It’s time for Chasers to start making their holiday wish lists, and so far, the page is crammed with gadgets and ideas to help us explore the future. Oooh, the Chasers just love this time of year!
So many new gadgets and next-gen devices, just in time to add to a plump and juicy holiday wish list. The items below aren’t just for fun — no, no — they’re all about R&D and getting smart about continuing fascination with content delivered to portable devices and small screens. (At least, that’s the argument we’re making to get The Big Chaser to spring for ‘em!) Everyone’s invited to chime in with the gadget and gizmos they’re drooling over. (Just keep that drool away from our turkey!)
We’ll start the list by pointing to the most intriguing choices from recent newspaper pre-prints (yep, we still skim ‘em) and Wired magazine’s December 2005 issue.
Entertainment hubs: Hewlett-Packard’s HP Digital Entertainment Center and the Voodoo Media Center share similar goals — to beat the stuffing out of your existing DVD player, DVR, FM radio and MP3 player! Oh, did we mention the PC is an endangered species, too? Yes, these boxes cram it all in there. We’re skeptical, of course, but that’s why they call it R&D!
Handsets and PDAs: The T-Mobile Smartphone keeps Chasers connected to e-mail, blogs and more — plus, it’s got built-in Wi-Fi. This one won’t sneak past the bean counters, but the Mobiado Professional Executive Model handset mashes style — exotic wood exterior — with substance — camera, camcorder, Bluetooth and on and on.
Reporter gear: Grooming your own Kevin Sites? Equip the on-the-scene reporter with a modular utility belt from Think Tank Photo that would, in Wired’s words, “make Batman jealous.”
Games: Must… try… Xbox 360! And not just for the games, but to see how Microsoft delivers on a machine that integrates wireless communication and community-building for $400. And drop a PlayStation Portable in the online shopping cart, too. It’s too soon to hope for all-in-one portable perfection, but Sony knows its core market as well as any consumer-goods company — always worth watching. The “Play” in “PlayStation” expands far beyond video games to include movies, music and content from media publishers.
Now it’s your turn: Tell us what’s on your Chaser Wish List. Remember, this is the season to share!
