Top Ten Gadgets for Christmas

From toys to tools, the list of hot gadgets for 2011 is extensive.  Here are some of the highlights:

Kindle Fire

The Fire boasts a 7″ multi-touch display and a Wi-Fi connection. The platform uses Amazon Silk, its own browser. The Internet connection allows users to access 18 million movies, TV shows, magazines, songs and books; making the Fire a media treasure trove. Thousands of apps can also be downloaded including Hulu Plus, Netflix and Pandora, etc.

Cobra Phone Tag

This is the perfect device for someone who frequently misplaces their keys or cell phone. Putting the cobra phone tag on your key-ring creates a Bluetooth link between it and your phone. Once they are linked you can page the keys from the phone and vice versa. The page feature will cause your keys or phone to make a chirping noise from wherever they are hiding and quickly be recovered. The cobra phone tag syncs to Blackberry, iPhone and Android platforms.

iPad 2

The iPad 2 has 10 hours of battery life and the collaborative iCloud, which can sync your media across other Apple devices. The multi-touch display is 9.7 inches wide and remarkably vivid. With Wi-Fi and 3G the iPad 2 can do about anything online that a laptop or desktop computer can accomplish, but the iPad 2 does it only weighing 1.33 pounds.

Garmin GTU 10 GPS Tracker

This may be a gift that you don’t tell someone they are getting. The Garmin GTU 10 GPS is about the size of a Bic lighter. It was initially invented to track wandering pets. However, with a battery life of around four weeks this power positioner is being used for my secretive means. Because the GTU 10 is so small, it can easily be stashed with anyone you’re worried about wandering off or in the glove compartment as a low-cost low jack. This technology is being developed even further as race technology. Someday soon, fans will be able to track favorite marathon runners or cyclists as they compete in long distance races. A web interface makes the device’s location easy to find.

Craftsman Compressor

Gadgets aren’t limited to the home office, and a hot one for the garage is the Craftsman 26 gallon air compressors. This powerful compressor can pump out air at 125 psi making it perfect for filling tires and inflatables or backing a sprayer to help paint, stain or wash with some power.

Freerider Skatecycle

The Freerider Skatecycle looks like more of a hovercraft than a skateboard. It doesn’t hoover, but it is certainly a move into the future. A traditional skateboard requires the rider to kick the ground to get momentum going. The hinged structure of the Freerider allows the rider to create his or her own momentum by whipping back and forth. The futuristic wheels are hub-less. It is 37 inches long and weighs just over seven pounds.

Kinect fox Xbox 360

Xbox Kinect is at the forefront of intuitive gaming. The system detects your movement and uses your entire body as a controller. Full-body gaming means more interaction but also more activity — a necessary stand for the lazy reputation that video games are getting. Once you wave your hand the system recognizes you, selects your avatar and you can begin play. The system even has voice recognition software, allowing you to begin watching movies by simply saying “play.”

Lenovo IdeaPad U1

The success of tablets has made their relationship with laptops an odd one; neither one can completely do what the other can. The Lenovo IdeaPad U1 may be the perfect answer. The laptop’s touch screen is removable and it easily becomes a fully functional 3.7 lb. notebook with multi-touch capabilities and an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. This device offers a solid five hours of battery life, E-mail and web surfing. This versatile gadget is the perfect present for mobile professionals who need diversity in their computing solutions.

Samsung LED 9000 Series TV

Samsung’s LED 9000 series of television sets is a mere 0.3 inches wide. This impressive set can support 3D images and even convert 2D media into the third dimension. The LED 9000 is Internet ready. Its open platform makes the user experience extremely customizable. It can support downloadable apps, from online games to social media platforms.

Air Swimmer Remote Control Flying Shark

The Air Swimmer floats through the air smoothly, like an indoor blimp. With a remote control that allows 360 degree turning control as well as ascending and descending motions, the operator can smoothly direct this beast through other rooms. Once filled with helium the shark should stay seaworthy for around three weeks. At 57 inches long and 36 inches tall this Great White makes an ominous guest swimming through the rooms of your house or office. A floating Clown Fish is also available, but can’t be relied on to instill near the terror that the great white shark model will.

Author bio: Thomas Stone blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands. In his free time he enjoys keeping up with the latest innovations in gadgets and appliances.