The 25 Best Gadgets of 2011 (So Far)

Specs: 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7, Windows 7 Home,Nvidia GeForce GT555M, 8 GB of RAM, 750 GB Hard Drive

Price: $2,198


At 11-inches, the Alienware M11x was the smallest gaming laptop on the market. And while awesome, some found the little machine a bit too tiny for their fragging aspirations. In response, the Dell-owned gaming rig builder came out with the M14x: a rather bulky but insanely powerful portable rig that sports a clear and crisp 14-inch display. All the Alienware hallmarks are present: the comfortable and hardwearing keyboard, the ability to adjust and customize the backlighting, and awesome graphics (this time courtesy of the NVIDIA GeForce GT555M). Our only gripe with the M14x was its heft. In order to accommodate all of the previously listed goodies, the machine ended up tipping the scales at 6.4 pounds. Seems portability is open for interpretation.

Specs: 6 HDMI ports, 7.1 ch Network Streaming, AirPlay Ready, 3D Ready, Discrete Amps rated at 90 watts each

Price: $550


Looking for a good HD receiver that can support your love of all things in three dimensions? Look no further. Not only will it play your Blu-ray copy of Avatar in perfect surround sound, it comes out the box ready to support Apple's AirPlay standard so you can wirelessly stream any movie from your iPad, iPhone, or MacBook straight onto your TV without having to buy an Apple TV.

Specs:8 GB of memory, 802.11n high-speed wi-fi,

Price: $80


Slowly but surely more and more cameras are hitting store shelves with a built-in wi-fi connection that will allow you to wirelessly send your saved images to a computer. It cuts down time and the ease of use is spot on. For those of you who don't plan on buying a new camera anytime in the near future, there's the Eye-Fi Mobile X2. Essentially an 8 GB SD card with built-in high-speed wi-fi, the Eye-Fi Mobile X2 will let you transmit photos do computer quickly and easily. And if you're not near a wi-fi connection, thanks to a feature called Direct Mode, you can send images directly to your iOS or Android device.

Specs: 65-inch plasma, 3D compatible, 3D glasses included, Netflix Streaming, 2.2 inches thick

Price: $3,900


While you may not be sure if you want to take part in the 3D revolution, we know there are a few of you who want to be safe just incase James Cameron was right and we all wind up sitting at home looking like Geordi La Forge. For that there's the Panasonic TC-P65VT30. Don't let the cumbersome name scare you. The TC displays vivid colors and deep blacks in full HD, sports a thin, attractive design, and a good Internet suite that lets you access Twitter, Netflix Streaming, Amazon Instant, YouTube, and Facebook.

Specs: 7-inch touchscreen, 1.5 GHz processor, wi-fi, front- and rear-facing camera, 32 GB storage, 1GB of RAM, microSD Card Slot

Price: $600


For its first tablet, HTC simply brought the most beloved and praised features from its best-selling mobile phones to the Flyer. With that we get a well-weighted device with a bright, vivid display that behaves, for the most part, like an HTC phone. That can be attributed to the HTC Sense UI laid over Android 2.3 that allows you to check the weather, unlock your device, and arrange your home screens in a more dynamic way. HTC also included what it calls a magic pen so you can draw and write notes freehand if you so please. We weren't blown away by the pen, but the performance of the Flyer--especially the Internet browsing and video playback--sold us.

Specs: .97-inches thin, Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, NVIDIA's GeForce GT 525M, up to 8 GB of RAM, nine-in-one card reader

Price: Starting at $999


Dell calls it the "thinnest 15-inc PC on the planet". We call it the best designed Dell laptop since Michael Dell decided his little company should start building portables. A hair thinner than Apple's MacBook Pro (.97-inches thin), the 15z is as well-rounded as it is well-designed. You get the option of Intel's latest processors--the Core i5 or i7--as well as NVIDIA's powerful GeForce GT525M graphics system that can switch to a power-saving mode to help out your battery. All this for $1,000. You can't be that.

Specs: 1 GHz processor, 16 GB, 4-inch Super AMOLED display, Android 2.3, wi-fi, 5 MP front- and rear-facing cameras

Price: $200


As the newest official Google phone, the Samsung Nexus S 4G delivers the best Android experience out of any smartphone on the market. The Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS is not bogged down by UI add-ons, instead you get a clean install of the OS the way Google intended it to be used. You also get a fast processor, a great screen, and the ability to use the new Google Wallet service thanks to the built-in Near-Field Communication chip--a first among Android phones.

Specs:12.1 megapixels, 1080p recording,

Price: $200


Do people still need stand-alone pocket camcorders when mobile phones like the iPhone capture video just as well? We say no. However, Casio thinks otherwise and has mad a strong case for itself with its new Tryx. Yeah, it's a little gimmicky with its Transformers-like design that allows you to swivel the lens around and use the outer shell as a sort of camera stand, but as a quick-shooter, it's pretty damn good. It's easy to use and navigate, pretty lightweight, and can 12.1 MP photos and record 1080p video. Long live the pocket cam?

Specs:3-inch swivel screen, built-in flash, 18 megapixels, 1080p video capture

Price: $800


All right, time for a real camera. If you save $600 more, you can get one of the best cameras under $1,000 available today. For those of you entry-level photogs looking to better your craft, you can do much, much worse than the T3i. We loved the swivel screen--not sure why, we just liked it--as well as its awesome video recording. Pulling double duty with this camera is a breeze. There's an external mic jack, wireless flash transmitter so you can operate multiple flashes--it's perfect if you're looking to get serious about capturing moving and still images.

Specs: NVIDIA Tegra 2 1.0 GHz dual-core processor, Android 3.0, Full QWERTY Keyboard, front- and rear-facing cameras

Price: $500


ASUS's entry into the tablet game was a novel one. Taking the same approach as Motorola took with its Atrix smartphone, the company that pushed netbooks to the forefront decided to turn its tablet into a sort of new-age netbook by including a full QWERTY keyboard that could dock with the Transformer. Once connected to the keyboard dock, the thin tablet would be transformed into a notebook complete with better battery life (16 hrs) and more ports (2 USB 2.0). The powerful Tegra 2 processor makes sure all of this happens with the slightest of hiccups.

Specs: 85-inch screen, 1080p resolution, Plasma, Automatic Picture Control, Automatic Color Management, BeoLab 10 center speaker

Price: $85,000


Bang & Olufsen only knows how to do things one way: big. So when it came time for the luxury tech company to enter the 3D HDTV market, it did so in the most extravagant way possible: with an 85-inch plasma TV that rests on a mechanized base. Think of it as the Bugatti Veyron of HDTVs. The large screen displays excellent images, both in 2D and 3D, the sound, courtesy of the BeoLab 10 center speaker (the little triangle number sitting on the bottom of the frame), is outstanding. With the BeoVision 4 you get all the usual B&O perks like Automatic Color Management and Automatic Picture Control which deduces how much light is in the room and sets your TVs picture accordingly. It's breathtaking even when turned off. Though, for $85,000 it needs to be.

Specs: 4.3-inch screen, 720p HD camcorder, LED flash, DLNA connectivity, 1 GHz Snapdragon Processor, 8 MP camera, Mobile Hotspot

Price: $250


As Verizon's first 4G phone, the Thunderbolt had a lot to live up to. Fortunately it delivered. Boasting the fastest download speeds of any smartphone at the time, a speedy processor, and the ability to act as a mobile hot spot for your devices, it was the phone that showed the other networks what it meant to really be a 4G device.

Specs: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, Mobile Hotspot capability, 1 Ghz Hummingbird processor,

Price: $300


The HTC Thunderbolt may have introduced Verizon's 4G network, but it was the Droid Charge that showed what a device could really do with the nation's fastest wireless service. Yes, at $300, it's super expensive, but we think it's worth it. Samsung through everything it had at its disposal into the Charge including its Super AMOLED Display, the ability to feed wi-fi to up to 10 devices, and an improved version of its TouchWiz UI. We wish the processor was faster, and that it cost less, and that it was a little thinner, but those are minor gripes compared to all it can do.

Specs: 1 Ghz processor, 2GB SD card, Full QWERTY keyboard, 3.5-inch, 480x800 pixel TFT display

Price: $100


The Sidekick's swivel screen is gone, it's no longer running the famed Danger OS, and it's now made by Samsung instead of Sharp. Despite those changes, the newest version of the T-Mobile Sidekick is high on our list of new products. Why? Honestly, partially because of nostalgia. But more so because it's a very well-rounded device that makes communicating with friends via social networks like Facebook and Twitter, or through SMS, easy as hell. The keyboard is back to its legendary status and it's now got a touchscreen. The 4G isn't really 4G, true, and the screen is a bit washed out, yeah, but--but! The experience is greater than those few faults. Sidekick back!

Specs: 3D in Double Full HD, 1920x1080 Full HD 60p/24p recording, 10x optical zoom in 3D

Price: $1500


Sony is determined to make 3D work. We have our reservations, but we think the HDR-TD10, despite its clunky name, is a winner. Shoot true 3D HD video with a device you can fully hold in your hand. If you want to see what you've just shot, you can view the 3D video on the screen without glasses. Also, if you want to send video to friends and fam that don't have 3D TVs, you can easily convert the video to 2D right on the camera. Popular Science called it the "Product of the Future" at this year's CES, we're going to have to agree. If 3D does take off, it will be because of products like this.

Specs: 10.1-inch screen 1 GB RAM, NVIDIA Tegra 2 1 GHz
processor,

Price: $800


So what if the Motorola Xoom didn't really kill, or harm, the iPad? The Xoom succeeded in showing that Apple wasn't the only company that knew how to build a worthwhile tablet. Headlined by Google's newest mobile OS, Android 3.0 Honeycomb, the Xoom came out the gate with a number of features that, at the time, bested the iPad like 4G connectivity, a more powerful dual-core processor, HDMI output, and front- and rear-facing cameras. Despite it's high price, the Xoom remains to be the best alternative to Apple's iPad 2.

Specs: 6-inch Pearl E-Ink touchscreen, 7.48 ounces, .47-inches thin, two-month battery life

Price: $139


The e-reader wars got a lot more interesting last month when Barnes & Noble announced its all-new Nook: a faster, lighter, thinner model with a two-month battery life (a full month longer than the Kindle's). It also now has a touchscreen and a new low price of $139. Kindle killer? Could be, but probably not--we can say it's definitely the Kindle's closet competition by a long shot. We predict we're going to see a lot more Nook's on our morning commutes.

Specs: Intel Core i7 processors, 3.7 pounds, 13.3-inch SuperBright LCD, up to 8 GB RAM, up to 160 GB SSD storage

Price: Starting at $1,600


Rumors of Lenovo building a true Apple MacBook Air Competitor came true this year when the ThinkPad X1 was released. Thin, lightweight, durable, and fast, the X1 is the best designed business laptop you can buy. Hands down. Don't worry about messing it up like you would other thin portables, the X1 comes equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass on the screen, a carbon fiber rollcage (who knew laptops had rollcages?), and a spill-resistant keyboard. All that means is the X1 will stay as sexy as it was the day you bought it.

Specs: 4.3-inch qHD Super LCD display, DLNA capability, Snapdragon 1.2GHz dual-core processor, Android 2.3

Price: Starting at $200


Is the Sensation 4G the most well-rounded Android phone you can buy today? We think so, yes. Good battery life, good size (not too big like some other Android models), priced well at $200, fast as hell, good design that feels even better in hand--it has it all, and doesn't seem to make many concessions, either. Well, except for the faux 4G, but that's more T-Mobile's fault that HTC's.

Specs: 3.5-inch Retina Display, 512 MB of RAM, Apple A4 processor, 5 MP rear camera, 720p video capture, 0.3 MP front-facing camera,

Price: Starting at $200


In what was the most highly anticipated phone launch in years, the Apple iPhone finally told AT&T, "I need space", left the coop and settled with a new company: Verizon. It's same phone Ma Bell's been hawking for over a year now--awesome Retina Display, fast A4 chip, etc--only now it's on the nation's fastest wireless network. The best phone on the best network. Seems right to us.

Specs: Intel Core i5 Processor, 128 GB SSD, Intel HD Graphics 3000,

Price: Starting at $1649


The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 is awesome. However, there's one ultra-portable laptop that we think may have the MacBook Air aesthetically beat: the Samsung Series 9. What is, we think, the best-looking PC laptop on the market today may have have the same firepower as the MacBook Air, but it's no slouch. It has Intels latest processor, a quick solid state hard drive, and an excellent display. Samsung also took a page out of Apple's handbook and swathed the Series 9 in something called Duralumin--a material twice the strength of aluminum while still being just as light. Oh, and unlike the MBA, it has a backlit keyboard. Your move, Apple.

Specs: 1 Ghz Dual-core processor, 1GB of Ram, 4.3-inch qHD display with 960x540 resolution, 5 MP camera, 720p HD video recording

Price: Starting at $200


When it comes to future-facing products, the Motorola Atrix is right up there with the electric car. Here's a smartphone that can be docked and turned into a laptop. Sure, the laptop was sluggish, but what'd you expect from a computer powered by a phone? It's the idea that intrigued us the most, as well as the gall it took for a company to try it. Do we think this will happen again the future with better results? Absolutely. Until now, we'll just recommend using the Atrix as the incredible standalone smartphone that is.

Specs: Passive 3D, Two screens, Motion and Gyro sensor, 2 GB SD card, Analog controls, 3D camera.

Price: $250


People may talk of the decline of mobile gaming and how the smartphones are taking over, but those people must have not touched a Nintendo 3DS. You can read all about the 3DS in our official review, but all you need to know is that the 3D really works without glasses, and the experience is all the better for it.

Specs: Fixed 35 mm lens, Switchable EVF/OVF, Built-In ND filter, Physical aperture, shutter, and exposure dials

Price: $1,199


Let's just get this out of the way early: You're not going to find a better camera for the price. It's not going to happen. When we reviewed the X100, we called it the Camera of the Year. We stand by that accolade. The feel, fit, and finish are second to none except, maybe Leica. We've seen our in-house camera guy, Jonathan Lees, rock his as an accessory. It's that serious. But for those looking to take pictures, it's a photog's dream. The fixed 35mm lens is incredible and forces you to work for your shots. Fuji has expertly placed the physical controls and dials for the aperture, shutter, and exposure in the most logical and easy-to-access locations. No digital menus and whatnot, this is the real deal. Even better, Fuji has just released a firmware update that fixes a number of problems people have been complaining about like focusing issues. Simply put, if you have the money--hell, even if you don't , save up--and you want a new camera, get the X100. You'll thank yourself later.

Specs: Dual-core A5 processor, front- and rear-facing cameras, 720p video recording, HDMI screen mirroring

Price: Starting at $500


When a company updates a product and addresses most, if not all, the gripes and concerns consumers lodged after buying the first version, you have to tip your hat. Apple did just that. With the pressure from competing brands ramping up, it knew it had to up the ante a little more than usual. With the second generation of the iPad we got not only a thinner design and profile, but faster specs as well. Specs that made all other tablets seem, again, like also-rans. There's the new dual-core A5 processor that delivers graphics on par with full laptops, a better lithium-ion batter that can now last up to 10 hours, a front-facing camera and a 720p rear camera which lets you do video chats with Apple's FaceTime service; and then there's the price which, despite all the upgrades, managed to remain the same. We guess that's why Apple was able to push 1 million units in its opening weekend, besting the time it took the original iPad to hit a million by some 25 days. Magical, right?