Five Must Have Gadgets For 2007

Consumer electronics have become not only instrumental in the way we enjoy and live our lives, they have become a way to find and connect with each other and to make our lives seamless. Every year technology takes a new leap and delivers new things to make our lives better, easier and more fun.

Compiling a list of the top five in these new innovations can be tricky. You have to take several factors into consideration: price, innovation, intuitiveness, ease of use, functionality and integration. What I look for personally when I buy a new piece of technology or a new gadget is how much it costs, what it can do for me, and how long it will last. Who wants to drop hundreds and even thousands of dollars on an item they will have to replace in a year?

There are many gadgets on the market today that I covet, and several new ones that I own, but not all of them can be placed in the top five “must have” gadgets of 2007. For example, I enjoy my new television, but even though it is a plasma and fairly high tech, it wouldn’t make this list. There are too many companies making the same thing, which means it is not innovative. Also, there are not enough integrated features, such as DVD or interactivity, that would take it over the top into the “must have” category.

Topping the list this year is a gadget that has taken a past winner’s concept, TiVo, to the next level. This gadget is the Apple TV. What Apple has done is create a set top box that provide seamless integration between your computer and your television, allowing you to share everything from home movies to television shows and movies you have downloaded from online sources like iTunes with every one in your home.

Not only does Apple TV wirelessly synch your computer to your television for video purposes, it synchs music files as well, serving as a wireless DJ for your iTunes library. You can even share slide shows of your photos with anyone you want, set to music. Not only does this product synch with your television, it synchs with other Macs or PCs in your home as well. This means any time you change the song on any of the computers in your house, it changes on the television also. This allows you the freedom to run your show from anywhere, any time and any computer wirelessly.

Apple TV is priced for easy acquisition at $299 USD. It is also covered under Apple’s fantastic Apple Care protection warranty, which is a big bonus. It has quickly become Apple’s best selling new product this year. As with all things Apple, it is attractive, highly functional, easily integrated with your other technology and cutting-edge.

Number two on this list also comes from Apple. The new Apple iPhone, scheduled for release in June pending FCC approval, received rave reviews at the MacWorld convention in January. The first thing you notice about this gadget is it’s sleek design. In a case that is similar to the ever popular iPod, the iPhone provide seamless, button free, wide screen navigation in a slim design.

With the iPhone, you’re not only getting a mobile phone, you are getting a full technological experience in the palm of your hand. The new iPhone acts as your mobile phone, your organizer, a weather station, email system, web server, iPod, video player and more. It has intuitive touch screen navigation that eliminates the need for buttons and dials. Its wide screen makes walking your iPod videos a great experience and makes it easier to see your contacts and other features of the phone. Because it is awaiting FCC approval, the price is unconfirmed as of the date of this article at the $300 to $400 USD level.

LG Electronics brings us the first dual-format DVD player in the world. For quite some time now, people everywhere have been debating whether Blu-Ray or HD-DVD would win out in the competition between formats. Now the point is moot, as LG has provided the consumer with a way to watch both.

Granted, the price tag is a little heavy for most consumers at $1200 USD, but as with all new technology you can expect the price to go down as it becomes standard. This technology makes it possible to avoid a similar situation to the VHS verses Beta debate when those technologies were first introduced. Knowledge customer is not have to wait for one technology to “win” before buying a piece of equipment or new DVD.

This new DVD unit supports of full range of media technology. Not only is it HD compatible, it is this BD-Java compatible for interactive media. It plays sound in a variety of formats, and provides for a variety of audio-visual connections. It should be available for purchase at the end of the first quarter in 2007.

The Nintendo Wii has been making news everywhere. I have to admit, I am a PlayStation fan myself, but when it comes right down to it, the intuitive controls on the Wii make it much more innovative than the PS3. The PS3 has some nice new features like always on internet capability, high definition graphics and multi-media technology, including Blu-Ray. Even so, the easy to use point – click – move interaction of the Wii is a much more cutting edge feature right now.

There are more games made for the PS3, which is an advantage, but the ability to play Wii right out of the box in an active, get-up-out-of-your-armchair way is making it hugely popular. It has even tapped into the market of people who wouldn’t normally play video games - an amazing feat.

Priced at around $600 with several games included at retailers like Wal-Mart, the Wii is still a bit pricey for some consumers. The fact that the entire family can play, regardless of gaming ability, makes the Wii an attractive purchase at any price. Even your grandma will want to get in on the fun.

Even though there are hundreds of gadgets out there right now that are cool and noteworthy, I only have room for one more on this list. The winner of the last “must have” designation is the Sony Mylo. It is a portable telecommunications device designed to flow with the WiFi infrastructure that is springing up everywhere. It works as an instant messaging device, web surfer, Skype phone and mobile.

It comes with Internet service from T-Mobile for those times you are out of range of any WiFi hot spots. You can also watch movies, play games and listen to your music on it, in addition to email capability. Though not as sleek as the iPhone it is an alternative for those who dislike Apple products, or who prefer actual buttons – Mylo has a full key pad under its screen. Priced at around $350, the Mylo has been suffering from a design similar to a Sidekick, but don’t be fooled – Mylo has capabilities the Sidekick can only dream about.

If you are a gadget-head like I am, something on this list is bound to appeal to you. Some of this year’s best toys and tools are a little pricey, but there is something for every budget out there. Don’t forget to drop me a line if I left out your favorite gadget for this year so I can check it out and write about it here.