Top Product Trends in Consumer Electronics for 2003

Sharp Aquos Flat Screen TV
Totally flat screen television breakthrough that you can hang on your wall or under your kitchen cabinets, delivers mind blowing picture clarity. $699.99. www.sharpelectronics.com

RCA Scenium Personal Digital Media Recorder
Never miss “The View” again! Record up to 35hrs of your favorite programs on an internal hard drive – also has a built-in DVD player – plays up to 1000 MP3 music files and up to 10,000 of your digital photographs, all on your TV—no monthly subscription fees like the other personal digital media recorders. $599.99. www.rca.com

Panasonic e-wear Multimedia Recorder
Multi-function device – (digital voice recorder/digital camera/digital camcorder and MP3 player) and only 3” x 1”! $399.99. www.panasonic.com

Hitachi DVD Camcorder
Uses mini-recordable DVD discs that play right in your computer or standard DVD player. No cables necessary to play your tapes on your computer or TV (like other camcorders). $899.99. www.hitachi.com

HP P230 Photo Printer
A digital camera photo printer that is only 4” x 8” and prints standard 4” x 6” photos. Don’t have to hook up to your computer to print your pictures – just take your memory card out and insert into any of the format slots for instant photo gratification. $249.99. www.hp.com

LeapPad Learning Systems
Interactive learning device that brings books to life for kids. Ages 4-10. Teaches reading and math skills. Interchangeable cartridges so it grows with kids. Multi-award winning edutainment device by a myriad of parents and toy associations. $49.95. www.leapfrog.com

Sony Cyber-shot U 2.0 Megapixel Digital Camera
Do you like it smaller than other people? If so, this digital camera weighs in a just 4.6 ounces and is just over an inch high. $269.99. www.sel.sony.com

World's Thinnest Notebook Computer - The Sharp Actius
Measuring in at .77 wafer thin inches, and weighing just 3 lbs., this notebook computer is thinner than most newsstand magazines – however, it is just as powerful as most desktop computers. $1799.99. Available at www.circuitcity.com

LG Internet Refrigerator
Two of the most important appliances in the house now become one… check your email, monitor grocery inventory, leave video messages for family members, keep track of important dates and appointments, shoot and email pictures, surf the Internet, watch TV…all this on a large 26 cubic foot refrigerator with a built-in 15-inch touch screen monitor. Has a high tech polished steel finish that resists fingerprints! $7,999. www.lgappliances.com

The Whirlpool Polara Range
The world’s first “refrigerated range”! You and your family will always know what’s for dinner…because you place the food (i.e. casserole, lasagna) in the refrigerated range in the morning and set it to heat up and hour before you come home. Your food is kept cool and fresh all day and then the oven turns itself on to cook your food so it is ready to serve at the exact time you programmed it to be. Running late? Don’t worry. It goes into a warming mode and if you never make it home (1 hour later than programmed) it goes back into refrigerator mode. Never burn food again! (Colors: stainless, white, black, biscuit) $1,800 (Only available at Sears). www.whirlpool.com.

Samsung’s v205 Cell Phone
A hot trend for 2003 will be cell phones with built-in digital cameras that will allow you to instantly take and send pictures (in about a minute) to family and friends. The phone has a color screen and a tiny camera embedded in the handset. $449. www.samsungusa.com

ZipZaps
Satisfy the young and old’s need for speed. These ultra micro racecars are about the size of those Matchbox cars that your dad played with – there’s one big difference – it is a fully functional radio controlled vehicle. ZipZaps are the biggest rage to hit every big and small kids wish list since the Xbox was introduced. $19.99. www.radioshack.com

by David Gregg