The WOW! Buzz

Last week, we covered a couple of recommendations with digital photography.  As promised, this week we will cover additional “favorite” technology to aid your holiday shopping activities:

iPad–This device is on a lot of Christmas lists this year.  IMHO, this is the epitome of portable computing for most people.  With Apple’s 300,000+ available applications (and more coming all the time), this device can handle just about anything you throw at it.  And with the 4.2 software update just released by Apple, print services as well as video interface are simplified greatly.  A nearly full size capacitive touch screen keyboard takes some getting used to viz-a-vis a real laptop, but character entry is quick and easy after some practice.  (See past blog on iPad) My recommended configuration is the 32Gig model with 3G network capability.  Street Price = $729.  If you don’t plan to have extensive media libraries on the iPad, the 16G model is probably enough and will save you a hundred bucks. If you don’t see yourself needing the portability of the 3G network to access the net, you can stick with the wi-fi only models and save an additional $130.

iPod Touch–If the iPad is too pricey for you (or you don’t suffer from presbyopia), most of the functionality of the iPad can be had in the iPod touch for a fraction of the cost.  While still focused on the media (music and video) side of digital services, the new iPod touch can handle a lot more functionality, including HD live video recording and video conferencing over a wi-fi network.  SIP voice services can also interface with the iPod touch to create a “mobile-phone-on-the-cheap”.  (Watch these pages for SIP fixed mobile solutions forthcoming from WOW!)  3G is not available and character entry is limited by the size of the device–use should be limited to texting and the occasional email.  My recommended configuration for most users would be the 32 Gig model for $299.  If you like to carry all of your media with you at once, an additional hundred bucks buys the 64 Gig model.

GPS–For several years, portable global positioning systems (GPS) have commanded premium prices from consumers anxious to find their way to addresses/places unknown.  Partially because of competition from smartphones sporting GPS capabilities, these discrete devices have come down in price substantially in the last 18 months.  I still prefer a discrete GPS device over using the one in my smartphone as the interface/voice prompts are useful as a “hands off” exercise while driving.  Using most of the smartphone GPS applications in a car should be handled by a passenger, not the driver, for safety reasons.  In general, basic is better in this category, and the Garmin 265WT fits the bill.  It’s available on the Garmin website for $135, including free shipping.  I expect that there will be many GPS available for sub $100 this season.

Noise Canceling Headphones–Several years ago, Bose made a splash with an active noise canceling headset that contained active circuitry to create an inverse phase feed of ambient sounds to the earpieces, effectively reducing the wearer’s perception of environment noise.  Gold, Platinum, and Diamond frequent flyers bought them eagerly (even at the lofty price) for their travel bags as they were fabulous on those “long flights to nowhere”.  The news this year is that there are many competitors out there that make noise canceling headsets that are very good.  If you have someone on your list that flies frequently or just enjoys music in an ultra quiet environment, these make a terrific gift.  Here are my favorites:

Bose Quiet Comfort–While the original set that started it all was not particularly musical, Bose’s latest offerings (both around-the-ear and on-the-ear models) are very good, albeit rather pricey.  These can only be purchased here.

Audio Technica ATH-ANC1–These are lightweight, foldable headphones that, in spite of their weight, have quite good sound and adequate noise reduction capability.  They are not particularly efficient, but work with most devices.  Street Price ~$80, a good buy.

Sennheiser CX 300-B–These headphones are not an active noise-canceling model, but are designed to fit inside the ear and form a tight seal against the outside.  This is also an effective noise reduction design, and these have great sound, and are light and comfortable–no batteries or active circuitry involved.  Street Price ~$40.  Be sure you buy from a reputable dealer.  These headphones are widely counterfeited, and the copies can be cosmetically identical, but sound terrible.  If the price is too good to be true, go elsewhere and buy the real thing.

Until next time…