Women and Technology

Female consumers now account for more than half — a whopping $55 billion — of the annual $96 billion spent on electronics. With women initiating 75% of all consumer electronic purchases, their interest in digital products is clearly on the rise. Manufacturers have taken notice of this influential buying segment by finally producing tech products that appeal to the style and practicality of female consumers of all ages. Here is a sampling of some of the newest offerings for this powerful female market.

Felicidade Groove Purse Tote for iPod
The new and empowered Felicidade Groove Bag Plus let’s you take your iPod out in style. This new Groove adds an amplifier to complement its elegant and practical styling. Slip your iPod in the custom fit pocket, plug in the amplified speakers, and hit Play. There's a side zipper that allows access to the docking cable for charging the iPod and an internal pocket built specially for the AC adapter and cable. Groove Bag Plus delivers crystal clear sound with enough volume to provide atmosphere to almost any environment. (www.drbott.com -$199.99)

Apple iPod Socks
Dress your iPod up in any one of six vibrant color iPod Socks (green, purple, grey, blue, orange, and pink). This set of knit socks provides a stylish, fun, and practical way to protect your iPod. Fits all iPod sizes. (www.apple.com - $30)

Shuga Bud Earphones
SHUGA BUDS are stereo quality personal earphones "studded" with GENUINE SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS for use with personal audio players like i-Pods, MP3 players, portable CD players...or at the gym or on the plane! (Not for cell phones.) SHUGA BUDS come with a wind-up storage case and gift box. SHUGA BUDS come in 5 colors: blue, pink, iridescent, sage green and yellow/gold. (www.plumparty.com - $45)

Gwen Sefani HP Limited Edition Digital Camera
HP and Gwen Stefani recently launched a limited edition HP Harajuku Lover Digital Camera. This stylized version of HP's Photosmart 607 Digital Camera features 4.1-megapixel resolution, 21x total zoom and HP's exclusive Real Life technologies: panorama preview, in-camera red-eye removal, adaptive lighting and HP Image Advice, an on-camera help wizard. This compact glam cam is the ultimate fusion of smart technology and chic style. A limited number of cameras are expected to debut this May online at www.hpshopping.com and other retail channels for a suggested retail price of $250.

Disney’s Pendant Camera
The Disney Princess Locket-Style Digital/VGA Camera is easy-to-use, compact, and dangles beautifully from a pink, beaded necklace. The camera features 640 X 480 still image resolution, a full 16 MB of SDRAM and uses a lithium battery. It takes up to 50 images and is web cam capable. Girls can take a digital photo, print it, place it in the locket and proudly show it off. The camera is compatible with Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP. (Will be available nationwide at Target www.target.com in April MSRP - $39)

Nokia 7280 Cell Phone
Affectionately nicknamed the lipstick case, the Nokia 7280 fashionista phone is dressed to the nines in a retro-design reminiscent of 1950’s. The piano black cell phone is packed with modern day features including a round navigation pad, voice dialing, voice commands and integrated VGA camera/video player. But its piece de resistance’ is its screen which when not in use becomes the ultimate in vanity flair, a tiny mirror! (www.nokiausa.com - $500)

Body Glove BlueVoice Mobile Headset
This slim, lightweight BlueVoice Mobile Headset from Body Glove is designed for extreme comfort. The microphone extends (like a periscope) to provide superior clarity and the patent-pending system dynamically adjusts the volume depending on microphone position. The headset allows for 6 hours of talk time. ($99.99; available at Sprint PCS stores)

Body Glove Fusion Cellsuit
The Body Glove Fusion Cellsuit fits like a glove with its weather-resistant material and non-slip design. Available for flip and Nokia phones and in black/blue and black/gray . ($24.99; available at Best Buy stores). www.bodyglove.com

Audiovox Kitchen Counter Entertainment Center
The Audiovox VE1020 under the counter entertainment center is just what the soap opera junkie ordered. This sleek space saver sports a 10.2” LCD TV (the VE750 is about three inches smaller and will save you about $300 bucks), built in slot-load DVD/CD player, hands free telephone, LCD clock/alarm, AM/FM Radio that is all controlled by a credit card sized magnetic mount remote control! This unit is perfect for kitchens, dorm rooms and households where space is at a premium. (www.audiovox.com -MSRP: $799)

Sony VAIO T150P/T Notebook
The Sony VGN-T150P/T will help anyone stay productive while on the go with lightweight, portable features. A widescreen display with XBRITE LCD technology, long battery life and a unique, compact design delivers a movie viewing experience like no other notebook can. This complete multimedia package lets you listen to and manage your favorite music and organize and share your digital pictures. The integrated DVD±RW drive allows you to watch, edit and burn professional quality DVDs using Click to DVD software. Distinctive, stylish design with a unique burgundy exterior and premium functions combine to create the ultimate mobile companion. (www.sonystyle.com - $2,199.99)

Philips MiraVision
Most women would agree that a television is not the most attractive device when it is turned off…until now. Philips creation of MiraVision takes an LCD television and builds it into a mirror, allowing the user to hang it on a wall like a piece of art. It uses a unique polarized mirror technology, which transfers close to 100 percent of the light through the reflective surface, therefore the LCD image (when the TV is on) can be clearly seen. Screen size options include 17”, 23” and 30” viewing areas (available in “portrait and hallway” formats). Mirror TV is an ideal solution for non-traditional viewing spaces because of its ability to be installed flush to a wall. It is also a decorators dream because it allows the owner to pick any custom frame design to compliment and blend into their personal home environment. Next time you run into Demi Moore, ask her what she thinks of her MiraVision Television. (www.philips.com - MSRP: $2799-$5000)