Subscribe to this blogThe holidays are drawing near, and as the wish lists emerge, some trends are already visible.
Plasma TVs are high on many shoppers' lists, but prices could scare them away, as happened last year. Discriminating buyers are expected instead to open up their wallets to buy high-end digital cameras, LCD monitors, MP3 players, and DVD burners. Hybrid devices, like smart phones or personal digital assistants that include cameras, are also expected to sell well.
Digital cameras loaded with advanced features seem to appeal to everyone, from the first-time buyer to the experienced shutterbug. The low price and space-saving features of an LCD monitor will attract consumers. Buyers will also snap up affordable DVD recorders costing between $150 and $300, analysts say.
Other hot products will be music to the ears of buyers, like OmniFi's wireless digital audio system. Speaking of hot, ICP Global Technologies is offering solar battery chargers. And the adventurous might want to check out NetworkAnatomy's CommanderPack, which could help in an emergency.
MP3s on the Road
A hot product this season could be Rockford's OmniFi wireless digital audio system for vehicles and home stereo systems. The three-component system provides wireless access to music files stored on a home computer.
The OmniFi DMP1 car digital media player allows users to transfer their PC-based music to a car over an 802.11b wireless connection. The DMP1's 20GB hard drive stores and plays back up to 300 hours of digital audio content in MP3 or Windows Media Audio format. The system also has a surface-mounted controller with an LCD display and SimpleCenter software that transfers digital audio files from a PC to a car over a wireless network.
The third component, D-Link Systems' DWL-121 802.11b wireless receiver, enables the DMP1 or the DMS1 to receive digital music files wirelessly. The whole system costs $600 from OmniFi.
Wearable Technology
In a remote location, the CommanderPack from NetworkAnatomy won't single-handedly solve a crisis, but it can connect to help in an emergency.
The CommanderPack is a worldwide communications and crisis-management system bundled into a backpack, helmet, and bionic hand. The 11-pound system's waterproof backpack has an on-board Tablet PC containing crisis- and information-management software. The backpack's dashboard also integrates communications equipment for worldwide voice, data, audio, and video connectivity.
The helmet serves as a mount for a camera, a microphone, and a light. The bionic hand is the CommanderGauntlet, a hand-worn glove that can wirelessly operate the Tablet PC and communications equipment without actually touching or removing the backpack. The CommanderPack was designed for global search and rescue operations, humanitarian operations, and border patrol missions, according to the company.
Solar Power on the Go
Solar power is giving battery-recharging technology a boost.
A line of portable energy sources and chargers from ICP Global Technologies taps solar energy to provide anytime, anywhere power to consumers. ICP's ISun solar chargers can transform sunlight into usable energy for cell phones, PDAs, Global Positioning System devices, and other small electronics. The add-on ISun BattPack uses sunlight to recharge a conventional AA or AAA battery. It can recharge ten AA or AAA batteries in 4 hours. Additionally, it doubles as a power source for electronics.
The ISun Military P3, originally designed for the U.S. military, can recharge nickel-metal hydride batteries. All ISun batteries come with seven adapter plugs to fit different electronic power input sockets. The ISun solar charger costs $79.99.
