Tech Gifts for the Holidays

If someone on your list lights up at the thought of electronics and
gadgets, there are plenty to choose from this holiday season.

Flip Video Mino F360B 2GB Camcorder

This ultra-thin mini camcorder is simple to use and easy to take along wherever you go. But don’t let its small size fool you. The Flip Video Mino lets you shoot high-quality videos up to 60 minutes long and then you can share the video online and with friends and family. It’s easy to use; has 2 GB of built-in flash memory; and an internal Li-ion battery you can recharge with the built-in (cordless) USB arm. Other features include a flat back panel with touch-sensitive backlit buttons for easy recording; instant playback, pause, fast forward, rewind, zoom, and delete functions;1.5-inch color screen; fast, fixed-focus lens for great shots in low-light; 2x digital zoom; built-in speaker; and wide-range microphone. Size: 3.94 H x 1.97 W x .63 D. Weight: 3.3. ounces. Soft case, A/V cable, wrist strap, and quick-start guide are included. Available online and at electronics retailers for around $130.

The Photograph-to-Digital Picture Converter

Do you have old family photos tucked away in albums or shoeboxes? This product lets you convert those photographs into digital images that are easy to keep and share. By simply inserting the photo in the sliding tray, the image is recorded to your PC (USB cable included). Easier and faster than most scanners, it uses the same 5 MP CMOS sensor found in digital cameras. With automatic exposure control and color balance, up to 1,800 dpi resolution, and 10 bits per color channel, you’ll get excellent images every time. The editing software included lets you edit, crop, and re-size photos. Available at Hammacher Schlemmer for $99.95.

Polaroid PoGo 5.0 MP Instant Digital Camera

This digital camera and printer combination is the first of its kind small enough to take with you. The Polaroid PoGo is a full-feature digital camera with an integrated printer. It produces 2x3-inch borderless color prints in less than a minute without using ink – so the prints come out dry to the touch. The 5.0 megapixel camera has a 4x digital zoom, 3-inch LCD screen, and SD memory card slot for saving pictures. Other features include a tool for red-eye removal, image stabilization, and face tracking. Rechargeable lithium-ion battery, ten sheets of Polaroid PoGo Zink photo paper, AC adapter/charger, USB cable, carrying pouch, and wrist strap are included. Size: 6.1 x 8.1 x 4.8-inches. Weight: three pounds. Available online and at electronics retailers for about $200.

Canon Vixia HF100 High-Definition Camcorder

HD camcorders have been a very pricey item on gift lists, but now there are models that offer great quality at a lower price. The Canon Vixia HF100 with Flash Memory offers excellent HD video quality. It’s compact, has instant auto focus, and ergonomic design. Features include 3.3. Megapixel full HD CMOS sensor; advance DIGIC DV II image processor; 12x optical/200x digital HD video zoom lens; SuperRange optical image stabilization; 2.7-inch widescreen multi-angle vivid LCD screen; 1/2000 maximum shutter speed; AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High-Definition) digital video format; Dolby digital 2ch audio; and more -- providing excellent overall performance. Size: 2.9 W x 2.5 H x 5.1 D. Weight: 13.4 ounces (without lens and battery pack). Accessories include power adaptor, stereo video cable, battery pack, wireless controller, USB cable, component cable, Digital Video Solution disc for Windows and Macintosh, and Pixela ImageMixer 3SE disc. Available online and at electronics retailers for about $500.