Now that the holidays are behind us, it’s time to get serious about technology – namely, buying the things we wanted for Christmas but didn’t get. What better way to start off a new year than with a new gadget or two?
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the staff at Lieberman Technologies loves gadgets and gizmos. Here, we present some of our picks for the best and brightest in tech gadgets for 2013.
Smartphones:
iPhone 5
True to form, the latest incarnation of the iPhone boasts lots of new bells and whistles, a larger screen, faster processor, and lighter feel. iPhone aficionados won’t be disappointed.
Starting price: $199 – link
Samsung Galaxy S3
There’s been a lot of buzz about this phone, and with good reason. A large screen, long-life battery, an 8-megapixel camera, and lots of software extras make it worth serious consideration. The S3 was named phone of the year by T3 Gadget Awards.
Starting price: $99 – link
Samsung Galaxy Note
“Note”able mainly because it’s something new. Is it a phone? Is it a tablet? How about both – a large-screen phone with a stylus that lets you draw and take notes right on the device. Shall we call it a “phablet”! You can read, play games, watch videos, take photos, and yes, actually call people, too.
Starting price: $149 – link
Tablets and E-readers:
iPad 4
The fourth generation of the iPad packages more apps and faster processing speeds into a format that’s much the same as the third-gen iPad. If you’re using the third-gen pad, you’re not going to find much new here, but if you’re looking to enter the world of tablets, the iPad 4 is a good place to start.
Starting price: $499 – link
Google Nexus 7
If the iPad is a little too rich for your pocketbook, the Nexus 7 is a great alternative. With its Android operating system and long battery life, the Nexus 7 lets you read, watch, and game to your heart’s content.
Starting price: $199 – link
Surface Tablet
Microsoft’s Surface tablet generated a lot of buzz in late 2012 thanks to television commercials that demonstrated the interchangeable Touch Cover keyboard. We think it’s pretty cool, too.
Starting price: $499 – link
Kindle Paperwhite
E-readers get overlooked in the tablet-focused world, simply because their core function is to provide reading material and nothing else. However, if an e-reader is what you want, the Kindle Paperwhite is a great choice. With a backlit display and crisp white e-ink screen, the Paperwhite will appeal to serious readers who like notion of Amazon’s vast e-book collection as well as the ability to access their entire library from one device.
Starting price: $119 – link
Cameras:
Samsung Galaxy Camera
A 16-megapixel camera with a 21X optical zoom, the Galaxy is a good point-and-shoot camera with a great feature: you can send photos to your computer, to Facebook, to a smartphone, without having to download them first. With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability and a SIM card slot, the camera boasts a large 4.8-inch touchscreen on which you can text, update your Facebook page, Tweet, play games… everything you can do on a smartphone, except make a phone call.
Starting price: $499 – link
Looxcie LX2 Wearable Video Camera
This is a pretty nifty gadget, particularly if you’re the sort of person who likes to share video in real-time. Bluetooth technology makes this one-ounce wearable camcorder completely hands-free. As an entry-level hands-free camcorder, the Looxcie is a fun little piece of equipment at a reasonable starting price.
Starting price: $149
Home Entertainment:
Roku Streaming Media Player
If you like to watch movies and television series on demand, the Roku Streaming Media Player is a great choice to stream all types of content. The Roku utilizes your home’s Wi-Fi to access content, and is capable of finding content across major streaming services.
Starting price: $49 – link
Logitech Harmony Universal Remote
Universal remotes have come a long way. The Harmony series of universal remotes allow you to remotely control anywhere from five to fifteen devices, depending on model chosen. A LCD screen and contextual buttons, as well as web programmability, makes the Harmony a great choice for almost any home entertainment setup.
Starting price: $79 – link
2013 has just begun, and judging from this list, the future for tech gadgets looks bright. We’re looking forward to all the new technology that will come to light in the next 12 months.
Have a favorite tech gadget you’d like to tell us about? Share it in the comments!