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Mother's Day Gift Guide: Westinghouse PT-16H610S LCD HDTV

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted May 9th 2008 at 12:03PM



Forget the shower gel and bubble bath this Mother's Day. We say get her a gift that really makes its mark in the bathroom. The Westinghouse PT-16H610S is a 16-inch flip-style LCD HDTV that fits perfectly into tight spots-like the bathroom or kitchen. Mount it on the wall or just let it sit on any available countertop to enjoy a gorgeous, high definition picture. This sleek, slim LCD includes built-in speakers and comes in a stainless steel finish, all for $349.

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Engraved iPod Nano

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted May 9th 2008 at 10:34AM



Maybe Mom wants something tiny and shiny? Though it may sound like a cliche gift, the neat and petite (GB) iPod Nano is still the ultra-portable music, video, and image player that we love best. It's simply the easiest way for your Mom to stay on top of her favorite TV or radio shows (thanks to availability on iTunes and radio podcasts of most major radio broadcasts) while on the go. And though there are seven colors to choose from, we suggest the newest addition in a bright, happy pink. The 4-gigabyte (GB) unit retails for $149 and the 8-gigabyte (GB) unit retails for $199. The price includes free engraving on the back for any thoughts you may have for Mom on this special day.

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Dell Inspiron 1525

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted May 9th 2008 at 10:29AM



This laptop computer is pretty, slim and powerful. What more could a woman want from a laptop? Add to that a Mother's Day sale price starting at $649 (that's a savings of $384) and you've got an excellent gift for a Mom who needs (or wants) a laptop. The Dell Inspiron 1525 has a 15.4-inch screen, a full-size keyboard, and even a 2-megapixel Webcam (for an extra $25). Other upgrades include a DVD burner ($50) and your choice of a broadband antenna from either Sprint or Verizon ($150, but if you sign up for service with either carrier, you'll get a $100 rebate). The notebook is available in an assortment of colors, but check out the Blossom pattern or Flamingo Pink for this holiday gift.

Mother's Day: Nintendo DS and Konami Let's Yoga

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted May 9th 2008 at 10:25AM



If you thought handheld game consoles were just for kids, then you've got it all wrong. They were made for moms, too. The Nintendo DS is small, with a clamshell design and two LCD screens -- one of which is a touchscreen. With a built-in microphone and Wi-Fi, this little gadget is perfect entertainment for the mom who wants to be at least as cool as her teenage or twentysomething daughters. Add some groovy games -- like Konami's Let's Yoga! and Let's Pilates!, which provide simple instructions for exercises and positions -- and it becomes a portable workout center. Also perfect for her is the Crosswords DS game, which includes more than a thousand crossword puzzles, Wordsearch and Anagrams. The Nintendo DS goes for $130 and the games retail for $30.

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Audiovox Homebase Digital Message Center

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted May 9th 2008 at 9:51AM



Organization is king in most homes, so you can surprise mom with this digital message center for the 21st-century. The Audiovox Audio Homebase is about the size of a regular whiteboard that hangs on the fridge, and it includes a seven-inch LCD digital picture frame that can hold up to 125 high-resolution images. This LCD screen is engulfed in an erasable board for important handwritten messages. The magnetic border lets you save notes, coupons or invitations, while a built-in microphone and internal speakers let you record and play back audio messages. Comes with a dry erase marker, Post-it notes with a built-in storage slot, and a digital clock. The Homebase retails for $150.

Mother's Day Gift Guide: MOTOROKR T505 In-Car Speakerphone

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted May 9th 2008 at 9:33AM



Whether driving to soccer practice or to the office, Mom will find the MOTOROKR T505 ($139.99) wireless in-car speaker system to be a great alternative to annoying earpieces (or worse, actual handsets) that are usually used when behind the wheel. The T505 clips easily to the car's visor and uses Bluetooth technology and an FM transmitter to make and receive phone calls through a car's stereo speakers. The T505 also has echo and noise reduction technology to make sure calls are clear, while an Audio CallerID feature lets you hear the number of any incoming caller. As an added bonus, you can also stream music from a compatible cellphone or MP3 player to the T505.

Bluetooth Headsets You'll Want This Year

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted Jan 11th 2008 at 5:17PM

In the beginning, Bluetooth headsets were a bit off-putting. You stuck one in your ear, called a friend on your mobile phone, and watched as people on the street looked on as you had a conversation -- seemingly with yourself. But things have changed drastically since then. These small, wireless gadgets are now ubiquitous, gracing the earlobes of everyone from the guy on the next treadmill to your grandma in her car. So what are the coolest, most innovative we saw at CES that'll find their way to store shelves this year? Take a look at our five favorites:



BlueAnt Wireless V1: Forget playing with buttons, checking on blinking lights or messing with your cell phone when you want to make a call. The BlueAnt V1 is the first completely voice controlled Bluetooth headset and it's superneat. With just one button to activate it -- all you do is talk and it will talk right back. Want to call the operator? Just speak and your wish is its command. Speed dial has never been so easy, either. Using advanced Voice Recognition and Voice Synthesis technology, the V1 also has dual microphones and proprietary Voice Isolation Technology, which allows the headset to hear you clearly and provides amazing noise reduction, echo cancellation and even protection from wind. Small and lightweight, the V1 gets up to six hours of talk time or 200 hours of standby with one battery charge. And all this for just $119. (Image by way of MobileWhack.com)


Ear Candy: Bluetooth Headsets You'll Want This Year

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted Jan 10th 2008 at 3:49PM

Invisio G5: Here's what is being hailed as the "world's smallest Bluetooth headset." Measuring 1.2-inches long by 0.63 inches wide and weighing in at 0.2 ounces, it certainly is tiny. But what do you get with this small wonder? There's the three button interface and what is called a "Soft Spring" ear insert, making it more comfortable to wear.

A charging case is also included, which protects the headset while recharging it for up to 20 hours of talk time and 30 days of stand-by. Though on its own, the G5 has just four hours of talk time and 6.25 days of stand-by. Retails for $130.


Ear Candy: Bluetooth Headsets You'll Want This Year

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted Jan 10th 2008 at 3:49PM


Motorola: An upgrade to Motorola's original MOTOROKR S9, the S9-HD not only gives you wireless freedom to talk on the phone, you also get powerful, 3-D surround sound and high definition acoustics with a comfy behind-the-head design. Lighter than a pair of sunglasses, this headset comes with simple controls, letting you manage your calls and your music without hassle. Whether connected to a compatible Bluetooth-enabled music phone or just your MP3 player, you won't miss a call or your favorite tune. And Apple fans, don't despair. The Motorola D650, sold separately, pairs the S9-HD with most iPod players. One charge will get you six hours of play time. We're still awaiting pricing details, but look for this by summer.



Ear Candy: Bluetooth Headsets You'll Want This Year

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted Jan 10th 2008 at 3:48PM


Bluetrek Bizz: Okay, outdoor fanatics, here's what you've been waiting for. The first water-resistant and weather-proof Bluetooth headset is in the house (or maybe outside the house), and it's even got an SD flash memory drive compatible with microSD cards up to 8-gigabytes (GB). Perfect for hikes, bike rides or your next run in the rain, the Bizz weighs in at just 14-grams and provides up to 14 hours of talk time and 21 days of stand-by. Two different sizes of rubber earloops are included for comfort and it operates up to about 33-feet from your cell phone. Retails for $80.



Ear Candy: Bluetooth Headsets You'll Want This Year

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted Jan 10th 2008 at 3:47PM


CallPod Phoenix: Drop that speakerphone -- here's a new idea for your next conference call. The CallPod Phoenix is a mobile-conferencing Bluetooth headset system that brings up to five people into a call -- all wirelessly and without fuss. Using Skype or any cell phone you choose, this gadget provides full-duplex conference calling. Consisting of a "CallPod" and five Dragon headsets, the Phoenix promises a 300,000-square-foot coverage area and is compatible with just about any Bluetooth headset you might have handy. We suggest sticking with the Dragon headsets, however, because of the extra, added bonus of a push-to-talk mode, letting call participants communicate with each other just by pressing the center button on the headset. Perfect for that next power lunch you're all hunched over. Retails for $300.



Top 11 Cell Phones for Ladies

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted Jan 2nd 2008 at 5:34PMFeatured Story

Sanyo KatanaStill wondering what to get the lady in your life for the holidays? Well, you certainly waited until the last moment. Not to worry, we're here with some of the best cell phone picks for ladies -- and you're sure to find one that's right for her.

There's no mistaking it these days: Many cell phones are made with the female form in mind. Gone are the clunky, unattractive phones that took up way too much purse space -- replaced instead by sleek, stylish, colorful phones that are easy to use and tote around. But before you buy your lady a new mobile for the holidays, take a look at our feminine faves.

Of course, if that special someone is locked in a contract, you might want to take a look at Amazon.com, which has an array of unlocked cell phones. These phones provide service by allowing you to insert any SIM card from any compatible carrier. Nice and easy.


Sanyo Katana

A little longer and boxier than the groundbreaking RAZR, the Sanyo Katana powered by Sprint, is a pretty flip phone with a VGA camera peeking out over a small color screen. Its Cherry Blossom Pink color attracts the fairer sex and its Web browsing functions, four-hour talk time and wireless Bluetooth keeps them coming back for more.



Top Tech Toys for Tots

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted Dec 23rd 2007 at 4:22PM

Smart Cycle

Parenting is hard enough without having to come up with the best gift ideas. You're bombarded by TV ads, which don't really tell you enough, and your child deserves a present that's cool, that's tech, and that maybe ISN'T EXACTLY THE SAME gift that all his or her little classmates will be getting this year.

Here at Switched, we asked our inner child -- and an actual tech-lovin' Mom -- to help us compile a list of the best tech toys for tots. Here's what we found...

Smart Cycle

The Smart Cycle (Mattel, $99.99) is a physical arcade game that connects easily to your TV. Just pop in a supported game cartridge and your child will happily pedal away, burning up all types of energy and leaving you free to pay some bills or start dinner. Cartridges focus on areas such as learning, discoveries, games and races -- and, of course, there are multiple levels that wee ones can can move up as they get better. Smart Cycle also teaches upper and lowercase letters, numbers and counting, spelling, problem-solving, shapes, matching and spatial reasoning.

Top Tech Toys for Tots

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted Dec 17th 2007 at 11:47AM

Brightlings Exploration Station

Brightlings Exploration Station

Give your toddler a world of discovery with Leapfrog's $29.99 Brightlings Exploration Station. Promising to teach music, numbers, shapes and words (in five languages, to better confuse you), this little toy will make sure your kids never run out of ways to play. Twenty sing-a-long songs are also included in both Spanish and English and little Brightlings play pals add another level of fun.

Top Tech Toys for Tots

by Tobey Grumet Segal, posted Dec 17th 2007 at 11:44AM

Made for Me MP3 Music Player

Made for Me MP3 Music Player

Get them into technology early with the Made for Me MP3 Music Player (Playskool, $70), a digital music player that allows you to download up to two hours of music, transfer songs from your personal collection or even record your voice (or your baby's for posterity). With 50 songs already pre-loaded and four different playlists to choose from, you can even put this thing in shuffle mode for random play. You can it to a crib with included fabric cover,but we recommend you leave it in the car for those long trips. The player comes in blue, orange and pink.


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