Top 10 Gadgets for Christmas 2010

Christmas is almost here, and wish lists are being written all over the country. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 gadgets that Father Christmas will be getting asked for the most this year…

10. Sony Vaio

If you’re browsing around for laptops or netbooks for Christmas, look no further than the Sony Vaio. This is certainly one for fashion lovers – rounded edges, light up lids and a choice of black, white, pink and blue. This netbook has a 14” screen and boasts a Blu-Ray player, wireless display connectivity and a Core i3 processor. The Vaio also has a 500GB hard drive and 4GB of RAM. This is definitely the perfect choice to put under the Christmas tree.

9. Stinky the Garbage Truck

This is definitely one for the younger tech lovers! Stinky the Garbage Truck is an interactive toy truck who dances, sings and asks questions. Stinky has a sound activation system, which means you can tell him to switch himself on. He also has motion, direction and container sensors, which makes him very clever indeed. He has speakers installed on his body so he can sing and tell jokes, and has more than 90 phrases built in for when his owner asks him a question. Kids are going crazy for Stinky, which is a great alternative to buying games or movies which will encourage them to sit in front of the TV. Stinky retails from as little as £47.97, but varies in price retailer to retailer.

8. Call of Duty Black Ops

Call of Duty Black Ops is one of the most anticipated games in history. The last edition of the Call of Duty- Modern Warfare 2 sold over 4.7 million copies on the day of its release, which set a new record in the history of video gaming. Black Ops is set to be released on November 9th, and the creators are hoping to beat their own record. New features include an in-game currency, meaning you can buy new weapons and upgrades, an online split-screen for Xbox users and players will be given a ‘theatre mode’ meaning they can record and upload in-game video clips. Black Ops will no doubt feature on most die-hard gamers’ wish lists, if they’re not queuing up at midnight on the release date to bag a copy.

7. Samsung Galaxy S

I was tempted to have the iPhone at number 7 on our countdown, but thought I’d shift my attention to a non-Apple product and go for an Android phone instead. Android is fast becoming the popular choice of phone for Smart phone fans and Samsung have created a big competitor in that arena. To rival the iPhone, the Galaxy S features a 5MP camera, GPS, multi-touch screen, GPS and Wi-Fi, but also features an microSD slot so you can add more memory if needed- something the iPhone doesn’t have. The galaxy also weighs 19 grams less than the iPhone, although it’s slightly bigger in comparison. Samsung has announced that the Galaxy S is the strongest Smart phone on the market, and they could be right. Prices start from £404 on pay as you go, but you can find the Galaxy S on contract on most networks.

6. Ferrari F1 Electric Ride-On

Another piece of tech for the little ones, but this one should not be missed. Every little boy or girl would love to have a Ferrari as their first car, and now they can. This replica is made by Ferrari and has authenticated Ferrari badges and reaches speeds of up to 5mph. The car has forward and reverse gears and even has alloy wheels. Your first Ferrari doesn’t come cheap- it retails at around £340, but what a way to start driving!

5. iPod Touch

The iPod touch is the ultimate, affordable digital media player on the market. Gone are the days when your iPod could only play music- now you can browse the web, watch movies, download apps, read books, talk to your friends through FaceTime, as well as listening to your favourite tunes. As well as having a Wi-Fi connection, the iPod Touch also has 2 cameras facing opposite ways, so one if facing you and the other is facing what you can see, meaning you can change between the two when using FaceTime. The iPod Touch will set you back around £150, depending on where you buy it from.

4. Xbox 360 Kinect

The Kinect is the first games console which allows you to play a game without the need to touch a controller, or the console itself. The technology includes a strip of cameras and sensors, as well as voice regonition which allows you not only be able to control the console without touching it, but you’ll also be able to talk to it. There are thought to be 15 games ready to accompany the Kinect’s release, which looks to be before Christmas in the UK. The Xbox Kinect will cost around £129.99 with a bundle of games.

3. PS3 Move

The Move is the PS3’s attempt to jump on the wireless/motion sensor gaming experience bandwagon. Like the Wii, a wireless controller is how your movement is picked up, thanks to the Playstation Eye camera which tracks your location. Unlike the Wii’s remotes, you can recharge the Move’s controllers without any batteries. The stand out feature of the Move is the graphics of the games that accompany it. High end graphics are used which are said to blow the Wii’s and Kinect’s out of the water. The PS3 Move will cost you around £50 for one controller, but you’ll have to buy another controller if you want to use the multi-player options.

2. Amazon Kindle

The Amazon Kindle is set to change the way we read forever. The kindle is probably the most popular e-reader on the market, and is affordable at just £109. The Kindle is lighter than the average paperback book and can store up to 3500 books on its inbuilt storage system. The Kindle also has built in Wi-Fi, meaning you can browse and buy books whenever and wherever you like. The newest model has 50% better contrast than the last model and has the battery life to last you a whole month. The Kindle will be a welcome addition to your gadgets collection- you’ll probably never visit a book store again!

1. iPad

You guessed it – the iPad is still making waves all over the gadget market. Apple’s first main stream tablet computer was released in April 2010 and became the must have accessory music, games, books, movies and social networking. The iPad uses the same software as featured on the iPhone or iPod touch, so was immediately familiar to the millions of Apple fans worldwide. Apple sold 3 million iPads in the first 80 days of its release, proving that people were going mad for this new piece of technology. Prices range from £499- £599, depending on whether you choose to have a 3G wireless connection, and how much memory you need. The iPad is set to be the most popular gadget on Christmas lists of all ages.

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