Okay, you know someone that has everything or nearly everything but you still need to get them a gift and need some help. Well, each year I strive to put together a nice line-up of things people "wouldn't mind" getting for the holidays. So let us get started...

I always recommend a fun advent calendar and mention the 2013 Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar set that comes out each holiday. This years Lego set is priced right at $39 and includes a great set of mini-Lego figures. But this year I also want to mention a new Angry Birds advent calendar from K'nex that might be fun, different and attractively priced at under $30.

Share some fun and laughter!

Every holiday season brings out a slew of new movies to see and this year is no different. And some of our favorite recommendations includes the sequel Despicable Me 2 available in Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD download. I can't say enough about how hilarious this film is...as funny as the original. Great characters and the minions are just cool!

Speaking of the Minions...how about picking up a Dave Talking Figure for yourself? This Dave is something special with 55 sayings and sound effects. Careful though...one of those sounds effects is him farting! :-)

Another family-friendly animated Blu-ray/DVD for the holidays is Disney's Planes. This movie brings you back to the Cars universe...but now it is planes racing. Truth be told, the movie is very formulaic but the kids will love it and laugh...and that is all that matters.

In quick succession I will also recommend the dark Superman reboot...Man of Steel, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on Blu-ray to help you brush up on what happened so you can go see the second Hobbit movie coming out in December and Star Trek Into Darkness.

Bringing the family fun!

Collectible playing card games like Magic the Gathering and the like make for great gifts and for those that are new to playing these games, a starter set is just the thing to get them going. Be sure to pick up two sets so they can have another one for their friend or family member to play with. Magic the Gathering has been around a long-time now and is a favorite in my household and something I can highly recommend.

And if your gift recipient is a comic book fan, perhaps DC Comics Deck Building Game would be a nice surprise. This game requires 2-5 players, takes 30-45 minutes to play and brings together all the fan favorite heroes and villains. Play as Batman, Superman, The Flash, Green Lantern and yes...even Aquaman. Definitely worth checking out.

What about some toys?

Well if you ask any child nowadays or toy manufacturer for that matter, it is getting harder and harder to find a toy that will keep the attention of a child as well as a smart device. Sad but true. But toys are trying to fight back with some pretty clever solutions. These include toys that interact with game systems like the latest Skylanders SWAP Force or the new Disney Infinity. These toys interact with videogames to bring the characters to life.

There are also toys that have been updated to work with a smartphone like the new Furby Boom. The app unlocks an entire world where you can hatch a whole civilization of Furblings to enjoy. The app also includes a series of games you can play with your your Furby including Furbish soccer!

And if your little one is ready for their own smart device a first option could be the very nice LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra. This has been a popular tablet that hosts a slew of over 800 optional education and entertainment software in a durable package. The 7-inch tablet features a high-resolution screen and Wi-Fi. The LeadPad Ultra includes 11 apps including an art studio, photo app and has both a front and rear camera. Great for ages 4 - 9. Available for $149.

Okay...what about videogames?

This list could go on forever but I'll just quickly list some great titles for current systems:

3DS: Pokemon X or Pokemon Y (Pokemon Y is on my personal list because my son took my Pokemon X right when it arrived), Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is the latest Zelda game and definitely worth playing through and lastly Mario and Luigi: Dream Team.

Consoles: LEGO Marvel, Mario 3D World and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag are all highly recommended but be sure to pick up the right version for the recipients game system.

Now a great gift would be one of the new, powerful gaming consoles like the Sony Playstation 4 or Microsoft Xbox One but those are a bit hard to obtain. You can check the different bundles on Amazon to see if any of these consoles are available in one configuration or another.

Other tech worth getting?

Yes, the new iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina are great products and are highly recommended. These are substantial updates with improved processing power thanks to a new 64-bit architecture.

Let us not forget that Amazon is in this fight with several great Kindle options including with their wonderful Paperwhite 6" ebook reader as well as the impressive Kindle Fire HDX 8.9" that is a highly competitive offering to the iPad for less.

And to keep all your gear working throughout the day, I personally rely on this small USB external battery pack.

We have found that streaming services are taking up more and more of our TV viewing time. And while I'm sure Apple is due for a substantial update to their Apple TV product at some point in the near future, I would have to say that the Apple TV is one of the best products to deliver streaming content to your TV. Yes, the Roku 3 is a great product as well but the seamless integration of iOS products and the Apple TV give it an edge.

I mentioned the Bose QuietComfort 20i Noise Canceling headphones in my "Wouldn't Mind "Getting into the Mood" Holiday Wish List 2013" piece a couple weeks ago but they warrant another mention. These are great travel companions with wonderful noise cancellation features as well as great audio quality.

And sometimes you need to share your tunes with others, so be sure to check out Bose's highly-rated SoundLink Mini Bluetooth speaker.

And for those over the ear headphone fans on your list, you have probably heard them mention Beats Solo HD headphones. These are very popular and come in a wide variety of colors. And check out my "Wouldn't Mind "Getting into the Mood" Holiday Wish List 2013" for some other great audio listening offerings including some impressive wireless headphones!

A holiday list from me needs cameras!

As I have mentioned on several occasions on this blog, with the improvements in camera technology in your smartphones many people are using their phone to take pictures. And there have been some phenomenal improvements in phone-camera technologies like the Lumia 1020 with its 41-megapixel camera. And yes, the Samsung's and Apple's out there take "good enough" pictures.

So if you are going to carry a camera it needs to add value to your life. It needs to provide something that your phone isn't delivering on. That is the challenge camera manufacturers have been facing over the past few years.

One thing a smartphone camera suffers from is its small lens and sensor. So a point-n-shoot pocket camera needs to provide improvements in those areas. Another area of weakness is phones do not have much in the way of telephoto zoom capabilities. So a camera should improve on those aspects and deliver a much better picture. Smart-devices benefit from being connected to the internet or your home network so hopefully the cameras can start to fill the gap there to help transport your photos out of the camera and get the online as painlessly as possible.

The two brands I have found to be the most trusted for me in the mass-market category are Canon and Sony of late. You should be pretty confident if you are purchasing one of these brands. That is not to say that you can't get a lemon from them but I have found them to be of well-constructed, have a solid list of features and typically deliver great pictures for whatever price point you are looking at. That is not to say that Nikon, Panasonic, Fuji and others don't make great cameras...but as a general statement for someone going out to just "pick up a camera" as a gift or order one online, those two brands have served me well these past few years.

My current camera favorites are:

Canon S120 is the latest PowerShot camera is the storied line of market-leading image quality in a pocket size camera. This camera takes beautiful pictures, provides all the flexible a knowledgeable photographer would want all in a rather small size.

I have mentioned the predecessors to this camera before. What makes it unique is while still being small, it features a larger sensor than the ones found in most point-n-shoot cameras. This combined with fast (f/1.8) high-quality optics, an impressive 12.1 sensor and 1080p video. Highly recommend this camera priced under $400.

A great reason to buy a camera to compliment your phone's camera is to get something that can zoom into distance targets. The new Sony HX50V is a wonderful camera to do just that. With its 30x optical zoom and image stabilization, you can get some amazing pictures. You also have a camera that can rapidly take 10 pictures per second to make sure you catch the action. This camera includes full HD 1080/60p video recording capabilities. Definitely a great travel camera!

Another thing a smartphone camera cannot do is swap out lenses to change out the dynamics of your photography. This is why we have seen a huge uptick is people buying digital SLR cameras. A great new product from Canon in this category is the EOS Rebel SL1. This is the smallest and lightest DSLR camera on the market and supports a great range of Canon lenses. And while it is small, it still features a large APS-C sensor to give you high-quality pictures that will look a lot nicer than a camera phone picture. Even though this is an entry-level DSLR, it is packed full of features, is simple to use and will make you glad you brought this camera with you on a trip or family event.

Computer Gear?

Absolutely! Yes, I am a fan of the Apple products and I'm sure you don't need my help in this category but I will tell you the Retina-based Macbook Pro's are awesome!

But there is some great complimentary gear to go with your Mac or Windows computers.

Anyone can benefit from some extra hard drive space. And Western Digital is the brand I have had the most reliability with. The WD My Passport Ultra Portable External Hard Drive is an excellent option. It supports USB 3.0 for faster transfers and leverages WD My Personal Cloud Storage as well.

How about a high-performance gaming mouse for their computer. Check out Razer's Naga 2014 MMO edition. Or Razer's BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical PC Gaming keyboard!

And last but not least, a new wireless all-in-one printer like the Epson Expression Premium XP-810 color photo printer, scanner, copier and fax makes for a great gift to print out all those wonderful holiday pictures!

I hope these suggestions help you lock down those holiday gift ideas! Be sure to check out my "Wouldn't Mind "Getting into the Mood" Holiday Wish List 2013" for more great ideas!

Larry Pacey, award-winning designer tracks the latest news on consumer products, electronics, appliances, smart devices, networking and the gadget lifestyle.

For the latest news follow me on: ------------------------------ OR ------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter @WouldntMindThis Please comment below and share your thoughts. If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to email me at wouldntmind@gmail.com. Just my 2-cents, Larry

This is turning out to be a pretty exciting year for great holiday gift options! Movies, games, products as well as a slew of trusted "relatively new" tech to keep everyone happy.

I really would appreciate it if you would "share, like, tweet, pin, post or follow" me. Please spread the word so I know there are people out there that are listening :-)




I have endeavored to put together a series of posts over the past month that highlight tons of great gift ideas. I certainly hope you found something to elicit joy and excitement for the recipient! I know I would be happy if I was on the receiving end of one of these!

Be sure to check out these posts for any gift ideas for friends, family...or something for yourself.










I hope these help! Once again, please "share, like or follow" for more great product information especially with the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) coming up next month.

Please follow me @


Happy Holidays,
Larry

Larry Pacey, award-winning designer tracks the latest news on consumer products, electronics, appliances, smart devices, networking and the gadget lifestyle.

For the latest news follow me on: ------------------------------ OR ------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter @WouldntMindThis Please comment below and share your thoughts. If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to email me at wouldntmind@gmail.com. Just my 2-cents, Larry

I've gotten pinged a few times with people looking for gift advice on some subtle alternatives from my 2012 Holiday Gifts for Cool Kids of All Ages write-up. Questions about options on how to leverage certain products within their current setup and the like. While talking through these scenarios, I hit upon some other great products, many of which I have recommended at one time or another over the past year. So here is my "Another Great Gift List for People that have Everything 2012"!

I mentioned the Big Jambox which is a Bluetooth wireless speaker system that allows you to bring "big sound" with you no matter where you go. But for those of you looking to bring wireless music enjoyment to the home...I would strongly recommend Sonos PLAY: 3 ($300). Sonos is such a quality outfit. Every product they make delivers great fidelity and are thoughtfully executed.

So what does the PLAY: 3 do? Well, it lets you stream your iTunes music library to speaker anywhere your WiFi reaches. All controlled by your iPhone or iPad. You can also access a host of internet music streaming services including Amazon, SiriusXM, Spotify, Pandora and Rhapsody. Definitely a great gift of the music lover in your life!

And while I am at it, the original, smaller Jambox by Jawbone ($130) is still a wonderful and quite portable solution for streaming your music from your iPhone, iPod Touch or Android...any Bluetooth device. It even has a stereo headphone type of jack.


One question I am regularly asked is "How do I get the music on my smart-device to play on my home stereo?" and I point them to the Belkin Music Receiver ($20'ish). This inexpensive little device receives the Bluetooth music from your Bluetooth player (iPod Touch / Smartphones) and outputs via a regular RCA or headphone jack to your audio system. This is a great, low-cost solution for hooking up your iPhone to your home stereo to stream music around the house!

Speaking of audio around the house. Sometimes you just don't want to bother other people and while I have mentioned other great headphones, these are probably the finest set for just around $100! The Audio Technica ATH-M50 professional monitor headphones are spectacular. Now I do need to caveat that these are not portable headphones per se. They have a rather long, coiled wire but for hooking up to your home stereo, PC or lounging around the house, these are amazing!

Even their ATH-M30 model for around $60 are an amazing performer!


If you are looking for some great ear-buds for your mobile device under $50...check out the great Klipsch IMAGE S4 In-Ear Enhanced Bass Noise Isolating headphones.

And now that your home stereo can play all that cool music, you will want to be able to control it, the TV, Blu-Ray player, stereo and the like. I recommend the Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote ($130'ish). Don't be fooled by the new Logitech Harmony Touch! That is the new version and the user experience is very awkward...still strongly recommend the Harmony One Advanced!

One thing that I really like to do for my holiday gift giving, is to give someone the gift of something they probably need but not consider getting for themselves. And one of the biggest areas of "neglect" is backing up your computers. And guess what...computers die, hard drives die, things get glitchy...and you loose valuable digital content.

A great solution is just pick up a small portable USB backup hard drive. I am partial to Western Digital and their My Passport ($90) line of drives. I have several that have proven to the highly reliable. For some reason my Seagate drives die within a year. So I stick with WD and have been happy. Just plug it into your computer and install the backup software and off you go. There is a My Passport for the Macintosh (less than $100) available as well that is compatible with Apple's wonderful Time Machine back-up solution. Note: You can reformat the PC version of the drive use on the Mac and vice versa but will loose the software along the way. Not really a lose except for the Windows backup software on the PC version of the drive.

While I am not a fan of the Android tablet offerings to date, I can see why someone would pick up an Android Smartphone. They are less costly, offer differentiated sizes, features and configurations...giving you more variety of options. And at the end of the day, you can make a phone call, browse the web, get your email and txt messages all at the price you are willing to pay.

This works as long as you do not have an iTunes music, apps or video library. If you do, stick with the iPhone! It is the best-in-class product in the category but if you don't, then an Android is an option for the techie or cost-savvy consumer.

While your carrier will offer different hardware, different pricing and different limitations, I would recommend you look at the Samsung Galaxy S3, Motorola Razr Maxx HD, Samsung Galaxy Note II (really like this one but it is rather big and not the easiest to tote around)...

...Okay, I tried to offer alternatives but you can get an iPhone 4S from many carriers for under $100! And there is not that much of a difference between the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5. Yes, the iPhone 5 is the nicest smartphone with an amazing app library, very well integrated eco-system of music and video integration. And all of that comes with the $100 iPhone 4S...pretty amazing!

And be sure to check out my full 2012 Holiday Gifts for Cool Kids of All Ages posting for tons more great gift giving ideas!

Other holiday gift lists and advice:

Healthy Holiday Gift Ideas 2012

What NOT to Buy this Holiday Season 2012!

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Larry Pacey, award-winning designer tracks the latest news on consumer products, electronics, appliances, smart devices, networking and the gadget lifestyle.

For the latest news follow me on: ------------------------------ OR ------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter @WouldntMindThis Please comment below and share your thoughts. If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to email me at wouldntmind@gmail.com. Just my 2-cents, Larry

Every year there are product offers that seem too good to be true and as the adage goes...probably are. There are also gleaming new products entering the marketplace that from your first impression...these are awesome! But once you get it home you find out that the dream doesn't live up to reality.

My job around this time of year is to make sure you don't get caught up in the hype or end up getting something that will soon be obsoleted. Or at least you are informed enough to make the best decision for yourself.

So what don't you get over these Black Friday and holiday sales?
I would avoid gaming consoles EXCEPT for the Nintendo Wii U and perhaps the Nintendo 3DS (or 3DS XL). The Xbox 360 is at its end of life and is due for an update that should appear next year. The PlayStation 3 is pretty much in the same position. The Playstation Vita is just plain bad with a rather weak game library.

In the cameras I would avoid category, I was really excited about the prospect of a Canon mirrorless camera (Digital SLR cameras have a mirror so you can peek through a viewfinder and see what the camera's chip will see but this means they have to be pretty large) that takes advantage of the entire Canon library of lens. The Canon EOS-M had tons of promise...that at the end of the day just didn't deliver. It is a nice enough camera but it is missing a few physical dials to make sure functions easier to access and a rather slow focus...just ends up disappointing.

In a similar vein, I am not blown away by Nikon's offer in this category either. The Nikon 1 is a mirrorless camera but also exhibits slow focus speeds as well.

On the computer front, I would avoid the new Microsoft Surface tablet. Sure it looks cools with an all-new interface but try to use it! Unlike the Apple iPads, you have to micro-manage your memory on the Surface. If you have a few apps open...it starts to slow down and not run smoothly. I even had apps that wouldn't load! And don't be fooled, this is not a real computer running Windows 8. It is a version called RT that requires you to purchase new apps. For more information on why to avoid the Surface, check out my more in-depth Don't Buy a Microsoft Surface...not ready for prime-time piece.
Another Windows 8 device I was looking forward to but it ultimately let me down was the Lenovo Yoga 13. Okay, let me say that if you are looking for strictly a sleek Windows 8 ultrabook...then the Yoga might actually be a great choice. But as a tablet...it just doesn't deliver. Too bulky and cumbersome.

Televisions and digital cameras tend to see major updates in the early months of next year causing this years models to go on sale. It is then up to you to decide if the new version warrants the extra money or if you can save a good chunk on last years model. Even clothing and jewelry will see major discounts after the holidays as well!


And now you might be asking what do I get? Well be sure to check out my "2012 Holiday Gifts for your Cool Kids of All Ages" article.

And did I miss anything? Something else that should have been on this list of what to avoid? Add it in the comments below!

Larry Pacey, award-winning designer tracks the latest news on consumer products, electronics, appliances, smart devices, networking and the gadget lifestyle.

For the latest news follow me on: ------------------------------ OR ------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter @WouldntMindThis Please comment below and share your thoughts. If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to email me at wouldntmind@gmail.com. Just my 2-cents, Larry

We are coming up on the holiday season and I don't know about you but for me it is always challenging to keep abreast of the latest trends and great holiday gift ideas. The following is a list of products I know I would love for a holiday gift. As usual, my stuff leans toward the techie or young at heart variety but I hope you can find something here to meet your precipitants wish list!

Like previous years, let's start with the youngest (age or maturity) on your list. So how about getting ourselves into the holiday spirit with an advent calendar...and not just any calendar but the Star Wars Lego (roughly $40) which is a tradition at our household! Please ignore the upper end of the age range mentioned on the front of the box...this one is great for anyone into the Star Wars universe. Highly recommend!

And while we are in the Lego frontier...I do need to mention another perfect union. Legos and Minecraft. If you have anyone in your life that is carving up their own virtual landscape...they will really enjoy this non-interactive alternative. Here is your chance to get their nose out of the computer for a bit. Check out the Lego Minecraft 21102. These are a bit hard to find at retail ($35) but I have run across sets at your usual ToysRUs stores and there are resellers online offering the set with a pretty decent mark-up...over $60 currently! I will keep my eye out for this sets availability online but Lego execs let me know they are not holding their breath for much availability during the holidays!


How could I make one of these lists without an Angry Bird "thing" and this year the combination of Angry Birds and Star Wars seems to be a hot marriage...and through in a Jenga gameplay? So be sure to check out the Angry Birds Star Wars Fighter Pods Jenga Game ($25). Or the AT AT Attack version ($39).

Okay, if you haven't already noticed...this is the year of "Super Heroes". This halloween was jam-packed with both boys and girls dressed up as their favorite hero. And this is also reflected in the most wanted Blu-Ray and DVD's. Now the world of streaming and on-demand has really started penetrating the mainstream (more ideas about this later) but there are still a very large contingent of people that still get their latest movies at home via a disk. So here is my action-packed recommendations...

The culmination of one of the finest reboots in movie storytelling, The Dark Knight Rises ($25 for both Blu-Ray and DVD). Christopher Nolan's darker and more brooding take on the story which began with Batman Begins staring Christian Bale. Follow-up with the haunting performance by Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight. If your gift receiptent hasn't seen the trilogy in its entirety...you can get all three in The Dark Knight Trilogy on Blu-Ray for $30.

Speaking of reboots...there was also The Amazing Spider-Man ($20 Blu-Ray/DVD) but at the end of the day it really didn't introduce anything new versus the Sam Raimi trilogy. BUT if you didn't see that trilogy...then this is a great place to get into the "amazing" Spider-Man universe.

And how could this holiday list miss the monumental blockbuster...Marvel's - The Avengers ($25 for both Blu-Ray and DVD)! With its group of decidedly super humans, mutants, and demigods. This is the melting pot of the Marvel Comics universe that is the culmination of a series of stand-alone movies including the first two Iron Man's, Thor, The Hulk, and Captain America. And not only is The Avengers full of powerful action scenes where everything gets destroyed but its also about the powerfully acted times when the heroes interact with one another. A "must see", a great gift and no you don't have to be a comic book fan to enjoy this movie!

Prometheus ($25 for Blu-Ray and DVD) by Ridley Scott of Aliens fame takes us on another Sci-Fi journey to a completely alien world and this roller-coaster of a story will keep you on edge throughout. While some people might find the classic Ridley style of breathtaking panoramas mixed within the movie a bit slow...others will be blown away with the scope of the vision.

And for those on your gift list that have a bit of flair and are "calm, cool and collected"...then you should be getting them the Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection on Blu-Ray ($225). This set features all six Bond's including Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. For those that love the intrique and adventure that Bond brings to each movie...this is a must have.

And no holiday video list would be complete without a Disney pictures and this year the must see movie is Pixar's Brave ($28). The story of an impulsive young woman with impressive archery skills and a no-nonsense attitude, Merida throws her realm into chaos when she disregards the customary procedure for finding a suitor and then disappears into the forest in defiance of her mother's unbending ways. This is arguably one of the most beautifully rendered movie Pixar has produced and the lead character is quite endearing.

While this next topic probably warrants its own piece, I am going to take a quick stab here on the Best Kids Tablet options! Before I leap (no pun intended) into the iPad, Kindle Fire, etc. discussion and how these are really viable options for most kids (if the price point is something you can deal with) but first I do have to give the tablets truly designed for kids a shot. And the two most popular are LeapFrog's LeapPad 2 and the VTech InnoTab 2. I can really see this turning into a "LeapPad 2 VS InnoTab 2" competition! Both offer a pretty beefy platform that is truly designed for young-ones and a good library of edutainment titles.

At the end of the day after playing with both LeapPad 2 and InnoTab 2 systems for a bit of time, I walked away feeling that the LeapFrog LeapPad 2 was the superior system. It is noticeably quicker, has a substantial amount of on-board storage (4 gigabytes), is compatible with over 325 games and downloadable apps. I do wish that LeapFrog had offered an SD memory card option like VTech did but the faster processor in the LeapPad 2 won me over. This is a very sturdy device for children 3-9 years of age and you can get the LeapFrog LeapPad 2 for under $100. This is a great edutainment device for you kids.

Videogaming console manufacturers and consumers will have a difficult holiday season. Sure there will be some great games to buy for your existing systems but this holiday season I really won't recommend purchasing a new gaming device...except maybe a Nintendo Wii U (more on that in a bit). Both the XBox 360 and PS3 are long in the tooth and due an upgrade and the newer Playstation Vita portable game system has been a huge letdown.

Nintendo looks to be the only one with any energy this holiday season. The Wii is getting a substantial upgrade this year with the launch of the Nintendo Wii U. This new gaming console features an all-new tablet-like controller called the GamePad and has a host of new capabilities but the launch titles are not necessarily knocking my socks off. The initial pre-orders online have already sold out but I'm sure their will be glimmers of opportunities to pick one up if you want to frantically hunt around both online or get in line for the launch morning of November 18th.

And Nintendo's 3DS has a new extra large variant imaginatively called the Nintendo 3DS XL ($220'ish). I'd say there are some nice little tweaks under the hood also that makes this a very nice portable gaming system, if you are not already absorbed with all the 99c apps on your mobile device or tablet. Nintendo has delivered a great portable gaming system here and a wonderfully rich library of 1st and 3rd party games. Sure it is another device to haul around but for some serious gaming...this platform is great.

While talking about portable entertainment devices...I do need to cover the other solutions that make a great gift including the latest version of the iPod Touch. This season's version feature more power, a beautiful 4" display, nice camera and for someone without a smartphone already...a great solution for consumer mobile media and games! The new version supports all the latest iOS 6 features including Siri, Facebook and Twitter integration. The Apple iPod Touch is available in 5 funky colors and two memory configurations: 32 gigabyte for $299 and 64 gigabyte for $399.

Just a couple weeks ago Apple introduced a new and exciting category within their iPad line-up. You'd have to have been living under a rock to not have heard about the new iPad Mini. I am excited about this product for Apple and the consumers this product addresses. I don't know if you remember but Steve Jobs famously said that they found the 9.6" display in the iPad as the perfect form-factor to partner between a smartphone side devices and laptop computers. So why did Apple add this product to the mix? Well, there are two reasons as I see it... 1) Price! They needed a device to compete with less expensive/smaller display 7" variants namely Amazon's moderately successful Kindle Fire and Fire HD tablets as well as the geeky Android products like the Samsung offerings and Google Nexus 7. 2) The single-handed category of consumers that are choosing even smaller, simpler devices to read ebooks and the like.

All that said, I really like the new, sleek iPad Mini ($329+). Tech pundits will point out the lower resolution of the display (still equal to most peoples 20" monitors on their desk!) versus other competitive offerings in the category but Apple did that to maintain software compatibility with the HUGE library (over 275,000 tablet specific) apps. I can't express just slim, light and comfortable to carry this device is. You also have a slew of configuration offerings starting at $329 for the 16 gigabyte version. I would recommend spending the extra $100 for the 32gb version to accomodate movies, TV shows, apps and the like.

And yes, the new 4th generation iPad with Retina display is still a wonderful gift! I figured I don't need to cover that if you are comfortable ponying up the $599 for this great product minimum. Don't get the 16gb version! And I would highly recommend getting the 4G version...it makes for a wonderful portable connected experience.

Okay, while I am ranting about the Apple stuff...I would still recommend the $99 AppleTV solution. This is a small puck-sized computing device that links to your TV and the home network and provides a host of high-definition, streaming content. You can leverage all your iTunes media if you have songs or videos on your computer or iOS device. You also can access content from Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube and live sporting events.

If you are not into the Apple eco-system of iTunes, iOS devices, etc. I would also recommend the Roku 2 XS ($98) which adds support for other services including Amazon Prime instead of the  iTunes marketplace.

After reading about all those fancy media consuming devices...are looking for a simpler and more to the point eReader solution. If your focus is on digital ebooks and periodicals and all these "apps" and "media" capabilities are not what you are interested in. I still highly recommend the traditional Kindle especially the new Kindle Paperwhite versions that offer a beautiful and easy to read contrast between the text and white background with 62% more pixels for greater clarity. This new version features an intuitive touch screen interface and even offers a backlight to allow for reading in the dark...all while still providing 8 weeks of battery life! There is a Wi-Fi version available for as little as $119. And a free 3G cellular version of the Kindle Paperwhite 3G for $179. The main reason these eReaders are still a viable option is that are great for reading in the sunlight, on the beach and poolside. Color tablets still have challenges in a sunny environment. The Kindle library of books is over a 1,000,000 titles with 180,000 of them exclusive to Amazon and the Kindle!

And if you gift recipient in need of some help keeping themselves organized. Perhaps the latest Livescribe Sky WiFi Smartpen ($170) can help. I have regularly mentioned the Livescribe and its ability to jot down notes and the ability to save a copy on your computer or sync with online note solutions like Evernote. The new Sky version introduces Wi-Fi connectivity to your smartpen. This way your notes can make the leap to Evernote without having to plug into your computer first! I love my Livescribe and moving it to Wi-Fi is a nice addition.

In the realm of mobile audio, I have regularly mentioned the Jambox by Jawbone. Well their new version called BIG Jambox ($299) is just that...a bigger version. This Bluetooth speaker is portable, runs on rechargeable batteries that provides 15 hours of music but delivers quality sound that will fill a room. In comparing the BIG Jambox version some of the other options available in this category, I liked the overall fidelity of the sound for a portable and completely wireless solution and the overall quality of the product. With an integrated microphone, you can also use it as a portable speakerphone! Love it.

For those on your list that love music but are not good at sharing...I previously recommended the original LG Electronic Bluetooth headset. There is now a substantially improved version called the LG Tone+ HBS-730 ($50'ish) that introduces substantial improvement in the low-end of the audio range providing a richer bass. While audiophiles still need to avoid any of the Bluetooth headphone offerings. I find that being untethered from my iPod by a cable is quite liberating. These headphones do well during anything but the most rigorous workouts.

And for those audiophiles, we are definitely back to having a cord but I would recommend either the Bowers & Wilkens C5 In-Ear ($179) or the Bowers & Wilkens P5 Mobile HiFi ($349). The C5 In-Ear has an Apple compatible cable, in-line microphone and controls for your Apple product. You will have a range of fitted ear pieces to help with the noise-isolation benefits of an in-ear product. So far I haven't found another in-ear product I would recommend over these. Taking it up a notch, the P5's over-the-ear style of headphone affords an even finer audio experience. The best for the money I could find.  You can really appreciate the difference when you put these on.


While cameras warrant their own guide for the holidays, I will highlight some that are definitely worth  you checking out.

Best point-n-shoot for under $200: Canon Powershot ELPH 110 HS ($179) is a snazzy little camera that shots attractive 16.1 megapixel photos and 1080p high-definition video. The camera has a good sized 3-inch LCD display and features a solid 24mm wide-angle to 5x zoom lens. A lot of camera in this price range and available in 6 colors.

Best point-n-shoot for "a little bit more money": The Canon PowerShot SX260 HS ($245'ish) brings your subject up really close in a very small/compact package. This camera magically includes a powerful 20x zoom len, 1080p full-HD video capability and a host of photo features in a small...still pocketable format. I love this zoom!

Best point-n-shoot when "money doesn't matter" or "you are looking to surprise me with a gift": Sony DSC-RX100 ($650) does what seems to achieve the impossible. In introduces a very large 1-inch photo sensor into a pocket camera. We are talking about a sensor that is several multiples in size over these other cameras but the camera itself can still squeeze its way into your pocket or purse. Not only does this camera offer a great 20 megapixel sensor, it also features a very fast and bright lens (f1.8) and a 3.6x zoom. Great low-light capabilities. It is definitely a very sold backup camera even for someone that regularly shoots a high quality Digital SLR camera. Very nice!

Best camera to trust with the kids: I really like the Panasonic ruggedized Lumix TS20 ($130) that provides a robust and reliable camera which is waterproof up to 16 feet. While the camera is pretty tough, it also shoots a great picture with its 16 mega-pixels, HD video, cool colors and is a joy to take to the pool, beach or while trekking through some rough terrain.

And if you have a really adventuresome person on your list. What about the GoPro Hero2 ($199) with its wearable, mountable, waterproof to 197 feet, 170 degree wide angle lens, 30 frames per second 1080p or 60 frames per second 720p video and 11 mega-pixel photos to capture all their action. What a compact package with a range on configuration peripherals to anchor this camera to your bike, board, helmet or just about anywhere you want!

And if you got a golfer in your life and they are looking for some new gear, I am digging the TaylorMade RocketBallz Driver ($229-249), Fairway Wood ($179'ish) and Rescue Hybrids ($159'ish). These clubs are impressive and good for starter to semi-pros. I really love the Rescue Hybrids that provide the greater impact/control of a Fairway Wood with the loft of irons.

So all in all I hope you found something here to kickstart your holiday shopping or fuel to start compiling your own wish list! :-) And I will be putting together my Holiday Videogame highlights in the coming weeks.

Did I miss any hot new products? Mention them below...

Larry Pacey, award-winning designer tracks the latest news on consumer products, electronics, appliances, smart devices, networking and the gadget lifestyle.

For the latest news follow me on: ------------------------------ OR ------------------------------- Follow me on Twitter @WouldntMindThis Please comment below and share your thoughts. If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to email me at wouldntmind@gmail.com. Just my 2-cents, Larry