Gifts Guide Online

In 2001 Apple launched the iPod. Why bother, everyone said, there were already hundreds of different digital music players at the time and most people dismissed the idea out of hand. Three hundred and ninety-nine dollars for a music player? Too expensive. No FM radio or a microphone. It will never catch on. Well, as we know now, it turns out they were wrong on all counts - and how. Apple shares were $9.51 the day before the launch - today they are around $160. But enough of the history lesson. Here are five reasons why the Amazon Kindle is the next must-have gadget akin to the iPod or PSP.

1. It actually addresses a real problem

Who needs to carry 80 books around with them? Well, I don't, and I'm sure most of you don't either. What about a thousand - now you're just being silly! Sony's failed e-book reader boasted enough memory to carry around a small, or even medium sized library. Great if you're a professor who needs to reference his life work while on the move, but just a bit over the top for most of us. Me, well I just want to read one book at a time. Still, that doesn't mean to say that when I finish my book I always go to sleep - sometimes I want to read another. Sometimes I'm in the mood for something different to the book I just finished. Sometimes it was even so good that I want to read something else by the same author. Well, Kindle is the first ebook reader with its own cellular wireless connection that lets you get new books anytime, almost anywhere whenever you like. It's not wifi so you don't need to find hot spots - it's like a cell phone. Magazines and newspapers - no problem, your digital paperboy will deliver them fresh to your (digital) doorstep in an instant.

2. It has a ready made library of good quality cheap material

Any new gadget will ultimately fail or succeed on the fuel that drives it - content! Well, with Amazon throwing its weight firmly behind the Kindle, you needn't worry about the availablility of material. Until now, some ebook readers have failed miserably in this vital aspect with narrow choices of material, and downloads often costing more than their traditional paperback equivalents. Kindle scores on price - most of its material costs around 10 bucks and many are less - this is cheaper than a normal book. Wait, I hear you cry, but the cellular wireless connection must cost a fortune. Nope - its included in the price of the device and the downloads. Sp, what about periodicals? Big savings are to be had here as well as publishers throw themselves onto the digital bandwagon. A year of the Wall Street Journal in print is $249 versus $9.99 a month ($120 a year) via Kindle - and you can still read it in the loo!
Getting your own documents onto the Kindle can be done via email but this does, admittedly incur an extra charge, although it is just 10 cents a go. The email service supports several formats of open-source books as well as Microsoft Word and text-based, the only real omission that I would like to have seen included is PDF support. No doubt this will be forthcoming, and there are workarounds available in any case

3. Jeff Bezos is a proven visionary

Ok, its not a rock solid guarantee of success bit just look at the guys track record. First he built his online superstore beating out thousands of more established competitors - anyone not heard of Amazon here - I thought so. Amazon.com got so many things right, including the important focus on reader reviews, cheap shipping and giant selection. I'd put my money on him to make this to a success.

4. Its smart and well designed

As I've pointed out its packed with gadgets like free wireless cell connection a real keyboard to let you search in a book or document, page turning buttons on both sides of the screen - Ned Flanders will definitely be stocking these in the Leftorium. But another major decision will also help Kindle take off. It's not hanging off your computer. You don't need to sync it with a computer. Purchases are backed up online by Amazon so you can delete and recover any book you bought. Basically, it does everything it was designed to do in a simple elegant manner - remind anyone of a certain MP3 player?

5. It's cool

There are potentially millions of consumers who will buy Kindle for this very reason. Just like PSP's, IPods and IPhones before it - the take up of the next cool gadget is normally a huge success if the distributors get it right, and when it come to product distribution Amazon rarely fail. If you still don't believe me, go and watch the video on my website. This is a nifty gizmo that elegantly solves real problems for consumers.

Today kids are becoming fascinated with technology at much younger ages. Even toddlers and preschoolers want a digital camera of their own. Parents may wonder which is the best option for their child or if there is a kids digital camera that is rugged enough to take the abuse that young children often dish out. There are some great products out there that have great digital camera reviews. Here is a look at some of the top rated digital cameras for kids.

Fisher Price Digital Camera

The Fisher Price Digital Camera is made specifically for preschoolers and kids up to about age 7. It has large handles that are rubber for easy gripping. The tough design makes it hard to break and if kids drop it, it is no big deal. It has a 1.6" color LCD screen so that kids can see the pictures they have taken right away. It has 1.3 megapixels and 8MB of internal memory, enough for about 60 pictures. It also has a slot for an SD card. You can connect it to the computer with the USB cord so that they can share their pictures online. It has an auto flash feature and a wrist band. It also comes in either pink or blue. The digital camera reviews on this product are excellent. It runs about $55.

Vtech Kidizoom Camera

This is a great kids digital camera and the digital camera reviews support it. Parents rave that their kids love this camera. It has a connector cable that lets kids use it with the TV or the computer. It also has fun games and movies on it that kids love. It also has a neat editing feature that lets kids do wacky and fun things to their pictures. It has large handles for easy gripping, and a double viewer and LCD screen to make taking pictures a snap. It is a great preschool digital camera that, even though it is new, has already won several awards. The cost for this top rated kids digital camera is between $55 and $60.

These are the top two digital cameras for kids. Both are great products that have excellent digital camera reviews. Keep in mind that the picture quality is not going to be great because it is a kids digital camera. It is made to be durable, and both claim to be virtually indestructible. Either one of these cameras would be a great choice for a preschooler who loves to take pictures.

We are all know that the latest gadget that Amazon has recently released is it's new Kindle. A wireless electronic reader that allows you to read eBooks, blogs and news online. But there are so much more that the Kindle can do so I've created a quick list of the Top 5 fun things to do with your Kindle.

1. Take it to a Trivia Night. With instant wireless access to Wikipedia, you'll be able to get every answer correct! No more racking your brain trying to figure out the answer, you'll always have it at your fingertips.

2. Have battery life races with your friends. With the long battery life you'll be able to leave it switched on for days without recharging. See if your Kindle can outlast your friends. Or which one will recharge the fastest? The Kindle fully recharges in around two hours, so time it and see for yourself. Create a chart and time your personal best charging times.

3. Brag to your friends about reading the latest New York Times Bestseller before they do! You can download the latest bestsellers straight onto your reader in minutes. No more lining up at the bookstore overnight waiting for classics like Harry Potter to be released ever again. Just one quick download and you can be reading it before your friends even reach the cash register.

4. Bookmark your favorite part in the book for quick return later. Want to remember that awesome quote so that you can try and impress your date tonight? That's easily fixed! The bookmarking feature means that you can add notes in the margin of the book and find it again super fast.

5. Playing Scrabble with your Dad again? Then use the built-in New Oxford American dictionary so you can seamlessly look up the meanings of a word to prove they exist. Never lose another game again.