2010年10大时新工具

Harmon Kardon Soundsticks III

哈蒙顿SoundsticksIII扬声器

Were there better speakers released in 2010?  You bet.  Were there any speaker systems sexier than the Harmon Kardon Soundsticks III this year?  Hey, we don’t know of any other series of speakers that has been honored by New York City’s Museum of Modern Art.  The new Harmon Kardon Soundsticks continue the brand’s focus on fusing fine sound reproduction with devastating design sensibilities.  On a sonic level, the six-inch down-firing subwoofer and the eight one-inch tweeters push out a crystal clear response to your favorite music, movies, video games and more.  Unlike other speakers, they look downright dashing while doing it. 

Google TV with Logitech Revue

For many of us, television is no longer the primary channel from which we receive our video content.  Many of us use Hulu, Netflix, Youtube and Amazon to watch our content either downloaded or streaming.  Many of us still watch our favorite shows on our televisions.  Google TV with Logitech Revue is a step forward, in that it removes the barrier between content we watch on our televisions and content we watch on our computers.  Sure, the technology may not be new, but Google’s way of doing it makes it easy, makes it better.  When it comes to new home media center gadgets of 2010, Google TV and Logitech Revue take the cake.  Just connect the wired or wireless hub to your TV via HDMI, and you can watch content from your computer or online on your TV– and vice versa. 

The Apple iPad

 Well, it’s not like you didn’t expect it.  Even though the Apple iPad was first revealed last January, it remains the most storied tech release of the year.  In fact, its sheer existence has led to countless innovations in software with iPad-focused apps and the adoption of media brands and magazines.  If you haven’t seen the iPad yet, hey, if you haven’t touched one yet, there’s a good chance you’re living in a cave.  If so, how are you reading this? 

Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera

Nikon’s new entry-level DSLR is a huge step up from the D60/40 cameras that preceded it.  The Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera features a 14.2 MP sensor, a deeper ISO range for low light photography and full 1080p HD video recording.  What makes that video feature so intriguing is that this is the first Nikon to feature full-time autofocus and audio while shooting video.  Unlike the Nikon D90, or DSLRs from competing brands, this Nikon adds those video capabilities to the package for a total price of $699– including an 18 – 55MM lens. 

Kinect for Xbox 360

Before Playstation Move fans get their blue balls in a bunch, the Kinect for Xbox 360 makes this list because it is a revolutionary device in the world of gaming.  It has taken the torch from the Wii controller by creating a system that doesn’t require a controller at all, it instead uses the motion of the human body as its input device.  Is it perfect?  Does it not have it’s own fair share of bugs?  The Kinect has a way to go, but the introduction of the device alone has only scratched the surface for just how revolutionary this system could become.  Everyone from the top video game publishing conglomerates to the mom-and-pop app developers are salivating. In terms of creating a new technical frontier for software devs, this could be the one device more revolutionary than the iPad in 2010. 

New MacBook Air

The svelte and sexy MacBook Air saw a refresh this year– adding some nice new features and size options to boot.  Unlike the old model, the new MacBook Air features flash-only storage, a large, multi-touch trackpad, extended battery life and a high resolution display.  It’s also available in 11-inch and 13-inch options, giving a bit more choice to prospective MacBook Air travelers.  Those looking to “switch” will find the new MacBook Air a bit more accessible, starting at $999. 

Google Nexus S Android Phone

Just two years after Google’s Android operating system was released to the world, it appears ready to close out 2010 with a larger market share than Apple’s iPhone OS.  Android version 2.3, named Gingerbread, is available this month starting with the latest Google phone, the Google Nexus S Android Phone.  The Nexus S carries a feature set that matches the iPhone 4 (1GHz processor, 16GB flash storage and front- and rear-facing digital cameras), but adds a new wireless protocol called NFC– a secure system which has the potential to finally replace that out-dated plastic credit card in your wallet.  The Google Nexus S is dropping at T-Mobile on December 16th for $199 with contract. 

Blackberry Playbook Tablet

While 2010 may be the year of the Apple iPad, it’s more specifically the “year of the tablet”.  RIM released their own tablet to the market, the Blackberry Playbook Tablet.  This 7-inch productivity monster is designed for both business and pleasure, a machine designed for face-to-face conferencing and video gaming alike.  It’s powered by a twin set of 1-GHz processors and 1GB of RAM, it plays back 1080p HD video (via the web, its storage or its HDMI connection) and it features a front-facing camera for FaceTime-style video conferencing.  If you and a colleague have Playbooks on the opposite ends of the world, you can do business face-to-face on a 7-inch, 1024×600 multi-touch display.  Once the video conference is over, you can quit pretending like you’re working and go back to your Playbook gaming. 

iPhone 4

Speaking of FaceTime, this is the device that brought it to the world.  The iPhone 4 was released this year with five new core additions that once again revolutionized the mobile device market.  FaceTime is a face-to-face video chat system that uses a front-facing camera to capture your half of the conversation live.  iPhone 4′s display also saw an upgrade to “retina display”, featuring an increase pixel count making individual pixels invisible to the human eye.  iPhone 4 can multi-task, it can record HD video and take photos with a 5 MP resolution with an LED flash.  Oh, and just look at that monolithic re-design above.  Sexy, isn’t it… 

2011 Chevy Volt

 

“Hey, that’s not a gadget!”  Say hello to our Wild Card, baby.  The 2011 Chevy Volt is a lust-worthy piece of new technology that was built for early adopters like you, the person reading this article.  It may not fit in your pocket, but it could serve to revolutionize the way you interact with the world.  For us, we use our car for shorter trips, and rarely ever drive for more than 40 miles a day.  With a fully-charged Chevy Volt, we could drive with our habit and barely burn an ounce or two of fuel each week.  Our nightly charge would cost us roughly $1.50, costing us even less than public transportation to and from the office.

Electric cars aren’t new.  There are other options on the market today, like the Tesla Roadster.  The difference is that the Volt can be had for under $33,000 after tax breaks.  It is a mammoth step forward for this technology in that it’s now available to a wider consumer base.  With that, this influential piece of new tech is an easy fit into our top 10 gadgets of 2010.