KEY POINTS:
It's been a big year for gadgets which have generally become thinner, prettier, easier to use and capable of doing more. A few in particular have captured the minds of consumers for their clever design.
As such, the Herald on Sunday's view of 2007's best gadgets is a de- facto check-list of those likely to appear under Christmas trees.
* Strictly speaking a 2006 gadget, gamers flocked to the Nintendo Wii ($499) this year with unanticipated enthusiasm. Nintendo focused on good games that take advantage of the Wii remote, the Wii's innovative wireless controller. The small footprint of the Wii and a reasonable price tag have also propelled its widespread adoption.
* Apple's iPhone (US$399) is the most impressive debut of late. Mobile phone design simply won't be the same again thanks to the arrival of the iPhone, which has no keyboard - everything is entered through the touch screen. The phone and messaging interfaces are slick, the screen one of the clearest on a mobile phone, the Wi-fi connectivity seamless and a growing list of applications available on the iPhone are taking popular applications such as Facebook and Youtube mobile and making them look terrific. But the iPhone won't be on many Kiwis' Christmas present lists - it's not on sale here yet.
* The HTC Titan ($1399) and the Touch ($799), both sold by Telecom, are smart phones with music players, pocket versions of Microsoft applications and web connectivity built into them. The Touch is designed around its touch screen - most interaction with the handset is through tapping on the high-resolution screen with your finger.
* Canon unveiled the fifth generation of its "prosumer" digital 40D SLR camera line in September and the changes cement the 40D's ($1899, body only) place as the best camera for serious photographers. The sensor was upgraded to allow for 10 megapixel resolution shooting and the LCD screen on the camera body's rear is bigger and brighter than before. It also has live view mode so you can line up shots with the LCD as you would with a compact digital camera. It also boasts better auto-focus and exposure controls, a flexible sRAW file format and a self-cleaning sensor unit.
* Dell's ultra-thin laptop, the M1330 (from $2099) has restored credibility to the computer maker's hardware line-up. Dell is usually the winner dollar for dollar, but doesn't deliver as good design. The M1330 levels the playing field somewhat. It's thin, sexy-looking, has a LED backlit display, built-in web camera and has powerful specifications. The slot CD/DVD drive and touch-sensitive multimedia controls and remote make it great fun.
* The low-cost computer designed with the Third World in mind is shipping and it's a good package. Based on the Linux operating system, the XO is designed for the harsh environments it's destined for. The XO is incredibly power efficient and is designed to allow for hand-cranked or solar power charging to reduce reliance on electricity. A Give One Get One deal running in the US and Canada allows a donor to buy a laptop for a child in a developing nation, and get one to keep for their own family.
Next week: the best of the internet in 2007.
