The holiday season has passed again but there are plenty of birthdays and holidays to come in 2012.
If your friends and family are anything like mine, then electronics and technology related gifts are sure to put a smile on everyone’s face!
To celebrate 2012 on AnsonAlex.com, I’ve compiled a list of the most popular and sought after electronic gifts for the new year. The list is broken up into 5 categories with specific product and device recommendations for each particular category.
Enjoy and happy new year!
Top Electronic and Technology Related Gifts:
1. Tablets
It is no surprise to anyone that one of the most recommended gifts is a tablet / iPad. There are wholesale providers that can save you money on the tablets that you want. There are a number of factors to consider when deciding which tablet is best for the person on your shopping list but I can provide a brief overview to help save you the time.
Apple iPad 2 (64GB)
Most will agree that if you’re looking to buy the top of the line tablet in , your best bet is the iPad2 64GB edition.
The Apple iPod 2 features WiFi to connect to any wireless network, the ability to video chat using FaceTime, bluetooth support and the ability to wireless stream movies to your HD TV.
Although more expensive than some other tablets, the iPad2 is great for the technology guru that is always on the move in your family.
Amazon Kindle Fire
For those looking for a more affordable tablet option than the iPad2, the Amazon Kindle Fire is definitely a great gift choice for .
Unlike previous versions of the Amazon Kindle, the Kindle Fire is not just an ebook reader. Users can surf the web, stream Netflix movies or use a variety of other tablet apps available for the Kindle Fire.
At just under $200, I believe the Amazon Kindle Fire is definitely the best bang for your buck!
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
If you’re looking for an Android powered tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is going to be your best bet.
This tablet comes with the Honeycomb 3.1 operating system, 4G network capabilities, a razor thin design and a great battery life.
If you’re a fan of Android operating systems for smartphones and are looking for a tablet with a similar feel and similar functionality, then you need to look no farther than the second generation Samsung Galaxy Tab! If a 10″ tablet seems too cumbersome for your day to day use, the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy 7″ could be a better option.
2. Smartphones
If you’re shopping for someone who hasn’t upgraded to a smartphone yet, then this is a great time get them up to speed with a new mobile device. There are many factors to consider when deciding to buy a new smartphone but there are a few devices that you just can’t go wrong with.
Samsung Galaxy S2
Verizon has continued to delay the release of the Nexus Prime so, until the happens, the Samsung Galaxy S2 will remain at the top the list in terms of recommended smartphones for this year.
The Samsung Galaxy S2 is definitely one of the most powerful smartphones released to date and features the Gingerbread operating system for Android, a 480 x 800 pixel screen resolution, an 8.1 megapixel camera and a 1.2Ghz duel processor.
If you’re looking to buy a top of the line smartphone, you can’t go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy S2.
Apple iPhone 4S
There is no denying that the company who started the smartphones revolution still produces a powerful device and although many were disappointed in the delayed release of the iPhone 5, the Apple iPhone 4S is still a very capable smartphone device.
The iPhone 4S features an 8 megapixel camera, Siri Voice Control (popular), a 1Ghz processor and Facetime capabilities. Although it is not a huge upgrade from the iPhone 4, it is still one of the best options for those looking to buy a smartphone in 2012.
3. Gaming Consoles
Let’s face it – gaming isn’t just for kids anymore and the games are more realistic, more challenging and more engaging than ever before. If you’ve got a gamer on your shopping list then there is no better way to impress them than with a new brand new video game console for the beginning of the new year!
Sony PlayStation 3
If you go solely by the numbers, the most advanced gaming system to date is the Sony PlayStation 3. The RSX processor that comes with the PS3 is the most realistic gaming processor on the market. If you couple that with BlueRay capabilities and 1080P HD / 3D output capabilities, you’ve got one powerful gaming system.
If you’re gamer doesn’t have a PlayStation3 then this gift will be sure to make 2012 a very special year.
Microsoft XBOX 360
If the PlayStation3 is a little out of your price range for a gaming console, then the Microsoft XBOX 360 may be a better option for you.
Although not quite as powerful as the PS3, the XBOX 360 features a much more rich gaming library featuring many titles that are not available on the PS3. Many gamers also prefer the XBOX style controller over that of the PS3.
When it comes to world of gaming, you definitely cannot go wrong with an XBOX 360.
Nintendo Wii (Mario Kart Bundle)
If PS3 and XBOX 360 aren’t your style, then the Nintendo Wii probably is.
Wii was the first console to features games that users physically interact with by moving their entire bodies. It is a much more interactive system that they entire family can enjoy together all at once. You can have a family bowling tournament to work off some of the holiday meal calories!
The graphics of Nintendo Wii are significantly more poor than those of PS3 or XBOX 360 buy many gamers enjoy the “old-skool” 2D graphics featured on Wii. It may be worth buying a Wii just to play the new version of Mario Kart (bundled with the holiday version of Wii). Mario Kart is one of the most popular gaming titles of all time and long-time gamers will never get bored with Mario Kart in their gaming system.
Wii is also a great gift for older gamers as many of the games more simpler and easy to learn.
4. External Media Storage
Digital space has become almost as important as physical space in today’s modern world. If you’ve got someone on your holiday shopping list that is always glued to their computer, chances are they going to need some more space to store all of their digital property!
External storage devices are also great for backing up your computer or music library in the case of a computer failure.
Iomega eGo Helium Portable Hard Drive
Space has become so cheap in the 21st century I can’t even believe that I’m recommending a drive with 1TB of space! At $160, the Iomega eGo Helium Portable Hard Drive is one of the best deals on external storage on the market to date.
The device is small enough to carry from one location to another on a regular basis and is great for those who need to back up multiple computer on one device.
Apple Time Capsule 3TB
If you have some people on your shopping list that use Mac based computers, then there is no better external storage gift than the new, Apple Time Capsule 3TB!
Apple Time Capsules serve as wireless routers to allow users to wirelessly surf the web while at the same time, serve as a external storage device that can be backed up to wirelessly. Users can set specific intervals that they would like their computer(s) to automatically backup to the Time Capsule.
Because the new Time Capsule has so much space, it is also a great gift that the entire family can use – you can seamlessly back up as many computers to a single Time Capsule as you want, as long as there is still space on the drive – something you won’t have to worry about when you’ve 3TB of space at your exposure.
5. Video Games
Although I mentioned earlier that one of the top gifts for 2012 would be a gaming console, it cannot be ignored that another great gift would be a game or two to go along with that video game console. I almost decided to write an entire post on the top video games for the 2011 holiday season but decided it was a better fit here!
Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, is definitely one of the top RPG games of 2011. Set in a fantasy world of elves, trolls, orcs, dragons and mythical legends, the game picks up where Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, left off.
I have personally played the game and it has the feel of WoW or EverQuest2 but without the online element. The combat system in Skyrim has been tweaked almost to perfection and the overall open play style that the game allows is incredible. I would recommend this game for anyone who enjoys fantasy RPG games.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Although I am not generally fan of first person shooter games, I have been playing the Call of Duty series for some time now and Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) does not disappoint. MW3 is very similar to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 – the game before Black Ops – in the sense that the weapon options are almost identical and the online multiplayer system is built almost identical to MW2.
MW3 has a tweaked physics and graphics system and some new online features to the make the game even more enjoyable. MW3 is definitely a great gift for any Call of Duty game series fan or just your average FPS fan!
Battlefield 3
Battlefield 3 is the arch rival of MW3 and although Modern Warfare came first, many argue that the newest version of Battlefield may outshine MW3. The game is known for larger maps, larger multiplayer games and a more realistic feel.
If the gamer on your holiday shopping list already has MW3 and is starting to get bored, Battlefield 3 is the perfect gift!
L.A. Noire
L.A. Noire is produced by the makers of the Grand Theft Auto series, Rockstar Games. The game has a similar feel to the GTA series but unlike the GTA series, players take control of a good guy – a police officer in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
The game is known for being one of the most technology advanced games to date for its use of real-time global illumination technology and a new filming technology know as MotionScan. Any fan of the GTA series or “movie-like” video games will be sure to enjoy L.A. Noire.
