Holiday Gift Ideas

Dish viP622 DVR
If you really want to win the family over this holiday season, give them the gift of HDTV. One of the best buys in HDDVD is small Dish satellite provider DishNET. Always on the cutting edge, the company's new DishHD DVR Receiver (Model no. ViP622 DVR) not only supports two TV's instead of one, it allows you to playback and record HDTV in its highest resolution. It even has on screen Caller ID when your phone rings so you can pause, answer and come back without missing a minute of the action.

Features include:

• Independently watch and record programming on two TVs
  
• View off-air digital/HD local broadcasts
  
• TV1 display supports four resolutions: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i
• TV2 display resolution is 480i
  
• Supports Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound
  
• Convenient On-Screen Caller ID with history
  
• Record up to 200 hours of standard definition, up to 30 hours of high definition or a combo thereof
  
• On-screen Electronic Program Guide (EPG) with easy access to program listings and information for up to 9 days
  
• DISH home Interactive TV with instant access to breaking news, sports, weather, games and convenient customer service with the push of a button
  
• Two satellite tuners allow you to select from two viewing options: Single Mode: Picture-In-Picture (PIP) available on any TV or Dual Mode: View separate programming on 2 televisions

For more information visit www.dishnetwork.com.

Stocking Stuffers

Duracell Batteries, Chargers
Digital cameras continue to be a must-have for the holiday season – whether you are giving them as a gift or using them to capture the festivities. To ensure you never miss a moment, always have a supply of batteries you can trust on-hand to keep your camera powered-up. Duracell PowerPix batteries (4 pack - $5.99) are specifically designed for digital camera users because they're always ready and they deliver up to twice as many pictures as an ordinary alkaline battery.

If you are a serious shutterbug who snaps hundreds of photos during the holidays, you should also consider a rechargeable battery for maximum value and convenience. Duracell has two new chargers on the market – the Power Gauge Charger ($26.99) with a LED indicator that displays battery charge status and the Mini Charger ($11.99), which is sleek, pocket-sized and perfect for traveling. The Power Gauge Charger also has a USB port for quick charging of devices that require a USB cord. www.duracell.com

The 2nd Generation iPod Shuffle
Apple has created a 2nd generation iPod Shuffle of an almost impossibly small size. Only slightly bigger than a quarter, this lilliputian device packs 1GB of storage space. Enough for up to 250 of your favorite songs! Apple also attached a clip to the back of the Shuffle, so you can wear it anywhere for skip-free music playback. Perfect for working out or just walking down the street. Unit Dimensions - 1.62 x 1.07 x 0.41 (inc. clip) Unit Weight – a mere 0.55 ounces! PRICE: $79 www.apple.com

i-PHONO Bluetooth Stereo Headphones
These new light (only 1.55 oz battery included) headphones allow you to listen to music wirelessly from a Bluetooth enabled mp3 player, PC or PDA (devices must have A2DP). You can switch between music and phone calls. The auto switch function allows you to cut off the music and switch to the phone when you have an incoming call. Once you hang-up the phone, it will switch back to music again.

And, besides the stereo and hands-free applications, you can use the headphones with an Internet messenger program such as Skype, MSN Messenger or Yahoo! Messenger. The soft rubber on the top of the ear hook makes the mini very comfortable to wear and the Bluetooth stereo dongle enables music players such as CD players, MP3 players, mini Hi-Fi systems, handheld game consoles portable media players, computers, etc so you can transmit your music wirelessly to the headphones. $89 for the headphones, the dongle is $49. www.bluetake.com

Motorola T305
This hands-free speaker is optimized for use in the car and lets you keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. The powerful speaker and noise reduction technology provide the volume and clarity needed to converse in the car. The Motorola Portable Bluetooth Hands-Free Speaker T305 allows you to just clip it to your visor and go. No installation required!

Motorola was the first to use Bluetooth wireless technology to create hands-free systems for the car – allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Unlike a headset – the T305 is optimized for the car.

• A 1-watt speaker allows the driver to hear the caller loudly and clearly.
  
• On the callers end – he/she can also clearly hear the driver because the T305 integrates the latest eco and noise cancellation technology.
  
• Answering and concluding calls, placing calls on hold and muting are simple with a single multi-purpose button.
  
• Always there, in the car, ready for use – no digging around or rummaging for your Bluetooth or wired headset.
  
• The T305 has excellent battery life – up to 14 hour talk time and 14 days standby time. Cleverly, if the T305 is left on when you exit the vehicle, it will automatically power off 15 minutes after sensing that its paired phone has left the environment – preserving power.
  

Parrot Photo Viewer
As convenient as digital cameras are, there are times when, quite simply, it’s not convenient enough. Camera phones are often the quicker, more convenient way of recording that memorable, instantaneous moment. But then the trouble rolls in. How to get the photo off of the phone? Unless you e-mail it to yourself through the phone, spending money to use the internet via your wireless provider, chances are that the photo is going to stay in your phone forever. Except if you use the Parrot Photo Viewer.

Any Bluetooth enabled phone has the option to use the Parrot Photo viewer. Select the program from the listing of Bluetooth options on your phone (or your computer, for that matter), and send it to the leather or oak photo frame. The photo automatically resizes to the size of the screen, and formats itself as vertical or horizontal, accordingly. Another automatic feature is the automatic adjusting of the LCD screen. The internal memory is 32MB, which means it can hold over 100 images. Users can choose whether they want to have a fixed display of one photo, or run a slide show of all the photos in the frame. The frame itself measures 3” x 5” and the pictures appear 2.75” x 2”.

The Parrot Photo Viewer prices start at $149. www.parrot.biz

The Ultimate Gift:  Flat Panel TVs

There are two major types of flat TV LCD and Plasma:

Sharp 37-inch AQUOS TV
The leader in LCDs and one of the hottest new flat panels around is Sharp's AQUOS TVs like this 37-inch model. They are available in 1080p -- the highest available resolution for all display devices and the pinnacle HDTV standard. Sharp was the first company to incorporate it into LCD TVs and now has the widest selection of 1080p models to choose from, in 37, 45, 57 and 65-inch screen sizes. Sharp will launch three new 1080p TVs in 42, 46 and 52 inch screen sizes. This TV also has Sharp’s proprietary 4-wavelength backlight system that provides a wider color spectrum to achieve deeper, more vivid reds than was previously possible. In August, Sharp opened the world's only generation eight LCD TV factory, which will be able to produce 8 46-inch TVs from a single piece of glass! List Price: $2,399.99 Web site: www.sharpusa.com

LG 60-Inch Plasma TV
If budget is no object, check out LG’s whopping 60-inch Plasma TV - with integrated HD-DVR. While you’re watching TV on your large TV, now you can record programming without a TiVo! The set sports a 160GB hard drive which stores up to 13 hours of HD programming - or 63 hours of standard def content. It also has 7000:1 contrast ratio (which is very good) and built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuners for all your inputting needs. The LG 60PC1D is now available for $5,399. www.lgusa.com

• Email this page
• Printer-friendly version