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Yule-tech greetings: If it plays MP3s, DVDs or games, insiders say it's a hot holiday gift(Modesto Bee, The (CA) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Nov. 30--As people make their holiday shopping lists, electronic gadgets are often at the top. Expected to be among the most popular gifts again this year, some electronic products are more in demand than others. That could be seen in the overnight lines that formed recently for new video game consoles. This year, many consumers would like to get their hands on MP3 players, DVD players, video game consoles, digital cameras and global positioning systems, according to retail experts. The following is a closer look at those products: MP3 players For the second year in a row, people want digital music to go. The MP3 player topped the Consumer Electronics Association's most wanted list, and the gadget was third on the Computing Technology Industry Association list. Though the iPod dominates the market, maker Apple Computers is marketing a new iPod Shuffle barely bigger than a postage stamp but capable of holding thousands of songs. Jennifer Boone, a CEA spokeswoman, said she expects up to 50 percent of consumers to have an MP3 player by the end of the year. "We really have a critical mass, and that creates a buzz factor," she said. "We also see a lot of people trading in their iPods for newer versions." Sarah McGuire of Modesto liked a version that plays video. "You can put movies on it," said McGuire, 21. "I'd really like one." But the MP3 player market goes beyond Apple. Besides many independent models, tech giant Microsoft is touting its digital music player, the Zune. Priced the same as the iPod at $249, Microsoft is hoping Zune does for MP3 players what Windows did for computer operating systems. DVD players According to the CEA, this item is the second-most wanted among adult electronics shoppers. Some of the interest comes from players in the new high-definition format, which pairs with the high-definition TVs that also are increasingly popular. High-definition players come in a standard version and a Blu-Ray version that uses slightly different technology. Models available include Samsung's Blu-Ray highdefinition player for about $700, and Toshiba's high-definition player for about $400. Video game consoles Consumers who saw long lines outside stores recently know the video game console wars will include a battle for holiday dollars this year. Two new systems, Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii, have joined the hot console of a year ago, Microsoft's Xbox 360. Steven Ostrowski, director of corporate communications for the CTIA, said the "next big thing" hype that surrounds video game consoles makes them hard for gamers to pass up. "They came to the market with limited numbers," he said of the PS3, which has a top price of $599. "It's a matter of how badly you want to have it, but some people have to have it." The Xbox 360, at $299, has been out longer, while the Wii, which retails for $250, features a motion-sensitive game controller. Some experts predict all three systems might be easier to find, and cheaper, next year. Gil Rosas of Salida said he'd prefer a PlayStation 2 to the newer Sony offering. "It sounds like the PS3 has got a lot of issues," said Rosas, 41. "And it's too expensive." Digital cameras Better features and more memory have made digital cameras among the most popular items for several years running, third on the most-wanted list for the CTIA and the CEA. Prices for cameras run from $170 to as high as $460 or more for high-powered models. For many manufacturers, the biggest upgrades are in models that shoot with 10-megapixel sensors. That's photo-speak for shooting with detail beyond most cameras, though that also means less memory space. Boone, of the CEA, said price drops spur people to buy items such as cameras and high-definition TVs. "There's always something coming down the pike that's new and unusual," she said. "And the products are often getting more affordable at the same time." Other popular new cameras take wide-angle shots that can fit in an entire family or sweeping view, and feature image stabilization that reduces shakiness in the shot. GPS devices Over the first official holiday shopping weekend, QVC.com reported that the portable Cobra GPS navigation system, for $422, was the top electronics item. Raymond Sharma, of Modesto, said he can understand why. When he and a friend drove across the United States recently, they used a TomTom GO 510 GPS Receiver to find their way. "It gave us all the maps wirelessly," said Sharma, 20. "It really came in handy." The more popular devices work as hand-held instruments and in a vehicle, and many also can be used for MP3 playing or digital photo storage. Bee staff writer Ben van der Meer can be reached at 578-2331 or [email protected]. Copyright (c) 2006, The Modesto Bee, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |