Electronic Products’ Editors reveal their high-tech wish list
BY MELISSA SUE SORRELLS GALLEY
Deck the halls with phones and tablets. Tis the season to give gadgets . . . but giving high-tech gifts is harder than ever this year with cutting-edge CPUs of all shapes and sizes to choose from, each backed by a big-name company and even bigger ad dollars.
Tech gadgets top nearly every holiday wish list. (Via: colorado.edu)
Which device should you wrap up this year? Read on for our top five favorites from the year that was.
1. Samsung Galaxy S III
The Galaxy S III is the standard bearer for Android-based smartphones. (Via: tbr.edu)
By the time the Galaxy S III (GS3) officially entered the U.S. phone market in early July, the Android-based phone had already shattered U.K. pre-order records and has been called “one of today’s top smartphones.”
The award-winning phone contains a 1.4-GHz quad-core Cortex-A9 central processing unit (international model) or a 1.5-GHz dual-core Krait central processing unit (North America and Japan model), making it one of the fastest phones in the market. It’s also loaded with sensors, including an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass and barometer, allowing the device to function as a GPS system, temperature gauge, handheld gaming console, and more.
The slim, lightweight phone has a large 4.8-in. Gorilla Glass 2 screen and an 8-Mpixel camera, providing high-quality images and a high-definition display to view them. It also includes glossy features such as Smart Stay eye tracking, predictive text input, and S Voice, a voice assistant akin to Apple’s Siri.
What makes the GS3 stand out is its new S Beam technology, which allows for wireless data transfer between phones. The genius of S Beam is that the phones connect using nearfield communication, but the files are transferred via Wi-Fi Direct. As a result, sharing large files — from photos to maps to documents — becomes quick and seamless.
Priced at $79.99 and up, the GS3 is a top-performing phone for a pocket-friendly price.
2. iPhone 5
Apple’s best smartphone to date is one of this year’s top gadgets. (Via: uab.edu)
Though it was only unveiled in September, Apple’s iPhone 5 has quickly separated itself from the pack, selling more than 5 million units during its opening weekend.
A solidly built phone, the 5 is thinner and lighter than its predecessor and unrivaled among current smartphone offerings. The phone’s big draw is its 4-inch back-lit, high-clarity Retina display. Powered by a PowerVR SGX 543MP3 triple-core graphics processing unit, the hand-held computer offers three times the graphics performance of the iPhone 4S. The touchscreen is larger and sharper, but it’s also more touch sensitive.
With a custom Apple-designed dual-core 1.2 GHz central processing unit, the smartphone is also twice as fast as the 4S. Its wireless speed is among the 5’s superlatives, too. Designed for LTE wireless technology, the newest iPhone also supports both Wi-Fi N and improved 3G access as a fallback when LTE is unavailable.
Starting at $199.99, the iPhone 5 is also stocked with extras, such as improved battery life, active noise cancellation, three microphones and social network integration as well as Apple standouts like Siri voice commands and the iCloud service. On-board sensors include an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass.
It’s one of the best — and most popular — gadgets introduced in 2012.
3. Google Nexus 7
Google’s latest tablet is designed for both function and fun. (Via: ucsf.edu)
Make way for what some have called “the best small tablet you can buy.” The world’s first quadcore 7-in. tablet, Nexus is one of the most powerful small-sized gadgets on the market. Its Tegra 3 processor and 12-core GPU multitask with ease and deliver smooth, beautiful streaming video.
The rubberized, dimpled back makes the slate comfortable to grip for long periods — although you won’t necessarily have to. Nexus’ time-saving functionalities include a smarter keyboard and sophisticated voice search. The tablet, which averages slightly less than 10 hours of battery life, also supports Android Beam, making it easy to share web pages, maps and files with other Android users.
Loaded with the latest Google Now predictive search service, the Nexus shines as a personal assistant. The impressive Now software not only provides voice recognition search but quickly begins to recognize patterns and offer results before it’s asked.
It’s LED-backlit LCD capacitive touchscreen and high pixel density make Nexus an entertainment machine. Backed by the Android OS, Nexus has access to the Google Play store, including more than 700,000 apps and millions of other entertainment options. Sensors include an accelerometer and gyro — perfect for gaming — as well as a compass and magnetometer.
Starting at only $199.99, the Nexus is an exceptional value: It’s a small price for a small device with big power.
4. Wii U
Nintendo’s latest console revolutionizes family-centered gaming. (Via: luc.edu)
Nintendo’s latest gaming console made our list for sheer innovation. Wii U’s resistive touch-screen tablet-like controller — called a GamePad — creates a double-screened gaming experience.
The 6.2-in. handheld mini-screen offers a variety of supplemental data and enhanced in-game visualization as well as limited off-television play. In addition to the screen and traditional buttons, the controller includes a camera as well as a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope. It can also be used as a universal remote to control up to two devices including a television, stereo system, or lights.
Starting at $299.99, the console is also both a media hub and social meeting place. The system includes native Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Instant Video and Hulu Plus apps as well as integration with TiVo and access to IMDb and Wikipedia. The device also supports Facebook, Twitter and other social networks, including complete access to the Miiverse, Nintendo’s social network for gamers.
The first Nintendo console to support high-definition graphics, Wii U is also fully compatible with earlier generation Wii games and controllers. The Wii U has an IBM multicore processor and AMD Radeon-based GPU, and it relies on flash-based storage technology. Wii U also features HDMI output as well as four USB ports.
It may be a small step for Nintendo, but Wii U is a giant leap forward for family-centered gaming.
5. iPad Mini
Apple’s entry into the mini-tablet market is a winner. (Via: apple.com)
It’s easy to see why the iPad Mini has been called the “must-have gift” of the 2012 holiday season. Though it is more costly than its small tablet competitors, starting at $329, it has a larger screen and lighter feel. It’s also packed with familiar iFeatures including Siri, FaceTime, and the App Store, featuring more than 275,000 iPad apps.
Portability is the watchword for the Mini. With a shape and size similar to a paperback, it is easy to hold and small enough to fit in a small bag or coat pocket. Inside, you’ll find a duel-core A5 processor and 512 Mbytes of RAM. Though it doesn’t have the much-touted Retina display, Mini has a backlit 7.9-in. LED touchscreen, perfect for reading a book, browsing the web or watching films on the move.
Boasting a 10-hour battery life, super-fast Wi-Fi capability, and sensors, including an accelerometer, gyro, and compass, the Mini also includes AirPlay and AirPrint, wirelessly connecting with your other devices.
It’s much of the functionality we’ve come to expect from Apple products with a cozier, more intimate feel—the perfect introductory tablet for Apple users. ■
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