One decade into the new millennium, the market is packed with new gadgets. Popular items from 2009 have returned to the top in the 2010 holiday season, but so have new competitors. With companies working to improve, upgrade, and put out the most desirable gadget on the market, competition is stiff for the top gadgets to have on one’s wish list this holiday season.
1. Apple iPad The Apple iPad hit the market with high expectations and high sales. While not fully meeting the specifications needed to replace a full laptop computer, such as lacking the ability to multitask with applications, the iPad is still a capable tablet computer that comes at a good price and has received positive reviews in its performance. Competitor: The HP Slate 500 is a viable alternative to the Apple iPad, especially for users who prefer a tablet that runs Windows 7. The iPad is lighter, has a longer battery life and a cheaper price tag, while the HP Slate has a front-facing webcam, Flash video support, and a USB port.
2. 4g iPhone Recently receiving an upgrade from the 3GS, the 4g iPhone’s new superior processor has put it ahead of its competitors, while before it was beginning to trail behind the innovations found in other smartphones on the market (most notably with questionable reception quality from AT&T). With its trendy sleek design in true Apple style, the 4g iPhone is thinner than the Droid Incredible and boasts a much longer-lasting battery life. Competitor: HTC Droid Incredible (from Verizon Wireless) Users preferring Verizon’s services and reception quality over that of AT&T will definitely prefer the Droid over the iPhone. The Droid has a slightly better camera quality than the iPhone, and featured application multitasking that wasn’t seen in the iPhone before the upgrade from 3GS to 4g.
3. Microsoft Kinect The Kinect is Microsoft’s motion sensor gaming device for the Xbox 360 in this console generation. In direct competition with the Wii and the Playstation Move, the Kinect boasts controller-free gaming with its motion control. The Kinect is by far the easiest to pick-up-and-play gaming device, for the whole family both young and young at heart, without requiring the player to actually pick up a controller. Competitor: Playstation Move While Microsoft’s Kinect doesn’t require any physical controller, Sony’s Playstation Move utilizes a wand-like controller similar to that of the Wii. The Kinect features full body tracking technology, having the user’s body become the controller, but the one-on-one controller tracking for the Move might possibly make it a better alternative to play more involved games in the near future.
4. Apple TV Coming in at half the price of the Boxee Box, the Apple TV is clearly the more affordable option for entertainment streaming this year. Featuring a large iTunes library along services from Netflix, casual watchers looking to replace in-store/in-mail video rental (if not already streaming via game console Netflix) will definitely appreciate the Apple TV. Competitor: Boxee Box Usability is superior with the Boxee Box’s QWERTY keyboard as opposed to the Apple TV’s click wheel. In terms of hardware, the Boxee definitely beats out the Apple TV. Free content is prevalent on the Boxee Box with integration and support from Hulu and sites such as South Park Studios.
5. Nook (Barnes & Noble) Edging out the Amazon Kindle earlier this year, the Nook is the new and improved ebook reader to have this Christmas. Boasting many features such as games support (chess and soduku), a basic web browser with 3G and WiFi support along with a customizable and colored touch screen, the Nook has overtaken the Kindle in usability and even allows a one-hour free trial reading of all books in its library. Competitor: Amazon Kindle The Kindle from Amazon was the top ebook reader market last year, but has faced new competition this year. The latest version of the Kindle features better sharing and viewing options, a longer lasting battery life, and an ever-increasing book selection for users to find. With all its new upgrades, the Kindle may very well yet retake the top spot in the market this holiday season.
