Next Gear Innovations Awards: Tech Visionaries

Wafer-Thin Camera With Everything

Packed inside the 0.8-inch-thick, $550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 are giant features we've never seen in a camera this thin and sleek: an extralarge 2.5-inch LCD, hefty 5-megapixel resolution, a 30-fps MPEG movie mode, speedy and smooth performance, and basic on-camera photo editing functions like image resizing and rotating. The brushed-metal DSC-T1 sports a sliding lens cover and a 3X optical zoom lens (38mm to 114mm in 35mm film equivalent). On top of that, Sony adds a 32MB Memory Stick Duo card and a rechargeable InfoLithium battery. The camera does have one main drawback, however: It lacks an optical viewfinder. (See our longer review in "Minicam Evolution.")

Record Radio Now, Listen Later

TV watchers have the ability to choose TiVo or ReplayTV to record shows for later viewing, but radio listeners haven't had many options for recording programs to listen to at another time. Enter the $200 PogoProducts Radio YourWay, a combination voice recorder, MP3 player, and programmable AM/FM recorder. About the size of a pack of cigarettes, this device holds 128MB of memory, capable of capturing up to 16 hours of radio or 2 hours of MP3 music. And its SD (Secure Digital) slot accepts up to 256MB more memory. For its remarkable versatility alone, the Radio YourWay is a one-of-a-kind product.

Handheld Games and a PDA, Too

A high-resolution LCD screen with a high refresh rate and the included Palm OS distinguish the $350 Tapwave Zodiac as an enjoyable and versatile handheld gaming device that can also function handily as a PDA. Its top-notch graphics are the best of any currently available handheld game console, and it comes with a few fun, addictive games. The unit fits in the hand ergonomically; and all its controls, including a simple-to-use directional pad, are easily accessible. Topping that are Bluetooth and infrared connectivity, as well as a built-in soft cover that protects the screen.