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Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: fun stuff!
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. For some, it's easy to forget about having fun -- fretting over buying the "right" tablet, e-reader or DSLR can strip the joy of unbridled silliness that Christmas allows you. This is your handy guide to stuff you can kick back and enjoy some crazy fun with. There's no ecosystem wars here, no desire to have the loudest or fastest plug-in gadget; just things you'd prefer to give and receive instead of a Sharper Image motorized tie rack... or back-hair shaver. So join us past the break, if you will, for a look at this year's collection of fun stuff!
Holiday Gift Guide: Buying a Mac
The holiday season is fast approaching which means it's time to start thinking about your loved ones and the gifts they may want to receive. High on the list for some may be a new shiny Mac to replace their old, worn-out computer. It's an expensive gift and one that you'll want to research before you take the plunge. Here are some tips to help you get started with your Mac shopping. Think about usage first Before you even begin looking, you need to decide which Mac model you're going to buy. Apple only makes five products in the Mac line including the Mac mini, the iMac, the MacBook Pro, the MacBook Air and the Mac Pro. The underlying specs on many of these models may be similar, but they are very, very different machines and designed for very different purposes. When buying a Mac, the first thing you need to ask yourself is how is the person going to use their computer. Do they travel or stay at home? Do you they need a media server or a machine for browsing the web? Everybody is different and their needs for a computer will vary, so you should take the time to match the computer to the person who will receive it. Below you will find a description of each Mac product line and how each model is typically used. It should help you narrow down the model best suited for the recipient. If you are knowledgeable about Mac products already, you can skip ahead to our shopping tips which will help you save money on your Mac. Mac mini The Mac mini is a desktop Mac perfect for the person who doesn't need portability. The square, flat mini is slim and stylish which is great for those with a small workspace. It can connect to any monitor via Thunderbolt or HDMI, which makes it ideal for someone like a programmer or photo editor who needs a special display (there is an HDMI to DVI adapter included). The base model ships with a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor and OS X Lion, but there is a quad-core version of the mini with Lion server which is lets you use it as a media, web or file server. This latest version also includes support for Bluetooth 4.0 which will let it connect to a new line of low-power Bluetooth devices for fitness and remote control. The Mac mini still has a Firewire port, in case someone still uses it for storage or video cameras. Starting at $600, the mini is the cheapest Mac available. The Mac mini is a complicated purchase because it ships as a stand-alone unit and does not include an external monitor, external mouse or keyboard. If you are buying the Mac mini as a gift, you should make sure the recipient has these accessories already or buy them yourself in advance. Though the mini will work with any USB keyboard or mouse, Apple makes a wireless keyboard, a wireless Magic Mouse and a wireless Magic Trackpad that work perfectly with the mini. Once you've taken care of the smaller peripherals, you need to think about your choice of a monitor. The mini has a Thunderbolt port that allows it to connect to any Thunderbolt-enabled display. Apple sells a line of Thunderbolt displays which are gorgeous, but pricey. The mini can also connect to a TV via HDMI or a standard monitor using DVI or VGA. You'll need to purchase a cable to connect the Thunderbolt port to the display. The nice part about Thunderbolt is that it's compatible with Apple's older mini-display standard, so any old mini-display cable will work. If you can avoid it, don't buy your mini-display/Thunderbolt cables from a place like Best Buy as you will spend too much money. Monoprice is an excellent place to purchase cables. The online retailer carries a wide variety of cables and their prices can't be beat. Amazon also carries inexpensive cables and shipping is free for Prime members. iMac The iMac is another desktop model, but this Mac is an all-in-one that includes an integrated high-resolution monitor, a keyboard and your choice of a Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad. With its 21.5-inch or larger edge-to-edge monitor, quad-core processor and FaceTime HD camera, the iMac is a great all-around machine that's perfect for a home setting. This latest iMac also includes several USB 2.0 ports, Firewire and support for Bluetooth 4.0 (like the mini). It has Thunderbolt to connect to high-speed peripherals and a mini-display port to connect to a second external monitor as well. Since everything is included in one package, it's an easy buy for someone who doesn't need portability. You basically open the box and have everything you need to get up and running in just a few minutes. It's available in a 21.5-inch size that starts at $1199 and a 27-inch that starts at $1699. MacBook Pro The MacBook Pro is the premier Mac notebook. It's portable, has excellent battery life and ships with a variety of high-end options including a quad-core processor, an integrated DVD-ROM and a high-resolution, anti-glare display. The larger 15-inch and 17-inch models are excellent desktop replacements, while the 13-inch model is a powerful travel companion. The 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros also include a dedicated graphics card which is useful for photo and video professionals and gamers. The latest version also includes Thunderbolt and Firewire. Unlike the MacBook Air which includes support for Bluetooth 4.0, the MacBook Pro only includes Bluetooth 3.0. That's not a big deal right now as Bluetooth 4.0 is a new standard, but it could be important next year when these fitness and health monitors start hitting the market. The MacBook Pro is my computer choice as I don't travel very often, but want the flexibility of being able to use my computer at my desk, in front or the TV and sometimes on the porch. It provides the perfect mix of power and portability for the person who isn't always traveling with their notebook. It's available in 13-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch models. Pricing starts at $1199 for the 13-inch, $1799 for the 15-inch and $2499 for the 17-inch. MacBook Air The MacBook Air shares similar specs as the MacBook Pro, but is lighter and significantly smaller. It has a razor-thin design that's simply gorgeous. It lacks a an optical drive of any kind (although Apple sells an external one separately) and has an SSD drive which makes the Air as small as possible, but also yields fast response times and better battery life. The latest version also includes Thunderbolt, Firewire and support for Bluetooth 4.0. It's highly portable and still powerful, two factors that make it one of the best selling Mac models. It's great for students, business people and anyone else who has to carry their Mac around with them on a regular basis. The MacBook Air is available in an 11-inch model that starts at $999 and a 13-inch model that starts at $1299. (Update: The MacBook Air can work with Firewire peripherals, but only through an intermediate device hooked up via the Thunderbolt port, such as Apple's Thunderbolt Display or Sonnet's forthcoming Echo ExpressCard/34 Thunderbolt adapter. --Ed) Mac Pro The Mac Pro is a desktop powerhouse designed for heavy duty computing. It's used by video and photo-editing professionals who run applications that can take advantage of the 6-, 8- and 12-core processor options. It hasn't received an update this year and, as a result, is getting a bit long in the tooth. The Mac Pro is the only Mac model in Apple's lineup without Thunderbolt. It's also the most expensive Mac around and has a price tag that starts at $2499. Places to shop Once you decide what Mac model to buy, you should do some comparison shopping. Unlike PCs which are often steeply discounted, Mac models rarely go on sale. They are a premium product and fetch a premium price, but with some savvy shopping you can save yourself a few hundred dollars. The first place you need to look is Apple's retail store which will give you an idea of the base price and configuration for each model. You can look at both brick and mortar Apple stores and the online store as their prices are comparable. Shopping in Apple's official stores may be the most expensive option, but you will get buying assistance from the store employees and you have the ability to add advanced options like a 7200 RPM hard drive or a high-resolution display. Sometimes, Apple also offers free printers and other bonuses not available at third-party retailers. In addition, Apple's online store has an outlet where you can purchase refurbished models at a discount. These refurbished machines are usually a few hundred dollars cheaper and come with Apple's standard one-year warranty. If you want to look outside of Apple's retail chain, there are several retailers that carry Apple products. Amazon, Best Buy, MacMall and MacConnection are four that come to mind. Best Buy even carries select models in their brick and mortar stores, so you can compare the quality of the Mac with their less expensive PC counterparts. If you have never used a Mac, you'll be amazed at their solid build quality and beautiful design. Most of these third-party retailers will offer Mac products with a slight discount. You'll lose out on any offers Apple has, but you can save yourself $50 to $150 by shopping at a these retailers. If you want to keep track of any discounts or special offers on Mac products, you should check out DealMac, an Apple-Oriented version of the popular DealNews website. Each day, Deal Mac lists new sales that include Mac models and all their accessories. What about used Macs? if you find the prices of regular retail Macs too expensive, you can turn to the resale market for your shopping needs. You can search for a reasonable deal on a used or older Mac at places like eBay and Craigslist. But I must warn you, Macs are well-made machines and they hold their value very well. Don't expect to find a recent MacBook Pro for $200. Nonetheless, you still can save yourself several hundred dollars by buying a used or older Mac. Sometimes, you can find an excellent deal. I recently picked up a fully-functional 2009 Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro for $350 on Craigslist. Shopping used does come with some risks. Most used machines don't include a warranty and you usually can't fully test them before you purchase. eBay does offer warranties through Square Trade and has a buyer protection policy, but Craigslist is like the wild west with little to no protection. You can still get a great deal on Craigslist, you just have to be a bit more selective and find a seller that'll let you fire up the machine before you hand over your money. If you want a safe bet, you can check out Apple's online outlet. As mention above, you can grab a refurbished Mac at a discount and it includes a one-year warranty, too. You'll also want to make sure the Mac you are buying is up-to-date. Back in 2006, Apple made the switch to the Intel platform and its latest OS X versions require this Intel hardware. Older Macs have PowerPC components that are no longer compatible with OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 and Lion 10.7. These PowerPC Macs may be super cheap, but they are obsolete. Thankfully, these models are old enough that you don't see too many of them listed for sale, but they are still out there and you need to be aware of them. Good luck finding the right Mac for whomever you're shopping for, even yourself. Stay tuned to TUAW for more gift guides in the weeks leading up to the holidays.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: gaming
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Ah, the holiday season. That special time of year when we give our loved ones the new hotness of the video game world, and then promptly exploit their over-excited reactions to propel them into unwanted YouTube fame. Even if your familial relations don't have the stuff to become this generation's "N64 kid," you can still kick a few rad toys their way just for the love of it. And if you're having trouble finding the perfect gift for the gamer in your life, we're here to help. Head past the break to take a peek at Engadget's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide for video games. Not finding what you're looking for? Skip on back to our 2011 Back to School Guide for bonus gift ideas.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: headphones
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. We imagine many a PMP or smartphone will be changing hands this holiday season -- iPhone 4S or Galaxy Nexus, anyone? And what better way to accessorize your brand new mobile gadget than with a set of headphones? Fret not audio lovers -- we've rounded up nine of our top picks that we think you'll really enjoy while on the move. We're talking headphones that'll let you control your playlists and chat with friends, all without exposing those precious new gizmos to the harsh winter elements. It's all just past the break, so what are you still doing here? Click on through to the other side!
Gumdrop Drop Tech Series cases offer serious iPhone / iPad protection
Gumdrop Cases has been making cases for Apple devices since mid-2010, and now the company has created the Drop Tech Series of protective cases for iPhone and iPad. These cases are designed to serve in more severe conditions than the usual "pretty" cases that we see all the time, and with their "truck tread" silicone skin on the back, the Drop Tech Series cases look like they're made to survive. Read along for a quick look at the Drop Tech Series cases for iPhone 4/4S and iPad 2. Design To provide the best protection for your device, the Drop Tech Series cases are designed with several layers. First, your device slides into a polycarbonate frame that provides rigidity to the case. Second, there's a replaceable clear screen protector that is in its own frame. The screen protector keeps your iPad or iPhone safe from scratches or spills while it is in the case. Finally, a thick silicone skin covers the frame and back of the iPad, providing drop protection and a very grippy surface. The silicone skin has sealing rubber plugs in all of the right places -- where all of the buttons and major ports are. There are two exceptions to this protection, those being the camera / flash, microphone, and speaker areas. The lack of full protection in these areas makes the product splash resistant, but not fully waterproof. You'll still need to take care to avoid getting your device soaked in water, as it could easily leak in through the microphone and speaker holes or camera port. %Gallery-139227% With all of the protection, you might think the Drop Tech Series cases are difficult to install. You'd be wrong -- they're actually one of the easiest protective cases for iPad and iPhone that I've had the pleasure to work with. The cases do add some bulk and weight to your Apple devices; that's a necessity in order to add the padding and protection that you get with the Drop Tech Series. The iPhone cases weigh 1.7 ounces, while the iPad case tips the scales at 11.6 ounces. The cases for iPad are priced at US$59.95 and come in black, black with a red frame, white with a black frame, and pink with a white frame. The company also makes a "Military Edition" ($69.95) in Army Green-44 that adds a microfilm dust filter and extra protection for the cameras to the mix. If you really need that extra level of protection, the Military Edition Drop Tech Case for iPad 2 is probably the one you want to get (it also looks pretty cool, although I would have preferred camo instead of green). It's the one getting shot by a paintball gun in the video at the end of this review. The iPhone 4/4S cases are priced at $49.95 and come in the same color combos as the iPad Drop Tech Case. Sadly enough, Gumdrop does not make a Military Edition iPhone Drop Tech Case for the iPhone at this time (perhaps they'll make 'em in camo and Army green if enough of us ask for them). Functionality While I didn't offer up my body and iPad 2 or iPhone 4S as targets for paintball guns, I did carry around both of the cases for a day. The iPad 2 case is quite impressive in terms of how well it protects the device. I used it in the kitchen and felt no qualms about splashing a little bit of water on the screen and accidentally dusting the device with a bit of cornmeal. The Drop Tech Series Case did its job admirably, keeping the iPad 2 protected. I didn't deliberately drop the iPad 2 to see how well the case did its job there, but I am impressed with the thickness of the silicone covering, especially in the corners. The iPhone 4/4S case was equally protective. Note that if you're the type who likes to slide your iPhone into a front pants pocket to carry it around, the Drop Tech Series case is going to keep you from doing that. In my opinion, it was just too bulky to carry in pants without looking awkward. On the other hand, if someone was going to toss the iPhone into a briefcase along with pens, pencils, paperclips, and other scratch-inducing materials, the Drop Tech Series case would be perfect. I rate the Drop Tech Series cases as a value. The MSRP for the competing iPad 2 Defender case from OtterBox is $89.95; a full $30 more for (in my opinion) equivalent protection. Likewise, the MSRP for the iPhone 4S Defender is $49.95, $5 more than the Drop Tech Series case. Conclusion Gumdrop Cases has a winner on their hands with the Drop Tech Series. The cases are inexpensive when compared to the competition and offer protection that is equivalent or superior to other similar "construction site cases." If you're looking for a case that can offer ease of installation, great protection, and rugged good looks, the Drop Tech Series cases are what you want.
Iomega introduces new large capacity portable hard drives for Mac
Iomega introduced a new line of portable hard drives for the Mac yesterday. Called the Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive, the drives come in two sizes -- 500 GB and 1 TB -- and are designed with a special case to withstand drops from up to seven feet. The drives have two FireWire 800 ports and a USB 2.0 port and require no power supply, so they're nice large backup drives to pack with you while traveling for work or pleasure. As with the previous new Iomega drives that TUAW has tested, the Helium Portable Hard Drive and Mac Companion Hard Drive, the eGo Mac Edition drives come complete with a USB 2.0 cable, a FireWire 800 cable, and a FireWire 800 - 400 adapter cable. The 500 GB version has a suggested retail price of US$179.99, while the 1 TB version will be available soon for $229.99. For more information about all of Iomega's newest Mac-only hard drives, be sure to read the press release below. Show full PR text Iomega Completes New Line of Hard Drives for the Mac With Launch of Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive *** Three Drives Offer Something for Every User of Mac Notebooks & Desktops: 256-Bit Hardware Encryption Keeps Files Secure Desktop Drive Delivers Quick Charge for Your iPad Up to 3TB on the Desktop, and up to 1TB for New Portable Models All Three Mac Drives Include Bundled Iomega Protection Suite With Mac-Specific Software San Diego, November 10, 2011 -- Iomega, an EMC company (NYSE:EMC) and a global leader in data protection, today announced the completion of its new Mac-oriented hard drive line with the launch of the new Iomega® eGo™ Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive, an on-the-go stylish drive with plenty of storage that can withstand drops and still travel easily in a pocketbook or briefcase. Combined with the recent launches of the Iomega® Helium Portable Hard Drive and the Iomega® Mac Companion Hard Drive, Iomega now has a complete new line of portable and desktop hard drives for Mac users. All three new drives are formatted HFS+ for compatibility with Mac computers right out of the box, making them perfect complements to today's Apple notebooks and desktops. "Iomega's new line of hard drives for the Mac gives enthusiasts everything they need in versatile, high performance storage," said Jonathan Huberman, president of Iomega Corporation. "The new rugged Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive and the compact Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive are ideal for mobile users, creative professionals and digital enthusiasts who demand a stylish and sure way to store, share and backup all of the files on their Mac computers. On the desktop, the stylish Mac Companion Hard Drive delivers plenty of storage and interface options as well as a first-of-its-kind quick charge for an iPad. All three of these new Iomega hard drives are compatible with Mac Lion OS and Time Machine, giving Mac users the form and function they want as well as the peace of mind that their data is safe and can be automatically backed up." Two Well-Rounded Portable Hard Drives for Mac Users Available in 500GB* and 1TB** capacities, the new black Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive has two FireWire 800 ports and one USB 2.0 port for fast performance and versatile connections. The eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive includes a Drop Guard™ Case to help protect the drive from drops of up to seven feet. The eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive requires no external power supply, and comes complete with three cables: one USB 2.0 cable, one FireWire 800 cable, and one FireWire 800-FireWire 400 adaptor cable. Available in 500GB and 1TB capacities, the new Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive has one USB 2.0 port and a durable aluminum case, giving mobile users and others peace-of-mind when traveling with their Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive. The Helium Portable Hard Drive requires no external power supply, and comes complete with one USB 2.0 cable. One Powerful Desktop Hard Drive Available in 2TB and 3TB capacities, the new Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive utilizes a fast 7200 RPM 3.5-inch hard drive in a space-saving design that fits perfectly on the base of the Apple iMac or an Apple monitor. Adding peripheral devices to your Apple computer is no problem with the Mac Companion Hard Drive. The stylish silver and black drive includes two FireWire 800 ports, one USB 2.0 port and a two port integrated USB 2.0 hub that lets you connect multiple devices such as a printer or other external storage device. The Mac Companion Hard Drive doesn't require the user to buy extra cables – the drive comes complete with one FireWire 800, one conversion FireWire 400-800, and one USB 2.0 cable Of the many features included with the Mac Companion Hard Drive, Mac users may most appreciate the first-of-its-kind high powered USB charging port for their iPad, iPhone or iPod. (Apple portable products sold separately.) The charging port is a high-powered 2.1 Amp hookup that makes it easy and convenient to charge your iPad and other portable Apple devices so they're ready to go when you are. *** The new Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive is the only major branded external HFS+ Mac desktop hard drive on the market today that incorporates a high powered Apple device charging port and a two-port USB 2.0 hub. Three Drives + Plenty of Software = Total Solutions Unlike many competing hard drives, the new eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive, as well as the Helium Portable Hard Drive and the Mac Companion Hard Drive, all boast local and online backup, as well as encryption and anti-virus software: 256-bit AES encryption keeps files on your drive safe from prying eyes. The Iomega Protection Suite, a comprehensive offering of powerful Mac software that includes: Iomega® QuikProtect for simple scheduled file-level backup. MozyHome™ Online Backup for convenient online backup of up to 2GB free. A free 12-month subscription of Trend Micro™ Smart Surfing for Mac allows users to shop, bank and surf online while staying safe from attacks to your identity and confidential information. Availability and Warranty The new Iomega® eGo™ Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive is available worldwide in a 500GB model and a 1TB model. The new Iomega® Helium Portable Hard Drive is available worldwide in a 500GB model and a 1TB model. The new Iomega® Mac Companion Hard Drive is available worldwide in a 2TB model and a 3TB model. The Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive and the Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive are now available at Apple stores; the Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive will be available at Apple Stores later this month. All three products are also available or will be available at other select retailers and etailers worldwide. All three products include a three-year warranty with registration. For more information about Iomega storage products, please go to www.iomega.com. About EMC EMC Corporation is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to transform their operations and deliver IT as a service. Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing. Through innovative products and services, EMC accelerates the journey to cloud computing, helping IT departments to store, manage, protect and analyze their most valuable asset - information - in a more agile, trusted and cost-efficient way. Additional information about EMC can be found at www.EMC.com. About Iomega Iomega is a worldwide leader of innovative storage solutions for small businesses, distributed enterprises, home offices, and consumers. A wholly-owned subsidiary of EMC, the world's premier information infrastructure technology provider, Iomega has shipped more than 14 million terabytes of storage since its inception in 1980. Today, Iomega's portfolio includes industry-leading network attached storage solutions that utilize world class EMC storage and security technologies as well as Iomega's Personal Cloud technology; one of the industry's broadest selections of portable and desktop hard drives; multimedia drives that make it easy to view video and Internet content in the living room; and the one-of-a-kind Iomega® SuperHero™ Backup & Charger for iPhone. To learn more go to www.iomega.com. Resellers worldwide can visit www.ioclub.net. NOTE: This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under the Federal Securities Laws. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (ii) delays or reductions in information technology spending; (iii) the relative and varying rates of product price and component cost declines and the volume and mixture of product and services revenues; (iv) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures and new product introductions; (v) component and product quality and availability; (vi) fluctuations in VMware, Inc.'s operating results and risks associated with trading of VMware stock; (vii) the transition to new products, the uncertainty of customer acceptance of new product offerings and rapid technological and market change; (viii) risks associated with managing the growth of our business, including risks associated with acquisitions and investments and the challenges and costs of integration, restructuring and achieving anticipated synergies; (ix) the ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees; (x) insufficient, excess or obsolete inventory; (xi) fluctuating currency exchange rates; (xii) threats and other disruptions to our secure data centers or networks; (xiii) our ability to protect our proprietary technology; (xiv) war or acts of terrorism; and (xv) other one-time events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in EMC's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. EMC disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release. *1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes **1TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes *** For the fastest charge, the Mac Companion Hard Drive must be connected to the computer via FireWire rather than USB 2.0. © 2011 Iomega Corporation. All rights reserved. Iomega, Drop Guard, and SuperHero are trademarks or registered trademarks of Iomega Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. EMC, MozyHome, and LifeLine are trademarks or registered trademarks of EMC Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011
<div style="text-align:center;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/holidaygiftguide2011/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/2011-hgg-2011.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></div> Welcome to Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide hub! Sure, there's nothing more exciting than tearing off crisp winter-themed paper to reveal the packaging of a shiny new gadget, but from the 4AM department store Black Friday queues to the stress of last-minute shopping online, figuring out what to buy your loved ones (and how to pay for it) can take all the fun out of this beloved wintertime tradition. We've rounded up some of this year's hottest tech toys, from TVs to tablets, bringing you a curated collection to help simplify the purchasing process. You've stumbled upon our main hub page, and we're glad you're here. Each week in November we'll be adding three new product guides to our home page, and we'll collect them all below as well. In the meantime, you can click on over to our available category pages, and stay tuned for those to come -- identified by a faded graphic for now.<br /> <br /> <center> <table border="0" style="width:630px;height:281px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/24/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-accessories/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/p-x2anglepro-rgb.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/23/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-bags-and-cases/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/thule-backpack-2-200x200.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-desktops/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/apple-imac-hero-leftside.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-digital-cameras/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/nikon-j1-01.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/24/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-accessories/">Accessories</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/23/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-bags-and-cases/">Bags and Cases</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-desktops/">Desktops</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-digital-cameras/">Cameras</a></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-docks/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/jbl-on-air-airplay-speaker-dock.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-e-readers/ "><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/272770-amazon-kindle-2011.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-fun-stuff/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/motorola-motoactv.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-gaming/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/nindsimages.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-docks/">Docks</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-e-readers/ ">E-readers</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-fun-stuff/">Fun Stuff!</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-gaming/">Gaming</a></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-headphones/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/headphone-3.s600x600.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-laptops/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/asus-zenbook-ux21e-dh71.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/18/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-printers/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/epson-workforce-610-wifi-enabled-all-in-one-printer.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/22/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-smartphones/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/samsung-galaxy-note.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-headphones/">Headphones</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-laptops/">Laptops</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/18/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-printers/">Printers</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/22/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-smartphones/">Smartphones</a></h5> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> <td> <font color="white">.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/02/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-tablets/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/ipad-1-landscape.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-hdtv-and-home-theater/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/samsung9000.jpg" style="border-width:0px;border-style:solid;margin:4px;"/></a></td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> </h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/02/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-tablets/">Tablets</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-2011-hdtv-and-home-theater/">TVs / Displays</a></h5> </td> <td style="text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"> <h5> </h5> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center>
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: tablets
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Of all the electronic gifts you could buy someone right now, a tablet seems like one of the safer bets. It's a cheaper way of saying "I love you" than bestowing a $1,000 laptop, and it takes less chutzpah than signing someone up for a smartphone (along with two years of data fees). And let's be real here: what's more festive than flopping onto the couch in pajamas after opening gifts and lazily playing Angry Birds while It's A Wonderful Life airs in the background? Yeah, we can't think of anything either.Sadly, we don't have any webOS-flavored tablets this time around, and we couldn't include some hotly anticipated numbers like the Transformer Prime, since they're not shipping yet and we don't even know much they'll cost. Still, we managed to find a slew of Android tablets (and one iPad) across a range of budgets. Been on the fence about what to get? Skip past the break for some ideas.
Want to write on your iPad? Here's some tips to get started
So, you received an iPad under the tree. As you're playing with it, you're wondering what you can do with it in regards to creating the written word. For the writer -- from fiction author to enterprising blogger -- the iPad is also a very portable way to get some serious writing done, even though it wasn't originally advertised as such. That's where users came in and turned the iPad into an excellent portable writing machine. Having toted my iPad into the mountains of Arizona and across the ocean to the UK, I was able to get a good amount of writing done and have it available on my desktop with little issue. Optional hardware First, however, you do need some hardware. If you're going to be doing any writing for a lengthy period of time, invest in an external keyboard. While Apple does have one with an iPad dock attached, it's a bit unwieldy for extended use. Skip the dock-enabled keyboard and grab Apple's Bluetooth model. Both cost US$69, but you get extra portability with the Bluetooth keyboard. There are several cases that now have Bluetooth keyboards built right in, including Kensington's KeyFolio for $99.99 and Zaggmate's case with keyboard also for $99.99. The upcoming ClamCase will take these a step further and turn your iPad into a mini netbook. That will run you $119.99, with the price expected to rise to $149.99.
Got an Apple TV for Christmas? Here's how to set it up
Did you find a new Apple TV under the tree or in your Christmas stocking this morning? If you did, you're probably anxious to get it set up and running just as soon as you're done drinking more eggnog and eating those waffles. This is the perfect time to check out some instructions from us on how to set up your new device. Follow along, and we'll give you the info you need to get your Apple TV up and running in no time. We're also taking questions all day on our tricks & tips Twitter account, Ask_TUAW. Pipe up if you need help! 1) Make sure your TV is going to work with the Apple TV. You need a TV with an available HDMI input that is capable of displaying 720p HDTV. If you don't, then now is the time to take a break and brave the after-Christmas sales to buy yourself a new TV. C'mon, you deserve it. 2) Get an HDMI cable. Guess what? Unless Santa also left you an HDMI cable to connect your TV to the Apple TV, you're going to have to wait to play with your new toy. Of course, you can always steal the cable that's currently connecting your Blu-Ray player to the HDTV, and replace it tomorrow when you go to the mall to return that hideous chartreuse and maroon sweater Aunt TUAW gave you for Christmas. But seriously, folks, you need an HDMI cable. Six feet is usually a good length. 3) Open the Apple TV box. There's not much in that little box. You'll see some paperwork, a nice little aluminum remote, a power cord, and the black box that is the Apple TV. Take 'em all out, but be sure to keep the box until you know everything works. By the way, there is a Setup Guide in the box. It has a black cover with TV printed on it. It'll tell you a lot of the same stuff I'm writing here, but if you threw it out with the wrapping paper, at least you have my instructions to follow.
TUAW's Holiday Gift Guide: Crafts with the kids
Welcome to the TUAW Holiday Gift Guide! We've sorted the treasure from the junk and are serving up suggestions to make your holiday gift-giving a little easier. The best holiday helpers are often the ones you already have right at home. Here are some ideas for last minute creations that are fun to put together with your kids. Whether they involve putting together an iPad Moose costume (made out of felt, popsicle sticks, and rubber bands) or building a holder for iAccessories, child-made gifts don't have to be perfect or usable in the long term. They just have to be made with love. Here's a gallery to give you some ideas as a jumping-off point. But don't feel limited by what you see here. Macaroni, glitter glue, pipe cleaners and felt offer a range of expression unlimited except by imagination. %Gallery-111882%
TUAW's Holiday Gift Guide: For the would-be iOS developer
Welcome to the TUAW Holiday Gift Guide! We've sorted the treasure from the junk and are serving up suggestions to make your holiday gift-giving a little easier. Chances are, if you're reading this post and this site, someone you know -- maybe you yourself -- has thought about learning to develop for iOS. For the person on your gift list who's got ambitions of coding the next Angry Birds, you can certainly pick out some items that will ease the path up to the mountaintop. The biggest challenge for the gift-giver is knowing where to start; you've got to match the continuously variable levels of programming expertise that your recipient might have. From novices and noobs to l33t coders, we've got a list of presents that will challenge, educate and inform; even better, many of them are available in digital form for last-minute gifting, or overnight for Christmas Eve from Amazon or Apple (where there's free overnight shipping on orders of $50 or more). Some are even free! The Basics Needless to say, anyone who's diving into iOS development is going to need one thing first: a Mac. Whether it's the most affordable new machine Apple makes (the Mac mini), or a used machine (any Core 2 Duo-based Intel Mac will do), getting on the Mac is a prerequisite. Technically, you can do Objective-C development in GNUstep on Windows, but you can't run Xcode and build projects for iDevices without Mac OS X. We'll leave aside for the moment the question of whether doing development on a hackintosh is a worthwhile idea. The Mac mini makes an excellent development machine; it's fast enough, unobtrusive, and it works with the keyboard and monitor your lucky recipient already has. Xcode does crave memory, though, so you're best off bumping it to at least 4 GB for an extra $100. If you're looking for a used machine, you can go with Apple's refurbished list, third-party resellers like Small Dog, or local used machines via Craigslist. The Xcode environment itself is completely free of charge, although a thoughtful gift-giver might download the multi-gigabyte installer on a fast connection and hand it over on a USB drive.
Engadget's Holiday Anti-Gift Guide: Stuff you don't want
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, which is why we've prepared a whole Gift Guide hub of product guides for this holiday season. Today, however, we're indulging in an exploration of the gadget world's worst offenders of the year. We're only a couple of days away from Christmas, you've taken care of every one of your loved ones' gadget needs with military precision, and now you can rightly put your feet up and relax. But while you're unwinding, why not spare a thought for those you keep even closer than your friends: your enemies? What if they need some last-minute advice on outfitting their tech boudoir? You'll want to be prepared with the year's worst possible gadgets, so as to inflict maximum damage with your "friendly" tips. Follow the break to be enlightened, you Machiavellian schemer, you.
TUAW's Holiday Gift Guide: Great casual games for iOS
Welcome to the TUAW Holiday Gift Guide! We've sorted the treasure from the junk and are serving up suggestions to make your holiday gift-giving a little easier. We're about to enter what has been, in the past, the busiest weekend for App Store purchases. After people everywhere unwrap new iPhones, iPod touches and iPads during this Christmas weekend, they'll run to their computers to set up iTunes, then go shopping out on the App Store for software for their new devices. But there are a lot of different games to choose from on the App Store, and especially for people who only use software casually, it may be tough to find a few solid titles beyond the usual suspects. That's what we're here for, and we've got a list of 10 great iOS games meant specifically for casual game players. If you're a more hardcore gamer, you'll know that there are lots of other titles on the App Store to enjoy, from the recent Infinity Blade to the classic Plants vs. Zombies. But the titles below aren't about strategy or action, necessarily -- they're just good, clean fun, using just one button (or in some cases, no buttons at all) to have a good time. Read on for some great suggestions on what to download first, even if you're not a gamer.
TUAW's Holiday Gift Guide: Slightly wacky last-minute gifts
Welcome to the TUAW Holiday Gift Guide! We've sorted the treasure from the junk and are serving up suggestions to make your holiday gift-giving a little easier. It's getting late, the shopping season is nearly over, and you just haven't found the perfect item for everyone on your list. Well, worry not: here are a few suggestions for your stocking stuffers that may align very nicely if that special someone is also getting an iPad, iPod touch or iPhone this year. ClamCase Gift Card: The idea of combining a Bluetooth keyboard with an iPad case is so compelling, it's no surprise that plenty of companies have introduced products along the same basic lines. Unfortunately, one of the most anticipated variants won't ship in time for Christmas, but if you've got your heart set on giving a ClamCase, you have an option: a customized gift card, ready to give to your iPad-toting family member. As a bonus, you'll save US$20 off the regular $119.99 cost of the case/stand/keyboard combo. Kork Case: If you don't need the keyboard but you do like the idea of keeping green when you encase your iPad, consider the Kork case. The lightweight 50-euro case is made from recycled (and recyclable) natural cork, giving you protection and peace of mind. Be sure to watch the instructional videos to avoid breaking your Kork when you put it on the iPad! iPlunge: It's a prop stand for your iPhone or iPod touch. It's a tiny little plunger. Really, now, what more do you need? As they say, "just lick it and stick it" ($5.99).
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Desktops
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Desktops don't get much love these days, what with newfangled "laptops" hogging all the spotlight, but it's still an incredibly vibrant category, full of cutthroat competition, insanely powerful computers, and superfluous LED lighting. The result is tons of hot deals, particularly if you don't mind bringing your own monitor, wrangling wires behind an entertainment center, or being chained to a desk. In return you'll get performance that simply isn't possible on a laptop, expandability should you choose take advantage of it, and so many hot deals. Follow along after the break as we show you some of our favorites.
Shopping? Consider these TUAW Holiday Gift Guides
Here's the list of TUAW Holiday Gift Guides for 2010. We'll have a few more in the coming days, but if you're still shopping (and good luck to you if you are) hopefully these will help. Enjoy! Choosing the right iPad for you iPhone GPS apps Should I buy an Apple TV? Music gear for the Mac musician Which Mac should you buy? Taking to the great outdoors Interactive books for children 10 iPad apps for seniors Standout iPad stands iPad for photographers Shopping apps External drives for every Mac Toys for the Apple fan Docks that rock Must-have apps for your iPhone 4 10 must-have apps for a new Mac
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Tablets
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. You didn't think we'd let the holiday season go by without an official Engadget Tablet Gift Guide did you? Hey, give us more credit -- we know it's not 2009 anymore! The past year has seen an explosion in the tablet category, and while the iPad may still be the market leader, there's no shortage of Android and Windows 7 alternatives out there that let you surf the web, read books, and watch videos with just a flick of a finger. Sure, more are on the way, and all signs point to Apple updating the iPad in early 2011, but if you've got to have a touchscreen slab before the end of the year, we're here to lend a helping hand. Hit the break for a rundown of the best choices by price category.
TUAW's Holiday Gift Guide: Choosing the right iPad for you
Welcome to the TUAW Holiday Gift Guide! We've sorted the treasure from the junk and are serving up suggestions to make your holiday gift-giving a little easier. Are you planning on purchasing an iPad for someone else (or for yourself) this Christmas? First, congratulations on your taste, discernment and generosity. Second, you're probably asking yourself "Which iPad should I buy?" and "How much is my spouse/friend/gift recipient going to love me now?" With only six variants on the basic theme, there aren't a lot of different choices. Still, you'll want to make sure that you answer these two questions: Do you or the recipient of the iPad need 3G wireless? How much storage do you need in the iPad? Follow along as I take you through some simple questions. Answering them will help you make your buying decision. For some of you, this may already seem like a simple choice, but there may be more factors going into the decision than you think.
Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Digital cameras
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. A new digital camera is a solid go-to gadget present for almost anyone on your list, since everyone loves taking and sharing photos. But pairing the right camera to the right person at the right price can be challenging -- with thousands of camera choices spanning every shape, size, and price tag, picking the right camera can be overwhelming. You're in luck, though -- we've looked through all of 2010's holiday camera offerings and narrowed things down for you. Read on!
