Go Go Gadget

From accessibility to aesthetics, environmental-friendliness to convergence, the latest buzz-worthy technological concepts are dreamed up and on the assembly lines faster than you can say “touch-screen technology.” Whether it’s a bed that doubles as an HD projector or a notebook computer that’s actually thinner than, well, a notebook, these 20 GEE-WHIZ GIZMOS are guaranteed to leave gadget freaks wired with anticipation.

BY SCOTT STEINBERG

W760

Sony Ericsson www.sonyericsson.com • $399

This slick little high-speed cell phone with a slider keypad has a 3.2-megapixel camera and integrated Walkman functions for listening to digital music files. Impressive GPS and gaming capabilities further enhance this perfect blend of form and function.

BLACKBIRD 002

HP www.hp.com/blackbird $2,399 and up

Never mind the gorgeous aluminum chassis, revolutionary cooling techniques (which allow this performance PC to offer blistering fast quad-core computing), support for dual video cards (including either ATI or NVIDIA products, an industry first) and  
1.1 kilowatts of power. What you’ll really love about this stunningly sleek—if back-wrenchingly heavy—unit: its ability to be customized. Parts can be popped in and out by using pressure-mounted switches. Soothing LED lighting provides illumination as you tweak and tinker, safe in the knowledge that adding that new Blu-ray drive won’t require an MBA in mechanical engineering.

BLACKARMOR

Maxtor www.maxtorsolutions.com $150

Finally, you can store sensitive files in comfort, knowing that the newest development in portable hard drives offers government-grade hardware encryption to protect your data. Such theft-prevention measures make the 160GB gizmo an excellent way to securely transport information.

EASYSHARE V1273

Kodak www.kodak.com • $280

Color us impressed. This 12-megapixel camera with 3X optical zoom doesn’t just take pro-level shots: Its 3-inch LCD touch screen lets you review, adjust and organize HD stills and videos, not to mention control brightness levels and lighting options, with incredible ease. Making (and enhancing) memories has never been simpler.

XEL-1

Sony www.sony.com • $2,500

Sure, the price is hefty for an 11-inch screen. But this killer TV—the first to use organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology for stunning color depth and brightness—doesn’t just offer unrivaled visual clarity. It’s also only 3-millimeters deep (the thickness of five stacked business cards).

 

JX20 PURA

Jabra www.jabra.com • $179

Designed in brushed anodized titanium with glossy black trim, weighing less than half an ounce and featuring a gel earbud for greater comfort, Jabra’s latest Bluetooth headset promises maximum aural luxury. Up to six hours of talk time and options for USB- or car-charging make it a worthy tagalong.

 

EYE-fiCARD

Eye-Fi, Inc. www.eye.fi• $100

Hey, shutterbug: Save yourself the hassle of uploading hundreds of pixel-perfect vacation photos and honeymoon snaps. Just pop this broadband-ready 2GB SD memory card into your digital camera and relax as it automatically uploads pictures to home networks, Facebook profiles or online galleries like Shutterfly and Flickr via a Wi-fihotspot.

PF-I700

Mustek www.mustek.com • $130

This 7-inch digital photo frame with integrated iPod dock and multi-format card reader allows you to view snapshots, TV shows, video clips and films on a snazzy 16:9 screen. Units even offer stereo speakers for the occasional impromptu dance interlude.

 

EVERIO GZ-MG360

JVC www.jvc.com • $550

This super-small and ultra-slim 680K-pixel hard drive camcorder doesn’t just look great, it also sports a handy touch-sensitive scroll bar and is capable of shooting superb video to its 60GB hard drive. It’s an affordable solution for aspiring filmmakers.

 

TUNESTUDIO

Belkin www.belkin.com $250

Kick-start your band’s career the 21st-century way: Quickly create original songs for online distribution by digitally recording directly onto an iPod using this four-channel mixer. Sound can be input from a Mac or PC, studio equipment, or multiple instruments, with a miniature mixing board allowing total control over your chord-shredding performances.

DASH EXPRESS

Dash Navigation, Inc. www.dash.net • $600 + $10-$13/month This 4.3-inch color display-packing GPS doesn’t just tell you where to go, it wirelessly communicates with peers to transmit real-time traffic updates as well. Also handy is the feature that relays addresses from your PC’s internet browser, which lets you quickly add just about any point of interest.

 

HARMONY ONE

Logitech www.logitech.com $250 The 10-ton gorilla of universal remotes, Harmony

One boasts a full-color touch-screen, intuitively accessed raised buttons and support for more than 225,000 individual devices. One-touch controls enable instant activation of multiple devices in succession, making it one clicker you really won’t want to lose between the cushions.

 

SQUEEZEBOX DUET

Logitech www.logitech.com

$400 Do you subscribe exclusively to online music services like Pandora and Rhapsody and want to sing your favorite ditties in the shower? Use this cost-effective solution to stream digital audio from the internet or your PC throughout your entire home. A  
2.4-inch color display and scroll wheel-sporting remote makes shifting between

Kanye and Korn effortless.

52PFL7603 FLATTV

Philips www.philips.com • $2,799 This screen will satisfy your need for a high-definition set that delivers beautiful picture quality and crisp sound yet also looks at home with post-modern décor. Opting for its minimalist look and feel, fashion-conscious viewers will love screening Nfl games or playing HDMI-connected PlayStation 3 games on its 52-inch surface. Available in May.

 

 

MACBOOK AIR

Apple www.apple.com • $1,799 This is the thinnest notebook system ever, measuring just 0.76-inches thick—literally thin enough to slip into a manila envelope. Stuffed into its own envelope is a 1.6Ghz or 1.8Ghz Core 2 Duo processor, 13.3-inch widescreen monitor, 80GB hard drive, 2GB of memory and 802.11n wireless connectivity (but no optical drive). With a backlit, full-size keyboard, a built-in iSight video camera and biodegradable guts, it’s nearly impossible to avoid falling under the spell of this gorgeous paragon of industrial design.

ROBOT GUITAR

Gibson www.gibson.com • $2,499

Gibson’s newest invention won’t automatically play flawless versions of “Stairway to Heaven” or “Heart Shaped Box.” But what this special-edition Les Paul model (and believe us, it’s a beauty) will do is self-tune, letting you switch between Led Zeppelin and Nirvana at the press of a button. String and intonation changes therefore prove painless, saving wannabe superstars time that could be better spent powering out some tasty riffs. Guitar Hero addicts beware: Coaxing music from this beauty still takes (gasp) actual hands-on practice. Screaming fans not included.

ZEN STONE PLUS

Creative www.creative.com • $60

A perfect gift choice, this pint-sized 2GB MP3 player with built-in speaker—available in multiple colors from blue to pink—touts a funky screen, FM radio, stopwatch and voice recording functions. It holds about 500 songs, so you can keep the party going into the wee hours.

VUDU XL

VUDU, Inc. www.vudu.com • $999

Download standard or HD films and TV shows straight from the internet to your television by renting or buying them for as little as $1 to $5 (a few go up to $20)—no PC or special software required. With a terabyte of memory, you can house a gargantuan 500 flicks on the box.

IDEAPAD Y710

Lenovo www.lenovo.com • $1,190

This 17-inch widescreen charmer is targeted at gamers. Core 2 Duo processing, ATI graphics, wireless networking, customizable buttons, oversized directional prompts, an optional Blu-ray reader, four speakers with subwoofer and user-controlled CPU performance adjustment features will have you playing with power.

STARRY NIGHT SLEEP TECHNOLOGY BED

Leggett & Platt www.starrynightbed.com • $20,000-$50,000
Dreaming of the most opulent high-tech home luxury?

Then try this snore-preventing bed, which offers preheating/cooling functions and automatically adjusts its position to keep you from sawing wood. A 1080p head-board projector, iPod docking station, four eight-inch subwoofers and 1.5 terabytes of song/video storage also make for unique pillow talk.