It’s that time of year again. Let’s take a look at the Top Ten Tech Toys that everyone wants under the tree on Christmas morning. 

1. Kinect for Microsoft Xbox 360. This new motion-based addition to the Xbox is sweeping the console gaming market. It is more precise than the Nintendo Wii and doesn’t require you to hold anything while you play. Plus you can interact with the entire console by moving and speaking. Microsoft has clearly redefined its role in the console market with this additional piece. Price: $149.99
2. Apple iPad. Many people were waiting for news of a second-generation tablet from Apple, although that was always unlikely. In the meantime, the device has recently been updated to support wireless printing, streaming of audio/video to other devices and, of course, multi-tasking. The latest update takes it from a novelty gadget to serious productivity device. Price (range): $499 - $829 based on size of 16, 32, or 64 gb and with or without 3G capability
3. Speaking of streaming audio/video, AppleTV was redesigned this year. It fits in the palm of your hand and requires two wires. One is for power and the other is HDMI (it does not support composite or component connection). You can rent movies and TV shows from iTunes in full 1080p resolution. Additionally, you can connect to your Netflix account, YouTube, Flickr and more. Share movies from your computer or stream from an iPhone/iPad using the new AirPlay system. Price: $99
4. Samsung Galaxy Tablet. If you haven’t adopted Apple products into your life or simply love the Android platform then one of the new Android tablets may catch your eye. The Samsung Galaxy seems to stand out among the rest. At 7” it is portable although there is discussion about the usability of something that size. The spec sheet reads: Cortex A8 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, 16 (or 32) gb of internal memory with upgrades via SD slot, 3-megapixel camera w/ flash and front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera, WiFi and 3G connectivity. It does things the iPad doesn’t do but has it’s limitations as well. Be wary of the Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system it runs. Google claims it is not meant for tablets but seems stable so far. Price: $599
5. GoogleTV. If you’re in the market for a new TV, Sony is making models with Google TV embedded. If you are not, you can buy a stand-alone unit with built-in Blu-Ray player. GoogleTV resembles AppleTV except it incorporates full web browsing and specific content from network stations formatted for the environment. The UI is slow and not very responsive and the content is not being delivered as q quickly as Google had hoped. It definitely has room to grow. Price: $399
6. Sony Bloggie Touch. This 12.8-Megapixel digital camera measures 2” by 4” by half an inch. It sports a 3” touch screen and will hold up to 2 hours of HD video and will connect directly to your HDTV with a mini HDMI output. Bloggie software uploads directly to sites like Facebook and YouTube. Price: $179
7. iPod Nano. Earlier this year Apple redesigned their iPods but the most drastic change was the Nano. It is now a small, sleek, square with a multi-touch touchscreen that resembles an iOS device. In fact, it runs a special version of iOS. It is roughly 1.5” square and weighs less than an ounce with a built-in belt clip. This device is meant to be taken with you on runs without letting you know it’s there. Price: $149 (8 gb) or $179 (16gb)
8. Samsung 3D TV. The 55” 3D LED TV has amazing picture quality and provides better 3D experience than I have found in movie theaters - there is none of that blurriness at the edges. In the box comes this less than 1” thick TV but no glasses so be prepared to shell out more money to use the 3D functions. In the meantime, enjoy 1080p 240Hz crystal clear motion. This is also Internet connectable giving you access to YouTube, Napster, Facebook, and BestBuy’s own CinemaNow (online rental service). Keep in mind that in addition to the glasses, you’ll beed a 3D Blu-Ray player, and high speed HDMI cable at a minimum. Price: $3299
9. Samsung LED TV. For the non-3D lover, the Samsung 6300 is the best LED deal out there. The screen is 55” (54-5/8” to be exact) with 120Hz refresh rate and a 4,000,000:1 contrast ratio. It is also Internet connectable. This is the TV I have had my eye on for personal use. 3D TVs have dropped the prices of these standard LED models significantly. Price: $2500
10. Last but not least, the hottest new laptop to arrive this year - the MacBook Air. I recently had the pleasure of using one. The solid state drive inside makes it turn on instantly (much like an iPhone/iPad). The 13” has the same 1440x900 resolution of a 15” MacBook Pro. It is small and light and really performs with a Core 2 Duo processor and 2 gb of RAM under the hood. Battery life seems to be about 5 hours on the 11” and 7 hours on the 13” model. The 11” may be a little too small to be truly usable for more than the purpose of a netbook and a netbook is a third of the price, but the 13” is beautiful. Price (range): $999 - $1599 (plus customization if needed)

Happy Holidays!