Terabyte Storage for Cell Phones

A new type of memory technology could lead to thumb drives or digital-camera memory cards that store a terabyte of information--more than most hard drives hold today. The first examples of the new technology, which could also slash energy consumption by more than 99 percent, could be on the market within 18 months.

"It's a radically new technology," says Michael Kozicki, a professor of electrical engineering at the Arizona State University, whose group is one of several working on a version of the new memory. "If it really works as well as everybody thinks it could, it could genuinely revolutionize the memory and storage industry."

The new type of memory, called programmable-metallization-cell (PMC) memory, or nano-ionic memory, has been under development at the Arizona State University and at companies such as Sony and IBM. It's one of a new generation of experimental technologies that are bidding to replace hard drives, the nonvolatile "flash" memory used in portable electronics, and the dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) in personal computers. The first ionic-memory prototypes were far too slow for practical use. But recently, researchers have demonstrated that materials structured at the nanoscale could yield ionic-memory devices that are much faster. Nano-ionic memory is significantly faster than flash memory, and the speed of some experimental cells has rivaled that of DRAM, which is orders of magnitude faster than flash.

The memory could also prove easy to make. Recently, the Arizona group published work demonstrating that nano-ionic memory can be made from materials conventionally used in computer memory chips and microprocessors. That could make it easier to integrate with existing technologies, and it would mean less retooling at factories, which would appeal to manufacturers.

Another reason that ionic memory is attractive is that it uses extremely low voltages, so it could consume as little as a thousandth as much energy as flash memory. In theory, it could also achieve much higher storage densities--bits of information per unit of surface area--than current technologies can.

These attractions are largely the result of a new mechanism for storing information. Flash memory stores bits of information as electrical charge, but the smaller the memory cells that hold the bits, the less charge they can hold, and the less reliable they become. The new memory stores information by rearranging atoms to form stable, and potentially extremely small, memory cells. What's more, each cell could potentially store multiple bits of information, and the cells can be layered on top of each other, increasing the memory's storage density to the point that it might rival that of the densest form of memory today: hard drives.

Each memory cell consists of a solid electrolyte sandwiched between two metal electrodes. The electrolyte is a glasslike material that contains metal ions. Ordinarily, the electrolyte resists the flow of electrons. But when a voltage is applied to the electrodes, electrons bind to the metal ions, forming metal atoms that cluster together. These atoms form a virus-sized filament that bridges the electrodes, providing a path along which electrical current can flow. Reversing the voltage causes the wire to "dissolve," Kozicki says. The highly resistive state of the electrolyte and the other, low-resistance, state can be used to represent zeroes and ones. Because the metal filament stays in place until it's erased, nano-ionic memory is nonvolatile, meaning that it doesn't require energy to hold on to information, just to read it or write it.

A thumb drive that stored a terabyte of information, however, would have to take advantage of two other characteristics of nano-ionic memory, Kozicki says. First, it would have to store more than one bit of information per memory cell. Once the wire inside the cell forms, it's possible to apply a voltage again, causing more atoms to form, thickening the wire and further decreasing resistance. Successive jolts will thicken the wire yet more, and the different states of resistance could be used to store multiple bits of information per wire.

What's more, this type of memory can be stacked up in layers, since it's not necessary for each cell to be in contact with a base layer of silicon, as is the case with some other types of memory. Combining multiple bits per cell with multiple layers could make it possible to form extraordinarily dense memory, Kozicki says.

William Gallagher, a senior manager for exploratory nonvolatile-memory research at IBM Research, says that nano-ionic memory is one of several promising next-generation memory technologies. These include MRAM, which stores information using magnetic fields, and phase-change memory, which stores information in a way similar to that used to store bits on DVDs. Gallagher says that ionic memory's competitors have a head start on it. MRAM chips are already sold for some special applications, such as devices that will be exposed to harsh environments. But MRAM may also prove better for high-speed memory applications than as a replacement for flash, so it may not compete directly with nano-ionic memory. Samsung, however, could be selling a phase-change-based flash-replacement memory within a year.

Still, nano-ionic memory may not be far behind. A few companies have licensed nano-ionic-memory technology developed at the Arizona State University. These include Qimonda, based in Germany; Micron Technologies, based in Boise, ID; and a Bay Area stealth-mode startup. The startup is well on the way to producing its first memory devices, which Kozicki says could be available within 18 months. These first chips, however, won't rival hard drives in memory density, he says.

The new technology could nevertheless have difficulty winning wide adoption. Flash-type memory continues to improve and may do so for a few more generations of products. Also, the best nano-ionic-memory prototypes have been made from materials that aren't used in conventional microchips, so manufacturing could be costly, at least initially. Kozicki's group recently demonstrated that ionic memory can be built from a combination of silicon dioxide and copper--materials that are compatible with conventional manufacturing. But these materials do not perform as well, which could make them less attractive than alternatives such as phase-change memory. For the new type of memory to succeed, it may be necessary to convince manufacturers to switch to new materials.

Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/Nanotech/19643/page2/

http://www.technologyreview.com/Nanotech/19643/

Your Robotic Personal Assistant

Aside from the Roomba, robots haven't made much progress infiltrating American homes. But researchers at Stanford University have developed software that overcomes one of the biggest challenges: teaching a robot how to pick up an object it has never encountered before. The robot's software suggests that the best way to pick up something new is by determining the most grabable part of the object--the stem of a wineglass, the handle of a mug, or the edge of a book, for instance.

Engineers and science-fictions fans have long dreamed of putting robotics in the home, says Andrew Ng, professor of computer science at Stanford. In fact, the robotic hardware that exists today could allow a robot to do the complex tasks that are required to pick up objects, keep a house clean, and so on. But the missing piece, Ng explains, is software that can allow robots to do these things by themselves. A dexterous robot with the smarts to pick up new objects without being specifically programmed to do so could be useful for complex domestic tasks such as feeding the pets and loading the dishwasher.

While it's true that some robots are capable of picking up specific objects, even on a cluttered table, they do so with the help of specific three-dimensional models that have been preprogrammed, says Aaron Edsinger, founder of Meka Robotics, a startup in San Francisco. "But this assumes that we're going to be able to know ahead of time what objects are out there," he says. This might be inessential in a carefully constructed nursing home, for instance, but it would be essential in a busy family's apartment or house.

Instead of using predetermined models of objects, some roboticists, including Edsinger and Ng, are building perception systems for robots that look for certain features on objects that are good for grasping. The Stanford team has approached the problem by collecting a number of previously fragmented technologies, says Ng, such as computer vision, machine learning, speech recognition, and grasping hardware, and put them together in a robot called STAIR (Stanford Artificial Intelligence Robot).

STAIR's hardware consists of a mobile robotic arm with a microphone, a speaker, sensors, and cameras that help the arm retrieve objects. The robot's software has its foundation in machine-learning algorithms that can be trained to perform certain functions. The researchers trained the software using 2,500 pictures of objects, with graspable regions identified.

But making the leap from two-dimensional pictures to a three-dimensional world was a challenge, says Ng. Typically, a robot can create a 3-D view of its environment--so it knows how far away the coffeepot is from its hand--using the input from two cameras. This distance is usually determined by collecting a large number of points on an object with the right and left cameras, and then triangulating all the data to build a 3-D model. This process takes a lot of computing power and time, however.

Ng's team developed an alternative that simplifies the process. Instead of collecting data about lots of points on an object, the researchers' algorithm identifies the midpoint of a graspable portion of an object, such as a handle, by calculating the edges of an object and comparing this with the edges of statistically similar objects in the database. The software matches this point using both cameras and triangulates the distance. "This was the key idea that made all of our grasping things work," Ng says. "We've now done things like load items from a dishwasher."

Robots still need to learn the finer points of automatic manipulation, Ng adds. STAIR was designed only to grasp objects, and not to adjust its grasp depending on the situation. For instance, it wasn't built to pour coffee from a pot--a task that might require a different grasp position and a different amount of pressure than simply picking up the pot and placing it on a shelf. Additionally, the software doesn't know the consistency of the object--whether it's squishy or solid. But researchers are working on these problems, and ultimately, a personal robot will have a combination of sensing technologies and different software that will allow it to pick up and manipulate an object. (See "Robots That Sense Before They Touch.")

It could be years before all the technologies are integrated well enough so that robots can handle complex household chores on their own, but the Stanford work is pushing the dream forward. "If I had to pick one thing that's holding back this vision of personal robotics, it would be the ability to pick things up and manipulate them," says Josh Smith, senior research scientist at Intel Research, in Seattle. "We need more grasping strategies, like [the Stanford researchers'], that don't require an explicit 3-D model of the object." He adds that in addition to the robot having improved computer vision techniques, the actual hand of the robot will most likely have a number of sensors that can feel if an object is moving or if the grasp isn't right. "Much richer sensing in the hand will be an important part of the solution," Smith says.

Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/19768/page2/
http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/19768/?a=f

Beyond Wi-Fi

Sitting on your living room couch, you press the link on your mobile device for a new high-definition movie. Almost instantly, the movie is transmitted and begins to play. That vision of the future moved a bit closer Sunday, when IBM and MediaTek announced a joint initiative to develop ultrafast wireless chipsets for use in homes and offices.

The new technology would enable data rates that are at least 100 times faster than current Wi-Fi standards, according to a statement by the companies.

The project promises to make the word "wireless" as outdated for nearby electronic devices as, say, "horseless" is for cars. With the new chipset, HD TVs will be able to connect to their set-top boxes without wires, and wires for all other devices in a home or office could similarly become a distant memory.

mmWave Technology

The initiative focuses on millimeter wave radio technology, or mmWave, which uses very high frequencies to send huge amounts of data quickly. The companies said that a 10-GB file, which would take about 10 minutes with present-day Wi-Fi, could be uploaded in five seconds using their mmWave technology.

To get there, the two companies are sharing their strengths. IBM has new mmWave radio chips, antenna, and packaging technology, and MediaTek, a Taiwan-based company, has expertise in baseband and video processing chips.

IBM Research has been investigating mmWave technology over the last four years, and, in 2006, showed a prototype chipset as small as a dime that could transmit uncompressed HD video.

Although the IBM-MediaTek announcement did not mention exact frequencies, Current Analysis analyst Peter Jarich noted that, in the past, IBM has talked about 60 GHz and higher. He noted that these high frequencies have traditionally been used for point-to-point links, such as two buildings half a mile apart.

Bluetooth on Steroids

"The lower frequencies have been more valuable," said Jarich, "because lower frequencies can travel further without amplification." The new mmWave technology has to be localized, he said, because the very high frequencies "can only travel so far."

It is for this reason that mmWave is being positioned as a sort of Bluetooth on steroids, a very fast way to connect devices over short distances. Jarich said that, unlike some technology research, this is not a solution looking for a problem. Who hasn't looked at the wires connecting their TiVo box, DVD player, TV, and other devices, he asked, and wondered if there was a better way?

Jarich pointed out that, although IBM and MediaTek are talking about mmWave as a way to connect devices locally, they are referencing its speed compared to Wi-Fi. They are not positioning it as a general transmission technology to replace, say, 3G.

It could eventually be marketed as a higher-speed replacement to Wi-Fi, he said, but at the moment "it's unclear if it can match the 100 to 200 foot range of Wi-Fi." And he said there would be business hurdles in overcoming the momentum of Wi-Fi because it has already grown into an entire ecosystem.

Source: http://www.toptechnews.com/news/IBM--MediaTek-Look-Beyond-Wi-Fi/story.xhtml?story_id=1310047RYMYM

High Tech Toys Top 2007 Christmas Gift Choices For Children Below 3

Cuddly stuff, playhouses and other traditional gifts given to tykes are no longer in style. A toy magazine editor said the hottest Christmas gift choices for children below 3 this season are kid's versions of cellphones, laptops, digital cameras and MP3 music players.

Jim Silver, editor of Toy Wishes magazine and industry observer for 24 years, explained the popularity of high-tech toys among young children feeds on their desire to emulate their mommies and daddies, who are often seen using their mobile phones, iPods and laptops.

Amazon.com said hot toys on its list include Fisher-Price's Easy Link Internet Launch Pad and the Smart Cycle. The launch pad helps tots surf preschool-appropriate websites, while the cycle is an exercise bike connected to a video game.

Silver added over the past year there was a big increase in sales of toys that involve looking at a screen. "The bigger toy companies don't even call it the toy business anymore... They're in the family entertainment business and the leisure business," he said.

The preference for high-tech gadgets increase with age. According to Amazon.com, 6 out of 9 kids in the 5-to-7 age group go for gizmos. Pediatricians and educators have expressed concern over the shifting child preference for toys where play items without computer screens, USB cables and memory cards are simply too old.

Reyne Rice, a toy trends specialist for the Toy Industry Association, explained, "If you give kids an old toy camera, they look at you like you're crazy," adding the preference for electronic devices as gifts mirrors what they see around them.

Source: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7009311619

Colour X-ray machine sees so much more

A colour X-ray machine that can detect the chemical make-up as well as the structure and shape of a sample has been demonstrated by UK researchers. They say the new technique could be better at spotting smuggled substances or abnormal body tissue.

Regular X-ray machines and CT scanners can produce images in 2 or 3D, but only in monochrome. In the same way that black-and-white film is blind to other wavelengths of light, these techniques cannot distinguish between different wavelengths of X-ray.

"We have miniaturised a detector that can differentiate those different wavelengths," says Robert Cernik, a materials scientist at Manchester University, UK, who developed the device with colleagues Kern Hauw Khor and Conny Hansson.

The detector has 256 silicon pixels that are each 50 microns wide and can pick up different X-ray frequencies. A 20 cm-thick protective tungsten filter, with 256 holes that correspond to the pixels, sits over the top of the detector.

After a sample is hit with an X-ray beam, the device collects the scattered X-rays onto the different pixels of the detector. "Each looks at one area of the sample, you move the sample through the scanner to get a full 3D image," says Cernik. The new technique is called Tomographic Energy Dispersive Diffraction Imaging, or TEDDI.

Diffraction 'fingerprint'

A previous TEDDI prototype used a single pixel to slowly build an image over about 20 hours. By using an array of X-ray sensors the prototype can do it in just two hours. With improved detectors Cernik says it should be possible to reduce this to a few minutes.

Being able to sense the colour of the X-rays scattered by the sample means much more information can be extracted, the researchers say. For example, the diffraction pattern of different wavelengths can reveal material properties or chemical make-up in more detail.

"If you were looking for abnormal tissue, you would know the particular diffraction 'fingerprint' you were looking for," says Cernik. "The pattern can also measure changes in the crystal structure of materials like aluminium, for example, to look at the strain in a weld."

Cernik and colleagues have tested their machine on pieces of polymer, bone and aluminium, but the current prototype can only examine samples to a depth of 1 to 2 millimetres. This is because its silicon detector cannot sense the high-power X-rays needed to make it through thicker or denser materials.

"We know exactly how to do that," says Cernik, who suggests that a detector made from a heavier semiconductor than silicon, like cadmium zinc telluride, would do the trick. Physicists using synchrotron particle accelerators already use such detectors, which could perhaps be modified for the job, he says.

Source: http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn12977

Go, Go Gadget Santa

Electronics expected to make up a quarter of all gifts purchased this year

Dolls and puzzles are still popular items, but Santa, it would appear, has high-tech elves on the payroll.

It isn't just the fact that Consumer Electronics Association of Arlington, Va., expects electronic items to make up a quarter of all gifts purchased this year. That adds up to more than $20 billion in sales, according to the association.

Drop by your local toy emporium, such as Toys R Us at Westlake Shopping Center in Peoria, and notice how much space is taken up by video games, DVDs and other electronic items.

Apple Inc.'s iPhone has shaken up the "smart phone" business and set other manufacturers scrambling to add features and make it easier to get e-mail, surf the Web and enjoy music and movies on a cell phone.

Verizon released a bevy of new phones for the season - from the Wireless Juke, which can store up to 500 songs, to the Voyager, with built-in stereo speakers to go along with its TV screen.

Verizon also just released the BlackBerry Peart smart phone, the first Blackberry that includes a camera, said spokeswoman Carolyn Schamberger from Verizon's Chicago office.

AT&T offers a BlackBerry of its own for the holiday season called the Curve. This model has a built-in Global Positioning System for the most venturesome of travelers. The model can make or receive phone calls in more than 190 countries, according to AT&T.

GPS units are among the hottest items that consumers are looking for this season, said Tim Born, manager of Westlake Shopping Center's Circuit City store. "They've come down a lot in price. Models that used to sell for $300 are now half that price," he said.

That was one of the items on John Amdall's wish list. The director of research and technology for Caterpillar Inc., Amdall recently purchased a Garmin GPS system. "I also went for a serious upgrade in vacuum systems for my woodshop," he said.

But GPS systems aren't the only electronic favorites this year. TV lovers never had it better. As the early-2009 deadline for the end of analog television programming gets closer, digital sets continue to flourish.

WMBD-TV promotion director David Tomlianovich figures it might be time to purchase a high-definition TV set.

Over at Modern TV, 325 E. Lake St., service technician Dave Smith would like to have a few more of the TV sets that have a cable card. "People aren't aware of these models, but you don't need a cable box with them. You can record in HD without a box," he said.

Smith added that the cable-card models are becoming increasingly scarce. "I've heard they're working on some new card models with two-way communication. You'd be able to push a button and order films on demand," said Smith.

Satellite and cable TV operators offer digital video recorders, but for those willing to spend a bit extra, TiVo has now added Internet goodies, such as the ability to rent or buy videos directly from Amazon.com's Unbox download service or access to the Rhapsody music subscription service.

Just in time for the holidays, TiVo recently dropped its monthly service charge from $16.95 to $12.95 per month.

Confused about high-definition DVDs? The battle between the Blu-ray and HD DVD formats hasn't yet yielded a clear winner, so this holiday season you'll still see "Spider-Man 3" only in Blu-ray or "The Bourne Ultimatum" in HD DVD. If you don't want to end up with a useless piece of equipment but still want a taste of the crisp, clear pictures of HD, perhaps game consoles can be your answer. PlayStation3 has a built-in Blu-ray drive and is one of the most affordable Blu-ray players on the market, while an HD DVD player can be added onto the Xbox 360.

One of the big items Santa will be bringing this Christmas is the digital photo frame, a little unit that allows you to enjoy your favorite music while you're looking at your favorite photographs. Phillips has a model that also incorporates a clock radio into the package. Circuit City's Born said the digital frames were among the Peoria store's most popular items in its big day-after-Thanksgiving sale.

If you like listening to music on your old stereo system, you can take note of what excites Brian Ford of Prairie Technology Alliance in Pekin: a Wireless-G Music Bridge.

This device lets you bring the digital music streaming through your computer to your stereo - without running any cables through the house. "You don't need to listen to music through little computer speakers," said Ford.

Speaking of music, that's what interests Marc Burnett, the marketing director of the Peoria Civic Center. As a result, he's looking at picking up an eight-track digital recorder this year. "Recording software has come down in price dramatically," he said.

But not all the holiday shoppers looking for electronic items are at the mall. Some visit Retro-Tech Electronics, 401 NE Rock Island Ave., a second-hand store adjacent to the electronics recycling center.

"Many of the electronics that we sell have a great deal of life in them and it generally makes little sense to buy new when people's tastes are fickle," said executive director Michael Hodge.

"We as a society should be more happy with what we already have versus being convinced that we need to 'stay current.' For example, I use a laptop that's seven years old," he said.

While Retro-Tech lacks a big advertising budget, Hodge said shoppers could be assured of finding some real bargains at his shop.

Source: http://www.pjstar.com/stories/112507/BUS_BF0V8MOD.004.php

Reviews of latest tech gadgets for Christmas

A quick look at some of the latest consumer technology products.

MUSIC FOR YOUR EARS

Philips has released a new range of bluetooth headphones, suitable for your mobile, MP3 player or computer.

The SHB6100 headset features a neck strap design, discrete built-in microphone and audio controls. A bluetooth dongle is also supplied, which plugs into any "bluetoothless" computer or MP3 audio output.

SwitchStream software alerts you to an incoming phone call and allows you to quickly switch while listening to music on your computer.

What: Philips SHB6100 headphones.

RRP: $199.95.

DVD VIEWING ON THE GO

With summer holidays approaching, the Sony Portable DVD player may be the thing to keep the children entertained on the road.

The player includes a seven-inch LCD widescreen, USB port for MP3 playback, two headphone jacks and weighs only 730g.

The battery provides five hours of viewing time, or you can use the car battery charger for longer trips.

What: Sony Portable DVD Player DVP-FX720W.

RRP: $349.

DON'T WAIT FOR AN IPHONE

You don't have to wait for Apple's iPhone to get your hands on a sexy touch screen phone. Taiwan's HTC is soon releasing its Touch II mobile phone in Australia.

The Touch has a 2.8 inch touch screen, two megapixel camera, bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and microSD card slot.

The most striking feature of the phone is its user interface, which features a three-dimensional cube that you rotate using your finger to select various menus.

What: HTC Touch mobile phone.

RRP: $699.

FULL ON HD PICTURE

Samsung has released its latest range of Full HD plasma screen televisions with the P9 series.

Both models feature 1080p resolution, a huge contrast ratio of 15,000:1 and a brightness of 1000 candelas per square metre. A built-in silhouette editor ensures the tone and shape of images remain sharp.

With an integrated HD tuner and three HDMI inputs, the P9 will also minimise the numbers of cords behind your TV unit.

What: Samsung PS50P91FDX plasma television.

RRP: $5,299.

Source: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/technology/reviews-of-latest-tech-gadgets-for-christmas/2007/11/27/1196036874012.html

Nintendo Wii: Where, oh where are the Wii

There's a new breed of desperate vigilantes lurking in town centres and high streets up and down the country. You can identify them by their purposeful stride, the look of determination in their eyes and the sharpness of their elbows.

They stake out supermarkets, department stores and electrical retailers, talking quickly and quietly on mobile phones. Currys has usurped their wife as number one on their speed-dial. They are on first-name terms with the managers at all the big shops.

And they are all after one thing: a Nintendo Wii.

Nintendo Wii - Games Console

Yes, for the second year running, Nintendo's games console is one of the must-have gifts this Christmas. And just like last year, getting your hands on one is nigh-on impossible.

The success of the Wii has taken everyone by surprise - including Nintendo itself.

"The console has far exceeded expectations in terms of sales and popularity," admits Nintendo's Rob Saunders. The Japanese games giant is working at maximum capacity to churn out 1.8 million Wiis a month but still can't keep up with demand.

The Wii has changed the gaming landscape. Even non-gamers and the elderly have been won over by its novel charms. It uses an innovative motion-sensitive controller (known as a Wiimote) to control the on-screen movement of characters.

It boasts a bulging catalogue of really clever games, such as Wii Sports, which is included with the console and allows players to wave their Wiimote like a tennis racquet or baseball bat. And then there's the price - just £180 for the console, one controller and a copy of Wii Sports. That's less than the price of an iPod.

The Wii is a victim of its own success, and the shortage has led to bands of desperate parents forming Wii squads to track down stray consoles. They swap tips on websites such as Hot UK Deals (www.hotukdeals.com), and one Wii-hunting thread on the Money Saving Expert website (www.moneysavingexpert.com) runs to 434 pages, has attracted almost 10,000 posts and been viewed more than 670,000 times.

Getting your hands on a Wii this year is difficult but not impossible, if you are committed and determined. I'm afraid it's probably also going to cost you a fair bit more than the recommended retail price. eBay (ebay.co.uk) is the obvious first port of call, with most Wiis selling at auction for around £230.

Shopping online for a Wii can certainly reduce some of the leg-work involved in trawling up and down high-streets, but you will need to be eagle-eyed and swoop on a console as soon as it becomes available. A spokesperson for Amazon said: "We sell out as soon as we put them online. People are waiting there to place an order and thousands of units sell out in less than an hour."

Several websites have sprung up to help alert you to any new Wii stock appearing online. Try Wii Preorder (www.wiipreorder.co.uk) and Wii Consoles (www.wii-consoles.co.uk). High-street retailer Game also has a stock checker at www.game.co.uk/stock.

If you plan to scour shops in person, you will need to be organised and persistent, says Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert: "You have to visit those retailers that you know receive a regular supply of fresh stock. You need to try to find out when the next delivery is going to arrive, then visit the store three times a day and cross your fingers."

Supermarkets are often unlikely Wii treasure troves. Asda receives Wiis every Thursday and these are sent on to the 60 largest stores that stock a full range of electronic goods, including Asda Living stores and supercentres. A spokesperson said that an extra 2,000 consoles are being airlifted in from Germany next week.

You could take a leaf out of Asda's book and hotfoot it across to the continent to grab a Wii. Supplies are apparently plentiful in Germany and Belgium, and they can still be found in France, although stocks in hypermarkets near ferry ports can fluctuate.

The new high-speed Eurostar rail link from St Pancras couldn't have opened at a better time and you can always fortify yourself with a glass of champagne in its famous bar before making the trek across the Channel. You can easily set the console's language to English, although you will need to buy a plug adaptor, such as the one from Maplin (tinyurl.com/yos24a).

Until recently Amazon's German website, Amazon.de, was shipping Wii consoles to the UK, but Amazon has put a temporary stop to the practice, after discovering that some customers were placing multiple orders for large numbers of consoles, presumably to sell for profit in the UK.

There is always lateral thinking. Some online mobile phone shops give away a free Wii when you buy a phone and sign up to a contract through them. Unlike some in the high street, you will need to pay a sizeable chunk towards the handset, but it could be a solution worth considering if you need a new mobile and all the other Wii avenues have dried up.

BuyMobilePhones (www.buymobilephones.net) has plenty of Wiis in stock and assures me that it is fulfilling orders. It will take about a week from placing your phone order to receiving your Wii, as you have to send back a voucher and supporting ID to claim your gift. The site posts a daily update on Wii stock levels; phones available as part of this offer include the excellent Sony Ericsson Walkman range and the touchscreen LG Viewty.

Nintendo's Rob Saunders urges customers to be patient and to speak to shops to find out when new supplies are coming in: "We're shipping stock every week to retailers in the UK. Retailers know how many consoles they will be getting in the run-up to Christmas; we're being very transparent with them. There's no smoke and mirrors. We're constantly looking at ways to speed up deliveries."

So it seems that, despite living in the internet age, parents will just have to do what generations have done before them: make friends with shopkeepers and set their alarm clocks early to join the queue. Where Christmas and popular toys are concerned, some things never change.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=/connected/2007/11/29/dlwii29.xml

Shoppers gear up for high-tech Christmas

Australian shoppers are gearing up for a high-tech Christmas with entertainment gifts topping their wish lists, according to the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA).

Big screen TVs, iPods and the latest electronic games will be the number one choice under the nation's Christmas trees says ANRA Chief Executive Margy Osmond.

"Whether it's toys for the kids or something a bit more sophisticated for the grown-ups, it's all about fun this year."

While electronics and entertainment equipment come out on top shoppers are hedging their bets when it comes to choosing the right gift.

"This year many shoppers are opting for maximum flexibility with gift vouchers coming in at number three," says Mrs Osmond.

ANRA today released the first tranche of the ANRA Christmas Survey 2007, an independent survey of 1000 Australians and their shopping intentions.

According to Mrs Osmond, kids are certainly in for a bumper Christmas, with some 46 per cent of respondents saying they would spend the most on children.

"A further 35 per cent nominated their partners, while just 10 per cent overall said they would spend the most on their parents."

The Christmas shopping season is set to start in earnest this weekend, with almost 40 per cent saying they did their shopping two to four weeks ahead.

"There's also a very organised group out there (22 per cent) who do their shopping one to three months ahead, with just eight per cent nominating the week before Christmas and a tiny two per cent waiting until Christmas Eve."

Respondents were also asked about their destination of choice for Christmas shopping, and department stores were a clear favourite with 38 per cent of respondents. This was followed by general merchandise stores at 34 per cent and specialty chain stores at 12 per cent.

"All in all retailers are preparing for a solid Christmas trading period, with ANRA members already reporting healthy sales," Mrs Osmond said.

Recently, American shoppers were estimated to have spent over half-a-billion dollars during the Thanksgiving period.


Source: http://www.scopical.com.au/articles/BusinessandFinance/1397/Shoppers_gear_up_for_high-tech_Christmas

Google's killer Android - is resistance futile?

Google's mobile invasion is under way, with the unveiling of its Android software for the mythical Google Phone.

Android is a complete Linux-based operating system for mobile phones - complete with applications - to rival Symbian, Windows Mobile and of course OSX thanks to the iPhone. A few years ago I would have added Palm OS to that list, but not anymore.

Google Phone - GPHONE

The big question is - is the so-called Google Phone still to come, or will Android just assimilate existing hardware manufacturers?

Look around and you can see there are three approaches to the mobile space - Palm & HTC make hardware, Microsoft & Symbian make software, Apple makes both. Google is smart enough to know that hardware becomes commoditised and someone can always undercut you, unless you refuse to license your OS to anyone else like Apple.

Rather than release the definitive "Google Phone" like the iPhone, Google is more likely to license its OS to manufacturers like HTC - which is set to release an Android-powered device in European market in the second half of 2008 - and slowly squeeze out the likes of Windows Mobile and Palm. Symbian is probably safe because it is joint owned by phone makers Nokia, Ericsson, Sony Ericsson, Panasonic, Siemens and Samsung.

Even the operating system is irrelevant, in reality content and services are king. The iPhone might have slick graphics and a touchy-feely interface, but if Android tightly integrates Google's services into a mobile device then it will lay waste to the competition.

Steve Jobs may have carried the iPhone down from the mount Moses-style, but is an army that marches behind Android invincible?

Source: http://blogs.smh.com.au/gadgetsonthego/archives/2007/11/googles_killer_android_is_resi.html

Asus' Eee PC - the disposable computer?

Will Asus' $499 notebook mark the age of the throw away PC?

As of December 1 you'll be able to buy Asus' Eee PC baby notebook from Myer of all places, which gives you an idea of the target market.

Weighing in at 920 grams, with a 7 inch display, the Eee PC would seem the perfect 'gadget on the go' for some people - assuming they've got small fingers. Just don't ask what's under the bonnet.

You need to wade through a lot of gushing prose to find any information about what makes the Eee PC tick. It seems there are four models, with up to 1GB of RAM and up to 8GB solid state hard drive, but Asus only lists the processor as "Intel CPU and chipset". The fact Asus doesn't want to talk about the power plant is a bad sign and any idiot who buys a computer without knowing the processor speed deserves what they get.

A quick Google search reveals the Eee PC runs on a 900MHz Celeron. If it was running Vista this would be a joke, even under XP it would be sluggish, but the Eee PC comes with Xandros Linux pre-installed - which one would assume is less resource-hungry than Microsoft's bloatware. I've dabbled with Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon on my ThinkPad T60 and have been less than impressed with the result, but some of that is due to hardware issues. A Linux distro already optimised for the hardware would obviously offer a better user experience. Apparently the Eee PC is also XP-compatible, with an XP version expected to be released soon.

All four models feature 802.11b/g wifi, Ethernet and a solid state hard drive but no optical drive. Disappointingly it seems Australia is only getting one of the low-end models - the Eee PC 4G Surf. It's only got 512MB of RAM which is soldered in so it can't be upgraded. The hard drive is only 4GB and there's no webcam.

[Correction: Australia is getting the Eee PC 701 4G, which has a webcam and upgradeable RAM]

Considering you can get the 8GB model with 1GB of RAM and webcam for around $US400, Australian's are entitled to ask why they should pay more for a lower-spec model. You can expect plenty of Aussies to buy their Eee PC online from the States.

It's impossible to pass judgement on the Eee PC until I put one through its paces. You'd suspect the Eec PC to be a cheap and nasty piece of plastic junk that will fall apart after a few bumps, but early reports say otherwise. Of course at these prices you'd throw it away after 12 months and buy a new one anyway.

What are your expectations of the Eee PC? Is it a novelty, or the future of mobile computing?

Source: http://blogs.smh.com.au/gadgetsonthego/archives/2007/11/asus_eee_pc_the_disposal_compu.html

Laser TV: here comes the plasma killer

It's being hailed by its developers as the next revolution in visual technology - a laser television that will make plasma screens obsolete.

Soon-to-be-listed Australian company Arasor International and its US partner Novalux unveiled what they claimed to be the world's first laser television in Sydney, with a pitch that it will be half the price, twice as good, and use a quarter of the electricity of conventional plasma and LCD TVs.

A New Generation of TVs - The Laser TV

Manufacturing company Arasor produces the unique optoelectronic chip central to the laser projection device being developed by Silicon Valley-based Novalux, which is being used by a number of television manufacturers.

And displayed beside a conventional 50 inch plasma TV, the Mitsubishi-built prototype does appear brighter and clearer than its "older" rival.

With a worldwide launch date scheduled for Christmas 2007, under recognisable brands like Mitsubishi and Samsung, Novalux chief executive Jean-Michel Pelaprat is so bold as to predict the death of plasma.

"If you look at any screen today, the colour content is roughly about 30-35 per cent of what the eye can see," he said.

"But for the very first time with a laser TV we'll be able to see 90 per cent of what the eye can see.

"All of a sudden what you see is a lifelike image on display."

Combine that with energy efficiency, price advantage and the fact that the laser TVs will be half the weight and depth of plasma TVS, and Mr Pelaprat says "plasma is now something of the past".

Mr Pelaprat predicted LCD TVs would come to dominate the market below 40 inches, and laser television the market above that screen size, displacing plasma.

The optoelectronic chip-laser technology won't be confined to TVs.

The technology is also being trialled in mobile phones, where it will be used to project images onto any surface, and in home theatres and cinemas.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/home-theatre/laser-tv-here-comes-the-plasma-killer/2006/10/11/1160246198806.html

Levi's Launches Mobile Phone in Hong Kong

Levi's (yes, the jean manufacturer) celebrated the 22nd with the launch of their first mobile phone in Hong Kong.

Although there aren't a heap of details on the phone, the focus is more on Levi's breaking into the mobile phone market. In China, the largest volume in the world for mobile phones, this market is a huge step.

ModeLabs Group coordinated the launch. "Launching into a new country is the materialization of technical, marketing and sales investments," says Pierre Asséo, Director of ModeLabs Asia. "Future product launches should benefit significantly from the experience acquired with this first deployment as the essential commercial and technical engineering will already have been deployed."

The phone looks tough with a riveted steel body and detachable chain, but we'll see how it performs.

Source: http://www.laptoplogic.com/news/detail.php?id=3809

TAG Heuer to launch mobile phone

Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer, part of French luxury goods group LVMH, said on Monday it had licenced its name to French customised design manufacturer Modelabs for a series of luxury mobile phones.

"The launch of the first TAG Heuer mobile telephone is foreseen for the second half of 2008," the companies said in a joint statement.

Luxury goods companies, which realised long ago their brands could be extended to more than clothes and bags, have been rushing to embrace the mobile this year.

Prada and Armani have both recently launched phones made by, respectively, LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics.

TAG CEO Christophe Babin said in the statement the launch of its eyewear line in 2002 convinced it of the wider potential of the brand, popularised in its adverts by Formula 1 drivers like Kimi Raikkonen, actor Brad Pitt and golfer Tiger Woods.

"The success of this line, already market leader in luxury eyewear, confirmed for us the potential of TAG Heuer as a brand for contemporary, technological and timeless products...such as luxury mobile phones," he said. (Reporting by Nick Antonovics)

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7104754

The hottest holiday gadgets

The coolest gadgets are a big part of most holiday season wish lists, consumers and experts say.

Will there be an iPhone under your Christmas tree this year? How about Nintendo Wii -- if you can find one?

Electronics and gadgets -- the useful, the frivolous and the just plain cool -- are among the hottest holiday gifts this year. Besides Apple's iPhone, Nintendo's latest game system and hot games like Guitar Hero 3 and Rock Band, there's a wealth of cameras, TVs and entertainment systems and fun accessories out there, competing for our attention -- and our shopping dollars.

As experts debate how strong -- or weak -- this year's holiday retail season might be, there's no dispute that electronics will be among the most sought-after gifts.

The Consumer Electronics Association's 14th annual survey of holiday purchasing notes that 22 percent of all gifts given will be consumer electronics.

The top five wish list items for adults surveyed by CEA were:

Computers

Peace and happiness

Big screen TVs

Clothes

Money

How did peace and happiness sneak in there?

Actually, Shawn Dubravac of CEA told The Star Press that those sentimental wishes fit right in with the stuff you can get at the stores.

"We joke, 'Can I get peace and happiness with a gift card?' but the products that show up at the top of our list are products that people believe can bring that peace and happiness," Dubravac said.

He notes that with rising gas prices, longer hours at work and geographically far-flung families, more people are connecting through technology -- particularly during the holidays.

"People will forego the usual visit and videotape the kids opening presents on Christmas morning, upload it and e-mail it to the grandparents and aunts and uncles," Dubravac said. "Family members can still share in those memories."

Not to mention how cool the newest generation of technology is.

We all scream for iPhone -- and iPod

Muncie residents and national experts agree on some of the year's hottest gadgets -- and at the top of their list are the iPhone and Apple's latest variations on the iPod music and video system.

Steven Schuler didn't wait until Christmas to get an iPhone. The self-described "huge techno geek/nerd" -- who is manager of interactive media/electronic field trips at Ball State University -- seized the opportunity a couple of months ago.

"When my phone died, I decided that was my chance," Schuler said.

Is the iPhone everything Schuler heard it was? Yeah, pretty much, he said.

"That's my new toy," he said, adding, "Among its features, I think it's the best camera I've ever seen on a phone."

Tom Samiljan, executive editor of AOL's Switched.com, a consumer technology site, agreed with Schuler.

"One of the best products and one of the most generation-crossing is the iPhone," Samiljan said. "It's not only really popular because it's an Apple thing, but it's amazing to see 55-year-olds discover text messaging for the first time. It's another case of Apple being able to introduce technology to a wider audience."

The iPhone's electronic cousin, the iPod Touch, gets top honors from Samiljan.

"If you're talking about the hottest gadget this year, it's hard not to say the iPod Touch," Samiljan told The Star Press. "It's the iPod for anyone who doesn't want to switch (cell phone) carriers and get the iPhone. It's the best touch-screen I've seen anywhere."

Your inner rock star

Amanda Hicks is among those eyeing the iPhone, but since she and most of her friends have cell phone service through Verizon, she noted it's just "not feasible" to switch to AT&T to get the iPhone.

Hicks, marketing manager at Minnetrista, is sold on video games like Guitar Hero, however. She bought the game for her boyfriend, David Bradway, but she plays it an hour or two a week.

"It's a healthful way to let off steam and let out my inner rock star," Hicks said, laughing.

AOL's Samiljan agrees with Hicks concerning Guitar Hero, and further suggests the Rock Band game.

"Rock Band is from the same people, who broke away and created their own game with a similar concept to Guitar Hero," Samiljan said. "But it has four or five instruments, vocals, drums, guitar and bass. I think it's going to be a pretty big hit."

Hicks said she's been thinking about Rock Band.

"I think it might be the next big thing," Hicks said. "It lets you play all the instruments. It's really pretty cool."

Rock Band can be played on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but for some gamers, Nintendo Wii is the system to have.

But USA Today reported recently that the retailers can't keep Wii in stock, and the game system was the most-requested in a Weekly Reader poll of 1,000 8-to-17-year olds. In October, 519,000 Wii systems were sold, according to the NPD Group.

Cameras in demand too

For those too reserved to kick out the jams, digital cameras continue to top electronics gift lists. Chris Odle teaches digital camera classes at Jack's Camera Shop.

"The classes fill up and we're offering more all the time," Odle said. "I think interest is heightened. Older adults, especially, feel pressure from kids and grandkids to share pictures online. But they're apprehensive to begin the search. Once I get a camera in their hands, they see how easy it is to successfully capture their vision."

Has Odle seen a particularly hot camera this year?

"Panasonic cameras," he said. "I can't keep them in stock. We have the mainstays like Canon and Nikon, but right now Panasonic is a great brand."

The demand for consumer electronics is increasing and is only likely to grow, Dubravac said. But can technology and gadgets prop up holiday retail sales?

"Clothes have fallen from the top category of what consumers want and computers have moved into that top category," he said. "It's less that our industry is recession-proof and more that consumers are re-allocating from other industries and more into consumer electronics. Consumers are spending less at the movie box office and buying big-screen TVs so they can have that theater experience in their home."

Source: http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071125/NEWS01/711250357/1002

A gadget for every stocking

This year, Santa’s wearing horn-rimmed glasses and a pocket protector on his bright red suit. And whether you’re on a budget or willing to splurge, he’s got a high-tech gift for your gadget lover.

Show the world your inner tech geek and find wireless hot spots at the same time with the Wi-Fi Detector Shirt from ThinkGeek. Designed for people too lazy to open laptops or check handheld detectors to find Wi-Fi, the black T-shirt uses three AAA batteries in a pocket to power a glowing decal resembling a radio tower. Animated bars fluctuate with 802.11b or 802.11g signal strength. www.thinkgeek.com, $29

JUMP-START DC POWER PLUS How many times have you been on the road and needed a flashlight? Or an emergency car battery charger? Or some portable juice for your laptop or cell phone? Jump-Start DC Power Plus has all that. Retailer Sharper Image claims the gadget charges a car battery in minutes — though some users say it won’t work with an old or dead battery, just a newer one that has lost most of its charge. It also comes with a built-in LED flashlight and five universal DC adapter plugs for charging portable devices on the go. The two-pound power stick runs on a rechargeable NiCad battery that’s good for 500 charges. Charge it up by plugging into your car cigarette lighter or a wall outlet. Sharper Image (www.sharperimage.com) other retailers, $39.95.

MOTOROLA BLUETOOTH CELL PHONE CAR KIT Like seat belts, hands-free cell phone car kits aren’t just a good idea — in some states, they’re the law. Numerous manufacturers now sell Bluetooth wireless technology car kits, but Motorola’s T305 seems like a winner — and not just because Motorola pioneered the idea of putting radios in cars. Clip the simple device the size of a garage door opener onto your car’s visor, push a single button, and you can make and answer calls while keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. It provides up to 14 hours of talk time, 14 days of standby time and comes with a car charger. Various retailers, $40 and up.

TAO ELECTRONICS DIGITAL KEY-CHAIN PHOTOFRAME Now you never have to look like a bad dad or mom for not carrying around photos of your kids. Tao Electronics is one of several companies selling digital photo frames that let you take tiny family photos wherever you go. Tao’s 1.5-inch square photo frames are about the size and weight of a pocket watch. With 8MB of internal memory, they hold up to 31 pictures at a resolution of 128 by 128 pixels. Tao Electronics (www.taoelectronics.com) $49.99

CHARGEPOD The sure sign of a gadget aficionado is the tangled mess of cords and power bricks needed to juice up those cell phones, PDAs, music players and wireless headsets. The Chargepod seeks to bring order to chaos by funneling power from a single cord through a circular base station to up to six devices simultaneously. It’s touted as being compatible with more than 1,000 mobile devices. The downside is paying for the specific adapters. A basic Chargepod costs $50, plus $10 for each adapter, while a starter kit with common adapters runs about $100. At retailers and at www.callpod.com

EYE-FI So your digital camera is stuffed full of precious moments from this season’s (or maybe even last season’s) Halloween and Thanksgiving. Now what? For everyone who has procrastinated over uploading photos to a computer or photo-sharing site, Eye-Fi offers its wireless SD memory card. After an initial setup, the 2-gigabyte card uses a built-in Wi-Fi transmitter to connect from inside your camera to your home wireless network. It automatically sends JPEG-format pictures to a computer or one of 17 photo Web sites, including Shutterfly, Flickr, Snapfish and Facebook. $99 at online retailers including Amazon, Buy.com and Wal-Mart.

TAKETV With all the new ways to zip video wirelessly around the house, the Sansa TakeTV is definitely retro. The device from flash-memory maker SanDisk uses your feet as its network to move video between your computer and TV. Looking and acting like a flash drive, TakeTV plugs into a computer USB port so you can copy over video. You then plug it into a docking station connected to your TV to watch. It also works with Fanfare, a download service SanDisk is testing. A 4-gigabyte TakeTV holds up to 5 hours of video and costs $100, while an 8-gigabyte model costs $150. It’s available at major retailers and www.take.tv.

SEA-DOO SEASCOOTER XL Granted, this is more toy than gadget, but what water-loving geek wouldn’t want one of these? Strap on your waterproof iPod and dive in with the SeaScooter XL. You can travel James Bond-style below the waves at 2 mph. Charge the 12-volt battery for five or six hours and you’ll get an hour of running time. (Just make sure to come up for air.) Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) and other retailers, $149.95.

VUDU There’s no shortage of ways to view movies at home, from DVD rentals to Internet PC downloads and video on demand from cable and satellite services. But the new Vudu set-top box aims to combine the best features of all these options. The black, 4-pound device hooks into a broadband Internet connection and delivers high-quality movies straight to your TV without a computer. Movies from a constantly updated library of more than 5,000 begin playing immediately while downloading. There is no monthly fee. Rentals range from $1 to $4, while permanent downloads cost $5 to $20. Vudu is available for $399 at a handful of retailers and at www.vudu.com.

KINDLE Will Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader revolutionize the book business, reverse falling reading trends and be a holiday hit? The jury’s still out. But as the newest toy on the block, its certainly tempts gadget addicts willing to splurge. Beyond the hype, the Kindle is going where no electronic reader has gone before with a built-in connection to a free nationwide wireless network for buying and downloading books, newspapers, magazines and blogs. Its screen uses electronic ink technology to mimic printed paper. New book releases cost about $10 (or you can get “Moby Dick” for $1.99). $399, available at www.amazon.com/kindle

PHOTOVU 22-INCH WIRELESS PHOTO FRAME In just a few short years, digital photo frames have gotten remarkably better — and bigger. PhotoVu, a Colorado company, claims its 22-inch, high-resolution widescreen frame is the biggest and the best on the market. It lets you transfer photos from your PC wirelessly through a Web site, or do it the old-fashioned way with a portable USB storage device. The LCD screen boasts a 1680 by 1050 pixel resolution. Choose from a range of frames and mats to fit your style. At www.photovu.com, $1,199 and up.

GARMIN STREETPILOT 7500 This is one of the most advanced — and expensive — GPS systems on the market. With a 7-inch screen and advanced software, it not only shows you the way, but also announces the names of exits, accepts custom “points of interest” like school zones or favorite restaurants, and uses a “dead reckoning” feature to plot your course even if you lose a satellite signal. With optional subscriptions, you can listen to XM satellite radio, check weather and traffic conditions and get traffic alerts. A built-in FM transmitter wirelessly syncs it to your vehicle’s stereo system. Bored? Pull over and plug your DVD player or video game into the back of the device, and enjoy. Garmin Ltd. (www.garmin.com), $1,393.

Source: http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/washington/plugged/entries/2007/11/26/a_gadget_for_every_stocking.html

Samsung Preps 64GB SSD

Samsung Preps 64GB SSD

The world leader in advanced memory technology, has become the first in the industry to sample 1.8-inch and 2.5-inch 64GB) solid state drives with a super-fast SATA (Serial ATA) II/native SATA interface. With a sequential write speed of 100MBps and sequential read speed of 120MBps, the SATA II SSD is poised to expand the market for solid state drives from notebook PCs to corporate servers and other high-performance storage applications.

"The 64GB SATA II SSD is based on Samsung's cutting-edge NAND technology with dramatically improved performance specs that are taking system performance to a whole new level of efficiency," says Jim Elliott, Director, NAND Flash Marketing, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.

Market research firm Web-Feet Research estimates that the NAND flash-based SSD market is expected to show 74 percent compounded annual growth from 2007 through 2012 to reach $10 billion in 2012.


Source: http://www.cedailynews.com/emerging_technology/index.html

Make a beeline for popular Wii

Nintendo Wii home video game console

If you missed out on buying a Nintendo Wii during the holiday season last year and have it on this year's list, you had better start shopping now.

Even before holiday shoppers invade, retailers can't keep the still-popular game system (price starts at $250) in stock a year after its debut. And the Wii is the top-requested game system on holiday wish lists, according to a new Weekly Reader Research survey of 1,000 8- to 17-year-olds for retailer Game Crazy. The Wii was on 32% of wish lists, the Sony PlayStation 3 on 19% and Microsoft Xbox 360 on 17%.

"Our recommendation: If you see one now, buy it," says Brian Lucas of Best Buy.

An imbalance of demand and supply for the Wii confounds retailers as well as consumers. "We don't always know when and what we will get," says Circuit City's Jim Baab. "When we get inventory from Nintendo, we put it out and it generally sells within a couple of hours."

Nintendo, which has sold more than 5 million Wiis, recently increased the number of units expected to be shipped worldwide by the end of March to 17.5 million from 16.5 million. "Consumers are going to have to stay on top of it, but we have definitely ramped up," spokesman Perrin Kaplan says.

The demand for the Wii recalls that of the PlayStation 2, which after being launched in 2000 also remained elusive more than a year later, says NPD Group analyst Anita Frazier. "The Wii is going to be in short supply this holiday relative to the strong demand," she says.

This year has marked a reversal of fortune for Nintendo. Its previous GameCube system came in third in worldwide sales to Sony's PlayStation 2 and Microsoft's Xbox. For most of this year, the Wii has outsold the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Only in September, thanks to the release of Halo 3, did the Xbox 360 outsell the Wii (527,800 to 501,000, according to The NPD Group).

Nintendo's momentum also extends into handhelds, selling about 4.5 million DS systems ($130-$150 each) this year, more than any of the console systems. "These systems are highly entertaining but relatively intuitive," Kaplan says. "That is what really fits into global lifestyles right now."

Nintendo's competitors, particularly Microsoft, are now courting the same family and casual gamers attracted to the Wii. A new $280 Xbox 360 Arcade version comes with games such as Pac-Man and Uno. Also just out for Xbox 360: Viva Piñata: Party Animals ($50), the trivia game Scene It?($60) and a free new feature to limit a youngster's time on the system.

"Microsoft is livid that Nintendo has taken the lead in the console wars with a technically inferior but more-fun-to-play system," says Geoff Keighley, host of Spike TV's Game Head. "Microsoft has struggled to make the system appeal to a broader consumer. Games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero III will help, but both of those titles are also available on the PS3."

Sony also hopes to woo shoppers weary of searching for Wiis. Last week, Sony chairman Howard Stringer said PS3 sales had more than doubled since Oct. 18, when Sony reduced the price of the 80 GB PS3 model to $500 from $600. This month, it also began selling a $400 40 GB model. "It's a little fortuitous that the Wii is running out of hardware," he said.

Determined Wii shoppers may want to look online — and be ready to loosen their wallets. Amazon is not selling any Wiis directly, but on Monday, about 90 third-party sellers were offering new and used Wiis starting at $460; eBay has similar prices.

Bundles were listed in stock on Walmart.com starting at $677 (with seven games), with delivery by Nov. 29. The Wii is out of stock at GameStop and Electronic Boutique websites, but each is taking pre-orders for new systems with five games (starting at $585) expected to ship Dec. 17.

But supply is not guaranteed. "Our stores will have them from time to time, but we are encouraging people to shop early because this year there are going to be a ton of kids of all ages with the Wii on their wish lists," says Chris Olivera of GameStop. "Consumers are just going to have to be very diligent."

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2007-11-19-wii-shopping_N.htm

Give the gift of electronics

While Christmas is, as the song says, 'the most wonderful time of the year' for retailers, it presents at least two problems for prospective Santas — how to pay for gifts and what to buy.

We've come up with some electronics gifts that, while they can't solve the first problem, they will bring holiday smiles, and they're practical and reasonably priced.

Portable MP3 players

Believe it or not, digital audio quality has little to do with the player. More important is a song's audio compression bit rate and headphones/speakers. Look for features such as video capabilities, radio, microphone and overall ease of use.

Suggestions

Insignia Pilot 4 gigabyte Video MP3 player: Music and video, but Best Buy's inhouse brand also throws in Bluetooth, FM radio and recording capabilities. $140

Apple 8 gigabyte iPod Nano: Good things come from this small package that delivers an audio and video punch. $200

Zune 80 gigabyte Media Player: A whopping 80 gigabytes can hold 20,000 tunes or hundreds of episodes of South Park. $250

Apple 16 gigabyte iPod Touch: It doesn't come any cooler than this MP3 and video player, which is essentially an iPhone without the phone. $400

Memory cards

The trick here is to find out what sort of memory card your brother-in-law uses. Double the capacity of his current card and he'll regret giving you that thoughtless $25 gift card. Brand names rarely matter here, so get the cheapest one possible. Also, unless he has a top-of-the-line camera, he doesn't need high-speed memory, so don't pay extra for that either.

Suggestions

Sandisk: 4 gigabyte SD card, $30; 2 gigabyte SD card, $15.

Memory card readers

The truly cheap have a friend in these handy items, which make it easier to transport digital media from a computer to a camera or MP3 player (or vice versa). Once again, it helps to know what sort of card the gift recipient uses, but most readers can handle a variety of formats.

Suggestions

Mobilelite USB 9-in-1 Reader, $8

Sandisk ImageMate 12-in-1 USB Reader, $25.

Headphones

Digital music players are great, but the headphones that ship with most can stand improvement. While it doesn't make sense to blow a lot of cash on something that will be used to play back compressed audio, it is wise to seek a superior alternative once the original headphones are lost.

Suggestions

Koss 'The Plug' earbuds: Tolerable sound at a good price. The cushions do a good job at blocking out ambient noise. $11

Sennheiser MX400 earbuds: You get more than you pay for with these entry-level earbuds. $12

Sennheiser CX300 earbuds: For the price, the best portable headphones you'll find. $45

Sennheiser HD-555 headphones: The record producer who mixed the tracks likely didn't have anything much better. $99

Able Planet Clear Harmony noise canceling headphones: Expensive, but those who travel for business will appreciate the artificially created silence aboard their flight. $300

Portable MP3 player accessories

The iPod is so popular that a cottage industry of accessories has erupted. Among the most useful are powered speakers that make it possible to share tunes with others.

Suggestions

Mophie Bevy iPod Shuffle protective case and key chain bottle opener - The name says it all. $15

XtremeMac MicroMemo: The flexible microphone and miniature speakers can turn most recent iPods into a portable hi-fi digital audio recorder. $60

Kensington Liquid FM transmitter and charger: Juices up an iPod through a car's cigarette lighter and transmits tunes to FM radio. $70

Philips AJ300D iPod charger/ clock radio: An iPod will never lose its charge when it has a home right next to its owner's bed. The clock radio's sound is surprisingly rich. $80

Webcams

Reaching out and touching someone gets a lot more personal with video. The newest Webcams offer video quality comparable to that of camcorders from a few years ago. A Logitech product in your price range is a good bet, though Creative and Microsoft also make quality cams.

Suggestions

Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX: Impressive VGA (640 x 480) quality at an affordable price. $50.

Logitech QuickCam Pro/QuickCam Deluxe for Notebooks: A handy clip makes it a snap to attach these portable cams to most laptop screens. $100/$60

Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision SE: A glass lens and high-resolution (960 x 720) capabilities result in astounding video. $130

VoIP phones

Using a traditional phone to make an international call is financial foolishness. Voice over IP phones are now as simple to use as a normal phone, don't require a computer or monthly fees, and offer unbelievably low rates — it costs less than a dollar for a 30-minute phone call to most of Europe. All that is required is a VoIP phone like the ones listed below and a broadband Internet connection.

Suggestions

Philips VOIP841: A cordless DECT phone that works with traditional phone service as well as over the Internet. $150

Netgear WiFi phone (model number SPH200W-100NAS): For those who travel extensively, this phone can connect to most wireless networks and place Internet calls. $150

Printers

For home use, an inkjet printer, which can handle text and color photos, is the way to go. Lesser-known name brands are problematic because of build quality and because it's often hard to find replacement ink cartridges locally. Stick to a Canon or HP.

Suggestions

Canon Pixma MP520: The latest in the outstanding Pixma line creates fantastic photos and can also print directly from a variety of memory cards. $150

HP Officejet Pro L7680: Small offices can get it all — faxing, copying, scanning, document and photo printing, in one well-built package. $350

Laptops

There are too many variables in play to recommend a laptop suitable for everyone. Students will desire a more elaborate rig than lovable Uncle Rupert, who's looking only to surf the Web, write e-mail and maybe fire up a word processor. Still, these geek maxims will provide some guidance: Buy a computer that has a graphic chipset capable of rendering the type of software used; max out memory and worry less about CPU speed; get the fattest hard drive you can.

Suggestions

Dell Vostro 1500: Designed for business, the Vostro is unspectacular but super-solid (and heavy). It's also affordable. Dual core 1.4 ghz CPU, 1 gigabyte of memory, 120 gigabyte hard drive, $650.

Acer Aspire AS7520-5311: The extra horsepower and 17-inch screen is good for multimedia editing and light gaming. Dual core 1.9 ghz CPU, 2 gigabytes of memory, 160 gigabyte hard drive, $900.

Graphic cards

Christmas means video games, but to enjoy the visual spectacle of 'Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare' or 'Gears of War,' many computers will need a graphic card upgrade. The recently released GeForce 8800GT cards give a lot of horsepower at a reasonable price.

Suggestions


PNY G92 GeForce 8800GT with 512 megabytes of memory, $250


MSI GeForce 8600GT with 256 megabytes of memory, $110

Source: http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20071125/NEWS/71125014/1010/NEWS05