. Ear buds are the most common form of headphone, the ones you’ll get free with your digital music player. They’re lightweight, low-cost and fairly unobtrusive, but they aren’t always up to the job of providing the best sound quality. A variant of the ear bud, the in-ear headphone, often delivers superior sound quality because they’re inserted deeper into the ear canal.

These headphones are often coated with a soft fabric or removable rubber sleeve that you can swap out as it ages.

An over-the-ear headphone (sometimes referred to as an “onear” or “ear cup” headphone) completely encloses your ears.

This presents an obvious benefit: It crowds out surrounding noise.

These headphones also are higher-end, delivering richer sounds and a deeper bass than

ear buds. They also tend to feature noise-cancellation technology, which uses a combination of physical material and digital technology to dampen any ambient noise around you while preserving the sound of your music.

The downside: They’re not as portable as your other options, and they’re pricier.

For the Hardcore Music Lover If high fidelity is their desire, they’ll need a pair of over-the-ear headphones that can deliver both pristine sound and a comfortable fit for hours. Listeners can pair these audiophile headphones with a common MP3 player, but they’re better served connected to an A/V receiver.

Sennheiser’s HD 595 headphones use the company’s Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement (EAR) design to better direct sound toward your ear. A leatherette headband and velour ear pads give the HD 595 a soft touch during use and its nine foot cable lets you enjoy a thunderous movie night from the couch without waking the kids.

Price: $329, sennheiserusa.com for dealers Not every music lover appreciates Dr. Dre, but they’re sure to like his Studio Beats headphones from Monster Cable. They deliver noise cancellation through

the company’s “powered isolation” technology via a pair of AAA batteries. Plus they offer a digital amplifier and a scratch resistant finish. Price: $349, beatsbydre.com for dealers

oval ear tips (which are washable and available in three sizes).Price: $99, klipsch.com for dealers

For the Commuter

Noise cancellation is a musthave feature in any headphone you’re sizing up for a frequent flyer. This technology greatly reduces the drone of an airplane engine but requires power to operate, so battery life is an important consideration.

The Bose QuietComfort 15 boasts a 35-hour life on a single AAA battery, with microphones inside and outside of the headphones to detect and reduce ambient noise. It employs new ear cushion material that the company says also contributes to blunting noise. It ships with a two-prong airline adapter, so you won’t be stuck with the crummy headphones that many airlines make you buy. Price: $299, bose.com for dealers A lower cost alternative is the Audio-Technica QuietPoint (ATH-ANC1). The headphone promises to block out up to 85 percent of outside noise via an external noise-cancelling module on the connecting cord. Putting noise-cancelling circuitry on a separate component makes the headphones themselves lighter on the head and easier to fold up.

An airline adapter also is in-

Trekking back and forth on a train or bus requires a set of headphones that are highly portable and can drown out those around you without exploding your eardrum. Headphones with Bluetooth technology can establish a wireless connection with a music player (provided it supports Bluetooth) so listeners won’t get tangled up with wire as they travel.

Jaybird’s Freedom (JB200) is a water-resistant Bluetooth headphone that features a sturdy headband for keeping ear buds in place while you hustle to get out of the rain. There’s also a built-in microphone, so it can double as a wireless earpiece for your cell phone when not streaming your tunes. It features noise cancellation and has a 4-hour battery life.Price: $129, jaybirdgear.com for dealers If you’re on a tighter budget, in-ear headphones are a good alternative – they’re lightweight and tend to stay put as you walk.

The Klipsch Image S4 doesn’t have Bluetooth but does provide noise cancellation and flexible

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For Tuned-Up Teens The last thing you want to do is give a teenager another opportunity to tune you out, but if you must, you’ve got more to consider than just functionality. Teens desperately need to look good.

Sony’s EX ear buds deliver a touch of style, with five color choices and a rounded exterior that looks more like a pearl earring than a headphone. The EX line offers adjustable cords and three ear pads for customizing your fit. Price: $19, sonystyle.com for dealers If you want a higher-end option, Jaybird’s Sportsband headphones provide a secure over-the-ear fit perfect for track stars. Plus, they offer built-in Bluetooth, a choice of nine colors and higher fidelity audio thanks to its digital enhancement technology dubbed apt-X. A built-in mic turns the Sportsband into a hands-free device, not that you’ll give them the car keys anytime soon. Price: $99, jaybirdgear.com for dealers © CTW Features

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4 - Giftology

| 2010

Journal Gazette & Times-Courier nism is 20 percent faster, readers can easily rush to the juiciest part of a novel.

Amazon Kindle DX $379.99

Get all of the features of the Kindle, globally, on a larger 9.7inch display. Readers can share their favorite passages with friends via Facebook and Twitter from home or abroad in more than 100 countries.

Barnes & Noble nook

Books

Un-Covered The best gadgets for the (geeky) bookworm on your list Amazon Kindle $139.99

The latest generation of the Kindle makes it easy to lighten the load in a backpack or briefcase. Owners can carry up to 3,500 eBooks in the device –

which weighs less than a typical paperback novel – and stay on the go for nearly a month (with Wi-Fi off) on a single charge. Although the new Kindle has a crisper display and double the storage of the previous model, it’s nearly 2 ounces lighter. And because the page turning mecha-

Gift C ard

kings c o t S ir Fill the Cards from ll ift with G s County Mdaat ocate os the Crty Mall Is ConvetninienMtlayttLoon 6

Coun y Eas Rte. 1 Cross 57 On North Side roadwa 700 B cess From In o is asy Ac p light, Mall With E to S . d r 5 PM st to 3 Hours: Noon Exit We

Mall Sunday .

- 9PM • Thanksgiving M A 0 1 r y e a ft d A r g tu rtin y-Sa e, Monda day Hours Sta hop Alamo Steakhous es To S , Holi

r GNC ine Sto Dept., que, Many BFanks, The Shoeks, Claire’s Bouti Stylists,

Hair er & nboo ristoph rman, Walde k, Regis e ney, Ch io Shac s Shoes, JC Pen ark, Elder Be co Bell, Rad s ayle eo, Ta dary Foods, P ter Hallm Kirlin’s , Premiere Vid Cen egen h L lt a ’s e k m H c o y H&R Blo , Maurices, M s Communit le ils ffet, Co llular One, Pro Na u B o b e Jum orks, C vices Super Body W er Bath & unity Blood S Comm

$149.99

The entire collection of up to 1,500 eBooks stored on a nook can be browsed with quick swipes of a finger via a 3.5-inch touch screen. Nook features include lending eBooks to friends for a 14-day period, Sudoku and chess games and access to exclusive content whenever you visit a Barnes & Noble bookstore. The 11.6-ounce device also can double as an MP3 player.

Borders Kobo eReader $139.99

At just under 8 ounces, the Kobo eReader is perfect for a little light reading. Flexible fonts display on its 6-inch screen, and readers can peruse content with

a comfortable grasp thanks to the device’s quilted back. This lightweight device, now with WiFi, still carries up to 1,000 titles and allows readers to turn up to 8,000 pages before recharging.

The cover image of a reader’s current book displays on the screen even when the eReader is off, just like a print novel.

BeBook Neo $249.99

BeBook Neo users select books from third-party eBook stores and can decide for themselves from which retailer they’d like to purchase a book. Google or Wikipedia can be accessed through Neo’s Wi-Fi connection, and its freescale processor allows fast browsing. Readers also can sketch and mark up texts thanks to the eReader’s WACOM touch panel technology.

The Tablets Apple iPad $ 4 9 9 TO $ 8 2 9

PRICE TBD

$399

Readers also can access titles from various eBook vendors via the Alex eReader. This device ups content interactivity by enabling readers to explore hyperlinks embedded in the eBooks. Alex’s browser brings readers the entire web in true color on its 3.5inch touch screen while the 6-inch screen above displays the eBook content.

2010

|

Giftology - 5

Music To Their Ears Whether it’s an audiophile who spends his evenings enjoying LPs or the commuter who sneaks in a podcast on her way to work, without the right headphones, it’s all just noise

While Apple’s iPad doesn’t solely fall into the eReader category, this tablet computer features the iBook application fresh with loads of content ready for download via the iBookstore.

Also available through the store are enhanced books with words, pictures, and audio and video, which allows readers to more deeply experience content. The app also bookmarks pages and stores notes so readers won’t lose their place or thoughts.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

Alex eReader

jg-tc.com

This Android-powered iPad competitor, equipped with the Readers Hub e-reading application, comes straight from another galaxy. Its digital library can be accessed using the 7-inch touch screen with multi-touch zoom. Samsung also unleashes multimedia content to entertain readers, who can share reactions via videoconferences with the Galaxy Tab’s 3-megapixel camera.

Cruz Reader $199.99

Readers can view the story just about however they’d like on the Cruz Reader’s full-color 7inch touch screen. With just a rotation of the device, content switches from portrait to landscape orientation. The e-reader features a web browser and WiFi and also can be docked to function as a digital picture frame.

–Taniesha Robinson

A

t first glance, you wouldn’t think there’s much to talk about with headphones. One end into your music player, the other into the ear, right? Well, not quite. If you have frequent travelers, teens or music maniacs on your holiday shopping list, you can amp up their audio experience with some higher-tech headphones than what they’ll get packaged with their iPod. You can break down the headphone universe into three basic groups. Ear buds are the most common form of headphone, the ones you’ll get free with your digital music player. They’re lightweight, low-cost and fairly unobtrusive, but they aren’t always up to the job of providing the best sound quality. A variant of the ear bud, the in-ear headphone, often delivers superior sound quality because they’re inserted deeper into the ear canal.

These headphones are often coated with a soft fabric or removable rubber sleeve that you can swap out as it ages.

An over-the-ear headphone (sometimes referred to as an “onear” or “ear cup” headphone) completely encloses your ears.

This presents an obvious benefit: It crowds out surrounding noise.

These headphones also are higher-end, delivering richer sounds and a deeper bass than

ear buds. They also tend to feature noise-cancellation technology, which uses a combination of physical material and digital technology to dampen any ambient noise around you while preserving the sound of your music.

The downside: They’re not as portable as your other options, and they’re pricier.

For the Hardcore Music Lover If high fidelity is their desire, they’ll need a pair of over-the-ear headphones that can deliver both pristine sound and a comfortable fit for hours. Listeners can pair these audiophile headphones with a common MP3 player, but they’re better served connected to an A/V receiver.

Sennheiser’s HD 595 headphones use the company’s Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement (EAR) design to better direct sound toward your ear. A leatherette headband and velour ear pads give the HD 595 a soft touch during use and its nine foot cable lets you enjoy a thunderous movie night from the couch without waking the kids.

Price: $329, sennheiserusa.com for dealers Not every music lover appreciates Dr. Dre, but they’re sure to like his Studio Beats headphones from Monster Cable. They deliver noise cancellation through

the company’s “powered isolation” technology via a pair of AAA batteries. Plus they offer a digital amplifier and a scratch resistant finish. Price: $349, beatsbydre.com for dealers

oval ear tips (which are washable and available in three sizes).Price: $99, klipsch.com for dealers

For the Commuter

Noise cancellation is a musthave feature in any headphone you’re sizing up for a frequent flyer. This technology greatly reduces the drone of an airplane engine but requires power to operate, so battery life is an important consideration.

The Bose QuietComfort 15 boasts a 35-hour life on a single AAA battery, with microphones inside and outside of the headphones to detect and reduce ambient noise. It employs new ear cushion material that the company says also contributes to blunting noise. It ships with a two-prong airline adapter, so you won’t be stuck with the crummy headphones that many airlines make you buy. Price: $299, bose.com for dealers A lower cost alternative is the Audio-Technica QuietPoint (ATH-ANC1). The headphone promises to block out up to 85 percent of outside noise via an external noise-cancelling module on the connecting cord. Putting noise-cancelling circuitry on a separate component makes the headphones themselves lighter on the head and easier to fold up.

An airline adapter also is in-

Trekking back and forth on a train or bus requires a set of headphones that are highly portable and can drown out those around you without exploding your eardrum. Headphones with Bluetooth technology can establish a wireless connection with a music player (provided it supports Bluetooth) so listeners won’t get tangled up with wire as they travel.

Jaybird’s Freedom (JB200) is a water-resistant Bluetooth headphone that features a sturdy headband for keeping ear buds in place while you hustle to get out of the rain. There’s also a built-in microphone, so it can double as a wireless earpiece for your cell phone when not streaming your tunes. It features noise cancellation and has a 4-hour battery life.Price: $129, jaybirdgear.com for dealers If you’re on a tighter budget, in-ear headphones are a good alternative – they’re lightweight and tend to stay put as you walk.

The Klipsch Image S4 doesn’t have Bluetooth but does provide noise cancellation and flexible

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Sony’s EX ear buds deliver a touch of style, with five color choices and a rounded exterior that looks more like a pearl earring than a headphone. The EX line offers adjustable cords and three ear pads for customizing your fit. Price: $19, sonystyle.com for dealers If you want a higher-end option, Jaybird’s Sportsband headphones provide a secure over-the-ear fit perfect for track stars. Plus, they offer built-in Bluetooth, a choice of nine colors and higher fidelity audio thanks to its digital enhancement technology dubbed apt-X. A built-in mic turns the Sportsband into a hands-free device, not that you’ll give them the car keys anytime soon. Price: $99, jaybirdgear.com for dealers © CTW Features

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Everybody

Feet

Carpet Volleyball:The Kinect for Xbox 360 brings inmotion gameplay right to the living room

The Wii stands alone no more. With the introduction of Kinect for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Move, gamers the world over will be taking a more active role in their video game adventures CTW Features

V

ideo-gaming couch potatoes are so yesteryear. In 2010, gamers must get on their feet to conquer feats in seventh-generation gaming systems. Two new consoles debuted this year with actionpacked adventures for all ages to enjoy. Gift-givers, compare specs below to decide which gaming system will help loved-ones make all the right moves.

PlayStation Move Perhaps “Move” is short for “move over.” The new Sony game

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controller for PlayStation 3 has carved out a space in the motioncontrol gaming world just in time for the holiday season. Armed with the motion-sensing controller, gamers will explore highdefinition worlds powered by high-def Blu-ray media. The variety of games includes dance, sports, family fun and action.

For those games requiring navigation through on-screen characters, gamers may opt to try the new navigation controller’s analog stick in place of the Dpad of the PS3 game controller.

Whether gamers are pantomiming a golf swing or kungfu kick, the PlayStation Eye USB Camera captures their every move. Built-in vibrations

surge through the motion-sensing controller and help gamers feel like they’re in another world.

Up to four motion controllers can be connected to the system at once, so there’s room for friends and family to join in on the experience.

Gamers will need the PlayStation 3 home console and PlayStation Eye USB Camera in addition to the new game controller to get moving in

game play.

The PlayStation 3 Sports Champion Move Bundle is $399.99, but Move components are available for individual purchase.

New PS3 Titles Compatible with PlayStation Move Sorcery, Sony Computer Entertainment, $39.99 SingStar Dance, Sony Computer Entertainment, $39.99 Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition, Capcom, $39.99

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Gamers and their limbs are the motion controllers in Microsoft’s new Kinect for Xbox 360. The Kinect sensor, which features an RGB camera and depth sensor and microphone, has full-body 3D motion capture, facial recognition and voice capabilities.

There’s no need to memorize commands like you do in handheld gaming. “You simply step in front of the sensor and Kinect sees you move, hears your voice and recognizes your face,” says Mike Delman, corporate vice president of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business. Clothing or furniture in the room won’t affect game play. Motion-game players can join the Zumba party, go on a Kinect adventure in outer space and even take a joy ride. However, as imagination takes flight, they should be careful not to trip over that ottoman in the living room.

The sleek black Kinect sensor plugs into any Xbox 360 and retails for $149.99. The Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect is $299.99.

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High-tech upgrades know no bounds – even when it comes to an everyday object like the alarm clock Sony Dash Personal Internet Viewer How’s this for an alarm clock?

In addition to waking them up from a nap, the Dash keeps them up-to-date with e-mail and social networking sites with apps for Gmail, Facebook and Twitter, in addition to streaming content from Netflix, YouTube and Pan-

dora. Or, they can simply hit the snooze button on the 800x480 LCD touch screen.

Price: $199.99, sonystyle.com for dealers

Dyson Air Multiplier No, you might not be thinking fans in the middle of winter, but

these Dyson devices are worth getting excited about. The bladeless “fans” draw in air and amplify it up to 18x. No blades or grille make them both safe and easy to clean. The multipliers are available in table, tower and pedestal models.

Price: $229.99 to $449.99, dyson.com for dealers

Sonos ZonePlayer S5 If they want to stream music from your iTunes library to any room in the house, well, there’s an app for that. The Sonos Controller app turns any iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch into a remote that plays music directly from a computer or hard drive to any room with a Sonos ZonePlayer S5 all-in-one wireless music sys-

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Giftology - 3

tem. Control volume, change tracks and – if you have more than one S5 in the house – even sync up songs, all from your Apple iOS device. Music services Last.fm, Napster, Pandora, Rhapsody and SIRIUS all instantly stream, too.

Price: $399.99, sonos.com for dealers © CTW Features

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Journal Gazette & Times-Courier

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2010

Home, Sweet Home . . . . . . . . . 3

Giftology

High-tech upgrades know no bounds – even when it comes to an alarm clock

2010

Books Un-Covered . . . . . . . . . . 4 The best gadgets for the (geeky) bookworm on your list

Music To Their Ears . . . . . . . . . 5

High-tech toys bring us some of the greatest joys of the season – and some of the biggest headaches. But not this year. From the technophile who has everything to the person who doesn’t have a clue, our guide will take the guessing work out of gadgets and help you find that perfect shiny something for everyone on your list. Happy shopping!

Whether it’s an audiophile who spends his evenings enjoying LPs or the commuter who sneaks in a podcast on her way to work, without the right headphones, it’s all just noise

Everybody On Your Feet . . . . . . 6 The Wii stands alone no more. With the introduction of Kinect for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Move, gamers the world over will be taking a more active role in their video game adventures

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That white Xbox 360 coupled with the new black Kinect sensor may look a bit odd on the media console. Those who would rather keep it monochromatic and stylish can take their gaming consoles back to black with the new Xbox 360 model or opt for the new Wii bundle.

The new Xbox is thinner, includes more ports and storage and runs more quietly than the older model, all at the same price. The newer model includes touch-sensitive power and eject buttons and a more angularly designed controller, which more closely matches the new system’s design. Another update is the Kinect-specific connector, which is a more powerful USB port; older Xbox 360s require a separate power supply for the Kinect.

The Nintendo Wii now is available in black and comes with the addition of Wii Sports and the MotionPlus enhancement device for the Wii Remote at the same price of the previous bundle.

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It was the first motion-sensing console out of the gate back in 2006, and Nintendo’s Wii still covers the broadest demographic in sales. In addition to the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers, the system offers the Wii Zapper for crossbow and shooting games, the Wii Wheel for driving games and the Wii Balance Board for fitness games. The experience of classic games like Super Mario Brothers and Tetris becomes complete, interactive immersion.

And when gamers tire out from all the movement, they can kick back and watch a movie or TV show streamed from Netflix – subscription required, of course.

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The Wii Bundle retails for $199.99 and comes with the console and two games: Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort.

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