Geek Gadgets & Gifts

May 25, 2013
Hey everybody, welcome to the geek gadgets and gifts blog! here we'll be talking about all of the cool gadgets that a geek could want the whole year round. While many blogs focus just on what will be cool for seasonal gifts, we're here to bring you the best cool gadgets all year round!

So what constitutes a cool geek gadget? Well, that could be anything from a nifty iPod dock or a camera to a huge HDTV,  Blu Ray player or even action figures or a GPS unit. If it has some geek cred and an 'ON' switch, then we're excited.  From games consoles and mini DVD players so the latest new gadgets, we're here to give you some pointers as to what a geek would love as a gift.

Every new release of a product gets the interest of a particular type of people. While men seem more interested in technology and women in beauty products, while teens are fond of games and music and adults more of books, the marketers precisely know, before launching a new product, the main target of their new item. For example, the iPod video is one of the new releases which defiantly have a specific type of buyers.

The target buyers of this new device are, for sure, young people and adults which are trying to buy a great present for their children. In this example, the critics say that in many cases, the adults do not know the features of the new device well and all the things that it can be used for. So, one of the most important worries that parents should have is the fact that some children might use the iPod to directly download (as this new iPod video allows to do so) some materials from sites destined to adults only. More precisely, the target customers of the iPod video are somewhere between the ages of 16 and 30, but there are various categories which don?t fit in this group, too. Among these, there are the people above 30 years which want to remain modern and keep focused on the new releases in the technology department. Even more, there are various customers which own an iPod from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation and simply want to upgrade their item and to be able to watch clips and movies on the device, as well.

On the other hand, the sales so far clearly indicate the fact that the new iPod video is bought more by men then by women. In many cases, the iPod is bought in order to be offered as a gift for various occasions, as it is consistent, original and useful.

Due to the fact that the new iPod video represents quite and investment, there are rare cases in which teens might purchase one of these with their own money. Still, parents seem disposed to pay the necessary amount of money in order to see their children happy. The sales of the iPod video showed the fact that the device sells best before Christmas and before the summer holiday. Due to the fact that the usage of the new iPod video is one of the most pleasant ways to spend the time, (as it offers both video and audio possibilities), the iPod is intensely used while people are on vacation.

The new iPod video has a lot of fans so far and even more people are interested in the new features that the iPod can provide, thinking of purchasing the item themselves. So far, the sales say that the number of the buyers is increasing and the people become more and more receptive to the device and its capacities. At the same time, people adapt fast to the new technology, so they expect even more from the next iPod of the Apple Company. Due to this, the team of engineers already works on the next and more optimized iPod, which will bring, besides many new features and accessories, an innovative new capacity, which will surprise the market.

The amazing company of JVC (Victor Company of Japan) released the first high definition video camera for consumers back in 2003. The GR-HD1 high def camera was the first digital video camera in the world to record and play back high definition images.

By utilizing a newly developed 1/3 inch type 1.18 million pixel progressive scan CCD and JVC type processing, the new camera records and plays back 750/30p digital high definition and 525p progressive wide screen images to mini DV tape.

Features
The GR-HD1 is was the first digital video camera in the world to record and play back high definition video and images. The GR-HD1 records digital images to mini DV tapes using MPEG 2 compression, recording and playing back digital high definition images while still maintaining conventional 525i DV standard recording times.

The GR-HD1 also comes with an optical 10X zoom lens and a built in optical image stabilizer. It also uses a newly developed 1/3 inch type 1.18 million pixel (1.14 million effective pixels) progressive scan CCD. Due to the JVC original signal
processing circuitry and driving system, it can record muti format high quality images.

There are three recording modes; HD mode, SD mode, and DV mode that are based according to the camera operators requirements.

The HD mode records 750/30p digital high definition images, SD mode 525p progressive wide images, DV mode at the conventional 525i DV standard. This way, camera users can freely choose among the 3 modes according to their specific requirements.

Even though it was the first high definition video camera to release to consumers, the GR-HD1 is still a very impressive camera. It has a slew of other features, which are sure to please camera lovers everywhere.

The speaker system from Logitech is one that can be connected to a computer for a superior audio experience. Priced at around a hundred bucks the speakers? sound quality and maximum volume level is comparable to much costlier systems that are only slightly better than these. The bass is extremely good and the unit has several other advantages among a few disadvantages though, that appeal to those who have been looking for a speaker system that can charge up the music collection from a computer.

The most important aspect of this system is the maximum volume capable of the unit and is enough to fill a very large area. The bass is also satisfactory while this is not present in most of the cheaper models that are available for around twenty to thirty dollars. The speakers are capable of playing audio of any kind with efficiency and they are the best in the price class that offer consistent service. The overall volume of the system and the volume of the sub-woofer both can be controlled from the control module and there is no need for the user to reach behind the sub woofer to adjust the bass. The volume clarity is worth noticing as even minute sounds in the music are played clearly which would have gone unnoticed while using other speakers.

The setup of the speakers is an easy task due to the user friendliness of the unit and as there are no complicated cables involved, the speakers can be connected easily to the computer. The sound quality is also good for online streaming content like radio and youtube. The speakers make the audio sound far better than it actually is. The output range and clarity is satisfactory and comparable to that of costlier models at the mids and highs. The system can also be used in combination with high definition televisions and the high quality of both audio and video output makes it a pleasure to experience in this combination. The side speakers or satellite speakers too have superior quality like the subwoofer and produce fantastic results.

The size of the subwoofer seems to be a problem for a few users as it is huge and the system is meant to be used with a computer. The large size therefore makes it difficult to place the unit on the computer table with ease. The speakers also do not give a balanced output at high bass levels. The sound quality is experienced to be shallow and tinny for more sophisticated users and audiophiles as they obviously expect more. The lengths of wires provided make it necessary to place the subwoofer in between the satellite speakers and space becomes a constraint with this setup. So RCA extensions have to be purchased separately in order to place the sub woofer above the desk conveniently. This adds to the cost of the unit to make use of the system efficiently.

The speaker system is thus good for the average user who needs high quality output for a nominal price.

On the 12th of April 2005, the company Apple announced the upcoming iPod video. The product was about to reveal a new feature of the device, meaning the capacity of playing videos.

As any new item that appears on the market, the iPod video managed to get fans and critics, at the same time. Due to the fact that it is a new and innovative item which brought something different to the concept of iPod, the new iPod video started many debates regarding its practical usage, accessories, qualities and all types of technical, visual and aesthetical features.

The reviews so far explain that the quality of the image of the new iPod is very good and even the texts are highly visible. Still, the usage of the new device is more confusing. While some critics say that it revolutions the concept of iPod, which till now, it just meant hearing and not watching, as well, others sustain that the item is not that practical. Due to the fact that watching movies is a relaxant activity which requires a comfortable space and a certain amount of time, the iPod seems to promote the idea of watching movies on the run, while walking or doing some other activity. Even more, some people prefer to live the movie, with a wide screen in front of them, in the movie theatre or in their home. So, the idea of the iPod basically limits to watching music video clips or short episodes of comedy series. Even more, the battery of the new model of iPod dies after 2 hours of playing, which, in case of many movies, is not enough time to end. Still, while waiting at a line in the city or while sitting in the cab during a long ride, the iPod definitely provides the best way to spend the time.

On the other hand, the new iPod is not all about playing movies or videos. Even thought the battery works perfectly for just 2 hours when playing a movie constantly, the estimated battery life is 20 hours (when listening to music), in comparison with the 16 hours that the last model of iPods offered, which is a big plus. Even more, the new iPod video has the largest color screen since the appearance of the devices in 2001, which can be used, besides playing videos, for a good visibility of the pictures and an increased sharpness of the text; plus, the new iPod video provides full-size thumbnails for photos imported from various cameras. Another plus in accessories is the protection sleeve for the main device, which comes as a result after iPod nano, meaning the previous generation of these product, which was easy to scratch. The sleeve is made of a synthetic material, in a pale nuance of grey with visible stitching and a velour-like inner surface. Besides the technical and practical qualities, the reviews also discuss about the new aspect of the device, which looks sharper and more elegant, in black and white colors.

The new model of iPod shows, without any doubt, that the popular company and brand Apple are trying to evolve in order to satisfy the consumer?s needs, which are becoming more and more pretentious. Based on this, it is expected the new type of iPods to be improved even more with new video settings and accessories.