Screen QUEENS
As a tech writer, I’ve never gone in for socks, ties or stuffed toys on my gift- giving list. And with technology changing faster than you can say ‘ ho ho ho’ there’s always a perfect present for everyone on your list. I go with the trends. This year the trend is touch. That’s touch as in touch screens, touch tablets and even a touch mouse.
Cedric Tetzel, merchandise manager for computers at London Drugs, starts his holiday shopping list earlier in the year with a visit to Taiwan to see the latest trade show tech offerings.
“I’m all excited about touch this year, it seems when we put together our selection of the main pieces for the holidays, last year we had tablets, this year we have so many things that are all touch sensitive.”
Tetzel said while Microsoft’s Windows 8 launch was somewhat hampered by a worldwide shortage of touch screens, that is now turning around.
“Everyday we’re getting another model, every hour, we’re getting another delivery notice and some of them are really unique,” he said of the new touch devices.
At Future Shop, Elliott Chun said tablets — including everything from $ 100 e- readers up to $ 800 hybrid tablet computers — are the hot item of the season. While tablets were on shopping lists last year, this year the selection has vastly improved — you can get a tablet computer in every size and to fit every budget.
“A lot of people are interested in Windows 8,” said Chun. “There are a lot of exciting laptops and tablets supported by Windows 8.”
Close to half of Canadians plan to shop online this holiday season and one in three plans to do their Christmas shopping on a smartphone or tablet. Whether you’re planning to try out the latest tech toys in stores or let your fingers do the shopping online, here’s our list to help you find something for everyone on your list.
EBOOK READERS AND TABLETS
It wasn’t so long ago that if you wanted to find an ebook reader or a tablet computer, your choice was severely limited — and by limited we mean one or two and at top prices. Thankfully, that has changed and now there is an e- reader or tablet in a range of prices, sizes and features. And so far, we haven’t met anyone, aged eight to 80 — actually make that two to 102 — who doesn’t instantly take to those easy touch screens, plentiful apps and all- around entertainment value. From the $ 80 Kobo Mini five- inch two gigabyte touch screen ereader with Wi- Fi to the ASUs Taichi, a $ 1,300 tablet/ notebook computer that has not one but two screens, there is a tablet for everyone. If you’re looking for the new Kindle Fire or the Paperwhite, better be prepared to ship it to an address in the United States. For now, some of Amazon’s most popular e- readers remain only on the wish list for Canadians and while you can order them for shipment to the U. S., consider first whether you care about the availability of U. S. content. Tablets are all about content, so a Kindle Fire in Canada that can’t access U. S. content might not be such an enticing deal after all. If you want to move up to a computer that is a little like a tablet on steroids, check out the Sony Tab 20, a $ 1,200 computer with a 20- inch screen that you can lug around from room to room. “I can imagine moving this from room to room or from meeting to meeting,” said Tetze. “I see this as more of a family computer, a device that is shared.” No doubt Apple sees its newly announced super- thin, super- sleek iMac as fitting that category as well. Starting at $ 1,300 for the 21.5- inch model, it’s another consideration for the family base computer although it doesn’t fold down for easy carrying around like the Sony Tab 20. In the ( large) pocket- sized tablet, there’s Apple’s new iPad mini, but starting at $ 329 it is among the pricier in its size range, albeit with a 7.9- inch display it has more screen real estate than its seven- inch competitors. Chun suggests also checking out the Google Nexus 7 at a more affordable price of $ 239. For BlackBerry users, there is also the now bargain basement PlayBook tablet at $ 150.
GAME CONSOLES
For gaming enthusiasts, the newest console is the soon- to- be released Wii U. Chun said pre- orders are already sold out at Future Shop for this new console, available in a deluxe black 32 GB version at $ 350 and a white 8GB version at $ 300 and they arrive on store shelves Nov. 18. Get there early if this is a family gift on your wish list.
SMARTPHONES
If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone 5 may be on your list, but Microsoft’s Windows 8 phones are out now and Samsung and other manufacturers are wowing Android fans with their new releases. Among them, Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 2, the phone/ tablet hybrid that is adding more power than its predecessor and has an enviable display screen — albeit one that make it a bit tough to stick in anything but an oversized pocket.
CAMERAS
If the camera on your smartphone isn’t enough for you as a point- and- shoot, there is a super new point- and- shoot that uses new technology to ensure you never have a photo flop. The Lytro camera takes what its makers refer to as “living pictures,” recording the entire light field in a single shot. That means you can refocus a photo after you’ve taken it. If you’re tired of blurry out- offocus shots, or you’d just like to shoot a lot of photos and then decide later on your computer which ones you’d like to focus in on, this is the camera for you. I tried — unsuccessfully — to order one when they first came out in the U. S. last year, but now they’re available in Canada through Future Shop starting at $ 400.