9 Hot Gadgets To Watch This Black Friday Weekend
It's that time of year again: Black Friday madness right after the turkey dinner. If you're a geek, or have to buy a gift for one, here are nine hot tech gadgets to check out between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
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A record-setting 91 million Americans expect to purchase a tech gadget or tech accessories during this year's Black Friday Week -- the Monday before Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday -- according to figures from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).
Among the top items drawing the attention of consumers are video game consoles (the most desired item), televisions, tablets, notebooks, smartphones, headphones, and digital cameras.
"Even a few years out from the next generation of video game consoles, these devices jumped to the top of the Black Friday list in advance of the important shopping period," Shawn DuBravac, chief economist and senior director of research with the CTA, wrote in a November 18 report.
"Many families are still upgrading to the latest generation consoles and it appears they will be using Black Friday and the surrounding shopping period to do so. We are also expecting strong interest in digital toys and smart watches as they rise in popularity and become hot items during the shopping week," DuBravac added.
In total, a record 155 million US consumers plan to shop during Black Friday and the surrounding week. However, Black Friday is expected to remain the most popular day for in-store shopping, with 25% of those surveyed planning to shop the day after Thanksgiving.
[Thinking about a tablet? InformationWeek compares the Surface Pro 4 to the iPad Pro.]
With such an insane flood of products, more shopping options (53% of consumers surveyed said they expect to use a mobile device such as a smartphone or a tablet while shopping), and of course the crush and frenzy of the crowds, InformationWeek has put together a list of some of the hottest tech products this holiday season.
At least this way, if you don't manage to get your hands on one of these items, you'll know exactly which trendy new gadgets you missed out on. Is that the holiday spirit or what?
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Apple has met with muted enthusiasm and respectable sales for its hotly anticipated smartwatch, which was one of the most closely followed product launches since, well, the last Apple product launch. Look for demand to increase as the smart wearables market gathers steam, especially now thqt Apple has expanded sales of the device to brick-and-mortar stores.
Price range: $350-$10,000
The big two consoles that will be competing for consumers' attention -- and credit cards -- this holiday season are Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's rival console, the PlayStation 4 (PS4). There are also a slew of portable devices out there as well, such as the Sony Vita and the Nintendo 3DS XL.
Price range: $150-$450
Clamshell notebooks are so old-fashioned. Today's coolest laptops sport sophisticated hinges that let them flip and fold into different modes, like the Acer Aspire R14, which features a 360-degree dual-torque hinge for improved flexibility between four usage modes, a hairline-brush metallic finish, and a diamond-cut edge design.
Price range: $500-$1,000
Tablets, which the CTA report notes are down from the first spot for the last two years when it comes to consumer interest, could get a shot in the arm thanks to Apple's iPad Pro, which comes with a 12.9-inch screen; Samsung's recently unveiled Galaxy View, which features an 18.4-inch display; and Microsoft's Surface Pro 4, boasting a 12.3-inch screen.
Price range: $500-$1,000
The two market leaders, Samsung and Apple, recently refreshed their flagship phones, with the iPhone 6s getting 3D Touch technology, a faster processor, and an improved camera that takes 4K video and 12-megapixel photos, as well as a new color, Rose Gold. There's also the iPhone 6s Plus if you want more display real estate.
Price range: $350-$1,000
The sharpness and clarity of 4K UHD televisions give you four times the picture resolution of Full HD 1080p, with increased pixel density that allows you to sit very close. Sony's 65-inch model, which sells for $1,500 at Best Buy, lets you connect to the Internet for access to streaming content on Google Play.
Price range: $700-$2,500
Cameras like the Panasonic Wearable HD Action Camera and GoPro's Hero4 go beyond traditional digital cameras by offering waterproof features and the ability to shoot 4K video and liquid-smooth slow motion, as well as the ability to mount the cameras on selfie-sticks, helmets, or other clothing for capturing extreme sports.
Price range: $200-$500
With HD and high-quality media downloads a daily routine and smartphones capable of taking professional quality photos and video, extra storage room has become a necessity. That situation makes memory cards a routine, if less than thrilling, holiday purchase. SanDisk, Samsung, and PNY are among the top brands.
Price range: $10-$200
It's hard to believe in the age of Netflix and instant streaming, but some old skool nerds out there still thirst for tactile media, and the best-of-breed players actually combine streaming, WiFi, and hard media playback. The Sony BDP-S5200 boasts support for 3D Blu-ray and copes with a ton of digital file formats over USB.
Price range: $150-$1,200
It's hard to believe in the age of Netflix and instant streaming, but some old skool nerds out there still thirst for tactile media, and the best-of-breed players actually combine streaming, WiFi, and hard media playback. The Sony BDP-S5200 boasts support for 3D Blu-ray and copes with a ton of digital file formats over USB.
Price range: $150-$1,200
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