Edmund's Community Corner

Edmund's Top 5 Holiday Gifts for 2010

Check out my 2010 Top 5 for Men!

Check out my 2010 Top 5 for Ladies!

The end is nigh. 2011 is just around the corner and you probably have not completed your gift shopping. Hopefully you have at least started! Below are my top 5 gifts for 2010. Always try and find an alternative if you feel some may be beyond your price range. Enjoy!

1. Apple iPod Touch: $229-$299

Apple's flagship music player has come a long way. The installment we have all become familiar with is basically an iPhone without the horrendous AT&T network! Retina display, built in camera, video shooting with video editing, a robust App Store and plays music and videos! C'mon what are you waiting for?! http://www.apple.com/

2. Microsoft Kinect Sensor: $149Microsoft's Kinect just might be this year's Wii as far as popularity goes. Team Redmond out did themselves with this unique take on motion gaming. Anyone who uses this is bound to lose weight and get in shape while inevitably having fun. http://www.xbox.com/

3: HTC Evo 4G: $449 Unlocked, $199 2yr Sprint Contract

Personally, I feel buying an unlocked phone is much more beneficial than being tied down by a two year contract. Regardless, HTC's Evo 4G is in my opinion the breakout smartphone of 2010. What does it have going for it? The first 4G phone to market, the most economical data plan on a very reliable Sprint network, 8MP camera, Video Chat over WiFi and 3G/4G, Android OS, and all the great things that comes with a Google device. Find out more at http://www.sprint.com/

4. Barnes & Noble Nook Color: $249

Barnes & Noble's updated e-reader is a welcome change to this already crowded space. The Nook Color obviously packs a display with vibrant colors, it is also backed by BN's vast library of available titles, and features all of the great  perks that make the Nook franchise a buy. The Nook Color also has animated children's books, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, MP3 player, and the ability to read any book in BN's catalog for free within an hr when you visit any store. Top it all off with its unique book lending option and you have great device made for a specific function. The only caveat is that the Nook Color is currently only available with WiFi-perhaps that is a plus due to battery drain. Pick one up at your local Barnes & Noble store or go to http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ to order online.

5.  Samsung 7000 Series 3D LED HDTV: 40"-55" $1,999-$3,299

Samsung is one of the market leaders when it comes to HDTVs. The 7000 series offers an immense lot of features including Samsung's own library of apps. Key options are 4 HDMI ports, DLNA Networking, WiFi Capability, BD Wise, and Skype Built in. Imagine Skyping on a 55" HD screen! Don't take my word for it, find out more at http://www.samsung.com/.

Now stop wasting time, you don't have much time left!

-Edmund

Edmund's Community Corner

Edmund's Top 5 Gifts $100 and under for Ladies

Take a look at my Top 5 Gifts $100 and under for men!

Listed below are my picks for great gifts for the special woman or women in your life. Happy holidays and don't forget to look for deals.

1. Victoria Secret Miraculous Lace Garter Slip: $58

Every woman loves to feel sexy. The best part is that this is also a gift for you! Add to the experience two fold by including the stockings and sending your special woman to Victoria's Secret to get a proper bra fitting (Bra fitting is free). Now she feels sexy and comfortable. Enjoy your Christmas! http://www.victoriassecret.com/

2. Coach Gramercy Patent Small Wallet: $98

This wallet is a great gift for those who want to add classic style to their repertoire. It comes in various colors and is the perfect accent for your woman on the go. Take a closer look at http://www.coach.com/.

3. Fandango Bucks: $10-$100

Everyone loves movies. With the cost of movies averaging $13-$18  per person, Fandango Bucks is thoughtful and economical. Partner it with a card that says all the movies purchased with the Fandango Bucks are her choice! That way it's a double gift. http://www.fandango.com/.

4. Tiffany & Co. Hearts Pendant: $100

You can never go wrong with Jewelry; especially from Tiffany & Co. Exemplifying classic style and elegance the Hearts pendant is great way to show your love without busting your budget. Don't forget to keep it classic by getting a silver cleaner. For more details go to http://www.tiffany.com/

5.  LG Optimus T-BLACK: $0

Don't fool yourself, women love technology too. Right now the LG Optimus T in Black is FREE. This is up until 2pm December 20, 2010. The catch? This is only via the web, but shipping is free and overnight! Here are some key stats on the Optimus T: Swype Keyboard, 3.2 MP Camera, Google Voice Actions, and of course Android. If the lady in your life prefers a color other than black, then you have a choice of three others at $29.99. For more info go to http://www.t-mobile.com/

Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!

Edmund

Edmund's Community Corner

TOP 5 Holiday Gifts $100 and under for Men (2010)

     With Black Friday approaching, many holiday shoppers will be lining up early in the morning to get a head start on their gift buying. As I try to do every year, below is a list of the top 5 gifts for men $100 and under. Keep an eye out for my top 5 for ladies and top 5 $250 and under. Enjoy and happy shopping!


1.  Roku Media Player from $59.99-$99.99  
     The Roku Media Player comes in three flavors. The HD-$59.99, XD-$79.99, and the XDS-$99.99. All three give you the capability to stream video and audio via the internet. The XDS gives you the added capability of plugging  in USB enabled devices for video and picture sharing. The Roku wins over AppleTV by giving you the user, control on what content you want to view. An added bonus is Hulu Plus (a free month is included when you buy a Roku player) and Netflix baked in for access to all the movies and missed TV shows to your heart's desire. For more info go to http://www.roku.com/.

2.  Zen X-Fi Wireless $99.99
     The Zen X-Fi Wireless from Creative Labs is a great multimedia device for an economical price. Creative Labs is known for making quality devices that deliver great sound. The Zen X-Fi boasts a 2.5 in. screen, built in speakers, insant messaging support for Yahoo! Messenger and Windows Live Messaging, iTunes and Windows Media compatibility, built in radio and SD card expansion! All this for under $100! Quick, go here  http://us.store.creative.com before they raise the price back to $199!

3.  Bose IE2 Headphones $99.95 

     Bose is synonymous, when it comes to rich, quality, clear sound. The purveyors of audio offer up their latest foray into headphones. Features include Bose's Stay Hear clips which prevent slippage during excercise or everyday walking, various ear bud and Stay Hear sizes, carrying case, and most of all Bose's noise cancellation technology that allows you to feel like the only one in the room while enjoying your music. Perfect for drowning out all distractions. Pick up a pair for $99.95. For details go to http://www.bose.com/.

4.  Canon Powershot A490 $99

     What does $99 get you on a digital camera? The Canon Powershot A490, that's what. Boasting such features as 10 megapixels, 3.3x optical zoom, and a low li Lght setting that allows you to take pictures in virtual darkness make this camera a sure-fire hit! Additional features include a 2.5 in LCD scr.een and video. Take a closer look at http://www.usa.canon.com/.

5.  American Express Gift Card $100 
     Have no idea on what to get for a gift, or is your man truly hard to please? Alleviate needless stress and possible disappointment by giving the gift of freedom. The American Express Gift card is a great gift, if not stocking stuffer.The AMEX gift card is one of the few that does not have an activation fee and in many cases no expiration date. This is possibly the best gift for teenagers because they will have the power to buy what they want without maxing out your credit card. The best feature is the fact that you are not restricted to one place unlike many store gift cards. Go to www.americanexpress.com/gift for more info and details.

Edmund's Community Corner

Please Shut Up
In light of all of the rhetoric and nonsense surrounding the possibly future Islamic Community Center in lower Manhattan from people who LIVE OUTSIDE OF NYC, and thus will not be affected, I felt it is my duty as a Native New Yorker living in NYC to speak up. I have comprised a list; take a look below.

Please shut up...

1. If you do not live in New York City.
2. If you are a bigot and a racist.
3. If you believe Christianity teaches you to hate anyone who is not Christian.
4. If you are not aware that there are at least 5 other mosques within the same vicinity. 
5. If you believe President Obama is a Muslim.
6. If you believe the U.S. Constitution only applies to you and people who think like you. 
7. If rule one applies to you, or NO ONE you directly knew or are related to perished in the WTC attacks.
8. If you are a career protester; because no one takes you seriously.
9. If you get your news from only one source.
10. If you believe the United States is the center of the universe.

Edmund's Technoblasts

HTC Evo 4G
The talk of the town for the moment is HTC's Evo, the first 4G offering exclusively available on Sprint. I have had this phone for about a week and I can say that I am very pleased. Boasting a 4.3 in LCD display, the Evo sports the largest screen on a U.S. mobile phone to date. The phone weighs 6oz, at .5in thick, 4.8in high and 2.6in wide. I have to admit that the phone has weight to it whenever I have it in hand, though I do not experience the reported wrist fatigue that iPad users have complained about. Included on the back is a kickstand so you can watch videos hands free (great for air travel) and use the device as a digital alarm clock. Also on board is Android 2.1 with HTC Sense with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor powering everything. Detailed specs are here. One caveat is the fact that 4G coverage is not widely available and being forced to pay a $10 "premium data" surcharge is definitely not palatable. However, the capabilities of the phone outweigh that small caveat, and Sprint plans to roll out 4G coverage to all major U.S. markets in the near future. Keep in mind that Sprint is the only U.S. mobile carrier with unlimited data plans. AT&T and Verizon have ceased unlimited data plans, only offering capped plans at tiered prices. Personally, the capped option would not have worked for me. I stream a lot of video and audio content on a regular basis as well as upload from my smart phone so it would not have been advantageous to continue with AT&T. $69.99 plus the $10 fee brings the base total to $79.99. Once taxes (NYC) and fees are tabulated my monthly total is approx $98/mo, which is about $15 cheaper than what I was paying with AT&T using a Blackberry Bold. Even if you were not planning on purchasing an Evo, Sprint is still the better option when it comes to smart phones. Back to the Evo. The Evo has two cameras. There is a 1.3 MP front facing camera that will allowing for voice conferencing and low-res self portraits. The back camera is 8MP and also records 720P HD video. Featured on the phone is HTC's Qik application. Qik allows you to seamlessly share video across multiple social networks as well as specific people you select from your contacts list. YouTube HQ is included so you can watch HD video on the brilliant 4.3 in screen. Sprint TV is robust and is a nice added feature especially during playoff time. Full episodes of prime time shows does not hurt either. Google is said to be releasing Froyo (Android 2.2) in the coming months. Notable attributes is the ability to use your device as a HotSpot, bypassing Sprint charging you $29.99 to use their HotSpot option. Other attributes include Adobe Flash 10.1, free syncing via cloud technology, as well as improved social networking capabilities. HTC, however is known to be slow to offer Android updates to their phones, but they have promised that this will not be the case with the Evo 4G; time will tell. Overall the HTC Evo 4G is currently the must have device. All of the features that are packed into this device make it one that can survive the voracious technology appetite of late; which causes the disease of obsolescence rather quickly. Once Sprint rolls out 4G nationwide, the full capabilities of the Evo will be realized.

My rating for this device is 4 stars out of a possible 5. The fifth star may come once 4G is rolled out to the NYC metro area.

Quick note: Many people have intimated issues with battery life. I did notice a significant lack of battery life until I installed a free app (Advanced Task Killer), which improved my battery life by 40%.

Edmund

Comments and suggestions are welcomed and encouraged.