The gadget wishlist of 2008

It’s the end of another year and we celebrate 12 months of sleeker, faster and more feature-packed gadgets. We always have digital cameras on this list, and of course the immortal iPod, numerous notebook computers, and a few flat-panel TVs.

This list includes individual products as well as a grouping of different brands belonging to a hot, new genre. Just don’t expect mobile phones here as they would appear separately in the Telecoms section. So without further ado, here they are…

Apple iPod nano and touch

The new iPod nano is a facelifted version of the fat nano from 2007. It has a thinner profile, a built-in accelerometer, and a new interface that’s similar to the iPhone and the iPod touch.

But the bigger story for 2008 is the second-generation iPod touch. Apple is positioning it as a portable gaming device since it can now download games from a computer directly through iTunes.

The best thing about it is that you can now carry hundreds of games in one device without needing cartridges or discs! Looks like Apple will be looking at games as the iPod’s next big feature.

Samsung GX-20

Samsung isn’t a very big player in the local digital SLR scene. In fact, it’s only this year that the Korean giant is locally introducing a camera aimed at the serious photographer. Muscling its way to the front of a market dominated by well-established brands, the Samsung GX-20 offers a comprehensive list of functions coupled with ease of use and first-class design.

This baby’s features include a whopping 14.6-megapixel APS-C size Samsung CMOS Sensor, 2.7-inch LCD Live View display, Dual Dust Removal function (with water- and dust-resistance feature), built-in Optical Anti-Shake, Precise Auto Focus, Multi-Exposure Shooting, and more.

Although a relative newcomer to the DSLR market (Samsung’s first DSLR, the GX-1L, was released in 2006 — and not locally), it’s almost certain that Samsung is going to fight tooth and nail to become one of the biggest names in the business.

Nikon D90

In the world of DSLR cameras, Nikon has been working hard to escape the shadow of that other photo-manufacturing giant. And it looks like being “number two” finally lit a motivational fire under Nikon with the launch of its 12.3-megapixel shooter, the D90.

This new sibling in Nikon’s stable is the world’s first DSLR with movie function. With the D90, you can shoot up to HD720p (1280 x 720 pixels) movies at the professional smoothness of 24 frames per second. You can even add flair to your movie clips by using NIKKOR interchangeable lenses that range from fisheye to wide-angle to super-telephoto.

The D90 also boasts of the newly designed DX-format CMOS image sensor and Nikon’s proprietary EXPEED image processing concept. Other advanced features include Live View, Scene Recognition, Active D-Lighting, Picture Control, and an ISO sensitivity range of 200-3200.

Canon EOS 1000D

Since the arrival of the Canon EOS 300D in 2003, the world of prosumer digital SLR has never been the same. Taking a cue from the 300D, other camera manufacturers rushed to produce their own versions of an affordable entry-level DSLR. Top camera brands Nikon, Olympus, Sony, Pentax, and even Samsung have come up with their own models, making “professional” photographers out of practically anyone.

And since Canon started this craze, the USB and FireWire ports for hooking up peripherals.

Canon Digital IXUS 980IS and 870IS

Say cheese and shoot with flair with the stylish IXUS 980IS and 870IS, both of which come with DIGIC 4 imaging processor. DIGIC 4 provides remarkably high-speed rendering of fine detail, natural color reproduction, low noise, and greater signal processing speed.

Both cameras feature a face self-timer that captures the shot only when the photographer enters into frame, perfect for group or self-portraits without the unnecessary delays. The Intelligent Contrast Correction fixes dark areas when objects are backlit or when flash distance is exceeded during and after photography.

The 14.7-megapixel IXUS 980 IS is armed with full manual controls — a first for IXUS cameras. It’s equipped with a 3.7x optical zoom with OIS (optical image stabilizer), a 2.5-inch PureColor LCD II, and optical viewfinder.

The 10-megapixel IXUS 870 IS has 4x optical zoom with OIS and a PureColor 3-inch LCD II. Both point-and-shooters offer smooth, 30fps VGA video shooting.

Samsung Series 8 LCD HDTVs

Samsung’s new Series 8 LCD HDTVs offers a host of connection options to enjoy a growing library of digital content. This TV turns into a jukebox or photo album: it lets users view photo (JPEG) files and listen to MP3 audio files stored on or accessed through USB mass storage devices such as flash drives, flash card readers, and flash memory MP3 players on their TV.

The Series 8 LCD TVs are also compatible with DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) for easy connection to and content sharing with other DLNA-certified platforms such as computers. This means that with special software installed on their home PC, users can enjoy simultaneous viewing of downloaded or streamed content on multiple TVs throughout the house.

The Content Library, meanwhile, stores a diverse range of resources such as an art gallery and programming for games, fitness, and children’s entertainment.

The series delivers pictures with up to 70,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and features Samsung’s 120Hz Motion Plus and Ultra Clear Panel technologies for vivid and lifelike images.

For vibrant and nature-perfected colors, Samsung’s Wide Color Enhancer 2 technology maximizes the expanded color range used in HDTV broadcasting. By strengthening the reds, greens, and blues, depth and intensity are added to images that may appear weak on other displays without over-saturation.

Toshiba R600

Weighing just 979 grams (almost 50 percent lighter than Apple’s MacBook Air) despite having an optical disk drive, the PORTÉGÉ R600 takes the air out of Apple’s slimmest.

Toshiba positions it as the ultimate ultraportable for style-conscious users who don’t want to compromise functionality. The silver-gray magnesium case presents a sleek, contemporary minimalist look.

The R600 boasts a 128GB solid state drive (SSD) which, unlike a hard disk drive, has no moving parts, works silently, and has very low energy consumption. It comes with the latest Intel Centrino 2 CPU and a 12.1” LED backlit display offering crystal-clear visibility indoors and outdoors.

This is made possible through the transflective screen, which enables the user to turn off the LED backlight and use a reflecting mirror embedded in the display to avoid light reflection. Other features include WLAN, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, and Gigabit Ethernet supporting Intel AMT 4.0.

The PORTÉGÉ R600 features Toshiba’s fourth-generation EasyGuard Technology with PC Health Monitor. This feature continuously checks the performance and functionality of a laptop’s critical hardware components and alerts users when the system is in need of a tune-up.

It also includes HDD Protection, a spill-resistant keyboard, fingerprint reader, and Trusted Platform Module (TPM).