It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Gadgets!

It’s that time of year again, when gadget geeks all over the world hope and pine for the latest and greatest in electronic gizmos and when Santa (i.e. loving spouses and parents) go nuts trying to figure out what to get their incorrigible little gear-heads. Of course I’m here to help you with my second annual holiday gear buying guide, because that’s the kind of guy I am. No thanks are necessary, it’s worth it just knowing that I’m helping to bring a smile to a little gadget geek somewhere.

I do have to say though that this year is much harder than in the past, due to the fact that there hasn’t been anything really big and new this year. Mostly, we have just seen incremental upgrades or significant price drops from last year. If you held off from buying some of the hottest gear from the past couple of years, the manufacturers have really sweetened the deal with some serious bang for your buck this year.

So here it is, my list for some of the best gadgets and gear for the holiday season.

Game Systems: Nothing really new here per se, but 2008 saw some significant upgrades to the current generation of game hardware and in some cases, some serious price drops. We have also had more than a year to add some incredible games to libraries of all of these systems, making a game system pretty much a no-brainer – if you don’t already have one.

Xbox 360: A huge price cut and a bigger hard drive, plus some free games to boot? I would still argue that the 360 is the dominant game console of the generation, perhaps not in total numbers sold – that honor would go to the Wii – but definitely in overall game experience and bang for the buck. The 360 Arcade version is now the cheapest game system at only $199 and while it doesn’t have a hard drive, it does come with some great games for kids and it gets you into the next generation on the cheap. The 360 Pro version is, in my opinion, THE system to own because $299 buys you the unquestionable system leader for the hard-core gamer, with the new 60GB hard drive and two free games (Lego Indiana Jones and Kung Fu Panda, the first of which is awesome, the second… not so much). There really is no reason to shell out another $100 for the Elite version unless you really need another 60GB of hard drive space or really want a black Xbox.

Also, by the time you read this, Microsoft will have released the New Xbox Experience which adds some decidedly Wii-like game avatars and a completely upgraded interface. Unlike the previous software tweaks, the new Experience really is a game changer both literally and figuratively. With support now for you to rip your game from the disk to the larger hard drive, you can eliminate the need for the system to keep the disk spinning in the drive which drastically cuts down on system noise and can speed up load times (though you still need the disk in the tray to play it). Also, if you have a Netflix account, you can stream your movies straight through your Xbox now, totally eliminating any need to get off the couch or even leave the house for that matter! Finally, Xbox Live! remains the leader in online play and with the latest crop of games, your little gamer is going to be fragging n00bs from all over the world, w00t! (For a translation, read the Oct 08 G&G).

Playstation 3: While the PS3 has come down in price over the last year (now $399), I would argue that should be expected when you actually take stuff away from the console. The system is no longer backwards, compatible with literally hundreds of games from the PS1 and PS2, and they have removed some of the card inputs from the 1st generation, though admittedly those were pretty useless in the first place. While the PS3 does push out some beautiful visuals, it still has not delivered in the games department. There are only a handful of truly awesome games that can only be played on the PS3 and the Playstation’s online system still has not delivered on its promised upgrade that was supposed to be out this time last year (showing that while the PS3 online service is free, you get what you pay for). Also, one of the most compelling reasons for buying a PS3, the fact that it was the cheapest Blu-Ray player you could buy, is no longer the case. The PS3 is a very good game system; it’s just not the best (that would be the Xbox 360).

Nintendo Wii: The Wii has not come down in price or added anything really new, but why should it, since for the last two years Nintendo has been able to sell every Wii system it has been able to crank out. The undisputed leader in terms of total number of units sold, it is still by far the weakest system as far as performance and quality of games goes. Now, there are some Nintendo fan-boys out there that will squawk about Super Mario Brothers Galaxy, but for every must-have game for the Wii, I can put up five must-haves for either the 360 or even the PS3. Still, for $249 you do get a cool system with some thoroughly cool games to play with friends and family, but serious gamers will be left wanting.

If you already have one of the above systems or are looking for some games to go along with your new system, here are my picks from this year’s crop (game rating in parenthesis):

Fallout 3 (Mature): From Bethesda Softworks, the makers of the 2007 smash hit, Oblivion comes a game that can best be described as a post-apocalyptic Oblivion. Don’t worry if you or your little gamer (well they shouldn’t be too little since this IS a mature-rated game) never played Fallout 1 & 2 (though they were great), this game stands on it’s own with an awesome story and fabulous game play. I have already lost several days of my life to this game! (360 and PS3)

Dead Space (Mature): In space, no one can hear you scream, but my wife has no problem hearing me scream like a little girl whenever a necromorph springs out of the shadows to scare the bejeezus out of me. This is the sleeper hit of 2008 (much like Assassin’s Creed was last year) and will go down in history as one of the scariest games ever. (360 and PS3)

Lego Indiana Jones (Everyone 10+): Anyone who loves the Indiana Jones movies (we’ll ignore this year’s movie) will love this game. Yes, it is cutesy with all the Lego characters running around, but it delivers in both gameplay and in sly humor for those adults who are fans and are paying attention. This game is one of the few games for which I have a perfect score, because I wanted to explore every nook and cranny. (360, PS3, PS2, and Wii)

Tom Clancy’s Endwar (Teen): For your armchair generals, this game will suck up hours upon hours of their life. This is one of the few games to really use voice commands and really do it well. You can pretty much play the entire game without ever touching the controller; though that does mean that you are going to have to hear your little general yelling ‘Team 1, attack Hostile 2!’ which may or may not be such a good thing. (360 and PS3)

Little Big Planet (Everyone 10+): Arguably one of the cutest games of all time, this one also has a lot of creativity going for it, to which you can add your own by custom designing levels for you and your friends to play. (PS3 only)

Gears of War 2 (Mature): I really wasn’t a fan of the first Gears game but I do have to give it praise for its superb graphics and frantic gameplay. I am an outsider on this one, virtually 99% of all gamers love this game, but for some reason it just did didn’t grab me, though there is a very good chance that your gamer will love it. (360 only)

Metal Gear Solid 4 (Mature): The Metal Gear series will go down in history as one of the best game series of all time and rightfully deserves the reverence that people reserve for movie classics such as ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Schindler’s List’. This is supposedly the last chapter of this sometimes strange but always engrossing story, and it unfolds through bleeding edge graphics that will make your High-Def TV whimper for mercy. (PS3 only)

Cameras: 2008 has seen some decent upgrades to some top cameras of the past few years and here are my picks for best camera in each of the different classes:

Compact – Sony Cyber-Shot DSC T700: Sony has always been one to make stylish cameras and the T700 is no exception. With its incredibly thin form factor and brushed aluminum casing, you would be hard pressed to find a sleeker camera. The real beauty of this camera is the fact that it can also double as a portable picture album. The memory of the camera has been bumped up to 4GB which pretty much eliminates any need to buy a separate memory card and allows you to hold literally thousands of pictures in the camera. With its 3.5 inch touch screen on the back you can then show off all your photos to friends and family right there on the back of the camera. One drawback to the touch screen, as is the case with virtually all touch screens, is the fact that you will have a ton of fingerprints on the screen. Carry a screen cleaning cloth with the camera though and you have a great camera and portable photo album all in one.

Superzoom – Canon SX10 IS: The current king of the superzoom class with a 20x zoom on it, the SX10 is the first real upgrade to this series of camera since they were created. With a 10 megapixel sensor, a 2.5 inch screen that can be rotated so that it is protected by the camera body, and a zoom equivalent of 28 – 560mm, you really would be hard pressed to find a better all-in-one travel camera. Granted, you are giving up some photo quality by packing that much zoom into one lens but you are also cutting out about 15 pounds of camera gear at the same time, if you were to try to cover the same range with an SLR camera. Though the Panasonic FZ-28 (which I also mentioned in last months article) is also a serious contender in this class, I gave the SX10 the nod mostly due to the 20x vs. the 18x zoom and the better ergonomics (the FZ-28 is a bit small even for my medium sized hands).

Entry Level D-SLR – Canon Rebel XSi: With its 12.2 megapixel sensor, 3 inch screen, blazing speed, and huge lens line-up, the XSi is easily the best of the entry level D-SLRs. There may be others that are a little bit cheaper, or may have a higher resolution screen on the back, but none can match the whole package that Canon put together in the XSi. Now I fully expect Nikon, Sony, or Canon themselves to come up with something that will blow the XSi out of the water some time next summer, but until then, and even after, you would be well served by the outstanding Canon Rebel XSi.

Semi-Pro D-SLR – Nikon D90: Being a Canon fan-boy myself, it pains me to say this, but Nikon handed Canon their rear-end in this class of cameras. My Canon 40D and even the newer 50D have been trounced by this beautiful camera. While the 50D might have outdone the D90 in terms of the quality of the LCD screen on the back (and just barely at that), everything else about D90 trounces anything Canon has put out in the same class. While the D90 might have a smaller megapixel sensor than the Canon 50D, that is actually not a bad thing because I think that both the Canon XSi and the D90 have proven that 12 megapixels is the sweet spot for this class of cameras (remember more pixels does not necessarily mean better). This camera almost makes me want to switch to Nikon… almost.

Professional D-SLR: Canon 5D Mark II: While Nikon really stepped up their game in the full-frame sensor arena with the D3 and the D700, the Canon 1Ds Mark III blew the D3 out of the water (if you can get a second mortgage to afford it) and the 5D will do the same to the D700. The 5D Mark II trounces the D700 and in some ways even the D3 with a huge 21 megapixel sensor! 21 megapixels I tell you! That is up there with the medium-format cameras that the professional fashion photographers use in their studios. For those photographers who need a full frame sensor, the 5D Mark II is a no-brainer even when compared to the 1Ds Mark III because you can use the $5000 you saved on some sweet lenses!

MP3 Players: I’m going to make this one easy, just go get an iPod will you? I don’t care which one, because quite frankly your little geek is going to be happy no matter which one they get.

iPod Touch: With the software upgrades to the Touch this year and the boosting of the memory up to 32GB all with a decreased prices, you will not find a better all-around media player. Cover Flow is still the coolest music interface and watching TV and movies on the Touch is still stellar. Also, now that the Touch can use programs from the Apps Store on iTunes, you can get some of the cool new programs that the kids with the iPhones have been playing with, including some really neat games.

iPod Nano: The Nano went back to its slender form of the 1st and 2nd generations but added a widescreen display, a better interface, and a cool new oblong body. While the screen is still pretty small, you would be surprised how easy it is to watch video on it even for extended periods. Something new is the ‘Shake to Shuffle’ feature that puts the Nano in shuffle mode just by shaking it vigorously (don’t worry, you have to really try to put it in this mode, it won’t just do it from normal movement). Also, you can get the Nano in a bewildering choice of colors that would even make a peacock stand up and say ‘whoa’ (that is if they had lips to make the whole ‘w’ sound, but I digress). That and an overall increase in memory for the same price, makes this the go-to iPod.

iPod Shuffle: With the increase in memory from 1GB to 2GB (though you can still get the 1GB for about $20 less than before), this remains my pick for best gym music player, heck for just plain all-around music player for that matter. Out of all the music players I have ever owned (and that’s a lot), the Shuffle is still my favorite and most used player EVER. While the Touch is cool to show off, the ease of use and diminutive size of the Shuffle just makes it my all time favorite music player.

So, that’s it for this year’s gadget buying guide. I could have gone on forever on a ton of different items (flat screen TVs, headphones, GPS units, cell phones, etc.) but I only have so much so much space in which to write. If you have any specific questions on some gadget this holiday season, please feel free to write me at jeff@healthandleisureonline.com. Have a great holiday season!

Gadgets & Gear: Personal Trainer in Your Pocket

Happy New Year! I hope you’ve been having fun playing with all the cool toys you received for the holidays (which if your loved ones were reading this magazine last month you should have gotten some very cool gear)!

January not only ushers in a whole new year, but for many of us it also brings several New Year’s resolutions. If one of your resolutions is to get in shape, and if you happen to have gotten a new iPod (or even have an old one for that matter), this article is about how you can use your iPod to get better results with your resolution.

iPods and MP3 players in general are a great tool to help you stay motivated to do that extra mile on the treadmill or that extra rep on the weight bench. At the very least they provide music to help take your mind off of just how much your muscles hurt or how much you really don’t want to be there. Perhaps you didn’t know this, but that little iPod can be more than just a distraction. It can be a tool to help take your workout to the next level and help you see some serious gains, or losses, depending on your goal.

There are two things for your iPod that I would like to highlight in this article that I really think can turn that fun little gadget into a virtual trainer. The first item is the iPod + Nike system and the second is a whole group of websites that provide workout Podcasts for you to download.

iPod + Nike

Now this system has been around for some time but with the new generation of iPod Nanos and some new Nike shoes that support the system, I think it has finally hit the tipping point and the system is starting to take off. Unfortunately, this system is designed to be used with the Nano and not the iPod Classic, Touch, or Shuffle, but it does work with all generations of Nanos. The latest generation of Nanos with its phenomenal screen and diminutive size is what really made me stand up and take notice of the iPod + Nike system.

So what is involved with the iPod + Nike system you ask? As I stated earlier, you need an iPod Nano. You then need to go to the Apple store or to a local sporting goods store to pick up the iPod + Nike Sport Kit which has the transmitter and receiver set you need. This costs about $29.00. Finally, you need to go to your favorite shoe store and look for a set of Nike + shoes. These shoes are just like any other set of Nikes but these have a small space under the arch of your left insole where the transmitter goes. You then plug the receiver into the dock connector of your Nano, and you now have a state-of-the-art training tool.

Now, what does the whole system do? Well that transmitter in your shoe is a very cool little pedometer that transmits all its data to your iPod, which then can display all kinds of information about your workout such as your pace, how many calories you have burned, how far you have run, and how long you have been going. Don’t feel like fidgeting with an iPod while you are running? Don’t worry, the iPod not only displays all this information on the screen but will also talk to you through the headphones (adjusting the volume of your music when it does). It will even congratulate you when you have achieved a personal best time or pace.

The thing I think is one of its coolest features though is the PowerSong feature. What this lets you do is select one song that really gets you pumped, and when you press and hold the center button on the Nano, it will interrupt your playlist with this song. When the song is finished, the Nano will go back to your previous music. This is great when you need that last little kick to really pour it on and finish hard.

Even if that is all the iPod + Nike system did, it would still be a great tool for your cardio workout, but it gets even better with its synch capability. Once you get home from your run or walk, you can plug your Nano into your computer and synch it with iTunes and the www.nikeplus.com website to keep track of your progress. It can track everything from your total time out, total miles ran, and total calories burned, and can even break it down by day, week, month, or year. It uses a very straight forward graphical system that readily shows you where you stand and how far you have to reach your goals. If you are the really competitive type, you can even challenge your friend on the other side of the country to a virtual race and upload your data to see who wins!

So if you have an iPod Nano, and you are in the market for a new pair of running shoes, pick up a set of the Nike + shoes and the Sport Kit and start putting that Nano to really good use!

Podcasts

Now this “tool” is very straight forward. There are several websites out there that provide instructional video or audio Podcasts that you can use to help make your workouts either more productive, fun, or hopefully both. This truly is like having a personal trainer in your pocket except you don’t have to worry about running into him on the street with that disapproving look when he sees you with that triple scoop of Baskin-Robbins in your hand. Here is a list of several sites that you may want to check out. Two of these sites charge per Podcast, and the other is subscription-based. There are a few other sites that provide some free audio podcasts though their quality is commensurate with what they charge.

www.fitwisetraining.com

This site has video Podcasts on everything from strength training to yoga. Each video is $1.99 for a certain exercise/posture or they have packages that provide a complete workout for $9.99. It is very easy and straight forward and the only one on this list that is video-based.

www.podfitness.com

Now this really is having a personal trainer on your iPod or MP3 player because once you sign up with this subscription-based service, you put together a plan with a real life trainer who then develops a program for you. This program is downloaded either through the free iTunes or Zune software and then uses the music that you pick to create a whole workout session. The subscription rate for podfitness.com is $59.85 every thirteen weeks. It may sound like a lot, but you can’t even get one session with a personal trainer for that in most gyms.

www.itrain.com

Here they offer a bunch of different audio Podcasts with music for a variety of different workouts. The trainers can offer some pretty cheesy “motivation” at times, and the music is from their own collection of generic high energy music, but I really could imagine that I was in a studio with a trainer with their Podcasts. Prices vary, but each Podcast is a full 15 minutes to one hour workout for anything from $4 to $10.

Well, that’s it for this month. I hope this article has helped give you some ideas on putting that iPod to good use and that it helps you reach your fitness goals this year. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at jeff@healthandleisureonline.com.

Gadgets & Gear: December 2007

Wracking your brain trying to figure out what to get the Gadget Geek in your life for the holidays? Have no fear, this month’s article is all about some of the season’s top gadgets, any of which would put a silly grin on your little geeks face when they open it.

It has been a busy year for a lot of electronics companies. I can’t remember the last time I have seen so many extremely cool gadgets all out at once. There are some serious battles brewing among a lot of different companies to try to earn your dollar. Everything from MP3 players to cameras has seen some major cool factor injections and some serious upgrades to capabilities; all while keeping prices the same (if not a little less). So here are some of my top picks for the best gadgets of the holiday season.

MP3/MEDIA PLAYERS

Got a call from Lucifer the other day, and it seems he is a bit peeved at the sudden decrease in temperature down there. What happened? I bought my first iPod and switched my main MP3 player to Apple. More than one friend of mine asked if I was OK since I said it would be a cold day down there before I switched to an iPod. Well, I’m eating crow and believe it or not, it really does taste like chicken (it is a little bitter though).

For those of you who have been readers since our first issue this January, you will know that I was not a particular fan of Steve Jobs. While I have always thought that iPods were undeniably stylish, I’m also one of those who refuse to go along with the herd. Well, that article was written some time in November ‘06 and since then my wife got her little pink Nano (the last generation), and after seeing that Apple did make some serious improvements to iTunes for Windows users, I broke down and purchased an iPod Shuffle (which I did rate very highly in my review of best music players for the gym). It became my favorite music player for when I work out and actually took over as one of my main players. It is so easy to use and so incredibly well designed that I was sucked in. I still held on to my SanDisk Sansa player for my main player (meaning the one with my entire music library) but started having serious thoughts of moving completely over to iPods this summer. Apple cinched the deal with my #1 pick for must have gadget this season.

iPod Touch: This thing brings a grin to my face every time I use it. From the incredibly cool cover flow feature that lets you ‘flip’ through your music collection like flipping through a stack of LPs (for the younger readers out there, those are the things that look like really big black CDs) to the huge screen which is incredibly gorgeous when showing off pictures or watching movies. And, believe it or not, it does a great job showing off web pages. Shortly after the iPhone came out, I had said that if they ever came out with one without the phone feature (which has been a letdown for some people), I would be the first to buy it. I was one of the first people to get one of the first shipments to the local Apple store.

If you thought the iPhone was super sleek and stylish, the Touch outdoes it by being even more slender and stylish (I personally prefer the black bezel around the screen vs. the iPhone’s stainless steel). My mother, who is not a gadget geek by any stretch of the imagination, was even grinning like a little kid when she saw all the cool things the Touch can do. Even beyond playing music and movies or TV shows, I have to say the features I use the most are the web browser and the picture viewer. While you can only use the web browser at Wi-Fi hotspots and not everywhere like with the iPhone, it comes in pretty handy when you need to look up something on the internet and don’t have your laptop or don’t want to use the more truncated version on most cell phones.

This isn’t the internet you have seen on most phones, it is the real deal and uses Apple’s Safari browser just like the Mac computers. While it can be a little hard sometimes to hit some of the really small hyperlinks on some pages, all in all it works like a charm. As for pictures, the Touch is like carrying around entire picture albums. It is so cool to hand the Touch over to a friend and let them flip through the photos from your last trip. You can even zoom in on the picture with a little ‘finger-spread’ motion on the touch screen or shrink them down again with a ‘pinch’ motion.

While the Touch doesn’t have the gargantuan hard drive capacities of the new ‘Classic’ iPod, it does come in both an 8GB and 16GB capacities and cost $299 and $399 respectively. The 8GB version is probably a bit small unless you have a relatively small music collection. I have a decent size music collection, a movie, a TV show, and about 500 pictures loaded onto mine, and I have 7 out of the 16GB left on my Touch. Oh, and when you are at the store, pick up a case for the Touch, because while it is awfully pretty and sleek, it is a finger print magnet.

The Rest of the iPod Lineup: Okay, I already gushed about the Touch, but I have to give a quick shout out to the rest of the iPod lineup. Apple has made some very cool changes to the rest of the iPod line. Now the Nano is even smaller but has a bigger screen and supports video (in fact the screen on the Nano has the highest resolution out of any iPod) and comes in 4GB and 8GB flavors ($149 and $199 respectively). The now ‘Classic’ video iPod comes in 80 and 160GB versions ($249 and $349), and both are still very sleek and now have an anodized aluminum front which doesn’t streak up with finger prints like the last several generations of iPods (can’t say that about the stainless steel back though). Both the Nano and Classic have updated their interfaces and support their own version of Cover Flow, not as cool as the version on the Touch, but still pretty cool. Finally, the still very cool Shuffle comes in some new colors but otherwise is unchanged and still only costs $79.

Sony Walkman NWZ-A818: “Ding dong the witch is dead, the wicked witch is dead.” Not really, but Sony’s SonicStage software is. The albatross that has been hanging around Sony’s neck for the last several years of digital music player history is finally gone and with it Sony’s proprietary music format. The ATRAC3 music format was actually not bad but it never got much support out of anyone other than Sony, so it kind of died on the vine. Now Sony music players will support both unprotected AAC (music encoded using iTunes though not purchased from there) and both protected and unprotected WMA (so it supportS all the other music sites such as Napster and Rhapsody) as well as MP3. On top of that it also has a slide show viewer for pictures and can even support some video formats. The killer is that it has tremendous battery life compared to an iPod (almost 36 hours) and the fact that they actually ship with a nice set of earphones not the junk ones like with the iPod which is even better because music on the Sony sounds fantastic. The new Walkman comes in 2GB ($120), 4GB ($150), and 8GB ($200) versions. Finally, Sony is back in the music game.

Archos 605 Wi-Fi: This is the media gadget to end all media gadgets, though you will pay for it. The Archos 605 is a full-blown media center in your pocket, albeit a very large pocket. Sporting a 4.3 inch touch screen, 30, 80 or a 160GB hard drive, a music player, a video player, picture viewer, and basic Wi-Fi connectivity right out of the box is impressive enough. Where the Archos really shines, and takes a bigger bite out of your wallet, is in the applications you can buy for it. For an extra $20 each you can get high-def video playback or internet radio; for an additional $30 you can buy the Opera web browser plug-in and get full internet connectivity with Flash video support (for sites like YouTube) and out of the box it supports MP3 and protected WMA. You can buy the plug-in to support AAC but not the protected files from iTunes. The add-on that is the real sweet deal for this machine is the $99 DVR Station. This gives your Archos the ability to download TV right from your cable box and have them available for you to watch where ever you want. It includes the base station that plugs into your TV, and you even get a very good program guide to select which shows you want it to record. You don’t have to just watch the shows on the Archos player though since it can act as your TVs main video recorder.

The only thing holding the Archos back from being the mother of all gadgets is the rather short battery life, though Archos will be glad to sell you an additional battery for $49. The 30GB version retails for $299, the 80GB for $350, and the 160GB for $400 without the add-ons.

CAMERAS

Canon 40D: This is my new baby. I love this camera. I would marry it if it weren’t illegal in most states, though I might be able to get away with it in Nevada – you can get away with anything there. With a 10.1 megapixel sensor, blazing fast shooting speed, a three inch screen with the ability for live view (which is great when you can’t put your eye to the viewfinder), as well as 14-bit A/D processing and a new weather sealed body this camera is at the pinnacle of semi-pro cameras.

While other makers may have just released cameras with bigger sensors, or image stabilization in the camera body, or higher resolution screens, the one thing they can’t match is the Canon selection of lenses. Not only does Canon have the largest selection of lenses, but it also has the largest third-party support as well. So, if there is a focal length you need, you can get it for the Canon. While watching your favorite football game look at all the cameras with the big white lenses on them, those would be Canon lenses.

While shooting with a digital SLR is a little more complex than your regular point-and-shoot, once you learn how to use an SLR you will be amazed at the things you can do with it. The 40D sells for $1300 for the body only (which is great if you already own Canon lenses) or $1500 with a lens kit.

Canon S5 IS: The fourth generation in a line of very good cameras the S5 isn’t so much of a revolution, or even an evolution, it is more of the same with a little touch up. Still it is probably the best of the super-zoom class currently on the market. With an 8 megapixel sensor, a 12X zoom, and a 2.5 inch screen, this is the closest thing you can get to owning an SLR without having to buy all the lenses.

While other super-zooms, namely Sony’s H9, have a bigger sensor and screen, they also took a step back in ease of use. The Canon has kept it’s simple design and top-notch interface. If your geek just wants a camera with a little more ‘reach’ than your typical point-and-shoot, or if they just want camera that has a few more advanced features, the Canon S5 IS would make a great present. You can get the S5 for $400, though if they don’t need the two extra mega-pixels and half an inch of screen, you can get the S3 IS for a steal right now.

Sony DSC-W80: A great pocketable camera with an incredibly easy to use interface and great performance in a wide range of situations, though to be fair, like many compact cameras with their tiny sensors, it’s image quality does suffer a bit in indoor/low-light situations. I spent weeks to find the best camera for my wife that was easy to use, had a nice size screen, and was stylish enough for her to carry around. The W80 is very easy to use, has a fast start up time, a 2.5 inch screen, a picture setting selector that tells you on the screen what each setting is best for, and best of all, it came in pink (my wife’s favorite color) as well as a host of other colors. The Sony W80 is a great little camera for everyday use and you can pick it up for $230.

GPS DEVICES

Garmin Nuvi 660 or 350: Want your lovable geek to make it to the holiday dinner on time and not end up somewhere in Ohio? Then maybe give them an early present of a GPS navigator. Garmin is by far the leader in the GPS market and makes units with very powerful receivers and a ton of features. The problem is that you pay for that power and versatility. Both devices can give turn-by-turn voice directions and can display maps in both 2D/3D. Both can also get current traffic updates and come with a 90-day trial subscription, but after that you (or they) have to pay. You can get the Gamin Nuvi 660 for $800 and the 350 is $500. If you are looking for a unit that is a little less expensive, you can look at the units made by TomTom, especially the XL-S which provides a lot of great features for about $100 less than the Garmin 350.

Well, I’m about out of space, so I guess I have to end it here. I could go on for pages though on all the latest games and toys that the geek in your life would just love this holiday season. It surely is a great time to be a gadget geek.

As always if you have any questions about this article or any gadget at all, please feel free to write me at jeff@healthandleisureonline.com.

Gadgets & Gear: MP3 Players for the Gym

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Health and Leisure magazine and this column, Gadgets & Gear. Every month, I will be giving you a look at what is new in entertainment gadgets and fitness gear.

For this first column, I decided to focus on one of the two pieces of exercise gear (many would call them gadgets) that I consider essential to keeping me in the fitness game – an MP3 music player. I use the term MP3 loosely, meaning any compressed digital music format. The second is a heart rate monitor watch, which will be the topic of next month’s column. I make sure that I have both of these items before I even think of working out. I credit both of them with elevating my fitness levels and keeping me motivated to push myself that extra mile (or two, or three).

First, we’ll look at features you will want to consider for your music player. I’m going to argue for the idea that you have at least two music players in your possession (I own three myself). People have different roles for their players and some models are better suited for one role versus another.

Your primary player will probably have a lot more bells and whistles than the one you need for working out. The 30 gigabyte (GB) hard drive player with the two and a half inch screen that holds your entire music collection and plays videos, is probably not the player you want strapped to your arm while on the treadmill or getting knocked around by the free weights and nautilus equipment.

For the gym or outdoor exercise, you ought to be looking at flash memory players. Flash players have no moving parts and while they cost more on gigabyte to gigabyte comparison, you don’t need that much memory for a good workout mix. In fact, you can get a 512 megabyte (MB) player that will hold several hours of music for well under $100.

I’m going to get on my soapbox now and state for the record that I never used to like iPods. Perhaps it was the rebel streak in me going against 95% of the world. Or, perhaps I just didn’t think I was cool enough to have one – but I was not a fan.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that the iPod is (or ever was) a bad music player; it wouldn’t have single-handedly pulled Apple out of obscurity if that was true. In fact, I think that iPods are beautiful works of technological art and are topnotch sound systems. I wish all music players were as stylish and well designed (for the most part) as iPods. I guess I should really say that I hated (and still do) iTunes. I am now able to separate the two in my mind and can acknowledge the many great things iPods have to offer: outstanding sound quality, surprisingly great video playback (especially on the new generation), and style coming out of it’s ears, or actually yours.

It’s actually very hard to separate an iPod and iTunes, because you really can’t. You need iTunes to load the music and video on to your player, but they are kind of like a hot supermodel and her dysfunctional rock star boyfriend. Every time I have ever used the iTunes it has always given me problems, i.e. finding music files that weren’t really there, making multiple copies of files and filling up my hard drive, and trying to take over as the ONLY music player on my computer.

Perhaps I know too much for my own good and it is operator error, but it always seems buggy to me. Maybe it’s really Steve Jobs’ way of making everyone who owns an iPod and a PC pay for not having a Mac!

My problem could always be the fact that I have hundreds – if not thousands – of hours of audio formatted in WMA (Windows Media Audio format), which iPods don’t play. I’m loathe to burn my audio all over again.

I could have gone for maximum flexibility and burned it all in MP3 format but it really isn’t the best format and it takes up a lot more memory than others of similar quality. iPods can play MP3s but the “default” music format is AAC (Advanced Audio Codec). The music you download from iTunes is a protected version of this and can only be played on an iPod (I prefer Microsoft’s WMA format since it is supported by ALL the other music players and services such as Napster and Rhapsody).

While some people may argue, perhaps correctly, that AAC is better than run of the mill WMA, for me, the difference is imperceptible. Most differences are due to the player and not the format if they are at equivalent quality levels. If you are a huge audiophile, you shouldn’t be using either format and should be using a lossless codec like the Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC). If most of this last paragraph didn’t make much sense, don’t worry, I’ll go into the benefits and drawbacks of the most popular music formats in a future column.

Would you take a sports car out on an off road adventure? I didn’t think so. You also shouldn’t bring your 30-80GB video iPod or any other hard-drive based music player to the gym or out on your favorite running trail. You should be looking for a Jeep that gets the job done and has all the little extra tools that make it better suited to a variety of situations.

So what exactly does a good workout music player look like? Here is a list of some things that I consider to be pretty important:

a. Flash memory based – Makes it lighter in weight and since it has no moving parts, it won’t skip on you. Apple does make the snazzy Nano and functional Shuffle players that are both flash memory based, but they both violate one or more of the other rules here. Plus, the Nano is just a little too fragile (though the new version with the wrap-around aluminum case took care of the most common complaints).

b. At least 512MB of memory – This will give you several hours of music time and you can probably make it through several workouts without hearing the same song twice. You can, of course, go up in memory. Flash players top out at about 8GB but you will pay a premium for all that space. Do you really need all those songs in the gym?

c. A radio tuner – One of the big deal breakers for me for the Apple iPod is that none of them have a radio tuner built in. I refuse to believe that the incredibly talented designers at Apple couldn’t figure out a way to squeeze in a radio tuner into any of their iPods. The cynic in me thinks that was a business decision to make you buy songs from iTunes or the radio tuner accessory. Why a radio? Most gyms have TVs that are broadcasting their sound over radio channels. This is good for those people who like to watch CNN or ESPN while they workout instead of listening to music. Having Chris Mathews or Jim Cramer yell at me gets my heart beating faster than a lap around the track!

d. Easy to use controls – This is important – especially when you need to change the song quickly because you notice everyone is looking at you in the free weight area while you have been singing aloud to Kelly Clarkston! Really, you should have a player that you can do all the major functions (next/previous song and volume) without looking at it.

e. A good work-out case – Something that can either clip to your waist or strap around your arm is probably the best option. I can’t tell you how many times

I’ve seen people at the gym pull some maneuver and end up causing their music player to go crashing to the ground. In one case, I even saw a big, hard-drive based player fall into the rails of an elliptical machine and shatter.

f. Powered by a replaceable battery – Go for a player that uses a single AA or AAA alkaline/rechargeable battery instead of one that must have it’s own internal battery charged before use (this will be the hardest rule to follow since most flash based players are so small now that there is no room for an AA/AAA battery).

There will be a lot of times you run out the door without checking the charge status on your player and it will fizzle out five minutes into your workout. Listening to the guy wheeze on the elliptical machine next to you for the next 40 minutes will make it a loooooooong workout! Many gyms sell batteries for just such an occasion or you can pack an extra box of them in you bag. Another benefit is that you won’t eventually burn out that non-replaceable battery in the other players (*cough*, iPod). Most players that use AA/AAA batteries get 12 to 45 hours out of one battery.

You may have noticed that I didn’t say anything about screen size. That’s because I don’t think that’s a big issue for a workout player. It just has to be big enough to select a playlist, and to change any settings such as the radio frequency. The iPod Shuffle doesn’t even have a screen and for your workout playlist, you may not even need one.

That is what you need to look for in a workout player. Buy the hard drive-based player (an iPod, if you must go along with the crowd) to hold your whole music collection, and get another cheap one to bang around while working out. If you buy the big iPod, you should also buy the small one as well. You won’t feel nearly as bad accidentally dropping or destroying it as you would your main player.

So is that Best Buy gift card you got for Christmas burning a hole in your pocket, but you don’t have the time to ask the salesperson about every unit there? I have done the research for you. Here are my top music players for working out:

1. iRiver T-10 (512MB, 1GB, and 2GB) – This is actually the player I own for the gym. First, iRiver has some of the best sound quality in the business (right up there with Apple, Creative, and Sony), and this player in particular is completely designed for the gym. It has both a built-in sport clip and a lanyard to go with it, or it has a very well designed armband case that sets it perfectly for easy use while working out. It has a built in radio tuner and even can record voice clips if you come up with some great idea while working out and need to record a message to yourself. It plays MP3, WMA, and OGG Vorbalis files and it works with subscription music services (except iTunes). This player is the only one that actually meets all my specifications for what makes a good player (though it’s controls could be a little easier to use. This is my #1 pick. The prices for this player for the above mentioned memory configurations are $100, $120, and $150, respectively.

2. Creative Zen V Plus (1GB, 2GB, and 4GB) – This impossibly cute player not only sounds great but also looks great. It not only plays music but, it’s 1.5” display also can show off your pictures as well as play short video clips (though with the size of the screen, you won’t be watching episodes of ‘Lost’ on this player). It has an easy to use joystick on the front for switching between menus and songs and has side volume controls. It doesn’t have a replaceable battery, but the rechargeable one inside is good for about 15 hours of play time. It plays WMA and MP3 and works with all the main music subscription services with the exception of iTunes. It is also very easy to move files between your computer and the player by the simple drag-and-drop affair. You don’t have to use any special software (as you do with an iPod), to get your music ready to play. Prices range from $100 – $180 depending on memory size.

3. Apple iPod Shuffle (512MB old model, 1GB old and new model) – The old iPod Shuffle was a good idea for people who just wanted to take around a couple of hours of music with them and didn’t care about what song was playing. While the original had an interesting design and was ridiculously easy to use, the new Shuffle is an outstanding design and is just as easy to use. I wouldn’t have believed that there would be a digital music player that was more compact than the old Shuffle, but Apple did it with the new version. It is now only 1.3 inches square and about .25 inches deep. It has the trademark shuffle controls on the front but Apple really stepped it up a notch by making the case out of anodized aluminum and adding a clip to the back so you can clip it to anything. You get a surprisingly long 12 hours out of its miniscule battery and of course you get Apple quality sound. For someone who doesn’t care about what the next song is, or a screen to see what is currently playing, this player is a no-brainer, especially since it is only $79 for the new 1GB player. Don’t even bother with the old version.

4. Apple iPod Nano (2GB, 4GB, 8GB) – While the original hard drive iPod is a style icon, the first generation Nano took style to all new levels. People couldn’t believe that you could make something so stylish, functional, AND sleek. While it took some knocks for less than stellar battery life and a case that was way too easy to scratch, it was still THE music player to own last year. Apple has again brought it’s “A Game” and redesigned the Nano to include an anodized aluminum case (must more resistant to scratches), a 40% brighter screen, and improved battery life – all while making it even sleeker than before. It comes in a multitude of colors with the widest choices being with the 4GB version (blue, green, pink, red, and silver), black for the 8GB, and silver for the 2GB. The Nano has a ton of accessories and has a case that works well for the gym; you can even get a radio tuner for it to round out the package. I hate the fact that I would have to reformat all my music and start using iTunes to get this, but the new Nano ALMOST makes me want to do it. Prices range from $149 – $249.

5. SanDisk Sansa e200 Series (2GB, 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB) – SanDisk is the 800lb gorilla of the flash memory market and can afford to price its flash based players very competitively, especially considering most other manufacturers charge a premium for their flash players. The e200 line is the latest in SanDisks’ Sansa series players, which seem to get an upgrade every 6-9 months. I own a Sansa that was absolute top of the line last Christmas and it had the highest memory of any flash player at the time (4GB). It is actually TWO generations old now! SanDisk players used to be a little weak on the design/quality side, but always packed in a bunch of features (radio tuner, voice recorder, long battery life, and of course, memory) for the price. The company has stepped up their game quite a bit with the previous generation and with the current e280 line. Gone are the predominately plastic cases and bland monochrome screens of old. They are now replaced with aluminum casings and bright, vivid color screens, and a nice tactile scroll wheel that makes navigation a breeze. The e200 can now play small video clips and display your pictures. Another cool feature is the fact that all the e200 models have a mini-SD slot so that you can add additional memory if you choose. The sound quality has also been improved, but is still probably the weakest out of all the players in this list. Finally, the last great feature of the e200 series is the fact that you can replace the rechargeable battery inside when it stops holding a charge. That won’t happen for quite some time, but it is something that not a lot of other players can claim. Prices range from $140 – $250.

So, that is a down-and-dirty look at one of the two gadgets that I can’t live without for my workout routine. In next months’ column I will go over the different heart-rate watches available. In future columns, I will go more in-depth on the music formats to fill your music player and also the latest in running shoes, hiking gear, workout equipment, and other recreational gadgets.

If you have anything you would like reviewed or if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write me at jeff@healthandleisureonline.com.