Samsung LN55A950 55-inch HDTV is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #50

Topic:

If you want a big screen HDTV for the holidays with lots of features in addition to over 50-inches of viewable image, the Samsung LN55A950 may be just the ticket. This massive 55-inch LCD HDTV offers up full 1080p resolution along with Motion Plus 120Hz refresh rate.

The 120Hz refresh rate is twice as fast as many current generation HDTVs that feature a 60Hz refresh rate. The higher refresh rate helps improve image quality by reducing the blurriness often associated with fast action on LCD TVs. The difference in image quality between a 60Hz set and a 120Hz TV is noticeable.

The TV has three HDMI inputs on the back of the TV and a composite AV on the rear. The dynamic contrast ratio is 1,000,000:1 and viewing angles at 178-degrees. Other inputs include a PC input, and dual component inputs. The set isn't cheap at $4,999, but the specifications and screen size are very impressive. Read more

Posted on Tue, 7 Oct 2008 12:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Acer Predator Gaming Desktop is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #49

Topic:

Computers are commonly one of the most sought after gifts for the holiday seasons. While the average PC users may go more for laptop computers than desktops, the PC gamer will want to look at the desktop over the laptop system. You can get more gaming performance with a desktop for far less money than a notebook designed for gaming.

The Acer Predator gaming desktop is one of the lower cost gaming machines on the market. The system runs on 64-bit Vista and uses a quad-core Q9550 processor and 8GB of DDR2 RAM. Graphics are via up to a 9800 GTX from NVIDIA and storage is up to 1920 GB. A lower cost system has 9600 GT graphics and a Q9300 quad core CPU. The system also has room for future upgrades as well. Read more

Posted on Mon, 6 Oct 2008 07:39:19 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

JVC 42-inch TeleDock LCD HDTV is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #48

Topic:

Apple's world beating iPod digital music player is the top music player on the planet and just about everyone has them. It seems like everything can be had with a built-in iPod dock from your alarm clock to your refrigerator.

JVC has the first HDTV that features an iPod dock built-in that is perfect for music fans that like to watch TV as well. The JVC TeleDock HDTV series comes in 42-inch size and can be had in 32-inch or 52-inch as well. Read more

Posted on Sun, 5 Oct 2008 12:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Sanyo Xacti VPC-E2 Camcorder is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #47

Topic:

Anytime a vacation or fun with friends ends up at the lake, beach or poolside I worry about my camera and camcorder getting wet. If you feel the same way, a great way to stop the wet camcorder anxiety is to get the Sanyo VPC-E2.

The E2 is waterproof and can record video underwater at up to five feet deep for thirty minutes. That means you can take the camcorder into the pool and shoot underwater video or take it snorkeling. Certainly, you won't worry about splashes, spills or rain ever again. Read more

Posted on Sat, 4 Oct 2008 12:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Polaroid PoGo is I4U Top 100 Holiday Gadget Gift Guide Tip #46

Topic:

The Polaroid PoGo instant mobile printer is not a Digital Camera, but we still list it in the Top 10 Digital Camera Gift tips as it brings back the fun of the Polaroid Instant cameras we used before we all went digital.
The Polaroid PoGo printer is small enough to carry in a pocket or jacket measuring 4.7 x 2.8 x 0.9 inches. It runs on batteries and you can print photos via Bluetooth or PictBridge over USB cable. Most digital cameras support PictBridge today.
This means with the Polaroid PoGo you can print out a digital snapshot under a minute for your friends or family right on the table. Read more

Posted on Fri, 3 Oct 2008 12:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

iRiver Spinn is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #45

Topic:

iRiver is offering a very cool and stylish alternative to the dominating iPod music players in the United States as of this week. The iRiver Spinn puts a twist on the user interface of a portable media player.
By turning (spinning) a wheel you can navigate through the nicely animated user interface.

Feature highlights of the iRiver SPINN include 3.3 inch color OLED display with 480 x 372px, Bluetooth 2.0, 25h music playback on single charge, and FM Tuner. The iRiver SPINN supports all kinds of video and music formats including WMA, MP3, OGG, and AVI. Read more

Posted on Fri, 3 Oct 2008 05:54:02 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Aiptek Action HD 1080p Digital Camcorder is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #44

Topic:

The Aiptek Action HD 1080p Digital Camcorder is in our top 100 Holiday gift Tip Guide as this camcorder records 1080p HD video (1,440x1080px) at 30fps for the unbeatable price of $177.88.
Of course you should not expect spectacular image quality from the Aiptek Action HD it just doesn't have the optics or image processing of high end HD camcorders, but for the price it should do a decent job.
Features of the Aiptek Action HD include 5MP CMOS, up to 8MP still photos (interpolated), 3x Optical Zoom lens, 2.4 inch screen, 128MB built-in memory, HDTV Component Out, SD card slot and USB 2.0. Read more

Posted on Wed, 1 Oct 2008 14:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Guitar Hero World Tour is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #43

Topic:

When it comes to music games, one name is the most thought of title -- Guitar Hero. This fall Guitar Hero World Tour launches on the Xbox, Wii, PS2, and PS3. The game will be available in late October in a pack with all the band instruments including drums, guitar, and mic.

The game will also be offered in a pack with the game and a guitar only or as a standalone game. The game offers one of the best playlists around and packs more music in than most other music games can muster. The complete band game will retail for $189.99, the guitar only game for $99.99 and the game itself for around $50. This will be one of the hottest games of the holiday season. Read more

Posted on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:22:39 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Samsung Armani Night Effect Mobile Phone is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #42

Topic:

Some users prefer a phone that offers great features and a flashy design. For this crowd Samsung and Emporio Armani have teamed up for a mobile phone called the Night Effect that is aimed at younger users that like to go to nightclubs and enjoy bright city life.

The handset has an AMOLED screen and LED lighting effects that let the phone glow in green, blue, or red. The LED effects activate when a call is received or made using the phone. The screen is 2.2-inches and the phone has a 3MP camera. Other features include Bluetooth 2.0 and USB 2.0 connectivity. The handset will be available starting in November. Read more

Posted on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:24:47 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Dell Studio Desktop is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #41

Topic:

Computers are one of the most popular gifts of the holiday season. Dell has announced the availability of its Studio Desktop and Studio Slim desktop computers. These systems are aimed at the multimedia fan who makes videos and more with their computer.

Options for the Studio desktop systems include additional RAM and Blu-ray players. The small stature of the Studio Slim would make for a great HTPC that would make a good addition to a home theater set up. The system could be optioned with a TV tuner as well. Prices start at $549 for the Studio Desktops. Read more

Posted on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Panasonic EVOLTA AA Batteries are I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #40

Topic:

Batteries go with Christmas like turkey goes with dressing during the holiday season. The last thing you want on Christmas day is to realize that you didn’t get the batteries needed for the toys and gadget or you bought cheap batteries.

Panasonic is bringing its new EVOLTA batteries to the US just in time for the holidays. The only real bad part is that the batteries are available only in AA size. If you need other size batteries, you are going to have to shop elsewhere. Read more

Posted on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Microsoft Xbox 360 is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #39

Topic:

Microsoft recently cut prices on its Xbox 360 game console leading to massive of new sales around the world. The Xbox has one of the largest game libraries around and has good graphics and more.

Netflix users can stream movies directly from the Xbox to their TV and the console can play DVD's as well. The new lower pricing makes the Xbox 360 one of the cheapest game consoles on the market. If you can’t get your hands on a Nintendo Wii this holiday season and the PS3 is outside your budget, the Xbox 360 is a great solution. Read more

Posted on Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:22:03 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Aptus Mini-Motion Cars of Fury Game is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #38

Topic:

When it comes to the holidays people are always looking for something cool that won't break the bank. Aptus has a new line of video games that come bundled with cool controllers that fit the low cost and cool requirements.

The game sells for $19.99 and includes a game disc that streams all game content meaning no installation is required. Both Mac and PC's are supported. The coolest part of the game is the Mini-Motion controller that looks like a car that is used to control the game action. Read more

Posted on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:12:24 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

SmartShopper is I4U News Top 100 Holiday Gift Tip #37

Topic:

One of the biggest pains for many people when it comes to grocery shopping is making the shopping list. The easiest way to make the shopping list is to categorize everything by food type like produce. We have all been to the store thinking we are almost done only to realize you have to go back to the far side of the store for an item that was in the wrong place on the list.

The SmartShopper is a unique kitchen device that makes automatic shopping lists for you. All you have to do when you realize you need an item is hit the record button and say what you need to get. When you are ready to do your weekly shopping you hit the print buttons and you get a full list that has all the stuff you need broken out by store category. Read more

Posted on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:21:32 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Kyocera KYOTOP HIP 6-inch Chef's Knife is I4U Top 100 Holiday Gift Tip #36

Topic:

Everyone needs a good knife; sure, you can run down to Wal-Mart and grab an entire knife set for $20. However, as many owners of cheap knife sets can attest, they simply don’t cut well. When you are trying to make dinner after a long day at work the last thing you want is a knife that makes cutting meat or vegetables more difficult than needed.

When you say knife most of us think about metal cutting utensils, what many don’t think of is ceramic. In fact, some of the sharpest and most durable knives you can buy are made from ceramic. The Kyocera KT-155HIP-D 6-inch Chef's /knife is a great example. Not only does it look cool, but also the ceramic is harder than metal and keeps a sharp edge much better than metal. Read more

Posted on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:19:04 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Samsung Instinct is I4U Top Gift Guide Tip #35

Topic:

As cool as Apple's iPhone 3G is, for the vast majority of mobile phone users it simply won't work. The biggest problem is that it is only available on the AT&T network. If you are on Sprint though, you can get the cool Samsung Instinct. The Instinct offers a few features that will make iPhone users jealous.

The screen of the instinct offers tactile feedback and can be operated with a stylus as well as a finger. The handset has a 2MP camera and full HTML web browser. The keyboard can be used in landscape mode and Live TV viewing. The device also features Stereo Bluetooth and full multimedia capability. Read more

Posted on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:11:15 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Thrustmaster Glow Saber Duo Pack NW is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #34

Topic:

The Nintendo Wii is certainly going to be one of the hottest gifts this holiday season and odds are you won’t be able to find one this year to buy. If you do find a Wii or already have, one and you have a Star Wars fan that plays Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Thrustmaster has the perfect accessory for you.

The Thrustmaster Glow Saber Duo Pack NW is a pair of Wii accessories designed to hold the Wiimotes inside the handle of the sabers. The glowing blades have 17 LEDs inside that are powered by three AA batteries. When turned on one saber glows red and one glows blue.

The effect from the glowing blade is very impressive and these are one of the coolest accessories I have ever seen. Star Wars fans will be very impressed, and they don't even cost that much. The downside is that they really add nothing but a cool factor to gameplay. Read more

Posted on Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Dell Inspiron Mini 9 is I4U Top 100 Holiday Gift Guide Tip #33

Topic:

More Holiday Gift Guide News.

The market is certainly flush with netbooks today. Many of the netbooks come from brands that many of us may not be familiar with. One brand we are certainly familiar with is Dell and it has recently announced its first netbook called the Inspiron Mini 9.

The Mini is one of the smaller screened notebooks on the market with an 8.9-inch LED backlit display. It runs an Intel Atom N270 processor like virtually all of the other netbook systems on the market. It can be had with Linux and Windows XP Home operating systems and storage of 4GB to 16GB depending on the model. All versions run a 4-cell battery and feature integrated Wi-Fi. Pricing for the Mini runs $349 for the Linux model, $399 for the low-end XP version and $449 for the high-end XP version.

Dimensions for the Mini are 9.13" x 1.07" x 6.77" and it weighs 2.28 pounds. It also has an integrated Ethernet jack, three USB ports, AC adapter, and audio jacks built-in. A webcam is optional with 0.3 or 1.3MP. Bluetooth is optional as well. The 8.9" screen has a resolution of 1024x600. Read more

Posted on Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Panasonic DMP-BD50 Blu-ray Player is I4U Top 100 Holiday Gift Guide Tip #32

Topic:

You want the latest in Blu-ray technology, but do not want to deal with a Sony PS3 console in your living room? The Panasonic DMP-BD50 is the answer. The BD50 features the latest Blu-ray profile 2.0 (BD Live) support and as another added value has an integrated decoder for lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats.
This means you can keep your existing Audio Receiver and still enjoy the new audio quality the new formats available on Blu-ray discs offer. Read more

Posted on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Panasonic TH-65PZ850U is I4U Top 100 Holiday Gift Guide Tip #31

Topic:

The new 65" Panasonic TH-65PZ850U VIERA Plasma 1080p HDTV is the top of the line Plasma HDTV from Panasonic (excluding the 103 inch Panasonic Plasma for $70k) for this Holidays featuring the IPTV service VIERA Cast.
Features of the Panasonic TH-65PZ850U include increased native contrast ratio with Native 30,000:1 and Dynamic: 1,000,000:1, VIERA Cast, Digital Cinema Color Technology, PC Input, New Anti-Reflective Filter, Game Mode, Built-In SD Card Slot, 4 HDMI Inputs and VIERA Link HDAVI Control. Read more

Posted on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

WowWee Rovio is I4U Top 100 Gift Tip #30

Topic:

The WowWee Rovio is the first WowWee robot that is more than just a fun toy. The Rovio can actually do something useful. You can monitor your home from anywhere in the world over the net.
Besides the Elmo Live, the WowWee Rovio is the hottest gadget gift this coming Holidays.

The Rovio robot streams audio and high-resolution (640 x 480px) video in MPEG4 format, and it can take still pictures and e-mail them to you. Rovio has a two-way microphone and speaker that enables real-time interaction with subjects - for instance your cat. Read more

Posted on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr